HOW TO FEND OFF A COLD, WITH BILL MURRAY

watch from HERE, ring from etsy

Well. In case you hadn't heard: we got six more weeks, kids.

Thanks a lot, Punxsutawney! 

It seems like I've been fighting off the same almost-a-cold-but-not-quite for over a month now, like a fugitive on the run. I was doing pretty great too, but then on Friday it finally caught up to me, and I went down for the count. I felt pretty grouchy about it, too.

You know that feeling you get just behind your eyes when you're coming down with something, that feeling like you could seriously murder someone for a nap?

I'm feeling better now. I now only sound like I have emphysema. And I feel proud, too, you know? I gave that cold a run for its money. I kept it at bay for a good long while. (I swear by extra vitamin c + elderberry.) And then I even learned a few new tricks for outrunning a cold + being a gracious loser once caught, thanks to all my Instagram people. I love you, Instagram people. I will now happily pass these tips on to all of you. 

And so, here it is, the shared wisdom of my Instagram feed on the best seasonal tips for avoiding + surviving the dreaded winter sniffles, with help from Mr. Bill Murray. 

/ GET SOME SLEEP

The very best defense and the very best remedy for any kind of cold is sleep, sleep, sleep. It's ok if this requires Nyquil, you're only human. :)

/ MIX YOUR OWN COLD-BUSTING BATH SALTS

To clear your congestion and seriously aid in relaxation, mix 2 cups of Epsom salt, 2 cups of sea salt and 2 cups of baking soda with 1/4 oz eucalyptus essential oil, 1/8 oz lavender essential oil, 1/16 oz tea tree essential oil, 1/16 oz pine or cedar essential oil, and 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. Then soak. Toaster not necessary.

/ EAT WELL

Sometimes with a cold I lose my appetite completely, and other times, especially if my throat is itchy enough, all I want to do is shove food in my mouth and moan like a bloated whale. The saying goes, "starve a fever, feed a cold," doesn't it? (I had to look it up; yes it does.) Here are some favorites from the 'gram:

From @iamkatyhill: "Garlic. Lots and lots of Garlic."

From @halteinstein: "Fresh ginger root + honey tea!"

From @brianacarrion: "Nettle tea and lots of honey!"

From @lyd_ferreira: "Vitamin D and chicken soup."

From me: "Sushi, heavy on the wasabi." 

From @scrappycook: "Lemon Ginger Echinacea juice from Trader Joe's served hot. It's the best!"

From @grouchgirl: "Sweet potato and ginger soup made with chicken stock. Really revitalising."

From @msmorgan: "Tea w/honey and 3 liters of water or more a day!"

From @mandylynnamanda: "If I get sick I'm all about vitamin A: carrots, sweet potato, papaya."

From @kkathleencox: "Elderberry, zinc, vitamin c, and chamomile tea with raw honey at night."

From @kschryver: "Turmeric and honey and lemon with a throat coat echinacea tea by Traditional Medicinals! Tastes amazing and full of anti-inflammatory + healing properties!"

/ SELF MEDICATE

From @yelyah.anne81: "We have Vaporub, swear by it on the feet with socks and on the chest for coughs + sore throats!"

From @mhmoser: "Zicam rapid melts at the first sign of a cold. Works like a charm."

From @momsstuffsalve: "Mom's Stuff is great rubbed into congested chests."

From @skye_harmony: "Zinc!"

From @mmbjake: "Yep. A chopped garlic clove in a spoonful of raw honey... swallow whole and chase with water! Chewing optional."

From @finnandjane_: "Oil of oregano, too!"

From @huntingforrubies: "Kombucha, ACV, honey, and cinnamon. Cod liver oil... Yuck!"

From @acuriousgal: "ACV, raw honey and cayenne pepper several times a day."

From @binofous: "Fire cider! Make a bit batch and keep it in yo fridge." 

From @gravycreations: "I always saline my nose, then use a nasal spray with grapefruit seed extract."

From @honeylakestudio: "I have a rollerball of oregano oil, melaleuca, frankincense, and On Guard cut with coconut oil that you rub on your feet."

From @betinaannliv: "I'd like to bear my testimony that essential oils are true."

From @mrsweety: "Pau d'arco, GSE, and vitamin C! 2 droppers full of the 1st, 10 drops of the second, 500 milligrams of the third, twice a day for 5 days! Super immune system booster! Doctors orders! Oh, and lots of miso soup."

From Brandon: "Sudafed."

From @kncallais: "Dayquil + lots of Yogi immune-boosting tea. Miserable fist-bumps to us all."

From my sister: "Hot toddies."

From @duchess_duckegg: "Whining."

/ TRY NOT TO TAKE IT OUT ON OTHERS

Even though, yes. Nothing feels better.

/ AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WATCH EMPIRE RECORDS.

"What's with today today?"

Feel better, chickens.