Stomach Flu Natural Remedies

Oh, the stomach flu! What a nasty bug. And one I got to know quite well in the last few days. Yes, that's right, after my emotional and material purging over the last couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to physically purge the toxins out of my body. I feel much better today, albeit still a little weak from the torment of vomiting my guts out on Wednesday night and wrestling with fever yesterday.

Having spoke to a few friends and colleagues, I hear I'm not the only one recovering from this aliment, so I thought I'd share some ayurvedic remedies should you also be affected by Viral Gastroenteritis (a.k.a the stomach flu).

First, how do you know the difference between the stomach flu and food poisoning?
Although the stomach flu and food poisoning have similar symptoms (vomiting, headaches, fever, loose stools, etc.) and are both an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, their cause differs. Food poisoning is a bacterial infection resulting from eating something disagreeable, whereas the stomach flu or viral gastroenteritis is a viral infection contracting by contact with an infected person. Both conditions usually last one to three days, but it may take two weeks or longer for the digestive system to regain its full strength. However, if you are affected by either food poisoning or the stomach flu, your immunity and digestive system was probably weakened to begin with. This is why in the same family, one or two people may get sick and the others not, even if everyone was exposed to the same food or virus.

So, how do you get over it? 

• Rest is top priority. Stay warm and cozy in bed and just sleep and/or breathe deeply.
• Avoid dehydration by taking small sips of room temperature water once vomiting has ceased. (Small sips are important, as big gulps with may further aggravate the system.)
• Re-hydrating with electrolytes is important. I used the new Vega Sport Electrolyte blend in water and it helped a lot. But, you can also make your own: 1 c water  + 1 tsp agave nectar (or maple syrup) + 2 tbps lemon juice + a pinch of salt
• Rice water is also soothing. To make it, simply boil brown rice (organic is best) with double or triple the usual amount of water. When the rice is ready, strain it and drink the water.
• Clear broths or other clear, non-acidic beverages are beneficial.
• Fennel and coriander tea is good too. Just put about 1/2 tsp of freshly ground fennel and coriander seeds (equal parts) in a cup of hot water and let steep for five minutes before drinking.
• When you are ready to start eating again, I highly recommend plain rice with maybe a little yogurt or ghee + a Kitchari diet for a few days. ("Kitchari" means "mixture" or "stew" and is a staple food in India). Below is a recipe for Kitchari.
• Go see a doctor or health care professional, if you have blood in your stool or if your symptoms get worse after a couple of days. 
• There are many wonderful ayurvedic herbs that can also help rebalance the digestive system, but these can only be recommended on an individual basis, as not all herbs are appropriate for all people. I should be up and running in a few days, so if ever you want to set up an ayurvedic appointment you are welcome to contact me: yfgow@yasminyoga.com

KITCHARI RECIPE: The best comfort food to get the digestive system back on track...
1 c split mung beans (soak for 1 hr before using)
2 c brown rice
4 1/2 c water
3/4 tsp sea salt & black pepper
1 tbsp freshly ground cumin
1 tbsp freshly ground coriander seeds
1 tbsp freshly ground fennel seeds
1 tbsp turmeric
Small pinch of Hing or asafoetida (It helps prevent gas and can be found at an Indian store.)
About 1/2 - 1 c easily digestible veggies (zucchini, sweet potato, carrot, turnip and/or squash)

Put everything into a pot & bring to a boil. Then cover & let simmer for on Low for ~45mins. Enjoy with 1-2tsp of ghee (clarified butter) or coconut butter or oilve oil. For a little pro-biotic boost, adding a table spoon or two of plain yogurt is good with this dish.  (Tip: avoiding adding the veggies, if your digestive system is very weak.)


Don't know how to make ghee? It's really simple.

GHEE RECIPE
Melt 1 pound of unsalted butter (organic butter is best for therapeutic applications and if you can find grass fed cow butter all the better) on stove and let simmer for 15-20 mins on low heat. Stir continuously. Scrape foam off the top and discard. After about 15-20 mins, it with stop boiling and become clear. At this point, turn off heat. Let cool for 5-10 mins. Then strain (with cheese cloth) into clean, dry container. Cover and store in cool, dry place like pantry.

* Please feel free to also post your own suggestions for stomach flu or food poisoning cures!

Day 20: Updates on follow challengers

It's Friday, Day 20, and I'm rolling along nicely. Just 27 sun sals left for tonight, which I will do as soon as my dinner has digested. I've already started implementing some of the stuff Anita, my ayurveda teacher and mentor, suggested I do this week. My staff is on board for better organizing the studio and I'm planning out my practices and classes with more precision. No more mid-afternoon yoga, making to do lists, and more delegating. I'm off to a good start, so hopefully I will soon be able to establish a regular routine for eating and sleeping too.

Enough about me. I want to acknowledge and give some updates on some of my students and friends who have joined my 108 mission (and Canadian Institute for the Blind's Yoga Stretch Challenge) in their fabulously unique way.

Bossa and I have been doing yoga together twice a week for about four years and she is featured in today's video. She has started doing more yoga on her own in order to meet her goal of 108 sun salutations a week, but I think she might have to up it to 216, because we've been doing a lot of sun sals together lately. Bossa is also the inspiration for today's Belly Soothing Salute.

Craig, my charming boyfriend, has added roller blading to his daily goal of 108 push ups and today, he proclaimed that he would like to do sit ups as well. (He's all pumped up, because he got a great deal on new inline skates a couple of days ago.) Craig also joins me for the occasional yoga practice, as seen in last Sunday's video, and is now officially the photo editor and sometimes photographer of this project.

Mary Ann, my student of six years and teaching trainee, is also on Day 20 of her goal to complete 36 sun salutations a day. She's amazing: a committed yogini and soon to be a certified Eric Pearl Reconnective Healing therapist. Mary Ann is in the Laurentiens this weekend with my mom, who is leading a yoga retreat weekend for women over 35. (Did I tell you my mom is a yoga teacher too?)

Sarah is a creative writer and another longtime student of mine. She was inspired to join the CNIB campaign because her grandfather was visually impaired and very active in the CNIB. Her goal is to do two yoga classes a week and to build up her stamina to be able to hold the crow pose for one minute. I think Sarah also wants to work on her bridge pose, because she asked me to take this photo of her for her Stretch page and give her some coaching on it. (I suggested she practice this pose with a block in between her thighs and use a belt to keep them parallel, which will help her open her hip flexors and prevent lower back compression.)
View Sarah's CNIB fund-raising page.

Yves, an enthusiastic yoga student of about a year and a half, continues to achieve his weekly goal of 108 surya namaskar, although he is doing a lot of them on his own these days now that his dragon boat training has started.

A few other friends, students and Om West staff members-- Amber, Susan, Marianne and Cathy-- have joined my CNIB Yoga Stretch team, "Yasmin Yoga 108 x 108," but have yet to announce their goals. By the way, we are still recruiting team members. If you are interested, you can visit the Yasmin Yoga 108 x 108 team page and join or sponsor the cause!

Did I miss anyone?

Lynn, are you still doing 36 minutes of daily exercise?

Nathalie?

Surya Namaskar Recipe: Day 20 - The Belly Soothing Salute

This sun salutation is dedicated to Bossa, whose sore belly inspired us to invent a special surya namaskar to support and improve the digestive system. This salutation features three great poses for digestion: the squat, the wind releasing pose and child's pose. I recommend practicing this salute slowly and hold those three poses for at least five breaths each.

(FYI, after doing about of the Belly Soothing Salutes, Bossa said she felt much better.)

*And thanks to Kayla, my manager's 13-year-old daughter for being the photographer on today's shoot. :)

Papaya Lime Avocado Smoothie Recipe

(good for the tummy & digestion)

1/2 a ripe papaya (it should be soft, but not squishy)
1 tsp papaya seeds
1/2 an avocado
Juice of 1/2 a lime
2/3 cup of water
1 tsp of grated ginger (optional)
1 tbsp of agave nectar or honey to sweeten (optional)
* You can also add a scoop of Vega Health Optimizer for protein and fiber-- natural or vanilla flavour works best.

Directions: Put everything in the blender, and blend it until smooth and creamy. Drink slowly and enjoy.

Day 10 - From Spring to Winter, what a difference a day makes...

Poor Mother Nature. She's been so abused and we've driven her mad. Yesterday, I was rejoicing the coming of spring and today, we, Montrealers woke up to a full on snow storm that lasted all day. It's now about 6:30 pm and the ground is covered with wet, slushy snow. I guess this means all those beautiful flowers I photographed yesterday will die. What a shame.

In concert with the weather, I'm feeling cold, tired and a little all over the place. I had an exam this morning in my Ayurveda course, which I could have been better prepared for, and my guts have been feeling uneasy since last night. But, much to my lethargy, I invented a new tummy taming smoothie this morning (I'll post the recipe next) and managed to do 96 sun salutations upon returning home from school.

I find on days like today, the hardest part is starting the practice and figuring out what to do, but once I find my flow, everything is good. After dragging myself through the first 36, I decided to do the whole Ashtanga standing series within the surya namaskar sequence, which allowed me to ground myself and focus. I finished with headstand, shoulderstand and backbends, and a much needed savasana relaxation, which I felt I could have enjoyed for 108 days, maybe years. In fact, perhaps after 108 days of sun salutations, I will need 108 days of savasana... I digress. I have 12 left and I'm saving them for after dinner, not because I'm lazy, but because I find they help me digest.

Despite my current state of fatigue, I am pleased that this 108 project is gathering momentum and I feel happy. Tonight, for the first time in a while, I'm staying home to relax and enjoy some one on one time with Craig. We're going to have vegetable soup and authentic perogies from the Polish bakery on St Viateur. We may even watch a movie and be in bed before midnight. This may not seem too exciting, but believe me, right now, I couldn't have better plans.

Today's Surya Namaskar Recipe is generally practiced after the sivananda salutation as a pre-cursor to the Ashtanga Sun Salutation A.

The Lunge Salute
1- Start in Tadasana, the mountain pose.
2- Press down through your legs, INHALE, raise your arms overhead and look up at thumbs. Shoulders down, long neck.
3- Pause. Feel a dynamic pull between the earth and the sky.
4- Then, without locking the knees, EXHALE, fold up, over your stable legs into Uttanasana, standing forward bend.
5- INHALE, come up halfway and lengthen the spine.
6- EXHALE, bend the knees and step the LEFT leg back into a straight leg lunge.
7- Hold the pose for three breaths
8- Details of the pose: Finger tips can rest on the floor or onto blocks, or hands can rest on the front thigh. Centre the LEFT knee directly over the ankle. Extend from the heel to the crown of the head.
9- After three to five breaths, EXHALE, hands to the ground.
10- Step the LEFT leg back into plank pose for a couple of breaths. Support your lower back, by lifting the lower belly in and up toward the kidneys, located in your mid-back.
11- EXHALE, bring the knees to the floor and slowly, pulling the elbows into the ribs, lower the torso to the floor. This movement is called Chatarunga Dandasana or four limbed staff pose.
12- INHALE, sphinx, cobra pose or upward dog. Legs reach back, open the heart and gaze forwards with a long neck.
13- After one or two breaths, EXHALE, slowly tuck the toes under and transition back into downdog.
14- INHALE lengthen your spine from the crown of the head to your tailbone.
15- EXHALE, lower your knees to the floor.
16- INHALE, step your LEFT foot forward between the hands.
17- EXHALE, tuck the RIGHT toes under and straighten the back leg.
18- INHALE come up onto the fingertips and evenly extend the neck.
19- Hold the lunge for a couple of breaths, then EXHALE, hands to the floor.
20- INHALE, take a giant step forward and lengthen the spine.
21- EXHALE, fold over stable legs.
22- Keeping a small bend in the knees, INHALE rise up to standing and stretch the arms overhead.
23- EXHALE, lower hands down the centre of your body.

*NOTE: When I do this sequence in the 108 practice, I break it in two separate sun salutations: Right foot forward first, then step forward from downward dog to the top of the mat, and the second time with left foot forward.