Cold & Flu Prevention with Holistic Medicine

With cold and flu season upon us, I am often asked how I am able to ward off so many colds throughout the season. After all, I routinely see sick patients almost on a daily basis during the ‘winter’ season. You would think that I get sick more often, but I only get only minor symptoms because I manage those symptoms early and with a heavier dosage schedule of my favorite remedies. I also run an air purifier with a UV light sterilizer 24/7 in my office. Surfaces are also wiped down with natural disinfectant regularly.

Flu & Cold Prevention

We all know that washing of the hands frequently is very important, but did you ever notice how much you touch your face and eyes during the day? This is where transmission can be immediate. Be careful about hand sanitizers that have bactericidal chemicals because that chemical also kills off the natural bacteria your skin has to prevent outside invaders. Good old soap and water are the best.

At my office, if someone has the flu, which is spread by respiratory droplets, disinfecting the room used to see the patient before seeing the next patient is done to protect us and the next person. Keeping common area surfaces cleaner can help keep your household healthier.

If you live with a loved one that is sick, it’s always best to sleep in a separate room, especially if they are coughing all night (unless you want to get sick as well). Of course, many times it’s hard to avoid people that are sick around us. An atomizer with essential oil of eucalyptus and oregano oil can help sterilize the air of viruses traveling in droplets.

Natural Remedies That Help Block Colds & Flu

The most important preventive strategies are the natural remedies I have come to depend on to stay as healthy as possible when waves of the flu are coming through the area, especially if you have kids running around. My favorite TCM formulas are Yin Qiao (sore throat feverishness) and Gan Mao Ling (chills, body aches) for managing the early symptoms before you get really sick. There are smaller sizes available when you click on the links.  Adding Vitamin D3 10,000 IU daily to this mix provides another boost to the immune system. If you ramp up your dosage intermittently, as in only when you need extra protection or feel your immunity is a bit low, you need not worry about taking too much D3.

Here’s the trick I use to BEAT THE FLU:

If you definitely have the flu (high fever, body aches, respiratory symptoms, cough, congestion, runny nose), then take 25,000 IU of Vitamin D3 at the first signs of fever or flu-like symptoms with 5000mg of Vitamin C, 15mg Zinc, 300mg Magnesium drink powder (yes, it has natural antibacterial properties), and the TCM herbal remedy that best suits my symptoms (I teach you that aspect when you come in and build out your herbal medicine chest).

Repeat this dose daily for 3 days. When I had the flu last season, my worst symptoms broke down within 12 hours using this protocol. Can you imagine beating the flu this quickly with natural remedies? There are other supplements in my tool kit. Come in and find out what suits your health picture the best.

The other remedy that is a super star and has been shown to have activity against the circulating Influenza virus du jour in Andrographis.  With the flu vaccine efficacy being shown less valuable as every new finding comes out, it’s best to have an arsenal of natural remedies with proven efficacy against the flu, including Zinc. There are several forms available, I have my favorites, just keep in mind that a daily dose of 15mg is plenty…even less for children. I dose children’s protocols according to their overall health, age, and body weight.

And what about colds and sore throats?

Now for the day-to-day sore throat that may start after exposure to the common cold, I use products like oregano oil and clove oil in a nebulizer or in dilution. Essential oils can cause skin irritation if used neat, always add them to a medium like vegetable glycerin, coconut oil, or ghee before ingesting. Always use LESS than you think you need. One drop across 3-5 doses is plenty. I can compound these formulations for you in my in-house Skin Blessing skincare lab.

Oregano has anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties. So, it is an all-around great anti-infective. Clove oil also has anti-microbial properties. These oils are basically made by these plants as their natural antibiotics. Clove also offers the added benefit of gently numbing the mucosa layer of your throat. You can make it into a spray using a spray bottle and mixing with filtered water and some vegetable glycerin. You control the strength by the number of drops you add to the spray bottle. You can also spray clove oil (covertly ; )) on an airplane to protect you from germs on surfaces.

Mindset is important too. Posit in your mind that you can get through the season without serious illness. A Daoist saying goes: where the mind goes, the Qi follows. Where the Qi goes, the body’s balance follows.

Here’s to getting through cold and flu season unscathed by a big one! May you ward off most colds that come your way. In the meantime, I’m here to help.

Bonus delicious fresh juice recipe:

Dr. Tracy’s Immune Boost Juice

• 4 organic navel oranges

• 6 organic tangerines (clean exterior peel of 1 very well)

• 2 organic limes (clean exterior peel well)

• 2-inch chunk of fresh ginger

• Several pieces of Turmeric root (about 6 inches)

• 4 Carmanbola (Star fruit) (optional)

Run the ingredient through a cold-press juicer: add the roots inbetween adding the citrus fruits. Run the whole limes and one peel of the tangerine together with the roots for extra flavonoid content to your juice.

One serving is 2-4oz. 1-3x per day, as needed. A maintenance dosing schedule is 3-4 doses per week. It is ok to dilute the juice if it too rich on your palate.

You can portion the juice into silicon cube trays to freeze and use when you need them. There are so many form trays available now with varying cavity sizes. Choose the one that suits your needs best.