safe practice for heading off a cold in late pregnancy?

[Guest guest]

Namaste, All -

I am now 38+ weeks pregnant, and I seem to be showing some

signs of picking up the cold my husband has had the last week.

Throat irritation, a little post nasal drip. I'd like to try to head

it off before it fully manifests. I'm drinking hot ginger lemonade

today, which has helped in the past, and will amp up on the

Vitamin C, and doing hot water salt gargles, but does anyone

have any other suggestions for "nipping this in the bud" as we

say in America before it gets worse, that are safe for late

pregnancy? thank you!

Blessings,

Connie

[Guest guest]

Connie:

 

Just the standard fare - avoid cold foods, drink plently of hot

water; avoid diary and heavy foods. Also take some pepper and garlic

with the hot ginger lemonade.

 

-yogaman

 

 

ayurveda, "Connie Habash" <Connie@a...>

wrote:

> Namaste, All -

> I am now 38+ weeks pregnant, and I seem to be showing some

> signs of picking up the cold my husband has had the last week.

> Throat irritation, a little post nasal drip. I'd like to try to

head

> it off before it fully manifests. I'm drinking hot ginger lemonade

> today, which has helped in the past, and will amp up on the

> Vitamin C, and doing hot water salt gargles, but does anyone

> have any other suggestions for "nipping this in the bud" as we

> say in America before it gets worse, that are safe for late

> pregnancy? thank you!

> Blessings,

> Connie

[Guest guest]

> I am now 38+ weeks pregnant, and I seem to be showing some

> signs of picking up the cold my husband has had ,,,

 

Hi Connie;

This is not a standard ayurvedic response, but I tried several ways

to send a private email and couldn't figure your address. So, hope

it posts . If it were me, I'd get a hold of some therapeutic grade

essential oils (in America/Canada I only know of one company of this

quality) and have them on hand for situations like this. With my

pregnant and postpartum clients, when they want safe and effective

immune support this is so valuable for quick turnaround. I too will

be hoping one of the vaidyas respond with more specific ayurvedic

herbal information.

 

Clove, Cinnamon, lemon, rosemary, oregano, thyme, these are perhaps

the most antimicrobial. The eucalyptus oil you may already have

also, breathe over a drop or two carefully in a cup of hot water.

There is a wonderful little collection/kit on sale with them this

month I think it has 6 oil blends in it which would be a great

asset ... for multiple aspects of immune support like respiratory,

antibacterial, antiviral - some are warming, some cooling, I'd be

happy to go over it when you get it if you order. Also excellent one

for digestion/gas (essential concern postpartum), endocrine system

esp. thyroid/adrenals, and something else, I forget.

 

If you have to choose one oil or blend to purchase, I'd say the blend

they call THieves, named after the oils used by the 16th century body

robbers during the plague. They didn't get sick as a result. Tested

very highly and broad spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal,

et al.

 

Or using what you have, diffuse or dilute if not organic,

significantly with veg oil. Because essential (and food) Oils

concentrate environmental toxins and pesticides when they grow in

nature due to lipid similarities. The organic and therapeutic grade

(low temp/pressure extracted, a grade above organic) I use topically,

if I were you I'd use 3 drops 3 -4 times a day rubbed on soles of

feet and inhale from your hands too. Continue almost that much for

2 - 3 days after symptoms subside. You will be amazed. Take care,

it is heating and if a little burning by accident near eyes or

something, use vegetable oil or ghee to dilute, not water. See below

for website access, or try contacting me but we expect power out here

in NCentral FLorida too.

 

Of course your homework around things you may know, include rest,

drink lots of warm fluids and alkalyzing soups, enjoy fresh fruits to

taste (not banana) and don't fast. Favor turmeric, clove, basil,

fresh ginger, cinamon, like that oh and garlic, probably best lightly

browned first. A little turmeric in your salt water gargle is very

helpful. Some people would take garlic capsules, I don't know about

during pregnancy but short term probably helpful. It is just that

they will likely make Baby and you too uncomfortably restless;

lightly browning the fresh garlic helps remove some of that

influence, also will be very valuable after the birth.

 

I always think around pregnancy and postpartum for keeping the

nourishment going too. Avoid cold drinks/foods and most dairy except

garlic or pippali milk is probably fine(a Dr. Lad recipe, if you have

his cookbook there are other medicated milks also for colds and

such). YOu can take a big tablespoon of tahini in cup hot water with

a little maple syrup and pinch nutmeg/cardamom spin in the blender

for a nourishing, calming, phlegm free drink. And favor for a little

while the drier, more vata increasing but kapha reducing grains and

legumes. Flax oil. A little ghee or sesame oil, instead of butter,

but soups and steaming is better right now. Late pregnancy and

postpartum espcially you will feel MUCH better avoiding salads.

 

Without knowing your body type and vikruti these things are probably

all ok for the short term, but you must listen to your instincts too,

without personalized professional support.

 

Namaste

Martha Oakes

Postpartum AyurDoula, Training & ARomatherapy

www.youngliving.com/sacredwindow (essential oils)

www./mygroups see perinatalayurveda

EST 352-378-3660