When Dr. Jennie Weisenburger isn't feeling well, she reaches for the sock drawer, not just the medicine cabinet.

"Warming socks," an old, old traditional folk treatment, is just one among many in this naturopath's repertoire for boosting immunity as the days get longer and colder.

It works for tots, too, Weisenburger says, adding that there are many ways to help protect tots from cold and flu.

This is good news for parents searching for tips after Health Canada warned Canadians in October to be careful of using over-the-counter cough and cold medicines and natural health products for children, especially kids under the age of two.

The official advisory was released at the same time that a variety of children's cold medicines were pulled off US shelves for safety reasons.

"Most of these products aren't tested on children," Dr. Weisenburger points out, "so we don't know their effects. But we do know enough to know some of these products contain compounds that can be toxic even to adults."

Wintertime diet
The best way to keep kids hearty and hale over winter, she says, is with a good diet. "Include lots of fruits and veggies, and avoid allergenic foods, which sometimes result in symptoms such as recurrent ear infections or eczema." There are a variety of testing methods for food allergies, she says.

She also says to cut out sugary foods, which reduce the immune system's ability to respond. Fruit is okay, she says, as fibre in fruit moderates the high-sugar effect.

Good winter foods include apples, pears, squashes and beets. Berries are good all year round, she says because they are high in antioxidants. Dr. Weisenburger also recommends adding garlic to soups and dishes, as garlic is anti-viral and helps the immune system. Onions and ginger stimulate circulation.

When it comes to immune-helping products, Dr. Weisenburger says vitamin C and echinacea are effective.

"You want to be aware of quality and dosing," she adds. "It's the same with NHPs and pharmaceuticals, so consult a health care practitioner. As a parent, you're always trying to keep your children healthy. But sometimes it's important to have a second opinion, especially when dealing with young children."

At the Bellevue Natural Health Clinic, she has found that homeopathic remedies also work amazingly well with kids. In contrast, "pharmaceuticals suppress symptoms," she says. "They're not helping the body resolve the issue. Sometimes, kids don't fully recover or don't kick the virus or bacteria, so it'll come up again."

There are more than 700 authorized non-prescription cough and cold products in Canada.

Warming Socks
Home treatment for immune boosting
Find a thin pair of cotton socks and one thicker pair of woolen socks or booties.

Wet the cotton socks in cold water and put them on the feet, preferably when children are nice and warm, after a bath for example. Then put on the woolen socks as an overlayer and sleep with both sets on overnight.

"It's a circulatory and immune system stimulant," Dr. Weisenburger explains. "Do it every day if children are sick or if they're getting sick."

To find a naturopathic doctor in your area, try:
HANS Wellness Directory, www.hans.org, 604-435-0512
Canadian Naturopathic Association, www.naturopathicassoc.ca, 416-496-8633

Health Action Network Society (HANS) is a national, non-profit, membership-based charity based in Burnaby, BC. HANS researches, monitors and reports on health and environmental issues that are important to Canadians. Annual membership starts at $35. Visit www.hans.org or call 604-435-0512.

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