‘Tis the season….The holidays are approaching and many of us are running ragged trying to balance the holiday social calendar, work, volunteering, gift-buying and family time. We’re so busy “being busy” that we forget to check-in with ourselves to see just how run down we really are.
Then it hits. The body is forced to take a time out because we get nailed with a nasty cold or flu.
The truth is, catching a cold or virus is our body’s way of telling us we are are out of balance. We talk a lot about balance in Chinese Medicine, and this is a good time of year to appreciate just how important it is.
If you take care of yourself, listen to your body, and rest when you start to feel those tell-tale signs of being run down, you are less likely to catch a cold or the flu – and your recovery time will be significantly shorter, too.
Janine has a some tricks up her sleeve for combating cold & flu season with vim & vigor.
ACUPUNCTURE
How can acupuncture help in the prevention and/or treatment of colds and flus? By boosting the immune system. Acupuncture promotes the production of white blood cells critical for the immune system to fight infections, autoimmune diseases and allergic reactions. Neurochemicals, such as endorphins, released through acupuncture provide relief and can drastically improve the symptoms of cold and flus.
In the use of acupuncture for managing cold and flu, the points selected are those that can help stimulate the “defensive qi” or “Wei qi” – the equivalent of the immune system in traditional Chinese medicine.
NATURAL FOODS & SUPPLEMENTS TO STAVE OFF SICKNESS
Janine has some favorite foods & products that she personally uses and recommends at the very first signal of potential illness. To keep her body’s defenses in tip-top shape, she likes to alternate the strategies below.
“When I went to China, I could feel a cold coming on,” Janine says. “I didn’t want to be quarantined, so every 2 hours my entire time flying to Japan, laying over in Japan and then flying on to Beijing, I used my arsenal of herbs, supplements and homeopathics. By the time I arrived, I was symptom free.! I continued the every 2-hour regimen for a few days then backed off to 4 times per day for the rest of my trip.
GARLIC SOUP – Garlic can reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack by modulating cholesterol metabolism, lowering blood pressure and decreasing clot formation. It also has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, making it especially helpful in combating respiratory infections, common colds, sore throats and fungal or yeast infections. In order to maximize garlic’s health-promoting properties, allow it to sit for at least five minutes after chopping or crushing. > Get the recipe
GAN MAO LING – Gan Mao Ling, literally “common cold effective remedy” in Chinese, is a Chinese herbal medicine formulated for common cold and flu. It is traditionally used to help relieve symptoms of common cold and flu such as sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, and headache. It is also used to treat acute upper respiratory tract infections, mild bronchitis, tracheitis, and tinsillitis. > Learn more
LAURICIDIN – Lauricidin® is derived from coconut oil and intended to be taken daily like a multi-vitamin for at least three-six months at the recommended intake to support general immune health and overall wellness. > Learn more
VITAMIN C – Vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) is known for its anti-aging, immune boosting, and mineral absorption properties. In high doses, it becomes an ascorbic acid flush, a powerful cleansing agent, protecting the body from chemical toxins and infection. A Vitamin C Flush is one of the easiest and quickest detoxification methods. It’s simply introducing high amounts of vitamin C into the body at regular intervals until you achieve a loose stool, then back off 1 dose. Like any detoxification program, afterwards the body feels refreshed and rejuvenated. > Learn more
BEE PROPOLIS – It’s not a coincidence that propolis means (pro=before) + (polis=city). This amazing substance is strategically placed by honeybees prior to creating the hives that defend and protect them. Because of the propolis, the beehive is one of the most sterile environments known by man even at high degrees of temperature and humidity. That’s why millennia civilizations have cultivated the beneficial properties of the bee propolis to support their health. > Learn more
YIN QIAO – Highly effective in clearing wind heat types of cold or flu, for which sore throat is the cardinal symptom. Other symptoms could be fever, intolerance for wind and cold temperatures, headache, thirst, and cough. > Learn more
OSCILLO – As soon as you start feeling run down or have other flu-like symptoms, such as headache, body aches, chills and fever, take Oscillococcinum. Oscillo is supported by published clinical studies, as well as more than 65 years of use throughout the world. Clinical studies show that Oscillo reduces the severity and duration of flu-like symptoms. > Learn more
“The body responds to frequency, intensity and duration,” says Dr. Bob Rakowski, Janine’s teacher. When you’re getting sick, you really need to do all you can to get the upper hand. Using these protocols in tandem can help with that, and should be done for 5-7 days after symptoms are gone to make sure your immune system is back in working order.
Don’t let a cold or flu cramp your holidays. We are here to help you stay healthy during the cold and flu season. Give us a call to schedule some preemptive acupuncture or for an herbal consult to discuss your specific needs. Stay healthy and don’t let cold & flu season rob you of the joy of the holidays! Visit us today.
NATURAL FOODS & SUPPLEMENTS TO STAVE OFF SICKNESS
Janine has some favorite foods & products that she personally uses and recommends at the very first signal of potential illness. To keep her body’s defenses in tip-top shape, she likes to alternate the strategies below.
“When I went to China, I could feel a cold coming on,” Janine says. “I didn’t want to be quarantined, so every 2 hours my entire time flying to Japan, laying over in Japan and then flying on to Beijing, I used my arsenal of herbs, supplements and homeopathics. By the time I arrived, I was symptom free.! I continued the every 2-hour regimen for a few days then backed off to 4 times per day for the rest of my trip.
GARLIC SOUP – Garlic can reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack by modulating cholesterol metabolism, lowering blood pressure and decreasing clot formation. It also has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, making it especially helpful in combating respiratory infections, common colds, sore throats and fungal or yeast infections. In order to maximize garlic’s health-promoting properties, allow it to sit for at least five minutes after chopping or crushing. > Get the recipe
GAN MAO LING – Gan Mao Ling, literally “common cold effective remedy” in Chinese, is a Chinese herbal medicine formulated for common cold and flu. It is traditionally used to help relieve symptoms of common cold and flu such as sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, and headache. It is also used to treat acute upper respiratory tract infections, mild bronchitis, tracheitis, and tinsillitis. > Learn more
LAURICIDIN – Lauricidin® is derived from coconut oil and intended to be taken daily like a multi-vitamin for at least three-six months at the recommended intake to support general immune health and overall wellness. > Learn more
VITAMIN C – Vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) is known for its anti-aging, immune boosting, and mineral absorption properties. In high doses, it becomes an ascorbic acid flush, a powerful cleansing agent, protecting the body from chemical toxins and infection. A Vitamin C Flush is one of the easiest and quickest detoxification methods. It’s simply introducing high amounts of vitamin C into the body at regular intervals until you achieve a loose stool, then back off 1 dose. Like any detoxification program, afterwards the body feels refreshed and rejuvenated. > Learn more
BEE PROPOLIS – It’s not a coincidence that propolis means (pro=before) + (polis=city). This amazing substance is strategically placed by honeybees prior to creating the hives that defend and protect them. Because of the propolis, the beehive is one of the most sterile environments known by man even at high degrees of temperature and humidity. That’s why millennia civilizations have cultivated the beneficial properties of the bee propolis to support their health. > Learn more
YIN QIAO – Highly effective in clearing wind heat types of cold or flu, for which sore throat is the cardinal symptom. Other symptoms could be fever, intolerance for wind and cold temperatures, headache, thirst, and cough. > Learn more
OSCILLO – As soon as you start feeling run down or have other flu-like symptoms, such as headache, body aches, chills and fever, take Oscillococcinum. Oscillo is supported by published clinical studies, as well as more than 65 years of use throughout the world. Clinical studies show that Oscillo reduces the severity and duration of flu-like symptoms. > Learn more
“The body responds to frequency, intensity and duration,” says Dr. Bob Rakowski, Janine’s teacher. When you’re getting sick, you really need to do all you can to get the upper hand. Using these protocols in tandem can help with that, and should be done for 5-7 days after symptoms are gone to make sure your immune system is back in working order.
Don’t let a cold or flu cramp your holidays. We are here to help you stay healthy during the cold and flu season. Give us a call to schedule some preemptive acupuncture or for an herbal consult to discuss your specific needs. Stay healthy and don’t let cold & flu season rob you of the joy of the holidays! Visit us today.