It’s Cold and Flu Season, Have You Thought about Acupuncture?
Q: How does acupuncture work?
A: From an Eastern medical philosophy perspective, acupuncture works by balancing and harmonizing qi (pronounced “chee”). Qi is our vitality, life-force and energy. All pain, stress and disease in the body occur when qi has become blocked and/or depleted within the body. By placing hair-thin needles along the meridians (which also correspond with the nervous system) to unblock and revitalize qi, natural healing, pain relief and emotional balance can occur.
Western medicine views acupuncture as a form of therapy that releases hormones into the bloodstream, sending signals to the nervous system. Hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, have a positive effect on the body by reducing pain, balancing emotions, strengthening the immune system and regulating organ systems.
Q: How can acupuncture help during the cold and flu season?
A: Studies have shown that patients receiving acupuncture have elevated immune-enhancing hormones and blood counts for up to three days after treatment. If you begin to feel the symptoms of the cold or flu coming on, it is important to visit your acupuncturist ASAP to get the most benefit from your treatment. Acupuncture can:- Prevent colds and flu by boosting the immune system
- Help you get over the cold or flu faster if you already have it
- Reduce chills, fever and body aches
- Relieve sore throat and congestion
- Herbal formulas will help fight the cold/flu by bringing the body back into balance, not cover up the symptoms.
Q: What else can I do to fight against colds and the flu?
A: This simple soup is an ancient Chinese remedy that is used when someone is experiencing a fever with cold symptoms. Cook this broth as soon you feel a fever coming on, with symptoms of chills and a runny nose:
Green Onion, Garlic and Ginger Soup
2 green onions (use only the white part) cut into several pieces
1 piece of ginger the size of a thumb, cut into slices
2 to 3 cloves of garlic, cut into slices
1 to 2 teaspoons honey
Put the top three ingredients into a pot and add about 2¼ cups of water. Boil it for 10 minutes and then add the honey. Strain the soup. Run a tub of the hottest water you can stand with Epsom salts. Sit in the tub and drink the soup. Warm the body through and thoroughly, inside and out. When you get out of the tub, stay as warm as possible, avoid drafts or sudden temperature changes; bundle up in warm clothing, crawl into bed. After a few minutes, you may begin to sweat while your fever and cold symptoms dissipate.
*This can instigate you having a fever, but once broken it will release most of the toxins.
Rachel Pearce is a licensed Acupuncturist at Pain Free Acupuncture in Salt Lake City. To Schedule an appointment call 801.903.3905 or at painfreeslc.com
