Nutritional and Herbal Help During Cold and Flu Season

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE ADDING/CHANGING ANY SUPPLEMENTS

I've been asked what is good to take to help fend off colds and flu and their symptoms. Here is some information.

Keeping healthy against infection:

• Do not get behind on rest and sleep.
• Regular exercise strengthens body systems.
• Take a multi-vitamin:  You should be doing this already. Recent research shows vitamin C may help shorten colds, but it does not particularly prevent them.
• Wash hands frequently

When a cold or flu seems to be starting:

• Use Zinc drops for sore throat. No more than 3-4 per day.
• Use Echinacea tincture or capsules. Use Echinacea/Goldenrod unless you have high blood pressure. Do NOT use Echinacea continuously for more than a month or so.
• Use ZICAM nasal ointment/spray to keep infection from moving from throat to head. This is a good preventative.
• Astrogalus as an immune system enhancer. It is a Chinese herb and works very well.
• Keep WARM!! This will help your immune system.
• Drink plenty of fluids. This will help "wash out" toxins more quickly.

Other suggested items when fighting a cold

• Pau de Arco is an anti-microbial
• Some advocate Garlic pills. Careful about stomach distress if dosage too high.

Comment on NSAID (aspirin, tylenol, ibuprofin, etc.)

• Fever is a way the body help "ramp" up its immune system. If you can stand the fever, and do not have special risks regarding your cardiovascular system (congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, etc.) do NOT take NSAIDs. Research has shown they actually lengthen a cold or flu.

Does a fever indicate whether it is bacterial or viral? NO! It is not a reliable indicator, though lack of or very low fever may tend to suggest a standard common cold flu infection. Common colds ARE typically viral.