What people are doing wrong when it comes to sickness.

I see this mistake everywhere I look. People wait until sickness is present to do anything to support their immune system. Immune support should be an ongoing effort throughout the whole year. If you wait until fall/winter, you will have a harder time with sicknesses.

Mistake 1: Most clients I see already have inflammation and enhanced immune activity secondary to nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, alcohol consumption, stress, over or under exercise, environmental or emotional toxin exposure, blood sugar dysfunction or underlying infection already present in the body. This is what I call a foundational problem. No amount of herb or supplement will help if you don’t address the foundations. The foundations are hard and take time and must always be supported.

Mistake 2: Waiting until you are sick and starting herbs or supplements to “fight off” the sickness isn’t going to get you very far. I’ve heard so many times that “herbs don’t work for me!” (See Mistake 1) When you know there is a season that you are more likely to get sick, don’t wait to get sick to start supporting your immune system. Have tools on hand when you need additional help, but start supporting your immune system AHEAD of time. This concept applies to allergies as well.

Mistake 3: Taking the wrong herbs/supplements. Herbs are nuanced and can’t be used as a blanket for conditions. Even tonics and adaptogens have specific affinities for certain organ systems. The herbs needed in the first 24-48 hours of an illness are not the same as the ones needed for the duration or support after illness. This can be an issue with combination products. Also, the source of your supplements is crucial. If you are purchasing cheap supplements or random herbs, you could be exposing your body to heavy metals, toxic herbs or other ingredients that put more burden on your body.

Mistake 4: Not changing your diet. Our diets should be cyclical like the seasons and our lives. One way we can work with nature, is to eat with the seasons. Don’t eat strawberries in October! Seek out seasonal produce and use variety within that particular food (naval orange, mandarin orange, tangerine, blood orange etc). Cooking methods should also change during the seasons. Cooking your food energetically changes the food and will in turn affect your body differently. When we are sick, we need food that is more cooked and easier to digest since our body is using its energy elsewhere. Season changes are a good time to evaluate your pantry.

Mistake 5: Not sleeping or supporting the body’s natural needs for rest. Our bodies need rest and our culture has told us otherwise. Prioritize sleep!