Why are we so susceptible to colds and flu during the winter months? Your grandmother might say it’s because you don’t dress warmly enough, but that’s not true. Part of the reason is air quality. We spend more time indoors when it’s cold, and as a result we spend more time breathing stale indoor air and passing germs back and forth.

Also, our homes are better insulated and air exchange may be less than ideal. Our diets are partly to blame as well. In days gone by we ate locally grown seasonal food. Nowadays, we eat out of season foods and never wonder where they came from.

Colds and flu are highly contagious respiratory illnesses caused by viruses. More than 200 types of viruses cause colds with more than half being caused by rhinovirus. Many of the viruses are seasonal, so you can expect to catch at least one cold per season. Influenza (flu) is caused by two types of viruses—Type A and Type B. Almost all cases of flu are Type A, and it can infect birds and other animals. It’s the type of flu that causes worldwide outbreaks. Type B infects only humans and causes local outbreaks.

A cold usually starts with minor throat irritation and nasal stuffiness followed soon thereafter with sneezing, nasal discharge, sore throat, headache and possible mild muscular aches and pains and cough. Colds usually last about a week, but may last longer in the elderly, children and people in poor health.

Traditional remedies include –

• Drinking fluids
• Bed rest
• Pain medication
• Hot beverages (chicken soup)
• Spicy foods (clears mucus)
• Green, orange, & red foods (Vitamins A & C)
• Zinc lozenges
• Nasals Strips
• Decongestants (short term use)

Colds and flu share many of the same symptoms; however, the flu is more severe. It hits suddenly and hard. Symptoms are fatigue, fever, dry cough, chills, muscle aches, severe headache, eye pain, and sore throat. It takes longer to get over a flu than a cold – sometimes up to six weeks.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), colds and flu are viewed as a wind attack. TCM holds that wind has combined with another pathogen — dryness, dampness, heat, or cold — to attack the body. For natural treatment of colds and flu, consider the following —

• Acupuncture
• Herbs, nutrients, minerals
• Zinc
• Small particle colloidal silver
• Elderberry
• Olive leaf extract
• Homeopathy
• Avoid alcohol, fried foods, sugars
• Whole Body Vibration for kidney & lung chi

One complication of flu is pneumonia which is a serious illness. If you have severe shortness of breath with the flu, get to the hospital. Even with pneumonia there are natural antibiotics such as oregano. You just need to find a holistic practitioner.

Many take Vitamin C for a cold. Moderate doses may be helpful, but too much can wash calcium out of the bone. The South African herb umcka works exceptionally well. Vitamin E (peanut butter, leafy green vegetables, fish, whole grains) has been shown in some studies to help. Since both the cold and flu are caused by a virus, there are no cures to speak of. Instead, the best prevention is to take care of your health by eating a diet that strengthens your immune system. Remember, viruses hate a healthy body.