I work in a school and regularly pick up respiratory infections through the winter, what can I do to avoid this?

ANSWER:

The answer is three-fold – firstly wash your hands a lot, next boost your immune system with vitamin C and Echinacea tincture, then add an extra layer of protection with a barrier throat spray.

Hand washing throughout the day has been shown to significantly reduce the spread of infections. Throughout the day you accumulate germs on your hands from a variety of sources, such as direct contact with people, contaminated surfaces and foods. If you don’t wash your hands frequently enough, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. And you can spread these germs to others by touching them or by touching surfaces that they also touch, such as doorknobs.

Infectious diseases commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact include the common cold, flu and several gastrointestinal disorders, such as infectious diarrhoea. While most people will get over a cold, the flu is much more serious. Some people with the flu, particularly older adults and people with chronic medical problems, can develop pneumonia. The combination of the flu and pneumonia is a serious condition which can lead to death in the elderly.

Inadequate hand hygiene also contributes to food-related illnesses, such as salmonella and E. coli infection. According to FoodLink each year some 5.5 million people suffer with food-borne illness, that’s 1 in 10 people, experiencing the annoying and unpleasant symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Regular handwashing can reduce infection rates tremendously.

Boosting your baseline immunity will give further protection against infections. The Viridian Cold Season pack twins a 100% organic, UK grown, fresh Echincea tincture, with a bottle of the patented, low acid, Ester-C.

Viridian’s fresh organic Echinacea is grown in Herefordshire to Soil Association standards ensuring the highest degree of environmental growing practices. Being UK grown, Viridian’s Echinacea also reduces so-called food miles, the amount of pollution used in transportation. Ethical and effective this Echinacea tincture helps boost antibodies and white blood cell number and activity.

Ester-C, much beloved of author and broadcaster, Michael Van Straten, has earned a reputation as the best absorbed and utilised vitamin C currently available. Van Straten recently conducted a study to investigate its effectiveness against colds, flu and general infections.

Finally, create a barrier between you and the outside world, with the new Organic Throat Spray from Viridian. Pleasant tasting and effective, Viridian’s 100% organic Echinacea Throat Spray also includes elderberry and honey to fight infection and soothe membranes.

Echinacea has shown to be effective against the common cold, influenza and herpes virus, and urogenital infections.

Elderberry is noted for its potent effects on stimulating the non-specific immune response, gently stimulating sweating during a fever, regulating temperature control, and so resolving infection more quickly and with less severe symptoms. Elderberry has proven to be useful through its effects on improving the functioning of the mucous membranes and helping clear catarrh lining the ears, nose and throat.

Honey has been used in health for at least 4000 years. For topical use in acne. In this Throat Spray it improves the taste and offers minerals.

Viridian’s Echinacea Throat Spray can also be used topically. The ingredients sprayed onto the skin can have benefits, including in acne and in eczema, boils, shingles or skin infections.