2016 was a stressful year for my body as it went through some changes. My last trimester of pregnancy, giving birth, the change in weight effected an old knee injury which led me to have an operation where I took General Anesthetic for the first time and above all, a beautiful baby who is giving me a lot of sleepless nights, bless him.

Nothing more than the average human being so I do not want to draw any particular sympathy because it’s not what this post is about. I’m writing first and foremost as a reply to the many well-wishers after I posted that my immune system collapsed on me… thank you! Some offered to even bring me ‘brodu’ which is always my number one meal when we’re feeling sick around my home.

I was touched. But I also know that half of Malta is sick at the moment and perhaps a few might like to share ways of how they get rid of their colds, flu, viral infections and the works!

This is my way……..

Firstly I understand why it happened and thus my introduction here above. It had been long coming. Physically I had a rough year. I also faced some emotional challenges that I know for sure contributed to my collapse. But luckily, through it all, I remained mentally healthy and that is mostly due to the fact that I remained active with work and meeting my sisters weekly to do the TV programme was surely a dose of pick-me-up feel-good factor that was most needed!

Even the fact that I had no choice but to keep up with getting my hair, my nails and make up done while getting dressed up… it all helped as otherwise I’m sure I would have spent this year wearing one PJ after another, which would have mentally affected me. I’m saying all this as I know most people can relate to one thing or another and sometimes we just need that little bit of empathy and understanding to bring us forth.

I had been waiting for Christmas, for I had a week off and we were going to the UK to see my in-laws. So just before leaving, I thought I needed a deep Chinese massage to start winding down and as I so very well know but did not factor it in at the time, literally a few hours after my massage, I triggered it all! The sneezing began and by the next morning I was full of it. With the circulation & lymphatic movement, all the tiredness and what I had been suppressing all those months came gushing out. Great!

The following day I had to take a flight and it was all I needed to have but I could not stop it coming out!  And neither could I stop the fact that I passed it round to my boys and my husband & his in laws for that matter! But of course I had no time to recover or look after myself as I had to tend to them. So I took some of the normal stuff you find at chemists and got on with it. It kind of passed but I remained feeling weak and sure enough, a few days after the 1st of January I went to yoga, which was another trigger, and it came back with a vengeance!

This time, I knew I had a virus. I love green but not in the colour of my mucus thank you very much! OK, time to get serious and apply my knowledge because I simply cannot afford to spend the next few months getting sick! I immediately called my homeopath and picked up an infectious mix homeopathic remedy. She recommended I start taking a mix of 1 teaspoon of turmeric mixed with coconut oil/milk, a good dash of black pepper & ginger and this became my ‘spoonful of medicine’ morning, noon and evening!

I picked up a load of organic green leaves (chard, kale, spinach.. the lot!) and made sure I was stocked up with fruits and vegetables. Warm water with drops of Propolis, fresh ginger & lemon. I sorted my boys out with mum’s help and my husband and I had to stay in bed all afternoon because my head, ears and throat were throbbing! This was Tuesday. I slept in the spare bedroom for a full night, with a pod steamer and cancelled most of what I had on the next day so I could stay in and rest.

By Thursday morning what came out of my nose was so much clearer and I knew it was working! I also felt physically stronger and slowly I was able to cope with my family, work and everything else. Another session of good yoga followed on Friday morning and felt that all those forward bends, inversions and deep breathing where helping me decongest. I closed the week with a deep face & head massage facial that restored my look and how I was feeling.

All the above ways of taking care of yourself and healing naturally so that your immune system is built on solid ground is time-consuming and it would be so much easier to pop a couple of pills but with all I know and the access I have to some of the best people on the island to help me along the way, I would be a fool not to take this route.

So I wish to encourage all those who are not feeling well to make use of all the good things, ways and people in life because it is certainly the best way forward!  I am very much like most of the women out there who have to look after their families, work and continue looking and feeling good about themselves. I may die tomorrow but for now, as long as I live, I would like to live healthily to the best of my knowledge which comes at a price… Time! So make time… time to rest, time to eat well, time to understand your body and what it needs and how its healing. From the bottom of my heart I wish you good health and well-being xxx