Chest congestion can be caused by any number of ailments, chief among them the common cold and the flu. Fortunately, chest congestion relief also comes in many forms, from home remedies like hot steam, to different kinds of medications and therapies like salt therapy. Hopefully one of these ways to break up chest congestion and relieve the build up of mucus works for you.

Vicks is your friend: 

Vicks can provide great relief when massaged onto your chest. Eucalyptus oil, one of Vicks’ active ingredients, is particularly helpful. Paired with hot water and  eucalyptus oil, it can double your phlegm fighting force! Not only is it antiviral (most chest coughs are viral infections), but it relieves your cough and loosens up mucus.

Tip: Rub vicks on your or your child’s chest each night before bed to let it work its magic. 

Get Steamy: 

Keeping the air moist can loosen mucus and reduce congestion and coughing. There are many ways to do this such as a humidifier. People with difficulty sleeping may wish to use a humidifier at night. Please note; humidifiers must be cleaned regularly to remove bacteria and other pathogens that can make symptoms worse and lead to infection. 

Other ways to inhale steam include:

Fill a large bowl with hot water. Lean over the bowl and drape a towel over the head to contain the stream. Gently inhale the steam to loosen mucus. Tip: Add a teaspoon of vicks to the hot water. 

Or having a hot shower or bath: The hot water will fill the room with steam and help to alleviate symptoms.

Keep your fluids up:

Staying hydrated with enough water can help thin and loosen mucus making it easier to expel by coughing. A warm drink like herbal or decaf tea is also a soothing way to help keep fluids up. Broth and even the classic homemade chicken soup is also a great way to ease chest congestion while keeping hydrated. Stay away from alcohol, coffee, and caffeinated sodas when your chest is congested, as they may dehydrate you.

Lemony Goodness:

Staying hydrated is critical if you’re congested, and by heating your water and adding lemon, the heat will break up congestion quickly while the high vitamin C content of the lemon will help your body fight off infection. The juice of roughly one large lemon provides you with 31% of your daily recommended value of vitamin C! Try having a glass of hot lemon water with the juice of one lemon three times a day. 

If lemon water isn’t your thing, try squeezing lemon over steamed broccoli, another incredibly rich source of vitamin C. Eating the right foods will supercharge the immune system and help your body fight off that persistent cough. Tip: Pressure cooking broccoli will preserve 90% of its vitamin C content!

Just add salt:

We all know a swim in the salty ocean can have your nose run and clearing congestion. Only downside, who wants to go swimming in the freezing winter weather. Solution; salt therapy! 

By sitting in the Salts of the Earth salt rooms you will be exposed to a dry salt aerosol. The size of the microscopic salt particles enables it to be inhaled deep down into your lungs, lining the walls of your airways and lungs and promoting muco-ciliary clearance. It does this by gently stimulating the body’s natural action of cilia movement in the respiratory system working as “gentle brush” to clean the airways of mucus, allergens and other foreign substances that often accompany cold and flu.

Additionally, the sodium chloride aka “salt” changes the consistency of mucus in the lungs and airways so that it is thinner and less sticky – therefore making it easier to expel clearing congestion and mucus in the chest.

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So, why is there so much flu around already?

In 2018, Australia had a pretty quiet flu season and that means that community immunity wasn’t built up to protect against this year’s virus.

Because of this, Chair of the Immunisation Coalition Professor Robert Booy, has warned Australians that many more people will be prone to the flu this year. There was also a long flu season in the Northern Hemisphere earlier in the year, up until about March. Many Australians went to the US for holidays earlier in the year and subsequently brought the flu back.

How deadly is it?

Most deaths from the flu occur in people aged over 65 and are usually from complications such as heart attacks or stroke. Professor Booy said in a busy year, there were a number of people who would be expected to get the flu and die from it. “This year, we expect the flu to kill at least 4,000 people which is the same number as deaths from suicide and the road toll combined,” he said.

This may seem extreme, but the flu can cause pneumonia or a secondary bacterial infection that can be fatal, particularly among those at high risk of flu-related complications— for example, people who are pregnant, have asthma, or suffer from other chronic conditions. Even in the best-case scenarios, it sucks to get the flu. Therefore, it is more important than ever to take precautions before the winter season hits.

Here are the best ways to avoid contracting the flu:

Get. Your. Flu shot.

When you get a flu vaccination your body releases antibodies that can protect you from the most common virus strains in any given season. It’s best to get your shot before flu season peaks as it takes two weeks for your immunity to develop. Therefore, the earlier you get it the better.

Experts said early April is a good time to get a vaccine “With the flu [rates] three times as high this year as last year, we can stop transmission now if people get vaccinated,” Professor Booy said. “Otherwise the numbers could rise even more”. Flu season in Australia usually runs from June to September, peaking in August, so there is still time to get it!

Start regular salt therapy

Salt room therapy can help cold and flu sufferers relieve their symptoms and feel better in a relaxing and peaceful environment that feels more like a spa than a high-tech medical facility. By sitting in Salts of the Earth’s salt rooms you will be exposed to a dry salt aerosol. The size of the microscopic salt particles enables it to be inhaled deep down into your lungs, lining the walls of the airways and lungs and promoting muco-ciliary clearance. It does this by gently stimulating the body’s natural action of cilia movement in the respiratory system working as “a gentle brush” to clean the

airways of mucus, allergens and other foreign substances that often accompany cold and flu. Additionally, the sodium chloride aka “salt” changes the consistency of mucus in the lungs and airways so that it is thinner and less sticky – therefore making it easier to expel, clearing congestion in the chest so you can fight and recover from the flu quickly. Regular salt therapy can also help boost your immune system so you can help fight the flu before it takes hold!

Keep your communal surfaces clean

All household surfaces are going to be contaminated with the flu virus if you’re living with someone who has the flu. That is why you should wipe down commonly-touched surfaces — think phone chargers, fridge handles, and light switches — at least once a day using any standard household cleaner.

Wash your hands regularly

Touch a light switch? Communal keyboard? Water cooler? Whether you’re in a public place or in your home, it’s smart to wash your hands after handling any commonly-touched surfaces using soap and water afterward. Lather up for at least 20 seconds, then rinse under water, and air dry or pat dry with a clean towel. In the absence of a sink, a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is your next best bet.

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We all know winter is a rough time for catching colds, with all of those germs circulating indoors. But when it comes to kids, sicknesses seem to spread through classrooms as quickly as new fidget spinners. So how can you keep your children as healthy as possible this winter?

1. Drink up, kids.

Keeping your young’uns hydrated is not an easy task, especially in winter. A big cold glass of water is just not as appealing as it is in the warmer months. So if you are struggling to keep your kids’ fluids up, try having some fruit water in the fridge (just tap water with a few slices of orange, cucumber, mint, berries, or whatever might be appealing to them). Also: hot water with lemon might be more appealing on those cold nights.

2. Change their toothbrush.

With all the germs flying around, you want to do whatever you can to keep them away from your child’s mouth. Toothbrushes are susceptible to picking up the airborne bacteria from the bathroom, so remember to change them regularly. And maybe keep them in the cupboard…

3. Wash, wash, wash.

You don’t want to turn your child into a germaphobe, but it might be worth having a little reminder about germs on their hands. Kids tend to touch their faces and mouths more often than adults, so keeping their hands clean is important, especially if there are other children in their class coughing and sneezing on every surface. Ugh…

4. Salt therapy.

A great, natural way to help boost your child’s immune system is to book them in for a few salt therapy sessions this winter. They will be in a relaxing, fun room with pharmaceutical grade salt pumped through the air. The salt has antibacterial properties that help clear the sinuses, reduce congestion and increase oxygen flow. All your kid has to do is enjoy the room – building castles out of huge piles of salt, watching a movie, or even curling up in one of the chairs. It can also be great for eczema, psoriasis, asthma and a number of other conditions kids are prone to.

If you are interested in finding fragrance free natural remedies for kids with sensitive skin, click here to buy from our range of salt products and share the health benefits with your little ones!

Best of luck to you, parents. We hope your little ones will be bouncing off the walls in no time… in an orderly fashion, of course.

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We all know that winter brings with it a charming cold/flu season, where we take it in turns to be the one with the runny nose. But it’s not actually the physical state of being chilly that leads to catching a cold. In fact, if you lived alone in Antarctica, you probably wouldn’t catch many colds at all. It’s being huddled indoors without ventilation (i.e. keeping the doors and windows shut to keep the rooms warm) that leads to a spread of germs. So for any cold you catch, you can probably blame your workmates and your excellent warm office conditions, rather than the freezing cold walk from the train station to the office.

On the plus side, the cold weather is good news for hayfever-sufferers, with the air pollen count at a year-round low. Flies and mosquitoes are taking a holiday too, which means less chance of itchy bites and the risk of disease spread by insects. It’s also a good time of year for accidental calorie-burning, because when your body is at a colder temperature, it is working harder to warm you up. However, all those hearty meals and Sunday roasts balance out the extra energy your body is burning – so go ahead and tuck into them guilt-free.

Although winter can have some health benefits, the colder months can also make it much harder to find the motivation to exercise, which can lead to a decrease in the immune system and general wellbeing. Make sure you get your body moving to keep it healthy, and to help combat those Winter Blues we all start to feel during the long, rainy days. Keep hydrated, as it is easy to forget your 2L of water every day when the sun isn’t reminding you. And try a few sessions of salt therapy, a relaxing and natural way to help clear the lungs and airways of congestion. Your body, your mind and your skin will be refreshed and ready to fight.

Look after yourself, and keep that immune system strong. If Frosty the Snowman can do it, so can you!

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Cold season is here. Hooray.

You know the usual drill. Vitamin C, chicken soup, warm blankets. But here’s a few unusual natural remedies and cold prevention techniques that may just surprise you. Here we go.

1. Garlic shot.

Look, it’s a bit intense, but give it a go. Take 1-2 very finely minced cloves of garlic and stir them into a small glass of water, then throw it back. It won’t be as fun as a Tequila Slammer, but it will definitely have a better outcome. The natural antibacterial and antifungal properties of garlic can help knock a cold on the head – but don’t do it before any big dates, garlic-breath.

2. Exercise

Unfortunately for us lazy couch potatoes, exercise is proven to be one of the best immune system boosters. If all you can manage is a brisk walk, then do it. The hardest part is getting out the door, so throw on a good podcast and promise yourself a warm bath when you get home.

3.  Oysters

We’re not trying to boost your intake of aphrodisiacs here. Oysters are super high in zinc, a mineral that has been proven to boost the immune system. But before you go chewing on a zinc stick, think about the foods that are naturally high in the all-important mineral – including oysters, spinach, beef, kidney beans, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, and best of all… dark chocolate.

4. Salt

If you’ve developed the sniffles, a great way to help relieve your symptoms is salt therapy. Relaxing in a comfy massage chair while breathing in the pharmaceutical grade salt can assist lung function and clear your sinuses. The natural properties of the salt can not only relieve your cold symptoms, it can help to boost your immune system too.

To help your body through this season, mix a garlic shot in an oyster shell while jogging to your nearest salt therapy centre (or something like that). Most importantly: take care of you. Stay warm, stay hydrated, stay healthy. We like you that way.

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1. Move it, move it.
We all know exercise is better for you than sitting on the couch. Unfortunately. But between iPads, TV and Netflix, there’s far too many reasons for kids (and the rest of us) to be snuggling under a blanket with our feet up. Nobody is judging, we all do it. But how about trying a new activity or two to get your kids (and yourself) moving. Take a couple of hoops down to the park and set up an obstacle course. At the very least, they’ll be entertained for a few hours. Especially if you can leave them there and go watch Netflix…

2. Tutti-fruity hydration.
In an ideal, Stepford-wife world, we’d all be the kind of people to have ice-cold fruit-flavoured water in the fridge, ready for visitors or the Queen to drop by. In reality, it’s one of those things that we just can’t be bothered with. But if you think your kid could benefit from drinking more water (and they ALL could…) it might just be worth it. Get them to pick a few fruits at the supermarket to chop up and put in a jug of water. Strawberries, orange, kiwi, cucumber, mint… like a delicious cocktail, but healthier!

3. Salt, glorious salt.
Some of the most common ailments to pass between kids are colds and coughs. Take your little ones along to a few sessions of salt therapy. It’s the best time you’ll spend all week – they play on a mountain of salt in a comfortable, peaceful room, while you watch them from the comfort of a massage chair. All the while, they breathe in pharmaceutical-grade salty air, giving their lungs, nasal passages, and even their skin with all kinds of health benefits. Yours too. You’ll be glowing, like a parent who has had a proper night’s sleep.

4. Watch those germy germs.
Washing hands, not sharing cups, blah blah etc. You’ve heard it all, and you’ve tried to teach it all to your children. But here’s one we hadn’t thought of: if your child has been sick, throw away their toothbrush (as in, get them a new one – don’t do away with their dental health altogether!) especially if it is kept near others. Germs can hop from their toothbrush to yours, and if the condition is something like strepthroat, your child can even re-catch it from re-using their toothbrush. No, thanks.

5. Take care of those pearly whites!
Proper oral hygiene is essential for boosting your child’s overall health by preventing cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay, which can cause pain and discomfort. According to this expert dentist in Milford MA, healthy teeth also support better nutrition by enabling proper chewing, which aids digestion and nutrient absorption, crucial for growth. Additionally, maintaining good oral hygiene helps prevent infections that could spread to other parts of the body, reducing the risk of more serious health issues. A healthy mouth also allows children to focus better in school and build confidence through a bright smile, positively impacting their mental and social well-being.

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Winter is coming.

It’s good news for Games of Thrones fans, but bad news for our immune systems. With the colder months come colds and flus, thanks to all the time spent indoors coughing all over our colleagues. If you don’t want to spend your winter chained to a tissue box, here’s a few natural tips to help you and your family avoid the sniffles this year.

Wash yo’ hands.

It seems obvious, but keep your hands clean is one of the most important things of all. Cold viruses transfer from nasal passages to hands very easily (with sneezing, touching, blowing, and if you have kids, just outright nose-picking) and if the virus makes it’s way to your airways, you’re a goner. Keep washing your hands, especially if you are around children, and keep your hands away from your own face as much as possible, as the virus is often transferred through the nose or eyes.

Forget the anti-bacterial.

The cells that are transferred from cold sufferers are viral, not bacterial. Surprisingly, anti-bacterial handwashes will have no more effect than plain old soap and water. It’s the physicality of hand-washing, the rubbing and the scrubbing, that removes the viral cells and flushes them down the sink.

Eat more garlic.

Garlic and mushrooms are both natural immune-boosters. Garlic gets a high score for anti-viral properties, and shiitake mushrooms are particularly good at revving your immune system. It’s possible no one will want to sit next to you on the bus, but the garlic breath will be worth it.

Ginger, lemon and honey tea.

Not only is it delicious, but a hot herbal tea with ginger, lemon and honey will help soothe a sore throat and lessen the severity of cold symptoms. Ginger is particularly good for fighting viruses, and a strong cup of ginger tea has plenty of anti-viral benefits – snuggle up with a blanket and a mug.

Salt therapy.

Regular session at a salt therapy centre can help reduce the chances of catching a cold by boosting the immune system. But if it’s too late and you’re already sniffling, a few salt therapy sessions can alleviate the symptoms of a cold and shorten it’s duration. The salty air clears the nasal passages naturally, coating the inner lining with refined salt and relieving congestion.

Stay healthy this winter with some good natural remedies and germ prevention, and look after your body with some relaxing salt therapy. Nobody wants to be the snotty one at work.

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