It’s not always possible to avoid a cold or the flu, but when you get sick you can help your immune system conquer the infection and get back on track.

According to an integrative physician at the University of Arizona, Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., here are some tips from a holistic perspective.

*Pop some Vitamin C. While not necessarily a preventive measure, Vitamin C does appear to reduce cold symptoms. It quickly gets flushed out of the system take 500 mg three or four times a day at the beginning of a cold.

*Try Herbs. Low Dog recommends 1000 mg of Echinacea three to five times a day. Another herb, andrographis, has rendered cold less sever in controlled clinical studies.

*Be Patient. Take the time to rest, convalesce, and get better or you risk experiencing symptoms that drag on and on. Follow your instincts and get extra rest, so you can get back on your feet sooner.

*Fortify your system. Western medicine can learn from Easter medicinal concepts of tonification – the idea that we need to strengthen the body, particularly after an illness or life event. In addition to sleep, hydration, and good nutrition, Low Dog recommends Panax Ginseng at 200 mg daily.

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