Somehow I blinked and September is just a few days away! This is the first year in my life I won’t experience a true season change. For the last 28 years of my life I lived in Michigan + Chicago, fully immersed in the BITTER cold + snow we’d get every year. Despite my constant exposure to the cold, that first chilly day always came as a big shock to the system. While I love the season changes, I’m excited to see what a winter in the south feels like.

Regardless of where you’re at geographically, with kids back in school + cooler temps closer than we think, cold + flu season is just around the corner. Inevitably every year I get questions from family, friends + clients on what they can do to better support their bodies during this time so let’s round up some of my favorite products to have on hand.

Year-Round Support

Now we can’t 100% prevent illness, but we can work to shorten/lessen the symptoms that come along with it. While it’s great to have things on hand for actual illness, it’s just as important to prepare your body all year long. Here’s a few things I always have in my routine.

Nasal Spray

A xylitol based (non-medicated) nasal spray is great to have on hand for daily use. Whether it’s allergies or nasal congestion, xylitol is a natural anti-microbial and moisturizer that can help loosen mucus + reduce inflammation in the nostrils. XClear xylitol nasal spray is actually participating in a study currently to measure its effects against COVID-19, the findings should hopefully be published sometime this year.

Bee Propolis

Bee propolis can be helpful for those with seasonal allergies by essentially exposing those to allergens in the environment (bees carry pollen + other common irritants). Basically like exposure therapy in a sense. Propolis is resin from bee hives that lines + protects the hive from things like mold. It’s rich in polyphenols which have antioxidant effects on the body. Like xylitol, it also has antimicrobial + anti fungal properties. There’s quite a few options nowadays from bee pollen granules, propolis throat spray, single serve packets, and pill form. I personally prefer the throat spray or single packets.

Vitamin C

Many people wait for cold + flu season to stock up on many antioxidant rich vitamins + minerals, but for me I like to keep up with vitamin c all year long. It’s a powerful protector against free radical damage (what damages our cells) + immune booster. In the spring + summer months food based sources like oranges, kiwis, strawberries and blackberries are my go-to. When fruit is out of season and the colder months roll around I use a couple different supplement forms of vitamin c. My preferred delivery form is liposomal in either an individual packet or in capsule form. Liposomal means there are tiny fat cells protecting the actual vitamin so it can survive digestion + actually be absorbed by the body.

Acute Support

I take more of a homeopathic/holistic stance when it comes to being sick. It’s been probably 4 or 5 years since I took any over the counter meds. This might be your jam or maybe it isn’t, either way these are things that have worked for me + if you’re open to trying, they could be helpful for you too. One quick note for any homeopathic meds- you have to start dosing RIGHT when you start to feel symptoms otherwise they might not work. If you do go this route just remember these are not actual meds + you won’t necessarily feel that symptom relief as quickly.

Oscillococcinum

I used this for the first time last year during a head cold + felt like it worked rather quickly and effectively. This is the most common cold + flu product in Europe and it’s starting to gain some traction here. There’s been quite a few studies on its effectiveness if you do a quick Google search as well.

Boiron Products

Spoiler alert, most of the products I’m going to be talking about are from Boiron. I have a variety of their products on hand for different scenarios. While Oscillococcinum is great for flu type symptoms, if you’ve got sinus pressure + congestion it’s not the best option for you. Instead I would opt for something like their Sinus or Allergy Calm. They also make products for specific symptoms as well like migraines, post nasal drip, body aches. etc. that are sold in individual tubes.

Boiron’s website has different variety packs available. Some natural food stores carry individual tubes for specific symptoms.

Elderberry syrup

Dark berries rich in antioxidants, elderberry is a traditional medicine dating back hundreds (if not thousands) of years. It’s a great source of anthocyanins, powerful immune-boosting properties that can help fight off infection + inflammation. Some studies have even shown its impacts on shortening both cold + flu symptoms. You can find elderberry in many forms- syrup, gummies, capsules. My personal preference is syrup as the ingredients are usually just elderberry.

Magnesium flakes

Is there anything worse than a throbbing headache + dull body aches? When I had Covid a couple years ago + couldn’t find a comfortable laying position to save my life, a warm magnesium bath saved the day. I love magnesium year round but especially in times of illness. You can pick up a bag almost anywhere (epsom salt is virtually the same thing), pour a cup or two in warm bath water and relax for 20=30 minutes. I do this daily when I’m not feeling well and the body aches virtually disappear after.

Acetaminophen/Conventional meds

While I favor the homeopathic route as much as possible, sometimes you just need conventional medicine. Thankfully there are some great options nowadays that don’t contain additives like artificial colors + flavors. Genexa makes great swaps for things like Tylenol + Day/NyQuil. They also make kid friendly versions for a variety of products too. Most drug + grocery stores are now carrying most of Geneva’s line.

While these products + routines work for me they might not be best suited for you. As always this content is meant to be educational, it is not intended to treat, prevent, cure or diagnose any condition. Please consult with a trusted health professional before using any of these products.