By Martha S. Benedict

As published in Body Mind Spirit, Feb/March, 1995

When we all hunker down with hot tea and a box of tissues, armed for the cold and flu season, our spirit cries out: Is there a metaphysical meaning for all thus?

A cure for the common cold is an unfathomable concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine where the affliction is viewed as the invasion of an external wind that can be warded off or at least pushed to the exterior as it tries to get you down.

From the classical five-element point of view, the lung and large intestine energy is associated with grief. Very often people who harbor a deeply buried sadness, such as the death or loss of a parent, child, or mate, or a divorce, will activate that grief as bronchitis, chronic pneumonia, asthma or any number of irregularities of the large intestine.

This is how it works: first, a virus tries so penetrate our cells; second, if successful, it creates a physiological response which is accompanied by bacterial activity. If we go to the doctor an antibiotic is prescribed for the bacterial infection. But remember, the bacteria is the response pattern the body goes through to fight the invading virus; antibiotics are not impressively useful in treatment of virus. In fact, according to Dr. Dean Adel, the syndicated talk show host, antibiotics are immunosuppressive and in many instances lengthen the recovery time. Then, as the invasion tries to retreat after the food feast (blood stream debris of the infections or accumulation of poor lifestyle patterns) is dwindling, the cold goes back to the virus stage.

As the victims of this viral invasion, we perceive these stages as: first, chills, muscle aches, joint aches, headaches, change in intestinal activity; second, our sinuses clog, a possible temperature rise and third, our symptoms subside but may linger as a cough or prolonged nasal discharge and fatigue.

SIMPLE TIPS

Here are some tips, the wisest of which cost little or nothing.

• First and most importantly: REST. Remember, 'rest" is a verb. Rest is one of the best methods of supporting the immune system ever discovered! It is also immensely pleasurable when you're not feeling 100 percent.

• Second, use the power of your mind to help you ward off getting sick. If you have some very important obligation to keep, the power of your thought and determination will help ward off illness.

• Third, dress right. Dress warmly. In the view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, virus enters the body via the head, neck and chest areas, as well as the feet. Therefore, cover those parts of the body and keep them warm and out of the chill or wind. If you have gotten drenched in a rainstorm put on warm, dry clothes and drink a cup of hot tea when you come in from the cold. Use silk, wool, or cotton next to the skin.

• Fourth, eat right. When you experience the first sneeze or muscle ache or head or neck pressure, and you think, "Here it comes," begin drinking hot water or hot water with a squeeze of lemon or lime. If at home, make some ginger root or peppermint tea. Good ingredients to include are ginger, honey, lemon, cayenne, cinnamon, peppermint (unless taking homeopathics), and a teaspoon of brandy. If your throat is sore or you have a cough, you may wish to make a tea of slippery elm powder and raw honey. There are several common cold mixtures in tea bag form, and they're becoming increasingly available even at the large grocery store chains.

More Simple Tips ==>