Stop Cold and Flu Symptoms Dead in Their Tracks

Using LifeWave Patches and Chinese Medicine

It is that time of year again. Time for sore throats, sniffles, coughs, fatigue, and aching muscles. Sound familiar -- colds and flu. The typical way to deal with these symptoms is to go to the local drug store and load up on throat lozenges, cough syrup, decongestants, and other chemicals. If the symptoms are more serious, then go to the doctor for a big dose of antibiotics. These approaches are often used to mask the symptoms so that we continue without missing a single day of work. For many people, the symptoms linger on for a few weeks.

There is another approach taken from Oriental Medicine. The theory behind the approach is based on the idea of Wei Qi (pronounced whey chi). You can think of this as something like the force shield of the Starship Enterprise that protects you from the invading viruses and bacteria. A more conventional approach would be to think of it as linked to the overall energetic side of the immune system. When the Wei Qi is weak, then you are likely to catch illnesses. We call the presence of the symptoms listed above a "Cold", and, interestingly enough, the Chinese theory is that these symptoms arise usually from an invasion of cold into the body. Oriental Medicine views the process of cold invasion as often starting in the lungs at a rather superficial level, but then becoming more and more serious as the dis-ease progresses deeper into the body. The lungs are also regarded as being significantly linked to the robustness of the Wei Qi.

The secret to quickly defeating the invasion of cold is to boost the Wei Qi when the invasion is still in its more superficial stages. This is usually done in Oriental Medicine by regulating the energy in the Lung Meridian. Acupuncture, acupressure, and other techniques are generally used for that purpose. In addition, people are encouraged to sweat, since the lungs and Wei Qi are also closely linked to the pores.

You can use these principles to stop the symptoms associated with colds and flu dead in their tracks. The key is to start doing something the moment you notice any of the symptoms. Don't wait. Start doing something the very moment you notice the first tickle in your throat, cough, or runny nose. If you wait, then you allow the cold invasion to go deeper and it will be harder for your body to combat. I can't over emphasize this point. Do something immediately! The number one mistake that is made is to continue the same work and activities and ignore the symptoms until they become severe.

What can you do?

First, carry some LifeWave Energy Enhancer Patches around with you or leave some both at home and at the office. The moment you feel the first symptoms of cold or flu, put them on the Lung's LU-1 points as shown on the right. Acupuncturists would often use other points with needles, but this LU-1 point works extremely well with the LifeWave Patches. Look in the Point Locator article for how to find the exact location of the point. Use the standard tan patch on the left and white patch on the right protocol. Wear the patches 24 hours a day for two or three days or even slightly longer if the symptoms persist. When you change patches watch for a slight rash. If you spot it, then discontinue using the patches until the rash disappears.

If you are experiencing nasal or sinus congestion, then many people find relief by placing one tan patch on each side of the nose for a few minutes. Don't bother to remove the adhesive backing on the patch. Just lie down and put them on your face or use a little tape to hold them in place. Usually, the energy will balance in 5-10 minutes and the patches can be removed.

Second, immediately get some rest. Seriously, if you are at work, then immediately become conscious of how you can slow down your pace. Try to go home early. If the symptoms persist the next day, then take the day off and rest in bed. Immediate rest will save you days or weeks of symptoms.

Third, drink plenty of fluids

Fourth. take a hot bath and work up a nice sweat. If you can get to a steam room or sauna, that is also a good choice. Opening the pores will provide significant benefit, but don't do this by going to the gym and doing a workout. Remember, you need to rest. You can encourage perspiration and eliminate congestion by eating green onions. Eat the leafy green portion.

Fifth, visit a Chinese herbalist. When cold invades the body and penetrates deeper it converts to heat. A herbalist will be able to determine the stage the cold invasion is in and recommend the proper herbs. Most, but not all acupuncturists will also be able to recommend the right herbs. Of course, they can also treat you with needles and recommend the proper placement for LifeWave Patches.Yin Chao Jin is a herb that is usually useful in the very early stages.

Sixth, avoid mucus producing foods. This includes all dairy products, white breads and pasta, and sugars including sweet fruit juices.

Seventh, speed your recovery with natural supplements. Echinacea, Zinc, Vitamin C, Garlic, and N-acetylcysteine are all generally accepted as effective. However, some care should be taken with Echinacea because it can increase the severity of some systemic diseases. Check with your physician if you have such a condition.

 These simple steps will save you a lot of suffering.