Beating the Fall Viruses!

 

Welcome to the sunny, crisp days of fall in Santa Cruz County!  We love it and so do the viruses that wreak havoc on our respiratory system.  Fall encourages more indoor time and the return of the young to classrooms where viral colds, coughs and flu’s spread from hands and mouths and the air we breathe.  How can you bask in the season’s harvest and protect yourself from the season’s ills?  Here are some tips!

 

  • Boost your immune system—Most of us are aware that when we are “run down”, we get sick more easily.  The best immune booster is good, solid sleep, at least 7-9 hours nightly, depending on your needs.  Kids need more—9-11 hours.  Exercise also improves immune strength.  Gentle exercise, such as tai chi, qi gong and yoga, is particularly good for reducing the negative effects of stress on the immune system and is energizing for those who feel fatigued.  Eating well—lots of anti-oxidant rich dark fruits and veggies, beans and omega-3 rich nuts will nourish your bodies ability to fight disease.  Fall and winter provide us naturally with antioxidant and Vit. C rich fruits—apples, kiwis, pineapple guavas, and all citrus fruits.  And if you don’t eat well or simply want to optimize your health, a good multivitamin can help.  Research shows that the Chinese herb astragalus has immune powering properties and is safe and effective to take preventatively during the cold and flu season.  A little extra vitamin C (in citrus or taken as a supplement) can also help.  Traditional Chinese medicine and homeopathy can also assist in strengthening your immune system for the season.
  • Limit your exposure—Just like your mama said, wash your hands (and encourage your sick friends and children to do the same)!  Cough into your elbow, where the germs can stay, rather than into your hand where they can easily spread.
  • EXPOSED!—So now your adorable viral-laden niece or neighbor just sneezed in your face, or you simply feel that scratchy-throat, tickly nose, “I’m about to get sick” dread…What to do?  As a mother of pre-school aged toddler twins, I perfected my cold-avoidance strategies and here’s my secret formula:
    • As much sleep as you can get.
    • Avoid caffeine as much as possible (your body needs its strength for fighting illness, don’t push it further)
    • Only gentle exercise, meditation or stretching (ditto the above)
    • Vitamin C 1000 mg three times daily
    • If you (or your kissing partner) can take it, fresh garlic chopped and mixed in honey applied to the back of the throat every several hours throughout the first day or two of illness
    • A combo immune herb/supplement containing Echinacea, Astragulus, Andrographis, Vit. C, Zinc, Elderberry and garlic—my favorite is EHB by Integrative Therapeutics plus Elderberry lozenges or liquid (which taste great!).  Another good one is Wellness Formula by Source Naturals.
    • The Chinese herb Yin Ciao (three tabs three times daily)
    • And chicken soup (or the vegetarian equivalent) really does help clear mucous—not to mention help you feel loved, which is the only real benefit of being ill in the first place!

 

So enjoy the brilliance of Fall, stay strong in body and spirit, and keep those nasty viruses at bay!

 

Rachel Abrams

(please consult your physician regarding any interactions between medicines you are taking and the recommended herbs and supplements)

Detoxify your life

 

 

 

What, exactly, IS detoxification and why do we care?  Detoxification is the process by which our bodies take chemical substances that are potentially harmful through the skin, air and digestive system and transform them (primarily in the liver) so that the body can safely get rid of them.  This works well for most medications, alcohol, and some chemicals that we come into contact with.  However, there are a large number of toxins (pesticides, heavy metals, plasticizers) that we actually cannot detoxify in the body and we simply store in our fat cells.  Given that we have created more than 80,000 chemicals since World War II and only a fraction of these have been tested, there is room to be concerned about the health risks we face.  No other generation has been exposed to the wide variety of chemicals that our children have and the effects are still unknown.  Research continues to come to light on the potential endocrine disrupting or cancer-causing effects of some of these chemicals (note the recent debate in the California legislature regarding the common flame retardants—and their hormonal effects on people and animals).

Avoiding toxins entirely is not possible.  So what can a responsible citizen do besides be concerned?  The most important thing to realize is that a healthy body–with love, good sleep, good food, exercise and minimal stress—can usually deal with a toxic load without untoward effects.  So being healthy in general will protect you.

There are also some simple common sense steps that we can all take to limit our (and the earth’s!) toxic load.  Here are some tips:

    • Get rid of Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, non-stick) pans.
    • Avoid plastic bottles made of polycarbonate (#7, which contains BPA).
    • Do not eat or drink items heated in plastic.
    • Prefer metal, ceramic, or glass containers, especially for hot and acidic foods.
    • Substitute nontoxic alternatives for chemical pesticides for home and garden.
    • Select “green cleaners” rather than toxic cleaning agents.
    • Don’t forget that the skin also takes in toxins and purchase bath and beauty products that are free of:
    • Avoid PVC (vinyl) products.
    • Choose “green” paints, finishes, structural materials and insulation for any remodeling projects.
    • Choose fish that are not carrying high levels of mercury and are not endangered (www.seafoodwatch.org).  If the whole fish fits on your plate, mercury is likely not a problem.
    • Eat organic meat, milk, and egg products.  This is even more important than eating organic produce, as the animals concentrate the fat-soluble toxins of all the grains that they eat into their flesh and only release them into their milk or eggs, making milk, meat and eggs potentially the highest source of pesticides in the diet.  It is also important to avoid bovine growth hormone (banned in Europe), which is given to cows to increase milk production.  Its effects on humans is unclear, but concerning.
    • Eat primarily organic produce (www.foodnews.org).  This list helps you choose the foods that are MOST important to buy organic since they have the highest content of pesticides.  Remember to talk to your farmer’s market vendors, as many local farmers may not be certified organic, but still may not use spray pesticides on their produce.

 

 

And, as I always like to say to my patients, take baby steps!  Adding one item at a time is a fine way to start.  And don’t obsess!  It’s bad for you health!

 

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