Fight the Flu Season!

I think you know the flu season is actually not a season, but we have become programmed to think of it as the months of November through March. The flu hospitalizes thousands every year on average, especially the young and elderly. There are also a number of deaths related to the flu, mostly due to people already having compromised immune systems.

The flu is short for influenza. It’s a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by a number of viruses. There are approximately 26 to 30 different known strains of the flu virus to date. This is one of the reasons the flu vaccine has only mild efficacy. The flu vaccine itself, typically only covers five to seven strains of the flu.  Symptoms of the flu include fever, coughing, a sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, pains, runny nose and watery eyes.

The good news is we can practice preventive methods to avoid the flu by implementing healthy habits and taking care of ourselves throughout the year. The best way to treat a disease is to prevent it. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a great tool to have in the toolbox for preventing the flu.  Utilizing botanical Chinese formulas and acupuncture treatments can be very beneficial in keeping the flu at bay.

Regular acupuncture treatments help boost immunity, while balancing and regulating the body’s energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”). Several studies have shown acupuncture can reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and shorten the length of time that somebody is ill.

Chinese Herbal medicine offers a great way to ward off the flu bug. Two herbs in particular are specified for strengthening Qi and boosting the immune system. The first is huang qi or astragalus and the other is dang shen or codonopsis. There are a couple of other herbs commonly used as antivirals too. These are ban lan gen (isatis root) and da qing ye (isatis leaf).

Along with TCM, there are other self-care methods we can practice to avoid catching the flu. Regular exercise, sufficient sleep, stress management techniques and a proper healthy diet are four of the best self-care methods anybody can practice to stay disease-free. Exercising enough to break a sweat without overdoing it has been shown to reduce the incidence of the flu. So incorporating practices like tai chi, qi gong and yoga can actually reduce physical and emotional stress, while strengthening the immune system and preventing disease.

Eating a healthy diet is essential for preventing any disease, not just the flu. This includes eating a very balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Foods that contain beta-carotene are especially helpful at boosting the immune system.  Carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes and garlic are good examples of beta-carotene rich foods. Also drinking about 6 – 8 glasses of water on a daily basis is highly beneficial.  Ample fluid intake helps the body flush out toxins and invaders, while keeping the mucus membranes and upper respiratory tract healthy enough to fight off the virus.

Taking advantage of TCM modalities of acupuncture and herbal medicine gives us more natural and preventive tools to optimize our well-being and keep us moving forward through the flu season.