1. Cleanliness – Increase your cleanliness by washing hands, not sneezing or coughing into your hands (use tissues), staying away from other who are sick, etc. 2. Drink plenty of water – This helps your body eliminate what it needs to and gives your immune system a boost. 3. Eat nutritious food – Decrease your sugar levels, decrease alcohol, stop the junk foods and eat more veggies and wholesome foods. 4. Move your body! – Get outside when you can. Get fresh air and exercise! 5. Supplements to build your immunity – A few examples are: a. Vitamin C – Up to 6g a day. b. Probiotics – The “good” bacteria for your intestines. c. Echinacea – Most useful at the onset of cold or flu.
Everyone is concerned about the H1N1 "Swine Flu" Virus that is going around these days. It seems that the amount of fear associated with this outbreak has reached a critical level.
Dr. Hughes has been getting questions everywhere he goes about swine flu and whether or not one should have the flu vaccination. This page was created in an attempt to calm some of those fears and provide another perspective on the situation.
It should first be noted that Dr. Hughes cannot tell you to get or not get a flu shot. That decision is yours. What he can do is provide you with some more information so that you might make a more informed decision.
Please start by watching this video of a medical infectious disease specialist.
One of the primary philosophical foundations of Naturopathic Medicine is a trust in the body's ability to heal itself. Humans have evolved an elegant immune system over thousands of years to allow the body to combat microbes of all sorts. When the immune system is running well, it can recognize and address threats easily. It is when the immune system is not up to par that we need to be concerned.
Dr. Hughes's approach to preventing and treating viruses of all sort will always be grounded in the principle of supporting the immune system to function at its absolute best.
There are risks associated with flu shots and vaccinations that can be avoided by using some intelligence and supporting the body!
There are lots of things that you can do to help your body function its best through the flu season. The best thing to do is to have a quick consultation with Dr. Hughes to individualize your approach! But just using some common sense can go a long way as well. Here are some basics in helping you survive flu season: