Cold and flu tips

When was the last time you had cold or flu symptoms? Some people get the flu virus every year or several times a year. Whether it's a sore throat, sinus infection, bronchitis or pneumonia, the flu virus can cause a host of unwanted and even life-threatening symptoms and conditions. In this article, you'll learn how to help prevent the flu, which supplements and foods to include in your diet, and what steps you can take to heal if you do get the flu.

Colds

The rhinoviruses that caused the common cold have been replaced by flu viruses that are much stronger. Today, it is likely that someone experiencing cold-like symptoms may actually have a mild form of the flu. Another reason someone might have cold-like symptoms is because their body does an amazing job of fighting off any virus that tries to enter their body. Sneezing, sniffling, or a tickling throat are usually signs of a flu strain.

Flu season

The flu is usually most prevalent in the fall and winter, but now there are waves of flu occurring year-round — even in the summer. During these warmer months, people still experience signs of the flu virus, including sinus infections, heartburn and bronchitis, so it's important to take protective measures year-round.

One reason for this never-ending flu season is the increase in international travel. When it's winter in one part of the world and the flu is around, people get on planes and travel to places where it's summer, bringing the flu viruses with them.

Instead of thinking of seasons, think of flu viruses as cycles. Usually, every six weeks, a new flu appears on the horizon.

Varieties of influenza

Everyone reacts to the flu differently. Some people develop a very high fever and delirium, while others have a low fever and go about their lives without much disturbance. One reason for these different reactions may be the many strains of flu that humans contract. Different strains cause different problems. Another factor is the strength of a person's immune system.

Secretions, bronchitis and pneumonia

People often confuse the significant accumulation of secretions (mucus) in their body with the stomach flu. In these cases, people often suffer from the flu, which is mostly related to the sinuses, and their stomach problems are from involuntarily swallowing so much secretions. As a result, they may experience severe abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, and/or coughing or vomiting associated with the secretions.

Influenza viruses create secretions that drain most heavily at night. Depending on the strain of the flu, you may not have a cough at first. But because secretions drain into the chest and build up in the lungs, there's a good chance you'll develop one. After a few days, the secretions may begin to break down, or additional sinus problems may occur, causing even more secretions to flow into the chest.

When these secretions sit too long in the chest, bacteria can begin to grow, leading to bronchitis. You may be told that these bacteria are bacterial pneumonia, but this is not true. Bacterial pneumonia is simply the diagnosis the medical community has given the condition because this bacteria is still a mystery to medical science and research.

The problem bacteria is actually one or more of the dozen or so varieties of undiscovered strep or chlamydial bacteria. It is this that causes the symptoms of bronchitis and pneumonia. Each person has different varieties of this pneumonia bacteria in their body. Chlamydia bacteria are usually harmless, but can cause problems if you have a severe zinc deficiency, constantly make poor food choices, are under a lot of stress, or don't take care of yourself.

Sinus infections

Not all sinus infections are related to the flu virus. Often, chronic sinus infections are associated with chronic, low-grade streptococcal infections . If you have this type of strep infection and get the flu virus, you will feel your sinuses get really bad for a period of time before they return to their usual level of illness.

Sore throat

Like sinus infections, sore throats are not always related to the flu. A sore throat can be caused by chronic, low-grade strep . Unfortunately, a throat culture cannot always accurately determine whether a sore throat is associated with strep. A child or young adult with a really bad case of strep may have white spots on the back of the throat or tonsils that can be swabbed and pinpointed as strep .

Often, however, once strep has progressed past its early stages, taking a swab does not accurately determine whether someone has the bacteria. Often, chronic strep can get into the lymphatic system and cause a sore throat. In this case, it is unlikely that streptococci will be found in the secretions from the throat. You can learn more about streptococci in the book Help for the Liver .

The Epstein-Barr virus can also cause a sore throat. If you have Epstein-Barr in your body, it can travel through the lymphatic system and appear in the throat. This is especially possible if your body is exhausted. The virus can cause redness and soreness that usually occurs on only one side of the throat, but in rare cases can occur on both sides. Although your throat may be incredibly sore, you will not develop a cough, fever, discharge, or sinusitis. You can learn more about the Ebstein-Barr virus in the books The Healing Medium - Revised and Expanded Edition and Thyroid Healing .

Preventive measures

If you suspect you have the flu virus, consider taking some of these steps to deal with the virus before it takes a serious toll on you:

• If you notice that you are feeling down, tired, nervous or stressed, take good care of yourself and especially pay attention to your sleep.
• Always keep a bottle of high-quality liquid zinc sulfate handy. If you have even the slightest hint of symptoms, drop liquid zinc directly on your throat and let it cover the area. If you are sensitive to zinc, use only a few drops. Read more about zinc shock therapy .
• Take care of your hand hygiene and wash them regularly throughout the day. Shaking hands, pushing shopping carts, and opening doors are among the ways your hands come into contact with germs. Keep your fingers and hands away from your eyes and face (where viruses can enter your body) whenever possible.
• Carry hand tissues with you when you are outside. (You can use alcohol-based or alcohol-free wipes). When in a restaurant, wipe your hands before eating. If you're boarding a plane, wipe down your seat and armrest. You can also wear a face mask.
• When eating out, choose hot dishes instead of raw dishes like salads. The heat from a very hot meal can help kill any flu virus that may have contaminated your food.
• Take nutritional supplements year-round that strengthen your immune system. This can help prevent illness and speed up recovery time if you do get sick. If you can't take these supplements year-round, take them before periods when you know you'll be busy, stressed, or traveling, and before periods when you expect to be at greater risk for the flu. Important nutritional supplements for strengthening the immune system are: liquid zinc sulfate , cat's claw , vitamin C , lemon balm , L-lysine , vitamin B12 with adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin , as well as spirulina and chaga .

To read the full list of Healer Medium healing protocols for boosting the immune system, read the article "Healer Medium Shock Therapies" on our blog.

What foods fuel the flu?

The foods you eat can either help prevent viruses or feed and support those viruses, including the flu. Medical studies and science still do not know that viruses feed on certain food sources and multiply. You will find more about this in the book Thyroid Healing . Eliminate these foods from your diet to protect yourself:

• Dairy products. You may feel good after eating a piece of cheese or drinking a glass of milk, but these dairy products can silently wreak havoc by feeding any virus, including influenza virus, Ebstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, some of the HHV (learn more about herpes viruses here) ; bacteria, such as streptococci , Escherichia coli or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); and parasites or worms. If you want to avoid health problems, including the flu virus, eliminate milk, cheese, butter, kefir, yogurt, ghee and other dairy products. If you already have the flu, eliminating dairy products may reduce your symptoms.
• Eggs also feed pathogens. If you are reluctant to give up eggs, add plenty of raw garlic to your diet. Although eggs feed the flu virus, raw garlic will help fight it.
• Chicken meat. You might be wondering what's wrong with the chicken. The answer has to do with bird flu.

Avian influenza (bird flu)

Influenza viruses can feed on birds, and they especially love chicken. Avian influenza viruses usually feed on the adrenal glands and meat cells of birds, often leading to dangerous and harmful consequences.

You don't need to exclude chicken from your diet if: you really like to eat it, you don't struggle with any health problems, and you include plenty of green leafy vegetables, fruits and vegetables in your menu along with poultry. However, if you're doing everything you can to avoid the flu, cutting out chicken can help.

Disadvantages of chicken soup

If chicken feeds flu viruses, should you be eating chicken soup, the go-to cold and flu food? Unfortunately, the answer is no. You don't have to give up soup completely, though. Remove the chicken and fill the soup with plenty of anti-viral and anti-influenza foods, for example: onion, garlic, herbs - thyme, rosemary and oregano; vegetables - celery, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, peppers and mushrooms. If you really want to keep the chicken, add even more onions, garlic, herbs and vegetables to boost the nutritional and antiviral properties. Try the mineral-rich healing broth recipe.

Another reason to avoid chicken has to do with its fat content. Have you ever made chicken soup and then left it in the fridge overnight? The next time you decided to reheat soup, you may have noticed a thick layer of coagulated fat on top. This fat can rob the blood of oxygen; to slow down the work of the liver; to prevent oxygen from reaching the immune system, liver and heart; and work against the immune system when it tries to fight viruses or bacteria.

Zinc shock therapy

A few years ago, on one of his trips, Anthony William remembers that it coincided with the height of flu season. Around him were countless people suffering from coughs, fevers, sinus problems, etc. Tired from constant travel and lack of sleep, Anthony felt exhausted.

At first Anthony noticed a slight tickle in his throat. He realized he was coming down with the flu and the Spirit of Compassion instructed him to administer the "Zinc Shock Therapy" . He immediately put four droppers of liquid zinc sulfate directly down his throat. He let the zinc sit in his throat and two hours later administered another dose. A few hours later he administered another dose. The next morning, the subtle signs of incipient disease were completely gone! This dose may be too strong for some people, but you can still keep this treatment protocol in mind or discuss it with your personal physician or specialist.

Medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements

There are many powerful nutritional supplements that you can use as a weapon against the flu virus. Keep them handy so that if symptoms appear out of nowhere, you can deal with the problem immediately:

Olive leaf is a great daily supplement if you have Epstein-Barr symptoms or conditions. It is also useful if you start to feel unwell with flu-like symptoms (in this case, increase the dose).

Echinacea and hydrastis help fight the flu. If you're struggling with strep throat, strep throat, tonsillitis , or strep-related sinus infections, you may also benefit from using them periodically.

Elderberry syrup is another amazing flu-fighting supplement.

Lomatium root can help with flu symptoms, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus problems, fever, and more.

Ochanka is amazing at knocking down flu and strep .

Cherry bark helps with cough.

Mulberry leaf is an amazing extract for symptoms and conditions associated with herpes zoster . It is also great for fighting the flu, sinus infections, bronchitis and lung problems.

Propolis can be a powerful immune system booster.

Micro-C and Cat's Claw are great for daily intake. If you start to feel sick, increase the amount.

Red root can be another useful dietary supplement.

When buying supplements, look for high-quality alcohol-free capsules or tinctures. The Healer Medium's preferred nutritional supplements page can be found on his site.

Rosehip tea with enough lemon juice added is helpful for flu symptoms, especially sore throats. Many other teas are also helpful for flu symptoms. Don't forget to add lemon juice for more healing benefits.

If you want to help your children protect themselves from the flu, use nutritional supplements in smaller doses and consider consulting a doctor to determine the ideal amount for your child.

Medicinal foods

This medicated broth recipe is great for fighting the flu. Even if you don't have the flu, healing broth can be nourishing, supportive and protective.

See the recipe for shots with turmeric and ginger from the book "The most useful foods" . This immune-boosting tonic is powerful, but may be too strong for some people. If it's too strong, try making turmeric and ginger tea by steeping pieces of ginger and turmeric in boiling water. Drinking this soothing liquid throughout the day can shorten the duration of the flu and prevent you from developing bronchitis or pneumonia.

Include plenty of lemon/lime water in your diet; water or ginger tea; celery stalk juice ; cucumber juice; raw honey; fresh fruit and vegetable juices, such as apple/cucumber juice, orange juice and green juices; medicated broth and caffeine-free herbal teas. Increased fluid intake during the flu will help you heal as quickly as possible.

How to move forward

You probably turn on and charge your phone or computer every day. The next time you turn on your device, ask yourself how you can regularly recharge your immune system as well. The more you protect yourself and boost your immune system, the more likely you are to avoid the next nasty flu that comes your way.