Recently I found myself in contact, once again with sick people!

Runny noses, bad sinuses, croupy coughs…yuck! It’s enough to make this nurse sick! Since eliminating refined sugar from my diet, over a year ago, haven’t even had a sniffle…! Unfortunately, after some close time with a couple sick friends, stressful events at home and a dry winter house…I found myself in need of a little nursing cold care.

My cold care interventions are tried and true based on more than 14 years experience practicing integrative wellness. Working nine summers caring to upwards of 165 campers and 85 staff members at Cazadero Music Camp, is where I got my reputation for treating colds with garlic and honey tea. I also nurtured an extreme aesthetic for clean hands at camp!

Nestled in the Redwoods of Sonoma County 30 minutes from acute care, I was forced to use what I had on hand to treat common ailments. It’s easy with plenty of good food, supportive directors, great staff and a well stocked infirmary. Being a camp nurse developed my interventional skills preventing disease outbreak, lessoning the severity of illness and promoting public health in a remote location. And…best of all…this is where I got my start as Nurse Courtney!

Robert Lutt, the Founder of Cazadero Music Camp, insisted the camp nursing staff be addressed by “Nurse” and he was always proud of the way I cared for the campers. I am Nurse Courtney today because of my time spent at band camp!

These are my recommendations for treating the common cold, upper respiratory infection, bronchitis and sinus infection. Start treating yourself as soon as you start to feel unwell…

1. Echinacea Propolis Throat spray – The throat harbors many opportunistic microorganisms which can enter the bloodstream, under stressful circumstances, causing a variety of serious conditions. Think Strep throat, Meningitis or Diphtheria here, but there are others. Although most of these organisms actually play a neutral or even beneficial role in our bodies, they can quickly turn deadly if virulent and left untreated. Utilizing an herbal throat spray helps keep sickness at bay by direct spray, treating  source of possible infection before it gets a foothold.
2. Vitamin C – Starting high doses of Vit C, (4,000 to 5,ooo mg a day ) is super important to help boost immune function and combat stress. Contrary to popular belief drinking orange juice isn’t really going to give you the high doses of Vit C you need, but it will give you high doses of sugar! This will actually increase your chances of getting sicker because the “empty calories” of sugar actually depletes the body of nutrients, adding stress to an already stressed system. Also, powder is the best way to stock Vit C because you can take several smaller doses if you prefer and it can be put directly on a cold sore to shorten the duration.
3. Chuan Xin Lian Kang Yan Wan, Health Concerns Cold Away, Dr. Shen’s Yin Chiao or Cold Snap – Yes, you probably have guessed it already, these are Chinese herbs you can’t find at your corner drugstore, but I highly recommend you make the effort to stock them in your medicine cabinet. You won’t be sorry you did! The first formula is my all time favorite and has helped keep me and my family healthy through some really rough cold and flu seasons. Recommended to me first by my acupuncturist in Omaha, NE, Dr. David Yoo, Chuan Xin Lian Kang Yan Wan is a “must have” in my medicine cupboard. I even wrote a recommendation on Amazon.com cause I love this product so much! Taken at the first sign of a cold, all of these formulas are meant to stop or shorten the length and severity of a cold. Either way, it’s worth the investment!
4. Oil of Oregano – One of the most powerful antimicrobials I have ever encountered, oil of oregano is effective for treatment of a wide variety of conditions. Taken in a strong dose at the first sign of a cold or flu, I usually take 12 drops in a small amount of water followed by at least 4 oz of water, then continued if needed throughout the duration, in milder doses.  Oil of oregano is like dropping an atomic bomb in your system and recently a fantastic Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, I met while treating my Dad told me she recommends a daily dose of oil of oregano for folks who suffer from frequent sinus infection. Especially for diabetic patients!

Now here’s the really clever part…I set up an Amazon shop with all of the products listed here and more! I’ve tried to find the best price and shipping terms for the products I include in my shop to save you money and trouble.

Of course you can find the products elsewhere, but most things purchased through my Amazon shop helps to support this website and your nurse!

Remember, anytime you start to feel ill…take care of yourself!