“News Flash!
The Swine flu is coming! The Swine flu is coming!!”

If you’ve listened to the news lately, you’ve heard this over and over again. Believe me, working in the Vitamin Department, we’ve come across a lot people with some sort of flu-like illness already, along with a ton of people trying with all their might not to catch it. I’m not sure whether these people are dealing with the actual swine flu, but whatever it is, nobody wants it.

Luckily, there is no need to panic! We have a whole section of products that can help protect you from all the nasty bugs! Here’s just a few that we all are particularly excited about:

One of our all-time favorites is a homeopathic flu remedy with an odd name: Oscillococcinum. We all keep them on stock at home so we can kick any flu bug as soon as it starts. For most people Oscillo works, whether they are just coming down with something or have a full blown attack of the flu.

If you go to their website, you will find summaries of the studies that have been conducted with oscillo. There’s info on how it can reduce the severity and shorten the duration of the flu. Personally, what I love about this product is that there are no strange side effects or contraindications with other medications or herbal supplements. So, you don’t end up feeling all sped up or drowsy from Oscillo. During November we will be running a sale on it too. It doesn’t get much better than that!

The other product we all rely on is from one of my favorite brands, New Chapter. It’s called “Immunity Take Care,” and is an extract of elderberry, which is traditionally thought of as a anti-viral and immune enhancer. Admittedly, there are quite a few elderberry extracts out there and I’ve found relief from many of them. Yet, this particular elderberry is different. It has a unique extraction process that ensures a guaranteed dose in each lozenge. Here’s a link to their website for more information.

No matter the reason, the elderberry in Immunity Take Care can have some striking results with cold and flu symptoms. I can’t imagine how I made it through the flu season before I had this product in my arsenal. It’s been that helpful for me. This, too, will be on sale during November, along with the entire line of New Chapter products.

Herb Pharm has some truly superior liquid extracts. If you’ve never tried to take a herb or herbal formula in a liquid extract, this is the brand I would suggest you begin with. During November, several Herb Pharm products will be on sale. Their Immune Defense Tonic is an amazing immunity enhancer. It has an assortment of herbs to protect you this season. We also have their Echinacea/Goldenseal compound on sale, as well as their straight Echinecea extract. One of my personal favorites is the Neutralizing Cordial Compound for upset stomachs. It’s really calming, and for me, it works wonders when I’ve overindulged during the holidays.

We’ll have these products and more on sale through November to help you stay healthy this season. Trust me, when you’re working in the Vitamin Department, you’ve got to learn a zillion different ways to protect yourself from the daily onslaught of colds, flus and who knows what that comes straight at you. We’re always happy to share what we’ve learned!

Heidi
Boise Co-op Vitamin Manager