How to Protect Yourself from the Common Cold

It seems that we are facing an early start to the cold season this year; I have already come into contact with a half dozen sick patients and friends.

Everyone has their favorite methods of preventing and treating colds. In this article, I will share some tips from a Chinese medicine perspective.

Take care of yourself. While this is basic common sense, many people forget to follow it. Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated (with plain water, herbal teas, and fruit juice that has been diluted with water), and eat healthy foods including lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid greasy, rich, and sugary foods. Manage your stress level; several research studies have shown that stress negatively impacts the immune system.

Avoid cold and drafts. This may seem like an old-wives tale, but there are scientific reasons why it is true: when your body is struggling to maintain a stable temperature, it has fewer resources to support the immune system. Also, anything that dries out your mucus membranes makes them less effective at trapping bacteria and viruses. Moisten your sinuses with nasal rinses and steam treatments.