The pressure to get a flu vaccination. If you know there is no egg allergy and injecting mercury and aluminum doesn't bother you, go right ahead. Sorry, I got melodramatic there.
The truth about the vaccine is that it will be the best-educated guess that can be made to protect you from two or three of the new season's influenza viruses.
You will NOT make your own immunity to flu. This will make you reliant on the vaccine when you are older, more vulnerable, and have not developed natural immunity. The major side effect of the flu vaccine is peripheral neuropathy. That is numbness, tingling, and/or pain of the fingers, hands, toes, or feet. If it happens, there is no cure. If you are immune compromised or are caring for an immune compromised person, it may be worthwhile to get the shot.
This year the CCD (Center for Disease Control & Prevention) is stating that "effectiveness downward even further (from last year,) from 23% to 18% this year." 18%.... so why are they handing it out like candy? Because your insurance can be billed! So pharmaceutical companies can make more money too! Drug stores are not doing you a favor pushing it on you, they are doing themselves a favor by padding their pockets. The real kicker is, when you do still get the flu, you probably buy flu medications from them too. Double dippers.
Thinking about having your child get the vaccine via a nasal spray? There’s more bad news: "Early numbers show that for the second flu season in a row, the FluMist nasal spray, aimed mainly at children, didn’t work at all for kids ages 2 through 8," states the CDC again.
For those who opt out of the flu vaccine, and for those who still get the flu with the vaccine, and for everyone looking for the best protection you can give yourself, you have options.
Heel USA makes a homeopathic injections that boost the immune system. It is all natural with no known side effects. The way it works is you come in and get an Engystol injection, then the next week you no injection is done. The third week Engystol again, after that you are done. This will dramatically boost your immune system. The cost of this is $70 total.
One of my patients is a homeopath. She gave me a unique way to use Boiron Oscillococcinum. It is a homeopathic remedy, you may have seen TV commercials for it in the past. It is available at drug stores and health food stores. It should be bought fresh for the season since it will have protection against the new season's bugs. It will be protected against all of the new possible flu strains, not just 2 or 3 flu. (So last year's box is not appropriate anymore.) Simply fill the little bottle top to the top with some of the sugar pellets. Put them under your tongue and let them dissolve. You will only need one bottle top per week. So just pick a good day and do this weekly. A box of these will last you all winter taken this way.
You may also use any of the classic herbs and remedies for colds and flu:
- echinacea (if you don't have hay fever)
- isatis (Ban Lan Gen)
- Yin Qiao San or Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan
- Gan Mao Ling
- Pu Ji Xiao Du Wan
- Sang Ju Wan
- Black elderberry extract
- San She Dan Chuan Bei Ye (glass vials)
- zinc
- vit C
- colloidal silver
- bovine colostrum (if you can use dairy)
- Bing De Ling
When you feel something coming on, instead of bundling up with blankets or taking a hot shower, try heating your internal body first. Brothy soups with lots of onions and/or garlic will heat your internal body. Ginger, cinnamon, chai or other hot herb teas are good. This is the theory behind the classic hot toddy. It warms you from the inside. Exercising to cause a sweat as soon as you feel something coming on will help. We believe the heat going out from your core will push the pathogen back outward.
For a sore throat you should put 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Each hour gargle with one mouthful. You may spit it out or swallow it. The next day gargle with one mouthful every 2 hours. There will not be a third day. This is so acidic it kills bacteria, even strep throat.
As always, you can always call me, even if you haven't been actively seeing me. I'll have you drop by so I can muscle test you and see which herbs will work best. You don't need to pay for an appointment since this takes only 5 minutes.
If you actually have an appointment, I will perform acupuncture and possibly do some cupping or gua sha you to get you well fast. Print and keep these ideas and put them inside your medicine cabinet.
Healthy winter,
Roxy