Why Do We call it a Flu Adjustment?

How Chiropractic Helps You When You Have The Flu…

Many of you have asked about how Chiropractic aids the immune system, specifically as it pertains to the flu.  To read our previous articles pertaining to Influenza (Flu) click on the year: 2010, 2010, 2010, and 2015.  The linked articles talk about how Chiropractic helps prevent the flu and improve your immune system. Today, i’ll break the material down into two segments.  First,  we’ll focus today on what I do when I got the flu.  Next week we’ll talk about the flu vaccine.

What Happened When I Caught the Flu, and What I Did About It…

Back in 2006 I came down with the flu.  After a few days on the couch, I ended up in the ER from dehydration.  Because I wasn’t improving, I called a colleague who came and adjusted me.  After adjusting me, the change was instantaneous.  By the next day, my color returned and I was able to move.  With additional adjustments, my appetite returned.  I took a couple extra days off and returned to the office.  Why didn’t I get adjusted earlier?

That’s because I typically recover quickly from health challenges.  24-48 hours is my norm.  Initially, I dint think anything of it.  After the 48 hour window passed is when I knew I had the flu.

What You Can Do When You Get The Flu…

First and foremost, get adjusted.  Many folks don’t want to come into the office when they feel bad.  They’re afraid to spread the germs and I completely understand.  That’s why if you’re suffering with the flu or even a common cold, call us.  We’ll either get you in during our non-walk-in hours, or I can come to you.

Rest is vital to your recovery.  Our bodies heal when we are asleep.

Drink plenty of fluids.  Water is essential and sports drinks will help replenish lost electrolytes. “Restore” is the best sports drink and it can be found in health food stores.  I find it’s better because what sugars it has are all natural fruit sugars, rather than the artificial and/or processed ones found in sports drinks.

Allow the Fever To work for you…

Fever is a good thing as it kills off infections.  That’s why your body naturally produces a fever.  The challenge is in keeping your temperature around 100/101.  Even at 102, I don’t worry about much.  Wearing warm clothes helps keep your body temperature in the 100-102 range.  With all of that said, as a fever gets to 103, you need to cool down.  A temperature of 104 and you’ll want to get to the ER.

Nutritional Recommendations When You Have the Flu…

Nutritionally, eating plenty of garlic aids the immune system as it is a potent anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal.  It has to do with the oils, so eat real garlic.  I ate an entire garlic knot during the week I had the flu.

You want to increase your Vitamin C but not from juices.  Citrus juices typically contain higher amounts of Vitamin C but the acid content will just cause more phlegm in your throat and lungs making it more difficult to breathe and therefore cough more.  Please understand food marketing… “low acid” drinks aren’t actually “low content”, they’re just lower than the “regular” product.  You can’t get “Acid Free” OJ, it doesn’t exist.  Rather, I pick up a box of “EmergenC” and plan on drinking the entire box every 3-4 days.

Dark leafy greens are also a great source of Vitamin C, but who wants to put a salad together let alone eat (at all), when they can hardly get out of bed?

Stay away from milk and other dairy products because like citrus juices, they’ll cause more phlegm in your throat and lungs making it harder to breathe and cause you to cough more.

Lastly, I take an herbal remedy called Colloidal Silver.  It’s a liquid that you drop into water.  It’s  a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral.  You don’t want to take it on a regular basis though as silver is a heavy metal.  It is safe in small amounts, for specific reasons, such as the flu.

In Closing…

We have observed in 15 years of practice, that the regularly adjusted patients get the flu less often than those who are irregular.  If you do get the flu, following the above recommendations will help you recover in the most natural way possible, faster.

Comment below as to why you think we call it a Flu Adjustment.  We love hearing from you.