Protection Against the Flu

On his deathbed Louis Pasteur (who discovered that germs cause disease) said "Bernard was correct. I was wrong. The microbe (germ) is nothing. The terrain (milieu) is everything." One way to interpret this is that he believed that the health of the host or human was much more important than the bug he or she has been exposed to. This year the flu has been especially bad, and we are most likely going to be exposed to the virus somewhere. So it is important that your immune system be as strong as possible. To do this It is important to get enough rest and sleep, to eat well, to not work too hard or exercise to the level that we are exhausted. Its important not to get too cold or even too hot and to reduce stress. All these things protect our energy or Qi, and in Chinese medicine the Qi must be strong in order to resist germs that might be in our environment. Washing our hands frequently is also important, but taking extra care of ourselves during flu season will greatly reduce our chances of getting sick. On my way out the door this morning my wife had me take 2 capsules of Immune Plus from Evergreen herbs. There are several formulas that we have that boost the Qi and thus boost the immune system. The herb that I make sure to take during this time is Huang Qi or astragalus, which is a Qi tonic. Getting an acupuncture treatment will also boost your immune system.