COVID & Flu Prevention
We’ve all become much more aware of building our immunity over the past few years. So as we head into cold and flu season, it’s a good time to talk about some of the ways you can boost your immunity not just for our seasonal illnesses, but also for COVID, which is also on the rise again in our area.
As always, you should check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding any herbal supplements to your diet. But we’re going to talk about some non-ingestible things you can do to help stay healthy, too. So let’s get started!
Herbs
If you’ve been exposed to COVID or the flu but don’t have any symptoms yet, two great preventive herbal tinctures are yarrow (also called Achillea millefolium) and Saint John’s Wort (also called Hypericum perforatum). Both can be taken by the dropperful, about 25 drops.
If you’re starting to show symptoms, these same herbs are helpful in boosting your immune system to fight off illness. You also can add elderberry as a tea or tincture (1-2 tablespoons as needed) and astragalus as a tea.
Finally, if you have a cough or upper respiratory symptoms, I recommend Elecampane root tincture (also called Inula helenium). The dosage for that is about 30 drops three times daily or 10-15 drops six times daily. Mullein milk taken as an infusion with whole milk is also wonderful support for the lungs and can help clear infections.
Please note: Anyone taking blood thinners should use caution when taking yarrow, and St. John’s Wort should not be combined with anti-anxiety or depression medications. Herbs in general should never be taken alongside immune-suppressing drugs.
Acupuncture
Stress and anxiety can lower immunity and make our bodies more susceptible to germs and illness. Which means one of the best ways to boost your immunity heading into cold, flu and COVID season is by lowering stress and anxiety levels and getting better sleep.
Acupuncture has been proven to do both of those by improving circulation, calming your nervous system and even reducing the stress hormone cortisol. Maintaining a regular acupuncture schedule in the cooler months (roughly October-March, depending on our season) prepares your body by giving it the defenses it needs against those external factors.
At-home prevention
Last but not least, you have two simple tools for fighting cold and flu right at home: diet and a scarf.
As the weather begins to cool, start incorporating warming foods into your diet: warm meats, stews, legumes, red wine, ginger, chili, garlic and cinnamon are all immunity-boosters.
And be sure to grab a scarf before you leave the house! This is one of my favorites because it’s a simple and powerful way to stay healthy. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the back of your neck and the upper part of your back are what is known as the “Wind Gate.” It’s where wind and cold penetrate your body and cause illness, and it’s why neck pain is often one of your first cold symptoms. So be sure to bundle up!
In health and wellness,
Julie