Cold & Flu Prevention with Acupuncture
Cold and flu season is upon us. For protection
from nasty flu viruses many of us opt to receive a flu shot. The protection the
vaccination offers varies from year to year and depends on how well it is
matched to circulating viruses. To improve on the effectiveness of the flu shot
or just to boost the immune health one can add acupuncture to the flu and cold prevention
routine.
Between 2,000 and 8,000 Canadians die every
year from flu and its complications and many others end up in hospital as a
result of catching the flu virus. A few acupuncture sessions can balance the
body, increase immunity and your chance to survive the winter without major
illness.
Acupuncture is an ancient therapy in which very
fine needles are inserted into acupuncture points located in different areas of
the body, for therapeutic purposes. Sterile, disposable needles are inserted to
different depths on the skin and are turned or left in place for 15-30 min.
Acupuncture can not only boost the immune system but can also treat allergies, colds,
cough, asthma, sinusitis and congestion. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
the two paired meridians of the Lung and the Large Intestine are targeted in the
treatment of flu and colds as well as their prevention.
A great complement to acupuncture, or used
as a separate therapy, is cupping. In cupping therapy, the practitioner uses plastic
or glass cups applied to the body; the air is then suctioned out using a small
manual pump. The suction stimulates acupressure points, leading to the stimulation
of blood and lymph flow and the release of myofascial restrictions. Cupping
also stimulates the sensory nerves in the skin and can be used in painful
conditions. Before the explosion of antibiotics, cupping was a therapy of
choice for many respiratory diseases.
