I’ve been getting a fair number of inquiries lately into what people can do to avoid this winter’s potential influenza epidemic. The media craze, once again, has us locked in fear of what this winter’s viral onslaught will bring our way.
Like any other time, as with any other microbe, hand washing is crucial. Simple right? This also involves teaching our little ones to keep our “mouths to ourselves”, sneeze into our arm and wash our hands before and after nose picking. All this hand washing leaving your hands dry and cracking? Pure coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer and it also has anti-bacterial properties. I poured some melted coconut oil into a small glass jar and now carry it in my diaper bag (incidentally, it makes a great diaper cream too).
Like any other time, as with any other microbe, keeping our resistance up through healthy eating is crucial. Refined sugar has a direct immune suppressing effect, while local raw honey has immune supporting and any anti-microbial properties, choose your “sweet” accordingly. I always find myself preaching about eating tons of natural colors and this time of the year is no expectation. If you like to eat “seasonally” and locally choose beta carotene rich carrots, mineral rich beets and flavenoid laden frozen blueberries. If your culinary desires reach past the confines of our local yield; go for those rich yellows and oranges; sweet potatoes, mangoes, bells peppers and many other fruits and vegetables are all high in beta carotene the precursor to vitamin A, the vitamin which is so crucial for keeping the linings of our noses, throats and lungs ready to “fight”. Garlic, onion, and ginger are also fantastic fare for winter immune health. A quick home remedy for the beginning of cold or flu symptoms is a grated clove of garlic and a “finger” of fresh ginger steeped in hot water with honey.
There are many botanical medicines in the Naturopathic Doctors tool chest to help support the immune system all winter long, as well as those that have specific ant viral and anti-influenza properties. The Chinese herb astragalus is an excellent herb that can be used safely all winter long to keep the immune system strong in kids and adults alike. Echineacea is another well known herb, well know because of its immune supportive and direct anti-viral actions. Elderberry is a wild herb that grows locally here in New Brunswick, it has garnered a lot of attention due to a study that demonstrated it’s ability to prevent H1N1 infection of cells in vitro with effectiveness comparable to the pharmaceutical Tamiflu (Phytochemistry. 2009 Jul;70(10):1255-61).
Naturopathic Medicines and home hygiene practices may reduce your chances of contracting the flu, and the aforementioned Naturopathic protocols should help your flu experience to be more brief and mild, should you be one of this winter’s viral hosts. Please visit your Naturopathic Doctor for a more personalized approach to keeping your immune system healthy during this winters battle with the flu.
