On Saturday, November 21st, from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm, the Catskill Mountain Artisans’ Guild is offering the third workshop in their Family Wellness Series, "De-Stress for the Holidays." For information, call the Guild at 845-586-3443 or email Jenn Staib at jennstaibyl@gmail.com
Cold and flu season is here
A debilitating flu made the rounds in early autumn, with residual effects that often lingered for weeks. Everyone has experienced the cold or flu that hits at just the wrong moment, pre-empting important work deadlines, fun outings and holiday cheer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are several flu viruses making the rounds that could wreak havoc when it’s most inconvenient to your schedule. Flu shots certainly help, but they can’t guard against every virus that’s circulating. And as we’ve often been told, there’s no cure for the common cold.
What is a cold or flu?
When you’re exposed to harmful germs, your body reacts with an immune response. A fever is meant to kill germs. Congested sinuses are how your body isolates and disposes of pathogenic invaders. Over-the-counter drugs suppress these symptoms — but is that wise? Clearing your sinuses or suppressing a fever provides short-term relief from discomfort, but it may actually extend the duration of illness, since you are undermining the army that your body has assembled for your personal protection.
OTC drugs
Just because a drug can be bought over-the-counter does not mean that it’s safe — far from it! When you’re sick, you’re more likely to overlook the tiny lettering on the box warning you of serious potential risks to your health. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney damage, and using Tylenol can result in the need for a new liver. Drugs interact in unforeseen ways.
Natural medicine
The safest path is to prevent illness before it ever takes hold by boosting your immunity. If you do succumb, try natural methods to treat a cold or flu. Rather than squash symptoms, natural medicine supports the body’s immune response without the harmful side effects of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. At this Family Wellness Workshop, Jenn Staib will explain techniques for boosting immunity, as well as show participants how to make a chemical-free vapor chest rub and a sore throat/cough syrup.
Natural health for families
Jenn Staib’s journey to total wellness began when she was raising her 5 children, and she actively began researching how to make them as healthy as possible. Looking into the best way to feed her kids, she became aware of the harmful effects of pesticides. Delving a little deeper, she realized that personal care and cleaning products were loaded with toxins that interfere with immunity. She knew there had to be a better way, and she became determined to find healthier lifestyle options. Once she’d found them, she knew she needed to share what she’d learned so that other families could benefit, and she trained to become a Wellness Consultant.
Love of the rural lifestyle
Jenn was raised on a 130-acre farm in Michigan. The family fished, hunted, raised animals for meat, tended an extensive vegetable garden, and produced natural eggs and goat’s milk. In recent years, she discovered the natural beauty of the Catskill Mountains and bought a home in Andes where she teaches Reiki, conducts wellness retreats and “Yoga by the Lake.”
The 80-20 rule
Improving your health can be inexpensive and easy. You don’t have to make changes all at once, you don’t have to go to extremes, and it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. If you’re living healthy 80% of the time, you’re solidly on the path to total wellness. Jenn advocates starting with small actions and moving gently toward healthier choices. Getting enough sleep, drinking fluids, staying away from toxins, de-stressing, and maintaining positive relationships with friends can do a world of good.
Thieves & Frankincense
Essential oils have played a therapeutic role for nearly 6,000 years. More recently, studies have been conducted to understand how aromatherapy, as well as topical use of these ancient oils, positively impacts health. Jenn has experience using essential oils to reduce pain and discomfort, increase alertness, get better sleep, stimulate the immune system, and much more. Her two favorite oils are Thieves blend and Frankincense. Thieves has an interesting history: in the middle ages, spice merchants were prohibited from landing in Europe where the bubonic plague was raging. Confined to their boats, they were reduced to making unauthorized forays on land and stealing from the homes of the dead and dying. When they were apprehended, the judge wanted to know how they managed to stay healthy in the presence of the plague. The answer was their special blend of essential oil, which consisted of the oil of cloves, lemon peel, cinnamon bark, Eucalyptus and rosemary. Come learn how to make these essential oils part of your natural medicine chest.
The Family Wellness Workshop will take place Saturday, Oct 24th, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, in the Community Art Space at the Catskill Mountain Artisans’ Guild, which is located at 785 Main Street, Margaretville, NY. The cost is $15. Participants will take home a chemical-free vapor chest rub and a natural syrup to soothe coughs and sore throat. For more information, call the Guild at 845-586-3443 or email Jenn Staib at jennstaibyl@gmail.com