PREVENTION - Eat with the Seasons to Boost Immunity

We are more likely to get a cold or flue when our immune system is weak, our digestion is not working effectively or when are stress levels are high.  Follow these tips each season to stay strong and healthy in the next season.

In the spring we are more susceptible to colds and flu than other times of the year. In the winter, the weather is particularly dry so our sinuses dry out and become irritated and often begin to make excessive mucus. This reactive mucus production is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses to proliferate. Nature does its job in preventing this dryness by harvesting high fats and high protein nuts, grains, and meats to help insulate us from the coldness and dryness of winter. If we allow ourselves to dry out in the winter and disregard nature's harvest, we run the risk of excessive mucus production and the proliferation of bacteria and viruses. In the spring, due to excessive dryness of winter, we tend to make more mucus naturally. Once again, this excessive mucus predisposes us to bacterial infections and allergies. The treatment is to understand how eating with nature's seasonal harvest is the best antidote for the common cold, flu, and allergies. This is described in detail in my book The-3 Season Diet.

PREVENTION:  Herbs that Help Prevent Colds and Flus

In the winter, follow this protocol to keep your immune system strong.  Many of our patients are thrilled to finally have a healthy winter for them and their kids.

• Ashwaganda:  3 caps each morning (children can take 1 cap).
• Turmeric Plus:  3 caps each morning (children can take 1 cap).
• Vitamin D3:  3000-5000IU each morning.  (children can take 2000IU).  A new study revealed that children with low vitamin D levels were 11 time more likely to get a respiratory infection. LifeSpa.com/VitaminD.
• Ear Oil:  1-2 times per week and before heading out into chilly weather (such as before skiing). Beneficial for adults and children.

TREATMENT - For When You Already Have the Cold or Flu

The best herbal treatment for the cause of cold and flu is enhancing circulation and drainage of the lymphatic system, flushing the toxins and the mucus back into the digestive tract. In this way, instead of killing bacteria, we are escorting the bacterial infection into the highly acidic digestive system, which terminates the bacteria's life naturally.

If you already have the cold or flu, follow this protocol to heal quickly.  We recommend keeping these remedies on hand so you can start using them at the first sign of symptoms, such as:  sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, achy joints, fatigue, general "run down" feeling. 

• Cold-Cough - take 2 caps every 2 hours.  This will liquify reactive mucus and is antiviral and antibacterial.   (Children can take 1 cap every 4 hours.  You can open the cap and mix it in a little honey if your child has a hard time swollowing capsules).
• Chywanprash:  Adults can take 10 teaspoons per day (you can even take as many as 20-30 teaspoons).  (Children can take up to 4-6 tsp per day). 
• Ear Oil:  Clear your nasal passages by flushing your cervical lymph.  This provides fast results for sore throats and any type of sinus congestion!
• Echinacea Glycerine Tincture:  take 2-4 dropperfuls in warm water every 2 hours.  (Children can take 1 dropperful every 2-4 hours in water or juice).