To Flu shot or Not??

I've had numerous patients call to office and ask my opinion on the Flu and the Flu vaccine, so here are some of my thoughts and recommendations..

The influenza virus is constantly mutating, but every once in awhile, the virus shifts its genetic structure so much that our immune systems are challenged. (This usually happens when a flu virus found in animals - like the swine flu or the avian flu still circulating in Asia - swaps genes with other viruses in a process called re-assortment, and jumps to human beings.) A flu pandemic occurs when a new flu virus emerges for which humans have little or no immunity and then spreads easily from person to person around the world. The avian flu is not easily spread. In the 20th century we had two mild flu pandemics, in 1968 and 1957, and the severe "Spanish flu" pandemic of 1918, which killed an estimated 40 to 50 million people worldwide (Reuters News Release April 27, 2009. ... By BRYAN WALSH) By Dr. Lynn Toohey, PhD.

After reading this information and knowing the flu shot is only a guess of this year's strands....I do not recommend getting a flu shot. I instead recommend boosting your immune system! Focus on the health of your body. The flu shot will actually lower your immune system briefly, and it is not genetically coded to protect against all strands of the flu. There is also the question of if heavy metals such as mercury and aluminum are in the flu vaccine or not.

Other things you can do is avoid contact with sick individuals as much as possible, staying 3 feet away. And of course washing your hands multiple times per day will prevent spreading illness. Also, be sure to get spinal adjustments to increase the flow of your nervous system to all your vital immune organs, keeping them functionally fully.

What Can You Do To Strengthen Your Immune System?

**Homeopathics
Vinco - Vinco's Homeopathic Flu Preparation (VHFP) is a remedy I use in the office for flu prevention and therapy. It is a homeopathic that is taken by an oral dose 1 time per week for 4 weeks prior to flu season. It builds up immunity to many strains of the cold and flu virus.

Boiron-Oscillococcinum is a product used to treat flu symptoms once it has set in, but it can also be used as a prophylactic. Instead of taking the recommended dose, take 2-3 pellets per day as prevention. One dose can be used for an entire family of four.

**Pro-Biotics
80% of your immune system is in your gut lining. Start on a pro-biotic/acidophilus as soon as possible. I highly recommend the two I carry in my office. SMI powder and ABC, which in my opinion are the best. Also Bio-K, found at whole foods and central market, is a great product. Some yogurts now have pro-biotics in them, be sure to stay away from yogurt with a high sugar content. Most any high strand pro-biotic, 50billion Cells of Acidophilus plus Bifidus per serving, should be adequate. Pro-biotics must be taken on an empty stomach.

**Vitamins A, C, D3, and Zinc are all major immune supporters. Start all four of those immediately.

**Quantum Nucleotides are huge immune boosters. I carry these in the office as well. Take 2, two times per day.

**Other Immune Builders - Olive leaf powder and extract, elderberry extract, astragalus, glycerol monolaurate, and lysine. Olive leaf extract and elderberry extract are strong immune support nutrients. Researchers report that a female, taking no HIV drugs, used an elderberry extract with olive leaf extract and experienced a viral load drop from 17,000 to 4,000, and also that a placebo-controlled double-blind study demonstrated that elderberry extract led to a rapid recovery from influenza and inhibited replication of nine other strains of the flu virus. A theory is that elderberry renders viruses nonfunctional by staining and coating them (Konlee, M. A new triple combination therapy. Posit Health News. 1998 Fall;(No 17):12-4.)


What if I feel like I'm getting the Flu?

-Like any other flu, if you have been exposed to any flu virus start administrating vitamin C 1,000 mg every hour for 6 hours.
Then 1,000 mg three times daily, add Vitamin A, D3, and Zinc to this regimen as well.

-Homeopathic Remedies such as Vincos have been found to be useful in conditions of flu (Jaber R. Respiratory and allergic diseases: from upper respiratory tract infections to asthma. Prim Care. 2002 Jun;29(2):231-61.) Gelsemium and Byronia, for instance "are the two most frequently indicated homeopathic flu medicines used to treat the fluEchinacea Purp homeopathic has been found to "modulate peritoneal inflammatory reaction and have a cytoprotective action on leukocytes" (Pedalino CM, Effect of Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia in homeopathic dilution on experimental peritonitis. Homeopathy. 2004 Oct;93(4):193-8.) It is particularly helpful in controlling fever and lymphatic inflammation.

-Quantum Immune Complex by Premier Research lab, which includes Olive leaf extract along with broad-spectrum, immune-stimulating phytochemicals: oleuropein, oleuropeoside and calcium elenolate will increase recovery time.

Any of the above products can be ordered through my office and found other places. Let us know if you feel you need help through this.