Tis the season for runny noses, aches, and my personal favorite, the beloved fever. It seems everywhere one goes these days someone is coughing, sneezing or whining. With no cure in sight for the cold or flu, current treatments simply attempt to bring relief from the symptoms. While there are some medications to assist with this, there are also many naturals remedies to battle the winter sniffles.

Blow, Blow, Blow!

It is critical to blow your nose regularly. Avoid sniffling and thereby retaining the mucus. Instead, hold one nostril down and blow gently to clear the other. Always wash your hands after blowing your nose.

 Get Your Rest

Resting when you feel the first aches and pains helps your body utilize your energy through the immune system rather than simply trying to get through your day-to-day demands. Your immune system is stressed. Give it some back up and curl up with your quilt.

Supplements

Many advocate supplements. While there are contrary reports on the validity of such remedies, others have proven time honored. Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Carotenes, zinc and selenium all are known to promote a healthy immune system and are sure to do a body good!

Grandma was right- Gargling does work

Gargling moistens a sore throat can bring some relief. Try a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water, f our times a day. If you suffer from that irritating tickle in your throat, try an astringent gargle that utilizes tannin in order to tighten the membranes. Another tried and true gargle is a viscous gargle made with honey. This one is very popular throughout folk medicine. Simply steep one tablespoon of raspberry leaves or lemon juice in two cups of hot water; mix one teaspoon of honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before gargling and remember children under 1 year old should not be given honey.

Drink Hot Liquids

Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration and can soothe the irritated inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat. Stock up on the soups, teas and even ciders! Your body will thank you!

Hot and Steamy

Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you are dizzy from the flu, consider running the shower while sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath. Often I will use essentail oils in a hot bath to ease the aches and pains as well as boost the immune system. Peppermint, spearmint and eucalyptus are all very effective in combating the cold while still supporting the immune system. If its more convenient bring a pot of water to boil and add the oils on the stovetop.

Herbal Support

Echinacea is a great herb to boost immune defenses. It is best taken in tincture form, however Echinacea teas and pills are also available. Another option is elderberries. There are teas, syrups, and tinctures that utilize elderberries due to their immune boosting capabilities as well as the effectiveness of fighting off respiratory and influenza viruses. My family personally uses elderberries quite often during cold and flu season with great success. Ginseng is another option for cold-suffers. Furthermore, licorice root is very valuable during cold and flu season since it is such a multi-faceted herb. This herb packs a serious punch as its an anti-inflammatory, demulcent (soothing for sore throats), antispasmodic (for tight coughs), and expectorant (to rid yourself of that nasty mucus)!

Invest in Salve

Mentholated salve really does work. It can help open up breathing passages and soothe the irritated skin at the base of the nose. Menthol, eucalyputs and camphor are all mild numbing ingredients that can help relieve the rawness as well hold natural anti-viral properties to help battle the cold.

Soothe the Sinuses

Both bold and hot packs may help with congested sinuses. You can buy reusable hot/cold packs at any drugstore nationwide, or make your own with a hot washcloth or even frozen peas.

Make use of the extra pillow

That extra pillow you never use will help with the drainage of nasal passages. If the you find the angle awkward, try placing the pillows between the mattress and box springs to allow for a more natural slope.

Stay Grounded

Flying is a stressful event anyway, however flying when your upper respiratory system is already stressed is foolish. Doing so can seriously hurt your eardrums as a result of the pressure changes. If you absolutely must fly, use a decongestant and carry a nasal spray. Swallowing frequently and chewing gum may also help with the pressure. If possible though, just stay home and get better!

With the aid of these simple, time-honored, folk remedies you can however ease much of the discomfort and shorten your battle with that pesky cold. Remember, serious conditions can impersonate the common cold and a mild infection can develop into serious conditions. If you have severe symptoms consult your practitioner.

The holidays are not known for being eco-friendly. In fact, the quite the opposite is true due to mass consumerism, extra travel and of course a massive amount of waste and trash. This sounds like an eco-family’s nightmare. With careful planning and thoughtful consideration however your Thanksgiving can be as Green as any other day.

 Green Travel? Stay close to home instead!

So often the holidays amount to added travel. Not only is this pricey and stressful but it also adds significantly to our carbon footprint. Instead, combine a trip to Grandma’s with another holiday/vacation and this stay close to home. Make it a new tradition to spend Thanksgiving with friends, family and co-workers locally. Encourage others to do the same. If you do choose to travel, avoid planes if possible. Instead opt for mass transit. Between buses, trams, and trains, many of us could still travel regionally without the guilt of such a huge carbon setback

 Green cleaning

When preparing for guests or recovering from guests, every hostess knows a big part of the party is cleaning. Invest in green cleaning products rather than nasty chemical-laden ones. Better yet, save a few pennies and make your own cleaning products. Good old fashioned vinegar and baking soda can go a long way in terms of cleaning. Make sure that the dishwasher is filled to the rim before starting it. Dishwashers are very efficient at cleaning a full load of dishes when compared to washing by hand. Before loading, scrape the plates and hand rinse rather than wasting water and energy using pre-rinse settings. Also avoid other odd cycles like heavy rinse, pots and pans etc. For maximum energy efficiency make sure to set the dishwasher to air dry rather than using the drying function.

 Speaking of Energy

With all the happenings in the kitchen between the stovetop burners cooking away and many tasty dishes baking, your home is going to get warm- quickly! This is even truer if you already have a household of guests over. Do yourself a favor and save a bit on your heating bill. Turn down the heat a bit and set your thermostat for a lower setting for the day. If you want to take it a bit further, reduce lamps and instead use soy candles to offer an energy efficient way to produce a peaceful holiday ambience.

Crowd control

Don’t bother showing off to your Mother-in-law with exotic, gourmet dishes that use ingredients flown in across the world. Not only is this horrible for climate change, simply putting together such dishes are dreadful in terms of energy usage. People aren’t looking for the exotic. Instead, the most popular, and appreciated dishes, are often the traditional fares most of which can be bough locally and/or organically. MAny farmer’s markets go year round. Check into local CSA’s as well. Invest in local produce, dairy, eggs and cheese for your holiday meal. Also, don’t forget to investigate local organic and free-range farms for the ham or turkey of your dreams. Furthermore, skip the eighteen side dishes and salads. The gluttony of Thanksgiving is known worldwide. Offer your family a celebration of the season’s bounty reasonably and cut down on waste. www.use-less-stuff.com offers a handy guide for portion control. Their guide per person for food and drink is approximately:

Turkey- 1pound

Stuffing- ¼ pound

Sweet potatoes ¼ pound

Green bean- ¼ pound

Cranberry relish- 3 tablespoons

Pie- 1/8 of a 9 inch pie

After the meal, evaluate how much was eaten. If it’s your tradition to host or assist with the meal, write down the amounts and have a better gauge for next year! If you do have a huge troupe (like we have!) consider buying food stuffs in bulk. This will not only help your carbon footprint but your wallet as well. Don’t forget your reusable shopping bags too!

 Go vegetarian

These days many eco-minded individuals are going vegetarian. The Vegetarian Resource Group has estimated that between 6 and 8 million adults are vegetarians. When planning the meal, don’t forget to offer vegetarian dishes. Even if your family are omnivores, simply by offering a few vegetarian or vegan dishes, your Thanksgiving meal is already becoming even more eco-friendly. Don’t know where to start? Try looking at recipes at www.food.com or www.organicconsumers.org. These are simple, easily done locally and very tasty- even for those of us that love a bit of meat on the side.

 A Lil Drinky-poo?

A party isn’t a party without beverages! Consider serving beverages that are local or organic. Many farms this time of year offer apple cider that is always a big hit. No farms near you? For those of you ready for adventure, try making apple juice and cider yourself. Our family does every year. Not only is it cheaper, tastes better, more healthy but it’s also appreciated so much more. Also, check into your area and see if there are any local breweries or wineries. The closer to home you buy the less carbon impact your drink is going to have on our world. Plus, it feels great to buy locally and keep monies moving within our communities rather than corporate America.

Setting the table

Avoid at all costs using disposable tableware. It is tempting especially if you simply do not have enough table settings. Resist this horrendous temptation. Instead, use your own tableware, ask for guests to bring their own potluck style or invest in a few extra place settings via department store or better yet thrift store. This also works for obtaining an extra gravy boat or a decorative table runner you think may be in order. This will save your wallet more than just a few pennies and you won’t feel the disposable guilt weighing you down that night.

 Decorate naturally (Yes! You can do it!)

It’s absolutely foolish to waste money and time racing out to the mall to buy plastic Thanksgiving-themed decorations that will break by next year anyway. Instead, take a hint from nature. A simple centerpiece of squash and pumpkins with a few candles can be cheaper and just as lovely. Set out baskets of pinecones. Put the kids to work making place settings with cardstock and dried leaves. You may even want to consider buying a plant to use as a living centerpiece. In a pinch? Opt for a lovely organic centerpiece with fresh flowers from your local independent florist or head out to the thrift store to see what goodies you may discover!

Losing the leftovers

After the big meal comes the great clean up. Don’t forget to compost! This holiday more than any other creates the most amount of food waste. Use it to feed our earth. Also, if you do miscalculate or that kooky uncle and his family no-show and you suddenly have too many leftovers to bear, simply remember to send some home with your guests. For my bachelor brothers, this is the best part of Thanksgiving! Consider asking guests to bring their own Tupperware just in case. Or use empty cool whip, cottage cheese and yogurt containers to send home some of the bounty. This way you are reusing, not wasting and providing a plentiful lunch for a loved one in the following days.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- Oh My!

Last but not least is the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! While you have thus far been attempting to reduce, don’t’ forget the others! Reuse the decorations for next year! Use the containers you bought the ingredients in as Tupperware. Instead of the plastic or paper disposable table linens invest in cloth ones that can be reused again, and again! What can’t be reused, remember to recycle!

By using these simple strategies, your family is sure to have an enjoyable and environmentally friendly Thanksgiving season. That we all can be thankful for!

What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon with the family than enjoying an eco-friendly film? However, finding a good one can be more challenging than one would expect. Some films have flopped badly; whereas others have gone forth to inspire great changes throughout our world. Here is my personal top ten:

1.  An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
This is by far the most profitable and famous of all environmental films to date. Al Gore examines the frightening realities of climate change at length. This film brought the climate change debate to an intense confrontation. It is still almost always cited, either in scorn or in awe, when discussions arise. Without this film, one can only wonder where the climate change movement would be today.

2.  King Korn, 2007
King Korn is one of the best reviewed environmental films to date. It is a film about two college friends who travel to the heartland in order to plant, raise and follow to production our nation’s most subsidized produce: corn, In doing so, they discover scandalous facts about an industry that all Americans are inevitably connected to. Regardless of political leanings or environmental proclivity, this film is sure to please and inform.

3.  Avatar, 2009
James Cameron presents the blockbuster-of-blockbusters in this 3d film. The morale of the story: Don’t mess with nature; lest it mess back. Director James Cameron outdoes himself with fantastic imagery and storytelling. In this film, he purposefully calls attention to our loss of biodiversity and the effects of climate change.  This film was ground-breaking, part for its technological advances, but also for the huge budget the even bigger audience it has affected thus far.

4. The 11th Hour, 2007
This famous movie, narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, takes a holistic look at the overwhelming environmental troubles currently facing our earth. It offers sensible solutions, if only in theory, to the ecological truths it challenges.
4.  Fast Food Nation, 2006
This noteworthy film is based upon Eric Schlosser’s book, 2001, Fast Food Nation. This film explores the political, ecological, economical and social ethics in regards to our addiction to fast food and meat production in our world. Part black comedy, part drama, and packed with a lot of frightening truths, this film is guaranteed to educate and keep you in your seat.

5.  Tapped, 2009
This film explores the bottled water industry in terms of our health, our reliance on oil, pollution and climate change. This film is eye-opening as it candidly explores a habit many of us participate in.

6.  Food, Inc., 2008
Food, Inc attacks the entire agricultural industry. In this documentary Robert Kenner, along with Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser and The Omnivore’s Dilemma author Michael Pollan, explore where the food we purchase at the store really comes from and what the future health of generations to come may look like. Kenner highlights the relationships between business and government to show the dark underbelly of the American food industry. This film will have you questioning many of your day-to-day simple lifestyle choices.

7.  Erin Brockovich, 2000
Erin Brockovich is a true-story film that demonstrates how environmental issues can affect us directly and powerfully.  Julia Roberts plays a single mother who uncovers the industrial poisoning of a small town’s water supply. Her award winning performance drew viewers around the world and educated many about the reality of industrial pollution. This film is enlightening, moving and intense. It is a must for any top ten list.

8.  Who Killed the Electric Car?, 2006
Filmmaker Chris Payne discovers the many causes that resulted in the crucial failure of the electric car to take over the automotive industry, despite the fact that gas prices began to skyrocket. He demonstrates the progressively more important role that renewable energy holds in today’s world. Via interviews with consumer advocacy experts, automotive industry leaders and big oil heavyweights, Payne provides a thought-provoking depiction of a society whose repugnance to change and complete dependence upon dwindling resources may be entrenched in the financial concerns of a wealthy minority. It may also be leading consumers into a troubled future. This film is thought-provoking and emotive.

9.  WALL-E, 2008
This family friendly film features a small waste-collecting robot who accidentally embarks on a space expedition that will eventually decide the fate of all mankind. Despite the charm and child-friendly humor, this film explores big issues. With loveable characters and a great plot, it explores the ramifications of what our world may look like if our unsustainable habits continue unabated.

10.  Earthlings, 2005
Narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, long time Activist and Vegan, this film uses hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage to document the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. What makes this film different is that it does not focus solely on the vegetarian debate. Instead, it strives to demonstrate all of the ways in which we exploit animals, through companionship, experimentation, clothing, entertainment, and consumption. Furthermore, this film clearly shows how environmental issues are invariably linked to animal consumption. This film is intense and not for the faint of the heart. It will however change the way you look at our consumerism in terms of animal rights.

These movies can entertain, educate, enlighten, and empower.  Striving for a “Greener” tomorrow can mean a lot of different things and these movies are just one way to not only enjoy some family time at home but also encourage a more eco-friendly future.