Homeopathic acute consults are now available Saturdays and by Skype appointment. Contact and information can be found by visiting www.kailohomeopathy.com.
Kailo Homeopathy is located inside Studio 86 Tanning, to book an appointment call 403-983-1803
Influenzinum
The standard homeopathic protocol for winter preparation is 5 weeks, but if you choose to continue this weekly dosing through the winter it is safe to do so. If you have purchased the box dose with 5 vials/tubes of the remedy Influenzinum 9CH you can take one vial once a week for 5 weeks. It is optimal to take in the evening before bed. Children under 12 may split a vial between two, also , dosing once a week for 5 weeks.
Oscillococcinum is excellent to have on hand if you begin to feel flu-like symptoms. Dosing is indicated on the package. It can also be used on a day when you have spent a lot of time around others who are sneezing or if you are nursing a family member back to health.
Take homeopathic remedies away from anything strong tasting in your mouth such as peppermint or coffee and 20 minutes away from food. Without touching the pellets place them directly under your tongue and allow them to dissolve there. If children chew pellets, don’t worry! They are effective quickly after being in the mouth.
PASCOELEUCYN is an immune boosting formula that ca be used during the winter months or at the beginning of the school year.
Dosing: Adults and children 12 and older: 20 drops 1-3 times daily. Child dosing on packaging.
GRIPPS is a homeopathic combination for influenza like symptoms.
Dosing: Adults: 40-80 drops 1-3 times daily. Children 20-40 drops 1-3 times daily. Put in ½ cup of water and take a mouthful up to every 15-30 minutes in acute illness.
Lifestyle factors that can depress your immune system, alone or in combination, include:
* Eating too much sugar, particularly fructose, and too many grains. The average person is consuming about 75 grams of fructose per day, and when fructose is consumed at that level it can devastate your immune system. One of the ways it does this is by unbalancing your gut flora. Sugar is “fertilizer” for pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and fungi that can set your immune system up for an assault by a respiratory virus. Most people don’t realize that 80 percent of your immune system actually lies in your gastrointestinal tract. That’s why controlling your sugar intake is CRUCIAL for optimizing your immune system. It would be wise to limit your total fructose consumption to below 25 grams a day if you’re in good health, or below 15 grams a day if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or are insulin resistant.
* Vitamin D deficiency, as a result of insufficient sun exposure
* Not getting enough rest
* Insufficient exercise
* Using ineffective strategies to address emotional stressor
TIPS FOR BUILDING A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM
Vitamin D supplementation “the fort around your city”.
Dr. Mercola states, “German researchers, have found that vitamin D increases your immune function by a factor of 3 to 5, while dramatically stimulating the production of potent anti-microbial peptides. Furthermore, ultraviolet radiation exposure from the sun, which stimulates the production of vitamin D in your skin, has been shown to reduce the incidence of viral respiratory infections, along with a wide range other health conditions.”
Based on the most recent research, the current recommendation is 35 IUs of vitamin D per pound of body weight. So for a child weighing 40 pounds, the recommended average dose would be 1,400 IUs daily, and for a 170-pound adult, the dose would be nearly 6,000 IUs.
However, it’s important to realize that vitamin D requirements are highly individual, as your vitamin D status is dependent on numerous factors, such as the color of your skin, your location, and how much sunshine you’re exposed to on a regular basis.
DIETARY STRATEGIES DURING FLU SEASON
Make sure to drink plenty of pure water. Water is essential for the optimal function of every system in your body and will help with nose stuffiness and loosening secretions. You should drink enough water so that your urine is a light, pale yellow. As for chicken soup, yes, it can indeed help reduce cold symptoms.
Chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which can thin the mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it more easily. Processed, canned soups won’t work as well as the homemade version, however. For best results, make up a fresh batch yourself (or ask a friend or family member to do so) and make the soup hot and spicy with plenty of pepper.
SUPPLEMENTS THAT SEND PATHOGENS PACKIN’
Supplements can be beneficial for colds, but I believe they should be used only as an adjunct to other healthy dietary and lifestyle measures discussed in this article. Some of the more helpful options for cold and flu–above and beyond vitamin D–are:
* Vitamin C: A very potent antioxidant; use a natural form such as acerola, which contains associated micronutrients. You can take several grams every hour till you are better unless you start developing loose stools. (Camu camu powder; Emergen C’)
* Oregano Oil: The higher the carvacrol concentration, the more effective it is. Carvacrol is the most active antimicrobial agent in oregano oil.
* Propolis: A bee resin and one of the most broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds in the world, propolis is also the richest source of caffeic acid and apigenin, two very important compounds that aid in immune response.
* A tea made from a combination of elderflower, yarrow, boneset, linden, peppermint, and ginger: Drink it hot and often for combating a cold or flu. It causes you to sweat, which is helpful for eradicating a virus from your system.
* Olive leaf extract: Ancient Egyptians and Mediterranean cultures used it for a variety of health-promoting uses and it is widely known as a natural, non-toxic immune system builder. Besides the nutritional interventions already discussed, the following lifestyle strategies will also help optimize your overall resistance against cold and flu viruses:
* Get plenty of high-quality sleep. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, or enough restorative sleep, you’ll be at increased risk for a hostile viral takeover. Your immune system is also the most effective when you’re not sleep-deprived, so the more rested you are the quicker you’ll recover. For more tips, read my article on 33 secrets for a good night’s sleep.
* Exercise regularly. Regular exercise is a crucial strategy for increasing your resistance to illness. There is evidence that regular, moderate exercise can reduce your risk for respiratory illness by boosting your immune system. In fact, one study found that people who exercised regularly (five or more days a week) cut their risk of having a cold by close to 50 percent. And, in the event they did catch a cold, their symptoms were much less severe than among those who did not exercise. Exercise likely cuts your risk of colds so significantly because it triggers a rise in immune system cells that can attack any potential invaders. Each time you exercise you can benefit from this boost to your immune system. Ideally, establish a regular fitness program, such as Peak Fitness, now to help you ward off colds and other illness. Furthermore, exercise can also help boost your immune system acutely by increasing your body temperature. This helps kill off invading pathogens, similarly to the fever your body produces when sick.
* Address your emotional stress. Emotional stressors can also predispose you to an infection while making cold symptoms worse. Finding ways to manage daily stress as well as your reactions to circumstances beyond your control will contribute to a strong and resilient immune system. Effective strategies include a variety of energy psychology tools, such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).Information not homeopathic related is sourced from: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/13/could-a-cup-or-more-of-this-a-day-keep-the-flu-away.aspx
Have a healthy and happy winter season!
