“THE TOP TEN WAYS TO FIGHT THE FLU FROM HOME”

Fight and Prevent this Winter’s Flu the Natural Way with Chicago Healers

(Chicago) As another brutal Chicago winter approaches, the dreaded Flu is not far behind. With a lack of flu shots this season, practitioners from ChicagoHealers.com announce the top ten ways to naturally fight and prevent this year’s flu epidemic.

Stay Hydrated Increasing your fluid intake particularly water, can help prevent dehydration caused by fever, keeps the throat moist, and lessens the chance of the flu/virus becoming stronger.

• Avoid iced drinks and cold foods in the winter. (This one’s from Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Reduce Stress Stress can increase your susceptibility to the flu virus and can increase the severity of the symptoms. Modify your lifestyle to ensure a low stress environment allowing for a stronger immune system. Visit www.Chicagohealers.com for information on other ways to reduce stress.

Good Night’s Rest Lack of sleep can lower your immune system. Getting a good night’s sleep can keep your bodies defense mechanisms up to par.

Exercise Regularly Regular exercise can lower stress and stimulate the immune system at the same time. Moderate exercise has also been known to aid in sleeping.

Oscillococcinum Also known as Oscillo, is a homeopathic over-the-counter medication that helps to combat flu systems. Oscillo can be taken as a preventative measure to stop the flu before it shows up, as well as to eliminate the symptoms if taken immediately after experiencing typical flu symptoms.

Take Vitamin and Herbal Supplements A daily dose from a multi-vitamin supplement can help enhance your immune system and prevent the flu virus as well as certain herbal supplements including:
• Vitamin E supplements are known to enhance immune response.
• Vitamin C supplements are useful in boosting the immune system.
• Echinacea & Goldenseal are widely known and used to help promote a healthy immune system.
• Astragalus often used in Chinese medicine, has many functions including boosting the immune system.
• Black Elderberry root is also an immune enhancing herb that can be taken in supplemental form.

Essential Oils Essential oils are a natural way to kill bacteria and germs that contribute to the spreading of the flu virus. Different combinations of oils can have many different uses including:
• Combine tea tree oil and water in a spray bottle to help eliminate bacteria on phones and other public surfaces.
• Put a drop of clove oil in your coffee or tea. Clove oil is known as one of the highest anti-oxidants known and will support the immune system and kill germs at the same time.
• A drop of eucalyptus oil in a tea pot with hot water can help clear up sinuses.
• Rubbing your hands regularly with a mixture of lemon, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils helps kill germs also allowing the oil to penetrate into the blood stream killing even more germs. Not only can in kill germs but it smells great and leaves hands soft.

Take a Sauna Not only does the steam help loosen up the throat, inhaling steam that is very high in temperature can kill viruses and bacteria.

Eliminate the Transfer of Bacteria Washing hands regularly can help keep bacteria away as well as avoid sharing glasses, cups, towels, food and silverware especially when in contact with sick people.

Eat Foods Containing Phytochemicals “Phyto” means plants, and the natural chemicals in plants give the vitamins in food a supercharged boost. So eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits to help boost the immune system.

Others:

Eat Yogurt Eating a daily cup of low-fat yogurt can reduce your susceptibility to colds. The beneficial bacteria in yogurt can stimulate production of immune system substances that fight disease.

Don’t Smoke Even being around smoke can considerably worsen the immune system. Smoke dries out your nasal passages and paralyzes cilia. These are the delicate hairs that line the mucous membranes in your nose and lungs, and with their wavy movements, sweep cold and flu viruses out of the nasal passages.

Cut Alcohol Consumption Alcohol can damage the liver which makes it harder for it to filter out bacteria. Alcohol also dehydrates you and takes more fluid out of your system then it puts in.

Don’t Touch Your Face Touching your face is a major way that flu germs and bacteria are spread. The eyes, nose and mouth are very susceptible to carrying germs.

In general: It’s all about keeping your immune system healthy and avoiding the flu “germs.” Flu is a virus, and it is spread by contact with a person who has the flu. The virus can also “find a home” in people whose immune systems are weaker. It is easier to prevent the flu if your immune system and general health are good.