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Acupuncture & Natural Remedies Treat Colds & Flu...Successfully

By Karen Nielsen, MSOM, L.Ac.

In these turbulent times one thing we can count on is the arrival of the cold and flu season! Some pediatricians have cautioned against giving your young children OTC cold and flu remedies. Fortunately, you can protect yourself and your family with safe, simple, effective actions and remedies that support the body's ability to heal itself.

Here are some simple steps to take to support your health and well being:

• Keep hydrated. Minimize your sugar intake and eat your veggies, especially dark green, leafy veggies such as collard greens, kale, and chard.

• Wash your hands frequently or use a good quality hand cleaner until you can get to a sink. Young Living Oils has a product called "Thieves" that works great.

• If you do feel yourself coming down with something, acting quickly will do you the most good...don't wait three days to see if your body can fight it off.

Try this great 'bug-buster' the next time you feel yourself coming down with something:

At the first sign of illness (chills, excessive fatigue, etc.) you can stimulate your immune system to fight back by generating a light sweat. The best way to do this is to prepare a bowl of hot soup with ginger, garlic and scallions added to it so it's good and pungent. Wrap up in a blanket and eat the soup. Stay covered up until you break a light sweat, then go to bed and get some rest. What you are doing is stimulating your body's defensive qi system and basically generating a fever to kill the little opportunistic invaders. If you cannot generate a sweat this way, try a hot bath instead.

Other home remedies:

Ginger tea is great if someone feels chilled, while peppermint relieves feverish sensations. Garlic and onions have natural 'antibiotic' qualities. Boiling water with vinegar in it helps to cleanse the air in your home.

If you do get sick in spite of your best efforts, remember that there are a number of great herbal remedies that are safe for you and your child...please consult a qualified practitioner regarding the use of herbs, even plants can harm if used inappropriately.

Remember that acupuncture and herbs have been helping people be well for thousands of years - these practices are tried and true!

Karen Nielsen, MSOM, L.Ac.
Three Rivers Clinic
www.threeriversclinic.com
952-545-0200