Prevention of colds and flu can be summed up in three words: wash your hands. The viruses that cause colds and the flu most easily enter our bodies through our hands. Wash your hands after shopping. Remind your children to wash their hands as soon as they get home from school. A little “hysterical hygiene” goes a long way in keeping colds at bay.
Of course, there are herbs that can be used to help prevent colds and flu.
Yarrow it is a clear favourite, especially as a tincture. Wise teachers, moms and children find that a dose of 5 to 25 drops of yarrow tincture in some liquid in the morning reduces the chance of getting sick by more than half.
Astragalus is gaining fame for its ability to support the functioning of a strong immune system. I throw a few tongue depressor-like pieces into my soups, where they infuse their goodness without imparting much flavor. Astragalus powder can be added to just about anything, from oatmeal to pancakes to soups and sauces. And there’s always the tincture, which works well in doses of 1-3 droppers a day. (If possible, use domestic astragalus instead of Chinese astragalus.)
eleutheroUsed to be called Siberian ginseng, it’s another immune system builder, used in the same way as astragalus: cooked into food or taken as a tincture.
and do not forget honey. A spoonful at the first sign of a sore throat or runny nose can kill off the bacteria responsible and help you get better quickly. (Note: Do not give honey to babies younger than 12 months.)
And if you do get sick, this is my favorite way to get well quickly.
- Treat a cold with heat.
- Treat a hot cold with cold.
This may sound too easy, but it’s actually one of the most effective ways I know of to minimize the severity and duration of a cold (or flu). I first learned about cold colds and hot colds when I was studying Five Element Theory with a sweetheart who was attending acupuncture school.
It’s important to remember that “cold” and “hot” do not refer to temperature; refer to what we could call metabolism. Therefore, the person with a cold could very well have a fever and the person with a hot cold may not have a fever at all. Likewise, hot foods and herbs don’t necessarily need to be cooked, and cold foods and herbs don’t need to be refrigerated.
So how can we tell the difference between a cold cold and a hot cold? And what are cold herbs and hot herbs, cold foods and hot foods?
the person with a cold Cold (or a cold) is Pale. Your body fluids are copious and colorless: Your nose is runny with clear or white mucus; the bowls are loose and the stools are light in color; urination is profuse and colorless. The tongue may be covered with a white moss. If there is a fever, it is accompanied by chills. The person with a cold seeks warmth and hot foods.
the person with a cold hot (or a hot flu) is ruddy; the face, or at least the cheeks, are very red. The eyes may feel dry and irritated. Their body fluids are scanty and dark: nasal mucus is dry, yellowish, or “clogged”; bowls are slow and stools are hard; urination is infrequent and highly colored. The tongue may be red or covered with yellow moss. If there is a fever, it is “furious”. The person with a hot cold seeks coolness and has little appetite.
when you have a cold Cold, Satisfy your desire to heat foods and herbs: Drink plenty of spicy hot herbal teas with honey*, such as ginger tea, cinnamon tea, or any of the spicy “Yogi Tea” type blends. Nourish yourself with chicken soup, beef broth, miso soup. Enjoy Baked Winter Squash, Baked Potatoes, Baked Yams, Baked Garlic. Eat plenty of olive oil, ghee, butter, olives, and avocados. Eat beans and eat the hot grains: kasha, rye, oatmeal. stay warm; take a hot bath or shower and bundle up before bed.
when you have a cold hot, satisfy your desire for frozen fruit smoothies. Drink lemon water and honey*, iced nettle infusion, hibiscus and mint infusions. Fuel up with seaweed salads, cucumber sandwiches and fresh tomatoes with basil. Enjoy berries and melons, green salads and roasted poultry. Eat refreshing cereals: corn, millet, spelled. Eat a little something, even if your appetite is small. Keep it up; take off your shoes and socks and put your bare feet on the floor. But keep the covers handy when you go to sleep.
You see, cold colds turn into hot colds and vice versa. They don’t stay the same the whole time you’re sick. So be prepared to cover up your chattering teeth and runny nose, even if you went to bed stuffy and stuffy. Or to get rid of the pile of covers you grabbed hours before. The real beauty of this idea of hot colds and cold colds is the premise that everything, even a cold, will change and therefore the cure is not found in knowing the right answer, but rather in following the flow of the disease and offer the appropriate treatments. . I imagine a balance, swaying back and forth between hot and cold, and me gently dampening the oscillations, making each one a little less severe, until stillness is restored in one point, health.
Whether you have a cold or a cold, you can eat as many neutral, nutritious foods (rice, wheat, fish, honey* and yogurt) as you want. But be careful taking vitamin C while you have a cold or flu; it is extremely refreshing.
I hope these tips for preventing and treating colds and flu help you and your loved ones stay healthy all winter long.
Green blessings.
(*Note: Do not give honey to babies younger than 12 months.)
Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, condition, or symptom. Personal instructions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare professional with a specific formula for your. All material contained in this document is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a licensed health care professional if you need medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.