The leaves have turned and
the weather is changing: this year's distinctive and novel influenza virus is
already breeding in some swamp somewhere, eyeing the world and choosing its
targets. Whatever the season, however, getting the flu or catching cold is
not inevitable! There are strategies we can follow to prevent this misery
from coming upon us, and mostly they involve
supporting the immune system, and coping with stress.
How does
one avoid catching cold, or getting the flu?
Make sure on a continuing basis that the immune system is in
tiptop shape.
These ills are opportunistic, and will sneak into our bodies
in any way they can: we have to make sure the barricades are in place.
This would mean:
Washing one's hands regularly
Avoiding those already sick, and staying home oneself when ill.
Eating antioxidant rich foods (lots of fruits and
vegetables), which is also a diet rich in Vitamin C, beta-carotene and
essential minerals.
Drinking green tea,
Maximizing intake of immune system supportive nutrients,
such as mushrooms and garlic
Keeping on hand a herbal combination of such things
as Echinacea and Propolis,
as well as a homeopathic flu or cold solution. Immediate
action is most successful!
Drinking plenty of water
Ensuring adequate levels of selenium
Watch out for sugar, as there are now a
number of studies that suggest sugar in excess can undermine our
body's defenses. This is particularly important for small
children: watch juices, breads, pastries, pasta, and treats:
all of these act in the body as sugar, and help feed
viruses.
When my son was little, I could always count on October being
the month when he would develop bronchitis, which would develop into either a
cold or the flu.. Therefore, in mid-September, I would increase the amount of Vitamin
C and Zinc I was giving him, along with extra B vitamins. I
would also add a capsule of Propolis to his daily regimen, and some of
the herbs I mention below. We would be aware that he was not altogether well,
but generally at least he wasn't ill. I contrast that with one time when I had
to go to Europe at precisely that time of year, and he ended up hospitalized for
3 weeks!
When you are dealing with a non-dangerous situation, such as a cold,
does it make sense to put your child in danger?
Warnings suggest
that OTC cold medications are not safe for young children.
(http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/131/118019.htm?pagenumber=2) This
quote from the report gives me extra amusement: "There
are no studies demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of cold and
cough medications in this under age 2 population," says
Ian Paul, MD, a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at
the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa.
I recall very well how frightening it is to be a Mother with a sick
child, but with fevers, remember that high temperatures have a purpose:
they are Nature's way of fighting a disturbance in the body.
Unless the child is very uncomfortable, it is best to let fever run
its course. Here
is an explanation - http://www.princetonol.com/family/columns/pedgroup13.html ( including when to worry) with
valuable information, though I do not endorse the references to ibuprofen
and acetaminophen.
Zinc
Echinacea tablets for Children
Honey
A Better Option For Childhood Cough Than Over The Counter Medications -
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203164750.htm
Nowadays, with advances in the formulas available to
me, I make sure that my Cold & Flu Season Medicine Cabinet is stocked with:
A Vitamin C complex, containing
bioflavonoids. High doses can shorten the duration of a
cold.
An immune system enhancing combination with Echinacea,
Goldenseal and
Propolis
Chicken soup (see study below**)
Grandma knew best
Mustard
Rub to soothe and protect the chest - mustard bath for
relief
Herbal teas such as Gypsy Cold Care, Throat Coat and Breathe
Easy, noted for both taste and results
Propolis is a very interesting substance, made by bees
for the protection of the colony. It has been extensively researched, and has
impressive anti-viral credentials. Not only that, it seems specifically to be
helpful for any nastiness involving the mucous membranes. A report I came across
recently among students at a nursing college in Sarajevo who had been exposed to
the influenza virus stated that of 182 students not taking Propolis, 63% became
ill: of the 80 who took Propolis, only 7% sickened. Impressive figures.
In a study of 430 preschoolers reported in Archives of Pediatric and
Adolescent Medicine in March of 2004, a preparation of Propolis, Echinacea and
Vitamin C decreased upper respiratory infections by 55% (308 to 138).
Specific for children's immune system support is Himalaya
USA's ImmunoCare Jr: I highly recommend adding this in
times of high infection.
In Israel, there has been extensive research into Elderberry
Extract as a flu fighter. In the mid 1980's, an Israeli Doctor
named Mumcuoglo became sufficiently intrigued by the folkloric history of its
healing properties to begin investigating it. She discovered that Elderberry
extract's active ingredients disarms the "spikes" on the flu virus
which normally enable it to penetrate healthy cells, permitting the spread of
the disease. She found it to be effective against 8 different strains of flu,
with 90% of the patients in one test group claiming complete recovery from all
flu symptoms in 3 days. In addition, some 70% claimed to feel better on the
second day, and 20% said fever, coughs and muscle pains were reduced in as
little as 24 hours. Follow-up blood tests showed a higher level of influenza
antibodies, which would suggest that this herbal extract actually supports
immune system function.
A contemporary study at the University of Oslo by Dr.
Thomhas been very positive in its findings, and has been accepted for
publication in the Journal of International Medical Research.
The study involved 60 patients who had been suffering with flu
symptoms for 48 hours or less; 90% were infected with the A strain of the virus,
10% were infected with type B. Half the group took 15 milliliters of Elderberry
extract, and the other group took a placebo four times a day for five days.
Patients in the Elderberry group had "pronounced improvements" in flu
symptoms after three days: Nearly 90% of patients had complete cure within two
to three days. Also, the Elderberry group had no drowsiness, the downside of
many flu treatments. The placebo group didn't recover until at least day
six; they also took more painkillers and nasal sprays.
When the bird 'flu
panic started in 2005, Elderberry was tested for efficacy against that
virus, and found to be 99% effective.
Definitely something to keep in the "just in case" medicine
cabinet.
I also recommend an homeopathic combination called Oscillococcinum(previously Flu Solution). I cannot tell you the
number of times that particular miracle worker has warded off the flu for me. If
I take it at the first sign of aches, fever or sore throat, Oscillococcinum
never fails. Boiron also makes an interesting homeopathic calledInfluenzinum
which is designed to be taken once a week for 5 weeks prior to the start of flu
season as a protective measure.
This is what I recommend if you feel it is the flu that is
gaining on you:
Remember, if you are generally susceptible to the flu,
using the Influenzinum homeopathic flu prevention annually is an excellent first
line of defense.
Immediately take extra Vitamin C
- up to 500 mg an hour, stopping if you experience loose bowels:
this is a sign you are taking enough.
Also take Echinacea extract, either by
itself or in combination with such herbs as Goldenseal,
Astragalus, Garlic , Cayenne Elderberry and Schisandra .
Never use Goldenseal for longer than a week at a time.
Don't forget the Propolis
Pop your homeopathic combination under
your tongue once every hour or so
Relax in a hot bath perfumed with a blend
of aromatherapy for immune support, while you sip a cup of
herbal tea
Nourish yourself with (preferably
home-made) chicken soup ** with lots of garlic
If any of these therapies are new to you, consult your health
professional before using them: most particularly if you are taking any
medications from your Doctor. Remember, too, if your health is already
compromised, you may be wise to consider a vaccine. Otherwise, try these
suggestions, and join me in the Flu Free Club, member since 1976!
TO SHOOT OR NOT
TO SHOOT
The first thought most people have these days
when flu is mentioned, is to get the flu shot and avoid the disease entirely.
I am in two minds about this. On the one hand, I realize that there are
individuals whose health status makes it undesirable to take any risks with
possibly catching the flu, but on the other I am not convinced that flu
shots confer enough benefit when compared to the risks.
Reasons to get flu shots:
A pre-existing health condition (such
as asthma, or cardiovascular problems) means that any possibility of
catching the flu is one risk too many.
Even though the shots are largely
ineffective, they may prevent the serious complications that lead to severe
illness and possibly death
Reasons not to get flu shots:
In the presence of any immune system
deficiency, the flu shot itself becomes a risk.
There have been some suggestive figures put together that indicate negative
sides to the flu vaccine:
one, that it can further depress the immune system in older recipients, and
two, that there is a connection between these shots and some of the more
mysterious afflictions, like Guillaume Barre, MS and Chronic Fatigue.
three, and the most alarming of the lot, that there is a connection between
the flu shot and Alzheimer's disease.
(Thanks to Earl Mindell for this info)
52% of Americans aged 65 and older got flu shots in 1994 ... despite this,
figures from the U.S. Government's Centers for Disease Control show that
there has been a 44% increase in deaths among people 65 and older
from flu since 1979. Even though more than half of all Americans in this age
group get flu shots, pneumonia and influenza are still among the top ten
causes of death in the elderly. See RESOURCES for disturbing information about flu shots and the elderly.
There is no way the manufacturers of
the flu vaccines can accurately determine which strain of flu will be on the
rampage in any given year: they can only cross their fingers and guess. One
study showed that in a comparison of two elderly groups, one of which
received the flu shot, the other not, there was only a 1% difference in the
incidence of flu!
To quote Dr. Mercola: "Avoiding flu
shots is a no-brainer. Who would want ethylene glycol, phenol, formaldehyde,
aluminum and mercury injected into them? There are many expert physicians
who believe that repetitive flu vaccines are largely responsible for the
increase in Alzheimer’s disease." Perhaps we should rephrase to state
that GETTING a flu shot is a no-brainer ....
Research in 2005 done by the
Cochrane Review Group, international scientists working together,
analyzed 40 years of research, and concluded that the vaccine only works in
28% of people over 65.
Paradoxically, as one ages, and protection from the flu becomes more
vital, it becomes ever more difficult for the body to produce the antibodies
it needs to create in answer to the flu shot. Vaccines work by stimulating B
cells to produce antibodies to the foreign substance in the injection. We
know that older people, and those with compromised immune systems - those
who need the vaccine most - are not able to produce enough of the
antibodies. This would tend to suggest that an approach aimed at
supporting the immune system would be even more effective in the older
population than the flu shot. Another possible approach is to nutritionally
support and enhance the immune system for a month or so BEFORE you take the
vaccine: this would enable your body to produce the B cells needed for
protection.
An interesting take on the vaccine is given by Barbara Loe Fisher, president
of the US-based
National Vaccine Information Center. (http://www.whale.to/vaccines/nvic.html) She not only has
doubts about the flu vaccine’s reliability, saying that since experts
formulate the vaccine based on predictions of which strains will be
prevalent during a given season, there is no guarantee that a person will
not get the flu (“Sometimes they guess right, sometimes they don’t guess
right”). She also questions whether vaccinating healthy young
people against the flu instead of allowing them to recover naturally from
the virus might lead to long-term health problems.
“When more people have been exposed
to the flu shot as opposed to the disease, you have fewer and fewer people
who have any kind of permanent immunity to any strains of flu,” said
Fisher. “We become basically vaccine-dependent.”
This is excerpted from www.RedFlagsDaily.com:
Hugh Fudenberg, MD, an immunogeneticist and biologist with nearly 850
papers published in peer review journals, has reported that if an
individual had five consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980
(the years studied), his/her chances of getting Alzheimer's Disease is
ten times higher than if they had zero, one, or two shots.[vii]
Dr. Boyd Haley, Professor and Chair of the
Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, Lexington has
done extensive research in the area of mercury toxicity and the brain.
Haley’s research has established a likely connection between mercury
toxicity and Alzheimer’s disease. [viii]
In a paper published in collaboration with researchers at University
of Calgary, Haley stated that “seven of the characteristic markers
that we look for to distinguish Alzheimer's disease can be produced in
normal brain tissues, or cultures of neurons, by the addition of
extremely low levels of mercury.”[ix]
Does this prove that the mercury contained in the
influenza shot can be directly linked to Alzheimer’s? No, absolutely
not. But further research in this area is critically needed because
the absence of proof is not the “proof of absence.”[x]
[vii] Hugh Fudenberg, MD, is Founder and Director of
Research, Neurolmmuno Therapeutic Research Foundation. Information
from Dr. Hugh Fudenberg came from transcribed notes of Dr. Fudenberg's
speech at the NVIC International Vaccine Conference, Arlington, VA
September, 1997. Quoted with permission.
[viii] The Relationship of Toxic Effects of Mercury
to Exacerbation of the Medical Condition Classified as Alzheimer’s
Disease by Boyd E. Haley, PhD.
[ix] NeuroReport, 12(4):733-737, 2001
[x] http://www.testfoundation.org/
I opt against a flu shot personally. My thinking
is this: why, when the benefits are so unclear, lay myself open to risk?
Particularly since there are some weapons on the scene which make it possible to
fight the flu naturally, and which actually confer benefits on the body.
As for the latest horror, the FluMist - I need
hardly tell you what might be the consequences of spraying live vaccine into the
nasal passages of anyone with a depressed immune system, or indeed for such a
person to be around another shedding the live virus through sneezing, a natural
enough reaction to spraying something up one's nose!. Frankly, the very
amount that manufacturer Wyeth plans to spend ($100 million) on marketing
the product makes me wonder how effective it can be.
If you do feel you have to have the shot ...
Professor Jeffrey Blumberg (Human Nutrition Center on Aging,
Tuft's University) has done studies which seem to show that because immune
function declines with age, some elderly flu shot recipients do not have an
adequate response to the vaccine. He recommends supplementing with 200 i.u of
Vitamin E daily in the weeks before receiving the shot. He also supports my view
that C, B6 zinc and the carotenoids are important. This information was
published in the Chemist/Druggist, 6/13/98.
I hope that I have once again offered some safe and sensible
alternatives for a common malady! Remember, the best protection is to watch your
health all the time, and not just wait until you're sick: a healthy body
fights disease where a poorly
maintained system can succumb.
**Chicken soup has long been regarded as a remedy for symptomatic upper
respiratory tract infections. As it is likely that the clinical similarity of
the diverse infectious processes that can result in "colds" is due
to a shared inflammatory response, an effect of chicken soup in mitigating
inflammation could account for its attested benefits.
To evaluate this, a traditional chicken soup was tested for
its ability to inhibit neutrophil migration using the standard Boyden
blindwell chemotaxis chamber assay with zymosan-activated serum and
fMet-Leu-Phe as chemoattractants.
Echinacea,
Propolis and Vitamin C for Upper Respiratory Infection
Prevention in Preschoolers - http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00231218?cond=%22Common+Cold%22&rank=10
Vitamin
C and the Cold - meta-analysis -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15495002
Could
FluMist be part of the problem? - http://chetday.com/flumistvaccine.htm
Flu
shots and Alzheimer's-a disturbing report -
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/flu11.html
The
composition of Propolis -
http://yunus.hacettepe.edu.tr/~ayguns/Propolis.htm
Selenium
deficiency and
the Flu -http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20010511055027data_trunc_sys.shtml
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