11 Feb 2002 @ 08:50, by Linda Cleary
10 ways to avoid a cold or flu this season.....
10 Ways To Avoid Becoming A Cold Or Flu Victim
1. At the first sign of illness, slow down immediately and rest to prevent the illness from taking hold. It is better to stop activity in the short term rather than having your activity stop you.
2. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Get 8 hours of sleep, relax often, eat moderately, drink plenty of pure water and decrease consumption of alcohol, coffee, and sugar. (Sugar almost immediately decreases immune function).
3. Viruses are often passed by touch. Wash your hands frequently and avoid shaking hands with those who are already sick.
4. Eat very lightly at first sign of feeling badly in a non-specific way — it is especially useful to cut back to only fruits and vegetables. Follow your body's inclination: If you are hungry, eat more, and if not, eat less.
5. Make choices that promote strong immune function. A few examples include: switching from coffee to tea consumption which has antibacterial and antiviral action; eating garlic liberally, for its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal activity; and adding yogurt to your diet as it sets up a beneficial situation in the colon, helping to strengthen this underpinning of good health.
6. Take Echinacea, potentially mixed with goldenseal, as a tincture or in capsule form, at the first sign you are starting to come down with a cold. You can find many good preparations at your local health food store or pharmacy. Continue taking these until all signs of illness have gone. Should you succumb, continue the tincture throughout the course of the illness, to shorten its length and decrease its severity.
7. Useful early homeopathic prevention includes the use of Oscillococcinum or other potentised flu products or Ferrum phos cell salt for early stages of feverish conditions. As with Echinacea products, these homeopathic medicines can stop an illness in the early stages
8. As a preventive measure, take a good high potency multivitamin-mineral from a health food store, naturopathic physician or other natural health practitioner, daily, with at least 1000 mg. vitamin C, 5,000 IU vitamin A, 20,000 IU beta carotene, 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg. zinc and 25 mg. of the B vitamins.
9. Use a humidifier in your bedroom overnight to moisten the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
10. Take a long, hot bath with a teaspoon of added eucalyptus or thyme oil (unless you are taking homeopathic medicines). Towel-dry and then pop into bed for a deep rest.
Following these helpful strategies can help ease you through a cold and flu season. Any unusual or persistent symptom should be evaluated by your physician or your naturopathic physician to see about another course of action.
|
|
