Preparing for Cold and Flu Season by Fred Harvey, MD
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t’s cold and flu season once again, so now is the time to prepare for sniffles, fevers Medicine and whatever else or Integrative might come way. We have zing wellness byour offering been dealing with a serious, preventive and holistic therapies. painful cold for the last 18 osts the WMNF 88.5FM -hosts WMNF months or88.5FM more. Coronavirus tion radio show live, Monday, 10-11am. one cause of the common nday,is10-11am. lurthe Healthquestions & Nutrition medical cold. While it is not the most ow conversation. and "ask the Doc"! the common of the cold viruses, 663 or 813.239.9663 email dj@wmnf.org ion at members the coronavirus nf.org during show. ber 4, 11, 18the &of25. family often act differently than other human upper rehe Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine 982 Bee Ridge Road,viruses, Suite J | Sarasota 34233 spiratory because they Ph 941.929.9355 www.harveycenter.com stir up the immune system in a way that’s not found in other cold viruses. This virus is similar to the intensity of the influenza immune inflammation but affects the vascular system in addition to just the pulmonary system, unlike most influenza infections. Influenza can be fatal but not always from the viral infection. Autopsy 20
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studies show that one-third of the population dies from direct viral overwhelm of the system, while one-third dies from secondary bacterial infection and the immune response, and one-third dies from failure of one or more organs like myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle. This third scenario is similar to the mechanism of COVID-19. Colds are rarely fatal, but they are quite disruptive to our lives because they tend to be transmissible. Because of this contagion, we need to take precautions. We have learned from the pandemic that masks, distancing and quarantine work. So if you are sick, be sure to stay home. If you must head out in public for medicine or
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food, then please wear a mask and distance yourself from others. Wash hands often and keep them away from your face if possible. Take the same remedies for prevention that I have been recommending since the start of COVID-19: vitamins C and D, zinc, quercetin, and NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) and elderberry. Stay well hydrated, practice adequate sleep hygiene, reduce stress, exercise daily outside to increase vitamin D and open the lungs, spend time with the people you love, and eat a clean diet without refined sugar or artificial ingredients. These sustainable habits yield a positive impact. If you do contract a cold, which you might recognize as scratchiness in the throat or intense nasal itching, then drink hot tea to denature the virus particles so they cannot implant. Use a Neti pot with warm water to flush out the particles. Licorice (not deglycerized) can neutralize some of the virus, as can Andrographis (Viragraphis has both of these powerful herbal extracts). NAC and chicken soup also help decrease lung inflammation and mucus. Clinical research shows that chicken soup with vegetables (such as sweet potato, celery, onion, garlic, carrot and parsley) can help alleviate common cold symptoms. If you experience the flu with fever, aches, fatigue or cough symptoms, take an Oscillococcinum homeopathic remedy, in addition to the treatments listed above. Remember, there are also prescription antiviral medications like Tamiflu. You can accelerate recovery if you act within the first 36 hours. Have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving! The Harvey Center’s Nutripharmacy stocks these physician-grade products. Contact our Supplement Specialist Haylee at 941-9299355, where telehealth and second opinion consultations are available upon request. Email your wellness questions into DJ@ WMNF.org, my Ask the Doc format radio show “Health & Nutrition,” each Monday, 10–11 a.m., on public radio WMNF 88.5FM. The Harvey Center is located at 3982 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota. For more information, email Doc@HarveyCenter.com.
