Feeling Sick? 3 Steps to Start Healing Now!

You know the feeling, you wake up and sense the onset of a head cold…

An achy body, scratchy throat, and throbbing eyes –  oh no! 

You have a long list of things to do and places to be and don’t have time to get sick.

But instead of heading to the medicine cabinet to take an over-the-counter medication that will mask the problem (temporary fix!) to get you through the day,  this is the time to tune in to your body and find out exactly what it needs to start healing.

Our Children = Our Greatest Teachers 

When you are sick, your body goes into a sympathetic dominant state, basically fight or flight mode – which means you need to get your body out of this catabolic state into an anabolic state of growing, repairing, healing, and rejuvenating. 

Your body needs to be in this parasympathetic state to heal when you are sick! 

The good news is that there are several free, simple, and effective strategies you can immediately use to get your body into a parasympathetic state and start healing at the first sign of illness. 

Not surprisingly, our children can be our greatest teachers in this area because they naturally know what to do when they start feeling under the weather… 

As soon as a child realizes that they are feeling poorly they typically stop talking, stop eating, and start sleeping.

As adults, we do the opposite. 

As soon as we notice that we are feeling ill we usually run around telling everyone that we encounter how terrible we feel, we then comfort ourselves with “comfort food” and proceed to stay awake and push through the day by drinking caffeine or taking medicine to mask our symptoms. 

Our bodies innately know that the three fastest healers are:

1. Sleep
2. Fasting
3. Silence

Sleep

*Good Sleep Starts in the Morning

Exposure to morning sunlight is key to setting your body’s natural circadian rhythm and healthy sleep patterns. 

People who bask in the morning sunlight upon waking report being in a better mood throughout the day and sleeping better at night. 

Try to get out for a short walk even if you aren’t feeling well, otherwise, just sit on your porch or front steps or even just by a window.

*Be intentional about light exposure in the evening too– turn off overhead lights after dinner and enjoy the light of salt lamps and beeswax candles. 

This will help with the production of melatonin, which of course leads to a good night of healing sleep! 

*Don’t take stimulants or medications to try to get you through the days – sleep and rest is much more important, helpful, and effective than something that will just lead you to feel sicker longer.

*Turn off your phone/electronics and give yourself time to relax – do some deep breathing and write down what you are thankful for! 

Practicing even just 5-minutes of meditation and deep breathing exercises before bed can instantly put you in a relaxed, parasympathetic state and prepare you for getting the deep, restorative slumber your body needs to thrive!

Fast

*Stop eating! Every time you eat, your body shifts focus from healing to digesting and processing and absorbing. Often when you’re sick you even lose your appetite which is your body’s way of saying to lay off the food. 

It is important to stay hydrated though, so instead of reaching for some comfort snacks, try some tea or lemon water instead.

*Especially while you are sick (but even if you aren’t) it is important to fast 13-16 hours per day to give our digestive organs, kidneys, liver, and our immune system a break to repair and heal, which will decrease chronic inflammation. 

This will also improve our digestive function and blood sugar regulation. 

*Fasting also promotes something called autophagy. Autophagy is a natural process that occurs in your body. 

It’s your body’s unique way of eliminating damaged or dead cells, harmful bacteria, fat stores, toxins, viruses, pathogens, and cancer cells. 

Silence 

*Silence is much more than just not speaking. 

It’s also about quieting the mind and becoming present and allowing our body to naturally fall into a parasympathetic state in order to create an optimal environment for healing.

*Use this time when you aren’t feeling well to breathe deeply, meditate and reflect. 

That’s it – 3 easy and free steps to start feeling better today! 

⬇️ WATCH my video about these amazing and simple tips ⬇️

Author: Dipa Chauhan

Dipa Chauhan is a certified R Ph, CFMP, FLT Therapist, Functional and Lifestyle Medicine Provider. 

Dipa’s love for cooking and helping people led to the creation of the "Doctor's Orders: Your Essential Cookbook To A Plant Strong Anti-Inflammatory Diet". Here you can find over 250 healthy and easy recipes, weekly shopping lists and menus. Through this website Dipa has benefited thousands of people all around the world.

Dipa enjoys spending time with her family, especially her son Devin. Dipa also enjoys exercising, walking and other outdoor activities.