Protocol development in integrative medicine is not typically a simple process. Individuals require individualized care, and what works for one patient may not work for another.

To establish these protocols, we first developed a Rating Scale that could be used to discern the rigor of evidence supporting a specific nutrient’s therapeutic effect.

The following protocols were developed using only A through C-quality evidence.

Class
Qualifying studies
Minimum requirements
A
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
 
B
RDBPC human trials
2+ studies and/or 1 study with 50 + subjects
C
RDBPC human trials
1 study

Winter can be a beautiful yet challenging time of the year. The arrival of cooler temperatures and shorter days can significantly impact our immune health, mood, and resilience to stress.

Fullscript’s Integrative Medical Advisory Team (IMAT) has provided some evidence-based ingredients to help support these common health concerns. While many ingredients may be considered part of a wellness protocol, these ingredients were selected based on general safety, effectiveness, and broad applicability.

View this protocol in your Fullscript account to directly apply the product selections to your next treatment plan!

Adrenal support

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

125–600 mg per day, depending on the form, for a minimum of 6 weeks (Auddy 2008)(Chandrasekhar 2012)

  • Daily supplementation with ashwagandha may help increase resilience to stress and reduce the physical symptoms of stress such as feelings of anxiety and elevated blood pressure and heart rate. (Chandrasekhar 2012)

For more information on the uses of ashwagandha in other conditions, please refer to the ashwagandha ingredient review.

Ashwagandha in the Fullscript catalog

B vitamins

Variable based on ingredient and formulation

  • Daily supplementation with B vitamins may help prevent depletions brought on by long-term stress, poor sleep, and a diet low in nutrients. (Porter 2016) In addition, supplementation may also help reduce the impact of stress on our mental and emotional well-being. (Stough et al. 2011)

For more information on B vitamins, check out our comprehensive guide to the B-vitamins.

B vitamins in the Fullscript catalog

Immune support

Vitamin C

Ongoing immune support: 1 g of vitamin C per day (Hemila 2013)(Johnstone 2014)

Immediate immune support: 3–4 g of vitamin C per day, as soon as symptoms appear and for the duration of the illness (Hemila 2013)

  • Vitamin C is essential to human health and has well-documented antioxidant and immune-supportive properties. Vitamin C can be especially beneficial during illness as supplementation may help decrease the duration and severity of the common cold. (Johnstone 2014)

For more information on the uses of vitamin C in other conditions, please refer to the vitamin C ingredient review.

Vitamin C in the Fullscript catalog

Zinc

Ongoing immune support: 15–45 mg of elemental zinc per day, ongoing (Hunter et al. 2021)(Prasad et al. 2007)

Immediate immune support: 75–100 mg of elemental zinc (as zinc acetate or zinc gluconate lozenges) per day, as soon as symptoms appear and for a minimum of 1–2 weeks (Singh and Das 2015) (Singh 2015) 

  • Zinc plays a vital role in the health of connective tissues (e.g., bone, hair, skin, tendons, skin), the nervous system, and cognition (brain health). (Roohani et al. 2013) (Roohani et al. 2013) Zinc also supports our immune system, and studies have found that supplementation with this essential micronutrient may help reduce the duration of the common cold. (Hemilä 2011)(Hemila 2011) 

For more information on the uses of vitamin C in other conditions, please refer to the zinc ingredient review.

Zinc in the Fullscript catalog

Mood support

Omega-3 fatty acids

2–4 g EPA + DHA daily, for a minimum of 3 months

For more information on the uses of omega-3 fatty acids in other conditions, please refer to the omega-3 fatty acids ingredient review.

 

Omega-3 fatty acids in the Fullscript catalog

Vitamin D

400–3000 IU per day for ~6 months (Gao 2017)(Jolliffe 2021)(NIH 2021) 

  • Vitamin D is categorized as a non-essential vitamin as it can be produced in the skin following sun exposure. However, it can be challenging to maintain optimal vitamin D levels during winter when days are shorter. In addition, these seasonal changes can also impact our mental and emotional well-being. Studies have found that daily supplementation with vitamin D can help maintain blood levels and improve symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). (Gloth et al. 1999)(Menon 2018)

For more information on the uses of Vitamin D in other conditions, please refer to the Vitamin D ingredient review.

Vitamin D in the Fullscript catalog

Resources

The following resources may support your patient with their fall wellness journey. Check out the in-app patient resource library for more handouts, guides, and infographics.

Disclaimer

The Fullscript Integrative Medical Advisory team has developed or collected these protocols from practitioners and supplier partners to help health care practitioners make decisions when building treatment plans. By adding this protocol to your Fullscript template library, you understand and accept that the recommendations in the protocol are for initial guidance and may not be appropriate for every patient.

View template in-app