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Flu Vaccine Shortage?
Count Your Blessings!
By Thomas S. Lee, NMD
Many Americans are worried about not being able to
get a flu shot this season. Should the flu vaccine shortage
add fear and uncertainty to our lives? Maybe, if the vaccine
really protected us from the flu. But despite the
fear-mongering among our politicians and major media, the flu
vaccine shortage hardly rates a colored alert.
Don't misunderstand me, concern for your family
health is worth making an effort at education and planning. So
before you fret about missing your flu shot, let's consider where
else that protection can be found.
About the Flu
About the
Flu Vaccination
Contraindications
to the Flu Vaccine
Before
Making a Decision on Flu Prevention
Guidelines for Strengthening the Immune System
Guidelines
for Keeping Up Personal Defenses
First Aid
for Flu Symptoms
Supplements to
Help in the Early Phase
For More Help
Millions of people catch the flu and only experience
mild symptoms. Many more are exposed and acquire immunity
without ever noticing symptoms. Even if symptoms are not
severe, the body will produce antibodies that remember that specific
virus for a very long time, possibly life-long. The Centers
for Disease Control present mortality rates from the flu that are
combined with those from pneumonia. When reading these
statistics in context, it does not suggest a high flu mortality rate
in the U.S. in modern years.
The influenza virus is usually a form of coronavirus
and is quickly spread through coughing and sneezing, contact with
common surfaces, and unwashed hands. Touching your own eyes,
nose, or mouth with your own contaminated hands or fingers is the
most common way this virus is naturally "vaccinated" into our
bodies.
Once in your body, if you are vulnerable, a virus
will incubate without noticable symptoms for a couple of days.
Then the dreaded flu symptoms of fever, chills, aching, coughs, and
fatigue last two or three days, and will usually subside and be gone
in a week. After an individual has had the flu, their body
will have produced antibodies that protect them from the same strain
of virus for a prolonged period of time.
Complications from influenza infection are very rare
and may occur in individuals with an underlying medical condition,
those over 65 years of age, and young children that have a
predisposition to respiratory infections. Pneumonia is the
primary complication of influenza and can result in hospitalization
or death in those who are at extremely high risk for complications.
The flu vaccination offers temporary protection from
specific strains of the influenza virus. Over 500 different
viruses can cause flu-like symptoms, and the three most common
strains seen in the previous year are used to make the vaccine.
Viral adaptation is rapid and constant. It takes about two
weeks after a flu shot for your antibody levels to be able to
protect you. These antibodies then lose their effectiveness
within a few months.
Below are the ingredients in two common flu
vaccines, as described in another
article on our site:
FLUSHIELD: Influenza Virus Vaccine,
Trivalent, Types A & B. Wyeth-Ayerst, 1-800-934-5556.
Produced using gentamicin sulfate, formaldehyde, polysorbate 80,
tri(n) butylphosphate, and thimerosol (mercury). Medium:
chick embryos.
FLU VIRIN: Influenza Virus Vaccine.
Medeva Pharmaceuticals, 1-888-MEDEVA, 716-274-5300. Produced
using embryonic fluid (chicken egg), neomycin, polymyxin, thimerosol
(mercury), and betapropiolactone. Medium: embryonic
fluid (chicken egg).
According to Health Canada, the influenza
vaccination is only recommended for those who are at high risk for
developing serious complications from the flu. It is ironic
that mercury is proven to be more harmful than the vaccines
themselves are proven to be helpful. The very people who are
most in need of protection are the most vulnerable to the metal
poisons in the vaccine.
The high-risk groups mentioned above include people
aged 65 years or older; those with chronic diseases such as
diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, or immunosuppressive disorders;
children on long-term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, or
aspirin); health-care workers; residents, workers, and
volunteers at nursing homes, chronic-care facilities, and retirement
homes; and women who are more than three months pregnant.
Health Canada also found that for their clients over
65 years of age, the efficacy rate of the vaccine is less than 30
percent. 75 percent have prolonged soreness (up to 2 days) at
the site of the injection. Not surprisingly, children are at
the greatest risk of side effects, which include the primary
identifiers of the flu itself, with severe allergic and paralytic
illnesses.
We have not been able to locate any studies that
differentiate between the effects of the vaccine and those of the
proven toxic effects of its added ingredients. Inexplicably,
the FDA does not require these studies of the manufacturer.
According the manufacturers, the flu vaccination
should not be given to persons with an acute respiratory infection
or with any other active infection or serious febrile (fever)
illness. So do NOT attempt to treat an active case of the flu
with a vaccination.
The vaccination also should not be used by persons
who develop anaphylactic-type reactions (hives, swelling of the
mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, hypotension, or shock) when
they eat eggs. Also, anyone with an active neurological
disorder should avoid vaccination until they are stabilized.
To work properly, the vaccine must be introduced
into a body with a normal immune system. So persons who are
immuno-suppressed, either intentionally with steroids or from the
effects of a disease, should not be vaccinated.
Thimerosal -- which contains mercury -- is commonly
used as a preservative in flu vaccines and many others.
Mercury has been implicated in many severe neurological and
immunological disorders. If these symptoms are a concern, do
NOT vaccinate.
If you have already had the flu this year, you have
developed antibodies to the current influenza virus.
Antibodies, developed by the body when you have the flu, are more
robust than the antibodies that result from a flu shot, and they
will protect you for a longer time than a flu shot.
The selection of which influenza strains are to make
up the vaccine is a best guess from among the last year's three most
prevalent strains. No one knows which will be the most
prevalent strains of flu virus in any given season. The
vaccine only promotes temporary (two to three months) of immunity to
the viral strains used to make it. The only proven way to get
natural and long-term immunity to a given strain of the influenza
virus is to recover naturally from an infection with it.
Vaccine production involves formaldehyde, heavy
metals such as mercury, and antibiotics. There are many
concerns about all of these substances in human health, especially
with repeated exposures. While basic research is needed about
their effect on the human body, there are no long-term safety
studies on vaccine use. Worse, there is no regulatory or legal
pressure to conduct them. None. That means that
vaccination is an unproven, unscientific remedy, and is inherently
dangerous.
Vaccinations prevent the body from naturally
responding to external pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.
Those who maintain a strong healthy immune system will protect
themselves naturally from adverse effects of the flu. They
will build permanent immunity and decrease the potential for
developing unknown side effects from long-term exposure to the viral
fragments. They will thus be less likely carriers of the virus
to their loved ones and co-workers.
The flu vaccination was developed by the allopathic
health care system to decrease the risk of contracting the influenza
virus. However, the best way of preventing any flu or
complications from any virus is through prevention. Prevention
is most surely achieved with daily healthy habits that ensure an
optimum immune system and overall health. A strong immune
system is the most effective prevention strategy against the flu or
any other disease.
The best protection from infectious diseases is a
robust immune system and healthy daily habits. Some general
recommendations for maintaining a strong immune system are as
follows.
Regular health care visits with an experienced
naturopathic doctor will help you identify any health and immune
system concerns early to strengthen or rebalance your system.
Work with a natural doctor to identify the daily healthy regimes or
additional supplements that will best help you.
Becoming or staying active in keeping yourself
healthy will ensure you against most disease and illness far more
surely and affordably than most medical insurance.
Maintain an optimal nutrient intake and a strong
digestive function by:
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Eating 5-8 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables
daily, including garlic, onions, thyme, and oregano in your meals
to boost the immune system and protect you from disease organisms.
Use moist cooking methods for meats and vegetables, as this
preserves nutrients and makes good foods more digestible.
-
Supplementing with an appropriate group of
nutrients and "superfoods" that might include living-food
multivitamins, colostrum, probiotic formulations, amino acids,
garlic (fresh or encapsulated), Larix or larch sugars, Vitamin C
and MSM, colloidal minerals, and other products you can study or
be taught about by natural health professionals.
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Using appropriate and delicious culinary herbs in
your food preparations will add nutrients and improve your
digestion. Optimal immune system strength, as with other
life functions, requires a healthy digestion.
-
Avoiding sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and
recreational drugs, which reduce your immune functions -- most
particularly during seasonal weather changes and when exposed to
other people who are ill.
-
Drinking enough filtered water -- around 6-8
glasses per day. People drink less in the winter, adding
stress to the liver, kidneys, and colon. Frequent sips
through the day are better than occasional large drinks.
-
Not overeating, because it takes more energy to
digest the food. Adding more stress to the digestive organs
will lower your immunity.
Wash your hands with soap and water regularly and
avoid close contact with anyone who is not well. When
traveling or in public gatherings, view all common surfaces as
contaminated. Use paper barriers, washcloths, and disposable
wipes when possible.
Wear adequate clothing. During the change of
season, err on the side of being too heavily dressed versus chilled.
Get enough rest and sleep. Become sober or
come down from any recreational high before going to sleep.
Otherwise, the quality of your rest will suffer, as the "morning
after" will prove.
Exercise on a daily basis. Stretching,
walking, swimming, working out at a health club, doing yoga, or even
dancing when done on a regular basis will assist in maintaining a
healthy body.
Spend ten to fifteen minutes a day focusing on your
breathing, with twice as long on the exhale as the inhale.
Good times for this are upon waking and before bed.
Lower your stress with meditation, massage, or
playing with family and pets, because stress depresses the immune
system, while joy and fun is proven to strengthen it.
If you develop flu-like symptoms, stay home, limit
your exposure to others, and allow your body time to recover using
the following hints.
Upon the first sensation of an attack, move quickly
to warm up your body. Drink some hot herbal teas, take a hot
bath, and get into a warm bed for a lot of sleep. The earlier
you can catch this with these powerful methods, the less misery and
the shorter your recovery time.
Herbal teas that are helpful include any single or
combination of the following herbs in teas: Peppermint,
Yarrow, Elder, Goldenseal, Echinacea, Ginger, Rhodiola, Lomatia,
Lonicera, Forsythia, and many others. You can sweeten these
with a little honey, licorice, or stevia if that helps you get down
several mugs of your tea every day you are working to defeat the
flu.
A
cleansing enema
before the hot bath and bed will also help clear the lower colon and
free up more strength for your immune system in the coming battle.
Make a solution of 1 tsp. of salt and 1 tsp. of baking soda in 2
qts. of warm water.
We offer a recipe for
NaturoDoc’s Own Flu Soup
that many have found helpful. If you have a Thai restaurant
nearby when you feel this coming on, stop for a takeout container of
"Tom Yum Gai" or "Tom Kha Gai," which are Thai chicken soups that
include a marvelous antibacterial herb called Galangal that will
help with your oncoming viral battle. Eat a little of this
before getting to bed if you are hungry, but don’t fill up with a
big meal.
Take Vitamin C and MSM at one gram each every 2
hours you are awake during the first 24 hours, then 4 times a day
after that for a week or so. A multivitamin/mineral capsule
with the soup or a tea, and Vitamin A and D in an amount of 20,000
IU's A and 2,000 IU's D.
If you have no Vitamins A and D, but you do have cod
liver oil, put a teaspoon of that in a small glass, add about a cup
of cool water, and squeeze a half a lemon into it if you fear a
taste problem. Stir the water and oil vigorously, then chug
the whole cup of water.
Chinese patent medicines such as Gan Mao Ling or Yin
Chiao, at 5 or 6 tablets a time, might help before that first sleep
as well. We have listed some preferred supplements for
prevention, first aid treatment, and recovery from long and tough
cases of the flu. Click on the names below and read the
descriptions to see if you have comparable supplements ready should
you or your family need them.
Samento, a liquid extract of the Peruvian herb Cat's
Claw (Una de Gato), is a powerful immune booster that is taken as a
few drops in water 1-3 times per day. Samento combats
infections from colds and flu and eliminates the need for
antibiotics. For more information on the amazing properties of
Samento, vist the
Samento
Science Library.
Please don't begrudge the time you give yourself to
defeat the flu. Consider this extra rest time a sure
investment to save you many extra days of misery and lost work if
the virus is able to get a strong grip on you. Also, in the
early phase you are most infectious, even before you know you are
sick. If you can help yourself and teach others to minimize or
the prevent the flu, we'll all find less risk of this in the times
to come.
If you feel attacked and need help planning your
campaign, you can set up a phone or email consultation by calling my
office toll-free at 1-877-867-4743 in the U.S. We can talk about how to direct this treatment for you in the
most effective and affordable manner. Just having a plan will
help get you rest easier and get control of this infection.
Our featured supplements to prevent or treat flu are
divided into three phases: preventative, treatment, and
recuperation. All of these powerful products are described in
detail and available for purchase online in the NaturoDoc Store.
Preventive: To help build immunity
ahead of time
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EpiCor - High-potency immune support.
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Gan Mao Ling - Chinese flu remedy.
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Larch - A natural fiber that strengthens the digestive and
immune systems.
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Lugol's Iodine - Support for the metabolic, immune system,
and thyroid functions.
-
Probiotics - Repopulates good bacteria in the
gastrointestinal tract to build resistance to infection.
-
ViraCon - Herbal support for the immune system.
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WinterWell - Supports a healthy immune system and upper
respiratory functions, and helps in managing normal daily stress.
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Zinc Citrate - Highly absorbable immune support.
Treatment: To reduce symptoms and
speed recovery if you get the flu
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Immune Support - Herbal support for the immune system.
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Echinacea Extract - Herbal support for colds.
-
Larch - A natural fiber that strengthens the digestive and
immune systems.
-
Lugol's Iodine - Support for the metabolic, immune system,
and thyroid functions.
-
Livit-2
- Liver rebuilder, based on a classic
Ayurvedic formula.
-
Probiotics - Repopulates good bacteria in the
gastrointestinal tract to build resistance to infection.
-
Samento - A Peruvian herbal extract, also known as Cat's
Claw or Uña de Gato, having a proven ability to strengthen the
immune system and combat degenerative diseases.
-
Triphala - Traditional Ayurvedic herbal formula for
digestion and purification.
-
ViraCon - Herbal support for the immune system.
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Vitamin D3 - Maintains bone density and protects against
cancer. Necessary for the assimilation of Vitamin A and
calcium.
-
WinterWell - Improves symptoms in as little as two days,
including nasal secretion, sore throat, fatigue, sleep
disturbance, and the frequency and intensity of coughing.
-
Zinc Citrate - Highly absorbable immune support.
Recuperation: To support your
recovery once you’re starting to get well
-
Ashwaganda - Ayurvedic herb for handling stress and
enhancing stamina.
-
DIM - Estrogen regulator; assists with fat loss,
muscle growth, cancer protection, and hormone balancing for both
men and women.
-
Lugol's Iodine - Support for the metabolic, immune system,
and thyroid functions.
-
Livit-2 - Liver rebuilder, based on a classic
Ayurvedic formula.
-
Triphala - Traditional Ayurvedic herbal formula for
digestion and purification.
-
Vitamin D3 - Maintains bone density and protects against
cancer. Necessary for the assimilation of Vitamin A and
calcium.
-
Zinc Citrate - Highly absorbable immune support.
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