Getting Over Winter Illness, Low White Blood Cell Count and How to Combat It Naturally

This week’s blog is of a more personal nature - we’ll be back next week with more great DIY recipes. Everyone falls sick occasionally and here I want to share a couple of natural remedies that helped me get better, and might help you too.

Every year without fail, I seem to go down with a major illness that knocks me flat for a few weeks. This year’s one has hopefully just come and gone, which was why I didn’t write a blog last week - I was dying in bed with a 40 degree fever, half delirious. This particular illness was truly horrible, think fever, excruciating pain all over, shaking with chills followed by sweating, not being able to control my body temperature, bad cough, etc. The doctor didn’t really know what was causing it and put it down to a bad flu. But I decided (well, my boyfriend decided for me, I wasn’t in any state to do anything) to have blood tests done, including a malaria test just to be sure. Thankfully, it was negative for malaria, although at the time I was rather disappointed, having convinced myself I had it, and now feeling hard done by because my body was putting me through hell for merely a common flu! The blood tests did reveal that I had a low white blood cell count, however, which was why my body was struggling to fight off the virus. I was put on medication that made me feel nauseous and messed up my stomach. To make matters worse, we had just adopted two high maintenance baby kittens, and I am currently in the middle of writing my honours thesis - not a good time to get sick!

Anyway, sick I was. I always try to go for natural remedies if I can, and this time was no different. I’m quite a strong believer in the power of olive leaf, having used it for a couple of different maladies and always seeing results. I have tried the tincture and the tea and both are effective. Olive leaf is particularly good for beating coughs, colds, flu and generally improving immunity and fighting viruses.

Astragalus, cat’s claw and echinacea are other herbs that help boost immunity and in my case, my white blood cell count. I know they are also given to cancer patients to help recover after chemotherapy, and help white blood cells to regain healthy levels. Astragalus or Qi, is an adaptogen herb and helps the body identify and fight viruses. It increases lymphocyte levels, interleukin and antibody production. Cat’s claw, also an adaptogen, is an immune modulating herb and also helps increase white blood cells. And of course, good old echinacea, the medicine-shelf staple for those winter colds and flus; it boosts immunity, fights infections and  increases interleukin and lymphocyte levels.

Turmeric also deserves a mention. Personally, I dislike the taste of the spice but its health properties can’t be denied. It is a powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, is rich in antioxidants and boosts the immune system. It is often referred to as nature’s antibiotic.

Elderberries are a wonderful source of minerals and vitamins and are well known for fighting colds and flu and all the symptoms that come with. The berries are high in vitamin C and have many immune boosting properties, including the ability to increase the number of white blood cells.

Oregano oil, as mentioned in our previous blog, is highly effective at treating respiratory conditions associated with colds and flu as well as protecting against viral and bacterial infection. Simply inhale the steam. Check out the oregano blog for all the reasons why it's a wonder essential oil.

To help me breathe easier and sleep better at night, I used a few drops of Breath Easy and eucalyptus oil in the humidifier. I can’t emphasise enough how much it helped. I had a terrible cough and phlegm but I was able to find relief and my chest really opened up.