Natural Solutions for a Healthy Cold and Flu Season

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Lily Young
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1 Natural Solutions for a Healthy Cold and Flu Season By Isaac Eliaz, M.D., M.S., L.Ac. Page 1

2 Of all the health topics I ve discussed both with my patients and on my website, few are as universal as cold and flu prevention. And while it s true that some are more vulnerable to these illnesses than others, there s no doubt that we re all at higher risk when the winter rolls around whatever your age, gender, or health status might be. It s easy to consider the occasional cold or flu to be an inevitable fact of the season. But though this threat resurfaces year after year, it doesn t mean that you re powerless against it. In fact, there are quite a few steps that you can take that will build up your defenses, naturally and effectively. That s why I ve compiled this short report for you to help you prepare your body to withstand each approaching cold and flu season. The solutions I ll cover are simple, and all of them will ensure that your immunity is in top form, no matter what germs and viruses might be making the rounds. But first, let me take a minute to explain a little bit about what we re really up against during cold and flu season. The Common Cold As a physician, many patients often ask me how to tell when they have a cold and when they have the flu and this is a very important question. Colds are the most prevalent infectious disease in the United States. In traditional Chinese Medicine, colds are classified by the season, the weather system that produces them, and the symptoms. Since colds appear quite suddenly and are accompanied by chills, sensitivity to cold and wind, clear watery discharge, lack of perspiration and aches that are better in the presence of heat they are usually classified as a wind illness. As such, traditional herbal treatments for a cold include warm pungent herbs that induce sweating. If the cold has a different presentation, it will have a different classification and different therapeutic strategy. In Western medicine, on the other hand, we are most often prescribed the same medications or given the same recommendations regardless of the variability in symptoms and presentation. The actual causes of a cold are also viewed differently. The three most common symptoms of a cold are nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and a runny nose. Adults and older children generally have minimal or no fever. Infants and toddlers often run a fever in the 100 to 102 degree range. Depending on which virus is the offender, the virus might also produce a headache, cough, postnasal drip, burning eyes, muscle aches, or a decreased appetite but in a cold, the most prominent symptoms are usually nasal related. You catch a cold without knowing it the symptoms only begin in 1 to 5 days. Usually the first sign is irritation in the nose or a scratchy feeling in the throat, followed within hours by sneezing and a watery nasal discharge. Within 1 to 3 days, the nasal secretions usually become thicker and perhaps yellow or green this is a normal part of the common cold and is absolutely not a reason for taking antibiotics. During this Page 2

3 period, children's eardrums can also become congested. Colds usually resolve in about 7 days, with perhaps a lingering cough for another week. If a cold lasts longer, consider another problem, such as a sinus infection or allergies. (As I mentioned, a cold primarily affects the sinus region. While you may feel tired or have aches, the illness is centered in the nose, and most of the symptoms are above the neck.) As parents may know all too well, children average 3 to 8 colds per year most of which occur in the winter. (In areas where there is no winter, colds are most common in the rainy season.) Typically, parents get about half as many colds as their children do, not least of all due to the ease with which they re spread. When someone has a cold, their nasal secretions are teeming with infectious viruses. Sneezing, nose-blowing, and nose-wiping are the most common means by which the virus is spread. But you can catch a cold simply by breathing if you are close enough to a sneezer with a cold or by touching your nose, eyes, or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by someone with a cold. So, Rule #1 is the most obvious one: Keep your distance, wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your nose, eyes or mouth. Influenza or the Flu The flu, on the other hand, can be a much more serious illness. The flu is a contagious respiratory infection caused by a variety of influenza viruses. The flu season typically lasts from November to March. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Seniors, toddlers, infants, and people with certain chronic health conditions are at higher risk for serious flu complications. Again, children are 2 to 3 times more likely than adults to get sick with the flu, and children frequently spread the virus through physical contact. Flu outbreaks usually begin suddenly and occur in the late fall and winter. The disease often spreads through communities and results in an epidemic. During the epidemic, the number of cases peaks in about 3 weeks and subsides after another 3 or 4 weeks. Because schools are an excellent place for viruses to spread, families with kids at school have more infections than those without. Most people who get the flu recover within a week (although they may have a lingering cough and tire easily for a while longer). For elderly people, newborn babies, and people with certain chronic illnesses, however, the flu and its complications can be life-threatening. As with a cold, you will usually feel symptoms 1 to 4 days after you are infected. You can spread the flu to others before your symptoms start and for another 3 to 4 days after your symptoms appear. The symptoms start very quickly and may include body aches, chills, dry cough, fever, headache, sore throat, and a stuffy nose. Typically, the Page 3

4 fever begins to decline on the second or third day of the illness. The Flu Vaccine: Should You Get One? Many people still feel that the primary method of preventing the flu is to get an annual flu vaccine. Recent published data, however, has shed some doubt on this belief, yielding results that indicate that the effectiveness and benefits of the flu vaccine are questionable especially for anyone over 70 years old or with a compromised immune system. The scientist who led this particular study concluded that the vaccine had marginal benefits, at best, for the so-called high-risk people children, adults over the age of 50, people with weak immune systems and workers in the health care field. So, although the CDC still recommends the flu vaccine for these people, based on the recent data, these recommendations should probably be changed. Many physicians, myself included, believe that the 130 million vaccines offered every year represent enormous financial profits for pharmaceutical companies and that the politics of medicine likely play a big part in the CDC policy recommendations. This becomes even more obvious when you take a moment to weigh the vaccine s potential risks. What You Should Know About Flu Vaccine Risks Yes, the flu vaccine can cause side effects. The most common side effect in children and adults is simply soreness at the site of the vaccination. Other side effects (especially in children who previously have not been exposed to a flu virus) include fever, tiredness, and sore muscles. These side effects may begin 6 to 12 hours after vaccination and may last for up to 2 days. You should also be aware that viruses for producing the vaccine are grown in chicken eggs and may contain some egg protein, which poses an issue for those allergic to eggs. While the flu vaccine is now available with and without mercury (Thimerosal) as a preservative, the mercury-free version still contains trace amounts of the heavy metal, which are introduced during the manufacturing process. Even so, the amount adds up to less than 0.5 millionths of a gram. A traditional flu vaccine that contains mercury, on the other hand, contains 50 times as much or more. The traditional flu vaccine would give a 24 pound child about 25 times the daily amount of mercury that the EPA says is safe. So it goes without saying that, if you still choose to receive the flu shot, you should absolutely request the mercury-free version. If you choose to forgo this particular method, however, you ll be happy to hear that you have many alternative methods to choose from options that will boost your body s own defenses without any compromises to your health. My health strategy for addressing the flu issue has three basic components and whether we're talking about a cold or the flu, this strategy includes my Page 4

5 recommendations for both preventing and treating them. With that said, you'll likely be among the lucky (I say, healthy) people who sail through the winter without catching either, if you start with prevention by far the best defense. This includes building a strong immune system, which will not only prevent a cold or the flu, but it will also speed up recovery time if you do in fact get sick. Recommendation #I: Long-term Prevention through Immune Support My leading recommendation here is to supplement with medicinal mushrooms, which are well documented for their ability to enhance immune function and help combat infection, especially on a long-term basis. Medicinal mushrooms are literally immune system coaches and it goes without saying that it is more efficient to train our immune system when we are not under distress, i.e., already sick. The beauty of medicinal mushrooms is that they are also of great benefit and my leading choice in times of distress, and when under increased risk of attack, as can happen with an aggressive flu pandemic. Mushrooms naturally contain Beta-glucans, simple polysaccharides (sugar/carbohydrate molecules) that enhance immune function by boosting macrophage activity - your first line of defense. Beta-glucans can be cultivated in yeast cells and extracted and added to mushroom products for a booster effect. Thus, when you select a mushroom product, be sure to select one that contains additional Beta-glucans for the best benefit. I typically use herb-enhanced medicinal mushrooms on patients in my practice. These herb-grown mushroom formulas can be combined with additional mushroom products for long-term benefits, such as an overall multi-nutrient and immune enhancer for women and men. (Just be sure that your multi-nutrient contains vitamin C and zinc, both of which are important allies of your immune system.) The best way to use medicinal mushrooms is to take them regularly at a maintenance dose (the recommended dosage on the label) and up the dosage when you are at greater risk or when you have a cold. I start them with what is called a loading dosage for the first 2-4 weeks. (A loading dose is double the long-term regular maintenance dose that follows. At times of distress, or if there is an increased risk for colds and flu, doubling the dosage of medicinal mushrooms is extremely beneficial.) When I get a cold, or when I am treating a patient with a cold or the flu, I use a mushroom preparation as frequently as every hour, at the recommended dose. Within a short period of time, the cold is usually gone. But a similar strategy can be used with other supplements, as well. For example, tonifying and adaptogenic herbs such as Astragalus, Ginseng, and Eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng) are great choices for immune enhancement. Personally, I often use and recommend a Tibetan based herbal formulation that has shown to be an immunoactive compound in clinical studies. Simply take them as directed on the label. Page 5

6 How Your Daily Habits Can Support You What you do every day is crucial to a strong immune system perhaps even more so than supplements in the long-term. And these lifestyle factors are simple and in all likelihood familiar: Be sure to drink plenty of fresh, clean water (about 8 glasses) and exercise daily. Take a brisk walk outdoors, do yoga, go for a jog. Do what brings you joy believe it or not, happiness is a great immune enhancer. But most importantly, you must get enough sleep. At least 40 million Americans have chronic sleep problems, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems a number that is no doubt partially responsible for the many health crises our country faces to day. Adequate sleep is critical. Your body needs that down time to recharge and repair its basic systems so that you are in top function the following day. If you have trouble sleeping, exercise will help you. Also, go to bed at the same time each night and remove any distractions or disturbances from your bedroom remember it is your sanctuary of retreat from the cares and distractions of your busy day. Recommendation #II: Short-term Enhanced Support and Risk Protection This one's simple: As soon as people around you are coming down with colds and flu, or whenever you travel in the winter, you should increase the dosages of all supplements I recommend for prevention. Recommendation #III: Fighting Active Colds and Flu In this case, That said you should be aware that not all tonics and adaptogenics are appropriate when you are already sick. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), many adaptogenic herbs can drive the illness deeper into your body and we don t want that. Herbs that I do think are appropriate in this case, if you wish to add them, include Echinacea and Goldenseal. Various Chinese herbal formulas such as Yin Qiao San (or Yin Chiao), Gui Zi Tang, Ge Gen Tang can also be effective, depending on the specific characteristics of the flu or cold. But you shouldn t take these without consulting an herbalist knowledgeable in TCM herbology. Chinese herbalists have used ginger for centuries as a cold reducer and decongestant. Garlic has antiviral antibacterial properties that strengthen the immune system. A hot drink of lemon, honey and water can help decongest and soothe sore throats. A popular homeopathic preparation called Oscilloccinum can be used to relieve flu like symptoms. Finally, when you have a cold or the flu, high dosages of vitamin C, as well as zinc are quite helpful. Daily doses of vitamin C can boost the immune system, offering potential protection from viruses and colds. Vitamin C is a nutrient that has been demonstrated to have a Page 6

7 substantial impact on human health. Taking a daily dose of 1,000 mg of vitamin C can strengthen your immune system and that, in turn, can help you avoid colds and nasty viruses. However, when have a cold, I recommend that you take 1,000 mg 3 times per day until your symptoms subside. Similarly, Zinc helps to eliminate already existing free radicals and helps to prevent new ones from forming. Zinc is also the most important mineral to the thymus gland, which orchestrates the immune function in the human body. Zinc deficiency is known to cause a reduction in the key players of your immune system, including T cells, NK cells and thymic hormone. Supplementation with zinc, on the other hand, increases your immune system s ability to fight viral infections, allowing it to do its job more efficiently. My Recommendations at a Glance For Prevention: Medicinal mushrooms boosted with Beta-glucans, a good multi-nutrient that contains vitamin C and zinc, and the Tibetan herbal formula. Daily exercise, restful sleep, and 8 glasses of fresh, clean water per day. For Risk Protection: Increase supplements you are taking for prevention. If you are not taking the Tibetan herbal formula, consider adding it. For Recovery: Increase dosage of medicinal mushrooms and Tibetan herbal formula. Echinacea and/or Goldenseal optional. Increased supplemental vitamin C and zinc. Plenty of rest and fresh, clean water. This three-pronged strategy makes lasting health is simple by employing solutions that will protect you through the winter and beyond. If you d like more information on some of the specific recommendations I ve made here, please feel free to browse my website I have included several other free reports there that deal with these herbs, botanicals, and vitamins in greater detail. And as always, don t hesitate to share this information with your friends, your family, and anyone who is looking for healthy, natural ways to sail through cold and flu season. Yours in good health, Isaac Eliaz, M.D., L.Ac., M.S Page 7

8 About the Author: Isaac Eliaz, M.D., M.S., L.Ac. Dr. Isaac Eliaz, a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine since the early 1980 s, is a respected author, lecturer, researcher, product formulator and clinical practitioner. Dr. Eliaz is a frequent guest lecturer on integrative medical approaches to health, immune enhancement, and cancer prevention and treatment. He has also taught several courses on Traditional Chinese Medicine for medical doctors and licensed acupuncturists. As an innovative formulator of dietary supplements, Dr. Eliaz developed and currently holds the patents for several of his unique herbal formulations. In order to substantiate nutritional approaches to health, Dr. Eliaz regularly participates in clinical studies and has been published in well-recognized, peer-reviewed journals. In addition, many of Dr. Eliaz formulations have been submitted for validation in independent human clinical studies whose results have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Eliaz continually studies, integrates and applies the best of health practices of both western medicine and complementary and alternative approaches. A native of Israel, Dr. Eliaz lived in the Far East and in Latin America before returning to study medicine at Tel Aviv University. While studying for his degree, Dr. Eliaz interest turned towards the role of alternative therapies in daily health. This led to his eventual research and personal experience with yoga, shiatsu, and acupuncture as therapeutic modalities. After graduating medical school in 1986, Dr. Eliaz established a highly successful clinical practice in Tel Aviv, utilizing his training in both western and eastern medicine. While maintaining a clinical practice, Dr. Eliaz pursued graduate studies in clinical herbology at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and classical Chinese medicine with teachers in Israel and Europe. In 1989 Dr. Eliaz moved to the San Francisco Bay area in order to continue his studies at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, earning a Master of Science degree in During this time he also energetically sought-out leading practitioners of alternative medicine to broaden his knowledge and experience. Since 1991 Dr. Eliaz has maintained a busy private practice in northern California that focuses primarily on integrative, holistic protocols for cancer patients. The guiding mission of Dr. Eliaz professional life is achieving the integration and synergy of multiple healing modalities from both ancient and modern paradigms into a holistic practice of medicine. It is the heart of his clinical practice, of his research, and a mission that he communicates with great passion and clarity. Page 8

A Guide for Parents. Protect your child. What parents should know. Flu Information The Flu:

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