I truly feel that I have been sick for the better part of the past year and am still dealing with congestion and respiratory issues. As an Ayurveda Health Counselor, Reiki Master, Sound Healer, Hiking Guide, and yogi, I find this completely unacceptable. Long COVID, they say. Drink lemon water, they say. Eat local honey, they say. I do these things. Take time for self-care, they say. Get your rest, they say. I could go on and on but you get it.
Of all of the things that I have tried, removed from my diet, removed from my life, and evaluated, I can only surmise that our rental house is making me sick. Did you realize that air quality, along with water quality, can have a huge impact on your overall wellness? We buy the "good" air filters but we do not have control over the water or the HVAC in this house. A few weeks ago I bought a water dispenser so we don't have to rely on a filtering water pitcher for our drinking water. I truly feel this helped to cut out some of the issues with keeping the pitcher clean and the water fresh but I am still sick. Next purchase...an air purifier.
Whether it is truly a sickness, long COVID, or allergies is less important to me than what I can do to stop feeling congested and having a sore throat.
From Tulsi and ginger teas to Chyavanprash, there is an herb or tea for supporting your body and mind.
Now that we have begun a new year, I invite you to take inventory of the things that you do and do not have control over in your environment and note what things you can change. Something as simple as shaking out your rugs outdoors, changing the bed linens and towels at least once a week, and washing your hands can have a huge impact on your overall health and wellbeing. Here is a list of things that I am currently implementing and refining when it comes to water and air quality in the home:
Buy a water dispenser and bottled water
Change the bed linens and bath/hand towels twice a week
Air out the house once a week for an hour
Use better air filters and changing them monthly
Dust and vacuuming weekly
Clean the vacuum filter monthly
Use a shower head with a water filter and changing the filter monthly
Get outside of the house for at least an hour each day.
That is not a complete list but those are things that I have control over in our rental home. I would love to add a water softener and filter but it is not our house so I can do the next best thing. Think about the air that you are breathing and the water that you are using. If you are unsure of the quality of your water, test it.
You have a lot of control over your body and health but can take time to notice when things that don't seem quite right and then take action before they become chronic. Being sick for more months than not in a year is definitely a sign that something needs to change. If you notice a friend or loved one is sick more often than not, say something. A quick trip to the doctor to rule out anything serious followed by an assessment of their living space can make a huge difference for someone who may brush it off as allergies or seasonal sickness.
If you are like me, you have your go to items and routines that you stick to when you feel a bit off. Maybe it's time to freshen up those routines and add some supportive herbs and teas. Well, I'm off to enjoy a nice cup of hot water with a teaspoon of Chyavanprash.
Until next time...stay well!
