The best thing you can do to help prevent getting sick is to shower after a day at school, work, or being social, and to drink a cup of hot tea. Sick AF tea (link) helps to boost your immune system. Army of Me herbal blend (link) also helps to keep your immune system strong. Both are loaded with antioxidants, immune-boosting ingredients, and are naturally rich in vitamin C. You can also browse my shop to check out other herbal teas.
Acute Respiratory Tract Infection (ARTI) is prevalent among children and is also a common reason to land in the hospital. Complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners across Melbourne, Australia compiled data on children treated with ARTI ages 0-12 over a 12 month span. The 2019 study by Lucas et al. showed that lifestyle modification, nutrition and diet-based treatments, and vitamins supplementation were the most common treatment recommendations.
A majority of cases are handled in the comfort of our homes: a warm shower, soup, tea, vitamins, and rest. Prompt and effective treatment is very important in managing any acute illness. It is also beneficial to create a daily ritual for prevention and general wellness.
In a medical journal published by Marc Cohen in 2020, he states:
Life exists within a narrowly defined temperature range, yet viruses, which are not technically alive, can remain biologically active in a wide range of environments. Enveloped viruses, such as rhinoviruses and coronaviruses, are most active in cool dry conditions, which are associated with increased occurrence of respiratory tract infections ( Mäkinen et al., 2009), including infections with SARS-CoV ( Chan et al.,2011) and SAR-CoV-2 ( Sajadi et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2020). While enveloped viruses can remain active for long periods in cold conditions, their lipid envelopes are destroyed by temperatures tolerable to humans. The heat sensitivity of viruses is used routinely to deactivate viruses within vaccines, and temperatures of 55 to 65°C for 15 to 30 minutes are reported to deactivate a range of enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses ( Darnell et al., 2004; Duan et al., 2003; Hu et al., 2011; Kampf et al., 2020; Lelieet al., 1987; WHO Report, 2003).
In a nutshell, Cohen discuses the historical use of heat in dealing with respiratory infections and general wellbeing. Therefore, taking a hot shower after possible exposure to an infectious disease can wash away germs not only from your body but the steam you breathe can help remove potential pathogens from your respiratory tract.
Think about it–are you are sick? How does your body naturally respond? Heat. Your temperature rises in order to kill the infection. Drinking a cup of hot tea can also help after a day at work or your child’s school day. Eating a well-balanced diet that offers nutritious ways to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs is also important and supplements may be needed (vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D). Staying hydrated and resting can also create a healthy environment to heal or fight off a potential infection.
*Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional or medical advice. Always consult with your physician.
References:
Cohen M. (2020). Turning up the heat on COVID-19: heat as a therapeutic intervention. F1000Research, 9, 292. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.23299.2
Lucas, S., Leach, M. J., Kumar, S., & Phillips, A. C. (2019). Complementary And Alternative Medicine Practitioner’s Management Of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections In Children – A Qualitative Descriptive Study. Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare, 12, 947–962. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S230845
