For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email [email protected] | March 2016
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ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture for Treatment
and Prevention of Colds & Flu
Discover how to handle ‘wind cold’
By Kris McClanahan,
M.Ac., Dipl.Ac., L.Ac., Artemesia
You feel that
tickle or scratchy
feeling in your
throat, some upper body aches and
fatigue, and you wonder if you’re
catching that bug that seems to be
going around. The autumn and winter months mark the arrival of cold
and flu season here in the Bluegrass.
This is the time we are most likely to
experience those symptoms. What
can we do to get well and stay well
during this time?
There are steps we can take to ward
off a cold or shorten the duration of
symptoms. Did you know acupuncture can serve as a cold and flu preventative to both alleviate symptoms
and strengthen your immune system?
For over 3,000 years, this form of
Chinese medicine has helped people
of all ages build their immune systems and maintain optimal health.
A cold is a viral infection of the
upper respiratory tract. Symptoms
include congestion in the nasal passages, sore throat, sneezing, watery
eyes and upper body, neck and head
aches. There are as many as 100
viruses that can cause this infection,
and symptoms can vary. Similarly,
influenza – or what we call “the flu” –
is a viral infection of the nose, throat
and lungs. Influenza is different from
the gastrointestinal flu virus that
affects the stomach and causes nausea
and vomiting.
Chinese medicine classifies upper
respiratory infections as “wind cold”
or a pathogen entering the body,
which is then categorized by stages,
depending on the symptoms. The
back of the head, neck and shoulders
are most exposed to this wind pathogen, which explains why we’ve been
advised to cover these areas of our
bodies with a hat, coat and scarf or to
put on a sweater so we don’t “catch
a cold.” In the early stages of a cold,
symptoms of aches in the upper body,
neck and head are the body’s efforts
to ward off the external influences of
the pathogen. If the symptoms have
progressed to sneezing, sore throat,
body aches and alternating chills and
fever, other external factors such as
heat, damp and cold have penetrated
to a deeper level in the body, becom-
ing what we experience as the classic
symptoms of a cold or flu. These
symptoms are our body’s way of
fighting the intruders that are causing
the virus to thrive in our nose and
throat.
How can acupuncture help? The
best defense against a cold or a bout
of the flu is prevention. It’s best to
start a series of acupuncture treatments before symptoms appear.
Here are some tips to help you get
through cold and flu season:
• Eat a healthy diet that includes
fresh vegetables (including root
vegetables), whole grains, stews
and soups to keep you strong and
warm. Minimize or avoid refined
sugar, which can depress the
immune system.
• Stay hydrated and drink plenty
of water.
• Get adequate sleep every night
and plenty of rest or “down time”
during the day to replenish your
reserves.
• Wear a scarf around your neck
and cover your head and upper
body during cold weather to prevent tight and aching muscles and
to protect your body from a wind
invasion.
• Get regular, moderate exercise
that does not induce too much
sweating. This helps build the
immune system. Tai Chi, Qi
Gong and yoga are beneficial.
• Get regular acupuncture treatments and ask your practitioner
about herbal supplements that
could help as a preventative or
with symptoms.
• Wash your hands with warm
soapy water frequently and avoid
touching your mouth or nose
after contact with someone who
has cold symptoms.
The next time you sneeze, have
body aches or feel that tickle in
your throat, consider acupuncture.
Consider making acupuncture a part
of your wellness plan, to keep colds
and flu away.
Consider making acupuncture a part of your wellness plan, to keep colds and flu away.
Voted BEST Acupuncture Clinic in Lexington!
CLASSICAL ACUPUNCTURE
www.ArtemesiaWeb.com
296 Southland
Drive, Lexington KY 40503
859.402.24