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Flu 2006
Flu season is upon us once again and with it comes the decision whether or not to get a flu shot. Last year 3600 people died from the flu while another 200,000 required hospitalization. Many of the sickest were infants and seniors. Before you rush right out and get a flu shot consider the following information.
Two–thirds of medical professionals do not get a flu shot. The flu vaccine is made from last year's flu virus and is a cocktail of what medical epidemiologists guess will be the virus that may be the "big one" this year—no one knows for sure which strain this will be each year until it actually hits.
Also consider that before 1980 vaccination rates for seniors were between 15 and 20 percent and since 1980 have gone up to 65 percent—but the death rate from influenza has not significantly changed.
So, does the flu vaccine offer any substantial protection? I have patients who swear by it. I have patients who swear at it. My sense is that if it makes you feel better, by all means go ahead. Even if it's only good for the placebo effect, studies who that placebos work one–third of the time.
There is some research that suggest getting the flu shot more than several years in a row can be harmful due to the accumulated dosage of heavy metals (primarily mercury) used as a preservative.
Remember that the flu is a virus and, like any virus, antibiotics are useless against them. The best offense agains these pathogens is a good defense—and this means keeping our immune systems in tip–top shape. So whether or not you get a flu shot, there are several things you can do to prevent and treat a viral attack this flu season.
First of all, wash your hands every chance you get. This has been demonstrated to be one of the moss effective ways to prevent the transmission of viruses. The recommended time to scrub with soapy water is ten seconds, roughly the time it takes to sing a verse of "Happy Birthday".
At the first sign of a cold of flu, be sure to take the Chinese herbal pill Gan Mao Ling. These inexpensive and highly effective tablets are easy to take and will stop a cold or flu in it's tracks if you take it right away. Take four to six tablets every four hours until you feel better. I generally recommend taking it for an extra day or two to prevent a relapse, which seems to be a common occurrence with viral infections.
While we may think we have fully recovered, often our immune systems are on the borderline of ridding our body of the germs. If we resume our regular actiivites before we are 100 percent better we may fall victim to the super germs that survive in our systems.
Another useful supplement is cholostrum, which stimulates the immune system by giving it the nutrition it needs to stay strong. When newborn babies are breast–fed, the very fist milk they receive is full of cholostrum, which helps build their immune systems. As adults, we can take advantage of these same elements by ingesting the same immune boosting factors in pill form.
We have all heart that Vitamin C is good for the immune system—and indeed it is—but a new theory says that Vitamin D may also be important in keeping our immune systems healthy. Those of us who live above the 40th parallel do not receive enough sunshine in the winter months to allow our bodies to produce this vitamin naturally. Supplementing with 200 IUs of vitamin D each day may very well be an important factor in supporting our immune system during the winter months.
Finally, consider getting acupuncture to boost your immune system and to prevent or speed recovery from any viral infection. As we approach the holidays, which can be stressful, remember to take time out for yourself. Staying hydrated and getting enough rest are always important ways to take care of yourself. If you find that you need some extra TLC to stay health this season, by all means consider the benefits of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
© 2006 Larry Forsberg. All rights reserved.
Articles posted on this Web site are for personal use only and remain the property of Larry Forsberg, L.Ac.
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