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Are You Feeling Lucky?
As cold and flu season approaches I want you to ask yourself, "Am I feeling lucky"? With over 200 viruses out there just waiting to give you fever, chills, aches and pains, runny nose, cough, sore throat and that 'I don't want to get out of bed' sensation, what can a person do? There's always the flu shot which according to recent research works about as well as a placebo. Studies shows that if you are lucky enough to catch one of the bugs that is actually in the flu shot you may dodge the bullet. More likely yet is the chance you will catch a variant or completely different strain of virus and that shot will not be worth very much. On the other hand, if you really want to increase your odds for a healthy winter cold/flu season here are a number of suggestions that are safe, effective as well as inexpensive.
To begin with, according to Chinese medicine, the fall is the season of the Lung. The Lungs are called the tender organ because of all the internal organs of our bodies they are the most vulnerable due to their interface with the external environment. Simply put, every time we breathe we bring the outer world into our bodies. Short of wearing mask or a respirator there are a variety of other options we can use to make our immune systems stronger to fight off the bugs that are waiting to lay us low.
It always a good idea to start by taking a look at our overall health. Are we eating well? Fruits and veggies are your friends. Getting enough rest? As the days get shorter try going to bed earlier. And how about exercise? Walking has been shown to be as be as beneficial as jogging without the wear and tear on the joints. Do you wash your hands regularly? Doctors agree that hand washing may be the number one thing we can to prevent germs from taking a hold. Also be careful about touching your face, lips and eyes as this is probably the most common point of entry for the germs we pick up on our hands.
Are you taking your vitamins? Getting plenty of Vitamin C and D? Everyone knows that Vitamin C is essential for our immune system. Just as important in the winter months is the fact that we get less sunlight which lowers the levels of Vitamin D in our systems. This in turn has a negative effect on our immune systems as well.
Don't forget to keep plenty of Yin Chao and Gan Mao Ling on hand. These may not be household remedies unless your name is Chao or Ling but they should be. These two Chinese herbal formulas come in pill form and are great for preventing, or easing cold and flu symptoms. Take them at the first sign of a sneeze, cough or sore throat and nip that cold in the bud!
And when was the last time you actually drank 8 glasses of water in a day? Keeping our bodies fully hydrated goes a long way to promoting optimal health and well being. And you'll get more exercise hiking to the bathroom.
So, my recommendation is that if you follow the steps outlined above you may not need a flu shot. But if it makes you feel better go ahead. It probably won't hurt and who knows it might actually do some good. After all, how lucky do you feel?
© 2003–2008 Larry Forsberg. All rights reserved.
Articles posted on this Web site are for personal use only and remain the property of Larry Forsberg, L.Ac.
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