Once again that pesty cold and flu is among us but there are things you can do to prevent them from attacking your system and to help speed up the process of healing. It is best to use these suggestions when you notice people around you getting sick, however, if you are already sick I would use these suggestions immediately.
Diet:
Avoid simple sugars including sweets and candies, but also natural sugars including maple sugar, honey, fruit juices and fructose (sugar in fruits). These products suppress immune functions making you more susceptible to infection. Drink lots of liquids including water, herb teas, vegetable juices and soups. Try to drink a glass of water every hour.
Supplements:
Recommended supplements include:
- Vitamin C - 1000mg (or bowel tolerance) per day with a meal or to bowel tolerance (if you notice your stools are more loose then you need to reduce your dose until stools are solid).
- Zinc - 30mg tablet with breakfast.
- Vitamin A - 25 000 IU with breakfast and supper.
- Vitamin B-6 - 50mg with breakfast and with supper.
- Vitamin E - 400 IU capsule with breakfast and with supper.
* If pregnant you should not exceed a Vitamin A dosage of 10 000 IU per day!!
Botanical/Herbs:
The following can be in a tea or tincture:
- Echinacea - 30 drops three times per day on an empty stomach for two weeks then stop.
- Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) - 15 drops three times per day on an empty stomach for 10 days then stop.
- Old Man's Beard (Usnea) - 40 drops three times per day on an empty stomach.
* If you are a sensitive/allergic individual, pregnant or nursing please contact your health care professional before taking any herbal remedies. Do not take herbal remedies for extended periods of time without supervision of a healthcare provider.
Hydrotherapy:
Hot shower for 3 minutes, then cold shower for 30 seconds - repeat 3 times always ending with cold.
All of these suggestions are aimed at optimizing your immune system and are for information purposes only. I strongly urge you to contact a health care professional before changing your diet or taking any supplements or herbal remedies, as they can interfere with current medications or a pre-existing condition you may have.
