Selfsufficientish.com

I work in a school so there tends to be quite a lot of germs about. I normally get one or two nasty colds during the school year but this term I've caught everything going - I am at home today, full of cold with a fever and head ache and aching arms and legs.

The worst thing is that every time I've been ill I've lost my voice - this has never happened before but I've had to take time off work because I just cannot speak - not much use for a teacher!

Can anybody suggest anything that would help? I make my own honey and lemon drink and I get through 2 litres of water every day as I keep a bottle handy to sip whilst at work. I'm also trying to drink herbal tea at break times instead of tea or coffee that contains caffeine. I'm starting to worry I might get nodules or something.

Invest in a bottle of Niaouli essential oil (same family as tea tree - Melaleuca). Make sure it's therapeutic grade not a cheap one.

You can add one drop to your 2l bottle of water - every day through autumn and winter (just make sure to shake it well each time you take a sip!). And if your throat is bad, as now, you can mix one drop with a tablespoon of honey and then swallow a little of it 3-4 x day (about a tspful).

It's an excellent broad spectrum anti-viral oil and quite gentle - and it doesn't taste too bad either!

Sage tea with honey is also excellent and peppermint tea will help bring down your fever.

Thank you for the advice. I went back to work today but luckily because of mock exams I had no lessons this afternoon and they let me bring some marking home to do, I'm just having a break. Think I'm on the mend but will def look out for Niaouli and give it a go