AH-AH-AH-CHOO! It's cold season.

Well, it's really here. Cold and flu season is upon us and, as usual, I've been getting questions about flu vaccines and Chinese herbs for flu.

The vaccination decision is a personal one. Everyone needs to weigh the risks of vaccine side effects against the risk of getting the flu. For the weak, frail or immune deficient there is a stronger argument in favor of vaccination. The healthy and strong could mount a good defense against the flu and might want to skip the vaccine and any side effects.

Chinese medicine can assist and support you in 2 ways:

1. Chinese herbs and acupuncture can strengthen your immune function and general health, giving you a better chance to ward off infection.
   
2. Chinese medicine can treat flu symptoms if you do contract it. Patients are often amazed with the results of acupuncture and herbs in treating colds, flu and other respiratory ailments.

If you contract one of these "bugs", there are herbal formulas available to help you with the symptoms, as well as the infection itself. If you want to work on prevention, one frequently used formula for any cold, flu or respiratory illness, including allergies is called Jade Windscreen. This formula is used to boost immune function and ward off viruses, bacterias and irritants from the external environment. It is often started in August and continued through the winter to help those who frequently contract colds, flus and allergies or sinusitis. Generally the practitioner will add other herbal formulas to suit the constitution of the individual patient being treated.

Regular acupuncture treatments help strengthen the immune system and reduce stress, which has been shown to damage the immune system. If you eat well, get plenty of rest, avoid overworking, exercise regularly and practice stress reduction activities, you will go a long way toward keeping your body healthy and your immune system working well.

If disease or illness does occur, acupuncture and Chinese herbs can effectively treat the symptoms and strengthen your body's ability to fight the attack.