September 2001
By Dr Peter Berkin

Summer has been good to us this year but the days are already shortening noticeably and it wont be long before we need to start to think about keeping warm and preparing for the onslaught of winter viruses. Viruses are very tiny structures that can cleverly invade our bodies and reproduce themselves in very large numbers. As they do so they tend to cause a common set of symptoms, including sore throat, headache, temperature, cough, aches and pains, nausea, abdominal pains, earaches etc. The list is endless as in truth viruses can affect any part of our body and cause just about any symptom that you can imagine.

A very common misconception is that antibiotics can help with all this - they cannot. Antibiotics can only kill bacteria, bigger bugs that sometimes attack our bodies. The much more common virus germs can only be stopped by our own immune systems. It is common sense to assume that anything that we can do to help our immune system should help keep the viruses at bay. The most important factor is lifestyle. Plenty of fresh air, exercise, a healthy diet, enough sleep and relaxation to counter the stress of our busy lives - these have to be considered above all else. But what else can we do? A word from some of our therapists might help here; lets see what they have to say:

Nutritionist - Frank McGowan

During a viral infection it is best to avoid meat, dairy and eggs as high fat diets also suppresses immunity and clog up the lymphatic vessels. All foods (but for fish) should be eaten as raw as possible and avoid frying since it introduces free radicals which suppress the immune system. Avoid all forms of sugar, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine, as well as exposure to pollution and/or strong sunlight, all of which are immune-suppressive. The best foods to choose include organic vegetables, fruit, ground seeds, lentils and beans, whole grains (e.g. brown rice) and fish. These are packed with the immune supporting nutrients vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc.

Nutritionist - Lesley Martin

Lesley suggests taking a general multi-vitamin and mineral complex, vitamin C 1000mg daily, plus 15mg zinc, and a daily dose of echinacea to keep the immune system healthy, starting in September or early October. In addition, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and having a glass of orange juice daily will help keep levels of nutrients up. Adding a handful of seeds to the breakfast cereal will boost intakes of zinc, important for the immune system. Sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds can be used. If you do fall prey to a virus, keep warm, drink plenty of water and sweat it out! I also recommend St John's Wort throughout the winter time starting when the days get shorter early autumn, and Siberian Ginseng can also give a bit of a tonic during the dark months when some people feel they cannot cope so well.

Aromatherapist - Barbara Fleet

From an aromatherapists point of view there are a couple of oils, which we should consider using. Tea Tree, known to us as "a medicine chest in a bottle" and "nature's anti-biotic" can be used in conjunction with Ravensara which is the major anti-viral on a daily basis. At the onset of autumn put 3 drops of each of these oils in the bath and this will give the immune system a boost.

Reflexologist - Marguerite Gunn

Prevention is always better than cure and reflexology is a balancing treatment, only when the body is well balanced is a person in good shape to ward off illness. When we are stressed the body's defences break down and we become more susceptible to illness. Reflexology reduces stress and induces deep relaxation helping the body to function more efficiently.

Homeopath - Carole Probert

Homeopathic remedies work by stimulating the body's own healing mechanism, so will usually shorten the life of a cold or 'flu, and may even nip it in the bud if given early enough.

The choice of remedy depends on a person's individual response to their symptoms and to their environment. Many different homeopathic remedies may be involved so it is best to seek help from your homeopath rather than trying to treat yourself.