Dr. Lauri Grossman

Keeping Your Family Healthy During the School Year

My favorite Instagram post of the week included a father’s claim that his three kids were healthy all summer.  Three months of sheer bliss – No stomach aches.  No sniffles.  No coughs or flu.  But then school started, and the nurse called and within a few hours of Day One he had to get in the car to pick up his sick daughter before she infected the whole school.

Sound familiar?

Even when we get enough sleep, exercise, and wholesome organic food, the stresses of work, exams, and challenging relationships can overwhelm our immune systems, so we fall prey to whatever illness is running around our community.   Here are a few steps you can take to keep your family healthy despite the stresses of the year ahead. Simply follow the directions on the packaging.  I hope this will ease things for your daughter when she is stressed about soccer tryouts, for your son when he is trembling about exams, and for the whole family when the weather turns cold, and the flu season is upon us.  Keep me posted and let me know what helps you the most.  Also, write to me to let me know what other health issues you are facing.  I’m happy to help!

Begin the following at the very first sign of a cold, cough, or sore throat:

Zinc – in lozenge or spray form.  Zinc has anti-viral qualities and will support the immune system 

Elderberry syrup is incredibly useful for a common cold.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C supports the immune system by increasing WBC activity

If you do come down with a cold or sore throat or if you feel like you might be getting the flu, start one of the following immediately:

They will lessen the severity and the length of the illness.

The three homeopathic medicines every family should have in their medicine cabinet (and every college student should take with them to school) :

ColdCalm: for sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and nasal congestion

Follow directions on the box

Begin to take it the moment you think a cold might be coming on

ThroatCalm for relief of sore throat, hoarseness, or scratchy red dry throat

Comes in tablets or spray

Start the moment you start to feel throat symptoms

Oscillococcinum for onset of flu symptoms: body ache, headache, fever chills and fatigue

Follow dosing as written on the box.  The sooner you start this, the more effective it will be.

If symptoms linger and you do not respond, you may need professional help.  I’m happy to set up a consultation with you to hear what’s going on so I can recommend a more specific homeopathic medicine to address your specific symptoms.