During my recent visit to Austin, I had the privilege of taking several classes with Craig Williams. Craig is among many other things an Oriental Medicine Doctor and Ayurvedic Practitioner who offers a wide range of classes and workshops related to physical, mental, and spiritual health. Here are a few takeaways from his recent class Natural Solutions For the Cold and Flu Seasons:

Prevention: Protect Yourself From The Common Cold

  • Decrease or eliminate sugar and alcohol for the winter
  • Frequently wash your hands with warm soapy water
  • Consume Probiotics to maintain GI health (70-80% of your immune system lives here)
  • Use essential oils in diffuser, ceramic lamp rings, shower tablets, or rooms sprays (examples include tea tree, eucalyptus, and/or lavender) to clean the air you breath
  • Take Epsom salt baths with essential oils
  • Sleep a lot

Herbal Remedies For Cold Prevention Or Immune Boosting:

  • Echinacea + Elderberry (at onset of cold – read labels for dosage) *best in syrup form
  • Osho Root + Reishi (great if you often have regular upper respiratory issues)
  • American Ginseng (if you have deficient Qi)
  • Andrographis (gargle to clear a sore throat)
  • Chyavanprash (Ayurvedic formula to boost the immune system and body)
  • Triphala (Ayurvedic formula to promote elimination and digestive track health)