Help Your Family Through Cold and Flu Season

By Sara Poldmae, LAc

During the first week back to school, my third grader came down with a yucky virus. Can you imagine her dismay missing the third day of third grade? Watching her suffering on the couch, it dawned on me that this was the beginning not only of school, but also of cold and flu season.

Parents of young children know that once their child gets sick, the whole house is down for the count.

In order to help your family to keep these yucky bugs at bay, there are a few things that you can do to boost your immunity through the season, and especially when your little ones bring home a cold or flu.

A regimen of anti-viral Chinese herbs, Vitamin D3, and a Vitamin C based immune booster can be taken all season. In Chinese medicine there are herbs for prevention, as well as for different stages of a virus. Building an herbal pharmacy for the home is easy with the help of an experienced herbalist.

Cut out the junk food. Processed foods are largely empty calories, which do nothing to help your immune system. Eat vegetable based meals, packed with plenty of immune fighting micronutrients. Dark leafy greens and homemade chicken soup are my personal favorites.

If you sense that you are indeed getting sick, here is an ancient Chinese food remedy called “Kick A Germ Joy Juice” that should be used within the first 24 hours of symptoms

Squeeze the juice of one lemon

1 tsp. fresh crushed garlic

1 tsp. fresh chopped ginger

1 pinch cayenne pepper

Yields one cup of juice

Place ingredients in a large-sized coffee mug. Pour boiling water over the ingredients and steep for 10 minutes. Strain if desired. Add honey to taste. Drinking a cup of tea before bed is recommended.

And last, but not least, when your children go to bed sick, treat yourself to a good night's rest and your body will thank you. High quality sleep for at least seven hours is one of the best things you can do to give your immune system a boost.