What are your secrets to good health?

[I Have A Dream]

I've been thinking about the "Alternative Healing" part of this forum's name. This isn't exactly alternative healing, but I thought that it would be interesting to discuss non-mainstream things that we've felt have really helped us maintain good health.

I'll start. Here are mine:

• I used to get sinus infections quite a bit. I started looking into it on the web and found out about nasal irrigation. Rather than using a neti pot, I found an attachment to a Waterpik that allows easy cleansing of the sinuses. It's really helped me.
  
  
• Another thing is that I used to have a problem with yeast infections. I started taking live acidophilus, and it has really, really helped.
  
  
• Finally, I also have colonics on a regular basis. (Every 6 weeks or so.) I feel that they really help to maintain health.
  

[lady lib]

1. If you combine a daily garlic tablet with the acidophilus

you're likely to have even better yeast protection. It also helps to cut way back on sugary foods and alcohol.

[I Have A Dream]

2. Thanks for the tip about garlic. I don't drink much alcohol...

but I don't think that life would be worth living without sugary food. ;)

[rumpel]

3. garlic

I cook mostly with garlic, but maybe it is more potent in raw form? I make my own salad dressings

Olive oil is pretty much our only oil. I read in the LA Times some olive oils like the ones from Toscana, cold pressed also helps headaches and migraines

Ginger at the slightest hint of feeling under the weather, steeped with honey

They also say lots of water, all day, every day. (I have a hard time with this one, too)

Trying to cultivate a strong neutral attitude. (tough one) Expanding your understanding through whatever means, research, reading, discussions meditation, quiet time.

as they say mind, body, spirit

[oxbow]

4. eat 70-75% alkaline or alkalyzing foods

keeps your body's ph balanced, prevents yeast, parasites etc from becoming problematic, prevents allergies, and many other benefical effects.

here's a good list of what's what: http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/acidalkfoods.html

[I Have A Dream]

5. Hi, Oxbow. This is really interesting.

I tried to access the link, but it didn't work. Is there possibly a typographical error?

[oxbow]

6. try it without the http://

If that doesn't work, try typing "alkalizing foods" into google.

ttyl ;)

[I Have A Dream]

7. Yes, that worked. Thanks! n/t

[crikkett]

8. Enough sleep! Organic food, less wheat, good water.

Oh, and don't get chilled. Chills + tiredness + bad nutrition = lower immunity.

I'll live to 120 because I tossed my alarm clock and realized that I have a sensitivity to wheat.

(Now I have that Jiminy Cricket song in my head, "I'm no fool")

[LiberalEsto]

9. hydrogen peroxide

At the first sign of a cold or sore throat, mix a cup of 1/3 hydrogen peroxide (the kind you buy in brown plastic bottles at the pharmacy) and 2/3 warm water.

Dip cotton swabs into the mixture and use to wipe your earholes and nostrils. Then gargle with the rest. Do this again sveral hours later.

I have found this extremely effective for stopping colds or making them mild and short. I used to get colds at the drop of a hat, but hardly ever get them now.

[Grateful for Hope]

10. What I have also noticed

Is that Peroxyl, a mouthwash that has hydrogen peroxide as a main ingredient, is a wonderful mouthwash for easing infections in the mouth.

[LiberalEsto]

11. but peroxide is much cheaper

if, like me, you're pinching pennies!

[Grateful for Hope]

12. Yeah, I am n/t

[BlueIris]

13. First: 1 12 oz. glass organic , low-sodium vegetable juice daily.

Helps with so many things (energy level, allergies, general well-being, tension and stress).

About yeast imbalances: for two years, I used the Solaray products for maintaining healthy yeast balance (lots of grapefruit seed extract, among other things) and had no imbalances whatsoever (just the $13 bottle of their "Yeast Cleanse" brand product was what I used). Then, for some odd reason, when using an antibiotic that had never given me an imbalance before, especially while using Solaray stuff, I suddenly had one. Solaray products didn't restore the balance (hell, especially after not having them for two years) so I switched to a marvelous new product from Enzemedica for yeast balance. I won't lie, it's pricey, but totally worth it as it brought an infection that was out-of-control uncomfortable back to normal within a short period of time (hours--I swear!). Now I use that instead of Solaray.

[NuttyFluffers]

14. well, you're not gonna believe this...

avoiding the sun religiously,
enjoying drugs and alcohol, but not slavishly or to the point of excess,
sleeping waaaay too much when i can,
laziness, moments of contemplation, blissful languor,
relishing in my darker moments -- basically keeping nothing bottled up and away,
and lots of games, toys, friends, and reasons for living.

simply, enjoy the passion in your life and go with the flow. apparently i look 10 years younger than i am. i even get carded going to R rated movies and buying cigarettes. some day it will fade, but i know i've had my fun and would be ready for the next exciting phase of life.

not exactly helpful, but i can't telly you how enriching to the soul it is to have a bender every now and then.

[BlueIris]

15. Also, about the sinus irrigation mentioned in the OP: beautiful thing.

I had gotten out of the habit of doing that this winter, but now that I've recently rediscovered it--ah. So great. Makes my allergy med work 5X better.