Acupuncture has long been a natural go-to for pain. In winter, however, it can also help ward off some of the nasty pathogens that make people sick this time of year, says Dr. Fred Lisanti of Integrative Med Solutions. A naturopathic doctor and master acupuncturist, Lisanti offers various natural preventive remedies to keep the body healthy through cold and flu season.

“I specifically formulate a holistic protocol for each individual patient,” he says. “My immune-boosting remedies, derived from sources such as acupuncture, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition and more, help the body embrace what it knows best and fire up its healing powers so the patient can sail through winter and hit the ground running come spring.”

There is scientific evidence that acupuncture has a positive effect on the immune system, Lisanti says, citing a 2017 study in the open-access, peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, published by the Public Library of Science. The study concluded that “acupuncture was able to regulate the production of immune cytokines and the differentiation and activation of splenic T cells.”

As an adjunct to acupuncture, Lisanti might also recommend herbal remedies such as black elderberry, oregano oil and olive leaf extract to boost immunity, and add in clinical nutrition—a “medicinal eating” approach—as well as nutraceutical supplementation and individualized vitamins, minerals and enzymes, for a full-spectrum application to promote optimal health.

Location: Integrative Med Solutions, 266 White Plains Rd., B-1, Eastchester, NY, and 2 Greenwich Office Park, Ste. 300, Greenwich, CT. For more info, call 914.337.2980.