Kelly Marshall, ND
Being sick during cold and flu season can be a huge loss for anyone, especially a massage therapist. But exposure to client germs in this line of work may be one of the most significant occupational risks compared to other professions. Besides washing your hands, what else can you do to support your immune system this season? Start by reviewing your personal habits, including what you eat, drink, and sleep.
Your best defense is a consistent, healthy lifestyle that includes adequate rest and nutrition. When your body is fatigued and undernourished, you are more susceptible to the bacteria and viruses that lurk around you. When your body is healthy, your immune system fights off invading microbes before they can cause illness.
You should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day because these foods contain phytonutrients that aren’t found in your daily multivitamin. These nutrients, unlike vitamins A, B, and C, contain other natural plant complexes that are only found in plants. These nutrients are what give blueberries their blue color and strawberries their red color, and are sometimes called antioxidants. Antioxidants are important for cellular health and can provide health to the immune system, especially when it’s under attack.
Make sure you drink at least half your body weight in water. Hydration is essential for cellular health and helps your body properly absorb and eliminate nutrients. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, drink 70 ounces of water each day. When it comes to sleep, listen to your body. If you’re tired, go to bed early and don’t resist. You need eight hours of sleep a night to give your body time to recover from the day’s fatigue and prepare for the next day.
It is important to understand that the flu is not a quick fix, but a self-limited illness. This means that your symptoms will vary depending on your current physical health. In other words, the severity and duration of your symptoms will likely be affected by your physical health going into cold and flu season. If your body is well-nourished, well-rested, and stress-reduced, it will be better able to handle the immune threat and recover in sufficient time.
But who, despite their best efforts, eating a perfect whole food organic diet, and sleeping eight hours a night, doesn’t feel stressed? We’re in a tough economy right now and it’s affecting us all.
But there is hope: taking the right herbal medicines at the onset of a cold or flu can have an impact on the symptoms and duration of the cold. The key questions here are what are these herbal medicines and how do you get them? Remember, just like cars, food, electronics and clothing, not all herbal medicine products are created equal.
When it comes to supplements, if a product seems particularly cheap, there’s usually a reason for it. A very cheap price usually means the ingredients are of poor quality. It also suggests that the final product may be of lower integrity, resulting in lower potency. You don’t necessarily have to buy the most expensive herbal product, but you should research the companies you have at hand and look at their manufacturing methods. Does the company grow and harvest their products themselves? Do they import ingredients from China? Do they use organic herbs? Do they stuff capsules with unnecessary binders and fillers? This is usually the case with cheaper products, which will result in less medicinal efficacy.
That being said, there are high potency products available that are based on traditional herbal wisdom and science. High potency Echinacea root products, taken frequently and as soon as symptoms begin, can help the body manage the immediate inflammatory response that occurs when symptoms first appear. When mucous membranes are invaded by bacteria, they become inflamed and secrete mucus in response. Scientific studies have shown that Echinacea root helps inhibit this immediate inflammatory response and support the body during this process.
For those struggling with any illnesses during cold and flu season, try an echinacea product that contains the aerial parts, or the above-ground parts of the plant. This plant helps to strengthen and support the body’s immune system, promoting a healthy immune system throughout the season. The aerial parts of echinacea are naturally high in immune polysaccharides, which are especially beneficial for those who are prone to getting sick when they are stressed or don’t eat or sleep well.
Kelly Marshall is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor specializing in pediatrics, women’s medicine, and chronic disease management. Marshall has published scientific papers, journal articles, and books on protein and amino acids. A media savvy individual, she appears regularly on nationally syndicated radio shows and has appeared on ABC’s “A View from the Bay” and PBS’ “Health Quest.” Marshall has served as a scientific advisor for Citizens for Health, a clinical advisor for Nordic Naturals, a nutrition advisor for the American Sugar Association, and a nutrition expert for her local public school district. She currently serves as the Medical Director for Gaia Herbs. (www.GaiaHerbs.com), Organic herbal products company.
