Yes, Cold Weather Can Make You Sick – Scientists Finally Confirm What We All Knew

We’ve all been told, “Get a coat on or you’ll catch a cold!” Many of us have ignored this advice. We’ve been told by educators and those “in the know” that cold weather doesn’t make us sick, viruses do. New research shows Mom was right, and the so-called “experts” didn’t know what they were talking about.

Research has now shown that viruses spread more effectively in guinea pigs kept in cooler conditions than those kept in warmer conditions. Epithelial mice cells kept in cooler conditions were more prone to viral infection than those cells kept four degrees (Celsius) warmer. Yale researchers found that in epithelial mice cells, colder conditions helped viruses to thrive. In a human study, the participants who soaked their feet in ice water developed cold symptoms in greater numbers than the control group of participants whose feet were kept warm.

Beyond the Cold Conditions Lie the Answer

Typically, there is more than one cause for anything and “catching a cold” is no exception. It is true that without some exposure to pathogens (like a virus) cold weather alone will not make us sick. For years, researchers forced cold conditions upon research participants in a sterile environment, and sometimes they even exposed them to viruses. Afterward, they declared that cold weather has nothing to do with infection rates and cold can’t give you a cold. In reality, it is far more complicated than that.

Several studies are showing new evidence as to how cold weather effects the cold and flu season. A variety of factors are at play here, including our exposure to pathogens like viruses, temperature’s effect on a virus, the temperature’s effect on our immune system, stress and its effect on our immune system, and our tendency for greater exposure to infected people in the fall and winter.

Without a doubt, cold weather alone will not give someone the cold or the flu. No matter how cold you get, getting cold in and of itself will not cause a viral infection. If you get cold enough, it is possible, even probable, that you can get hypothermia, and that can kill you. You must be exposed to a virus or another pathogen in order to get sick. (Exposure is frequent; some experts say fairly constant.) Cold weather does play an important role in the annual flu season during which 5-20% of Americans catch a cold or flu.

Cold Weather Makes Viruses More Durable

In cold weather, viruses enjoy extra protection from the elements. The outer membrane of many viruses (including the influenza virus) is primarily made up of fatty-like substances known as lipids. At temperatures around freezing and below, this outer membrane hardens and solidifies into a robust gel. This gives viruses extra protection during cold weather. As the temperature rises above freezing, the outer membrane of a virus becomes less solid – more of a gelatinous liquid. At temperatures of 105 degrees and higher, the viruses’ outer covering is liquid with no real solid form. This diminished protection can leave the virus damaged or destroyed by the elements.

Lowered Immune Response Due To Cold Weather

When human beings become cold, one of the unfortunate side effects is constriction of the blood vessels. Our white T-cells are transported via our blood vessels, so getting cold can inhibit your immune response. Also, the stress associated with being really chilled causes the body to release the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol does facilitate some necessary functions, but too much is a bad thing. Too much cortisol also inhibits the immune system.

A Tendency To Go Kamikaze (Apoptosis)

Cells have the ability to self-destruct. It is not something commonly done, except in the most dire circumstances. If the cell’s survival is impeding the survival of the larger organism, cells have been known to off themselves as a form of altruistic sacrifice. (The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one). Cells infected with a virus are sometimes able to do this in order to slow the viruses’ spread. Warm cells are more eager to self-destruct than cold cells, which…well… sometimes get cold feet.

Every year as winter approaches, the earth receives less direct sunlight for either the northern or the southern hemisphere. (When it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, it’s winter in the southern hemisphere, and vice-versa). Obviously, this is a gradual process. During the winter, there are fewer hours of daylight in the day and less direct sunlight. Most of us also spend more time indoors. This has a tendency to depress some people. That general feeling of malaise is not caused by our preference for warm weather, alone. The more likely culprit for that blah feeling is a lack of vitamin D. Our bodies require sunlight to synthesize vitamin D. Vitamin D plays an important role in our immune defense and in maintaining our mood. In the winter months, we are likely to be running low on this crucial vitamin.

Conclusion

As previously mentioned, when it comes to catching a cold or the flu, exposure is key. Even before the weather gets cold in early fall, many people come back from vacation, students start college or school, kids are brought back to daycare, and people tend be around each other in enclosed areas more than in the summer months. This combined with other factors tends to make for good conditions for viruses and bad conditions for us.

Does this mean you or your kids should always bundle up before venturing out into cold weather? Nah. A little virus battle is good for us. Try making your immune system strong enough that viruses don’t stand a chance and take some risks. Check out Bullet Proof Your Immune System.

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Make Your Immune System Bulletproof with These Natural Remedies

You don’t have to catch the next flu. You can stop the next cold before it gets started. All you need is the right diet and a strong, healthy immune system.

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Yes, I know. We have all met one or more people who eat crap and still never get sick. Chances are they were born with a good, healthy immune system and their parents fed them right. Now they are tearing down their immune systems. Their luck won’t last forever.

There are also people who don’t get sick because they take such good care of themselves that their body is not a suitable host for infection. Bacteria and viruses can’t get a foothold. When pathogens invade the body, the immune system kills them so quickly that very healthy people aren’t even aware the battle took place.

Then there are people who eat pretty well and usually get enough sleep, but sometimes, every now and then, they still get sick.

With the right combination of supplements, in most cases, you can knock out, or radically lessen the severity of an infection. If an illness is caught early enough, even people who eat a lousy diet can treat it with the right supplements before they feel really sick.

Before we get into infection remedies, let’s be clear that we are talking about viruses, bacteria, fungus, and most of the parasites that make us sick. Believe it or not, candida (a type of fungus) can give us the same symptoms as a bacterial or viral infection, and many times people have multiple infections at once causing flu-like symptoms. The only way to properly prepare your immune system to be as strong as possible is to have a diet and supplement regimen to address not just viruses, but all the other infectious organisms as well. The good news is that there are many different herbs and foods that none of these invaders and pathogens like.

Recommended: How To Heal Your Gut

The Foundation – Foods, Herbs, and Diet for the Immune System

Infection wants an easy host. An easy host does not eat a healthy diet filled with lots of raw, fresh, organic produce, full of enzymes and vitamins. To be healthy, eat a salad every day with raw garlic. If garlic makes your breath stink, it’s time to detox and get yourself healthy. Toxic body = garlic breath. Don’t eat processed foods, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, or GMO foods. Don’t eat any food with artificial colors, flavorings, or preservatives or MSG.

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If you can’t grow your own ultra healthy produce at home, and you don’t have access to the best nutrient dense produce year around, take a really good whole food multivitamin with lots of easily assimilated vitamin C. It’s not important how much of any one vitamin there is, what matters is that the nutrients can be properly and easily assimilated. Take a separate vitamin D supplement, too.

Check out Make Your Own Nutrition Formula and Homemade Vitamin C.

Also see Total Nutrition Formula, vitamin D, and vitamin C (Total Nutrition Formula is a better source of vitamin C than any pills we know of).

If your throat gets itchy at all, your breath smells stale, or your sinuses feel overly sensitive, sip on apple cider vinegar all day. If you need to speak to anyone up close, stop sipping for ten minutes or so beforehand. The vinegar will make your breath smell like an old shoe, for just a bit.

Drink plenty of fluids. Stevia-sweetened cranberry lemonade with cayenne will help detoxify and flush the system while making the body extremely inhospitable to infection (cayenne, cranberry, and lemonade are all very good at fighting off sickness).

If there is any sign of a cold or infection coming on, don’t use cough drops, or nasal spray, or any over the counter medications. Stay away from anything sweet, even fruit (besides stevia, green apples, berries, and watermelon).

That’s the foundation. With good sleep habits and a nearly perfect diet, there’s no getting sick.

Stepping It Up a Notch With the Real Flu Shots

If you have access to a juice press, the best flu shots in the world are available to you. If you are making sure your immune system is combat ready, it is not time to juice carrots, beets, or apples. They have too much sugar. Juice ginger, turmeric, lemon, wheat grass, and cranberry (if you can’t get fresh cranberries, get organic not-from-concentrate), 2 ounces each. Take them all as individual shots. You could mix them up and chug it all down at once, but my tummy revolted when I tried this. Sometimes I will juice a granny smith apple with these tonics for palatability, but only one apple.

Do these shots in the morning on an empty stomach for a multitude of benefits, including a stronger immune system. Make sure it’s all organic of course. Nothing I know of sets the day off better. Well… okay, almost nothing.

The Big Guns – Bulletproof Your Immune System with the Most Powerful Herbs

Good echinacea, the pure, clean, and potent kind that makes your tongue feel as fuzzy as a shag carpet, will help knock out a viral infection all by itself in some cases. When you combine echinacea with vitamin C and elderberry, flu and colds don’t stand a chance. Echinacea strengthens the entire immune system, but it’s better not to take it for more than a week at a time, as it loses its effectiveness if you take it for more than 7 days straight. Wait at least 5 days before taking it again.

Goldenseal is antiviral and anti-parasitic. It’s also a powerful blood cleanser. Coptis chinensis, also known as goldenthread, is a very powerful aid to detoxification. It helps keep the lymph glands clean and running smoothly, and it’s antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antifungal. I get these supplements into my system by taking, Shillington’s Blood Detox, MicroDefense, black cumin seed oil, coptis chinensis, elderberry, and I also recommend Shillington’s Total Tonic formula which you can make it yourself pretty easily. Here’s the recipe for total tonic:

Doc Shillington’s Total Tonic Recipe (or purchase here)

  • 1 handful of garlic cloves
  • 1 handful of chopped onions
  • 1 handful of chopped ginger
  • 1 handful of chopped horseradish
  • 1/2 handful of chopped habanero peppers
  • Raw apple cider vinegar

Throw in a blender and cover with an inch or two of organic raw apple cider vinegar. All ingredients should be organic, but don’t let that stop you from making this great formula (as long as the garlic is not from China). You can use the mash right away or wait two weeks and allow it to turn into a tincture.

Update: We recently started selling Mother Earth Organic Root Cider. I like this much better than Total Tonic. It’s harsh, it’s potent, it’s not my idea of a delicious refreshing drink, but if you sip throughout the day the results are truly amazing. This cider really helps keep the sinuses and throat from getting infected. Here’s my review.

Kill the Bastards

If I feel like I am coming down with something I add oil of oregano and I increase the dosage for Blood Detox and MicroDefense. I also increase my garlic intake substantially and make sure I’m eating a salad like this every day. This will pretty much kill anything we don’t want in our gut (and some stuff we do want), as well as aid in killing any microorganisms anywhere in the body. It pretty much makes the body totally inhospitable to foreign invaders.

And last, but certainly not least, if you have a chronic sinus infection, consider Shillington’s Herbal Snuff. This is the herbal remedy that proves Doc Shillington is a sadist.

Doc Shillington’s Herbal Snuff Recipe (or purchase here)

A part is a measurement by volume (cups, tbsp, etc.)

  • 7 parts goldenseal root powder
  • 7 parts bayberry bark powder
  • 1 part cayenne pepper powder
  • 1 part garlic powder

All the above must be ground up very finely. It is best to use habanero cayenne as it is the hottest. Mix it very well as a clump of cayenne could keep your eyes in tears for an hour. It won’t hurt you, though.

When allergies are starting, or a sinus infection is trying to set in (or both), perfumes and sugary odors can make you nauseated or cause unusually intense cravings. Things that normally wouldn’t bother can smell very stale and overpowering. This is a sign that it’s time for Herbal Snuff. You snort it. Just a tiny bit. Get it up both nostrils quick before you change your mind. It hurts. It sucks. But it clears out the sinuses like nothing else.

When using oil of oregano and garlic to balance the gut, or Herbal Snuff to eliminate sinus infections, the diet needs to be clean and at least some of the aforementioned practices should be utilized. If someone uses herbal snuff to prevent a sinus infection or a sore throat (sore throats are typically caused by sinus infections), while eating food that promotes infection, it is likely that lung infections like pneumonia will set in very quickly. Eating poor quality food can wreak havoc on the intestines of someone that has taken antibiotics, and oil of oregano and garlic are pretty strong, all natural, antibiotics.

If you don’t get sick, are you healthy? Some people have a genetically gifted immune system, and some people may have emotional makeups that help keep them from getting sick (mind over matter is powerful medicine). This doesn’t necessarily mean these people are healthy. Anyone who doesn’t eat extremely well would benefit from regular detoxification, which is something your body does at all times on its own when it’s healthy and is fed a truly healthy diet.

For those who don’t take care of themselves, getting sick is a very good way to detoxify. For someone who doesn’t eat as well as they should, and/or doesn’t get enough sleep, getting sick is a way of taking out the garbage. Parasites, viruses, bacteria, and candida need weak cells to feed off of and to make a home. A poor diet, lack of sleep, and habits like drinking or smoking cause malfunctioning cells to develop. To use the methods that prevent infection, and to do so repeatedly, without taking care of oneself, can lead to serious illness such as cancer, or autoimmune disease.

Disease suppression is dangerous in the long run, even with all natural, perfectly safe remedies. With that in mind, if you need to make it through a stressful situation when the weather is changing and you know you won’t get enough sleep for a while, and the food situation won’t be ideal for periods (this certainly happens to me with business from time to time) without getting sick under any circumstances, then this protocol is what you need. On the other hand, these practices can also be used while detoxifying to strengthen the detox and to lessen the side effects and reduce the likelihood of a weakened immune system and getting sick.

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How Echinacea Boosts the Immune System

Echinacea is a coneflower that is found most commonly in eastern and central North America.  It is typically found in early-to-late summer in the open wooded areas and prairies.  Echinacea was used by the North American Indians and the early settlers as an anti-microbial for relief of infections, pain, and to reduce symptoms of snake bite and anthrax.  Others have used Echinacea for relief of scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria.

The advent of antibiotics, and the massive marketing and prestige that went behind this new medical technology, reduced the usage and understanding of herbal medicine.  The Germans picked up Echinacea in the 20th century and began to study it, performing numerous studies that have demonstrated Echinacea’s effectiveness at enhancing immunity. For more on the history of Echinacea, check out Wikipedia.

Echinacea Reduces Inflammation

Echinacea has been used to reduce inflammation associated with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.  It has also been shown effective against bronchitis, candida, herpes, and other major infections.  Many individuals today use it as an immune aid to prevent or overcome colds and flu.

Echinacea stimulates the body’s immune response to resist bacterial and viral invaders.  One of the mechanisms is by increasing the levels of the chemical properdin that increases cellular resistance to infection.  This unique herb also activates T cells and stimulates macrophages that engulf and destroy problematic invaders.  This activity also helps reduce the formation of tumors.

Echinacea Blocks Pathogenic Invasion

Humans and animals utilize hyaluronic acid to form healthy stable cells.  Most pathogenic organisms utilize the hyaluronidase enzyme to destroy hyaluronic acid and allow easy access into the cells and tissues of the body.  Echinacea has a constituent by the name of echinacin B which has been shown to inhibit the enzyme hyluronidase, thus blocking the pathogens ability to enter the cell and cause damage.

Echinacea has three unique nutrients that synergize to enhance immune activity.  These nutrients include polysaccharides, alkylamides and cichoric acid which together provide a strong activating force on white blood cells that destroy pathogenic organisms and tumor growth.

The Most Common Uses of Echinacea

Most herbalists recommend Echinacea to treat ear infections, athlete’s food, hay fever, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections, and slow healing wounds.  It is also very good at speeding up recovery time from common colds and flu.  Many individuals use it in a proactive manner to keep their immune system bolstered in an effort to prevent illness.

Some of the best ways to consume Echinacea are in an organic herbal tea format, as a dried or fresh flower, or in a fermented organic acid base.  The fermentation of Echinacea in an organic acid base unlocks the full nutritional potential of the plant.  The organic acids also help to feed the gut flora and form an alkaline ash that restores a healthy pH balance to the body.

From the Editor

Not all echinacea is created equal. Most on the market are diluted, weak, and ineffective. If you’re looking for a very high quality echinacea tincture check out Echinacea Plus at Green lifestyle Market.

Proper Immune Coordination

echinaceaWe have two major parts to our immune response. These two major parts of the immune system are the TH-1 pathway, which produces an immediate response, and the TH-2 pathway, which produces a delayed response. The TH-1 response is marked by T cells while the TH-2 pathway is built on antibody formation and identification.

The key to a strong immune system is balance and coordination. The TH -1 system is classified by Killer T cells, T helper cells, and T suppressor cells. When we have too many T suppressor cells our immune system is too weak and we get colds/fevers/flu. When the Killers are too many or the helpers and suppressors are too few, we end up with a poorly coordinated immune response that damages our own tissue. This is commonly seen in autoimmune disorders.

When the TH-2 system is dominant the body tends to rely on it when it is threatened in any way. A common example is allergies. When we are exposed to the allergen, the TH-2 system goes into overdrive causing a massive inflammatory response. This is due to poor balance between the TH-1/TH-2 system and then a poorly coordinated TH-2 response that creates a systemic inflammatory reaction in response to a very minor threat.

Echinacea is a TH-1 Pathway Enhancing Herb

TH-1 pathway enhancing herbs include Astragalus, Echinacea, Licorice root, Lemon balm, & pomegranate among others. The TH-2 boosting herbs include pine bark, green tea, grape seed, and resveratrol.  Immune modulating herbs, such as turmeric, boswellia, and ginger, help to enhance immune coordination through the entire body.

To put this information into action, you can access how you feel and what you notice after an immune pathway challenge. To do this, try taking a large dose of a TH-1 boosting herb. If you feel wonderful and your immunity improves, there is likelihood that you may have a pre-existing TH-2 dominance. If you feel terrible and are massively inflamed, there is a likelihood you are TH-1 dominant and that you over-stimulated this pathway. Try balancing with TH-2 boosting herbs and immune modulators.

Keep a journal and see what imbalances you may have. This will give you an advanced level of knowledge of your own individual tendencies and will allow you to stay healthy and balanced throughout your life.

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Natural Cough and Sore Throat Remedies

Recipe for Natural Cough Remedy

Juice one small carrot, one small apple, and one piece of ginger about the size of a thumb. Add four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and two drops of liquid cayenne pepper extract. Heat to no more than 110 degrees, remove from heat, and add 2 tablespoons of raw unrefined, unpasteurized, unfiltered honey and stir.

Do not cook the honey. Unpasteurized honey is anti-bacterial. Once it reaches 108 degrees, it becomes no better than regular refined sugar.

If no juicer is available, grate ginger and make into a tea. Do not use store bought apple juice or carrot juice;, they must be fresh.

Sipping this will relieve most coughs and help soothe a sore throat.

If the throat is raw and irritated, gargle with apple cider vinegar as often as possible. Do not, under any circumstances, eat ice cream, soda, yogurt, candy, or any other sugar or diary when sick, especially with a sore throat. Sugar (including agave nectar and high fructose corn syrup) and refined starches feed bacteria, virus, parasites, and Candida (yeast).  No matter how good ice cream feels on a sore throat, the price far outweighs the benefits, as one pint of it can add a day or two to the duration of the illness.

There are a lot of natural cough remedies out there that suggest using sugar or honey without specifying that the honey be raw and unrefined. Any such advice is garbage. Advice likes that soothes the throat while feeding infection. The goal is to sooth the throat while fighting infection.

Herbal Cough Suppressants

Oils from eucalyptus, peppermint, anise, and fennel help suppress a cough. They also increase the production of saliva which helps to clear the throat of irritating mucus. Most cough drops contain one or more of these herbs; unfortunately, most cough drops also contain sugar. Any of these herbs can be made into a tea and sipped for better results than conventional cough drops.

Slippery elm makes a natural cough remedy by forming a soothing layer around the irritated mucus membranes of the throat. Slippery elm teas and cough drops are available at most health food stores.

The two best herbal throat sprays that we know of are Micro-west Homeopathic Combination Throat Spray and Mediherb Herbal Throat Spray.

Other Natural Cough Suppressants and Sore Throat Remedies

Take a lemon and cut it in half. Add unrefined sea salt and black pepper powder to the pulp. Suck.

Make lemonade with fresh lemons, stevia (to taste) and cayenne pepper (to taste). Drink warm or cold. Great detoxifying aid, too.

If coughing is due to lung congestion, hot showers should be taken throughout the day allowing hot water to spray the chest.

The Best Natural Cough and Sore Throat Remedies

We saved the best few for last. But these two are also the most difficult. Organic raw garlic, and/or oil of oregano. With the garlic, take a big clove, and chew, swish the juice, get into the back of the throat. If you can stomach it, swallow it when you’ve chewed it as much as you can (it can be hard on an empty stomach). Or just spit it out. It stings the mouth, so you’ll want to rinse, but after the stinging sensation is gone, your throat will feel so much better! And you can do the same with oil of oregano. Or you can combine the two if you’re feeling brave.

And you can also take some time to try these recipes. With the total tonic you can gargle and swish with it before you swallow, and take as much as you want throughout the day to fend off a cold. The herbal snuff is hardcore! You snort it. You can also apply directly to the tonsils, but I recommend both. Let me apologize in advance, it’s not pleasant, but it works and works well.

Doc Shillington’s Total Tonic Recipe (or purchase here)

  • 1 handful of garlic cloves
  • 1 handful of chopped onions
  • 1 handful of chopped ginger
  • 1 handful of chopped horseradish
  • 1/2 handful of chopped habanero peppers
  • Raw apple cider vinegar

Throw in a blender and cover with an inch or two of organic raw apple cider vinegar. All ingredients should be organic, but don’t let that stop you from making this great formula (as long as the garlic is not from China). You can use the mash right away or wait two weeks and allow it to turn into a tincture.

Doc Shillington’s Herbal Snuff Recipe (or purchase here)

A part is a measurement by volume (cups, tbls, etc.)

  • 7 parts goldenseal root powder
  • 7 parts bayberry bark powder
  • 1 part cayenne pepper powder
  • 1 part garlic powder

All the above must be ground up very finely. It is best to use habanero cayenne as it is the hottest. Mix it very well as a clump of cayenne could keep your eyes in tears for an hour. It won’t hurt you, though.

Conclusion

Excellent nutrition feeds the immune system and will help anyone avoid the pain of tonsils overwhelmed with infection.Check out Bullet Proof Your Immune System, and be sure to balance your gut flora. A strong immune system is impossible with an excess of Candida. The strength of our immune system starts in the gut. And don’t forget, sinus infections are the number one cause of sore throats, so check out How To Use a Neti Pot For Sinus Infections.

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