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How to keep your kids and yourself healthy this cold and flu season

8/30/2024

As summer winds down and the new school year begins, it’s time to consider what we can do to help our kids stay healthy during cold and flu season. Children will inevitably be exposed to viruses and will get sick from time to time. This is normal, and just a part of developing a healthy immune system.

With that being said, there are some things that we can do to strengthen their immune systems naturally so that they stay healthy more often than not. For starters, rather than using things like Lysol, hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps, which can cause more harm than good, teaching good hand washing with regular soap and water will go a long way.

Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep is important for everyone, especially for children. When we sleep we are in rest and digest mode and that includes our brain and our nervous system. Young bodies and brains are also growing and developing, which is why kids stay healthier when they sleep better.
Create a bedtime routine
Giving kids a chance to tell you one thing that upset them that day and one thing that made them happy creates connection and peace of mind, which facilitates safety, calming their nervous system Keep the bedroom cool
Cooler air temperature helps us fall asleep faster and can trigger our brain to naturally release melatonin and it lowers our cortisol. This helps kids to have easy , peaceful sleep.* Sometimes kids have a hard time falling asleep, in recent years the use of melatonin supplements for children has increased but the long term effects of that isn’t known. Here at Herbs, Love, and Yoga we carry a variety of gentle and effective herbs for calming the occasional restlessness at bedtime that kids may experience from time to time*

Eating Mindfully

Kids can be picky eaters, any parent can attest to that. The world today is brimming with ultra processed foods that are highly palatable to children in particular, but they come at a great cost to our children’s health and well being.
When kids are offered a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, and dairy they stay healthier. When it comes to rices, pastas and breads, look to find the brands that don’t have an ingredient list a mile long.
Healthy choices make for healthy growing bodies and minds.
Kids love sugar(adults do too!) being mindful about how much sugar they consume -in their drinks too- can significantly reduce the number of sick visits you’ll need to make to their pediatrician.

Sunshine

Even on chilly or cold days, kids need time outside to get the sunshine on their faces and fresh air in their lungs. More time outside makes for healthier kids Exercise:
Getting your littles outside for some fresh air and fun to run around unstructured is a great way to boost their immune systems! Kids are full of energy and there is no better way to expend that energy than by running, yelling, jumping, walking, exploring, climbing, and laughing! Outdoor play also helps kids get tired so they can sleep better and be healthier!
Good for the body! Good for the soul! Good for the spirit! Good for the heart!

This post was written by Debra Romano, an herbal apprentice at Herbs Love And Yoga

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Plant Spotlight: Elderberry

8/30/2024

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Elderberry, the magical and nutritious fruit bestowed upon us by the Elder tree/shrub, is an amazing ally for supporting our immune systems. She is said to be a protector, a healer and to cast away any negativity. She is known as the Elder Mother and has been considered to be sacred to many cultures throughout history. Revered by Hippocrates, the Druids, Medieval Europe, Indigenous North America and Russia. Her value is still very much relevant today.
The berries and the flowers of this sacred plant can be used as both a preventative herbal supplement and as a rescue remedy during cold and flu season. The tart berries of the elderberry plant are jam packed with antioxidants, vitamins A, B6 and C, polyphenols, and essential minerals that help to keep our bodies' natural defenses in tip top shape. When taken at onset of symptoms, elderberry syrup can reduce the number of days you are sick in half! You can also include her sweet medicine into your family’s routine a few days a week during cold and flu season to reduce the likelihood of getting sick.The anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immune stimulating properties are why we look to elderberries when we want to prevent and treat colds, flus and other viruses. *While elderberry is safe and effective for people of all ages, anyone who has a history of autoimmune disease should consult with a medical professional due to its immune-stimulating properties*

Harvesting Elderflower + Elderberries

The Elderflowers can be harvested around mid-June. The flowers grow in clusters called umbels (think umbrella) they are a rich white color and have a milky floral essence to them. They are best harvested well after the morning dew has evaporated and they are full of pollen. Remember that you want to leave enough flowers on any given plant for our pollinator friends and also to pollinate other nearby Elder trees, as they do not self pollinate. Also, any flower umbels you harvest would have been where the berries would have grown, so keep that in mind too, if you want a good amount of berries later on. Elderflower has similar properties to the elderberry for treating/preventing colds and flus when prepared as a tea or a tincture. It is also used to treat bronchitis and swollen sinuses. The delicately sweet floral flavor of elderflower makes it a great ingredient to use in a syrup for desserts and drinks and can be used to flavor baked goods as well.

Want to get to know the elderberry plant up close and personal? Check out our instagram video that gets up close and personal with elderberry. Don't forget to like and follow to get daily plant wisdom ;)

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Are you interested in learning more about plant medicine? Get started by downloading our FREE starter guide: Nourishing With Herbs The Wise Woman Way

This post was written by Debra Romano, an Level 2 Apprentice at Herbs Love And Yoga

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How to keep your kids and yourself healthy this cold and flu season

Sleep

Eating Mindfully

Sunshine

Plant Spotlight: Elderberry

Harvesting Elderflower + Elderberries

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

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