Hachoooooo: Simple remedies for a sinus infection/chest cold

I was going to be damned if I completely missed out on the long run this morning with the bunch of folks training for Chesterfield.

I’d been hitting the cold/sinus infection/whatever it was hard with 5-minute steam bowls throughout the day, probiotics. But on Friday, when I was texting with Steph, she reminded me of the power of the essential oils, which she uses for everything. Why didn’t I think of that? I wondered. Essential oil books literally make up approximately 1/10 of my library at this point. I rubbed a mixture of olive oil, peppermint, lavender and sweet orange on my chest and, I kid you not, almost immediately, the wheezing in my chest disappeared.

When I saw Steph that night at a friend’s house for the Phish web cast, she pulled out her Vera Bradley bag of essential oil goodies, all from doTERRA, that she’d promised to bring. She recommended eucalyptus, just right under the nose, as well as the Breathe mix, which I applied to my wrists. I’d avoid eucalyptus straight under the nose next time—I’d mix it with a carrier oil and put under the nose next time.

Between the steam bowls, probiotics, dairy-free diet, fresh air (just bike and walk, no running while it was in my chest) and the essential oil treatments, I woke up this morning with wheeze-free lungs. I’m not feeling perfect but I was able to get out for a 5-6 miler (…I didn’t have my watch and the run was a little discombobulated) and I’m stoked. I’m definitely still coughing some, but it’s a drier cough, and feeling on the road to recovery.
Bonus for the day: Maureen’s suggestion to check out Senita Athletics (per their Web site “Stylish, affordable active wear.”