In these times of varying health reports in the media, it can be confusing. It is the position of this clinic that continued ongoing individual homeopathic and naturopathic care is your best 'defence' regarding acute colds and flus. If you are already coming in for homeopathic treatment, you are already doing your best for your health by strengthening your overall system in a holistic way. Traditional Chinese Medicine also has some powerfully effective strategy and treatment to treat colds and flu.
It is considered that getting a cold or flu once or twice a year is a sign of a normally functioning immune system. If you are falling ill more than this, this is your indicator to seek help. It is important to come into the clinic when you are sick, Hahnemann states that in observing the acute state, key information can be obtained by the physician.
If it is your time then let's make your experience as kind as possible. The coughing, spluttering, sneezing, fever is your body taking you through a natural detoxification process.
Below are some tools to stop you getting sick (if your body wants to truly be sick these will not work) and also how to be more comfortably sick and avoid complications. The goal is to be comfortable and to ensure no complications (such as ear infection, bronchitis or pneumonia). In this way your body can do what it needs to do, resolve it and move on. Adults and children who are unwell and limp/miserable/unhappy need guidance and this is an indicator to come in for an appointment.
These are some guidelines to help you through this fall and winter season.
Stage One of a Cold or Flu
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are 9 stages of a cold or flu. The early stages are often triggered by the environment, coming in from the cold or wind and noticing your ears are ringing, or your throat is sore. This is the 'oh no' moment, where you realize you are on your way to getting sick. Some classic signs: you feel suddenly tired or weak, you have a headache, your throat is sore, your ears are ringing. These are often after some environmental exchange.
The homeopathic remedy Aconite 30c is very effective for this state and if taken early enough will resolve the issue and your symptoms will disappear. If you wait too long to take the remedy (if stage 2 is reached) it will be too late. Also if you body is intending to be ill it will not work.
Jade windscreen formula is another TCM formula designed to strengthen your protective Qi, or Wei Qi. This formula can be used to protect yourself if you are around those who are unwell.
Later Stages
There are several things you can do to help yourself be more comfortable if you become unwell. Here at the clinic, we recommend our Immune Tincture containing Usnea barbarata, one of the most potent anti-viral and anti-bacterial plant medicines. Read the blog post on Usnea barbarata.
Bedrest. One of the least expensive and more potent treatments is bedrest. This is where your immune system does it's best work.
Vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for strengthening the adrenal and therefore the immune system. Take up to 6g (6000 mg). Vitamin C does not have to be expensive, look for powders or buffered C products.
Cooked foods. Avoiding cold and raw foods will strengthen your immune system. In TCM, soups and stews made with chicken and barley are recommended.
Important
Sugar in any form (including honey, fruits and white flour) directly lowers the immune system by lowering the white blood cells (defence cells) which destroy pathogens (viruses and bacteria). You may notice that if you have sugar, even a small amount, you will feel worse.
Ongoing homeopathic and naturopathic treatments will resolve issues of getting ill more than once or twice per year for a longer time than normal.
If you feel uncomfortable or not well enough to come into the clinic, a phone or zoom (online video) call can be set up instead, just call the office and let me know. Having a cold or flu or feeling unwell isn’t a good reason to cancel or postpone your appointment; remember this is the doctors office, you need support and you need it now.
