Natural Ways to Heal Yourself

I don't know about you, but at the first sign of a cold I tend to take loads of cold medicine and cough drops and power through my day. But is that really the best for your body? Sure, it helps you feel better (sometimes) but what if you let your body heal itself first and used medicine second?

Next time you start feeling ill, do yourself a favor and take the day off. I know, sometimes we can't always do this, but sometimes we can and we make excuses because we feel like it is lazy. Giving yourself time to heal is never lazy! Taking a day to rest when you're feeling sick - this means no exercise, no going out, just laying in bed and relaxing - can be the best thing you can do for yourself. It lets your body's natural defenses jump in and start working to make your infection go away.

Another great way to help your body heal is to take a day of fasting while you are resting. By spending the day only drinking water (drink plenty to help your body get rid of toxins!) you allow your body to spend time fighting your infection and give your immune system extra strength because it isn't spending time digesting. When you are starting to come off your short fast, remember to start slow by eating fruits, juices, small salads, etc. If you don't eat one day then eat a whole pizza the next because you're so starving... imagine how you will feel! Even sicker I imagine!

Remember that your body is an amazing machine. It has all the tools to heal yourself from minor illnesses. The key is knowing when you need help. If an infection hangs around or suddenly gets worse, definitely see your doctor and get some antibiotics.

What do you do when you start feeling ill?