Boosting Immunity during Cold and Flu Season

By Humaira QuraishiUBCNM ND Candidate 2017

Hello there!!! Naturopathic Medicine

› Preventative, individualistic› Root cause› Vast modalities › Journey

Flu, Cold, absences…oh my!!

Cold› Seasonal› Shorter time period

Runny/stuffy nose Sore throat Mild to moderate

fever Tends to stay in

head region

Flu› Upper respiratory

illness, viral› Any time of the

year› Symptoms

Hacking, dry cough Sore throat Severe body aches Moderate to high

fever

Bacterial vs Viral

Caught red handed! Lack of exercise Stress Daylight savings Hygiene

Herbs› Echinacea› Elderberry › Goldenseal› Garlic› Ginger› Astragulas › Thyme› Rosemary› Andrographis

Nutritional advice Flavonoids- anti-viral, anti-inflammatory

› Onions, pepper, tomato, eggplant, kale› Berries! Red, blue and purple berries› Dark beans such as black beans and kidney beans› Oranges and lemons – white rind part› Apples› Green tea, black tea, red wine› buckwheat

Vitamin C – antioxidant› Citrus, bananas› Broccoli, kale, cabbage, collards› Avocados› Parsley › Almonds

Prevent Cold & Flu Nutrition

› Minimize sugar› Introduce bitters (arugula, kale, dandelion

greens, bitter melon, artichoke)› Add turmeric with a pinch of black pepper› Incorporate garlic and ginger› Stay HYDRATED!!!› Eat seasonally

Prevent Cold and Flu Manage stress Hygiene Usually contagious first 2-3 days

› STAY AT HOME!› Skype in if you have to

Supplementation Vitamin D – immunity 1000IU/day Zinc Copper complex – antioxidant, 30-

50mg with food/day or lozenges Vitamin C Garlic capsules 3 times a day Homeopathic remedy: oscillococcinum

Onion Syrup 1 large purple onion

chopped, sliced 2 cloves of garlic, ¾ honey

Place in a glass container and cover in honey, let stand

Optional - strain onion (1-5 days)

Take one tablespoon of the syrup 2 times a day or as needed

Antibiotic Tonic The antibiotic tonic is a powerful

combination of synergistic foods and herbs that possess not only antibacterial qualities, but antiviral, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungal as well. These qualities along with a nice blend of enzymes, probiotics, and vitamin C, makes it a very powerful natural remedy to help destroy cold and flu infections.

Antibiotic Tonic Ingredients (choose organic for more

potency) 2 cloves of garlic 1/2 small onion 1 piece of turmeric (1 inch or 1/4 tsp ground) 1 piece of ginger (1/2 inch or 1/4 tsp ground) 1 lemon 1/2 small hot pepper or dash of cayenne

pepper 1 oz of apple cider vinegar 1 piece of horseradish (1/2 inch)

Antibiotic Tonic Directions Peel garlic and lemon Feed garlic, onion, turmeric, ginger, lemon, horseradish, and

hot pepper (if not using ground cayenne pepper) through juicer one by one (you can also blend, and strain)

Add cayenne (if not using hot pepper, or if you can handle more heat) and apple cider vinegar.

Put mixture in air tight glass bottle, and place in your natural pharmacy cupboard.

Dose› Acute 1oz › Chronic put in tincture bottle and take 2-3 dropperfuls three

times a day

Hot and cold water therapy Hot foot bath

› Wrap up in a warm blanket with your feet in hot water and a cold washcloth on your forehead. Sit back and relax for 10-15 minutes. Take care not to get chilled after this treatment.

Throat or chest compress› Warm the chest or throat with a wash cloth or

shower and thoroughly dry the skin. Put on a cold wet cotton t-shirt (cloth for the throat) and then a wool sweater (scarf for the throat). Go to bed this way and by morning you will be dry. This increases circulation and white blood cell activity

Contrast Bathing Stay warm. You generally want to be more

thorough with your heat: at least a minute, but as long as five minutes depending on how efficient your heating method is. Heat is more comforting and relaxing than cooling, obviously, and inadequate heating is the most common thing people do wrong with contrasting.

Finish with cold. You should usually finish a contrast session with cold, particularly if you suspect that you might be a little inflamed. Never finish with heat if you’re concerned about aggravating inflammation. You might choose to finish with heat if your priority is to have a more relaxing experience.

Wet Sock Treatment Supplies: 

1 pair of very thin socks, liner socks or polypropylene socks1 pair of thick wool socks or thick polypropylene socks2 sets of sweats or pajamas1 bowl of ice water

Directions:  Soak the pair of thin socks in the bowl of ice water. Then wring the socks out

thoroughly so they do not drip.  Take a hot bath for 5-10 minutes. This is very important for the effectiveness

of the treatment. In fact, it could be harmful if your feet are not warmed first. 

Dry off feet and body with a dry towel.  Place ice-cold wet socks on feet. Then cover with thick wool socks. Put on

the first set of pajamas. Go directly to bed. Place the second set of pajamas next to the bed. Avoid getting chilled. 

Wear the socks overnight. During the night, you may wake up with your whole body wet from sweat. If so, change into the dry pajamas, but leave on the socks. You will find that the wet cotton socks will be dry in the morning. 

Naturopathic Clinic on Campus

Monday 9:30am-1:30pm Tuesday 2-6pm Wednesday 2-6pm Thursday 2-6pm Friday 10am-2pm

Reference1. http://www.active.com/nutrition/article

s/10-bitter-foods-that-cleanse-the-body-and-boost-performance

2. http://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/cold-or-flu#ColdTreatment4

3. http://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/cold-or-flu#Overview1

4. http://www.naturopathic.org/article_content.asp?article=779

5. http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/prevention/9-ways-to-boost-your-immunity

6. http://www.everydayhealth.com/cold-flu-pictures/top-immune-boosting-foods-to-keep-you-healthy.aspx

7. https://www.painscience.com/articles/contrasting.php