Could it possibly be flu season again?

Yep!  While I wasn't looking, it sneaked up on me.  It's flu season again.  And, with the season, come those alarmist urgings to get the flu vaccine.  In my next newsletter, I hope to deal with the topic of vaccines in a more general way; but for now, I'll just raise the question: Is having yourself or your kids immunized really a good idea?  Is there a better way to safeguard your health?  Let's take a look at this.

"Your life just might depend on the flu vaccine!!!"

According to conventional wisdom (the CDC), every child between the ages of six months and 18 years should get a flu shot.  We're told that it's just plain irresponsible to not protect your child in this way. 

However, flu vaccines are not really all that effective, and they pose very real risks to you and your children (more on that in my next newsletter).  Especially in the context of all the other vaccines recommended by the CDC, a flu shot has the potential for very serious side effects. 

And, in case you're wondering, FluMist isn't any better than the shot; in fact, it has been linked to at least one death in the US.  Tamiflu has been linked to at least 14 deaths in Japan, as well as 32 cases of "neuropsychiatric events", including delirium, hallucinations, convulsions and encephalitis.  And, of course, there are also the reports of people getting the flu from the shot itself.

Do you really weigh over 550 pounds?

Another concern with flu vaccinations is the issue of the mercury, used as a preservative, in flu vaccines.  According to the EPA and CDC, the amount of mercury used per vaccine exceeds the toxic level for a person who weighs over 550 pounds.  Chances are pretty good that the level of toxicity for you is much greater.

Flu shot: No better than placebo

To add insult to injury, a report published in the October 2008 issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine indicates that flu vaccination is not very effective in children.  The study found that, during two recent flu seasons, vaccinating young children against the flu appeared to have no impact on flu-related doctor visits or hospitalizations.  In fact, after adjusting their results for potentially relevant variables, the researchers concluded that "significant influenza vaccine effectiveness could not be demonstrated for any season, age, or setting."  In fact, a systematic review of 51 studies, involving 260,000 children, age 6 to 23 months, and published in 2006 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found no evidence that the flu vaccine is any more effective for children than a placebo.

Natural solutions offer the better option to the flu vaccine

Considering all of this, it's much better to take steps to prevent the flu — naturally.  One of the best ways to do this is simply to wash your hands regularly.  dōTERRA^® offers a number of helpful products to optimize your hygiene, from On Guard Foaming Hand Wash to On Guard Spray and Hand Wipes.  If you begin to notice symptoms, using Thieves Fresh Essence mouthwash, either as a gargle or a nose swab, can be highly effective at knocking down a cold or flu.  Using a saline nasal flush is also a great idea.  I've used the NeilMed Sinus Rinse, but it would be better to use a neti pot and Himalayan Cristal Salt.  Of course, it's also a important to avoid sugar, refined or processed foods, an inactive lifestyle and stress.  Doing something like tai chi could be very effective for this.

I've also found it very helpful to mix about 3-5 drops of melaleuca oil with a bit of honey on a spoon and take that, making sure to allow the honey/oil mixture to dissolve on my tongue.  You can do this about every 20 minutes, when you feel symptoms first coming on; 2-3 times a day thereafter should work fine.

Adding supplements to your diet is also very helpful.  Something simple, like On Guard protecting throat drops, taken at the first sign of symptoms — or, better yet, as a protective measure — can do wonders.

Vitamin D: the magic bullet to ward off flu

There is also a growing body of research that suggests that vitamin D may be a key in avoiding flu.  The international media is full of reports on this, but is an essentially untold story here, in the US.

In order to prevent the flu:

• children need 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D,
• adults need anywhere from 4,000 to 5,000 IU per day.

And, vitamin D can be used to treat the flu, as well.  The therapeutic dose is 2,000 IU for each kilogram of body weight (a kilogram is roughly 2.2 pounds).  This should be taken once a day, for three days. 

Other helpful supplements to fight the flu

Other supplements that would be very helpful include Alpha CRS, Radical Fruits and/or Fruits of Life, for antioxidant protection, RM-10 or RM-10 ULTRA to nourish your immune system and Perfect Food Berry for powerful nutrient support.  Of course, vitamin C is always important.

And, therapeutic-grade essential oils are among the most powerful anti-infectious substances on earth.  The On Guard blend offers excellent protection.  But frankincense, myrrh and citrus oils like lemon and wild orange are other powerful oils that will fight infections and boost your immune system.  Many other oils are very beneficial, as well.  If in doubt, check with your Desk Reference or send me an email.

One other thing that I almost forgot: glandular supplements can be really good, both for warding off the flu and for getting over it more quickly, if it catches you.  Particularly, glandulars that support the lungs, adrenal glands and lymphatic system and thymus.  I've used these for 25+ years, and I've found them more effective than most anything else.

More on how to avoid the flu:

Check out the following for more information on what you can do to avoid the flu this year.

• How to avoid getting the flu
• 'T'is the season … for flu
• Helpful products for the cold and flu season

Further reading:

• Mandatory Flu Shots for Preschoolers Cause Outrage
• Do Flu Shots Work?  Ask A Vaccine Manufacturer
• What Door Handles Actually Kill Bacteria? (An interesting article about how copper home fixtures could actually save countless lives every year, since copper items have up to 95% fewer bacteria on their surfaces than non-copper versions.  Copper is even effective against the super-buga, MRSA and C difficile.
• What You Don´t Know about the Flu Shot CAN Hurt You (speaks of the dangers and ineffectiveness of the flu vaccine, and offers a natural alternative.)

Sources:

• It's Flu Season!  Is the Flu Shot the Answer to Keeping Your Children Healthy?
• Why Flu Shots For Kids Don't Work
• U.S. Government Ignores Flu Vaccine Death
• What is the Real Cause of Influenza Epidemics?
• Vitamin D: as close to a magic bullet as you can get?