A Note To The 43 Percent
It is estimated that 43 percent of Americans will not be getting the flu vaccination this year. I have never received a flu shot. But then again, I don't get the flu. I don't even worry about getting the flu. Or a cold, for that matter. How is that so? Prevention is key. In ten years of practicing Chinese medicine and having logged thousands of patient visits, I've come up with the following 5-point preemptive attack on the flu. In my house, the following is law during cold and flu season:
- Acupuncture: I needle the acupuncture points that enhance T-cell production.
- Chinese Herbal Prescription: Yin Qiao San with it's toxicity-clearing herbs is perfect for those times when you feel a little run down with sore throat and/or headache. I buy mine at the Whole Foods Market.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is the immunity darling, tried and true. 90 mg/day is the RDA for adult females. While is safe to take much larger doses, never take more than 2,000 mg/day. Emergen-C is my favorite supplement. However, I prefer food sources. Good sources of vitamin C are: oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, kiwifruit, spinach, bell peppers, kale, snow peas, brussels sprouts, cabbage and zucchini.
- Sleep: They don't call it "rest and repair" for nothing. Basic yin/yang theory tells us that night time is time to contract and rest. Whereas daytime is for expansion and activity. Balance is key here. Try to lie down by 10:00 p.m. and let you scavenger cells scour your blood for foreign bodies and microorganisms. Aim for getting eight hours.
- Water: Hydrate. Flush. Get rid of cellular and metabolic debris. Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water. For example, a 100-lb. person should drink 50 ounces of water throughout the day, every day. If you're working out, drink more.
I hope this list is helpful. It seems simple, right? Because it is. Stay healthy and if you have any questions, just ask.
Thank you for reading.
Tamara ZumMallen, L.Ac.
Posted by Tamara at 11/7/2010 2:13 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: flu Larchmont Los Angeles Flu Vaccination Acupuncture Tamara ZumMallen Healing Hands
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: flu Larchmont Los Angeles Flu Vaccination Acupuncture Tamara ZumMallen Healing Hands
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