Having the flu is no laughing matter, but in my opinion, the first thing to do is become informed! In this issue of Tools for Health, you will find resources for further research if you'd like to learn more about the FLU Mist or the FLU Vaccine. You will also learn a variety of steps to take on you own to boost the immune system, and to alleviate flu symptoms should the virus set up housekeeping in you or someone you love.

Taking a little side path before we move on to the rest of the newsletter, I would like to apologize for not publishing the August and September newsletters. I live in Central Florida, and my county is the one county in the state that received direct hits from hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne in 6 weeks time. Our home received relatively little damage so we are very grateful, but there is still a lot of property clean up to do and it has taken some time to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

A big THANK YOU to those who offered prayers in behalf of those affected by these disasters, and to those who came to help with clean up, roof repairs, and power and phone restoration!

Now, enjoy this natural path to health, and take care of YOU!

Have a healthy day,

Teri Hayes

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In This Issue

1. What Steps Can I Take To Prevent The Flu?
2. Ward Off The First Symptoms Of The Flu
3. Look For Quality, Expect Results
4. Become Informed
5. What's New At Home

What Steps Can I Take To Prevent The Flu?

First and foremost keep your immune system in good working order. One of the best ways to do that is to stay away from refined foods and sugars. Choose to eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and meat (sparingly). Choose "sweets" naturally from fruits and some vegetables. I also like to use NSP's Stevia instead of sugar as a sweetener on hot whole grain cereals.

[SIDE NOTE: One customer said she couldn't believe the difference between NSP's Stevia and another brand she had purchased. NSP won hands down. Her husband is a diabetic so they're very particular about sugars in their home. It's up to you, but just know that there is a good tasting stevia available!]

In addition, you will want to make sure your colon is functioning at it's healthiest. Use your probiotics (which of course you have kept refrigerated) and digestive enzymes where necessary. Remember to keep plenty of fiber and water in your diet. In order to ensure I am getting enough fiber I keep psyllium hulls on hand and take one or two capsules between meals.

A few other items to keep on hand are:

• Prevention Homeopathic
• Elderberry Defense (which also comes in a chewable for children), Seasonal Defense or Defense Maintenance
• Ultimate Green Zone and Mineral Chi Tonic.
• Tai Go (Highly recommended as it is rich in antioxidants. Another of it's benefits is it comes in a delicious liquid form and is therefore easier for many who have trouble, or just don't want to, swallow capsules.)

Use your Guardian Spritzer around your home daily. We talked some about this little gem in our last issue. Here is a slightly different recipe to try.

Guardian Spritzer

1 glass spritzer bottle
Fill 3/4 full of Natures Fresh
1/4 full of Colloidal Silver
20 drops of Guardian Essential Oil.
Use as a natural Lysol on your feet, in your home, your car, your hotel room vents and even on airplanes.

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Ward Off The First Symptoms Of The Flu

You will recognize the name of the author of this next article if you have been interested in natural health much at all. Steven Horne is the author of several books, training materials for natural health care providers, and the Disease Tree graphic at Natural Health Coach for Women. I have gleaned much knowledge from Steven.

Composition and Herbal Crisis

Herbal Crisis (NSP's HCP-X) is based on a formula from Samuel Thompson called herbal composition powder. The formula is composed of aromatics and some astringents. Herbal Composition is made as follows:
4 parts bayberry rootbark
2 parts white pine bark
1 part ginger
1/2 part clove
1/2 part capsicum (cayenne)
It is available commercially as combination HCP-X from NSP. Ed Millet's crisis formula adds 1 part goldenseal and 1 part lobelia.

Steven Horne's Testimony I had some great experiences using this formula. For example, I was working at a Target store at the time and it was very early spring. The store was receiving it's first shipment of evergreen trees for the lawn and garden department and I was one of the people assigned to unload them. I had only a light jacket and there was a bitter, cold wind blowing outside. I was also feeling the beginning stages of a cold. My sinuses were starting to run and my throat was just on the edge of being sore. I had some of Ed's Herbal Crisis formula with me and I mixed some up in a quart jar and drank some before going outside. Every ten or fifteen minutes, I would step back into the building to warm up for a few minutes and take another drink of the Herbal Crisis. I spent two hours unloading trees in a cold wind and yet, at the end of the two hours my sinuses had stopped running and my throat felt fine. I never did "come down" with that cold. Ever since that day I've learned that if I load myself up with pungent herbs to the point that I get my sinuses running at the very first sign of a cold I never come down with it. In other words, instead of trying to stop my sinuses from draining, I help my body drain my sinuses faster, thus reaching the crisis sooner and expelling the irritants that are causing the disease in hours rather than days. I've used capsicum in soup to do this, hot mustard from a Chinese restaurant, horseradish, ginger and various prepared herbal products with similar results. However, I still find composition powder and herbal crisis to be two of the most effective preparations.

How To Use HCP-X To make your own herbal crisis, mix 4 capsules of HCP-X with 1 capsule of goldenseal and 1 capsule of lobelia. Pour one pint of boiling water over this mixture and let it steep for about 5 minutes. Strain and sweeten to taste with honey. Sip slowly and frequently to stimulate the body in recovering from any acute illness.

For a similar effect, you can also mix equal parts capsicum and lobelia extracts and take small, frequently repeated doses at the first sign of cold or flu. Adding Ultimate Echinacea to the mixture will make it even more effective. Several encapsulated herbs and formulas will also work as general activators, but they will be less effective in capsule form than in liquid form. Either make them into teas and sip frequently, or take 2-4 capsules every two hours until symptoms improve. All of the following will work.
Capsicum, Garlic and Parsley
CC-A
Capsicum
Ginger

Children's Composition
Both of these formulas are very powerful at knocking out acute illness, particularly illness involving respiratory congestion, if taken at the first sign of illness. However, they are too spicy for children and even for some adults. So, many years ago I created a milder version of a general activator that I called Children's Composition.

The basic recipe contains three ingredients blended in equal parts-yarrow, elderflower and peppermint. I've created different versions of this formula that include other herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, elderberries and spearmint.

I've made these formulas using water and glycerin, but you can also make teas and sweeten them with a little honey or other natural sweetener. Other products that can be used as general activators for children include: Stress-J liquid
CC-A with Yerba Santa
Garlic oil capsules (poke a pin hole in the gel cap and squeeze the contents into the child's mouth)
Red Clover Blend

The key to success with these substances is small, frequently repeated doses. Give about 10-20 drops (about one dropper full) every 15-20 minutes along with lots of water. These formulas all contain aromatic herbs that will stimulate the body's energies and help it to reach the disease crisis more quickly.

Looking For Quality, Expecting Results

As a service to my clients and customers I research all products I recommend to make sure they are of the highest quality so you get the results you are looking for. All herbs and herbal combinations mentioned in this newsletter can be found here. Expect nothing less than the best.

Become Informed

One of the major purposes of Natural Health Coach for Women.com and Tools for Health e-newsletter is to give people the tools to be able to take care of themselves. In that spirit, below are a some web sites you may wish to reference as you make decisions about whether or not to use the Flu Vaccine. Keep in mind that I have not read every article on all the sites. This is a jumping off point for you to gain information.

• Red Flags Weekly has a number of well written, informative articles.
• News articles and FDA transcripts can be found at this site
• The CDC has government guidelines.

That should be enough to get you started.

What's New At Home

In the last issue of Tools for Health I told you I found a woman who makes and sells terra-cotta diffuser pendants that I fell in love with. I am now the proud owner of one of her new designs. It has tiny footprints embedded in the clay. It is absolutely beautiful. When you use the link above, click on "New" to see them.

Last issue I also told you I was participating in a Christmas in July Expo. That expo is long over with, but I am participating in a Holiday Extravaganza for the whole month of October. Due to Charley, Frances, and Jeanne, I was unable to make any changes to my online "table", so the aromatherapy sale items are still available (including the pendant offer).

I am offering clients and customers two free pendants of their choice when they purchase any one of 3 aromatherapy kits. Look here for details - scroll down towards the bottom of the page. These kits are wonderful money savers for making Christmas gifts.

I'm in exhibit hall 2, second booth down on the left. Remember to check in the chat room. You never know what classes, workshops, parties might be going on!

Have a healthy day,

Teri

Teri Hayes is a Certified Natural Health Consultant, Herb Specialist, and Certified Reflexologist

You can e-mail her at TeriHayes@natural-health-coach-for-women.com or visit her at Natural Health Coach for Women

The herbs and supplements she recommends to clients can be found using this link.

Comments? Ideas? Feedback? Please reply to this e-newsletter. I’d love to hear from you. Just reply to this newsletter and tell me what you think!

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The suggestions in this e-newsletter are meant to encourage personal responsibility for health and are not given as medical advice. For your individual health concerns such as chronic or acute warning symptoms, in emergency situations, or when in doubt, seek the advice of your primary personal health car practitioner.