Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.

Dalai Lama

Plans change, and then they change again. COVID-19. This is a whole new reality for us to understand and navigate. There’s so much unknown and so much fear rampantly seeping into our lives. Even when we try not to fall victim, fear is here and we have to deal with it.

Health can be ignored, until it can’t. There is, fortunately, a silver lining to this situation. We all have the opportunity to learn, grow, reinvent, reimagine, and reconnect with ourselves, our families, and the people who are most important to us. We get to re-examine what makes us healthy and strong. And it certainly isn’t fear.

We can’t help our human nature but we can choose what to focus our attention on. Or, we can hide, veg out in front of the news or Netflix, and stay immobilized, gossip about all the crap in the world, and play the blame game. The choice is there staring us in the face — even at the safe social distance of six feet!

Instead of nurturing anxiety about what might happen, think about what you can make happen. What have you been wanting to do but never seem to have the time for? This time now is your gift. Why not use it wisely?

Now is a good time to pay attention and really think about what self-care means for you. Common sense tells us that to keep our immune systems strong, we need to get plenty of rest as well as exercise. We should eat healthy food (not sugar-loaded comfort food!), and instead of going for that glass of wine, make the choice to drink plenty of water.

It used to be that grandmothers would steep herbs in a pot, place a towel over your head, and rub mustard on your chest (although mine used Vicks VapoRub). Thank goodness today we have more modern treatments to replace these methods. But the point is valid; we need to be proactive. 

We weren’t around during the Spanish flu back in 1918. It killed off about a quarter of the world’s population within the span of two years. Whenever a new bug comes around that no one has any immunity to, it is scary because people perish, and in large numbers. That’s why it is essential that you take action to strengthen your natural immunity.

I was on a Princess cruise ship in late January. And, yep, I came home sick with a respiratory flu-type thing. There were about six of us on that cruise who came home sick. It was not fun. I already have a tendency toward upper respiratory ailments, so I immediately went to bed, kept myself away from people, ate lots of soup with tons of garlic, drank herbal tea, diffused essential oils into the air, and slept a lot. Although I didn’t know it at the time, chances are I had COVID-19. In a way I’m glad I didn’t know because I would have been so worried. The fear would have made things worse. 

This is a serious bug, and some of us are especially vulnerable. We need to develop resistance. I‘ve seen a lot of folks who expect a drug to make whatever cold, flu, or virus go away. Maybe they get the flu shot for insurance. Instead, notice when you get run down and take time for TLC. We are a society that honors people when they work even though they’re sick. That behavior is now over, and I say good riddance!

So now we get to rest and slow the heck down. Children need this too. We have to stop being unconscious about how illness spreads and how we get ill in the first place.

I have been traveling lately. In fact, I am in an airport as I write this. It isn’t where I would like to be but I have to get home. The airports are not as crowded as they usually are. Still, there’s a woman next to me who is coughing. Normally I would pay no attention, but now I find myself turning away from her. I have washed my hands so much they feel chapped.

Instead of being immobilized by anxiety, I encourage you to take action to support your health — and those around you. Here are 7 things we can do to mitigate this potential infection, in addition to the hand washing, surface cleaning, and proper coughing and sneezing protocol.

1. Sleep more.

2. Drink more water.

3. Eat really well and avoid sugar and crappy comfort foods and snacks.

4. Find ways to eat more garlic every day (garlic is a super food and particularly good for the lungs).

5. Diffuse essential oils into the air (eucalyptus, rosemary verbenon, tea tree).

6. Breathe deeply in the fresh air! Take full belly breaths, hold, and then exhale completely. (Taking walks and getting exercise is still allowed as long as we avoid crowds.)

7. Take immune herbal boosters in the form of tinctures and teas and use in your food (think astragalus, garlic, ginger). (I have also been taking a concoction by the herbdoctor.com)

Because I left home before this pandemic began I’ve had the opportunity to witness it a little differently. I’ve had to have contact with people, where if I had been home I wouldn’t have. I’ve seen how we really are all in this together. There is no escape. There is only our attitude and willingness to thrive and be of help and service. As the flight attendants keep saying, first secure the oxygen mask over your nose and mouth before assisting others. And if you have to sneeze or cough, do it lovingly and then go wash your hands.

As always, be gorgeously healthy,

Gay

Since we all can use some immunity boosting now, here are two warm beverages that will bring comfort to you and your family.

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Gorgeously Healthy Chai Tea

Mushrooms help us build our ability to handle stressors be they viruses or other stress. They trigger an ability to tolerate and process things, something we can all benefit from now.

Mushroom powder: Make a blend using equal parts of powdered mushrooms such as Turkey tail, Lions mane, Reishi, Porcini, Chanterelle, Cordyseps and Chaga.

rosemarysgarden.com  also sells a mushroom blend and you can have it shipped to your door or you can get some at the health food store or mountainroseherbs.com

Almond milk, soy milk or cashew milk or you can use real milk if you handle dairy well.

Course Drinks

Servings 10 cups

Ingredients

• 8 cups pure spring or filtered water
• 2 tbsp cinnamon chips
• 2 tsp cloves
• 7 star anise
• 1 tbsp powdered ginger
• 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
• 2 tbsp cardamom
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 5 astragalus bark pieces
• 1 tbsp powdered Reishi mushroom or mushroom blend
• 1-2 tbsp black tea or rooibos, for caffeine free
• raw honey to taste
• 2 cups non-dairy milk, such as almond or soy

Instructions

• Place all ingredients except tea, honey, and milk into a pan. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, and cover with a lid for 15–20 minutes.
• Add tea, remove from heat, and let steep for 5–10 minutes. Strain through a sieve into another pan or pot.
• Add honey to taste and stir in milk of choice. Serve hot and enjoy!