Have you noticed that the flu season has been intense? There have been a lot of flu cases and many of them have been quite severe. If you have heard me speak before you have heard me say that I thought that our first true flu season after COVID settled down a little would be very intense. This has turned out to be the case and I have seen and have heard of many very ill people. The question is why is the flu so bad this year? What if anything did it have to do with COVID? I feel it has everything to do with COVID.

Just as a louder sound can drown out a quieter one, we’ve observed a pattern in medicine with COVID-19 and the flu. When COVID-19 first emerged, it was a stronger illness that seemed to suppress the seasonal flu, which is why we saw very few flu cases even after people returned to normal activities. Now that COVID-19 has become milder, we’re witnessing the return of influenza in 2025 with notably strong symptoms. This pattern of a stronger illness temporarily suppressing a weaker one has been described in the literature of homeopathy, noted most in the Organon of Medicine.

It seems to me that people are still more concerned about COVID than any other illness. I have seen people test positive for COVID and stay home for a week even though they have very mild symptoms, while they test positive for the flu and as soon as they feel sort of okay they are back out and about even though they are much sicker than those testing positive for COVID. It is important to remember that the flu can also be a serious illness – the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic actually claimed a higher percentage of the US population than COVID-19 did. This is in no way decreasing the effects of COVID, they were intense for a lot of us and I think it is fair to say we all know someone who died of COVID. Most of us can’t say we all know someone who died from the Flu, which is probably contributing to why people don’t take it as seriously. The 2025 flu season is reminding us that the influenza can be very serious. To date it is estimated that there have been 24 million cases of influenza this flu season. I have seen many people who are very sick, and then develop pneumonia. Pneumonia after the flu is very dangerous and was what made the 1918 Spanish Flu so dangerous. The wisest approach isn’t to fear either illness, but rather to respect both and take appropriate precautions to protect our health.

A key aspect of dealing with any illness (not just flu or COVID) is understanding how our bodies naturally fight infection. Fever, while often viewed with concern, is actually one of our immune system’s most powerful tools. Think of fever as your body’s internal heating system – it creates an environment where viruses struggle to survive while simultaneously boosting your immune response. When we rush to suppress every fever with medication, we may inadvertently be weakening our body’s natural defense mechanisms and lengthening the time we are contagious to others. This creates two significant problems: first, because you “feel fine,” you might go out and spread the illness to others; second, it sets you up for a relapse of the illness – and no matter what the illness is, when you relapse it is ALWAYS worse. While very high fevers do deserve medical attention, most fevers are simply doing their job to help us heal. Rather than immediately reaching for fever reducers, reach out to your homeopath or support your body’s natural healing process through rest and hydration. Remember, fever isn’t the illness itself – it’s your body actively fighting the illness.

The choice between rest and relapse is a critical one that many people face during illness, often without realizing its long-term implications. When you start feeling a bit better, there’s a strong temptation to jump back into your normal activities – but this is precisely when rest is most crucial. Pushing yourself too soon often leads to a relapse, and relapses are consistently more severe than the original illness. Even if you don’t experience an immediate relapse, insufficient rest can prevent your body from achieving complete recovery, potentially leaving you more susceptible to future illnesses. Think of recovery like building a house – you need a solid foundation before adding the walls and roof. When you give your body the rest it needs during illness, you’re investing in your long-term health. Missing a few days of work or activities might feel inconvenient now, but it’s far better than facing a longer, more severe relapse or chronic health issues later. Remember: the time you spend resting isn’t time wasted – it’s time invested in your complete recovery.

As we navigate through this intense flu season, remember that respecting our body’s natural healing processes is crucial. Don’t forget that true healing requires patience, rest, and attention to our body’s signals. Whether facing COVID, influenza, or any illness, the principles remain the same: use medicines such as homeopathy that stimulate your body to heal, not suppress the symptoms, commit fully to rest during recovery, and avoid the temptation to return to activity too soon. Your health isn’t just about getting through today’s illness – it’s about building resilience for tomorrow. Make choices that support not just immediate relief, but long-term well being.

In Health,

Dr. Amerine

Homeopathy ER

There are several homeopathic medicines that I have used during this year’s cold and flu season. Below are 5 remedies that I have seen used:

Bryonia:

• Intense body aches, worse from any movement
• Severe headache, worse from movement
• Great thirst for large quantities of cold water
• Wants to be completely still and left alone
• Dry, painful cough that makes patient hold chest

Gelsemium:

• Heavy drowsiness and weakness
• Chills up and down spine
• Dull, heavy headache starting in neck
• Complete lack of thirst
• Heavy, drooping eyelids

Phosphorus:

• Intense thirst for cold drinks
• Burning fever with anxiety
• Dry, tickling cough
• Wants company and reassurance
• Weakness and trembling

Arsenicum:

• Restlessness with exhaustion
• Chilly, wants to be wrapped up
• Thirst for small sips of warm drinks
• Anxiety and fear, especially at night
• Burning pains better from heat

Belladonna:

• Sudden high fever with hot, red face
• Throbbing headache
• Dilated pupils, bright eyes
• No thirst despite high fever
• Symptoms worse 3pm and after midnight

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February Blog Feature

Magic Socks

You’d probably never guess that a pair of wet socks could pull congestion from your head and stimulate your immune system. Sounds like hocus-pocus promoted by a traveling charlatan, right?

Historically, this hydrotherapy was called “Wet Sock Therapy.” At some point, a marketing savvy naturopath explained to young patients that the overnight drying of the socks was a “healing magic trick” and the name quickly evolved into “Magic Socks.” Kids love it and it actually does work like magic to arrest the onset of mild colds and flus. Here’s how:

When covered (insulated) with wool, damp socks draw congestion from the head and work overnight to stimulate systemic circulation. This treatment reflexively decreases congestion in the upper respiratory passages, head, and throat.

The socks will dry overnight as the body brings warm, fresh blood to the feet. This, in turn, invigorates the immune system and helps fend off acute illness. Magic Socks can be used nightly when any concern exists about the onset of an acute infection or illness and with any ongoing insomnia.

For best results repeat treatment for three nights in a row or as instructed by your doctor. If you develop a loss of sensation in your feet while using Magic Socks, remove the socks and check in with your doctor. Do not use this therapy with any condition that has resulted in loss of sensation or circulation to the feet unless first consulting with your doctor.

Make a Pair of Magic (Wet) Socks

1. Before bed, wet a pair of thin, cotton anklets in cold water.
2. Wring out excess water and place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
3. Put the socks on your feet.
4. Pull a pair of heavy wool socks over the anklets and climb into bed.
5. Cover well; sleep all night with the socks on.

Recipe

Vegan White Chocolate Fondue Recipe

This vegan white chocolate fondue recipe is great and can be made without the use of a fondue pot. This recipe is wonderful for a date night, or it can be fun for the whole family. It’s simple and easy to make, so why not just try it both ways?

Prep: 20 Min. Total: 20 Min. Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 10 ounces chopped vegan white chocolate
• 1/3 cup vegan milk (almond, coconut, cashew, etc.)
• 1/3 cup vegan heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• In a saucepan, on low heat, combine the chocolate, milk and cream. Stir often, until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is glossy and smooth. DO NOT BOIL.
• Next, stir in the vanilla extract. The fondue will likely be fairly thick. If you want a thinner consistency, whisk in additional heavy cream or milk until you reach a thickness you like.
• Pour the mixture into a small slow cooker to keep warm while serving.
• Serve with foods of your choice for dipping, such as strawberries, bananas, small rice krispie squares, vanilla cookies, etc.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator and reheat when desired.

Notes

• Brands of Chocolate: Choose your chocolate carefully. Not all chocolate melts well. Ghirardelli’s chips work great, but Nestle chips don’t melt. Higher-end chocolate chips seem to be the key!
• Chocolate Adjustments: you may substitute any chocolate you prefer, or dairy items, but we prefer the vegan options. If you change the type of chocolate hold off on the heavy cream until you see the consistency once it melts. Thicker chocolates need a bit more cream, thinner chocolates (like milk chocolate) do not need as much cream, if any.
• Extract: Feel free to change the flavor by experimenting with different extracts. You may want to consider orange or peppermint extract to change the flavor of your fondue.

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Are you interested in becoming a patient? Book a complimentary call with one of our doctors. You can do this by calling 303-665-2423. Our team will answer all your questions and get you scheduled for the service that makes sense to you. We can’t wait to support you with natural approaches that address the root cause and get you to feel better and stay there.

We can’t wait to help get you whole healthcare for life!

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