Staving off Colds, Flus, and Infections: StepsYou CanTake: By Dr. Dorothy Fairley, ND
Autumn is a beautiful time of year, with the leaves changing and still some light into the evening. In our part of the world, it also means back to work and school, with the accompanying stress. It is a good idea to prepare for this by boosting our immune system, and our adrenal glands, which help us deal with stress.
Vitamin D is now recognized as a necessary supplement in this area of the world, where the natural light levels decrease until Spring comes around again. Some people have found that taking Vitamin D helps prevent the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
For day-to-day immune support, there are a number of options. Single botanicals like Echinacea and Astragalus can be helpful. I blend several herbs for a more holistic approach. There are homeopathic blends that are ‘anti-flu’ which are very effective. Then there are the standard nutrients, which support the immune system: Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Zinc.
The adrenal glands are the body system that responds to stress, on command from the brain. Living in a state of stress is not sustainable for long, without impacts on the adrenals and the immune system. There will always be events that we can’t control, so it is important to control those that we can to the best of our ability. If we have gone beyond what our body can tolerate and are in ‘adrenal fatigue’, the adrenals are easy to treat and bring around to strength, provided the cause of stress is being addressed. Get lots of sleep too – the longer the night, the more the body likes to sleep!
As the days get shorter and cooler, continue to get outside for some exercise and fresh air. Get into the woods, or down to Stanley Park, or along the beach. The air is cleaner there, and being in that environment does our spirit good.
Implementing a few simple things, and continuing to take care of ourselves will go a long way to preventing the flu bugs from impacting us.