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So yesterday was a busy day where I went into virus war mode. Hubby woke up with a headache and coughing. So all my ammunition and weapons came into play.

I believe in the benefit of overdosing for one or two days, so the following 10 steps are for emergency use only and NOT for everyday use.

Please note that this is a description of my personal approach to a virus threat.
I'm not a doctor, and I do not claim that this is right for you. Everybody is different, and you should consult your physician or other
health care professional before starting any new health or diet programs to determine if it is right for your needs.

1. Sanitizing Like Crazy

I knew that if this were the C-thing, none of us would be able to leave the apartment for weeks, which means that my body would have to deal with the free-flying viruses too. So I sanitized the apartment like a crazy person with spirit, including ALL handles and switches - I Boiled the toothbrushes too.

2. Killing With Scents

To kill the airborne germs, I filled my diffuser with water, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and lemon oil, and while it misted the bedroom, where hubby was held hostage, I lit a Palo Santo stick and smudged the rest of the apartment. When the diffuser was empty in the bedroom, I moved it to the living room, refilled it, and repeated the same dose of mist there (yes, I was high on peppermint most of the day). ⠀
Peppermint and tea tree oils are anti-microbial and when introduced into the air in vapor form, the organic compounds within the oils come into direct contact with airborne pathogens before they can invade your body. These essential oils can also be used to boost the immune system. ⠀
Lastly, my diffuser can also double as humidifiers which help keep my airways moist and healthy.⠀
You can read all about how aromatherapy can clean air and how it affects your body in my post about Smudging.

3. Do Not Share

I was very strict with us not mixing towels after washing hands and stuff.

4. Immune And Lung Boosting Herbs

I made a big pot of herbal immune and lung boosting tea. Herbs: 1 tsp. echinacea, 1 tsp goldenrod, 1 tsp calendula, ½ tsp fenugreek, ½ tsp licorice root, ½ tsp anise seed,
½ tsp fennel seeds, and 4 cups of hot water. Steeped 5 minutes. We both had one big glass of that.
More about the herbs.

5. Tincture Shots

Five times during the day, I gave hubby 5ml of my herbal medicine (2-3 hrs in between). It's a tincture of euphrasia, echinacea, licorice, goldenrod, ginger, and vodka. Tinctures are highly concentrated herbal extracts that have alcohol as the solvent, and they are one of the most effective means of taking herbal medicines, primarily for managing acute conditions. The alcoholic solution of the tincture means herbs are absorbed much faster into circulation and therefore begin to take effect very quickly. (See Instagram posts April 18, 2018 & June 12, 2018). This tincture takes about seven weeks to infuse.

6. Meditation

I meditated as usual, now reminded of the importance of sticking to that daily habit. I practice transcendental meditation, where you aim for inner silence, and no use of mantras. When you meditate, your Immunoglobulin A (IgA) increases - IgA is your primary defense against bacteria and viruses - it's greater than any flu shot. Plus. Your cortisol levels lower, which means you're no longer in survival, stress, and fight and flight mode.

7. Pranayama

I've also started to practice breathing exercises (Pranayama) after my morning meditations again. I do series of five different breathing techniques I learned from Quantum Yoga founder Lara Baumann. It's a practice that takes time to learn, and you need a good teacher to guide you in the beginning. Research show that brief, episodic states of hypoxia (aka not having enough oxygen for short periods) cause a surge of oxygen from the blood into the tissues. One might think holding your breath would cause progressively less oxygen in the body's tissues, but it actually supersaturates them! Athletes and medical doctors use breath retention (intermittent hypoxia) to enhance performance, recovery, and your brain (neuroplasticity).

8. Neti Pot

After pranayama is always a good time to rinse your snot box. I use my neti pot to cleans and moistens the mucous membranes, flush out excess mucous, toxins, dust, pollen, and other allergens and germs from nose and sinuses. Clearing the passageways for unrestricted breathing and stimulating the immune function.

Neti is a technique that was used by yogis to stay disease-free. And ancient Danish fishermen also used the method (approached in a slightly rougher manner) by sniffing saltwater from the hand and spitting it out through the mouth claiming that's how they avoided colds.

A neti pot is also a helpful tool for deeper breathing in asana and pranayama. Mystically speaking, a neti pot opens the channels of the third eye, promoting deeper meditation.

Do one pot per nostril.

My neti pot

NETI POT RECIPE:

Use these ratios to achieve your body’s ideal saline solution:
½ to 1 teaspoon of salt (I use Himalaya salt) to 16 ounces (two cups) of water.
You can add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to buffer the solution -- that’ll make it a little gentler on your nose.

THE WATER

Use distilled water. This can be found in a hardware store or grocery store.
Or
Boiled tap water (let it cool before using.)

9. Mushrooms

In my afternoon cup of black tea, I added Cordyceps and Reishi. These (and most) mushrooms have many polysaccharides, antioxidant properties, and beta-glucans that can help with immune function. Reishi is one of my favorites, as it's an adaptogen. This grounding mushroom helps you to chill out and adapt to whatever life throws your way. Recipe: Pop 1 bag of preferred black tea leaves (mine is Yorkshire), ½ tsp. Cordyceps, 1 tsp Reishi and 1 cup of hot water in a heatproof pot or glass. Steep for 5 min. then strain the mix into a fresh cup with added milk if you like. I use sweet soy milk.

10. Garlic

I had a clove of raw garlic too off course, as my night snack. I peel it, chew and swallow it with a glass of water. Garlic offers potent cold and flu relief and helps bolster your immune system to squelch an infection.

Garlic contains some very beneficial sulfur compounds that affect the formation of signaling molecules in the form of gases such as nitrogen monoxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which are produced naturally in the body.

These signaling molecules play an essential role in cell communication, and help maintain homeostasis (equilibrium) - you can detect altered levels of them in connection with diseases.

Research shows that garlic intake increases the production of these signaling molecules and is believed to be the most basic mechanism for garlic's beneficial effect.

Not least, in recent years, there has been increased awareness of the role of H2S in cell division and programmed cell death (apoptosis). (source)

Tip: When you let the chopped garlic rest for 10-15 minutes before eating it, you activate enzymes that make the good sulfur compounds more accessible to the body.