Winter can be brutal on your immune system. With cold and flu viruses going around, you need to take your immune health seriously. Thankfully, there are home remedies and alternative therapies you can use to boost your immunity.

How to Fight Sickness This Winter

1. Wash Your Hands 

Washing your hands is a healthy habit, especially after using the restroom. However, if you work in close quarters with individuals fighting off colds or the flu, take extra precautions and wash your hands after touching door handles or shared surfaces. You can opt for hand sanitizer for a quick and easy cleaning solution. Keep a bottle of moisturizer at your desk to help keep your hands from drying out and cracking.

2. Swap Coffee for Tea

Grabbing that tall latte on the way to work may have you feeling awake and ready for the day. However, coffee increases adrenaline and your body’s fight or flight response, which suppresses the immune system. If you’re looking for an alternative therapy, swap your daily cup of joe for green tea and honey. You’ll be supplying your body with antioxidants from the honey and supporting your overall health and brain function with the green tea.

3. Get Plenty of Rest

Adequate rest is especially important in the winter. Aim to get six to eight hours of sleep each night so that your body has time to repair itself and fight off any foreign germs or viruses. If you already have a cold, try getting more than eight hours if possible. Sleep and proper rest are the best alternative therapies and will keep your immune system healthy and strong all winter.

If taking cold medicine isn’t working for you and you’re looking for alternative therapies, then get expert advice from holistic doctor Robban A. Sica, MD, at the Center for the Healing Arts, PC in Westport, CT. Dr. Sica specializes in bringing the body back to a natural and self-healing state by identifying the stressors that cause imbalance. She and her staff will work with you to create a personalized plan to correct your illness. To schedule an appointment for an IV treatment this cold and flu season, call (203) 799-7733. You can find more about this practice online.