Acupuncture
Chick – Your Expert on Chinese Medicine and All Things Health
Jessica
Tatieze, LAc
Fight Cold and Flu Season Before
it even Begins!
Jessica Tatieze, Licensed Acupuncturist at 2bwell Clinic
September 2012 2bwell Newsletter
It is hard to accept that summer is ending, but kids are
going back to school which means fall is just around the corner. While many of
us do look forward to the crisp air, delicious warm drinks, and the changing of
the leaves, it is also the time of year when many find themselves curled up in
bed with cold or flu symptoms. Many patients and friends say they dread the
fall because they always get sick around the same time every year. They are
often surprised to learn that acupuncture and herbal medicine can help prevent
these ailments.
What is it about this time of year that makes these
viruses so prevalent? In Chinese Medicine, many cold and flu symptoms are
related to environmental factors such as wind and cold. Research in Western
medicine has also showed that the cold temperatures may play a role in the
spread of these illnesses. As the cooler weather forces us to stay indoors more
this gives viruses the chance to easily transfer from person to person.
While Chinese Medicine can’t keep you from being exposed
to viruses, what it can do is help strengthen your body and immune system in
order to effectively defend you from respiratory virus infections. By treating
each person’s individual constitutional imbalances, acupuncture and Chinese
herbal medicine strives to put the person in their healthiest state. This alone
puts the person’s body in a good position to fight off viruses they encounter.
Beyond that, there are also specific acupuncture points and herbal formulas
that can benefit those who are prone to certain symptoms or illnesses.
With preventative acupuncture and herbal treatments,
some patients make it through the cold and flu season without catching any
viruses, while others notice they get sick less often, are able to recover from
the illnesses more quickly, or have less severe symptoms. These results can be
very significant to patients, translating into less missed work and more
holiday fun! One patient, who was prone to frequent colds in the past, wrote
this after using acupuncture to help her endure last year’s cold and flu season
sickness free:
“I've been a preschool
and kindergarten teacher for 6 years. I love my job, but the downside is that
I'm constantly exposed to a multitude of germs. Each year I catch 2 to 3 colds
and 1 or 2 other bugs. Last year, I started monthly acupuncture treatments, and
I haven't been sick once, not even a cold! Acupuncture has totally strengthened
my immune system.”
Other ways you
can keep your body strong and prevent illness this fall are: wash your hands
frequently, get plenty of sleep and exercise, keep stress levels low, and eat
healthy foods including plenty of vegetables. As with anything, it’s always
important to listen to your own body. If you start to feel symptoms coming on
or feel run down, take the time to relax and get plenty of rest before it turns
into a full out illness. From a Chinese Medicine prospective it is also
important to protect yourself from the wind and cold with hats, scarves, and
warm clothing, and by limiting time spent directly in these elements.
So while the cooler weather is inevitable and fall will
come whether we are ready for it or not, we can start preparing now to make it the
happiest and healthiest season yet!
Don’t miss out
on other great articles from 2bwell practitioners. Sign up for the 2bwell
Clinic monthly newsletter by e-mailing office@2bwell.net.
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