Warding Off the Cold and Flu

Note: This article is not meant as a substitute for proper medical advice. Please consult with your medical practitioner before using any type of remedy, herbal or otherwise.

Purple Coneflower

Dear Health Genie,

I am back in school and the weather is quickly turning.  Most of my friends are sick with the cold or flu and I want to avoid catching what they have, especially before my first round of exams.  What can I do to decrease my likelihood of getting sick?

Thank you,

Allison T.

Hi Allison,

The anticipated cold and flu season is indeed already here.  The combination of a new environment and crowded spaces make college a prime breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, most of which quickly travel out of the school and into the community.  Luckily, there are many ways to increase immunity, resistance, and resilience to these contagious microbes. 

Before you focus on what you can add to your body, try to take out a few of the detrimental bad guys.   Reduce or eliminate sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and other intoxicants from your diet.  As a college student, that probably isn’t what you’d like to hear, but it will make all the difference!  Among other things, these substances tax your immune system and use up your body’s vital energy.  If you are trying to fight getting sick, it is crucial to free up energy to aid in combating the intruding sickness. 

If possible, reduce the amount of stress in your life or change your attitude about what stresses you.  You can’t avoid the inevitable amount of homework, studying, and social pressures, but you can change how you respond to them.  Deal with each thing as it approaches, try your best, and then let go of what is out of your control. Take deep breaths, get some exercise, try stress reducing yoga, run a bath with some of your favorite herbs, or get some fresh air.  Some calming herbs (Nervines) that can help are Skullcap, Kava, Tulsi (aka Holy Basil), Schziandra berry, Ashwagandha, Lemon Balm, Chamomolie, and St. John’s Wort, to name a few. 

Once you reduce your amount of mental, emotional, and physical stress, your body will have ample amounts of energy to ward off any sickness.  In addition, there are some herbal allies and other aids we can add to our regimen that will synergize with our immune system:

Oil of Oregano- Oil of Oregano can be found in capsules or a liquid extract made from the leaves and sometimes flowers of the Oregano plant (cautionary advice: the liquid extract can be very potent and hard to swallow). It contains antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic constituents that make it an all-around key fighter in warding off any unwanted illness.  Look for products that are derived from Origanum Vulgare, the medicinal version of this common culinary herb, and products that have at least a 70% concentration of carvacrol, the main antimicrobial constituent.  Pregnant or nursing woman are advised not to consume Oil of Oregano.

Echinacea – Many are familiar with the common use of the plant Echinacea for immune support and prevention of colds. Echinacea can be taken as a tea, tincture, powder, capsule, or dried juice.  I love Yogi Tea’s Immune Support Tea and have dried Echinacea readily on hand, however, drinking Echinacea tea isn’t the best method to extract the benefits from this plant. But that doesn’t mean you should skip your cup of tea; just add a more potent version of the herb.  Try the capsulated or tinctured form made from the leaves, roots, seeds, and flowers (since each part of the plant contains different immune fighting compounds in varying ratios).  My favorite product is Herb Pharm’s Super Echinacea Tincture.  I always have a bottle on hand ready to go at the slightest sign of illness. Echinacea is contraindicated for anyone with an autoimmune disorder.

Zinc- Even in trace amounts, zinc plays an important role in the immune system (and many other places in our bodies as well).  Zinc is a cofactor (activates or “turns on” an enzyme) for at least 70 different enzymes, some of which play a crucial role in combating illness.  Zinc stimulates white blood cells and helps the body fight against free radicals. Strong sources of Zinc include oysters, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate (that’s right!), and cocoa powder.  It can also be found in dairy products, beans, potatoes, and Swiss chard and small amounts in parsley, rosemary, sage, and dill. So along with your herbs and supplements, try and incorporate some of these Zinc containing foods into your diet.

In summary, lighten up on things that weaken your immune system, call upon your herbal allies, relax, and let your body run its course. 

Be Well,

The Health Genie