Do you dread the winter months when you and your family easily succumb to coughs and colds, sneezing and sniffly noses, headaches, sore throats, or muscular aches and fevers from the flu? These symptoms, whilst normally mild, are the leading causes of days off work and school, and can leave many people feeling sick and tired.
Instigators of a Weakened Immune System
A strong, healthy immune system is able to keep us well, even when those around us are coughing, sneezing and getting sick. There are many factors that may contribute to the weakening of your immune system including stress, poor sleep, a lack of regular exercise, not enough rest and relaxation and making
poor food choices.
What to Do For a Cold or Flu?
Both the common cold and flu are caused by viruses, with the most common virus being rhinovirus. What many people may not realise, is that antibiotics target only bacteria and are not able to kill the viruses responsible for colds and flu. Fortunately there are herbs and nutrients that can help manage these viral
infections and keep your immune defences strong.
Nutrients For Immune Support
Zinc is crucial for immune function as a zinc deficiency may cause a weakened immune response, predisposing you to a longer or more severe cold. Zinc and vitamin C are nutrients essential to good health and have a growing body of scientific evidence to support their benefits in boosting immunity and
strengthening the healing process.
Health-Giving Herbs
The following herbs have been shown to improve immune function and reduce symptoms of the common cold and flu:
- Andrographis: Andrographis is an Ayurvedic herb with a long history of use for viral and bacterial infections. Clinical studies have shown that andrographis can reduce the severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms.
- Picrorrhiza: This herb has been used traditionally in Indian and Chinese medicine to help maintain a normal healthy immune system, and has been shown to exert antiinflammatory and immune-stimulating actions.
- Elderberry: Elderberry has traditionally been used for its anti-catarrhal and fever-reducing actions to help relieve the symptoms of colds, and recurrent or acute coughs.
Coughs Keeping You Awake at Night?
A number herbs act on the lungs to help relieve both dry and productive coughs:
- Baical Skullcap: This traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been used to reduce coughing, as an expectorant to clear lung congestion and for its anti-inflammatory effects.
- Marshmallow Root: Marshmallow helps to soothe the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat, as well as decreasing any irritations in the lungs and respiratory tract.
- Liquorice Root: Liquorice is recognised in Western herbal medicine for its soothing, anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties. Liquorice may reduce irritation of the respiratory mucous membranes and aid in the treatment of coughs and bronchitis.
- Magnolia: This herb is particularly beneficial in treating moist coughs. It has been traditionally used for reducing phlegm and for calming the coughing and wheezing associated with lung congestion.
- Adhatoda: Adhatoda is another herb traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for respiratory congestion and wheezing. It is a powerful bronchodilator with expectorant properties that assists in clearing lung congestion and phlegm.
Breathe Easy
Do you need relief for your stuffy nose? Mucous congestion and phlegm are signs that your immune system is hard at work, and can result in blocked sinuses and breathing difficulty. The decongesting, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial essential oils of eucalyptus, thyme, lavender and peppermint may help
to reduce the nasal and sinus congestion that accompanies upper respiratory tract infections.
Strengthen Your Immune Defences
Make some simple dietary and lifestyle changes to keep you healthy and reduce your risk of colds and flus:
- Eat a well-balanced diet including fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, fish, eggs, legumes and lean red meat.
- Reduce your intake of mucous-forming foods such as dairy and refined foods.
- Avoid foods low in nutrients such as sugar, white flour products and alcohol.
- Drink at least 2L of filtered water every day.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get a good night’s sleep and take time to rest and relax.
Keeping Well This Winter
Give your body a fighting chance against the common cold or flu this winter. Prevention is always better than cure, so follow the simple dietary and lifestyle tips for building healthy immunity. If you do find yourself sniffling, coughing and sneezing, talk to us today about specific natural tonics to help reduce your symptoms and get you back on your feet sooner.
Narelle Stegehuis, is a practicing naturopath with over 30,000 hrs of in-clinic experience specializing in the natural treatment of women's health and hormonal imbalances. She is both an accomplished writer, editor and recipient of the Australian Naturopathic Excellence Award.
To find out more, visit www.massattack.com.au
