Colds, Flu, Sweats and Vitamin C

The following information has been gathered and compiled through personal experience while traveling, teaching T'ai Chi, Qi Gong, Chinese Herbal medicine, martial arts and other health related subjects. The article also contains feedback from students and anecdotal information from readers of my columns. The following are my opinions and deductions from those sources.

Natural methods for killing viruses do exist. One method is direct contact with vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The other is heat. Some of those I've known and talked to have gotten relief from "nose colds" by diluting liquid or powdered Vitamin C with water and using it as nose drops or in an inhaler. One person I read about, this is not a personal contact experience and we need to use our personal discretion in all things, used hot air and vitamin C as an inhalant. The story I got was it nipped a head cold in the bud, if done as soon as the first sign showed up. The problem I see here is that vitamin C is heat intolerant and even at semi-low temperatures 110F, some of the effectiveness may be lost. Vitamin C also oxidizes easily, and quickly, and needs to be stored in an airtight container to retain its' properties. Freezing doesn't effect vitamin C's properties.

Native American Indians use sweat lodges to cure ailments, and dry heat saunas are used the world over for the same purpose. Years ago I found, if I had a cold or the flu and couldn't get over it, if I would wrap in a blanket and sweat, either in bed or in the sun depending on where it was hottest until I'd soaked the blanket or felt I had had enough, that I'd be tired and need to sleep but the cold or flu was gone. It was necessary to be sure that I didn't chill after the sweat and that I took it easy for a few days so I didn't relapse. High heat and sweats are contraindicated for people with certain diseases. It may be advisable to discuss sweats with your health care provider.