We have recently experienced a sharp drop in the temperature and with winter well on the way, it's time to boost your immunity and up your defences to reduce the likelihood of illness. Naturopathy provides effective treatment in preventing and resolving coughs, colds and influenza. Naturopathic medicine reduces the severity of symptoms as well as the duration of symptoms and is used around the world to prevent susceptibility to illness and infections. Below are some basic steps to help you boost your immunity and increase your recovery time from the common winter illnesses. Rest is super important and is something that tends to take a back seat with our over-committed daily lives. Soldiering on does not support your immune system and often prolongs our recovery time. Taking time to rest can often be the difference between rebounding back to health (and staying there) and recurrent infections that you can't seem to fully shake. Rugging up and staying warm can help your body to maintain optimal temperature. Very cold temperatures can aggravate coughs and colds and trigger asthma in some individuals. Keep in mind that fresh air and sunshine are essential for optimal health and wellbeing so go out into the sunshine once you have layered up but avoid prolonged time out in the cold. Feed your body with warming, nutrient-dense foods during the colder months. Packaged, processed foods are often high in sugar and other nasty ingredients (preservatives, artificial colours and flavours) that impair immune function and place a burden on the liver. Including more immune-enhancing foods such as garlic, ginger and onions will help to boost your immune system and resistance to disease. These foods exert antiviral, antimicrobial and antibacterial activity to support a healthy immune system and respiratory function. There may be a need for nutritional supplementation during the colder months to give your immune system some extra support. There are many nutrients that are needed for immune function, however, some of the more common ones are Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D and probiotics. A Naturopath can prescribe the correct nutrients and the correct dosage depending on your symptoms and health/medical history. Remember, self-prescribing often leads to over-supplementation of certain nutrients which can throw out the balance of other nutrient levels in the body so it's always best to get professional advice from your Naturopath. Herbal medicine is extremely useful in modulating the immune system to ensure it is not under-functioning and not over-functioning (hyper-reactive). Herbal medicine provides rapid relief from coughs, colds, flu and other immune system disorders. A Naturopath is able to prescribe a tailored formula to provide symptomatic relief as well as addressing the underlying cause of the imbalance. A herbal formula can be used to target various imbalances such as recurrent colds, poor digestion and sleep disturbance - all in one bottle! Treating children with Naturopathic Medicine often needs a different approach due to compliance issues around taste and formulations. There are alternatives to herbal medicine in the treatment of children such as tissue salts which can provide rapid relief for various symptoms and conditions including the common cold, swollen glands and a sore throat, coughs and mucous congestion. Diet is powerful in treating all diseases and especially when treating children so it's important to know which foods to include and which foods to exclude during sickness. A tea known as “flu brew” can be easily made at home: combine one fresh-squeezed lemon, one crushed garlic clove, a few slices of fresh ginger, 1 tsp of high grade Manuka honey and one cup of boiling water. Steep and sip throughout the day to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. Another helpful tea is YEP tea (yarrow, elderflower and peppermint) which has been used in the fight against colds and flus for many, many years. Purchase these separately or as a combination from your local health food store and combine yourself. If you suffer from recurrent infection or prolonged sickness, your immune system may be compromised. Naturopathy identifies the underlying causes and provides the correct support needed to regulate immune function and reduce the severity and duration of sickness. If you feel you need some extra support this winter, contact me to discuss your options - 0405 128 213 or email nbnaturalhealth@gmail.com - I'd love to support you!
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AuthorBelle is a Naturopath at Northern Beaches Integrative Practitioners on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Apart from being a mum, Belle is passionate about children's health, mental health, immune health and gut health. On this page, Belle shares some insight and tips on common (and not so common) health disorders via her blogs. Archives
December 2021
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