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Health

02nd Jan 2015

Feeling flu-y? Try a non-traditional approach to immune boosting

It’s a bug’s life

Michelle O'Brien

We’re sniffling and snotty. Every time someone in the office coughs, we throw a knowing, watery eye in their direction. The conveyor belt of vitamin C infused pharmaceuticals are maintaining the situation, offering flashes of relief and the comfort of at least trying to doing something to restore harmony to our flu-y form.

Before you succumb to winter’s bounty of disease, go left-of-field to build up the strength to lock down any attempt of attack.

Ingest

Dubbed “Indian echinacea” for its ability to put a run on white blood cell production, Andrographis from Pukka, €13.35, is a natural born killer. The toxin terroriser also moonlights as a powerful prophylactic, and taken daily will see you through sniffle season. Find it at evergreen.ie.

Insulate

Inducing a fake fever by infrared sauna might seem somewhat odd and slightly counter-intuitive, but as your body battles the temperature surge, it strengthens its reserves for a real life event. Call it a workout for the infection control corps. Sessions from €20 at vedasbeauty.ie.

Inform

You might reconsider prescription pills armed with advice from Dr John McKenna. Antibiotics – Are they curing us or killing us?, €14.99, digs deep into the world of misuse, overuse and resistance while offering simple alternatives. Do your research at gillmacmillanbooks.ie.