Body energy can help combat disease, and acupuncture supports its immune system to do this effectively. Furthermore, it improves lung energy flow so when someone becomes ill they cough less often and show fewer symptoms of illness.
Does taking immune-enhancing vitamins like Airborne or Emergen-C really shorten the duration of colds?
Eat Healthy Foods
Vitamin-rich foods are key to staying healthy and avoiding illness during cold season. Vitamin C-rich foods may help alleviate symptoms like sore throats and congestion; fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin A for good immune health; while other essential elements include Iodine found in seafood; Garlic used as herbal remedies and Zinc which may shorten duration of common colds.
Avoid foods high in sugar, processed salt and saturated fat that can weaken the immune system and lengthen colds. Instead, focus on eating nutrient-rich foods, such as leafy greens, citrus fruits and berries; other healthy choices could include chicken or turkey breast (for lean proteins), yogurt with probiotics (good source of probiotics) or drinking hot ginger tea with honey as ways to build immunity.
Studies disproved a popular myth: dairy foods cause mucus buildup. Instead, dairy actually stimulates lymphocyte production to clear out your respiratory tract of excess mucus. If dairy intake concerns you, try switching to non-dairy alternatives such as soy yogurt instead. Aim for five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day to maximize immune-boosting vitamins, minerals and antioxidants!
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is essential to feeling your best and staying healthy, yet can be particularly difficult when sick. Symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat and the need to sneeze can keep you awake at night while fever dreams may also interfere with restful slumber. Adequate rest is especially crucial during sickness since it helps strengthen immunity against germs and infections.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University discovered that people sleeping less than six hours each night are four times more likely to catch a cold than those regularly getting seven or more hours of restful slumber. The research involved 153 healthy participants who self-reported their sleep duration and efficiency before being exposed to the common cold virus. People with lower sleeping efficiency scores — measuring how long you actually spend sleeping during the night instead of not asleep at all or awake for too long — were five-and-a-half times more prone to developing one than those with efficiency ratings of 92% or greater.
Sleep can be hard, but you can increase your chances of a good night’s rest by going to bed earlier and turning out the lights as soon as you hit your pillow. Napping during the day may also help, though be careful not to stay on your bed too long as this could disrupt your sleeping cycle.
Avoid Caffeine
As much as possible during a cold, it is wise to limit caffeine intake as much as possible. Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant that may impede with absorption of certain cold medications as well as worsen any associated side effects, like restlessness or anxiety. If coffee cannot be replaced with noncaffeinated herbal tea – an option which provides additional health benefits such as zinc or vitamin C – consider switching it out for noncaffeinated herbal tea for an easier way of staying hydrated during this illness!
If you feel as if a cold is approaching, staying hydrated with water, clear broth or warm lemon juice and honey is recommended to loosen mucus and drain your sinuses. Pay attention to any changes in mucus color; green, yellow or white indicates your body is fighting off an infection.
Try energy medicine techniques like those demonstrated in Donna Eden’s video below to avoid getting sick from colds or flus. These simple exercises, which combine elements from Chinese medicine with other modalities, may reduce symptoms as well as speed your recovery – or even help prevent an outbreak altogether!
Stay Hydrated
Be sure to drink enough fluids as always, but when suffering from cold or flu symptoms such as runny noses, coughing, sweating and other forms of dehydration it becomes even more essential. Replenishing lost fluids helps alleviate symptoms quickly while speeding recovery time and improving overall wellbeing.
Staying hydrated not only strengthens your immune system, but it can also flush out toxins, soothe coughing and loosen mucus for easier breathing. Water is the ideal beverage to drink because it does not contain sugar, calories, salt or caffeine – however other options such as herbal teas, warming broths or unsweetened beverages such as coffee or juice may work just as well – though try avoiding caffeinated drinks that have diuretic effects and cause your body to expel more liquid through increased urination.
Drink small amounts of water throughout the day instead of downing large quantities at one sitting, as this will be easier on your stomach and result in more consistent intake than drinking all at once. Carrying around a water bottle wherever you go can be an easy way to ensure adequate fluid consumption and stave off dehydration. Enhance it further with flavor infusions from fruit or natural sweeteners like Stevia for an improved drinking experience.
Blow Your Nose Gently
Runny noses can be an essential defense mechanism against colds, flushing out viruses and irritating particles from nasal passages while moisturizing them to protect from infection. Unfortunately, persistent dripping can also cause facial irritation, excessive mucus production, blockages in nasal sinuses that irritate throat, as well as tissue damage from forceful nose blowing that promotes spread of virus.
Though having a runny nose may be frustrating and uncomfortable, it should be remembered that its flow helps trap viruses and bacteria in order to stop their further spread into your respiratory system. Blowing your nose doesn’t reduce its duration either – typically 7 to 10 days for most colds.
If you’re experiencing nasal congestion, try using saline sprays or steam inhalation to loosen mucus and clear your sinuses. Over-the-counter decongestants may also help, though long-term use could cause blood vessels to rupture within your nasal passages and decrease energy levels. As well as less frequent sneezing, lighter colored nasal discharge and improved energy levels indicating progress, regular decongestant use should also help. If your cold is worsening, visiting the doctor might be beneficial. Our licensed acupuncturist can offer effective therapy that stimulates your body’s natural healing process – contact us now to make an appointment and feel better quickly! Whether it is acute cold symptoms or more persistent conditions that have you down, we have what it takes to help get rid of them quickly.
Rest
Rest is the cornerstone of healthy living when you’re sick; resting allows your body to focus its resources on breaking a fever, fighting pathogens and recovering from illness. Furthermore, resting is beneficial for everyone in the community by keeping you away from spreading germs to others. Feeling exhausted when sick is not just due to not getting enough rest; rather it is your body telling you it needs time for repair and rest.
If your cold symptoms have started to lessen, look for these telltale signs that indicate improvement:
* A runny nose – This can be taken as a good sign because it indicates that mucus is draining off. Initially it may look yellow or greenish in hue, but once clear again this indicates progress on your path to recovery.
Additionally to these basic tips, there are also energy medicine techniques you can try at home to thwart colds before they take hold. Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) techniques that balance your body’s subtle energies can be very effective against disease and discomfort – these include tapping or massaging Lung 7, located above your wrist on the inner arm just below the thumb – interlock your thumb and index finger of both hands then gently tap or massage this spot for several seconds until feeling relief.
