This information is meant to be informative. It does not replace medical treatment. If you are interested in booking an appointment with Dr. Acesta, fill out or contact form.
Acute Illnesses
"Colds", "flus"', and otherwise short duration illnesses can be thought of as our body's way of communicating with us. It is a shorter, stronger, inflammatory reaction, body wide. It is best to think of fostering these reactions, instead of suppressing them (which interferes with our immune system). We want our body to go through the detoxification and depuration processes in order to rid ourselves of the initial invader or insult. We can mitigate symptoms of the detoxifying process without suppressing our immune response.
The Prodrome Protocol
Some people have a bodily awareness that tips them off that they are about to get sick. It's not the same for everyone, but some examples include: feeling like the back of your throat is swollen, early evening fatigue, dull headaches, backaches, and/or full feeling ears. These feelings normally arise 1-3 days before we experience the full burden of the illness. If you find yourself in this stage you can help ward off progression or decrease the intensity of the illness by following this protocol.
Shower Contrast Hydrotherapy, daily
Neti Pot Rinse
Add ¼ tsp of salt to 1c of warm water and rinse your sinuses. Most neti pots come with instructions. You can also buy a saline nose spray, although the neti pot works immensely better. For additional respiratory support use lavender or thyme tea (cooled) in place of the water. DO NOT USE HOT WATER IN NETI POTS.
Increase Antioxidants
There is no better way to increase our antioxidant load than through daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
When in a prodromal state avoid all grains, sugar, and dairy, especially in respiratory illnesses, and focus on an entirely vegetable, fruit, nut, and seed diet. This not only decreases gut inflammation, but promotes higher antioxidant loads.
Eat Mushroom Soup, daily.
All fungi are excellent immune modulators, which includes mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. The more you mash, cook, boil, and blend mushrooms, the more medicinal they become. This may have to do with their unique cell walls, differing from plants and animals. The more exotic mushrooms are more medicinal. Try to venture out from button and crimini, into chanterelles, lobster, turkey tails, oyster, and truffles (and so many more!). Asian grocers are a good place to go explore.
The easiest (and tastiest) mushroom soup recipe
On medium heat, sautée 10-15 garlic cloves, roughly chopped. Add 1/2 white onion and continue to sautée.
Turn the heat to high, add 1Tbsp apple cider vinegar (or rice wine vinegar). Return heat to medium. Add 2-3c of various mushrooms, roughly chopped. The mushrooms will wilt and moisture will collect. Cover the pot, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and into a food blender or processor and purée with 1c water (or veggie stock, free range chicken stock, etc). If you want to add some protein, add 1/2c walnuts and purée. (You may need to add more water). Pour back into the pot and continue heating on low heat. Add 2-3Tbsp (or to taste) Bragg's Liquid Amino Acids. This is used as a salt replacement. Consider adding asparagus tips, spinach, chopped kale, celery and carrots, or additional garlic and onion slices. Sprinkle will fresh dill. Or drizzle balsamic reduction over the top. Or both!
The Illness Protocol
Once our body is in the middle of the inflammatory reaction, we experience generalized symptoms like fever, chills, appetite changes, malaise and fatigue, respiratory symptoms, headaches, and ear pain to name a few. Again, it is best to foster these reactions instead of suppressing them (opiate cough syrups, fever reducers, steroids, etc). Here are some suggestions during this phase.
All of the steps in the "prodrome protocol" should still be performed.
Stay hydrated. Drink herbal teas, water, carbonated water, unsweetened juices (especially the dark berries), and carrot juice throughout the entire day. You should be drinking half your bodyweight in ounces of water
Increase your antioxidants
The Trifecta*
Castor Oil packs over the liver
Breaking the fever. Choose one per day if fever is present
Acute Illnesses
"Colds", "flus"', and otherwise short duration illnesses can be thought of as our body's way of communicating with us. It is a shorter, stronger, inflammatory reaction, body wide. It is best to think of fostering these reactions, instead of suppressing them (which interferes with our immune system). We want our body to go through the detoxification and depuration processes in order to rid ourselves of the initial invader or insult. We can mitigate symptoms of the detoxifying process without suppressing our immune response.
The Prodrome Protocol
Some people have a bodily awareness that tips them off that they are about to get sick. It's not the same for everyone, but some examples include: feeling like the back of your throat is swollen, early evening fatigue, dull headaches, backaches, and/or full feeling ears. These feelings normally arise 1-3 days before we experience the full burden of the illness. If you find yourself in this stage you can help ward off progression or decrease the intensity of the illness by following this protocol.
Shower Contrast Hydrotherapy, daily
- Drop your favorite essential oils onto the bottom of the tub.
- Great suggestions for viral and bacterial respiratory illnesses include thyme, sage, lavender, thuja (red ceder).
- Take a hot shower. Breathe deeply. Count at least 20 deep breaths. Warm your body up completely. Stay in for at least 10-15 minutes.
- Switch the water to cold (or as cold as you can muster).
- The shock of throwing your body into cold water (even if just for a few seconds) stimulates an immune response, increasing our white blood cells. Aim to work up to 30 seconds. This is a great exercise to do daily, especially if we are prone to getting sick.
- You can rewarm yourself back up with warm or hot water and continue your shower.
Neti Pot Rinse
Add ¼ tsp of salt to 1c of warm water and rinse your sinuses. Most neti pots come with instructions. You can also buy a saline nose spray, although the neti pot works immensely better. For additional respiratory support use lavender or thyme tea (cooled) in place of the water. DO NOT USE HOT WATER IN NETI POTS.
Increase Antioxidants
There is no better way to increase our antioxidant load than through daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
When in a prodromal state avoid all grains, sugar, and dairy, especially in respiratory illnesses, and focus on an entirely vegetable, fruit, nut, and seed diet. This not only decreases gut inflammation, but promotes higher antioxidant loads.
Eat Mushroom Soup, daily.
All fungi are excellent immune modulators, which includes mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. The more you mash, cook, boil, and blend mushrooms, the more medicinal they become. This may have to do with their unique cell walls, differing from plants and animals. The more exotic mushrooms are more medicinal. Try to venture out from button and crimini, into chanterelles, lobster, turkey tails, oyster, and truffles (and so many more!). Asian grocers are a good place to go explore.
The easiest (and tastiest) mushroom soup recipe
On medium heat, sautée 10-15 garlic cloves, roughly chopped. Add 1/2 white onion and continue to sautée.
Turn the heat to high, add 1Tbsp apple cider vinegar (or rice wine vinegar). Return heat to medium. Add 2-3c of various mushrooms, roughly chopped. The mushrooms will wilt and moisture will collect. Cover the pot, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and into a food blender or processor and purée with 1c water (or veggie stock, free range chicken stock, etc). If you want to add some protein, add 1/2c walnuts and purée. (You may need to add more water). Pour back into the pot and continue heating on low heat. Add 2-3Tbsp (or to taste) Bragg's Liquid Amino Acids. This is used as a salt replacement. Consider adding asparagus tips, spinach, chopped kale, celery and carrots, or additional garlic and onion slices. Sprinkle will fresh dill. Or drizzle balsamic reduction over the top. Or both!
The Illness Protocol
Once our body is in the middle of the inflammatory reaction, we experience generalized symptoms like fever, chills, appetite changes, malaise and fatigue, respiratory symptoms, headaches, and ear pain to name a few. Again, it is best to foster these reactions instead of suppressing them (opiate cough syrups, fever reducers, steroids, etc). Here are some suggestions during this phase.
All of the steps in the "prodrome protocol" should still be performed.
Stay hydrated. Drink herbal teas, water, carbonated water, unsweetened juices (especially the dark berries), and carrot juice throughout the entire day. You should be drinking half your bodyweight in ounces of water
Increase your antioxidants
- Eat 7-10 servings of vegetables per day
- Drink carrot juice, high in vitamin A and its precursors beta-carotene. You can find organic carrot juice at Costco.
- Consider taking a high quality oral supplement. Ask your physician for recommendations.
The Trifecta*
- In a 16oz mason jar (or 16oz honey jar with 1c of the honey removed) add 1/2 onion coarsely chopped, 5 cloves of garlic sliced in half, and fresh ginger peeled and sliced. Top off the jar with honey. These are all fantastic antioxidants, chock full of good sulfites and glutathione precursors.
- For respiratory illnesses I love using Sugarpill Dispensary's Osha Honey. www.sugarpillseattle.com
- Let it sit overnight before using. I let the onions, garlic, and ginger sit for 2-4 weeks. I then remove and strain the honey out and rejar for later use.
Castor Oil packs over the liver
- Castor oil is an excellent anti inflammatory and is used topically. Apply to the skin over your liver (which helps support detoxification and depuration), cover with an unwanted shirt, towel, or cloth. Apply heat. Sit for 20-30 minutes.
Breaking the fever. Choose one per day if fever is present
- Lukewarm Epsom Salt baths. Add 3-5c Epsom salt to warm bath water. Add 10 drops of your preferred essential oils. Sit 20-45 minutes.
- Wet Sock treatment: before bed, dip a pair of cotton socks in as cold water as possible (you can even toss them into the freezer for a bit). Put them on, and put a wool pair over them. This helps draw heat to your feet (and away from your head), increasing circulation.
- Wet Sheet Pack: same concept as the wet sock treatment but using your entire body. This is an excellent treatment for anyone who just can't shake their illness. Dip a bed sheet in very cold water. Get your body very warm (under down blankets, by taking a hot shower, sauna, etc). Wrap yourself in the cold sheet and then wrap wool blankets around that. Lay down and concentrate on your breathing until the sheet has completely warmed up (20-45 minutes).
