Fighting Flu Season with Acupuncture

Here is no such thing as a ‘flu season’.
We have just ‘accepted’ the programming to think of it as the months of November through March, covering late fall and winter, but there is really no such thing. On average, thousands end up in the hospital with the flu every year with the young and elderly being most vulnerable. Death from the flu occurs mostly among those people already having compromised immune systems.

The flu, also known as influenza, is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection (URI) that is caused by a number of viruses. To date, there are approximately 26 to 30 different known strains of the flu virus. This is one of the reasons the flu vaccine has only mild to rare efficacy. The flu vaccine itself, typically only covers five to seven strains of the flu.  Symptoms of the flu include fever, coughing, a sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, pains, runny nose and watery eyes. 

What’s in your Flu Treatment Toolbox?
The good news is we can avoid the flu by implementing healthy habits and taking care of ourselves throughout the year. The best way to treat a disease is to avoid it.  Traditional Chinese Medicine is a great tool to have in the toolbox for preventing the flu, and acupuncture treatments can be very beneficial at keeping the flu at bay.

Acupuncture Supports the Immune System
If you catch frequent colds and flu, it is likely your immunity is low.  Regular acupuncture treatments help boost immunity, while balancing and regulating the body’s energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”). Several studies have shown acupuncture can reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and shorten the length of time that somebody is ill.  That’s a great plan for an after-the-fact occurrence, however regular tune-ups to keep your immune system in top form is best.

Along with TCM, there are other things we can utilize to avoid catching the flu. Regular exercise, ample sleep and a proper healthy diet are two of the best things anybody can use to stay disease-free. Exercising enough to break a sweat without overdoing it has been shown to reduce the incidence of the flu. So incorporating practices like tai chi, qi gong and yoga can actually reduce physical and emotional stress, while strengthening the immune system and preventing disease.

Eat Your Carrots and Yams!
Eating a healthy diet is essential for preventing any disease, not just the flu. This includes eating a very balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Foods that contain beta-carotene are especially helpful at boosting the immune system.  Carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes and garlic are good examples of beta-carotene rich foods. Garlic especially has naturally occurring anti-viral properties, as shown my many studies.  Also drinking half your body weight in ounces on a daily basis is highly recommended.  This helps the body flush out invaders and toxins, while keeping the mucus membranes and upper respiratory tract healthy enough to fight off the virus.

Call us about our Immune Support Program!
Want to take advantage of what acupuncture has to offer?  Open Windows 2 Wellness & Brantford Acupuncture Clinic offer an acupuncture program just for immune support.  Book a free discovery session to find out how acupuncture can restore your immune system!