|
Every year as October rolls around, I get asked this question over and over by multiple patients. Hopefully, this newsletter will inform you, and allow you to make the best possible decision for yourself.
If You Get The Flu Shot
 Most people are led to believe that the flu shot will prevent them from getting the flu and comes without risk or side effects. We are bombarded by ads in drugstores and even in some grocery stores that are offering the flu shot.
Most people don't even think to inquire what type of flu vaccine they are getting and what is actually in these vaccines. There are several flu vaccines all with various risks.
Each year, federal health agency officials guess which three flu strains are most likely to be prevalent in the U.S. the next year to determine which strains will be included in that following year's flu vaccine. If you came into contact with the exact strain that is in the vaccine, the flu shot is thought to be 70-90 percent effective.
If you are above 65 years old the efficacy reduces to about 40 percent, but has been noted to have an 80 percent efficacy in preventing death from the strains in the vaccine. For the 2013-2014 season the trivalent vaccine strains contain the following:
- A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
- A(H3N2) virus antigenically like the cell-propagated prototype virus A/Victoria/361/2011
- A B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus.
There is a quadrivalent vaccine that contains an added B strain, where traditionally the vaccines had 2 type A viruses and one type B. The flu vaccine is only as effective as whether these strains were guessed correctly or you come in contact with these strains.
Most of the flu vaccines contain egg proteins, known as ovalbumin. If you are sensitive to eggs or chicken, which I can muscle test for, not a good idea to shoot something you are allergic to into your blood. This year there is an option for an egg free flu vaccine, but egg may be the least of your problems.
The different flu vaccines contain some, all, or none of the following: mercury, formaldehyde, MSG, a live virus, or a dead virus. Here is a partial list: Afluria- contains mercury in multidose, Fluarix- contains formaldehyde, Flulaval- contains mercury and formaldehyde, Fluvirin- mercury in multidose, Fluzone- contains mercury and formaldehyde, Flumist- contains MSG and the live virus.
The flu vaccine can weaken the immune system and cause a predisposition to other illnesses like allergies and certain autoimmune diseases. The flu vaccine has been linked to an increase risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, a very severe peripheral nervous system disease, which can lead to paralysis and death.
When you go to the CDC website, side effects from the flu vaccine include aches, fever, soreness, redness and swelling. Hmmm, don't these side effects resemble the flu?
If You Don't Get The Flu Shot
If you decide to avoid the flu shot. Here are some very effective and reliable ways to avoid the flu and alternatives if you contracted the flu:
Stay away from excess sugar and alcohol during flu season. Sugar inhibits the immune system. After ingesting sugar, the immune system is inhibited for 5 hours.
Eat low glycemic fruits such as berries, apples (granny smith are best), and kiwi (very high in vitamin C), and dark leafy greens, such as kales, collards, parsley, spinach, and arugula.
Do immune strengthening exercise such as yoga and breathing exercises, such as kapalabhati and Ujjayi. Certain upper back bend yoga poses help stimulate the thymus gland, which is an important gland of the immune system. Poses like fish, boat, and bow are great to stimulate the thymus gland. The thymus gland reflex point can also be stimulated by rubbing it for about a minute 4 times per day. This is located on the right side of the body, midline to your armpit at the level of the nipple. Usually, it is pretty tender and sensitive. Inversions increase the passive circulation to the lymphatic system, which is an important system that helps circulate lymphocytes, which are immune cells. Inversions include shoulder stand and legs up the wall pose.
Know your food sensitivities by getting muscle tested, if you don't get tested and want to be on the safe side cut out gluten, dairy, and solanine containing foods such as tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, paprika, potatoes, and goji berries (sweet potatoes are okay) from October through the end of march.
There are great protective supplements that protect from the flu. Muscle testing for the one or ones that will be right for your individual body are an important way to strengthen the immune system. Supplements like thera supreme, vitamin D, camu supreme, flu-tone, core sambucus, and the root (not the flowers or stem) of echinacea can work extraordinarily well.
If you come down with the flu, supplements like andrographis complex, isatis, and ilicium (which is star anise and tamiflu- the drug given to flu patients is made out of this) can knock the flu out very quickly. It all depends on the particular supplement that is right for the particular strain you have contracted.
We should all make the best decision for ourselves, and being informed allows for greater informed consent. I am here to keep you healthy and flu free this season, all you have to do is contact me.
| 
