NEW YORK, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ — For families with young children, cold and flu season is an endless cycle of somebody getting sick, recovering and then catching the next round from another family member or friend. Add to the mix the latest FDA concerns about cold and cough medicine safety for kids, and the drill becomes even more complicated.
“The best way to break the sickness cycle is by taking protective measures and focus on boosting immunity,” says pharmacist Scott Berliner, R.Ph., President of Life Science Pharmacy in Harriman, New York. Founded in 2000, his integrative compounding pharmacy supplies physicians at medical clinics including Beth Israel’s Continuum Center for Health and Healing and Greenwich Hospital’s Center for Integrative Medicine. “Our approach is more comprehensive than the norm. You won’t find aspirin, Tylenol or Robitussin on our shelves, but our medicines have a track record of success backed by research,” he says.
Here are Berliner’s tips for cold and flu season using an immune-boosting approach:
— Begin with your gut. Yogurt is excellent for creating good bacteria
to boost total body immunity. A few spoonfuls a day can be effective
preventive medicine. But stay away from yogurts laden with sugar and
candy, or that don’t claim active cultures on the label. Also,
enteric-coated Acidophilus Pearls are a sure shot for helping the
good bugs found in yogurt to survive stomach acid and make it into
the gut in tact.
— Stay alkaline. Sugar makes the body acidic, and pathogens tend to live
on sugar. So especially during cold and flu season, reduce sugar
intake. Drinking lemon juice-hot or at room temperature-is great for
maintaining alkalinity. “Surprising as it sounds, some citrus fruits,
despite being acidic, encourage the body to be more alkaline and
healthy,” says Berliner. “My favorite is lemonade, only lightly
sweetened.” When you’re feeling less than 100 percent, try favoring
more fruits and veggies in the diet since they promote alkalinity.
— Stay hydrated in a balanced way. Everyone knows it’s good to drink
lots of liquids when you’re getting sick to flush out mucus and
toxins. However, when you hydrate, you also need minerals to hold onto
the water. Sodium maintains water balance outside the cells, while
potassium, magnesium and calcium — all available in a good
multivitamin with minerals — help to maintain water balance inside
the cells. This is the reason to not drink distilled water, which
leaches important minerals from the body.
— Go herbal, but cautiously. Most have not been tested in children. One
formula with extensive safety and efficacy studies is Esberitox and
it’s been proven safe for children as young as 2 years old. In a
clinical study in Europe, it was shown to reduce the duration and
severity of colds and flu by 50%. A blend of two potent strains of
Echinacea along with two other immune-boosters, Thuja and Baptisia,
Esberitox has been recommended by pediatricians and family physicians
in Europe and the U.S. for many years. “It’s chewable, so no tears
over trying to swallow a big pill,” says Berliner. “This formula is
especially good for children because it tastes great.”
— Prescription for sore throat and inflamed tonsils: Make a regular cup
of black tea and gargle, adding 1/2 tsp of salt. The tannins in the
tea are astringent and effective for shrinking the swelling and
reducing irritation. The salt enhances the anti-inflammatory effect.
— Linus Pauling touted C. He said the immune-stimulating effect of
Vitamin C was reached at 10 grams (10,000 mg). While 10 grams of
Vitamin C is not for everyone, it’s definitely helpful to boost
Vitamin C intake, which is effective in acute situations. Try a
bio-available form at 1000 mg 5x/day, which is equivalent to 20,000 mg
of regular ascorbic acid.
— Zinc also has extensive research. Three doses of zinc lozenges spread
throughout the day help to form a “bandage” over the irritated area of
the throat. Studies have found that Zinc can stop the progression of
colds and flu and shorten the duration of infection.
— Elderberry extract or syrup is also a proven treatment for viral
infections. It’s been popular in Europe for years, and now available
in the U.S.
“Even if the headlines predict widespread infections during cold and flu season, you and your kids may be able to avoid them,” concludes Berliner. “If you take proper care, you can dramatically reduce the number of days you’re out of commission or even dodge getting sick altogether. And if you do happen to get sick, you can use these ‘integrative pharmacy’ tips to get better faster.”
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Scott Berliner, R.Ph.
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=70513