Support Your Immune System: Acupuncture for Cold and Flu
Acupuncture for Cold and Flu
Support your immune system this cold and flu season
When you think of acupuncture and acupuncture treatments, the first thing that comes to mind is likely pain relief and relaxation! People are often surprised to learn that acupuncture is used for more than just pain relief and to lower stress! Acupuncture has been thousands of years to boost the immune system and prevent colds and flus. At North Shore Acupuncture and Natural Medicine, we utilize acupuncture and integrative medicine to improve the health and wellness of our patients.
Acupuncture
Scientific research suggests that acupuncture stimulates specific points on the body to release chemicals into the nervous system and into the bloodstream. The release of chemicals changes the experience of pain. The experience triggers the release of other substances that influence the body's innate ability to heal.
Brain scans show that acupuncture normalizes the signals that reach your limbic system, which is the system that controls the "fight or flight" response. Almost every patient we see is transformed from being on edge to calm, relaxed and zen-like. And the reason is acupuncture works to reset the central nervous system, and once reset, the body can restore to homeostasis or normal functioning.
Acupuncture is rooted in concept of total vitality. Patients with presenting symptoms such as chronic low back pain, neck pain, tension headaches, fertility issues, anxiety, insomnia, digestive discomfort or any other issues that affect their daily living, are considered warning signs that their health is out of balance. Acupuncture works as the ultimate form of preventative and restorative medicine. Acupuncture works to re-establish harmony by stimulating acupuncture points with specific needle insertion techniques to restore total vitality.
Acupuncture for Cold and Flu
Acupuncture benefits the immune system in the following ways:
Prevent colds and flu by boosting your immune system
Speed up recovery time from a cold or flu
Reduce chills, fever, body aches
Reduce nausea & vomiting
Reduce gastric distress, diarrhea and digestive issues
Reduce headaches and migraines
Relieve sore throat and congestion
Reduce chest tightness and phlegm
Suppress cough
Clear post-nasal drip and running nose
Acupuncture at North Shore Acupuncture and Natural Medicine
We compliment our acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for cold and flu prevention with vitamins and supplements at our acupuncture clinic. There are many benefits to adding high quality vitamins and supplements such as, Probiotics, Vitamin C and Vitamin D to assist you during the cold and flu season.
Probiotics: Scientific studies have shown that taking probiotics regularly can lower your chances of getting a cold. Additionally, if you do catch a cold, probiotics may help reduce the severity of the cold as well as shorten symptoms. Probiotics help balance the gut bacteria, balanced gut bacteria helps support a healthy immune system. Probiotics have been recently demonstrated as a safe and effective modality for allergy prevention and treatment.
Vitamin C: Taking 200mg of Vitamin C does not help prevent cold (for most people). If you are an athlete i.e marathon runner or subject to frigid temperatures for long hours it has been demonstrated that Vitamin C would prevent a cold! However, Vitamin C has been shown to decrease the severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms. Studies have shown that Vitamin C is better at decreasing symptoms when taken regularly rather than when cold and flu symptoms arise. Additionally, megadoses can be more harmful than helpful - too much Vitamin C can lead to diarrhea, nausea, bloating, and cramping.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D works to support the immune system by reducing levels of inflammatory proteins as well as to increase antimicrobial proteins within the body. The combination of reducing inflammation and increasing antimicrobial defenses help an individual's immune system to fight infections more effectively! Those who are vitamin D deficient experience the greatest benefit from supplementation. Those who have lower levels of vitamin D are at higher risk for developing a upper respiratory infection.
Let's work together to increase your immunity and resistance to outside pathogens and germs that could result in a cold or flu.
About Our Acupuncture Clinic:
North Shore Acupuncture and Natural Medicine is an acupuncture clinic in Beverly, MA. We utilize acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and natural medicine restore optimal health and wellness. Employing traditional and modern approaches to enhance your health and longevity.
