Colds and Flus – Moses Nutrition

It is not news that there have been some very strong respiratory viruses going around for the last several years. In this article, we are going to cover prevention as well as what to do if you come down with a respiratory illness.

Prevention

Prevention is probably the most valuable thing you can do. We recommend these techniques all year round, but particularly during “cold and flu season.” Below are the two strategies for preventing respiratory (and other) illnesses.

Strategy One, keep your immune system strong. A strong immune system can fight off an infection before you even get a symptom.

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol weakens the immune system
Reduce all sugar including natural sugars like fruit, juice, agave (one of the worst), maple syrup, etc.. Sugar weakens the immune system and directly feeds infection. Avoid overloading on carbs, as this is essentially the same as eating sugar.
Stay well-rested so that your immune system has the energy it needs to function well.
Avoid stressful situations, since the immune system is weakened during emotional or mental stress.
Include garlic cloves in your diet (unless you are allergic or we have advised you otherwise). Garlic is antiviral, naturally blood thinning, and also helps to modulate the immune system to avoid over-reactions in the immune system (it decreases cytokines).
Ginger is another powerful antiviral herb. Use it in your cooking, or try it in tea such as Chai Immune Tea.
Supplements: Stay on your supplement protocol for whole-body support. The following supplements are usually on our normal protocols:
– Vitamin D (5000 IU or 125 mcg per day),
– Iodine such as Kelp, Prolamine Iodine, or Thyro Complex (doses vary),
– Calcium and Magnesium such as Paramin (3 or more per day),
– Zinc such as Zinc, Endo-Pan or Limcomin (doses vary but people not on a protocol with us should take 25 mg of zinc daily).
– Additionally, Echinacea Premium (2 per day) from MediHerb and Epimune Complex (2 per day) from Standard Process can significantly boost the immune system during “cold and flu season”.
– Note that some supplements, such as Vitamin D and echinacea require about 2 weeks to build up and be most effective in the body. Ideally start taking all at least 2 weeks before travelling, and before “cold and flu season.”)
Stay warm and don’t breathe cold air. The most important thing to do in cold weather is to keep your face (particularly your nose) warm and avoid breathing cold air. Most respiratory viruses make their home in the sinuses before spreading to the rest of the body. Letting your nose get cold for just 15 minutes actually reduces the immune response there by up to 42%! Face coverings, such as scarves, are important during cold weather. Here is an excellent article about how the nose helps fight infection (and how cold noses make you susceptible): Why Upper Respiratory Infections Are More Common in Colder Temperatures. It’s also generally a good idea not to let your body temperature get too low, as it leaches energy from your immune system. Plus it’s just uncomfortable, and nobody wants that.
The Xlear sinus spray is a great addition to anyone’s daily routine. It can actually improve the health of the sinuses over time! You can use it twice a day indefinitely. This practice alone can greatly reduce the incidence of respiratory infections because it can additionally prevent viruses from sticking inside your sinuses. If you are having higher infection exposure events, use a stronger antimicrobial sinus spray before and after such events (see Strategy Two below for more about this). For all sinus sprays, place the nostril about 1/2 inch into each nostril and quickly breathe in just enough that a tiny bit starts to run down the back of your throat.

Strategy Two, avoid, remove or destroy viruses before they get you sick. The below can be done daily during “cold and flu season”, but are particularly important immediately after you have been indoors with lots of people, or around anyone who is ill.

Regardless of the season, it’s always a good idea to wash your hands frequently (especially before eating) and to avoid touching your face.
If you must be around a sick person, try to be outside or near an open window (weather permitting) as this lowers the concentration of airborne infectious particles.
During cold and flu season, our favorite antiviral sinus spray is Sinus Relief by Nature’s Rite, which you can use immediately before and after high-risk events (such as going on a plane, attending a pack public event, etc.). As the Sinus Relief can kill off bacteria, we don’t recommend it for extended use as we don’t want to kill off the beneficial bacteria in the sinuses. For all sinus sprays, place the nostril about 1/2 inch into each nostril and quickly breathe in just enough that a tiny bit starts to run down the back of your throat.
If you don’t have sinus sprays, you can do sinus flushes with hydrogen peroxide/saline after high-risk events during cold/flu season. The formula is 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 5 parts saline (or filtered water if you are in a pinch). (Information about making saline can be found here: Saline.) This is best with a Neti Pot. Ideally the solution should be body temperature as it can irritate the sinuses if it’s cold. You only need to let it run through your sinuses for a count of about 2 seconds. Alternatively, you can snort smaller amounts into each nostril off the edge of a clean plate, or from your clean hand. In this case, you want to get just enough that it runs down the back of your throat, but not so much that you choke on it! 🙂
Nebulize – A nebulizer is a device that makes liquids into a fine mist so it can be inhaled. You can use nebulizers daily for prevention, or several times per day if you get sick. Nebulizers allow you to get solution throughout the entire respiratory system. Full instructions on nebulizers can be found here: Nebulizers Note that if you are nebulizing, you want to separate any other sinuses rinses or flushes by at least 30 minutes.
Breathe steam with essential oils. Put one drop of an essential oil in a pot with filtered water
and breathe the steam (particularly through the nose) for several minutes once daily for prevention, or if sick, several times throughout the day. (Obviously keep the steam low so you don’t burn yourself.) Both the heat from the steam and the essential oils can kill viruses in the sinuses. If you are out and about and it gets cold, order some hot herbal tea and breathe the steam. Then dry your nose so it doesn’t get cold again. Note: Some essential oils can be very strong, so just use caution and common sense.
Herbal throat sprays and washes. Although most respiratory infections start in the sinuses, they can also embed in top of the throat. There are many options to kill bugs in the throat. Our favorite is the Herbal Throat Spray by MediHerb. There are also herbal mouthwashes on the market. Like sinus rinses, this isn’t something we want people doing all the time, as there are healthy bacteria in the mouth we don’t want to completely kill off, but this can be done several times daily during cold/flu season during high-risk events.

Once Symptoms of Respiratory Illness Start…

When it comes to respiratory illness, timing is critical! At the first hint of symptoms (even if you aren’t sure if you are actually getting sick or not), start on the below! Sometimes just following the below protocol for a day or two at the first indication of potential illness will prevent you from actually getting sick. If you wait until you are full-blown sick, it’s not nearly as effective at reducing symptoms or shortening illness. For this reason, we recommend buying these things before you get sick. Viranon, Andrographis, Artemisinin and Banderol will last on a shelf for years, so it’s doubtful they will not be used up before they expire.

Please note: We are NOT doctors. This is NOT medical advice. Please always seek proper medical attention whenever needed. The recommendations below are for immune support only. We do not claim to cure any diseases.

At the first sign of illness, start on the items in Strategy Two above, specifically the sinus rinses (or sinus flushes), nebulizer and/or breathing steam with essential oils. Also start on supplements below immediately and continue for up to 7 days. (Below are adult doses!)

IF YOU ARE ON MEDICATION, CHECK ALL HERBS FOR INTERACTIONS BEFORE TAKING.

Viranon – Infection dose is 6 per day. As the name suggests, this is excellent during viral infection. It contains St. John’s Wort, Licorice and Thuja.

Andrographis Complex – Infection dose is 6 per day. These are immune support herbs that boost the immune system and are fantastic during infection. This product contains Echinacea, Andrographis and other herbs. (If you have Echinacea at home already, take 4 per day until you get Andrographis.)

Artemisinin Forte – Infection dose is 6 per day for 5 days only. After 5 days, you need to stop for at least 7 days. This herb is not only antiviral, it has been shown to fight bacteria, fungus, some parasites, and even destroy some types of cancer cells.

Banderol – Infection dose is 30 drops in 4 oz of spring water (not distilled or RO-filtered water) twice daily. (Mix in water and wait one minute before drinking it.)

Silver 24 – Infection dose is 3 Tbs. per day in 8-16 ounces of water and sipped throughout the day. This is always a great immune product since it has been shown to have anti-microbial affects against almost any type of infection. We actually recommend every household have a bottle of this on-hand. It has no taste so is easy to give to children and pets (at proportionately lower doses). Silver 24 should be kept out of light and away from strong electrical fields, so avoid storing it in the fridge, or near microwaves, computers, electrical boxes, etc.

Vitamin C – 500 mg every hour on the first day of symptoms, then 500mg every two or three hours on following days. Reduce if you get loose stool. An excellent choice for part of this is Endo-AC by Endo-met, which has 300mg of vitamin C per tablet, and is a balanced blend of vitamins C and A (which is also helpful during infection). You can take up to 7 Endo-AC per day, which is 2100mg of Vitamin C, so you will have to get another Vitamin C to use as well. (We do not recommend supplementing with additional vitamin C on a regular basis, only during illness.)

Continue your iodine (Kelp, Prolamine Iodine, or Thyro Complex). If you are nebulizing with iodine, discontinue iodine supplements.

Continue your Paramin or other calcium/magnesium, Vitamin D, and Epimune Complex (if you are already taking it).

Continue digestive aids, if needed.

Increase EPA-DHA to 1,500mg or more per day.

Increase zinc – If you are on Limcomin, you may increase up to 12 per day during infection. If you are on Zinc by Endo-met, increase to 4 per day. If you are not on a program with us, take 75 mg of Zinc per day.

You may stop most other supplements on your normal protocol, such as B vitamins, multi vitamins, etc. as they are not as needed during infection.

Other Immune Supplements – Because time is of the essence, if you have any immune supplements at your house or local store, you can definitely start on those immediately! These include Olive Leaf Extract, Oregano Oil, VIVI, ATAK, Quercetin, Quina, Mullien, Cryptolepis, NAC (N-acetylcysteine), Lysine, Turmeric, Cat’s Claw, Goldenseal, Ginger, Propolis, Broncafect, Resco, most essential oils, etc. If you are working with Moses Nutrition, feel free to ask about dosing on these. Homeopathic remedies are fine, especially if you have some homeopathic remedies you know have worked for you on similar symptoms in the past.

Tools and Procedures

Diet
Continue to avoid all sugar. Eat lightly but frequently (even if you aren’t hungry), and stay hydrated. Easy-to-digest foods are best such as soups, whole grains, yogurt, gluten-free toast, only a little meat, and of course, plenty of cooked vegetables. Try to include a little fresh garlic and ginger tea for their immune benefits.

Pulse Oximeter
These inexpensive devices will show your heart rate and level of oxygenation. During respiratory infection, make sure your blood oxygen doesn’t go too low (an internet search will show you optimum oxygen levels). When testing, make sure your hands are warm and that your arm isn’t elevated or in a weird position that cuts off circulation. The right middle finger and right thumb usually give the best readings, though you may have to try multiple fingers to get a proper reading. Pulse Oximeters will not likely work if you have nail polish. Here is a video with everything you could ever want to know about pulse oximeters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ceP-iVHEPA

Thermometer
Any thermometer will do. Each thermometer will have a slight variation in reading (even the same exact brand). We recommend getting at least 2 thermometers for two reasons: 1) During illness, you can verify the temperature reading by using a different thermometer, and 2) when you are closely monitoring a high temperature, frequent testing with the same thermometer will give you inaccurate results. You need to let a thermometer reset after each use for at least an hour. With two thermometers, you can test every 35 minutes by alternating thermometers. It’s a good idea to test your temperature during non-illness to get a baseline. (Note: it is normal for the temperature to be lower in the morning and increase during the day.)

Heat Therapy, Saunas, Single Heat Lamp
Heat helps to prevent viruses from replicating. It is also soothing and healing in other ways. Stay warm while dealing with viral infections. If you have a sauna, use it frequently to help disable the viruses. When fighting infection, one should do short saunas (up to 10 minutes each) up to 6 times per day. A single heat lamp is also very helpful. It can be aimed at the throat, lungs, ears and sinuses for relief. You may use a single heat lamp anywhere on the body for up to 1 hour per use. If using on the sinuses or anywhere on the head, limit to 10 minutes per use. You may use the single heat lamp multiple times per day. If you do not have a sauna or single heat lamp, we do carry these, so please feel free to contact us, and we’ll send you one.

Coffee enemas
These are great to continue while dealing with any illness. Fighting infection creates a lot of debris in the body that has to be processed by the liver. The coffee enemas aid the liver in cleansing the body of these toxic residues.

Rubbing the Feet
This favorite standby is good for almost any reaction one can encounter, so rub, rub, rub. The nerves in the feet run to all organs of the body. As you rub the pressure points on the feet and toes, it brings relief of tension in those organs.

Hydrogen Peroxide Baths
These can help with almost any kind of infection and are easy to do. Fill a tub with very warm water (as you would a normal bath) and add one gallon of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the water, or you may use 1.5 to 2 cups of food grade 35% hydrogen peroxide. Then soak for as long as you like. You will see little bubbles on your skin from the hydrogen peroxide. If you feel any burning anywhere (which shouldn’t occur at the concentrations recommended here), you have used too much peroxide. Simply get out and wash yourself off in the shower. If you have an uncomfortably high fever, use cooler water. For some people, the hydrogen peroxide can be energizing, so if you find these baths give you energy, try to do them earlier in the day.

Please note: 35% hydrogen peroxide is very corrosive so be very careful when handling it. For example, it can bleach and burn through clothing. Never let the concentrated product touch your eyes or skin. It is best to measure it out with a glass measuring cup, not a plastic one. Be sure to replace the cap firmly on the container so it will not spill if it falls over, and store it away from young children.

More Information

Fever
Fever can occur and is a normal part of the body’s immune response. A fever of 103 or below is usually not a danger to the body. You may use cool cloths on the head as needed for comfort, and contact us should the fever last more than a few days. A fever over 103 should be dealt with immediately. You may try putting the person in a bath with the water at body temperature which you then allow to cool to room temperature while the person is lying in it. Extra Paramin or Calcium may help bring a fever down. Adults can do a cool coffee enema, which often will bring a fever down very quickly. And, of course, seek medical attention if you are unable to reduce a fever over 103.

Cough
One of the best remedies for a cough is steam. The steam helps to break down mucus so that the lungs can expel it. You may use a tea kettle, pan, or a hot shower. Doing this multiple times per day is usually best. A humidifier may also be helpful. You may also use cough drops such as Ricola or Halls for relief of cough and sore throat. Topical gels such as Vicks Vapo-rub are also fine to use. A single heat lamp aimed at the lungs (upper chest and upper back) can be very helpful for a cough. A hot pad placed over the lungs works similarly in this regard. If the cough becomes persistent or very intense, please contact me. There are additional supplements and homeopathics that can help, so let us know if you have a bad or persistent cough.

Avoid hard blowing of the nose. This can actually push mucus deeper into the sinuses and spread the infection. So blow your nose lightly.

How long is a person contagious? When can I go back to school/work?
How long a person is contagious depends on how strong that person’s immune system is and how bad the infection is. A person with a weak immune system (such as a baby or an old person) will take longer to fight off an infection, so will be contagious longer. Even a person with a robust immune system who gets hit with a strong virus can get very ill. In such a case, the person can have strong symptoms and be contagious for a longer period of time.

A person with a mild cold (which may be caused by any of many different viruses) is usually contagious for the first 4 days after symptoms appear. A person with RSV (a common respiratory virus with symptoms identical to the common cold) can be contagious for up to 8 days after symptoms present (https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/causes/). A person with the flu can be contagious for up to 7 days after symptoms of the flu begin (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spread/).

As a general rule, a healthy person with mild symptoms is likely no longer contagious 5 days after symptoms appeared as long as all symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours, and there has been no fever for at least 24 hours.

Rest and Recovery
The key is to rest, rest, rest. You need to rest from the very beginning of symptoms. If you do not rest, the infection can settle into the body and take longer to go away — or worse, lead to bronchitis or pneumonia from a secondary bacterial infection that can follow the initial viral component. So ideally rest for at least a couple of days — longer if it is an intense flu. And remember that you are contagious, so going to work or school exposes others, too. If you must be around people, wear an antiviral mask.

Continue to baby yourself (avoid sugar and alcohol, stay warm, get extra sleep and rest, etc.) even after your symptoms have resolved to ensure you don’t relapse. We have seen people push themselves too hard, too soon after an illness and get immediately sick again. So give yourself a few days to fully recover.

Over-the-counter cold and flu medications
These are drug store items such as medicated decongestants and NyQuil. Remember that these are full of toxic chemicals. Additionally, most work by inhibiting the immune response. A runny nose is the immune system at work, so is a fever. So it is best to let these things run their course if possible.

Tamiflu
This is a prescription antiviral medication that is designed for use in certain types of flu. Its effectiveness is debated, and it has many possible side effects (known as adverse drug reactions) including nausea, diarrhea, headaches, hepatitis, and rash. There have been reports of even more severe reactions such as seizures, hallucinations, and mental changes in young people and children. Considering that most studies have shown Tamiflu will reduce the length of symptoms by only 12 to 24 hours (and only if started within the first two days of symptoms), we don’t believe the risk is worth the potential benefits.

Antibiotics
These are designed to be used for bacterial infections, so they do not work to fight off cold and flu viruses. Some cases of respiratory virus infections result in a secondary bacterial infection, in which case, antibiotics may be effective. But due to the side effects of antibiotics, this should be a last resort; ideally one should rest and care for oneself properly so that the body can fight off the viruses and bacteria on its own. One problem we have seen is that doctors will sometimes prescribe an antibiotic based on symptoms alone before verifying that the infection is indeed bacterial. So be careful to verify the need for an antibiotic drug before taking one. Remember that the body can usually fight off bacteria on its own, so antibiotics are often unnecessary even in bacterial infections. But if you do need to take them, it’s not a problem. Just see the section on antibiotics on our Probiotics page: https://mosesnutrition.com/probiotics#antibiotics

Flu Shots
Not only does the flu vaccine have varying degrees of efficacy, there are reports that indicate vaccinations can make one more susceptible to illness in some cases. There are also reports of alarming potential side effects of flu vaccines through the years. Here are just a few examples:

Canadian study finds flu shot could increase risk of getting sick: https://globalnews.ca/news/1804162/canadian-study-finds-flu-shot-could-increase-risk-of-getting-sick/

Assessment of temporally-related acute respiratory illness following influenza vaccination: https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/home/topics/respiratory/influenza/increased-risk-for-acute-respiratory-illness-following-influenza-vaccine-in-children/

Association of spontaneous abortion with receipt of inactivated influenza vaccine containing H1N1pdm09 in 2010-11 and 2011-12: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28917295/

Seasonal influenza vaccine and increased risk of pandemic A/H1N1‐related illness: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20887210/

We recommend you research more before you make up your mind about flu shots.

Healing Reaction or Cold?

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you are having a Healing Reaction or an illness. For instance, sometimes a healing reaction can give you a sore throat or runny nose. Additionally, sometimes it happens that you do get sick during a healing reaction! In those cases, illness symptoms can go on longer than one would expect!

The good news is that the above recommendations are good for almost all infection reactions, including a healing reaction where the body is clearing out an old infection. But if you are unsure and want our advice on your particular symptoms, call or email us.