Cold & Flu Season: Are You Prepared?

by Mila McManus, MD

Anticipating the potential of getting a cold or the flu and preparing in advance is the best defensive strategy to prevent illness.

From a health and wellness perspective, the best approach to cold and flu season is prevention, and we don’t mean with a flu shot! Anticipating the potential of getting a cold or the flu and preparing in advance is the best defensive strategy to prevent illness. You see, once you already have green mucus and a fever, it is difficult to use all-natural approaches to reverse or shorten the illness. It also increases the chances of needing an antibiotic. Unfortunately, antibiotics may help kill the infection but destroy favorable gut bacteria, damaging your immune system and gut barrier.

Anticipate

Anticipate the reality that you or someone in your family is likely to catch or spread some germs. Considering that, it is time to put together a winning game plan! Develop your strategy by considering what you can do for yourself and your family in your home and travels to reduce the likelihood of colds, flu, and other microbes pestering your life this winter. Consider the status of everyone’s immune function and current supplementation. What are the high-touch areas in the house, cars, and planes? Consider sheets and towels that can provide an environment for bacterial growth. How are the air circulation and humidity levels in your home? How self-aware are you of a scratchy throat, fatigue, or achiness?

Prepare

Now, implement your strategy!

Optimize your serum vitamin D levels [Learn more here] and take a multivitamin, vitamin C [Learn more here], and zinc.
Consider IV Nutrition to strengthen and vitalize your immune system. [Learn more here]
Stock your medicine cabinet [Learn more here]
Make sure you have a nebulizer, food-grade hydrogen peroxide [available at TWIHW], and extra face masks [Learn more here]
Monitor the humidity in your house, and if it drops below 30%, keep a humidifier handy to reduce the time that allergens and illness-causing particles stay in the air.
Have plenty of HVAC filters handy and change them more frequently.
Plan to wash sheets and towels in hot water more frequently.
Routinely wipe high-touch areas using vinegar, disinfecting essential oils or hydrogen peroxide.
Make sure purses, cars, and travel bags all have a supply of hand sanitizer and tissues.
Increase hand awareness! Wash with basic soap and water often. Don’t eat with them—use utensils. If a hand sanitizer is necessary, consider Doterra OnGuard Sanitizing Mist or EO [Everyone] hand sanitizers.

Prevent

Now that you are organized and prepared, pay close attention to your body and respond at the first sign of possible infection. Start a treatment regimen immediately if you have a scratchy throat, achy body, or fatigue. None of the treatment regimens listed above are harmful, but if you have contracted some germs and take action quickly, you may ward off a cold or the flu.

Be Prepared. Be Well

References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/tips-to-keep-your-home-clean-germ-free-this-winter

By Mila McManus MD|2024-12-03T12:08:35-06:00December 12th, 2024|Articles, General|

COVID and the flu are here to stay.

By Mila McManus, M.D.

COVID and the flu will continue to be with us, so I wanted to remind everyone to please support your immune system and overall health to avoid bad outcomes. I recommend a foundational daily minimum of vitamin D3, a multivitamin, and a quality probiotic. Preventing any illness means staying true to an integrative approach that is attentive to all of the key pillars of your health. Those key pillars include:

A whole food diet and good hydration – maintaining balanced blood sugar is key (did you know that sugar immediately suppresses your immune system for up to several hours?)
Moderate exercise
Keep the gut healthy – easy on the alcohol, sugar, wheat, and pain relievers, while taking your probiotic and drinking bone broth
Get quality rest and sleep
Avoid toxins and support detoxification – see gut health above and step into the IR sauna too!
Manage stress – take time for quiet meditation, practice yoga and/or deep breathing exercises
Make use of appropriate supplementation – see below

For most, a healthy diet still cannot provide adequate nutrition for a strong immune system because of poor food quality, daily stressors, and the toxicity of our world. For those with compromised immune systems, or who are living and working in higher exposure areas, or traveling, a selection from the following supplements would be wise protective additions.

Glutathione
Quercetin (inhibits viral replication)
Melatonin
Viracid™
Whole Immune™
Vitamin C
Zinc 25-50mg daily
Silverbiotics Silver Sol™

All of these options, along with common sense measures such as thorough hand washing and avoiding crowds, will help to keep you healthy this year. If you are unsure about which supplements would be best for you, consult with our medical providers for a customized plan that’s right for you.

By Mila McManus MD|2023-09-13T13:30:11-06:00March 26th, 2021|Articles, General|

COVID/Flu Protection For the Winter

By Mila McManus, M.D.

COVID and the flu will travel into the new year with us, so I wanted to remind everyone to please support your immune system and overall health to avoid bad outcomes. I recommend a foundational daily minimum of vitamin D3, a multivitamin, and a quality probiotic. Preventing any illness means staying true to an integrative approach that is attentive to all of the key pillars of your health. Those key pillars include:

A whole food diet and good hydration – maintaining balanced blood sugar is key (did you know that sugar immediately suppresses your immune system for up to several hours?)
Moderate exercise
Keep the gut healthy – easy on the alcohol, sugar, wheat, and pain relievers, while taking your probiotic and drinking bone broth
Get quality rest and sleep
Avoid toxins and support detoxification – see gut health above and step into the IR sauna too!
Manage stress – take time for quiet meditation, practice yoga and/or deep breathing exercises
Make use of appropriate supplementation – see below

For most, a healthy diet still cannot provide adequate nutrition for a strong immune system because of poor food quality, daily stressors, and the toxicity of our world. For those with compromised immune systems, or who are living and working in higher exposure areas, or traveling, a selection from the following supplements would be wise protective additions.

Glutathione
Quercetin (inhibits viral replication)
Melatonin
Viracid™
Whole Immune™
Vitamin C
Zinc 25-50mg daily
Silverbiotics Silver Sol™

All of these options, along with common sense measures such as thorough hand washing and avoiding crowds, will help to make your holiday season and winter a healthy experience. If you are unsure about which supplements would be best for you, consult with our medical providers for a customized plan that’s right for you.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-12-09T15:52:23-06:00December 11th, 2020|General|