For Flu Prevention and Treatment

I am bringing my previous post back because it is flu season once again.

Even in Los Angeles, the evenings are relatively cooler.  ‘Tis the season for colds, coughs, sniffles and flu.  Three people in the last 10 days have mentioned to me that they have had a cough that would not go away.  They all had a fever and malaise for the first few days and recovered from those symptoms yet the cough continued. (Two had already taken the flu shot.)  What is a person to do?

Here are my recommendations:   Sneezer in his pjs

Wash your hands every time after touching door handles or shaking hands.

Caution: as tempting as all the sugary foods are this time of year, don’t fall into that trap. Rather, reduce your sugar intake.

Similarly, as tempting as it is to stay up late, get a full night’s sleep regularly.  Remember, sleep is when we heal.

Vitamin C: to bowel tolerance.  In other words, just under the amount that causes diarrhea.  This varies to each individual, so you need to test where your level is.  Also, we need even more vitamin C when we are “fighting” something.

Probiotics: At least once per day, every day.  The gastrointestinal tract is lined with lymph nodes which are there to protect us from outside infections.

Take Vitamin D daily: 1000 to 5000 iu’s dosage

Vitamin A: At least 10,000 iu’s per day.  At the first sign of illness, increase this to 100,000 iu’s for 3 days.  Then back to the usual dose.

Zinc: 25 to 50 mg per day.  Double this for 3 days at the first sign of illness.  Then back to the usual dose.

Elderberry in some form.  4 times per day as per the bottle at the beginning of a viral illness.

Nano silver as Argentyn 23 or Sovereign Silver as needed. Follow the recommendations on the bottle.

Oscillococcinum: 1/3 of a tube 3 times per week (let it dissolve under your tongue).

For those who tolerate it: Garlic.  One woman told me she never gets sick when she eats several cloves of roasted garlic every day through the winter

A high quality echinacea also supports the immune system when taken daily.

Many people find using a wellness formula (most health food stores carry this) very helpful.

These are a good start.

PS:   People who think they have a prolonged cold or cough might actually be suffering from allergies.  The high vitamin C dose can begin to alleviate this problem.

About Cathie Lippman, M.D.

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