Our featured guest, Dr. Pam Middleton (@MyDrPam), is the founder and medical director of the Pediatric Wellness Center in Newport Beach, Calif., which specializes in integrative pediatrics. “Dr. Pam,” as she is known by her patients, received her medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. She holds a diploma in clinical homeopathy from the Center for the Education and Development of Clinical Homeopathy (CEDH) and is a member of the Holistic Pediatric Association. She also served on the Institutional Review Board at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. For more information, visit Dr. Pam’s website or find her on Facebook.

Winter Wellness Tips Twitter Party

Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Time: 10 p.m. EST

Hashtag: #holisticmoms

Hosts: @HolisticMomsNet, @HMNMama, @MyDrPam, @BoironUSA, @DeborahBoironPR & moderator @Organic_PR

Written by two registered dieticians, Julie Upton and Katherine Brooking, “Appetite For Health” is one of the leading online sources for reliable nutrition information. At AppforHealth.com, Julie and Katherine show that “healthy eating is delicious, satisfying and always possible—no matter the circumstances.” For more information, visit AppforHealth.com, or check out their Twitter and Facebook pages.

Tabrizi knows that Oscillo works best when taken at the first sign of flu-like symptoms, such as body aches, headache, fever, chills and fatigue, and giving it to a cast member immediately helps to keep his symptoms from worsening. For Tabrizi, “Boiron products are a must-have” on-set. She also “use[s] lots of Arnica for aches and pains from working long hours.”

Tabrizi has also worked on several A-list films, including “Drive Angry,” “Prom,” and “My Bloody Valentine.”

“Suburgatory,” starring Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy and Carly Chaikin, airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.

As we head further into the winter months, it’s becoming apparent that cold season is again upon us. You may want to try some natural remedies in addition to taking a homeopathic medicine. These remedies can be made in the convenience of your own home and will treat your cold and flu symptoms quickly, without unwanted side effects from medications. These tried and true remedies include simple and natural ingredients, such as honey and chicken broth.

Honey

Whether your throat is sore from postnasal drip or you have a dry, itchy or scratchy feeling in your throat or a dry cough that interrupts your sleep, honey can be your best friend. When I suffered from my most recent cold, I drank six to eight cups of hot decaffeinated tea with honey and lemon juice, and my sore throat felt better within two days.

To soothe your throat, swallow a teaspoon of honey (on its own) up to three times daily. Make sure not to eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after taking the honey so that it has time to work on the inflammation causing your symptoms. If the taste of honey does not suit you, use honey to sweeten decaffeinated hot tea. It is also best to use locally produced honey, as it contains pollens and proteins that may provide the best effects to treat your cold. However, as the Mayo Clinic points out, do not give honey to babies under one year of age, as it could cause infant botulism.

Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is the holy grail of cold and flu remedies. The broth reduces inflammation in your throat, helping reduce your sore throat and cough. According to the Mayo Clinic, the fluid also helps thin your mucus, reducing your congestion and sneezing. Likewise, the chicken, vegetables and grains in the soup provide much needed nutrients for your body’s immune system to fight off the virus. I prepare a big kettle of soup each time someone in my house develops the first signs of a cold, since this home remedy makes our colds go away more quickly.

Zinc

Taking zinc lozenges at the first sign of a cold can decrease the severity and duration of sneezing and congestion. My husband swears by these lozenges, which he takes at the first sign of each cold so he can get through the workday ahead. However, be warned that the lozenges can leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth.

Saltwater

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, gargling with saltwater two to three times daily reduces inflammation and scratchiness in your throat from colds and the flu. To try it yourself, mix ½ teaspoon salt with eight ounces of warm water and gargle.

Just because you have a cold or the flu does not mean you have to be miserable. These remedies will help get you on the mend faster rather than just letting the virus take its course. The next time a cold strikes, try one or more of these remedies, and you may feel better in no time.

About Lindsey: Lindsey is fascinated with the potential of emerging educational technologies, particularly online classes, to transform the landscape of learning. She regularly writes about web-based learning, electronic and mobile learning, and the possible future of education.

“Let’s Talk Health” airs every Thursday from 11 a.m.–12 p.m. on WNPV 1440 AM. Host Dr. Ria Gilday N.D., C.N. shares information about the latest products making news in the world of complementary medicine. Dr. Gilday is a licensed certified nutritionist and a naturopathic doctor. She is also the owner of Queen’s Health Centers in Souderton, Pa. and a member of the American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

“I’ve heard a lot of people say that [Oscillo] is an amazing, amazing product,” says a news team member. “It really cuts down on the symptoms.” Dr. Morelli agrees—and so do we. Oscillo reduces the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms when taken at the first sign of illness.

Available in the cough, cold and flu section at your local Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid or Target, and in independent pharmacies and natural product stores nationwide, Oscillo helps relieve flu-like symptoms such as body aches, headache, fever, chills and fatigue. Safe for everyone ages two and up, Oscillo is non-drowsy and has no side effects or drug interactions. For more information on Oscillo, visit www.Oscillo.com, or check us out on Facebook or Twitter.

When should you wash your hands?

- Before, during and after preparing food

- Before eating food

- Before and after caring for someone who is sick

- Before and after treating a cut or wound

- After using the toilet

- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing

- After touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste

- After touching garbage

What is the right way to wash your hands?

- Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.

- Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

- Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. (Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.)

- Rinse your hands well under running water.

- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them. If soap and water  are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

Regular handwashing, and covering your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or coughing or sneezing into the crook of your elbow are simple measures to slow the spread of germs, and therefore, the flu. But if you still get sick, look for Boiron’s cough, cold and flu products for children and adults – Oscillococcinum for flu-like symptoms, Chestal cough syrup, and Coldcalm for cold symptoms—sold at most drug stores and local health food stores. For more information, visit Oscillo.com or check us out on Facebook or Twitter.

Check it out—a recent segment of ABC News’ “Healthy Living” features our very own Oscillococcinum! Host Tanya Rivero and Dr. Vincent Pedre discuss ways to stay healthy throughout the holiday season, including taking Oscillo at the first sign of flu-like symptoms.

Safe for everyone ages 2 and up, Oscillo’s great-tasting, easy-to-take pellets have no side effects and no drug interactions. Oscillo is widely available at Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Target and Whole Foods, plus independent pharmacies and natural product stores nationwide. For more information on Oscillo, visit www.Oscillo.com, or check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

About Dr. Pedre: Dr. Vincent M. Pedre, medical director of Pedre Integrative Health and president of Dr. Pedre Wellness, is a board-certified internist in private practice in New York City since 2004. His philosophy and practices are a blend of both Western and Eastern medical traditions. He is a clinical instructor in medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, as well as certified in yoga and medical acupuncture. For more information on Dr. Pedre, visit www.pedremd.com, follow him on Twitter, or check out his blog.

“Whole Story” is the official blog of Whole Foods Market. Passionate about healthy foods and a healthy planet, Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading natural and organic grocer. For more information or to find the Whole Foods nearest you, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com.