Yes, the Flu Season is Here!
Are you prepared? I am a big believer in preventive care as some of you already know. This time of the year it is more stressful due to the holidays, not to mention you will be around a lot of people out shopping, at office parties and everything in between.
For preventive care I always have the herb formulas Yin Qiao San or Gan Mao Ling around so I can use it at the first sign of the “feeling of something coming on”. These are in a convenient pill form so I can take them with me wherever I go. I take my preventative herbs year round faithfully to help protect myself, my patients and my love ones so I don’t pass it on to them. Colds and flus get thrown back and worth so protecting the people around you will also keep you from catching it back.
I also use Cloud of Protection by Nieves. If someone coughs or sneezes around your space, you can spray this anti-bacterial and anti-viral spray to fight off germs. It is all natural and smells great. I use it in the office after I treat someone with a cold or a flu. It really clears the air and offers a cleaner environment to breathe in.
Your immune system plays a big part of keeping you healthy. Make sure you eat a warm and balanced meal. In TCM, we believe in eating for the season just like dressing appropriately for the season. This is the time to nourish your body so eat slow-cooked warm food. This is not the time to detox, eat cold salad and “rabbit food”, you can have that again in the summer.
Getting enough sleep is very important and if you can squeeze in a 10-15 minute power nap at any time, it will make a world of difference to rejuvenate the body. Don’t have time to take a power nap, just close your eyes and tune out for 5 minutes. This simple step can help your
body recharge. Don’t have 5 minutes? just imagine being out of commission for at least 2 weeks. You won’t be good for the loved ones around you or to yourself. So yes, you can squeeze in 5 minutes for yourself. Tough love :)
Take a moment to breathe deeply when you are in a stressful situation. This simple step can reset your stress hormone to calm you down. Managing your stress can assist your immune system to keep you healthy.
One more thing, keep your hands off your face to avoid germ transfer from your hands to your open orifices (eyes, nose, mouth). I know I sound like a broken record but I can’t stress how important this is. I know you heard of all these tips before but that’s because they work. I am not trying to reinvent the wheel but keeping these tips in mind will keep you healthy so you can have a more pleasant holiday with friends and family.
What if you are already sick with the flu!
First things first, do not go to work and get other people sick. You already know this may come back to you at some point if you contaminate someone else. Unfortunately, once you are sick you will have to ride out the illness but you have the power to reduce the time and the severity of the illness by getting plenty of rest, stay hydrated (drink warm or hot liquid only, cold beverages makes the flu last longer) and take herbs. These tips will help shorten the duration and severity of the flu. If need to, seek help from your practitioner.
