Prevent a cold with Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, and other Tricks

I wrote in my last post about beating the cold you already have.  But what is better than that?  Preventing it of course.

There are two good ways to prevent getting a cold.  The first is the kill any incoming viruses before they get too bad.  Like I said in my last post, one way to do that is gargling with salt water.  The other and far more powerful way is to boost your immunity.

And here are some tips to boost your immunity.

1. Soup: What your grandmother told you is true.  Soup is a great way to boost you immune system to prevent or treat a cold.  Countless studies have proven this for chicken soup.  I also think vegetable soup works well because it is jam packed with nutrients.

2. Reishi and Cordyceps:  Reishi and cordyceps are two mushrooms that have long been used to to boost energy and immunity.  I take reishi in the winter to prevent getting a cold.  It works great because even though my patients are sick, I stay healthy.  Cordyceps are better for those with chronic asthma and allergies.  For these herbs, be careful to purchase from a reputable vendor who sells organic products, because there is a lot of counterfeit out there.  And who wants pesticides in their herbs.

3. Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a treatment within Chinese medicine.  It is based on stimulating the body to heal itself.  And science has recently theorized that it also stimulates the immune system in the body, which can help prevent and treat colds.

4. Chinese herbs:  Chinese herbs have long been used to prevent a cold.  Many herbs have shown the ability to boosting your immunity and also kill any lurking viruses and bacteria. Huang qi, or astragalus, is a powerful immune booster.  This herb is in the common formula Jade Wind Screen, which is for those who frequently get colds.  Not all formulas are good for every person, so it is important to see your acupuncturist or Chinese medicine doctor for some herbs when there is a cold going around.

5. Qi gong: These are slow moving exercises that build up you energy, or qi. I won’t go into the details about qi now (I’ve written about qi before),  but qi gives us energy to fight off colds.  Through breathing and focus, you can actually improve you energy.  It is best to find a class in your area.  Check back next week when I talk about a basic exercise for you qi.
Now, go out and build your immunity.  Good health to you all!