Yes it’s true! Even health practitioners get sick sometimes. 😅

Having the same access to Western medications if we need it + having an incredible knowledge base of Chinese Medicine is honestly the best!

So thought we’d share with you things that we actually do when we’re sick.

We Chinese Med pracs LOVE our medicine (in case you hadn’t noticed!).
It was crafted & refined over thousands of years and most of it is still so helpful today.
It was useful in times before blood tests, scans, antibiotics or most other medications and helps things from the common cold to upset tummies to period pain - how clever is that!

So how do we incorporate all our great knowledge as Integrative Chinese Med Practitioners? (who want to get better asap!)

1. Do the basics

The basics work.

1. Rest! That especially includes those with heightened senses of responsibility & the self-employed. Don’t double your recovery time! Nap. Watch TV. Read a book. This looks different for everyone but this is rule number 1

2. Hydrate. Have a drink bottle with warm water by your side + MANY cups of hot water with lemon & honey. If you’ve been sweating lots or vomited/had diarrhoea - have an electrolyte drink

3. Eat small meals regularly This is probably intuitive. Having a small bowl of food regularly is a winner. It also helps you take the herbs/supps/meds regularly so that you can get better, quicker

4. Get some sunshine. Total mood booster. Rug up and have tea on your front steps if that’s all that you can manage. Go for a tiny walk (and sit down on park benches/fences if you need it) if you can. Then go back to resting & eating!

5. Air out your place while you’re on your walk/outside. Fresh air is always a good thing for reducing germ loads in your house

2. Group your symptoms

This is the cool bit!

We see colds/viruses a bit differently in Chinese Med. If you’ve got ‘warm symptoms’ like fever, sore throat, and cough with yellow phlegm, then the treatment is quite different to if you have ‘cold symptoms’ like chills, body aches, and clear phlegm.

We also have a different approach to treating for when it’s not acute. Eg your sore throat & fever/chills have gone but your cough or runny nose remains and you still feel rubbish!

(Btw, THIS is where we can help you over telehealth & express post things to help you get better, quicker)

Here’s the booking link if you need it.

3. Eat healing foods

The good bit! This is what a sick Chinese Med prac finds helpful!

Remembering the warm vs cold symptoms? This shapes what your body needs. If you’ve got a combo, you take a neutral, middle path.

Got mostly cold symptoms? Ginger & garlic are your best friends!

Got mostly warm symptoms? Peppermint or camomile is your new bestie.

Have a combo? A little ginger + spring onions are ace! So is honey, miso, rice and little bits of chicken (if that’s your jam).

Here are the 3 things I lived on whilst quite sick.

1. Hot water with lemon & honey. Good for hydration, vitamin C & soothing a sore throat

2. Congee. This ricey soup is everything when you’re sick!

3. Miso soup. Get the instant ones from the supermarket if that’s all you can do, less vitamins & healing but it’s still soothing.
   
   Otherwise cut some onion, carrot, celery, pumpkin (whatever soup veg you have on hand) into tiny pieces. Put 4 cups of boiling water in a small saucepan, add 2 tablespoons of miso paste (in the “Asian foods” section of the supermarket) & boil until the veggies are tender. Add more miso if not tasty. Sprinkle with chopped spring onion & drop in some baby spinach or pak choi.
   

   Pro tips

   
   *Rice is an easy-to-digest, quick energy source that even appetite-less folk can usually stomach.

   *Even if you’ve been advised to avoid soy for health reasons, fermented miso, short term, while you’re sick does way more good than harm!

   *It’s pretty likely you’ll get sick sometime this winter. Make congee or chicken/miso soup ahead and freeze it for sick times

   *Thanks Dr Eli Chow for the recipes! 🙏
   

3. Take your herbs & supps!

Chinese herbs are pretty magical! As above, there are really specific herbs used if you have cold symptoms, warm symptoms, a combo or if you’re into the next phase of the bug - this is important to get right for a swift recovery. Your regular herbs aren’t designed for colds/viruses so talk to us if you’d like some help.

And supplement-wise?

1. Vitamin C - known to help with colds/viruses, take a couple every hour. Dial it down if your stools get loose

2. NAC - anti-inflammatory, a powerful antioxidant and immuno modulating. It’s a rock star

3. Vitamin D - it ‘plays a crucial role in immune function and inflammation’ for colds & viruses alike.

   Special mentions also go to taking a good probiotic, multi vitamins & zinc if you can. If not, the above is already more than most people & will help loads.
   
   *Avoid iron (other than in a multi) & your regular herbs whilst sick - you don’t want to strengthen the invading bugs!

Sincerely hope this helps!

If you need some extra help book a telehealth appointment with us below