The flu seems to plague more and more people every year. It can hit hard and fast and has some people down for weeks at a time. Readers and followers have reached out and asked me to share my take on preventing and surviving this blasted bug! I have some great ideas for you but if you would prefer to watch the video version of this post check out this video
We can not talk about the flu without first addressing the flu vaccine. This is not a post on the efficacy of the flu vaccine, but I would be remiss if while sharing all the natural solutions to the flu I did not share why, perhaps, you may want to avoid the vaccine.
HOW TO PREVENT AND SURVIVE THE FLU
Here are some facts (References below)
- At the end of 2015 Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis revealed that between 2005 and 2015 the influenza vaccine was less than 50% effective more than half the time.
- During the 2015/2016 flu season, FluMist the live virus nasal spray had a failure rate of 97%
- The 2016/2017 flu vaccine which was thought to be very well-matched to circulating viral strains and hailed as one of the most effective in years, did not live up to its expectations. The vaccine had no clear effect in those 18-49 and also no effect in elderly populations.
HOW COULD THIS BE?
Why would a flu vaccine carefully and very expensively manufactured be so ineffective?
- The flu bug comes from a virus. This virus is incredibly dynamic. It not only changes dramatically season to season but also within a season. This means the flu that your kid picked up from school has already mutated by the time he is exposing the rest of your family.
- So designing a flu vaccine is a “best guess” at best! And the CDC readily admits the vaccine has failed to hit the mark the majority of the time.
- Flu vaccine is designed by taking a look at the flu from the year before and manifesting what they think the coming bug is going to look like. This vaccine is then combined with preservatives, ethanol, aluminum, phenol, binders, and antibiotics. (And in many cases Thimerosal, which is mercury)
So between, best guesses and manifestation and then loading a vaccine with toxins that may cause immune impact and a host of other issues, it is no wonder the flu vaccine has such a poor efficacy rating. So why keep putting out ineffective flu vaccine year after year? I can think of about 4 billion reasons. Vaccine distribution is huge money. The flu vaccine was originally recommended for hospital workers and elderly, is now injected into the arms of kids as young as six months of age. But surely they have tested all the populations they are inoculating. Nope.
But, we are not here to talk about flu vaccine…
If you want to know more go to THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER
So if you decide the flu vaccine is ineffective and comes with a host of toxins and questionable long-term impact then what are your options?
Ah, to the meat of today’s discussion.
Spending time curating a strong physiologic foundation and mindset can be enormously more effective than relying on the pharmaceutical companies to influence your body’s response to an invader. Your body is so crazy intelligent! You are successfully fighting off bacteria, viruses and even cancer right this minute. Here is a visual way to look at the whole host versus invader story.
THE OPEN DOOR THEORY
I want you to think of your body as your home. There is a big solid front door to your home and when closed and bolted, bad things not only can’t get in, they don’t even try because your house is so fortified. So if you keep that door closed, for the most part, your house will be pristine. Viruses, bacteria, and other invaders will not bust through windows or kick down doors. They will wait to be invited in. They will look for you to open the door a crack and say “Welcome to my humble abode, make yourself comfortable.” And in they walk. So how does this door become ajar? What allows viruses and bacteria to saunter on in? The main “door openers” are stress, sugar, poor sleep, poor food choices, and lack of movement in your life. Adjust those, and you can deadbolt your susceptibility to these nasties.
Before we move on remember, you don’t “catch” the flu. It doesn’t jump into your body when you least expect it. You welcome it, with wide arms through an open door.
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HERE ARE THE WELLNESS CHOICES WE CAN MAKE TO PREVENT AND TREAT THE FLU.
PREVENTION
WASHING HANDS: Captain Obvious, I know. But remember that you have to wash with soap while singing twice through the alphabet!
AVOID SUGAR: Sugar is one of the worst immunosuppressants. Remember to watch for hidden sugars in sauces, condiments, beverages, bread, yogurt, cereal and many other sneaky places they slip it.
ACCESS FOOD SENSITIVITIES: If you are sensitive to certain foods and you continue to eat them it means that you already have a low level of inflammation and irritation in your system. This ecosystem is a lovely substrate for opportunistic viruses. Clean up the diet!
EXERCISE: Tremendous immune booster! Make sure to raise that heart rate every day to bring your army of immunity to all your body’s nooks and crannies. Read this article on exercise and immunity. LINK
DECREASE STRESS: Stress is one of the most significant ways to compromise your immunity. To protect yourself you must look at how to reduce it in your life and how to balance it. On the one hand, reducing is a great idea but not always possible. Balancing by adding things like massage, meditation, deep breathing, calming walks, and napping can help offset the cost your stress is having on your immune function.
WHOLE FOOD DIET: The closer you get your meals to a food’s natural state the more nutrients that are going to be preserved. So make sure to eat some raw vegetables every day. Don’t overcook your food and keep packaged and processed foods to a minimum.
SLEEP: Facto numero uno. If there is only one thing you are going to do from this list then getting good quality, regular, and restorative sleep is it. Create a sleep cave, remove tech and stimulants, get rid of all junk light, and get to bed at the same time nightly! Read more about healthy sleep habits HERE
SUPPLEMENTS: There are some key supplements that you should regularly be taking to make sure your system is functioning optimally. A good fish oil, a well-sourced probiotic and additional vitamin D. Read about these supplements HERE
TREATMENT
Blast…..you didn’t read this article in time, and you get yourself int a mess of flu. What now? Follow the guidelines below and don’t get overwhelmed by feeling like you need to do everything. Try a combination and see what works best for your system.
These are all links!
WELLNESS FORMULA– Great immune booster
ELDERBERRY SYRUP – Tried and true traditional option
FISH OIL – Increase your dose to 1.5 tbls. a day until you are a week past symptom-free.
OREGANO OIL – Great at the onset of symptoms
ON GAURD ESSENtiAL OIL – One drop in water two times a day while ill, and regularly diffuse for prevention
LEMON WATER TEA – Simple and very effective. Good for non-flu times as well!
BONE BROTH – Immunity elixir. Do NOT skip over this one. You can purchase it or make it yourself with this RECIPE
HYDRATE: 1/2 your body weight in ounces!
CALENDAR ELIMINATION: Yup, clear that schedule so you can attend to your ailing body. Trying to do too much is only going to prolong your virus’s stay.
INFRARED SAUNA: This is an excellent immune function booster. HERE is a great article on the benefits of Infrared heat.
FLU “SEASON”
Remember that finally there is NO flu season. We call it that because of the factors that are occurring at the time that the highest rates of flu are recorded.
REDUCED SUN EXPOSURE – Decreased Vitamin D
HOLIDAYS – Increased stress
COLD WEATHER – Less exercise and less time outside
LESS FRESH FRUIT AND VEGGIES – lack of immune-boosting nutrition
INCREASED SUGAR – plummeting immune system
WANT TO JUST CHECK OUT THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS POST?
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REFERENCES
FLU VACCINE LESS EFFECTIVE
HOW TO AVOID THE FLU NATURALLY
NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER
One Response
thanks for the clarification