Natural Remedies for colds and flu

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Natural Remedies for Colds and Flu

Colds and the flu or influenza are similar in many ways, yet the flu

can sometimes lead to more serious problems, such as pneumonia. Colds

and flu are the most common and communicable and spread easily

between people. They are more likely to strike when a person's immune

system is low. The common cold is an acute (short-term) viral

infection of the upper respiratory tract.

Symptoms of a cold include runny or congested nose, sneezing,

fatigue, headache, body aches, cough and general feeling of malaise.

A sore throat is sometimes a (differential) symptom of a more serious

condition distinct from the common cold (such as strep throat) that

may require medical diagnosis and treatment. A cough can be further

differentiated by the sound of the cough and the ability to expel or

not to expel the phlegm. The color of the phlegm is also looked at.

(See Traditional Chinese Medicine).

The flu typically affects 20%-50% of the U.S. population each winter.

It's a highly contagious disease, spreading mostly by direct person-

to-person contact and coughing is the most effective method of

transmission. The flu virus can linger in the air for as long as

three hours. In close quarters, conditions are ripe for the spread of

the virus.

Symptoms of a flu are very similar to that of a cold, but the signs

of a flu can be much more severe, especially at the oneset. A fever,

characteristicly high (102-104 F); that lasts 3-4 days, a severe

cough that gets worse, with chest discomfort or pain can be signs of

pneumonia. Severe body aches and fever/chills are side effects of the

body doing its job of trying to fight off an infection.

Colds can be spread through the air, such as when a person sneezes,

or by contact with contaminated objects.

Those most at risk are children in 5 to 14 year range, who spend much

of their time in school, in close contact with their classmates. More

serious complications occur in elderly adults and those with

compromised immune systems.

The remedies for a cold or flu are sleeping, resting, plenty of clear

fluids, and avoiding sugar, which will assist your immune system to

recuperate. There is no proven cure for colds or flu, but time.

Tips For Avoiding A Cold

1. Wash your hands often. This is the number one preventative measure

you can take. You can pick up cold germs easily, even when shaking

someone's hand or touching doorknobs or handrails. You should lather

up your hands well for at least 20 seconds, then rinse-off the soap

thoroughly for another 20 seconds. Be sure to include the areas under

you nails when you wash your hands, as they are a lurking ground for

germs. Drying your hands, studies have shown, is also an important

step in removing germs.

2. Keep your immune system strong. Get good quality sleep, eat

nutritious food and stay strong with moderate exercise.

3. Limit airborn risks by keeping your nose clear and hydrated.

Usually, we infect ourselves by placing our own virus contaminated

hands to our faces. Less frequently, we can catch them from airborne

sources.

4. Sneeze or cough into a tissue and then throw the tissue away.

5. Clean surfaces you touch with a germ-killing disinfectant.

6. Don't touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. Germs can enter your body

easily by these paths.

7. Any season is cold and flu season but the most prevelant time

tends to be in the fall and winter, when people are together in close

surroundings.

8. Avoid large crowds in enclosed areas as much as possible,

especially during cold and flu season.

9. Keep your feet and neck warm. Cold feet and a chilled neck cannot

cause a viral infection. When the feet or neck are cold, cold

contracts, that includes the mucous membranes in the nose. When

mucous membranes contract, they dry out and cause the glands to stop

functioning. This easily allows dust and bacteria in, as the nose

stops it's filtering function, making your entire system more

vulnerable.

10. Sometimes even when we do our best to avoid these situations,

they occur regardless. Just being aware is half the battle.

Managing Your Cold

1. Stay home and rest, especially while you have a fever.

2. Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, which can make cold

symptoms worse.

3. Drink plenty of fluids like water, fruit juices and clear soups.

Fluids help loosen mucus. Fluids are also important if you have a

fever because fever can dry up your body's fluids, which can lead to

dehydration.

4. Don't drink alcohol.

5. Gargle with warm salt water a few times a day to relieve a sore

throat. Throat sprays or lozenges may also help relieve the pain.

6. Use saline (salt water) nose drops to help loosen mucus and

moisten the tender skin in your nose.

7. Consider supplements such as Vitamin C, 2,000 to 4,000 mg in

divided doses (based on bowel tolerence). Vitamin E compliments C,

400 IU. Echinecea, Goldenseal, Garlic and Licorice root all help in

fighting viruses and strengthening immunity.

8. Chicken soup has been shown to have healing properties. Enjoy this

great old remedy.

9. Keep washing your hands, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze

and cough in order not to spread the virus to others in your

household.

10. Pay attention to good hygiene and skin care. Eat a proper diet.

Nutritional Advise

Water is essential in any healing process. 6-8 eight ounces glasses

per day.

In addition to eight glasses of water, clear juice, tea, and other

mostly clear liquids are advised. This will replace important fluids

lost during a cold and help flush out impurities that may be preying

on your system.

Sip chicken soup. A long-time folk remedy is now a proven fact. A cup

of hot chicken soup can help unclog your nasal passages. Researchers

at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach found that hot chicken

soup, either because of its aroma or its taste, " appears to possess

an additional substance for increasing the flow of nasal mucus. "

These secretions—what comes out when you blow your nose or sneeze—

serve a first line of defense in removing germs from your system, the

researchers say.

Zinc lozenges can cut colds short, to an average of four days. Zinc

can also dramatically reduce symptoms such as a dry, irritated

throat.

At first onset, do a dropperful of Goldenseal and/or Echinacea

directly in the mouth three to four times a day. **Do not take

Goldenseal for more than seven days.***

The very fact that you have a cold in the first place may point to

your eating " too congesting a diet " that puts a strain on your body's

metabolism. Counteract it by eating fewer fatty foods, meat and milk

products, and more fresh fruit and vegetables.

What You Should Avoid:

Limit foods that have little or no fiber such as ice cream, cheese,

meat, snacks like chips and pizza, and processed foods such as

instant mashed potatoes or already-prepared frozen dinners. Too much

white flour and refined sugar.

What you don't eat may be even more important than what you do eat.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugar, because they tend to worsen the

situation.

Reduce Processed and Refined Foods:

Avoid fried foods, white pasta, white rice, full fat dairy, white

potatoes, white bread (baguettes, bagels, pita).

Processed food can rob your food of nutrients and vitamins that your

body needs to fight off stress and promote good health. Try to buy

whole foods, unprocessed foods and try and stay away from " instant "

foods, preservatives, artificial flavors, saturated fats, refined

foods, hydrogenated food and MSG.

Reduce Sugar Intake:

Too much sugar can rob our body of essential nutrients. Simple

carbohydrates from baked goods, pastries, most crackers and cookies

must be limited to a very small portion or completely removed from

the diet.

Supplements

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a unique antioxidant that is both water and fat

soluble, which allows it to enter all parts of the cell to neutralize

free radicals. Alpha Lipoic Acid contributes to and is important for

the production of energy inside the cell by utilizing sugar to

produce energy contributing to mental and physical stamina, reducing

muscle fatigue and neutralizes free radicals. Alpha Lipoic Acid

recycles and enhances the effects of both Vitamin C.

Lysine an amino acid, can have a general antiviral, tonifying effect

that fortifies the immune system. Take 1,000mg daily in divided

doses.

A probiotic will fortify your intestinal flora, which are essential

for proper digestion and nutrient absorption. This is key to good

health and a strong immune system. Studies have shown that patients

who begin a course of probiotics with fiber a few days prior to

surgery are less likely to pick up a post-operative infection during

their hospital stays. This demonstrates a strong connection between

intestinal flora and immune function. The fiber – which provides the

friendly bacteria both food and sanctuary – can be as simple as an

apple or banana.

Omega-3: found in fish oil has been shown in many studies, to reduce

your bad cholesterol levels and reduce plaque buildup in your blood.

By reducing your bad cholesterol, you are helping your body to fight

off stress and relieve anxiety, tension and even prevent heart

disease! Fish that are high in Omega-3 are excellent ways to help

your blood stream.

Vitamin C acts primarily in cellular fluid. Vitamin C scavenges free

radicals and cleans up waste products. In addition to its anti-

oxidative activities, vitamin C benefits many other body functions.

Vitamin C is necessary for the synthesis of collagen, which is an

important component in the structural make up of blood vessels,

tendons, ligaments, and bone. Vitamin C also plays an important role

in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters and norepinephrine.

Neurotransmitters are critical to brain function and are known to

affect mood. Vitamin C, even in small amounts, can protect molecules

in the body, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic

acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radicals. Vitamin C helps in

the fight against free-radical formation caused by pollution and

cigarette smoke and also helps return vitamin E to its active form.

Vitamins B6,12 Foods rich in the B vitamins, which help regulate

metabolism, are also beneficial, as diets high in sugar tend to burn

these vitamins at a faster rate. These foods include wheat germ,

yogurt, and liver.

Herbal Remedies

Adaptogen herbs: which include Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng), Asian

ginseng, Astragalus, and Schizandra, are thought to help keep various

body systems—including the immune system—functioning optimally. Take

Siberian ginseng in tincture, herbal granules or in capsules. Capsule

doses of 500mg three times a day. Another immune stimulant, Boneset,

helps fight off minor viral infections, such as the common cold.

Echinacea: Patients primarily use echinacea to prevent and treat the

common cold. The alkylamide, alkaloid, and polyacetylene fractions

are thought responsible for stimulating leukocytes and increasing the

release of TNF and interleukin 1. A double-blind, randomized studies

for the treatment of the common cold suggest that, if initiated

within 24 hours of onset, echinacea may shorten the duration of

colds, but may not reduce the severity of symptoms. More research is

needed. Fresh pressed juice of the flowers of Echinacea (E. purpurea)

preserved with alcohol and tinctures of root of echinacea (E.

pallida) have been shown to reduce symptoms of the common cold.

Echinacea (E. angustifolia) root tinctures has been shown to reduce

symptoms of the common cold. The minimum effective amount of

Echinacea tincture or juice that is necessary to take is 3 ml three

times per day. More (3–5 ml every two hours) is generally better and

is safe, even for children. Encapsulated herbs may also be effective,

generally 300–600 mg capsules three times per day are used. Recent

studies indicate that regular use of Echinacea to prevent colds does

not work. Therefore, it is currently recommended to limit use of

echinacea to the onset of a cold and to use it for only 7 to 10 days

consecutively.

Elderberry: is derived from the dark purple berry or from the white

to light-yellow flowers of the black or common elder tree.

Elderberry, a relative of the blueberry, has been found to have

powerful anti-viral properties. Elderberry extract may be used to

treat a cold or flu, or taken as a prophylactic which fortifies the

immune system.

Horseradish has antibiotic properties, which may account for its

easing of throat and upper respiratory tract infections.

Goldenseal: In traditional herbal medicine, Goldenseal root is often

taken with Echinacea. The pharmacological action of goldenseal is

attributed to both hydrastine and berberine. Berberine has been shown

to have anti-microbial activity against certain pathogens such

enterotoxigenic E. coli and V. cholera. However, due to small amounts

in the root, it is unlikely that these effects would occur.

Goldenseal soothes irritated mucous membranes in the throat, making

it useful for those experiencing a sore throat with their cold.

Goldenseal root extract, capsules, or tablets are typically taken in

amounts of 4–6 grams three times per day. Using Goldenseal powder as

a tea or tincture may soothe a sore throat. Caution: Goldenseal root

should only be used for short periods of time, up to 7 consecutive

days.

Garlic: The intact cells of garlic contain an odorless, sulfur-

containing amino acid derivative known as alliin. When the cells are

crushed, alliin comes into contact with the enzyme alliinase located

in neighboring cells and is converted to allicin. Allicin is a potent

antibiotic, but it is highly odoriferous and unstable. The ajoenes

are apparently responsible for the antithrombotic properties of

garlic. Allicin is described as possessing antiplatelet, antibiotic,

and antihyperlipidemic activity.

Ginger: An anti-inflammatory. Ginger has been used in Ayurvedic and

Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory. Taking 6–50 grams of fresh

or powdered ginger per day indicated that ginger might be helpful.

Suggested Dosage: 0.5 to 1 mg of powdered ginger daily

Licorice Root is anti viral, anti-inflammatory, soothes gastric

mucous membranes. The root cleanses the colon, increases fluidity of

mucous in the lungs and bronchial tubes. Licorice is used extensively

in Traditional Chinese Medicine for a variety of conditions and

ailments. Almost all clinical studies on licorice have been performed

in combination with other herbs. Alone, licorice is used primarily to

manage gastric complaints. A number of active chemicals are thought

to account for its biologic activity. Due to the adverse reaction

profile of licorice, many studies have been performed using the

deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) extract, which is free of

glycyrrhizin and has had no significant reported adverse effects.

Mucilage herbs, such as Slippery Elm and Marshmallow, are often

helpful for symptomatic relief of coughs and irritated throats.

Mullein has expectorant and demulcent properties, which accounts for

this herb's historical use as a remedy for the respiratory tract,

particularly in cases of irritating coughs with bronchial congestion.

Red Raspberry, Blackberry and Blueberry leaves contain astringent

tannins that are helpful for soothing sore throats.

Sage tea can be gargled to soothe a sore throat.

Yarrow has been used for sore throats. All of these remedies are not

supported by modern research at this time, but are traditionally

used.

Wild Indigo also stimulates the immune system, which might account

for its role against the common cold and flu.

Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://peacefulmind.com/cold_flu.htm

Therapies for healing

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