4 Tips To Avoid Getting Sick Or Recover Faster From The Flu Or Covid

Amazingly, I was able to avoid getting both Covid in 2020 and now this season’s flu when the rest of my family was sick.

On both occasions I was exposed overnight to my husband who woke with raging symptoms that would have made him contagious. 

On both occasions, a couple of days later, I felt my glands start to swell and did everything I knew to flush the virus out of my body.

I never got the flu and never tested positive for Covid.

The four simple and easy steps I took, and now will always take if I am exposed to a virus or feel symptoms coming on, are below. 

Tips To Avoid Getting Sick Or Recover Faster From The Flu Or Covid

1. Rest and bundle up.

Lack of sleep can affect your immune system. Studies show that people who don’t get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as a common cold virus. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.

“During sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines, some of which help promote sleep. Certain cytokines need to increase when you have an infection or inflammation, or when you’re under stress. Sleep deprivation may decrease production of these protective cytokines. In addition, infection-fighting antibodies and cells are reduced during periods when you don’t get enough sleep” (Eric J. Olson, M.D. Mayo Clinic).

When your mother or grandmother told you to “Bundle up, so you don’t catch a cold,” she was right! Chinese acupuncturists also encourage scarf and hat-wearing during the colder months. Keeping your head and neck covered and warm protects Wind Points, which can carry the cold into our bodies making us more susceptible to sickness. 

Scarves, turtlenecks, and hats, along with longer warm baths or showers can help you stay warm and keep colds and viruses out. 

2. Nasal Flushing! 

Science Daily concludes “starting twice-daily flushing of the mucus-lined nasal cavity with a mild saline solution soon after testing positive for COVID-19 can significantly reduce hospitalization and death, researchers report.”

They say the technique that can be used at home by mixing a half teaspoon each of salt and baking soda in a cup of boiled or distilled water and then putting it into a sinus rinse bottle is a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to reduce the risk of severe illness and death from coronavirus infection that could have a vital public health impact.

“What we say in the emergency room and surgery is the solution to pollution is dilution,” says Dr. Amy Baxter, emergency medicine physician at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and corresponding author of the study in Ear, Nose & Throat Journal.

“By giving extra hydration to your sinuses, it makes them function better. If you have a contaminant, the more you flush it out, the better you are able to get rid of dirt, viruses, and anything else,” says Baxter.

“We found an 8.5-fold reduction in hospitalizations and no fatalities compared to our controls,” says senior author Dr. Richard Schwartz, chair of the MCG Department of Emergency Medicine. “Both of those are pretty significant endpoints.”

Additionally, the now-infamous spiky SARS-CoV-2 is known to attach to the ACE2 receptor, which is pervasive throughout the body and in abundance in locations like the nasal cavity, mouth, and lungs. Drugs that interfere with the virus’ ability to attach to ACE2 have been pursued, and Baxter says the nasal irrigation with saline helps decrease the usual robust attachment. Saline appears to inhibit the virus’ ability to essentially make two cuts in itself, called furin cleavage, so it can better fit into an ACE2 receptor once it spots one.

3. Lysine.

For years I have taken Lysine and Oregano Oil at the onset of any symptoms of cold or flu. When taken soon enough and after getting enough rest and fluids, I have avoided getting sick. Lysine has been known in the wellness world to be an effective antiviral supplement and Oregano Oil is known for its antibacterial effects. The Medical Medium is a proponent, stating, “By inhibiting and reducing pathogen load, L-lysine acts as an anti-inflammatory to the entire nervous system, especially the central nervous system and the vagus and phrenic nerves, which get targeted by neurotoxins produced by EBV, shingles, and other bugs.”

Healthline, The MayoClinic and Mount Sinai, cite Lysine as an alternative medicine treatment for the herpes virus.

“Some studies suggest that taking lysine on a regular basis may help prevent outbreaks of cold sores and genital herpes. Others show no improvement. Lysine has antiviral effects by blocking the activity of arginine, which promotes HSV replication” (Mount Sinai). 

As always, consult with your doctor before taking any supplements, and do your own research. 

4. Keep Your Energetic Guard Walls Strong.
In Chinese Medicine, there are four levels of Chi or energy. Chi moves from shallow to very deep in the body.

Each Element Type has two meridians that are associated with it, and these meridians are the likely pathways along which dis-ease can penetrate the body.

By stimulating the energy flow through the SHU Transporting Points along your Element Type’s meridians, you can balance and close the gateways to infection moving deeper into your body. 

In the exercise above, I show you how to stimulate all the SHU Points, so you can energize your body’s defense system without knowing your Element Type.

I hope these help!

Much love,

DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor. All content and media on the Lara Riggio Blog is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.

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