Safer • Healthier • Happier
Having strong immune system is a valuable top priority for you and your family, and now more than ever.
With the focus on COVID-19 and the greater heath and wellness of the South Bay community all health care providers are taking extra precautions to protect their patients and others from potential exposures. I will continue my commitment to high quality, compassionate care and adherence to best practices in infection control. I have added, and am asking all my clients to follow, these measures to protect other potentially at-risk patients from being exposed:
Patients with cough or fever should call in and/or cancel their appointment.
If you or a family member has had a fever in the last 48 hours, please call in to discuss the best course of action to take regarding your upcoming appointment.
Cultivated Health Acupuncture does NOT stock a full herbal dispensary and given the possible risks of serious complications with this virus I highly recommend that you follow up immediately with your Primary Care Provider/Medical Doctor and/or Hospital/Urgent Care facility for support and management of any upper respiratory bacterial or viral or flu like symptoms
In the meantime, I would like to provide my clients with some important details focused on education, prevention, and management in the event you or a immediate family member begins to experience symptoms that are of concern to you.
Education: Here are the best official sources of information starting with local and state resources extending to national and world health links.
Prevention: There is much wisdom to the maxim that "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!" So with that in mind lets review a 2 simple yet very valuable steps that you can take right now in your daily routine that can be very beneficial. 1) Keep your hands clean. Be mindful of keeping your hands clean as the average person touches their face from 3.6 times per hour [1] up to 23 times per hour [2]. With the warm weather we have had here in the Bay Area recently the trees are bursting with new green leaves and pollen counts will start going up as will seasonal allergies that increase the number of times that we tough our face. So keep your hands clean! The rule of thumb for how long you should scrub your hands with warm soapy water is at least 20 seconds.
Here are the specific guidelines the CDC outlines: With an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
Put product on hands and rub hands together
Cover all surfaces until hands feel dry
With soap and water: This should take around 20 seconds
Wet your hands with warm water. Use liquid soap if possible. Apply a nickel or quarter sized amount of soap to your hands.
Rub your hands together until the soap forms a lather and then rub all over the top of your hands, in between your fingers and the area around and under the fingernails.
Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
Rinse your hands well under running water.
Dry your hands using a paper towel if possible. Then use your paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door if needed.
2) Cover your cough
People will be hypersensitive right now so if you cough, whether or not you are actually sick, if you cough be mindful and cough or sneeze into a tissue, sleeve, or arm. Do not use your hands if at all possible when another options is available. This is the perfect time and the perfect reason to keep a soft cotton scarf around your neck. The sunny mornings can coax us into summer outfits but the cool breeze can catch us unaware easily this time of year and the temps drop quickly as soon a the sun gone down. So keep a jacket handy and a light cotton scarf around your neck. It offers a trifecta of benefits by providing you 1) a warm protection of your neck and upper body along with 2) a quick protection if someone is coughing around you while also 3) offering you a way to cover your own cough as well.
I personally love these organic cotton bamboo infinity scarves that I have been able to find on Amazon and locally at Whole Body (Whole Foods Shopping Center) in Campbell. And while your at it buy more then one so that at night they can go into the wash as needed. Management: The County of Santa Clara has outlined some valuable guidelines for household management should a family member be experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19. Look on their page from the link above and the section "Guidance/Information" or refer to the most up to date guidelines from the CDC [3].
There are also things that everyone can do, and these 6 have been scientifically proven to have undeniable health benefits. And yes, Sunshine [4] deserves top rank on this list. There's a reason these 6 were what we heard from our grandparents and are still best practices today.
What you eat matters!! [5] It’s timely to consider pulling out inflammation promoters like sugar, processed foods, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, and fried foods, while also emphasizing a broad array of vegetables and healthy fats like olive oil and avocado. Replacing sugar, and processed foods with nourishing seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetable all preferably organic provides the body with the nutrients to support the bodies immune cells and immune cell production.
When it comes to dietary nutritional priorities, that offer huge return on investment, the following will fit with whatever style of intake that suits your body best:
Organic... always for the "Dirty Dozen" foods, as much as possible when ever possible otherwise. No one can deny the toxic effects that our body must filter out when we take in non-organic foods.
Local whenever possible means that the maximum amount of nutrients are still viable and present in the food you buy and nourish your body with.
Plant based [5] means that over 50% of every meal is based on fresh, local, organic fruits and vegetables with fats and proteins being "condiments" not the base of nourishment at every meal.
Unprocessed, avoiding highly refined grains and non food additives and preservatives is essential to support a strong immune system and your health in general.
In season, locally seasonal foods have just what we need all in perfect timing with the seasons. There is an undeniable wisdom to mother nature so trust it!!
Do not underestimate the power of Sleep [6] to maintain health and a strong immune system! Do not ignore this one by spending hours watching the news at the end of the day getting caught up in the media frenzy of looping sensationalizing of details. The links above will have accurate updates and will not rob you of your sleep or fill your head with unnecessary fears.
If you only have time for these 3... Sunshine, Nourishing food, Sleep they will be a valuable investment of your thoughtful calm response to maintaining good health regardless of the current health concerns.
And yes of course... Acupuncture has been proven over and over again to increase the effectiveness of your bodies immune response [7]. So those of you who are currently seeing me for pain and other health issues — you’re welcome!! Those of you who would like to add acupuncture to your current preventative measures do not hesitate to call!
I hope you find this information helpful.
References:
[8]
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