A few weeks ago, right before I was supposed to fly across country to visit my parents, I had the distinct feeling I was coming down with something.  Determined not to be sick on the plane (can you say miserable?), or during my brief stay with my loved ones, I pulled out all of the stops to stop the sickness “cold.”  ;)  Here’s my formula for knocking out a cold or flu.

10.) Black Elderberry-Black elderberry halts the spread of viruses and strengthens the immune system.  I took Honey Gardens Black Elderberry Syrup.  It’s on sale right now at New Seasons for those of you who live in Portland!  You can also take small amounts of black elderberry on a preventative basis every day to make yourself impermeable to viruses.

9.) Daikon-Carrot Drink-This is a macrobiotic recipe that helps to break up congestion and phlegm (it also helps to break up fat accumulation, but that’s for another topic–added bonus!).  Shred about a 1/2 cup each of carrot and daikon (Japanese radish) and add to simmering water.  Add some fresh ginger and umeboshi plum (a Japanese medicinal food that you can find at health food stores).  Cook for a minute or so.  I ate this twice a day until I was feeling better.

8.) Rest-It’s still one of the best cures!  Get in bed and stay there if at all possible.

7.) Neti Pot-To clear out obstructions and impurities in your sinuses and nasal passageways, use the ancient Indian Neti-Pot.  Neti-Pots have become so popular that they can be found in major drugstores.  See this article on Web MD about Neti-Pots.  Here is a simple article and video on how to use a Neti Pot.

6.) X-Clear Nasal Spray-This is a product that I like to keep with me on the go and I use it as a complement to the Neti-Pot.  The spray contains xylitol, which has been proven to inhibit bacteria growth on tissue, so it can help wipe out an infection in your sinuses without antibiotics.

5.) Vitamin C-I like Ester-C brand.

4.) Chinese Herbal Medicine-We have many traditional formulas for colds and flus. The good thing about Chinese medicine is it is tailored to your body. An acupuncturist can give you a formula for whatever stage of illness you are in. For instance, we would prescribe different herbs for a cold that was just in the nose (sneezing) as opposed to one that had moved into a sore throat or one with lots of phlegm in the lungs.

3.) Acupuncture-An acupuncture treatment can help boost the immune system and ease uncomfortable symptoms.  Your acupuncturist may do some complementary treatments such as cupping, where glass cups are applied to your back with suction.  This is thought to help draw out toxins.

2.) Diet Considerations-When you are getting sick it is best to eliminate foods that promote mucus formation in the body–foods that in Chinese Medicine are considered “damp.”  This includes breads, fatty foods, dairy products, and sugar.  Eat light foods that are easy to digest and include lots and lots of vegetables.  Miso soup with fresh ginger and vegetables is a great option.

1.) Prevention-Of course,  I’d rather avoid all of this if possible.  Keeping my immune system strong with a healthy diet, exercise, adequate sleep, fresh air, plenty of water and appropriate nutritional supplements and herbs is my goal–so that I can avoid the cold in the first place!  Another major tip that probably deserves it’s own blog post it to take high quality probiotics on a daily basis in order to stay well.  A vast amount of your immune system is located in your digestive tract!