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Servant2theKing Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 13 2005
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Posted: Oct 26 2013 at 12:56pm | IP Logged
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'Tis the season when everyone around here seems to be catching or passing around nasty bugs! We've been trying to load up on immunity boosting supplements lately, which can be quite challenging with so many family members on the run (hence the reason we really, really need to boost everyone's immunity in the first place)! I've discovered a nice way to portion out supplements ~ we recently acquired stainless steel sauce cups, perfect for setting out individual doses of supplements ~ markers work nicely to write family members' initial or name on the outside of them! While flying through Walmart to grab a few groceries before picking up grandchildwuns for the weekend I noticed baby, kid-size clementines. They now reside in a wooden bowl on our kitchen counter, encircled by nice little sauce cups of supplements (placed safely on the back of the counter where littles can't reach)! I've noticed everyone grabbing a clementine or two as they reach for their supplements! Works for me! Aesthetically pleasing, yet effective in getting busy family members to take their daily dose (or two)! Just thought I'd share for the sake of anyone else who might be overwhelmed at the very idea of remembering to give vitamins or supplements to multiple family members in the midst all of life's busyness!
BTW, sauce cups are great for setting out daily doses of meds too (although we do actually use them for food too ~ they're great for individual portions of sauces and small munchies). Ours came from Sams for $3.99/dozen and Walmart also carries them @ 99 cents for 4 (made in India, not China). We've also discovered Echinacea w/ Goldenseal at Walmart for $4 a bottle ~ you have to be careful not to use Goldenseal for longer then one week, but it's great for knocking out stubborn colds and such ~ we use it when colds threaten to hang on for dear life! What are your favorite cold/flu remedies or special tips for staying ahead of fall/winter bugs?
__________________ All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
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knowloveserve Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 31 2007 Location: Washington
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Posted: Oct 26 2013 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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My favorite immunity protectors look like this:
__________________ Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Oct 26 2013 at 4:18pm | IP Logged
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Echinacea only brings you back up to normal.. and should also be used in 2 week increments.. 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off.. or it becomes ineffective. We don't generally use echinacea when we're healthy but if we've been fighting off a cold or have been ill then we use it to help bring our immune system back up.
A decent multi-vitamin will do a lot.. you need b's and d's especially in winter, zinc is good too.. and vitamin c of course.
I find elderberry (a specific for the flu and a general antiviral) is very effective at reducing the number of colds and speeding healing. We take it after being at a higher risk of exposure and at the first sign of any illness.
Hand washing, even the hand sanitizer also is very useful and when used when you leave a germy place and washing hands as soon as you get home it's really really helpful. And learning to touch your face as little as you can.
Another powerful anti-viral is ginger and I've used that myself to good effect.
Garlic is an antibiotic as is goldenseal.. both useful. Goldenseal is the more powerful and one to be careful of. I don't use goldenseal with young children but I'll feed everyone some potent garlic bread
Pineapple is nice.. it's great for healing injuries but because it reduces swelling (along with ginger) it's great for headcolds because it will reduce the swelling in the sinuses.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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knowloveserve Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 31 2007 Location: Washington
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Posted: Oct 26 2013 at 7:26pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
Echinacea only brings you back up to normal.. and should also be used in 2 week increments.. 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off.. or it becomes ineffective. We don't generally use echinacea when we're healthy but if we've been fighting off a cold or have been ill then we use it to help bring our immune system back up.
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Pretty sure the tea is quite a bit weaker than the vitamin supplements. I just love how it tastes when mixed with licorice tea (sounds weird, but it's so good!)... and figure any immunity boost is a bonus.
__________________ Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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knowloveserve Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 31 2007 Location: Washington
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Posted: Oct 26 2013 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
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Also:
__________________ Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Oct 26 2013 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
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licorice has quite a few warnings for it too. Yeah the tea is probably weaker but worth it to know about.
And it's not bad for you to keep using the echinacea, it's just that it loses it's oomph in helping after that long.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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DianaC Forum Pro
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Posted: Oct 31 2013 at 6:07am | IP Logged
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I've seen elderberry mentioned here several times. Could you explain more about how to buy it/use it?
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Oct 31 2013 at 11:33am | IP Logged
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Most health food stores carry it. You can get as tea or capsules (I think). You can buy a syrup. I prefer to get the tincture. You use less for the same dosage and I can just add it to a bit of juice and the kids love it and it's very adjustable as far as doseage (I just go with the adult dose and split it down for younger kids).
You can buy dried flowers and/or dried berries and make it into tea or syrup or extract yourself as well.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006 Location: Alabama
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Posted: Oct 31 2013 at 12:08pm | IP Logged
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We take elderberry regularly over the winter months and my kids prefer the gummi variety in the Vitafusion brand. Check your local stores for it. You can find it online, too - here it is at Vitacost. The gummi is very tasty and easy to take. We take 2 gummis a day during cold/flu season.
Just FYI: the elderberry in its syrup form like you'd give to kids, (example: Sambucol liquid for kids) is very strong tasting, and to some children, quite off-putting. Of course, I know that's subjective...but objectively speaking, elderberry is not mild tasting. Just wanted to mention that so you can try something before really stocking up.
Thanks for the reminder gals! I added *stock my winter wellness kit* to my planner! Adding an oldie but goodie thread:
Cold and flu prevention/remedies
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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DianaC Forum Pro
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Posted: Oct 31 2013 at 12:29pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Jodie and Jen for the elderberry information. It is very helpful!
We don't usually get the flu vaccine, but since we've already had a lot of feeling fun-down going on, I thought about getting it. Apparently, that won't happen as the vaccine is in short supply and several locations have cancelled all appointments.
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 13 2013 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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Bumping this to ask more specific questions.
I'm in need of ready-made Supplements to ward off the viruses for me and my family. I really need to strengthen our immune systems so as we don't get sick before my surgery. Sickness can mean great delays!
I was taking Emergen-C with Vit D (Immune stuff) which has helped a lot in the past, but I realized that I was getting reflux from it -- Citric Acid is one of my major triggers. So I need to find something that is similar.
I did get gummies of Elderberry for us, but that's about it.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 13 2013 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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I have friends who use Sodium Ascorbate to mega dose C since it is easier on the stomach.
I also take D3 gummies, which I like. I have been using the Rainbow Light ones, but I think Vitafusion makes a gummie as well.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Nov 13 2013 at 5:46pm | IP Logged
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The ester-c is the buffered type. I've never used it but it may be easier on your stomach.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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