This winter’s flu epidemic has reached fever pitch. I’m seeing a few articles a day on how to ward off the flu. The topic of the flu has another element of mystery when it comes to autoimmune disease because some people seem to never get sick, others seem to get sick easily, and some that never get sick get hit with the flu from hell . No matter which one you are, better safe than sorry and always have an arsenal ready in case it spots your ass in the far reaches of wherever you’re hiding.
Big Medicine Gets a D
If you have doubts that the medical industry as currently constructed is not designed to cure, just count how many medications there are which suppress your immune system compared to how many that boost it. The only ones that theoretically “boost” the immune system are vaccine shots, and recently the CDC admitted these are only 55% – 70% effective, or “moderately effective”. As HuffingtonPost article author Craig Brown counters:
“ if your kid comes home with a 62 percent, a “D,” you might not describe their effort as moderately effective.”
In Harvard Health’s extensive guide on immune boosting, they reported even lower vaccine effectiveness rates : “for people over age 65, vaccine effectiveness was 23%, whereas for healthy children (over age 2), it was 38%.” As for their suggestions, I didn’t find any other new pearls, and their overarching suggestion was “be skeptical about immune-boosting supplements.” Hello what about the skepticism toward doctors readily prescribing antibiotics and even steroids for viral infections?
We’ll Always Have Anecdotes…
We posed the question on our facebook page, “Let’s get down to brass tacks. Have you found any supplements or drugs that noticeably shortened the duration of your cold/flu?” The responses weren’t too far from our imagination. Mostly clinically-proven OTC remedies such as Umcka, Elderberry, Zinc, Zicam, Vitamin D, Colloidal silver. I’ve benefited at some point or another with all of these besides the last 2. When talking to patients, I find that colloidal silver is kind of a hit or miss. Many patients can’t tolerate Vitamin D.
You know what would really? If people wore masks. But apparently wearing one in public is like begging to be quarantined so no one does the sensible thing.
HIV Swine Flu mask © by craftivist collective
So It’s up to you to play defense, and one thing I would suggest for public outings is the Nasal Wash by SuperGoodStuff which is really a nasal spray. Despite the juvenile store name, this spray is no joke. It has rizols and a number of other antimicrobials (including silver) and minerals, and when you snort it you’ll feel a sting every time. It feels like an immediate cleanse for my vision and brain. I think of it as a portable, amped up Neti Pot without the worry of Neti Pot contamination and the discomfort of saline in your nostrils.
Don’t Forget About This Enabler
One more thing to consider is the role of mycotoxins,which I think of as a primary enabler of infectious diseases like the flu. In the winter, you’re more likely to stay cooped up with the heater on full blast, and guess who loves humidity and heat? Mold. If you’re sensitive to mold, it can put you in an inflammatory state and “…infectious disease status can all have compounded effects with mycotoxins” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycotoxin. Consider reducing your exposure while increasing detoxification (I’ve had good results with coffee enemas, probiotics, cholestyramine, to name a few)
