by Nicole Maxwell, NMD
Teachers, school-aged kids, frequent travelers, and those under chronic stress may be more susceptible to getting every cold that passes. Here are some things to do to stop the trend.
First and foremost, it is important to maintain a Whole Foods Diet, which means to eat foods in their least-processed state. Nutrient-rich foods include foods in their unrefined state, such as: apples instead of applesauce, eggs instead of Egg Beaters, oatmeal instead of a granola bar with oatmeal in it.
And let’s Review the Basics that you hopefully already know about and follow: get plenty of sleep, decrease or eliminate simple carbohydrates, drink plenty of fluids, and get your exercise.
Frequent illnesses can also be a sign of an underlying Food Intolerance. We offer a variety of food intolerance testing at the office. Here are some ways food negatively affects the immune system.
- The continuous intake of reactive substances causes local micro-inflammation in the intestinal tissue, which spreads insidiously and can manifest itself in other tissues, including reduced immune status against infections.
- The gut contains an estimated 70-80% of the immune system. With almost 400m ² (or 4,300sq feet – a very large house!) it is the largest contact area with the external world. There is extensive lymphoid tissue around the intestine and forms the largest immune organ in our body.
Here Are Some Therapies That May Be Helpful:
Oscillococcinum (Boiron) is a homeopathic, can be used for prevention and treatment. I recommend one dose per week starting now, and going through the flu season, for prevention.
Probiotics are in the news a lot these days and for good reason. Here’s the conclusion of one study; “Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence, as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.” 1
We carry a variety of formulas and can find the best fit for you.
Colostrum is the first form of milk rich in antibodies and has been shown in a study to be 4 times more effective than the flu vaccine. Colostrum was 3 times more effective than no vaccine. The vaccine + colostrum group did equally well as colostrum alone. In this prevention study they took 1 capsule a day containing 400 mg of colostrum away from food. 2
Wet Socks Treatment is a time-tested treatment that acts reflexively to increase the circulation and decrease congestion in the upper respiratory passages, head, and throat. It has a sedating action, and many patients report that they sleep much better during the treatment. The treatment is effective for pain relief and increases the healing response during acute infections. https://boisenaturalhealth.com/warming-sock-treatment/
There are many tools in our toolbox to help you and your immune system be in tip top shape. To make an appointment, contact us at www.boisenaturalhealth.com.
1. Probiotic effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration in children. Leyer GJ, Li S, Mubasher ME, Reifer C, Ouwehand AC. Pediatrics. 2009 Aug; 124(2):e172-9. Epub 2009 Jul 27.
OBJECTIVE: Probiotic consumption effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration were evaluated in healthy children during the winter season. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 326 eligible children (3-5 years of age) CONCLUSION: Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever, rhinorrhea, and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence, as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness, for children 3 to 5 years of age.
2. Prevention of influenza episodes with colostrum compared with vaccination in healthy and high-risk cardiovascular subjects: the epidemiologic study in San Valentino. Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Di Renzo A, Dugall M, Cacchio M, Ruffini I, Pellegrini L, Del Boccio G, Fano F, Ledda A, Bottari A, Ricci A, Stuard S, Vinciguerra G. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2007 Apr;13(2):130-6.