Expert Health Tips to Fight 'Cubicle Cooties'
New survey shows more employees go to work when sick, infect co-workers

BOULDER, COLO. (November 1, 2005) - According to a recent survey, as many as 80 percent of workers frequently go to work when they are sick¹. While most health and human resource experts agree that the best course of action is for sick employees to stay home, looming deadlines and work pressures often make this impossible. Health experts at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, a pharmacy chain that serves more than 13,000 health-conscious consumers each week, have identified the following tips for fighting the 'Cubicle Cooties:'

1. The obvious: do your best to steer clear of all sneezing, hacking and otherwise germ-ridden coworkers. Wash your hands, don’t share food or beverages and, when possible, try to not share the same air space. In addition, it’s important that offices are equipped with proper ventilation to bring in fresh air.
2. When you can’t avoid your co-workers, or when wearing a climate-controlled space suit seems inappropriate, it’s best to boost your immune system in order to lessen your susceptibility to germs. Lisa Fillis, a naturopathic doctor at Pharmaca’s Los Angeles store recommends the following:
• Take astragalus. This herb helps boosts and strengthens your immune system and keeps it functioning properly. However, it should be discontinued if you get sick.
• Try the Kick Ass Immune Stimulator by Wish Garden Herbs.
• Supplement your diet with Vitamin C and Echinacea.
3. In addition to increasing your ability to fight off germs, you can also work to prevent or stave off a developing illness with homeopathic treatments and/or the flu shot. Pharmaca’s vice president of integrative medicine, Don Summerfield, says:
• Take oscillococcinum, the homeopathic medicine that saw sales skyrocket last year during the national flu shot shortage. This product should be taken at the first sign of the flu.
• Try Airborne, a blend of Vitamin C and herbs for boosting the immune system, is popular with preschool teachers and frequent fliers.
• Use Zylotol nasal wash. This not-so-pleasant sounding treatment rids the nasal cavity of germs, and is reportedly gaining popularity as a prevention aid.
• Get the flu shot. If you’re often exposed to germs or have a weakened immune system, this is your best choice for reduced sick days.