How To Holistically Heal...Supporting Your Family's Immunity

When Your Child Brings Germs Home, Consider This....

1. HEALING: When Your Child Brings Germs Home, Consider This....

2. REVERENCE: Acute Relief Remedies: A Naturopathic First Aid Kit for Colds, Flu, and Seasonal Illness

3. EXPLORING: Prevention is Better Than Cure & Persistent Symptoms (when to book in for a consultation)

1. HEALING: When Your Child Brings Germs Home, Consider This....

Change is in the air—quite literally.

As the seasons shift, so too does the frequency of sniffles, sneezes, and little coughs echoing through our homes. This time of year, many families are navigating not only the temperature fluctuations—from chilly mornings to warmer afternoons and the drying effects of indoor air conditioning—but also the invisible wave of germs that follow our children home from daycare or school.

Whether it's your little one returning to class or you heading back into the office, the shared spaces, recycled air, and lowered immunity all play a role in seasonal colds.

Naturopathic Foundations for Healing

Here’s how I support my patients and family when a cold strikes—whether it's sneezed in from school or quietly creeping in after a long day of work.

i. Food as Medicine

Nourish with warmth and simplicity:

• Soups and broths made from organic, pasture-raised chicken or wild fish bones, slow-cooked with healing vegetables, garlic, ginger, and herbs like thyme and rosemary. Enjoy a mug of chicken broth infused with turmeric root, garlic, and ginger, finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

• Congee (slow-cooked rice porridge) with a touch of warming cinnamon and clove for comfort and digestive ease.

• Steamed vegetables such as leafy greens with lemon juice and zest, slow-cooked grains, and lightly poached fruits for gentle nourishment.

• Avoid cold, raw, or mucous-forming foods (like dairy, refined sugars, and cold drinks).

Next week, I’ll be sharing a deeper dive into the foods to avoid when you’re sick—and what to eat more of to support healing. So stay subscribed.

ii. Lifestyle Rituals for Healing

• Rest is priority – Encourage early bedtimes and naps. Healing is not productive—it is restorative.

• Warm baths with magnesium or mustard foot soaks to draw circulation.

• Gentle sweats under warm blankets with herbal teas to encourage natural detoxification.

• Keep feet warm, necks covered, and ensure no one is sitting on cold floors.

• Diffuse essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree to purify the air and soothe the senses.

2. REVERENCE: Acute Relief Remedies: A Naturopathic First Aid Kit for Colds, Flu, and Seasonal Illness

When the first signs of illness appear—a tickle in the throat, a runny nose, an achy body—acting early and wisely makes all the difference. These are the moments to reach for your Acute Relief Naturopathic Kit, thoughtfully prepared and stocked with both supplement and herbal solutions, along with comforting infusions, essential oil rubs, steam inhalations, and simple compresses to support and relieve.

Below you'll find a collection of remedies I recommend for patients and families to keep on hand—ideal for first aid care and immune support through colds, coughs, fevers, and congestion.

When it comes to our natural prescriptions, we treat them with the same level of care and responsibility as your doctor or pharmacist would. We take into consideration who we are prescribing to—their age, constitution (whether robust or sensitive), any known interactions with existing treatments or medications, the severity and intensity of symptoms, as well as sensitivities, allergies, intolerances, and coexisting conditions.

The following are examples of what I have prescribed, but I always prefer a consultation with you to make the best and most tailored recommendation for your family. If you’re already a patient of mine, chances are I know your family well—so a shorter check-in is often all that’s needed.

Please note: If symptoms persist, please consult your GP or seek emergency care if your symptoms become very severe.