What Do I Do This Winter If I Can’t Get a Flu Shot?
By Susan Mosley
Why are we so obsessed about this? According to the CDC, last year’s flu shot was only 0-60% effective! Vaccine designers have to guess a year in advance which strain of virus is likely to be prevalent, and their estimates often are incorrect. Only 753 deaths last year were attributed to the flu itself; the majority of deaths (a widely quoted 36,000 number) occurred from complications such as pneumonia in nursing home patients age 85 and older. Additionally, the vaccine contains mercury and formaldehyde, not substances you would normally be happy to put in your body!
If you are in good health with a healthy diet, and take minimal precautions, you are not likely to catch the flu. And if you do get it, you can certainly decrease the severity and length of symptoms. People at high risk with chronic illnesses should avoid crowds and sick people, or at least do like the Chinese and wear a barrier mask to prevent droplet transmission.
To keep your immune system at peak performance you must:
Avoid chemical toxins in cigarettes; cleaning products; preservatives, dyes, and antibiotics in food; environmental pollution; job exposure to
chemicals and dyes; and over the counter or prescription drugs. All these products produce free radicals, which decrease your immunity.
If you are unable to avoid exposure to these substances, the next best thing is to take the herbs milk thistle and/or dandelion to protect the liver and assist with detoxification.
Eat a good diet: the people who ingest more caffeine, alcohol, high fat, preservatives, and sugars are sicker, with more frequent infections, auto-immune and degenerative diseases and cancers.
As little as one teaspoon of sugar can reduce your immune response for up to 6 hours! We are bombarded with sugar every day, even in products you think are healthy, including yogurt, protein bars,
A diet rich in organic vegetables, grains, nuts, fruits, seeds, and sea vegetables, with small amounts of organic meats and healthy fats enhances immunity, heart health, prevents cancer, and relieves female
menstrual problems. Remember, nutrients and vitamins obtained from whole foods are more effective than synthetic supplements!
According to traditional Chinese medicine, we need to vary our diet according to the seasons. For example, eat heartier and warm ‘comfort’ foods in fall and winter: like soups, root vegetables, squashes, and
dried fruits. Don’t eat salads, tropical fruits, and iced drinks this time of year!
Get plenty of sleep: most Americans are chronically sleep deprived. Is it really going to kill you to miss “Desperate Housewives”? Keep the TV out of the bedroom and tape what you want to watch later.
Moderate physical exercise is vital, but overwork or inactivity also stresses your immune system. Walking is cheap and no special equipment or training necessary.
Reduce your stress levels. Practice stress relief activities like meditation, listening to music, or prayer. Just 5 minutes of downtime will help tremendously. Take a stretch break at work, with the
phone off and computer ignored. Learn how to say no to those energy vampires!
Dress appropriately for the weather. Chinese healers traditionally thought that you contracted illness through open pores and exposure to cold, damp, and wind. Of course, we know now that it is more
complicated than that! But keeping your neck and head covered, and avoid getting chilled after sweating outdoors, will help avoid stressing your system.
In short, your mother was right: eat your veggies, go to bed early, wear your coat and scarf, quit watching that TV, and get some exercise in the sunshine and fresh air!
What else can I do?
Wash your hands!! OK, I’ll admit it: I am one of those people who don’t wash my hands in public restrooms! Just think about it: infected people who don’t wash deposit their germs on the doorknob on their way out of the bathroom and you just contaminate your hands when you open the door! Instead I keep a bottle of liquid or foam alcohol hand cleaner in my purse and use it when I get back to the table! Either that or you must use a paper towel to turn off the faucets after washing up and open the door. Hospital staff have switched to using these cleansers instead of soap and water; they are quicker to use, and more potent.
If you are going to be in an enclosed area with recirculated air, like in a church, classroom, or on an airplane, take one of the many preventative over the counter remedies (like Airborne, or Resistance Support Formula from Douglas Labs). These products contain proven immune enhancing antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and selenium, plus other antibiotic and antiviral herbs like garlic, Echinacea, and ginseng. Again, wash your hands, and stay at least 3 feet away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your face after touching surfaces where germs may live, like on doorknobs or telephones.
Take your vitamins! Vitamin C in particular reduces the severity of colds, decreases allergic responses, and protects the respiratory passages. High doses increase the production of lymphocytes, and mobilize cells that kill cancer cells, viruses, and bacteria.
The Chinese have been using herbal preparations for thousands of years to treat epidemics as well as for preventative medicine. Astragalus is used in most of these formulas to stimulate the immune system and enhance energy. Dr. Andrew Weil is a big supporter of astragalus use.
Mushrooms like reishi, maitake, or shiitake fight viruses and cancer. Most health food or supplement stores have these extracts.
Garlic is antibacterial, and also effective against viruses, fungi, and parasites. Garlic treats ear and sinus infections; protects the liver from chemical damage; lowers blood cholesterol, LDLs and triglycerides; and thins the blood. Concentrated garlic capsules are just as effective as the real thing. Eat it throughout the winter, and increase your intake if you are symptomatic.
If you have asthma or allergies or are prone to frequent colds and flu, you can take the herbal formula Jade windscreen (or Yu Ping Feng San), as a preventative.
What do I do if I still get sick?
Suppose you still manage to come across that ‘super bug’ and end up with bronchitis, strep throat, an ear infection, sinus infections, cough, headaches, fever and chills, sore throat, or stomach flu. At least 20 strong Chinese herbal formulas are available to treat your symptoms, and help you get well more quickly. Plus, these products don’t have the irritating side effects of prescription medications or overt the counter drugs: no drowsiness, nightmares, muddled thinking, racing heart, or over dried sinuses and eyes! Contact your Chinese herbalist for the best formula for your symptoms.
Zinc supplementation decreases the frequency and severity of colds and sore throats. Use 30-50 mg/day. One nasal gel preparation (Zicam) has been shown by the Cleveland Clinic to drastically reduce (75%) the severity and duration of symptoms, but some people complained of permanent loss of smell. No such problems have been noted with the zinc lozenges.
Take the strongest extract of Echinacea you can find when you have a cold or flu. Take it daily throughout your illness, but for no more than 10 days. It is NOT useful for prevention!
Stay at home. Don’t spread your illness to your friends and co-workers and customers! Cover your mouth and nose when you cough. You can infect people for up to 7 days after getting sick! After you get well, throw away the tissue box, your germ filled toothbrush, and other items that you used. Don’t share your cold remedies with family members, as the viruses can live on surfaces for a short time.
Your doctor has antiviral products such amantadine and rimantadine that you can take if you get the flu, but these drugs can have side effects such as anxiety, headaches, seizures, and I would strictly avoid them.
Quick recipes for treating colds and flu:
For chills and fever, with headache, body aches, and clear nasal discharge:
The classic Chinese formula is ginger and green onion tea. Start drinking it immediately when you notice symptoms. Other good tea ingredients include garlic, ginger, cilantro, cinnamon, basil, cayenne,
horseradish, sage, and mustard. These items will help open the sinuses, and fight off the viral invader.
However, if you have a high fever, sore throat, yellow nasal discharge, and raspy cough, you need:
to cool off with mint or chrysanthemum tea, cabbage broth, dandelion, and licorice tea. Eat lots of apples and pears, and drink lots of juice and water.
Sweat it out! Why do we have fevers in the first place? To raise the body temperature and kill the invading pathogen. Many native healers seek to drive the ‘evil’ out through the pores by inducing sweating.
Try these sweating techniques only at the very beginning stages of illness, and not if you are obese, hypertensive, pregnant, or chronically ill. The easiest way is to drink one of the hot teas listed above, while soaking your feet in a pan of hot water. Wrap your whole body and head in blankets. Induce sweating for 5-10 minutes. Then dress in dry clothing and rest in bed.
White fungus soup is great for alleviating cough and thirst.
You’ve probably eaten the white wood ear fungus in Chinese restaurants. It is translucent, chewy, and frilly looking. Take 6-8 white fungi (buy at oriental markets) and soak the mushrooms in warm
water one hour until soft. Cut into small pieces. Boil the wood ears, and 2 tablespoons of honey, in 3 cups of water. Simmer on low for up to 2 hours. Take as needed.
If you feel like you need a bit more nourishment, try this recipe:
Soak and chop 10-15 white fungus. Cook them in a crock-pot with 5-6 slices of fresh ginger, 1 lb. chopped chicken, 5 cups of chicken stock or water, and 1 teaspoon salt.
As you can see, it is easy to prevent and treat contagious illness, without resorting to dangerous and ineffective treatments. Please contact your herbalist or nutritionist for more information.
For more information call:
Susan Mosley, LAC, Dipl. C.H.
Four Seasons Wellness
6245 Vance Road, Suite B
Chattanooga TN 37421
423-596-9024
www.fourseasonswellness.com
This article was posted by susan mosley
