The flu is here! Ugh!

 
What a week last week was! Gianna got sick with the Creepy Cold Crud (or maybe it was the flu???) and then Thursday night I started getting sick with it and then Stephanie her mom got it. That means for nearly a week we were fighting body aches, headaches, dripping runny nose, fever and just feeling awful all over!

This was one of the worst illnesses I've had in about 5 years. I've had Type A flu before and this felt just like that. Unfortunately without insurance I cannot afford to get Tamiflu and at this point I'm thinking it was the FLU and not a simple cold. I got over it much faster than I do a cold.

Anyway, I contacted a friend who gets respiratory infections - colds, pneumonia, asthma, etc on a regular basis every summer and she has SWORN by this combination to help her get better faster. It's a combination of LOCAL honey and Essential Oils. I thought I would give it a try.

I am not a doctor or even a nurse - just someone who tried this on myself and it seemed to ease the symptoms. I'm still fighting the runny nose but other than that I'm feeling much much better! I thought I'd share my experience.

Here's what you need:
1 Tb Local Honey
1/4 cup HOT water (no need to boil it)
1 drop Lemon Essential Oil
1 drop Shield Essential Oil

Drink it up. If you are not comfortable ingesting EO's feel free to drop 1 drop of Lemon & Shield - or do Shield in your diffuser and inhale it. I did it about 4-5 times a day and my friend Gail does it 2-6 times a day.

Shield Essential Oil is a healing oil which is a blend of six different therapeutic grade essential oils, including cinnamon, clove, lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and frankincense. You can learn more about & purchase Shield HERE & Product Information (PDF) HERE.

Lemon Essential Oil has a fresh clean scent and can be used for skin care, respiratory health and a host of other important uses. Learn more about & purchase Lemon HERE & Product Information (PDF) HERE. I use Lemon a lot for cleaning and scrubbing things like my counters & the shower. 

Age Suggestions:
6 months up: At night and around Gianna I only used Lavender & Tea Tree.
6 years up: Use the Lemon & Shield in the Diffuser (anyone 6+) & give them a Tablespoon of Local Honey only (kids).
Adult: Use the Lemon & Shield to ingest

Update - Friday was by far the worst day last week and I think I took 4 doses of the above mixture & Saturday I didn't take any although I did need to sleep in the afternoon. By Sunday I felt MUCH better than I had since Wednesday. 

FREE SHIPPING & a Diffuser with an order equaling $197+

(before taxes)

Disclaimer: This post is based on personal experience & is NOT a sponsored post. You must not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Thanks!

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Oscillococcinum Review/Giveaway

This last week has been awful.  Today is the first day this week I was actually up and doing something.  I got some grocery shopping done, paid a couple of bills, talked to my neighbor a little, took out the trash & recyclables, cut out some reusable sandwich bags fabric for my booth this weekend (hopefully they turn out because I cut out a lot!).

I was just so tired and achy and now that I look back on it maybe I had the flu.  I hope not because I was busy with friends last weekend and I'd hate for them to get sick.  I've been trying to be more eco-friendly and also use more natural nutrition and medication when I can and I ended up doing a little research on Oscillococcinum^®  which helps to reduce the severity and duration of flu-like symptoms (headache, body ache, chills and fever).  It's a form of homeopathic medicine using plants, minerals or animal substance that helps to trigger our bodies to heal itself.

One of the things I've learned to ask about homeopathic remedies or nutritional supplements is whether any research has been done and if it has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals which Oscillococcinum has been.  According to their website the research has shown that 63% of patients who took Oscillo at the onset of flu-like symptoms showed "clear improvement" or "complete resolution" of their symptoms after 48 hours, vs 49% with a placebo. Click here

Points to consider: 

• Oscillococcinum is safe for children and adults over 2 years of age.
• There are no known side effects including drowsiness.
• It doesn't interfere with existing conditions such as high blood pressure, doesn't interact with other medications, herbs or supplements.
• Clinical studies have shown that it helps to reduce the severity & duration of flu-like symptoms.
• It dissolves UNDER the tongue and doesn't require water to ingest it.
• It comes in handy little tubes which make it easy to keep in your purse or in the car when you're travelling.
• It has a 5 year shelf life (that's HUGE for me!)

“Because of their inherent safety, I recommend homeopathic medicines like Oscillococcinum as a first course of treatment. In general, homeopathic medicines don’t cause side effects and don’t interact with other drugs,” says Dr. Schiller. “Oscillo® works best when taken at the first sign of flu-like symptoms, so it’s important to pay close attention to symptoms and, whether on the road or at home, be prepared by having Oscillo on hand.”

You can get more information if you'd like at: www.boironusa.com.  

I'm going to also check out their pain relief medications for my Fibromyalgia: www.arnicare.com.

Coupons:

You can buy your Oscillococcinum at your favorite store using these handy coupons. 

One expires in January 2012 and one in December 2012.  So you might as well print both. 

Giveaway:

Boiron has offered one of my readers a box of Oscillococcinum to keep handy for their next bout of the flu.  This way you'll have it handy when you start feeling achy, tired, runny nose, chilled, etc...

Mandatory entry: Visit Oscillo.com and tell us something you learned.

Optional Extra Entries: (1 entry each)

• Tell us: do you get the vaccination or do you try more natural methods to fight the flu? 
• Follow Oscillo on Facebook.
• Follow Oscillo on Twitter. 
• Follow ME on Facebook.
• Follow ME on Twitter.
• Go to Boiron's Blog and sign up for the Holistic Mom's Health Webinar: 5 Top Homeopathic Remedies for Family Wellness seminar on March 29th, 1-2 pm EST
• Tweet up to 3 times daily, 4 hours apart:  " RT @familyliteracy #WIN a package of Oscillococcinum from #Boiron at GivingNSharing, 4/5, US #FLU #health http://ning.it/dQDE9b

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.