For prevention:<\/strong> Extra vitamin A, licorice tea or tincture, and oral and chewable probiotic supplements. \u201cEmerging research suggests that chewable probiotics may reduce upper respiratory infections,\u201d he says. For treatment:<\/strong> Tincture of lomatium, which is antiviral, and gargling with salt water\u2014too salty to swallow\u2014three or four times daily.<\/p>\n Kasra Pournadeali, ND: <\/strong>Founder and director, of the Northwest Center for Optimal Health in Marysville, Wash., and president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians<\/em><\/p>\n Despite living in a sunny climate, vitamin D, with a dosage based on blood tests, is a vital component of Khoshaba\u2019s immune-boosting strategy. \u201cI\u2019m not outdoors except for short periods of time, and most people don\u2019t get to optimal levels of vitamin D with sun only,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Although a healthy diet and exercise\u2014three to five times a week, including cardio, weight training, and yoga\u2014are a year-round routine, she says, \u201cIt\u2019s even more important in winter because I\u2019m constantly exposed to germs in my environment.\u201d An infant daughter gives her extra incentive.<\/p>\n In addition to avoiding sugar and dairy, she gets plenty of fluids: water\u2014half her body weight in ounces, daily\u2014and a winter soup. \u201cI make a chicken noodle-type soup with lots of garlic, ginger, and onions, at least once a week,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Supplements<\/strong><\/p>\n For prevention: An intravenous nutritional combination every week or two, a daily herbal formula with immune-supporting herbs such as echinacea and astragalus, high-dose vitamin C, glutamine, and B vitamins. For a sore throat, Khoshaba gargles with salt water and a pinch of cayenne. At the first sign of flu symptoms, she takes Oscillococcinum, a popular homeopathic remedy.<\/p>\n Vitamin D is a vital component of Khoshaba\u2019s immune-boosting strategy. \u201cMost people don\u2019t get to optimal levels of vitamin D with sun only,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Linda Khoshaba, NMD: <\/strong>In private practice at Integrative Health in Scottsdale, Ariz., focusing on women\u2019s and children\u2019s health, diabetes management, and prolotherapy<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIf bacteria or viruses cannot attach to mucous membranes, they can\u2019t harm you,\u201d says Sodhi. To prevent attachment, he uses a Neti pot to flush out his nose, once or twice daily, with baking soda and sea salt (\u00bd teaspoon of each) in a cup of water (a saline nasal spray also works). Then, to create a protective barrier, he coats the inside of his nose with olive or coconut oil.<\/p>\n Sodhi makes a point of eating seasonal fruits and vegetables, including four or five servings of green vegetables daily, nuts and seeds, and a variety of grains. And he eats less pasta or other carb-rich foods in winter.<\/p>\n Equally important, he says, \u201cExercise keeps your lymphatic system cleaned out,\u201d which helps to keep bugs away. Breathing exercises also enhance immunity. For example: breathing in through the nose, holding it for three seconds, and then breathing out through the mouth.<\/p>\n Supplements<\/p>\n For prevention and treatment: <\/strong> Amla, also called Indian gooseberry, and an Ayurvedic formula with holy basil and other herbs, called Flucomune, balance the immune system and are antiviral, antifungal, and anti-allergy. And, 15 mg of zinc, twice daily.<\/p>\n Virender Sodhi, ND, MD: <\/strong>Founder of the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medical Clinic in Bellevue, Wash., and author of Ayurvedic Herbs: The Comprehensive Resource for Ayurvedic Healing Solutions<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cElectrolytes help hold fluid in cells so your membranes will stay moist and work better as a defense against cold and flu viruses,\u201d says Bove. Her favorite sources of electrolytes, which include potassium, magnesium, and trace minerals, are a daily wellness tea, made with nettles, elder flower, anise seed, spearmint, and yarrow flower; fresh vegetable juices; and warm miso broth. These are hydrating and \u201cI live in New Hampshire and it\u2019s cold,\u201d says Bove. \u201cBut if you get out regularly in the winter, it really helps your immune system because you have these little \u2018mini challenges,\u2019 and it helps your system deal with the cold and dark months better.\u201d Four or five times a week, she cross-country skis, and frequently goes for walks.<\/p>\n Supplements<\/p>\n For prevention:<\/strong> A serving of elderberry cough syrup, mixed in a cup of hot water, and andrographis. For treatment:<\/strong> higher-dose andrographis and Gaia Quick Defense,which contains an extract of echinacea root with alkylamides, a key active ingredient. \u201cIt\u2019s really important to have the right parts of the plant that are harvested at the right time,\u201d says Bove. Some echinacea supplements are made from blossoms, which work best for prevention, whereas the root extract works best as a treatment.<\/p>\n \u201cI live in New Hampshire and it\u2019s cold,\u201d says Bove. \u201cBut if you get out regularly in the winter, it really helps your immune system.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary Bove, ND: <\/strong>Based in Columbia, NH, Bove is a medical educator for Gaia Herbs and author of An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI know that my immune health in the future is determined by the decisions I make right now,\u201d says Larson. To that end, he has some distinct dietary rules. Being gluten-intolerant, he avoids gluten, but also steers clear of gluten-free foods that are high in starch or sugar. Avoiding any food with high fructose corn syrup or trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils) is \u201cnon-negotiable,\u201d as well as skipping holiday sweet treats and generally going easy on sugar and alcohol. And he stays away from dairy because it increases mucous in the throat and sinuses which, he points out, are \u201cbreeding grounds for bacteria and viruses.\u201d<\/p>\n Supplements<\/p>\n For prevention:<\/strong> Extra vitamin A and extra antioxidants from a greens powder. Chewable vitamin C, letting it dissolve to coat the mouth before swallowing. For a dry or scratchy throat, Larson gargles with a few drops of elderberry tincture or oregano oil in a shot of water, so that it saturates tissues, and then swallows the mixture. At the first sign of sinus congestion, he recommends inhaling steam (with a towel over your head) from a few drops of essential oils of thyme, eucalyptus, peppermint, and\/or lavender in a bowl of just-boiled water.<\/p>\n Chad Larson, NMD, DC: <\/strong>In private practice in San Diego, including endocrinology, orthopedics, sports medicine, and environmentally induced chronic disease, and an advisor to Cyrex Laboratories<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Five naturopaths share the inside scoop on natural immunity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":6719,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"uuid":"9ced04660df56ad7dfd97805a337cec1"},"categories":[127,277],"tags":[],"byline":[13],"ad_cat":[],"legacy-category":[70,98],"acf":{"reference_id":"ci025e81fee0022697","disqus_id":"6bc43d2f-40d1-11e7-a600-02905688a0c0","primary_image_src":"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/kasra-p-nd-2.jpg","publication_status_path":"\/conditions-and-wellness\/what-nds-do-for-colds-flu","is_sponsored":"0","is_exclusive_content":"0"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"\n](\"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/kasra-p-nd-2.jpg?width=730\" "\\"Kasra-P-ND-2\\"\n")
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improve immune function.<\/p>\n![\"\"\n](\"https:\/\/www.betternutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/mary-bove-nd.jpg?width=730\" "\\"Mary-Bove-ND\\"\n")
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