I have already begun to notice patients coming in with intense colds and flu, both in severity of symptoms as well as length
of time the infection lasts. The media is giving extensive coverage about the H1N1 flu and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a dedicated website for H1N1 information and updates (http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU). Since prevention is the best treatment for the flu, the CDC website actually recommends to "take everyday actions to stay healthy." I will provide you with a few "everyday actions" to help you and your family stay healthy as well as provide natural treatments for colds and flu.

Actions you can do daily:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer: Colds and flu are mainly passed from person-to-person contact. Make sure to clean your hands after you touch your face, cough or sneeze. However, be sure to keep hands moisturized with lotion to avoid dryness and skin cracking.
• Avoid touching your face, especially your nose, mouth and eyes: These are the entry portals into the body and the main areas that can become infected.
• Stress reduction: When you are more stressed you are more likely to get sick. Take that break from work when you need it, maybe even going for a walk outside. Leaving the office building may also help prevent colds and flu since the air in office buildings re-circulates the same air everyone is breathing. Do things on a daily basis that relax you: read, connect with friends and family, watch a funny movie, take a bath, do yoga, exercise, sleep (see below), etc.
• Diet: Boost your immunity with autumn foods that provide nutrients and antioxidants to help you stay healthy. When I think of fall foods I think of fruits and vegetables such as pumpkin, squash, potatoes (be sure to eat the skin—that—s where the vitamins are), carrots, apples, pears, kale, broccoli, etc. I also think of whole grains like corn and brown rice, and legumes for soups such as lentils.
• Exercise: Exercise helps circulation which supports the immune system and helps relieve stress. Even just going for a short walk every day can help.
• Sleep & Rest: Fall is a time where the days are shorter and we are wanting to turn inwards and rest more. Listen to your body and take the extra time you may need to sleep and rest.
• Breathing: The lungs have immune system cells just under its surface. Also, when we are stressed we tend to take in shorter breaths, thereby causing more stress on the body and making us more susceptible to colds and flu. A daily deep breathing exercise can reduce stress as well as stimulate the immune system that lines the lungs. The easiest exercise to do is deep abdominal breathing: put a hand on your lower abdomen, breathe in through your nose and try to push out the hand you have on your abdomen. Hold the breath for a beat, then exhale through your nose. Do this for five minutes daily.
• Skin rub, dry or wet: The skin also has immune system cells just beneath the surface. Using a loofah and always rubbing towards the heart can help stimulate the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is how most of the immune systems cells travel throughout the body.

Immune Support Supplementation

• Multivitamin and multimineral: A good quality multivitamin and multi-mineral will provide the body with the nutrients the body needs for optimal functioning, including optimal immune function.
• Echinacea angustifolia and purpurea: Echinacea is an herb that stimulates the immune system. If you want to use Echinacea throughout the cold and flu season, be sure only to take it five days a week because it can stop working if taken continuously.
• Vitamin C: Can be taken daily and is better taken in multiple doses throughout the day because it is a water-soluble vitamin (meaning your body urinates out any extra vitamin C). A tasty way to get your vitamin C is with EmergeC®, a flavored powder you can add to water.
• All Flu (available at Transformational Health): A homeopathic combination that helps stimulate the immune system and fight off flu. One capful taken once a month can help prevent flu.
• Cytozyme-THY, Cytozyme-SP, Cytozyme-Parotid/TS (available at Transformational Health): These are supplements that can be taken daily to stimulate your immune system.
• VeryBerry and Winterberry (available at Transformational Health): A concentrated berry extract high in antioxidants formulated especially to support the immune system of the nose, mouth and throat.

Natural Treatments for Colds and Flu

• All treatments listed above can be used as colds and flu treatments as well, and can be taken up to six times a day.
• Zinc: Zinc lozenges are probably the easiest way to take this immune-supporting mineral. There is also a zinc nasal spray but it can cause permanent loss of smell in some people, so I generally tell people to avoid the spray.
• Phytogen (available at Transformational Health): An herbal formulation that has both an immune-stimulating effect as well as being antiviral and antibacterial.
• Apo-Infekt and Grip-Heel (available at Transformational Health): Homeopathic formulations that help stimulate the immune system as well as reduce cold and flu symptoms without the use of over-the-counter medications.

These as well as other natural treatments specific for your cold or flu, including treatments that are safe for children, are available at Transformational Health.