According Chinese Medicine, colds and flus are interchangeable; both are caused by a weakening of the body’s defenses and the simultaneous invasion of a pathogen, usually through the nose and skin. Chinese Medicine takes a proactive approach to strengthen the body’s defenses before the virus can take hold.
Since Chinese medicine practitioners do not believe in simply managing the symptoms, then the key is strengthening the immune system, which is called tonifying the defensive qi (pronounced “chi”) of the body. Acupuncture and herbal formulas are effective for preventing and treating cold and flu, but there is a lot that you can do at home.
– Wash your hands often and do a nasal rinse daily with a neti pot or sinus rinses.
– Get plenty of sleep. Eight- nine uninterrupted hours each night is recommended.
– Eat foods that are nourishing and easy to digest. Choose broth-based soups and stews, cooked grains and vegetables, and organic meat. Avoid dairy, overly processed foods, sugars/sweets and fried, rich foods.
– Manage your stress, meditate and breathe.
– Bundle up and wear your warmest clothes and keep your skin and nose protected from the recent storms as pathogens enter through the nose, mouth and back of the neck.