Happier, healthier holidays

The greeting cards say, "Happy Holidays."

You can turn this phrase into reality with some thought and planning.

The key is to take care of yourself.

Many people have learned to use flower essence remedies for calming at stressful or busy times. Here's a link from educator Nancy Buono, who tells how you can pick flower remedies to keep your spirits light, avoid discouragement and deal with the chaos that is present in some families.

Make sure you get enough sleep, always a good plan for people who want to keep their emotions even. Make sure that you are eating properly and stay away from sugary and salty items if they are trigger foods for you. This is the time of year that I make a list of meals and snacks that I can eat daily and keep away from sugar, which is an addictive substance for me.

Overeaters Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous can help you to refrain from overeating and drinking if you expect to be tempted. Some communities and clubs have all-day meetings for recovering alcoholics and many find online "meetings" helpful, especially when the weather is cold, cold, cold. Use your search engine like Google to find online meetings that stretch around the globe.

Thanks to Hazelden, here is realistic advice for family members who are dreading the holidays due to someone else's drinking. The advice comes from Bob Poznanovich, formerly an interventionist, who defies the myth that the holidays are not a good time to get help.

Worried about a catching a bug? There are many natural remedies that will help build your immune system. See your neighborhood acupuncturist or natural food store for healing teas (yin chiao) and other herbs like astralagus that you can add to your chicken soup to fortify your immune system.

If you want to go the homeopathic route, natural remedies like Allium cepa helps with runny noses, colds and red watery eyes; Oscillococcinum helps with symptoms of flu, like fever, chills, body aches and pains.

Finally, remember to rest. With all the bustle, remember that your body needs rest to heal and recharge.

Keep your immune system healthy this winter

The cold season is here. I like keeping my people coming in for psychotherapy – not sick and ill and miserable at home. Winter is still here in Wisconsin and it will be here for a while. Here’s what I suggest to keep you healthy this winter.

Friends, there are alternatives to strengthening your immune system. Here, traditional Chinese medicine –which is much more than acupuncture – can be very helpful with its herbal remedies

One great immune-building remedy is Yin Chiao – also sometimes spelled Yinchaio—a powerful and yet inexpensive remedy that comes from the practice of traditional Chinese medicine.

This remedy, which comes in tablet and pill form as well as tea bags, is available at most natural pharmacies and from practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine. In Racine, you can find this remedy at a number of locations; see The Guide for listings of regional practitioners and resources in southeastern Wisconsin.

Yes, by all means, do the regular “stuff” to build your immune system and keep it healthy:

Drink green tea. It helps fortify your immune system.

Reduce your intake of sugar and sugary foods, which have been proven to significantly suppress your immune system for up to six hours after consuming.

Reduce your stress in whatever way that means – saying “no” to extra commitments, for instance, and staying away form abusive and demanding people. You may also want to practice some sort of stress reduction activities, such as meditation, prayer, yoga or tai chi.

Practice positive self-care behaviors: getting enough sleep and eating whole foods. Massage, yoga and tai chi help too.

Wash your hands frequently. Use soap and hot water and take your time.

Use alcohol or bleach wipes to clean door knobs, phones and other places where germs like to live.

Consider essential oils. Dr. Andrew Weil suggests using essential oil of thyme in an infuser. Be sure to use an essential oil that is labeled “medical grade” or “pharmaceutical grade.”