Cold + Flu Season is Here: How to Support Your Body Through It

— 3 min read —

The backpacks are back in the hallway, everyone is spending more time indoors and suddenly someone in the house has a cough.

Yep. Cold + flu season is back.

There’s no magic trick that guarantees you’ll avoid every bug going around, but there are plenty of ways to support your body through the season, from the basics like sleep and hydration to a little extra help when you need it.

Here are a few places we like to start.

start with the basics

Before we get fancy, the boring stuff really does matter.

Getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, eating regularly, finding ways to manage stress and giving yourself actual time to recover when you’re sick all support your overall health.

And if you’re feeling completely run down, getting sick constantly or wondering whether something else might be contributing, that’s where more personalized care can help.

naturopathic medicine: take a closer look at what your body needs

Cold + flu season can be a good time to check in on the bigger picture.

Our naturopathic doctors look at things like nutrition, sleep, stress, lifestyle, lab work + supplementation to help create a plan that makes sense for you, rather than reaching for every “immune-boosting” product on the shelf.

They can also help assess whether things like vitamin B12 may be worth a closer look. B12 plays an important role in energy production, nervous system health + red blood cell production, and low levels can show up as things like fatigue, anemia, brain fog, low mood, numbness or tingling.

For patients who may benefit, our Naturopathic Doctors also offer vitamin B12 injections after reviewing your health history + any necessary lab work. Because the goal isn’t to add more supplements just because it’s cold season, it’s to understand what your body might actually need.

acupuncture: because stress + sleep count too

Acupuncture probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think “cold season”, but hear us out.

Stress, poor sleep, headaches, muscle tension and sinus discomfort can all make an already exhausting season feel even harder. At wellbe, acupuncture is used to support concerns including stress, sleep, pain, sinus issues and general wellness.

So while your body does the important work of recovering, acupuncture can be one more way to slow things down, manage some of the stuff that comes along with feeling under the weather and give your nervous system a little love.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: personalized herbal support

This is also a great time to get to know our Traditional Chinese Medicine offerings.

Unlike grabbing a generic supplement, Traditional Chinese herbal medicine is personalized to your symptoms, health history and individual constitution. At wellbe, herbal formulas may be used to support areas including immunity, sleep, stress, digestion and energy, and can come in forms like teas, powders, tinctures or tablets. 

Matthew, our Registered Acupuncturist + TCM Practitioner, can also incorporate things like dietary and lifestyle guidance alongside acupuncture and herbal therapy when appropriate.

And because herbs can interact with medications or may not be right for everyone, especially during pregnancy or for children, personalized guidance matters.

feeling achy after being sick? your body might need some attention too

A few days of coughing, sleeping differently, spending more time on the couch + moving less than usual can leave your neck, back, shoulders and the rest of your body feeling pretty rough.

That’s where some hands-on care can come in.

Depending on what’s going on, chiropractic care, physiotherapy or massage therapy can help address stiffness, muscle tension, aches + getting comfortably back into your usual movement after you’ve been under the weather.

Think of this less as treating the cold itself and more as helping your body deal with everything that came along for the ride.

a few cold-season favourites from the wellbe shop

We also keep a few family favourites around the clinics for those “someone in this house is definitely coming down with something” weeks.

For kids, St. Francis Herb Farm Elderberry Cough Syrup is formulated for ages 2+ and is designed to soothe coughs and upper-respiratory irritation. Their Deep Immune Kids formula is another kid-friendly option marketed for daily immune support and resilience. 

For scratchy throats, we love Beekeeper’s Naturals Throat Soothing Lollipops, plus their Propolis Throat Spray for adults and a kids’ version. The sprays and lollipops are formulated with ingredients including propolis and honey and are marketed for throat soothing and immune support. 

And for the nights when what you really need is to get cozy and head to bed, there’s All Is Well Dream Tulsi Tea too. The wellbe shop currently carries these alongside the other seasonal wellness products mentioned above. 

A quick note before adding any new supplement or herbal product to your routine: check the label for age restrictions and dosing, and talk to a healthcare professional if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, giving it to a child, managing a health condition or taking medications.

sometimes, the best thing you can do is rest

We love a good wellness routine, but no treatment, tea or supplement replaces taking a sick day when your body is asking for one.

Rest. Hydrate. Eat what you can. Cancel the plans.

And if symptoms are severe, worsening, lasting longer than expected or you’re concerned about yourself or your child, check in with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or other appropriate medical provider.

Cold + flu season happens. You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it.

If you’d like a little extra support this season, our team is here to help you figure out what makes sense for you and your body.

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