Prepare for the cold & flu season

By paying attention to your body and recognizing the first signs of a cold or flu, you may be able to prevent it from developing. Common first signs include: scratchy throat, sneezing, achiness in your body or head, feeling unusually tired, sensitivity to wind or drafts, or even just not wanting to go outside without an extra layer of clothing.

In addition to getting acupuncture as soon as possible, there are a number of things you can do to help boost your immune system so you can fight the illness more quickly and effectively. 

Chinese medicine classifies colds and flus into two primary categories, depending on whether the primary signs are more of heat or of cold.
Heat signs include fever/feeling hot, thirst, sweating, headache, painful sore throat, yellow/green nasal discharge and an aversion to heat.
Cold signs include feeling chilled, sneezing, a stiff neck, lack of sweating, clear/white nasal discharge and an aversion to cold.

Home remedies

For heat signs, help your body cool while it fights the pathogen.
Add ½ cup of chrysanthemum flowers and ½ cup of mint leaves to 4 cups of water and boil for 20 minutes to make a tea. To stay hydrated, thsi mix of juices is especially effective: 1 head of cabbage, 2 cucumbers, 2 oranges and 1 cup of dandelion greens.
For cold signs, help your body clear the pathogen by using warming foods that help you sweat.
Have a steaming bowl of miso soup with extra scallions. You can also make a tea with: 1 chopped scallion, 3 slices of fresh ginger, 1 chopped garlic clove, some basil and a pinch of powdered cinnamon. Add to 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.

The best way to fight colds and flus is still to avoid getting them in the first place. Wash your hands often and avoid touching common items in public places such as door handles. Also, keep yourself warm, dry and well nourished so your body can use its energies to protect you.