Get enough sleep!
The body needs at least 8 hours and in the US we average about 4.5. (For a more detailed explanation on the importance of
sleep, you can read my article Back To Basics: A Good Night's Sleep). This is one of the most important ways to restore the wei
qi of the body, so don't overlook this.
Clean up your diet.
This is helpful in so many regards, and we have been beaten over the head with all the different weight loss options available.
There are many to choose from, my personal favorites are the South Beach Diet for those who have a few pounds to lose, and
the Blood Type Diet by Peter d'Adamo for those who are already at goal. I particularly like the Blood-type Diet to help provide a
cushion of vital energy so that if there is a hit to the system in the form of a virus, there are more resources available to defend
it. (You can download food lists for each blood type here)
Mild to Moderate Exercise
Seems pretty straight forward, doesn't it? But there are deeper reasons biochemically as to why this is so important for the
immune system. Elevated levels of stress create elevated levels of certain chemicals which, when unchecked, have a damaging
effect on the immune system. Add to it the benefits of more restful sleep, and an elevated metabolism to help strengthen the
body against external attack and maintain weight, you have a pretty important addition to the package.
Supplementation
The judicious use of herbs and supplements to help strengthen the immune system is a time-honored tradition in many cultures
and ours is no exception. There are no magic herbs to recommend - what you need is as individual the color of your hair. If you
are really concerned or more prone to exposure (from the kids, for example), cut to the chase and have an herbal consult with a
licensed practitioner (such as an acupuncturist or naturopathic physician). You will save money over the long run by targeting
herbs and supplements to your condition. A competent professional should be able to help you prioritise which are the most
important for you now, and will be able to advise you if your condition changes and new ones are needed. The body is not a
static - it changes over time, and your needs for supplementation will change with it. Also, you have the benefit of working
with professional grade products, and can be assured of their quality.
A caveat: Beware of any practitioner who wants to charge hundreds of dollars for 'diagnostic testing' or herbs/supplements.
Even my most physically challenged patients don't spend usually spend more than $25 per week unless they want to. It is my
job to help them prioritise so that this is a long term affordable addition to their health care.
A little bodywork...
Goes a long way. By bodywork I mean acupuncture, therapeutic massage, chiropractic, etc. Every little bit helps, and the more
you support the physical body, the more resistant you will be to fighting infections.
Professional bias aside, I find acupuncture and oriental medicine to be particularly helpful in this regard. Traditional oriental
medicine has had the cure for the common cold for over 2,000 years, and I find that my patients who come in for regular tune-up
treatments are much less likely to catch something even when everyone else around them has caught it. Practitioners of
oriental medicine and acupuncture can detect changes to the pulse which let us know early on that the body is fighting off an
infection, sometimes even prior to the onset of serious symptoms. When we catch a cold or virus at this stage, usually the
patient is only laid up for a day or two with very mild symptoms.
Everyone else has it...
Now that you have a few things to think about to help prevent getting sick in the first place, what do you do when everyone
around you already has it and you either a) don't want to get it or b) are just starting to feel that little tickle in the back of your
throat? Check here!
Contact me directly at jmoffitt@acunut.com.
Wholistic Acupuncture facelifts!
Incredible before and after
photos.
Fertility and Acupuncture
How acupuncture and Oriental
medicine can help you conceive
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medicine, but will interest his patients in
the care of the human body, in diet, and in
the cause and prevention of disease."
Thomas Edison
