STAYING HEALTHY DURING THE FIRES

Southern California has been hit hard by the fires. People have lost homes, lives have been disrupted and the land has been scorched beyond recognition. For those of us who live miles away from the infernos that have been blazing for days, we're also affected by the smoke. The air has been filled with particulate matter and breathing has been a strain. So what can we do to keep our bodies healthy during such a challenging time?

Storm Cole, our local holistic health practitioner and certified clinical nutritionist, has offered some advice on boosting our immune systems and clearing toxins from our lungs and bodies.

1) Use an air purifier. Stay indoors.

2) Take immune support: echinacea, aloe vera, garlic or astragalus

3) Home air quality:
Diffuse lemon oil throughout your home. This cleanses and increases oxygen.
Steam or vaporize peppermint (tea bags or leaves). This cleanses and dilates bronchials and decongests sinuses.

4) Useful food/vitamins/herbs for oxygenation:
Chlorophyll, vitamin E (wheat germ), yellow dock, black walnut, green leafies, vitamin C (kiwis have the highest amount), fish oil, or omega 3 from walnuts (fats always save you from toxic situations).

5) Juice as much as possible. Juicing relieves the digestive system so your body has more energy to deal with the smoke.

6) Asthma attack:
Cranberry juice concentrate. One teaspoon, put between the lower lip and teeth.

7) Specialty supplements/aromatherapy:
Any of the drainage products below.
-all-cell detox
-lung terrain
-lymph terrain
-skin terrain
-patchouli oil (takes out any chemical pollutants from your body that might have been burned in the air). 20 drops to 8 oz of olive or coconut oil. Put on skin, especially liver area

8) Drink lots of water.

9) Pets will have a hard time. They should have their water charged--or alkalized--with HealthWalk's HydroMag (available at Calypso Juice on Main St. in Seal Beach). Change the water 2x per day. Give them greens and fats. Keep them off of wood floors.

Storm Cole, HHP
5018 Katella Ave.
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
(562) 972-1235
Hours: Tuesday through Friday