Top 7 Functional Medicine Tips to Heal from a Winter Stomach Flu

In previous blogs, we’ve discussed the importance of proactive prevention and why having a Home Remedy Kit for Winter Cold & Flu Season is key to boost your immune system, minimize symptoms, and ideally, avoid getting sick altogether.

However, when flu season kicks into high gear in the winter, sometimes even the best of us can get knocked down with a nasty stomach bug. We know how awful it can be, so we’re sharing our Top 7 Functional Medicine tips to help you manage and heal quicker from a yucky stomach bug.

What is the Stomach Flu?

Let’s start here because the term “stomach flu” is a little misleading. The stomach flu is not actually influenza (a viral infection that affects the respiratory system, including the nose, throat, and lungs), rather it is gastroenteritis which is an acute viral infection that affects the gastrointestinal system, often caused by viruses like the norovirus and rotovirus.

Symptoms of the Stomach Flu often Include:

Nausea & vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Body aches & headaches
Fever/chills
Fatigue
Loss of appetite

Top 7 Functional Medicine Tips to Manage the Stomach Flu

1. REST and Let the Virus Run its Course

When it comes to a stomach virus, it’s important to rest and let your body do its job to fight the bug. Don’t try to push through it or fight it. The worst symptoms of gastroenteritis (which likely include unpleasant intervals to the toilet), usually last 24-48 hours.

2. Create a Comfortable Environment & Ask for Help

Stomach flu symptoms can often come on quickly. This is your gentle reminder that friends, family and neighbors are willing to help. If you live alone or are too sick to go out, ask for what you need to be dropped off (food/drink, supplies, supplements etc). Set up your space so you are comfortable to rest. Dim the lights and avoid screens/blue light as much as possible. When you feel up for it, take a hot bath with Epsom salts to help relieve aches and pains.

3. Rehydrate with Electrolytes

It is crucial to replenish fluids and electrolytes lost through vomiting or diarrhea. Take small sips of water, coconut water, bone broth, or herbal tea (adding fresh ginger is a great choice) throughout the day. Avoid sugary beverages with artificial sweeteners like Gatorade – instead opt for electrolyte powders like Ultima Replenisher or Re-Lyte Hydration.

4. Gentle Nutrition

Once you’re ready to reintroduce food, choose nourishing foods that are easy to digest like soup, rice, cooked potatoes, bananas or applesauce. Aim to avoid inflammatory foods such as sugar, dairy, gluten, alcohol, fatty foods, and spicy foods.

5. Support your Gut with Herbal GI Defense and a Potent, High-Quality Probiotic Supplement

Rebuilding the good bacteria in your gut is also super important after fighting a stomach bug which wipes out a lot of the good guys. Once the worse symptoms have subsided, double up on your daily probiotics for 1-3 months, or take our highest strain Max-Probiotic 100, which is 100 billion CFU^† per capsule. Herbal GI Defense is also an excellent option to support a healthy immune response during viral and bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal system.

6. Post-Virus Support

For extra support post-stomach flu or for stubborn symptoms, we’re big fans of the Thunder Pearls, which work to harmonize stagnation and inflammation in the digestive tract. Pearls are a highly effective combination of wind dispersing herbs that simultaneously enter all three yang channels—shaoyang, yangming and taiyang.

7. Rebuild your Immune System

Since your immune system will likely be depleted after battling the stomach flu, we recommend fortifying your immune system with Immucare or ImmuniT+ to prevent catching any other illnesses. And always be consistent with your Daily Essentials!