Cold season. Flu season. Spring cold season. Summer fevers. Are you the kind of person who catches everything that goes around? And do you envy those people who never, ever seem to have a sniffle? Here are some secrets – tried and true – of people who swear they never get sick.

Wash your hands. A lot. Ok, this one seems pretty obvious - and it is. Conventional wisdom does rule in this case. Avoid germs, wash up often.
Practice Tai Chi. No, seriously! A UCLA study shows that regular Tai Chi practice can greatly boost immunity to infectious diseases such as shingles, pneumonia and the flu. Not to mention, Tai Chi boosts mental clarity and general physical health.
The power of positive thinking. Researchers don’t know why (although any spiritual guru could tell you), but smiling, sunny, positive people actually create more antibodies in response to a virus. When you feel a cold coming on, don’t dwell on it and don’t expect the worse. Instead, tell yourself you won’t get sick and that you’re already getting better. The brain and the immune system are connected.
Get a monthly massage. Regular relaxing massages reduce stress and anxiety, which can negatively affect your immune system. Take time to take care of yourself. Prevention is key.
Eat more garlic. Raw garlic, although hard to stomach, is a potent medicine. High in immune-boosting antioxidants, garlic is also ...Read More

Bloat, burning, and cramps: IBS is the worst. It’s not well understood why Irritable Bowel Syndrome happens, but it sure bugs the heck out of about 15% of the U.S. population. IBS causes abdominal pain and is linked to stress and acidic foods in the diet, but doesn’t seem to be exclusively caused by either of these. Many women suffer worse ...Read More

Used to be that I’d only sneeze and sniffle in spring and summer, but lately the sniffles and sneezes stick around all autumn and winter, too. I thought it was just me, but it turns out it’s a worldwide problem.

It seems the percentage of people suffering from allergic rhinitis is on the rise. And, according to a ...Read More

You know those cute little herb-filled dream pillows that are supposed to enhance your sleep and dream life? I’ve always been skeptical of those. Sure, they smell nice and they’re adorable, but the practical utilitarian in me always wondered “what’s the point?”

Now a recent ...Read More

Mmmmm, sex. Is there anything that’ll make you feel better than a heart-pounding romp between the sheets? Or better yet, on the couch, in a grassy field, or on the floor.

But what can you do when it’s not really working anymore? Sometimes ...Read More

I was at a wellness festival last weekend and noticed a group of perfectly reasonable adults laughing their heads off. I mean, they were obnoxiously loud.

Then I noticed the Indian man in the saffron robe leading them in their ridiculous guffaws. It was laughter yoga. Soon laughter and smiles spread to the bystanders. How nice ...Read More

A good hour of yoga can leave you feeling relaxed, energized, and introspective. It can also leave you with soggy clothes and a wet mat.

Kathy Swanson, a New Englander with a passion for everything natural, recently added Happy Yoga Mat to her collection of Kathy’s Family Products. It’s made with certified organic castile soap ...Read More

Every season brings a new set of experiences and responsibilities and with that can mean additional pressures. With fall upon us there are new schools to navigate, job positions to secure, and exercise schedules to be addressed. But taking on new tasks or returning to previous ones can be easier and more manageable if you can identify stress ...Read More

I’ve always considered honey more of a medicine than a food, considering that eating small amounts of raw, local honey can help build immunities to pollen allergies. And now honey - specifically New Zealand ...Read More

Bugs who bite think I’m imported chocolate. I found this out during one of my recent outdoor adventures when I went hurdling through a cloud of black, wingy things, and the little buggers latched on for dear, sweet bloodsucking life. Unfortunately, my body thinks bugs are the devil incarnate, and tells me so through a solid week of welts and ...Read More