natural health Archives | Winstead Wandering

Not feeling well sucks, but there are a few products out there that can, literally, help ease your pain. Here are some essentials for when you’re sick.

I hate to be sick. I hate it. And maybe that sounds obvious, because who really likes to be ill? But I hate losing sleep due to a sore throat or congestion, I hate calling in sick to work, and I hate the way missing one day of school throws off my lesson plans for the whole week. Most of all, I hate feeling yucky.

I woke up Monday feeling just that way, though, and I knew this week wasn’t going to allow room for me to lounge in bed. As much as I wanted to spend quality time at home with my favorite sweatshirt and a bottle of Dayquil, I had a field trip to chaperon, a playoff softball game to cheer at, and an awesome economics game to introduce my students to. Sick time didn’t factor in.

Over the years, I’ve learned there are a few things I consider essentials for when you’re sick. Products to take as much unpleasantness out of the situation as possible; products to minimize down time and get you back at it. These are my favorite products to keep around when I’m sick.

Essentials for When You’re Sick

Kleenex Cool Touch Tissues

I stock two different kinds of tissues in my house. The first kind is regular tissues, for regular nose-blowing and face-wiping. I also keep these tissues on hand, and we call them sick tissues. When you’re sick and wiping your nose every ten minutes, ordinary tissues don’t cut it. It doesn’t take long for them to leave your nose feeling raw and abused.

These Kleenex are magical. They feel, literally, cool and soothing against your nose when you seem to be blowing and wiping it nonstop. Keep these guys on hand for sick days and, I promise, your nose will thank you.

Throat Coat Tea

J and I aren’t always big into drinking hot tea. We go through phases where I’ll make us each a cup in the evenings, but then we’ll go through periods of time when I don’t. As soon as my throat starts to hurt, the first thing I reach for is Throat Coat tea.

Tea, by its nature, is soothing because it’s hot. In addition, this formula includes fancy roots and herbs that are intended to settle your throat. The taste isn’t bad; I much prefer it to any sort of liquid medicine. And, yeah, I typically add a little sugar or honey to mine to sweeten it up, but the benefits are still there.

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One frugal product replaced the creams and cleansers I’d used for years to, unsuccessfully, treat my breakouts. My skin is clearer and softer than ever.

I’ve written before, briefly, about my love of coconut oil as a skin care product. I wanted to go into more detail, though, because I still can’t believe how clear my skin is with so little effort and expense.

the background

I fought bad skin for so long. From the time I was an early teen, my face was constantly broken out. I tried several over-the-counter remedies before progressing to prescription creams. Sometimes my skin would get more clear, but it never lasted long. I don’t remember a time between junior high and my mid-twenties when I didn’t need at least a little concealer.

My complexion has gotten better in the last few years. Pregnancy notwithstanding, I probably had more days of skin I was happy with than not. But I still fought pimples. It was all so frustrating because here I was, 26-years old, still fighting the breakouts my mom had assured me I would grow out of.

One frugal product replaced the creams and cleansers I'd used for years to, unsuccessfully, treat my breakouts. My skin is clearer and softer than ever.

J. and I in 2008, just after we got married. My skin looks pretty good here, but when I look closely I see bumps on my forehead and cheeks.

In addition to breakouts, I also dealt with an uneven tone and combination skin. I’m pretty fair-skinned, so harsh products always seemed to redden my cheeks and irritate my skin. My t-zone stayed pretty oily, but my cheeks would get dry, especially in the winter.

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