Did you know that acupuncture can be used to treat colds and the flu?
As we enter the fall season, we are more prone to coming down with colds and flu. Getting sick interferes with our ability to go to work, school, or even our daily activities. Over-the-counter medications can be helpful in addressing the symptoms of a cold or the flu, but they have little effect in healing the condition or shortening its duration. Did you know that acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be used to prevent colds and the flu as well as help speed up recovery?
The symptoms of the flu begin quickly. The initial symptoms are usually headache, sore throat, cough, and high fever. Some flu symptoms also include vomiting and diarrhea. The most common symptoms of the flu are fatigue, muscle weakness, and a feeling of illness that lasts for an extended period. Cold symptoms, on the other hand, develop slower, usually beginning with a sore throat. Secondary symptoms that develop are typically headaches, fever, congestion, runny nose, and cough.
Regular acupuncture treatments help boost your immune system and support your natural immune response. This bolstering of the immune system will help prevent colds or the flu from taking hold in your body. Chinese herbal formulas can also be taken to support your body’s natural healing and defense systems.
In the event that you do come down with a cold or flu, acupuncture can be helpful in relieving symptoms like chills, fever, headaches, body aches, runny nose, congestion, sore throat, and cough. One or two acupuncture treatments and a course of Chinese herbs can be enough to speed up recovery. It may even be possible to prevent symptoms from developing into a full on condition. If you receive acupuncture within the first 24 hours of sneezing or a fever developing, it is possible the cold or flu may not develop into a full condition.
Activities you can do to stay healthy during the cold and flu season are:
- Regular exercise.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Reduce sugar intake.
- Eat vegetables high in beta carotene like broccoli, garlic, carrots, sweet potatoes, and tomatos.
- Take a Chinese herbal formula customized to support your immune system.
- Receive regular acupuncture treatments
If you feel a cold or the flu coming on, try to make this easy recipe for Ginger Soup.
Ingredients
- Fresh Ginger, 1-2 inches thinly sliced
- Green Onions, 4 pieces, medium sliced
- Garlic Cloves, 2 peeled and chopped
- Chicken Bone Broth OR Vegetable Broth, 6 cups
Directions
- Place ginger, onions, and garlic in a pot and add 2 cups of broth.
- Simmer until ingredients are softened.
- Add the remainder of the bone broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes
- Drink throughout the day to reduce your cold/flu symptoms
The primary goal of Chinese Medicine is to create and maintain balance – both within the body itself and with the body’s relationship to the external environment. A body that is in balance has a stronger immune system and a greater ability to resist illness. This stronger immune system can prevent you from coming down with a cold or flu. If you are interested in strengthening your resistance to illness or you want to speed up recovery because you have caught a cold or the flu, contact Uptown Acupuncture to book an appointment.
