Cold & Flu Season: Staying Healthy Tips & Protocol

Each holiday season, along with the joy, holidays, time with family, etc. we also get visited by seasonal ailments such as the flu, colds, strep throat, and more. Do you know that there are certain things you can do to improve your immune system and stay well during this year’s flu or cold seasons? Today, we’re discussing tips for staying healthy this holiday season. Got questions? Interested in scheduling an appointment? Feel free to reach out to Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida today. We even offer free discovery calls to make sure we are the right fit before your first appointment.

Tips for Staying Healthy

When it comes to staying healthy during cold and flu seasons there are quite a few things you can do, including:

1. Going to bed early and getting enough sleep can greatly benefit your immune system and overall health.

2. Stay active, get outside, take walks, and start a new workout routine. Staying active can keep your body healthier, making you less likely to get sick in the first place.

3. Reduce your stress, try meditation or removing negativity from your life. Stress can be a big hindrance to your immune system and overall well-being

4. Eating healthier may be one of the most important steps you can take. Reduce foods that lead to inflammation such as white flour, sugar, and saturated fats. Instead, eat a lot of vegetables, legumes, herbs, and spices. Whole, fresh, or frozen fruit can also be good. If you are eating grains, opt for whole grains. Try to avoid oils, and get your healthy fats from whole food sources like avocado, nuts and seeds. And if eating animal protein, make sure it is organic, hormone-free, and free-range. Most animal protein is full of inflammatory omega-6 fats, due to unhealthy rearing practices.

Acupuncture for Colds & Flu?

Along with lifestyle changes, certain treatments such as acupuncture have been proven to reduce the risk of colds and flu, along with reducing the symptoms associated with them if you end up sick. We also offer other treatment options such as herbs, supplements and more that can help.

Why Dawn Potter Acupuncture For Your Natural Flu & Cold Treatments?

Dawn Potter Acupuncture has been providing a more natural approach to care in the Clearwater/Palm Harbor/Tarpon Springs community for decades. We have a range of treatment options depending upon your exact needs.

Dawn’s Prevention & Treatment Protocol for Seasonal Viruses

This year, Dawn has also created a Seasonal Virus Treatment Protocol that you can easily purchase in just a few clicks. This protocol includes:

Vitamin D3: (4,000–5,000 IU daily): Supports antiviral defense. Test your 25-hydroxy

vitamin D blood levels to pinpoint your ideal dose; aim for an optimal range of 50–70

ng/mL. Serum levels take several weeks of daily intake to reach a steady state.

Vitamin C: (Liposomal preferred, take with food): Antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and

antihistamine. Take 500 mg twice daily for baseline support. At the first sign of

symptoms, increase to 2,000–3,000 mg daily (in divided doses). If loose stools

occur, reduce to bowel tolerance.

Zinc: Take 15–30 mg daily (capsules or lozenges). If exposed or developing a sore

throat, choose lozenges to coat throat tissue and block local viral replication. Up to

75 mg daily (3 lozenges) is safe for short-term use (maximum 2 weeks).

Quercetin: (500 mg twice daily). Add whenever you escalate zinc dosing due to

exposure or early symptoms. It blocks viral entry, inhibits replication enzymes, and

acts as an ionophore to shuttle zinc directly into cells.

Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San): A classic Chinese herbal formula for

baseline immune defense. Use 2 pills twice daily for maintenance, or increase to 3

pills three times daily after an exposure without symptoms. Stop and swap for Gan

Mao Ling once symptoms appear.

Gan Mao Ling (3 pills, three times daily): A traditional Chinese herbal formula

targeting active respiratory viruses. Use this in place of Jade Windscreen at the first

sign of illness.

NAC: (600 mg, 3 times daily): N-Acetyl-Cysteine; Use when you have symptoms to

thin mucous, relieve chest and sinus congestion, and calm lung inflammation.

You can visit Dawn's Fullscript page here to view/purchase the Seasonal Virus Treatment Protocol.

Schedule Cold & Flu Treatments in Clearwater, Florida

Have questions regarding diet or lifestyle changes? Interested in trying acupuncture in Clearwater? Reach out to Dawn Potter Acupuncture today, we’re welcoming new patients and would be delighted to help with your needs.

Is Diet Important For Overall Wellness?

At Dawn Potter Acupuncture and Wellness we often meet patients that say they're doing everything to support their wellness. However, diet is an area where they seem to be lacking. today we're discussing the importance of diet when it comes to your overall wellness and good health. Have additional questions? Interested in scheduling an appointment? We would be happy to help with any of your needs, visit our booking site today to schedule your free 15 minute wellness consultation via the phone.

What You Eat Impacts Every Part Of Your Body

From your brain to your toes, every single part of your body is impacted by the things you put inside of it, including what you eat. Many foods, especially highly processed ones are known to cause inflammation, and a range of other problems within the body. inflammation throughout the body is being linked to a range of things from cancer and autoimmune conditions to mental illness and chronic pain.

Add Whole Foods To Your Diet & Avoid Packaged “Fake” Foods

Making sure to eat whole foods is always best. What do we mean by Whole Foods? Real food, things like fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds, not things that come in prepackaged boxes in the middle of the grocery store for easy convenience.

Meal Prepping Can Help

Many people find that food preparation is an area where staying healthy is extremely difficult. We highly recommend meal prepping in advance as a way to prepare healthy meals that you can have all week. There are many people on YouTube, and various other places that offer a wealth of information when it comes to meal planning, we highly recommend you check them out. Things such as overnight oats, salads and soups can be easy to prepare in advance and take for lunch or breakfast the next day. Crockpots can be a wonderful tool for preparing a meal before you leave for work or start your day and have it ready by the time you're ready to eat without a whole lot of work at the end of the day when you're already tired.

Schedule Your Appointment With Dawn Potter Acupuncture Today

Think you may need some help when it comes to diet, nutrient intake, recipes or even meal prepping? Schedule an appointment with us today, we would be happy to help.

The Best Fruits You Should Be Adding To Your Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Do you suffer from inflammation throughout your body? Interested in healthy foods that are known to reduce inflammation in the body? We’ve talked about spices and various other foods but today we wanted to talk about nature’s candy: fruit. Many people hear that fruit contains sugar and that they should avoid it, however, this isn’t exactly the case. Sugar in fruit is not added sugar, you shouldn’t overeat it, however, two or three servings of fruit a day or fine. Today, Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida is discussing the best anti-inflammatory fruits you should add to your diet. Have questions? Interested in nutritional guidance? Feel free to schedule your free 15 minute consultation with us.

Cherries

Research on cherries (including sweet and tart) has shown that they can actually lower inflammatory blood proteins and have effects comparable to ibuprofen. Cherries are even recommended for those that suffer from arthritis and inflammation of joints. Anthocyanins and polyphenolic compounds stop potential free radicals from damaging cells and can also improve overall sleep by increasing melatonin levels in the body (proper sleep can greatly reduce inflammation).

Strawberries

We tend to hear about oranges when talking about Vitamin C but did you know a cup of strawberries contains 100% of your recommended daily Vitamin C? Vitamin C has been shown to improve functioning of the immune system and reduction of inflammation. Next time you want a sweet treat, try strawberries! Other berries such as blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, etc. are great options as well. You can even buy mixed berries in the frozen section at most stores to enjoy all year round.

Apples

You’ve probably heard “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” before, right? While this may not be completely factual, apples can be extremely beneficial for you. They contain soluble fiber known as pectin, known as a prebiotic. These feed good microbes in the gut, improving your overall immune system and reducing inflammation throughout the body.

Oranges

Oranges are often regarded for their high levels of vitamin C but they also contain B vitamins, calcium, fiber and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals such as flavonoids and carotenoids. Other citrus fruits such as limes, lemons and even grapefruit are other wonderful options. If you take medication, always be sure to make sure there is no grapefruit interaction as this is a common thing.

Kiwis

Along with the other fruits on this list, Kiwi is high in vitamin C, antioxidants and enzymes that can help reduce inflammatory responses in the body. You can get the regular kiwifruit or opt for the golden ones that can be eaten whole (peel included). Both are great additions to healthy snacking options for your home.

Visit Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater Today

These fruits are just a few of the many that can be anti-inflammatory. Just make sure you limit yourself to the recommended servings and you should be good. Fruit can be added to different things, made into dessert (sorbet, “ice-cream”, popsicles, etc.) or even added to water to add some flavor. Need more help with your diet or nutrition? Schedule an appointment with Dawn Potter Acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida today.