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Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

December 2, 2020

By Dr. Lauri Brouwer, ND

Cold and flu season is quickly approaching. Of course, the viruses that cause cold and flu are with us year-round, but Fall and Winter are the seasons when people are typically more exposed to viruses and more susceptible to getting sick. Exposure is up because we’re indoors more, sharing spaces and germs with others. Susceptibility is up because Vitamin D levels are down due to reduced sunlight, and Vitamin D is essential to proper anti-viral immune function. Susceptibility is also up due to indulging in holiday sweets and treats that disrupt immune function.

Common symptoms of cold/flu-like fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, body aches, and fatigue are signs the immune system is fighting. Although it’s tempting to take over-the-counter medicines to suppress these symptoms, when we do, we reduce our immune function and prolong illness by several days. Our goal as naturopathic doctors is to encourage a good strong immune system fight instead of suppressing symptoms.

Woman drinking tea in bed
Image by silviarita from Pixabay

Prevention Is Key

Our primary focus at Living Wellness Medical Center is to prevent illness and disease. We support the body’s immunity by focusing on lifestyle factors such as a healthy diet, stress management, adequate sleep, and exercise.

I’m certain that in this time of COVID-19, you’re well aware that reducing exposure to inhaled virus particles through masking and physical distancing, washing hands, and avoiding touching your eyes/nose/mouth are essential prevention strategies. Here are some other prevention tools to keep in mind:

Limit Sugar, Alcohol, and Dairy Products

It is especially vital to avoid these foods when you start to feel ill. Sugar, alcohol, and dairy products disrupt immune function.

Focus on increasing nutrient-dense foods like leafy green vegetables, antioxidant-rich berries, or foods with antimicrobial properties like garlic, ginger, and onion. Here is a recipe for an Anti-Plague formula that uses all three.

Sleep at Least 7-8 Hours Nightly

Adequate quality sleep every night is needed to maintain healthy immunity. Sleep is vital to wellness because it is the time our body restores and rejuvenates itself. Without adequate sleep, our body cannot repair, rebuild, and make immune cells and signals to keep us healthy.

Reduce or Better Manage Stressors

Stress reduces the immune system’s ability to fight viruses. This is why we are often more likely to become sick during or after periods of high stress. For instance, getting a cold sore outbreak during stress results from the immune system being unable to keep the causative virus suppressed.

Unhealthy stress includes emotional and mental stress (constant worrying, obsessive thoughts, negative self-talk, depression, and anxiety) and physical stress (inadequate recovery from exercise, poor sleep). If you struggle with daily stressors, it may be time to talk to your doctor about ways to address and better manage your stress, visit .

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise is protective against various chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and dementia. Exercise encourages healthy circulation of immune cells and lymph, improving our immunity.

Woman doing yoga

Be mindful that adequate rest is just as important as exercise. Excessive, strenuous exercise or inadequate recovery can inhibit immunity by causing added stress to your body. Daily movement is important, but it’s more important that you move at your own pace.

In Case of Illness

If you do become ill, naturopathic medicine has many good treatments to offer. We have a downloadable handout on our website that provides a wide variety of at-home immune support options to choose from. You can find that here.

Immune Boosting Treatments Offered at Living Wellness Medical Center

Nutritional IV Therapy

When nutrients are delivered intravenously, the digestive tract is bypassed and 100% absorption of those nutrients is achieved. This can be especially helpful when illness includes diarrhea or GI upset. IV nutrients in the bloodstream immediately circulate to all parts of your body to flood cells with immune-supportive nutrients and antioxidants.

Read more about IV Therapy and its benefits here: IV Therapy and Injection Treatments

B Vitamin Injections

B vitamin injections are effective treatment tools to enhance energy, metabolism, focus, and immunity. Vitamins administered intramuscularly bypass the digestive tract, allowing them to be absorbed quickly into the blood and have an instant effect.

Engystol Immune Injection

Engystol is a homeopathic remedy that is given as an injection once a month as a preventative during flu season or as a treatment in the case of viral infection. It has scientifically proven anti-viral activity and effectively treats and prevents viruses such as influenza, herpes simplex 1, rhinovirus, and RSV (Human respiratory syncytial virus).

Read more about Engystol and its benefits here: Get Your Homeopathic Flu Shot.

Ozone Therapy

Ozone makes this therapy a powerful therapeutic agent in the body due to its oxidizing property. Ozone treatments stimulate increased production of glutathione, our “master antioxidant.” We call glutathione this because it’s not only our most potent antioxidant; it also recycles and restores other antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, alpha-lipoic acid within our bodies. Ozone is administered either via IV or intramuscular injection.

Read more about ozone and its benefits here: Subcutaneous Ozone Injections

Immune Support Supplements Offered at Living Wellness Medical Center

Berry Well (for kids)

Biotic Extra

This unique combination of vitamins, minerals, and herbs specifically designed to promote good health by supporting the immune system. The ingredients synergistically support the body’s immune mechanisms to ward off infections or to treat current infections. **Not for use during pregnancy.

Read more about Biotic Extra here: Biotic Extra: Immune Support During Cold/Flu Season.

Bronchial Soothe

Herbal cough syrup

Culturelle

The immune system is largely mediated by the gut microbiome. Beneficial bacteria in the gut like Lactobacillus and Bifido help support the immune system by reducing harmful bacteria in the gut. We encourage our patients to increase their probiotic dosage if they are prescribed antibiotics. Talk to your doctor about which strains and how much of them your probiotic supplement should contain.

Herbal Tinctures

Ask your Living Wellness doctor to recommend the tincture that is right for you.

NAC

Thins out mucus

Silver Sol

Vitamin C

A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is a staple for immune support. We recommend at least 3-5 grams or 3,000-5,000 mg per day. Higher doses of vitamin C will cause loose stool. If you experience looser stools with vitamin C, decrease your dose by 1 gram or until loose stools subside.

Vitamin D

Studies show deficient vitamin D in the body is linked with autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to infections. Talk to your doctor about vitamin D testing and how much you should take. Vitamin D is vital for bone, breast, brain, and immune support. It is especially important to supplement with vitamin D during the colder months as we naturally have less sun exposure.

Zinc

Zinc is important for healthy immunity because it decreases oxidative stress and supports the healthy function of white blood cells that ‘eat’ pathogens such as parasites, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. 15 to 30 mg a day is a standard dose for immune support.

When Should I Contact My Doctor?

• If your symptoms persist or continue to worsen

• If you have a fever, night sweats, body aches, or unexplained weight loss

• If you notice yellow or green phlegm from the nose or when you cough

• If you have difficulty breathing or chest pain

• If you experience pain with swallowing

• If your cough persists for 2-3 weeks

If you would like more tips and advice on how to stay healthy this cold and flu season, schedule a free brief meet and greet with one of our doctors by calling 480-588-6856.

Filed Under: Naturopathic Therapies, Naturopathic Wellness

Jill Mapstead
Jill Mapstead
2022-03-22
Can’t say enough about Dr. Marianne Marchese! Her commitment to women’s wellness, calm, knowledgeable, non-judgemental guidance and insightful diagnoses / treatment has me turn to her for all my wellness needs. She takes the time to really listen. I feel heard and valued in her care.
Marc Cohn
Marc Cohn
2022-01-08
We had a great first visit with Dr. Turner and we look forward to continuing to work with her. She provides true support and guidance to better health. Alexandra Cohn
Ivana Kalika
Ivana Kalika
2021-12-24
I'm writing my review for Dr. Sarv Varta Khalsa. I met with her a few months ago to receive treatment for a condition I'd been dealing with for an extensive amount of time. She was incredibly kind and took the time to listen to all the details of the symptoms I was experiencing. The office had the prescriptions I needed on-hand so I didn't need to go off-site to find them. All natural remedies, and at comparatively good prices (I don't remember how much exactly, but if they were up-charging, which I doubt, I didn't notice nor would I have minded for the convenience). I'm still symptom-free now after following her recommendations, so I wanted to write a review to express my gratitude. Even though the appointment was pricey, it was worth every single penny to finally be able to live my life feeling normal again. Thank you so much!!
Irene Nicholas
Irene Nicholas
2021-12-15
What's better than a Naturopathic Dr.... Dr. Olivia Watkins!!! I have been working with her for over a year and have learned so much about myself, she is truly a team partner in my journey. She is experienced in ANYTHING you may be experiencing. I consider her my primary physician... you should too!!!
Stephanie Llamas
Stephanie Llamas
2021-11-29
Dr. Watkins is nothing short of incredible. She is kind and personable, while extremely smart and results driven. I have suffered from digestive and hormonal issues my whole life and it wasn't until I met Dr. Watkins that I finally felt heard by a Dr and saw a difference in my health. I can confidently say that my body has never felt this good and we are still working to be even better. If you are ready to feel better and feel heard from your doctor, then run, don't walk to Living Wellness.
D Bach
D Bach
2021-11-10
Dr Olivia Watkins offers a beautiful aura of sincere loving support that I will forever cherish, as she exudes and radiates a beautiful light towards her patients' health care needs. Also, her staff, Joslyn and Ariana are as sweet as they come and have been as helpful as can be to me. One issue I had (and have had a few) was a lack of nutrient absorption and it was Dr Olivia who helped me change that status (thank God!) which I'm already seeing immediate results from and I've had this issue for years which my nails and hair loss were severely revealing! I've also experienced so much stress in the last year and a half, that having Dr Olivia as part of my healing process has made all the difference in my recovery to a more whole being! At this point, I seriously don't know what I'd do without her, as she is now my go-to health advocate and will be to my end days. Dr Olivia is a GodSend! Don't hesitate to call her office. High fives for the brightest healing light you could ever pray for in life! After eight long years, Dr Olivia just recently finished her GM residency and once again, I must congratulate her on such discipline and hard work as it has obviously paid off in spades! Long live Dr Olivia!
Kristin A
Kristin A
2021-09-19
I love Dr. Marchese and so glad I found her last year. She has helped me so much with my health. I have recommended her to several people and they love her too.
Kelly leibrandt
Kelly leibrandt
2021-07-28
Dr. Watkins is life changing! I am so grateful that I was referred to Living Wellness and her specifically. I’ve been dealing with severe stomach issues for 10 years and have gone through the ringer with the test, labs, and over-the-counter medicine suggested by other doctors. Dr. Watkins is so smart, thoughtful, and attentive to every detail so that she can really get down to the bottom of your problems. She feels like a teammate and a very strong coach and a friend all in one. I’m finally on my way to feeling better and I couldn’t have done this without her. If you’re struggling don’t even hesitate to see her or any of the staff at living wellness. I promise you won’t regret it!
Erica Brunkow
Erica Brunkow
2021-03-19
I saw Dr. Warkins several times and was overly impressed her. I was going through cancer treatments and she was compassionate and resourceful. We connected and I felt at such ease with her. She followed up with me multiple times to see how I was doing and feeling. I will continue to see her for any future Gyn needs.
Carey Miller
Carey Miller
2021-03-18
I began to see Dr. Watkins for some general Women's Health issues and she was incredible to work with. She helped my body become more balanced, pain was relieved naturally, and my body was prepared for a healthy pregnancy. She is kind, knowledgable, and very supportive!
Google rating score: 5 of 5, based on 27 reviews

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All material on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice provided by your healthcare professional or physician.

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