Coronavirus, the flu, and how I'm going to stay healthy
Coronavirus - that’s a word we are all very familiar with, huh?
Before we get into all my tips and tricks, let’s do an exercise together. Get comfortable, sit up nice and straight, and follow along:
Breathe in slowly while counting to four
Hold at the top for a count of four
Breathe out slowly while counting to four
Hold out for a count of four
Repeat this four times. SLOWLY!
Your heart is beating slower, you’ve calmed your fight-or-flight response, the panic has subsided, and your mind is clear.
Okay, now we are centered and ready to talk through some of my favorite cold-season preventative measures.
I cannot emphasize how crucial daily hand washing is right now. And by hand washing, I mean, hot water, soap, and lather for at least 20 seconds. If you are tired of singing Happy Birthday twice, might I suggest the chorus of Raspberry Beret, Jolene, or Truth Hurts? I encourage you to channel your inner Prince, Dolly Parton, or Lizzo as you scrub the germs away.
Running errands and don’t have access to a sink? Alcohol-based hand sanitizer and wipes are your friends. Keep them in the car, your gym bag, and your purse. COVID-19 can live up to 7 days on surfaces, so our hands need to be kept clean!
Has the CDC warning to stop touching your face made you realize how many times a day you actually do it? I think it is unrealistic to ask you to stop (did you know the average human touches their face 3,000 times a day?!?) so wash your hands. Wash your face, too.
Also, use those wipes on your phones, laptops, credit cards, and wallets. All the places where germs like to hitch a ride.
A couple tips:
- Become a fist bumper for the foreseeable future
- Touch elevator buttons and screens with the knuckles of your fingers
In Chinese Medicine, we say eat with the seasons. I know the days have felt spring-like but we are still in winter. This is the time of year to eat nutrient-dense, slow-cooked food. You want to get all the vitamins, anti-oxidants, and yumminess out of your meals so they can support your body.
This is also a good time to increase your Vitamin C and zinc intake. A teaspoon of elderberry syrup a day won’t hurt either.
Boost your immune system naturally with the food choices you make on a daily basis. Drink your bone broth, eat homemade chicken soup, roast veggies, or use your slow-cooker to make some chili. I would avoid gluten, dairy, and sugar as much as possible right now.
Research shows that people who get less than seven hours of sleep a night are three times more likely to get sick. Aim for eight or more hours! This might be the time to start that bedtime ritual you keep putting off. Put the phone away, brew some herbal tea, journal or read a good book, and hit the hay early.
As an acupuncturist, I like to tell my patients to snooze before 11 pm - between 11 pm and 1 am the liver does the most work for the body and if we are active then we slow down the process.
The benefits of good, restful sleep are long but a better immune system is at the top of the list right now. Getting your z’s allows your immune cells to work at their optimal levels. Your body heals itself while you sleep. It also helps with mood, weight, heart health, and blood sugar, just in case you need a few more reasons!
I know this is going to be hard but turn off social media, stop googling, and stop watching the news. Even if it’s only for a little while. There is a lot of panic in the air and it seems to be catching.
Give your body a break:
Take a yoga class
Go for a walk in fresh air
Do some squats
Read a physical book
Journal out your feelings
Cuddle your animals
Cook dinner
Listen to music
Meditate
Take some more deep breaths
Go for a long car ride and listen to a fun podcast
Have a dance party for 20 minutes
Your body, mind, AND soul will thank you.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. You knew this was coming, right? I might be biased and I fully accept that.
Acupuncture increases the body’s levels of white blood cells and T-cells (immune cells that destroy bacteria and harmful viruses) because it perceives the needles to be a threat. I am provoking your body’s immune response with every treatment!
Recently, news out of China stated that patients with coronavirus are seeing faster improvement when combining Chinese herbs with Western drugs. I love this medicine!
If you are already sick or feel yourself coming down with something, let’s talk about what you can do. Everything above will help you when you are ill and will help you shorten the duration of your illness.
Take time off from work. I know this is not easy for many people, and I wish we could change that.
Wear a face mask - this is the only time I recommend one.
If you have a fever, stay home until you are fever-free for 48 hours without medication.