“Paging Doctor Barreto,” I hear my husband kidding around when I share my home remedies for a lingering cold, muscle cramp, or a bad cough. Growing up in Brazil, you learn a thing or two about natural healing. Doctors were expensive, and my paternal grandfather was a so-called “doctor”, but further investigation revealed that he was actually a pharmacist, the inexpensive healer the locals called upon when they were sick.
Garlic, lime, cloves, and royal honey can help you feel better and get you up and about safely during a severe case of the flu.
I’m not a doctor, but many of my ancestors’ teachings have been passed down to my children. My daughters still swear by echinacea tea when they feel a cold coming on. They’ve been drinking the tea since preschool. I use it to strengthen their immune system against the germ fest that daycare can be, and to avoid the colds my younger daughter used to get every other week.
The Wisdom of Slowing Down
When our bodies don’t feel right, whether it’s fatigue, a lingering cold, or just an off day, it’s natural to want a quick fix. However, over the years, I’ve come to realize that true healing isn’t just about treating symptoms. It’s about supporting your whole self (body, mind, and spirit) continuously.
Like many women, I used to get really frustrated when I got sick. I felt I didn’t have time to step away from living. Each time illness sneaked in, it was because I had ignored my body’s many signals. After so much refusal, the body has to make a stand and make it impossible for you to ignore it.
Here’s what I’ve discovered: those days when we’re forced to slow down aren’t interruptions to our lives—they’re preparations for what’s coming next. When we honor the body’s call for rest and care, we’re not just healing; we’re building the foundation for renewed momentum.
Ana Barreto
Do you understand what momentum is? Imagine your success unfolding effortlessly, reaching your highest potential, with an unobstructed flow. And success is not only about career; it’s also about health, purpose, finance, love, and whatever else has made your manifestation list.
Think of this unexpected pause as your body’s way of clearing the path, removing what no longer serves you, and creating space for fresh energy to flow. And as you grow older, the pauses become stronger.
These purposeful pauses teach us to listen deeply, trust our inner wisdom, and emerge not just recovered, but renewed, when we embrace the pause (and see it as a pause, not as a sickness) instead of complaining. The woman who takes time to truly heal often returns with greater clarity, stronger boundaries, and a deeper connection to what matters most.
I’ve seen again and again how healing happens faster when we take a gentle, integrative approach to living. Always follow your doctor’s advice and use these three simple practices before reaching into your medicine cabinet. They have helped me, as well as many of the women I support, reclaim our well-being more fully and naturally.
1. Nourish to Heal: Let Food Be Your First Medicine
When you’re feeling unwell, the body is working hard behind the scenes. One of the kindest things you can do is offer it clean, real nourishment. If you pause and take a couple of breaths, you can sense what the body needs. Give space for the cravings of real food.
I’m not talking about a strict diet. I still eat McDonald’s. I’m talking about going back to the basics: a bowl of homemade soup, a cup of herbal tea, a plate filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, and healing foods that don’t come with a barcode.
Highly processed foods tend to slow the healing process because they burden our system with additives and sugars. In contrast, foods in their natural state carry life-force energy and essential nutrients, which your body needs to recover and rebalance.
After a few days without it, my body practically celebrates when I drink my spinach, apple, and kiwi juice again.
My Green Juice: A bunch of spinach or kale, 1/2 apple (honey crispy), 1/2 Kiwi, and water
Try this simple reset: For a few days, eat only what your great-grandmother would recognize—simple, whole foods made with love. It’s not about perfection—it’s about support.
2. Move Gently: Support the Flow of Healing Energy
When I visited my American dad in Port Byron, IL, his son told me, as we were grocery shopping, that I move like a New Yorker. He said that I made my way through the aisles as if the building were on fire, even though I was on vacation. If you have the New York City “state of mind,” pay close attention.
When you’re not feeling well, movement might be the last thing on your mind. However, gentle and intentional movement can make an enormous difference.
Your lymphatic system, which removes toxins from the body, relies on your movement to flow because it has no pump. Even slow, mindful walking or a few stretches can get things moving again and help you feel more alive.
Think of movement as a conversation with your body. You’re saying, “I’m here, I’m listening, and I’m willing to move forward.”
And if the Universe gives you a pause, rushing back to whatever you believe can exist without your efforts is not the type of movement you need.
Let movement be an act of kindness, whether it’s swaying to music, walking barefoot, or gentle stretching.
3. Create Sanctuary: Let Sleep Become Sacred
When I talk to women who are struggling with illness, especially burnout, I always ask about their sleep. Not just “are you sleeping,” but “how you’re sleeping.”
Sleep is the body’s deepest form of repair, but only if it’s restful and uninterrupted, and your environment plays a significant role.
As a Feng Shui consultant, I’ve seen how minor changes, such as repositioning the bed, moving the mirror, softening the lighting, or removing electronics, can have a powerful impact on how well you sleep. That means that you wake up rested and ready to be your best self, not that grumpy one barking at people who had nothing to do with your lack of or poor sleep.
If your room doesn’t feel like a healing space or a warm, soft blanket on a chilly night, it may be quietly disrupting your rest. That’s why I wrote the book Sleeping Well with Feng Shui, to help readers create a bedroom that nurtures renewal, recovery, and deep sleep.
Additionally, when you’re recovering from an illness, the direction your head faces while sleeping can either support or hinder your healing process.
Sleep Well With Feng Shui
A Gentle Invitation
The next time you’re feeling off, instead of rushing to suppress the symptoms, pause and ask: What does my whole self need right now?
You are no good to anyone when you are unwell. Your job, your business, your family, and friends cannot be served when you are depleted.
Here is my Mindfulness prescription for you: Real food. Gentle movement. Nourishing rest.
This trio is your foundation. It’s how your body begins to heal and stay healthy, how your energy starts to return, and how your spirit remains uplifted. And if you are sick, embrace where you are. It will help you build momentum for the next phase of your life.
The wisdom is already within you. Just breathe so you can know it. Sometimes, all you need is a little reminder. And now that you have yours, pass it on. You have been tagged; share this prescription with someone who needs to hear it.
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