Natural Cold and Flu Remedies
The dead of winter is upon us, and even here in coastal California, that means cold temps and lots of germs going around. While viruses spread any time of the year, winter season is notoriously worse.
There are two main reasons more people find themselves down for the count come winter. First, many of these bacteria and viruses are contagious and easily passed from person to person. When the weather is cold, people spend more time indoors and closer quarters means it’s easier for germs to spread.
Second, some of these bugs, like the viruses that cause the flu and the common cold, thrive in lower temperatures. As the weather cools off, you have better conditions for bacteria and viruses to grow and replicate.
Common cold and flu viruses try to gain entry into our bodies through our noses. Luckily, our nasal lining has sophisticated defense mechanisms against these microbial intruders.
Our noses constantly secret mucus. Viruses become trapped in the sticky snot, which is perpetually moved by tiny hairs called cilia that line our nasal passages. We swallow the whole lot and our stomach acids neutralize the microbes.
But cold air cools the nasal passage and slows down mucus clearance. Viruses can now stick around for longer, trying to dig through the snot to break into our body.
Once a virus has penetrated this defense mechanism, the immune system takes control of fighting off the intruder. Phagocytes, which are specialized immune cells, engulf and digest viruses. But cold air has also been linked to a decrease in this activity.
Rhinoviruses actually prefer colder temperatures, making it difficult not to succumb to the common cold once the thermometer plummets. At a normal body temperature, these viruses are more likely to commit cell suicide, or apoptosis, or to encounter enzymes that make short work of them, a 2016 study showed.
So, how can we prevent getting sick, and if we do, what are the best ways to shorten the duration of the illness?
Prevention:
To prevent ourselves from getting sick, we want to make sure our immune system is as strong as possible. Some of the most important ways to do this are:
Get enough sleep
Make sure we have a regular dinacharya, or daily routine. Our body thrives on routine, especially since we are so connected to the rhythms and cycles of nature as well.
Exercise daily (even if just for 15 minutes in your living room)
Maintain good circulation with twisted yoga postures such as Revolved Side Angle, High Lunge Twist, seated or reclined twist
Reduce stress (see post here)
Drink lots of water and herbal teas (Cumin, Coriander and Fennel Tea is great for the immune and digestive system)
Herbal remedies for immune-regulation such as:
Shiitake, Maitake and Lion’s Mane mushroom
Turmeric powder
Fight:
We all know the feeling-- our coworker is sick, coughing and sneezing and we’re not totally sure that he washed his hands before touching the communal water dispenser. Is that a tickle we are suddenly feeling in our throats? Maybe it’s just in our heads or our internal hypochondriac kicking in, but let’s not take the risk. Some of the best herbs for antimicrobial action and immune stimulation include:
Neem capsules
Olive Leaf
When It’s Too Late...
Let’s face it, even if we do ALL the right things, sometimes we may still succumb to a cold. If you do find yourself in the throes of a bad cold this season, there are still things you can do to shorten the duration. The best methods for this include:
Lots of rest
Lots of fluids
Elderberry syrup (can shorten cold duration by as much as a third!)
Oil of Oregano
Take a break from exercise — give your body a chance to focus all of its energy on healing