The Cold and Flu Season
by Tara Skye Goldin, ND

            With  the weather getting colder and children spending more time indoors, cold and flu season is fast approaching, if not already here.  The older  kids attend more holiday parties and eat more sugar and they often bring home other unwanted things from school or  daycare such as sore throats, fevers, and coughs.  Unfortunately they often “share” those “gifts”  with the rest of the family, parents included.

            The main reason for the increase in infection rates is  not so much the cold weather itself, though getting chilled can certainly  weaken the immune system but the fact that we are spending more time indoors in closer contact with other people.  One of the primary things one can do to prevent the spread of  infection is to wash your hands frequently.  When my child was an infant and his cousins all had colds one Christmas I even went so far as to not allow anyone to touch him unless they washed their hands first.  It seemed to have  worked—he didn’t even catch  his first cold until he was 18 months old!  

            If you are a new mother and nursing, breastmilk is  also a rich source of immune protection for your baby.  I have seen many  a breastfed baby avoid catching a cold even from its  own mother and  even when the family was practicing co-sleeping..  I often counsel moms who are wanting to wean to wait until cold and flu season has passed  so as to further protect their child’s health.

            If you are a not so new mother and have older children the following guidelines can also lessen the incidence of infection in your family:

1. Identify and avoid food allergens.  Eating foods that you are even mildly allergic to can weaken the immune system over time.  One clue that you or your child may suffer from food allergies is fatigue right after eating.  Also a chronic runny nose or dark circles under the eyes can be a signal.  Common food allergens include cow dairy, soy, wheat, gluten (the sticky protein found in wheat and other grains), citrus, chocolate, corn, and peanuts though any food may be a culprit.  Food allergy testing is available  using bloodwork ( I recommend ELISA testing) though it is often costly.  I often recommend doing an elimination/ challenge.  Avoid all suspected allergens (Wheat and dairy being primary culprits) for a period of time.  When patient has been symptom free for a while you can carefully add back the foods one at a time and see what happens.  If the person gets a return of symptoms, then you know it is a problem food that is best avoided.
2.  Avoid sugar.  Sugar decreases the white blood cell count immediately after ingestion which can wreak havoc on the immune system.  I often see a direct increase  in ear infection incidence in my practice  and post- Halloween candy ingestion.  I fact  year after year I can pretty much count on it.  Hidden sources of concentrated sugar are dried fruit and undiluted fruit juice.
3.  The following herbal and vitamin supplements are  safe and invaluable for prevention of colds and flu. Nursing mothers can also safely ingest these and pass on the immune protective effects to their babies. Astragalas is a chi tonic which is a powerful protector to  the immune system.  Vitamin C and Beta-carotene are also good immune boosters as well as Reishi mushroom and Garlic.  These should be taken all winter long.  Echinacea and Elderberry are good if you have been exposed directly to a sick person or at the first sign of a cold or flu.  Also formulas such as Yin Chao or Cold Snap are useful at the first sign of a cold or flu.  If a cold has already set in, more powerful formulas are available from your naturopathic physician or Chinese medicine practitioner.  Various homeopathic remedies specifically prescribed by a skilled homeopathic practitioner can also shorten the severity and duration of an acute illness.  Also the basic chicken (or miso) soup and rest and hot tea are recommended for those who fall ill.
4. The flu shot is controversial as a preventive for catching the flu.  This is because the virus that causes the flu often mutates away from the virus that one is being vaccinated for.  It is for this reason that I generally do not recommend a flu shot for everyone.  I reserve it mostly for the elderly and  those who are chronically ill with asthma or another chronic illness that severely compromises their immune system.  I have seen many fairly healthy people become sick more often after they receive their flu shot because their non-specific immune system is suppressed in favor of specifically protecting against that one strain of virus.  The only caveat for this is for the avian or bird flu when a vaccine is eventually developed.  That strain of flu may be so virulent and lethal that even I who have not had a flu shot for 30 years or more may have my family and myself vaccinated.
5. Stress will also decrease your white blood cell count so try to manage stress proactively through healthy eating, eliminating caffeine and alcohol  , adequate sleep, adequate outdoor exercise (make it a family affair!), along with “you” time away from the kids.  I know from experience that is the most challenging thing about parenting young children.  This is where wonderful organizations such  as “Moxie-moms” and other support systems such as friends willing to baby-sit are invaluable.

The main thing is to enjoy the winter with its long cozy nights and the multitude of wondrous outdoor snow sports with your family.  Eat and rest well, nurture loving connections with your family and friends, stay active, happy and healthy!  Blessings!