Acupuncture Works

A Natural Way of Healing


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Chicken Soup against Cold and Flu

Does chicken soup really work to help against cold and flu symptoms? Short answer, yes! Chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which can thin the mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it easily. Canned, processed chicken soups won’t work as well as the homemade one. Therefore, for best results, make up a fresh batch yourself and make the soup hot. Making the soup from scratch is easy. Below is my simple recipe for making your own chicken soup and stock:

– Put the chicken thigh or breast or bones if you have chicken bones the best in a large stock pan

– Cover the chicken with water

– Bring to a boil and lower the heat

– Simmer for about an hour or longer

Besides the chicken soup, of course as always, make sure to drink plenty of pure water. Water is essential for the optimal function of every system in your body and will help with nose stuffiness and loosening secretions. You should drink enough water so that your urine is a light, pale yellow. Overall, you will want to address nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress issues the moment you first feel yourself coming down with something.


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Alternative Medicine for Flu/Common Cold

Flu and cold season is here, and this year, it’s a earlier and rougher one. Just because people around you are sick, you don’t have to get sick, too. You can keep yourself healthy by getting a preventive treatments with alternative medicine, including acupuncture, cupping, Chinese herbs and Tuina massage. These treatment are also safe for children and infants. I will show special infant and children Tuina massage treatment for flu and common cold in next post. And if you do catch a flu or cold, alternative medicine can help as well. Chinese medicine is very effective for early stage of flu and cold. Remember, viruses, not bacteria, cause flu and cold. Antibiotics don’t kill viruses, so they don’t work for flu or cold.

Acupuncture for flu and common cold:

Fengchi (GB20), Zusanli (ST36), Hegu (LI4), Kongzui (LU6)

— Zusanli (ST36) has the function of strengthening the immunologic function of the human body and treating the disease caused by lower immune system.

zusanli

Cupping for flu and cold:

Dazhui (DU14)

cupping dazhui

Besides alternative medicine, handy tips for staying healthy.

1. Wash your hands often.

2. Use hand sanitizer.

3. Keep your face hands-free.

If you get sick, be mindful to help protect others.

1. Stay home and rest.

2. Drink lots of fluids.

3. Cover your sneeze or cough.