With flu season rapidly approaching in many parts of the world, prevention is your best defense against the fever chills and cough that the virus can bring on. Try the following:

• Wash your hands, especially when you're out in public places, with hot water and soap. When you travel, it's a good idea to carry alcohol towelettes with you.
• Get a flu shot. (this is an individual choice - if you do get a flu shout which contains toxins - you should pick up a homeopathic drug from us to offset any harm).  This is especially important for those over 65 years old, as well as anyone with a weakened immune or respiratory system, nursing home residents, and health care workers who have regular contact with patients. Pregnant women whose last two trimesters fall during flu season (generally November to April) might consider getting the shot as well.
• Take astragalus. This immune-enhancing herb can help to build resistance to both the flu and the common cold. (This is in the Jade Screen formula)
• Take Gan Mao Ling: This is a Chinese Medical herb formula that I don't go anywhere without. It is great for treating or prevention.
• Get daily vitamins and antioxidants. Berries, tea and dark chocolate all provide natural antioxidants and you can find the Daily Basics formula, a complete daily multivitamin and antioxidant formula that all of us at Saylor Medical take.
• Keep up on fluids. Staying hydrated keeps nasal passages moist, providing better natural defenses against viruses.
• Avoid exposure when possible. 
• Do not eat or drink after someone that has a cold or flu.
• Get ample sleep.
• Control Stress
• Eat a healthy diet

Most people only get a cold or flu when their system is under-functioning.  Poor diet, stress, lack of sleep, and some medications suppress your immune system.   this is one of the reasons it is important to take the supplements recommended.

 If you are infected with a cold virus try the following to help make it more bearable and shorten the duration.

Since a cold does not usually require a visit to the doctor, you can do a lot to take care of yourself and your family at home. From taking medications to getting extra rest, taking care of yourself is essential. There is no cure for the common cold, but you can suffer a little less with these tips.

• As soon as the first symptoms appear, take the products listed below.
•  Drink more than you usually should, that means more than 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
• Do not drink caffeinated drinks (sodas, teas, coffee) because they only increase your chances of dehydration.
• Avoid milk. Dairy products encourage mucus production, which can make chest, sinus, and nasal congestion worse. 
  Do not drink alcohol, it will dehydrate you and also interacts with many over the counter cold medications. Avoid alcoholic drinks. They also deplete the body of vitamin C, and put extra strain on the liver, which has to work extra hard to detoxify the body during illness. 
• If you feel like eating, go for it, but don't overdo it. Don't force yourself to eat if you do not feel like eating, so long as you take plenty of fluids. Foods should be as light and easily digestible as possible, with a strong emphasis on vegetable soups, broths, salads and lightly cooked fish or chicken. 
  Avoid high-fat, indigestible foods such as cheese, red meat and pastries,
• REST! Rest as much as possible in the early stages of a cold to help your body fight infection effectively. If you keep going, you may end up taking weeks, rather than days to get over the illness.
• Massage - if you can talk someone into it.
• Use products below for helping to lessen your symptoms and the duration of the virus. (use over the counter medications with caution. They can interfere with sleep, interact with medicines and have mild to severe potential side effects.
• Do not take antibiotics for a cold or flu - they do nothing because these are caused by a virus.  Take antibiotics for bacterial infections only.  Yes, we have alternatives to antibiotics.
• Stay in a stable, moderate temperature. Avoid extreme changes from hot or cold as much as possible. Being exposed to rapid or severe variations in temperature puts extra strain on the body.
• Rubbing your chest with an aromatic preparation like Vicks can make you feel better and less congested. Research shows that it works.
• Warm footbaths may ease cold symptoms. Dissolve one tablespoon of mustard powder in 31/2 pints (2 liter) hot water. Bath your feet in this bath for ten minutes twice a day as needed.
• Different herbal teas have different soothing properties. Try mint tea if your cold comes with an upset stomach; anise tea is good for colds.
• Keep warm and bundled up against the cold. This way your immune system can focus on fighting your cold infection rather than displacing energy to protect you from the cold.
• Mild exercise such as taking a walk improves your circulation, helping your immune system circulate infection-fighting antibodies. Jump on a gentle rebounder indoors for 15 minutes or take a brisk half-hour walk. Refrain from strenuous exercise, that could wear you out.
• Make a strong brew of onions or garlic by simmering them in boiling water. Inhale the steam from the mixture through the nose in order to clear nasal passages.
• Include fresh garlic, cayenne pepper, onions and watercress in the diet in order to prevent and treat cold symptoms.
• Add one teaspoon of salt and vinegar to a cup of home-made barley water or just warm water. Gargle with this mix to soothe inflamed or painful throats. Do not swallow the mixture.
• Make a soothing remedy by adding honey, cinnamon, cloves, ginger or cayenne and a slice of lemon to 1 pint ( 600ml) of water. Bring the liquid to boiling point, simmer for fifteen minutes and strain. Drink every couple of hours, sweetened with honey to taste.
• Another old-fashioned remedy is honey, hot water and lemon toddy. This eases a cough and makes you feel better. Mix ingredients to taste.
• Take a steamy shower. It can help clear congestion. Or heat a teakettle or pot of water to boiling on your stove, turn off the flame, drape a towel in a tent over your head and the kettle, and inhale the steam until it subsides. This also relieves your cough by moistening your dry throat.
• Build a strong immune system in summer, before the cold, wet season starts. Take Jade Screen Pills.
•  Daily swimming in cold water or short cold showers following a hot shower are excellent to build up resistance to bacteria and viruses.
• Wash body with lukewarm water.
• Mild walking every day in fresh air for twenty minutes can help shorten the duration of the cold by strengthening the body's resistance.

Children's Herbal Antibiotic Formula
2 cups water
½ teaspoon echinacea root
½ teaspoon licorice root and 
½ teaspoon barberry bark (or Oregon grape root)
Place water and herbs in a saucepan. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and steep for about 20 minutes. Strain out herbs. For a 50-pound child, give 1 cup of tea or half a dropperful (30 drops) of tincture daily. To improve the flavor, the tea can be mixed with an equal amount of juice. In fact, homemade apple and grape juice, unlike bottled juices, contain strong antiviral agents that fight colds and flu.  

If at any time during the course of a cold you experience symptoms of respiratory distress, such as rapid breathing, gasping, wheezing, nasal flaring, or a pale or bluish skin color, or if you develop a high fever or unusual lethargy, consult your physician promptly. You may be coming down with a more serious infection, such as pneumonia. 

• Use products below for prevention.
• At the onset of a flu, use Gan Mao Ling, Gripp-Heel, Engystol, or Guna-Flu  This therapy often stops the flu before it becomes full blown. 
•  Begin treating the flu as soon as symptoms appear. Most people suffering through the flu naturally want to sleep and rest. Bed rest is essential because it lets your body conserve its energy and direct it at combating the flu infection.   When you are ill, being active will weaken your defenses. This can make you susceptible to possible future complications. Avoid exposure to extreme changes of temperature when feverish, as this puts extra strain on the body. 
• Drink plenty of fluids. Drink at least one quart of liquid a day. When you have a fever, dehydration can occur. You lose body fluids through sweating and vomiting. Liquids are important to prevent dehydration. The fluids also provide needed nutrients when you're too sick to eat. Sip water regularly even when you don't feel thirsty. Also drink vitamin-rich beverages such as apple juice and vegetable juice, as well as soups. Thin soups are good like grandma said. Experts recommend beet juice and carrot juice, both of which are rich in vitamins and minerals. Apple and dark grape juices are also good. It is also a good idea to dilute fruit juice half and half with water. Too much sugar can cause diarrhea when you're ill. If you are drinking soda or ginger ale, allow them to go flat before drinking. Otherwise, the gas in the stomach and make you more nauseated.
• Don't drink alcoholic beverages. They leave you dehydrated and can lower your body's ability to fight illness and secondary infection.
• Take ginger tea. Ginger tea is antiviral and helps break up the mucus and congestion. Ginger tea is excellent if the stomach is affected. To make the tea, boil 2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat and steep for 10 minutes. Take a cup as needed.
• If you have a history of sinus or chest problems following a previous bout of flu, take a garlic supplement at the first opportunity. Take two tablets three times a day until mucus production has slowed down dramatically, or until the color of mucus becomes clear rather than yellow or green.
• Take a vitamin C supplement as soon as the first symptoms of flu develops. This will greatly help the body in its fight against infection. Take 1000 to 5000mg each day while illness lasts, ideally divided into four equal doses. Reduce the dosage if digestive problems occur, or if there is a history of kidney stone formation.
•  At the first sign of the flu, switch to a bland diet. Eat soft-cooked rice (rice that has a very soft, moist texture created by a longer cooking time with more water) with a pinch of cumin, ginger powder and turmeric for seasoning. Once your stomach can handle it, stick with easy-to-digest, high-nutrient foods such as dry toast and bananas and rice.
• Avoid dairy products (cheese, milk, eggs, butter, ice cream, etc.) They tend to increase the duration of the flu by causing the body to produce more mucus.
•  At the first hint of symptoms, take echinacea, an herb with powerful antiviral and immunity-boosting effects. Take it for a week following dosage recommendations given on the label.
• Gargle regularly with sage tea to disinfect mouth, and use sage inhalations to reduce inflammation.
•  Gargle with salt water. A sore or scratchy throat often accompany the flu. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 pint of warm water. This concentration approximates the pH level of body tissues and is very soothing. Use as often as needed, but avoid swallowing the liquid because it's very high in sodium. This gives some relief from sore throat. It also wash out any secretions that are collecting in your throat.
•  Lubricate your nose. If you've been blowing your nose a lot, it's probably pretty sore. So lubricate your nostrils frequently to decrease irritation. Use a product such as K-Y Jelly. Avoid petroleum jelly; it dries out too quickly.
• Soaking your feet in hot water may help if you have a headache or nasal congestion. If you have tired, achy muscles as in the case of most flu-sufferers, use a heat pad to warm them and ease their pain.
•  Get a back rub. A back rub may help activate the immune system to fight the flu. it is also very comforting.
• Replace your toothbrush often. The virus continues to linger on wet toothbrush bristles, and you can reinfect yourself day after day. To prevent this, throw away your toothbrush three days after the onset of the flu and use a new one. Also use fresh clothes and linen as far as practical.
• Go to bed early. If you must go to work, go to bed earlier than usual. This will lessen the stress on your body and help it fight the infection. 
• If a chesty cough or tight chest is a problem at night, avoid sleeping completely flat. Sleeping propped up on two or three pillows may do a great deal to help make breathing easier.