Should I get a flu shot? Part 2

In the previous section, I hope you leaned that getting the flu shot is a personal choice, and that it does not protect you from all strains of the flu or from viruses causing colds, stomach infection, or any other infection.

I will give you a list of things you can do and supplements or herbs you can take to boost your immune system to protect against all infections.  I will also give recommendations about what to do if you start to get sick.  These interventions will shorten the illness and/or decrease the symptoms.

First to boost the immune system:

1. Sleep – first and most important, make sure you are getting adequate quantity and quality of sleep. The immune system is fortified by sleep.  If you are one of those that “functions” on less sleep, OK, but you are not fortifying your immune system.
2. Exercise – exercise stimulates the immune system. Include both aerobic (cardio) exercise and anerobic (strength training) exercise.
3. Nutrition – this is not the time to skimp on nutrition. Eating fast food, junk food, processed food, all these foods are nutritional deprived and do not support the immune system.  Focus on fresh, organic, local, sustainably raised.
4. Hand washing – One of my family members sometimes skimps on this essential. We were at a public tourist attraction, and I saw standing next to us a woman with a red nose who was coughing.  I asked him if he had just washed his hands, he said no.  Within 12 hours, he was coming down with a cold.  You can not wash your hands too often, especially this time of year.
5. Supplements and herbs –
   1. 1000 mg liposomal vitamin C daily
   2. Vitamin D daily. Get tested.  Optimum range is between 60-80 ng/ml
   3. I alternate the following herbs, one type each day (each of these works by a different mechanism, that is why I alternate between them).
      1. Elderberry syrup, 10 ml per day. Currently I am using elderberry syrup from Nature’s Way, Gaia also makes a good product
      2. Echinacea from Standard Process 1-2 tablets. Quality is very important with this herb as there is a lot of garbage on the market.  The herb should tingle on your tongue if the active ingredients are present

• A mushroom complex. Currently I am using Ganoderma & Shiitake from Standard process 1-2 per day

1. Probiotics – either from the fermented vegetables from Garden Goddess that we carry in the office, or through other food forms, probiotics optimize the immune system.

If you start to get sick or are around sick people:

1. Increase liposomal vitamin C to 2,000 mg per day
2. Increase Elderberry syrup to 10ml four times per day
3. Add the herbal formula, Gan Mao Ling, available from our office. This formula is a combination of 5 anti-viral herbs. Brand and dosing are important.  We carry the best brand and can provide you with a dosing sheet
4. If you have a sore throat, or fever, add the herbal formula Yin Qiao, also available from our office. (it’s a great idea to have Gan Mao Ling and Yin Qiao in your medicine cabinet so you can start taking them at the first sign of illness)
5. If you are unsure what to do, make an appointment. We will ask about your symptoms and take your pulse.  We can make you a custom herbal formula that is specific for you and will address your symptoms and help you recover more quickly.

Take care and be well

Ann