My Rant On The Swine Flu

I am so tired of hearing about the Swine Flu and I am even more disgusted about how the Government / Media has turned this into a public frenzy. Working in the Hospital setting I have seen this frenzy with Emergency rooms filled to the max and on bypass. Yet they are filled with people that are not sick and/or should not be there. They have closed schools in my area for a week due to ONE child being sick. In the past children have gotten what they call the regular flu, a severe cold or chicken pox (all of which can be transmitted to one another) and they have not closed a school.

The CDC reported that this new flu is a variation of the Swine flue and then also reported that it is a variation of the normal human flu. Every new out brake of the flu is a variation of a previous flu. Bacteria and viruses are constantly changing, they adapt and unlike most people would like to believe, they are everywhere. Most people carry Streptococcus in their throats, yet rarely experience Strep Throat. People carry Staph or MRSA on their skin yet never show signs of infection. The common cold is also carried around like a hand bag and not everyone gets sick.

My point is that people need to be taught or informed that there are things they can do to prevent getting sick or at least lessen the degree of illness. This should be common knowledge as there is always viruses and bacteria out there and they are always changing.

At one point last night while watching the news I was some what impressed. They reported that this new strain of Swine flu is really, "no worse than the usual flu" and that if you get sick, stay home. Do not expose your self to others, drink plenty of fluid and wash your hands frequently. They also said do not go to the emergency room unless you are extremely ill (like a temp. over 101) and should call your primary physician first.

Now realize I said somewhat impressed, because not once did they offer suggestions for preventing illness. They would not tell you to take extra Vitamins, Antioxidants or Probiotics because they have Big Pharma in their pocket. Big Pharma is looking for a new vaccine and this means lots and lots of money. They really don't mind if you get sick as long as they can give you a drug and make money.

This being the end of my rant, I want to leave you with some thoughts for prevention. The information below can be found at Natural News and I couldn't agree with it more. I have always been one that believed in the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

DIGESTION
Some say that the flu "begins in the gut and ends in the gut". This means that if you have good digestion, you will increase your resistance to this and other flu strains. Take a probiotic daily. Live probiotics are available in natural food stores, and probiotics are now more widely available in grocery stores, in yogurt culture and even in chocolate.

HOMEOPATHY
The homeopathic remedy Anas Barbariae is made from the liver of migrating geese. Because they travel the world, they build immunity to many viruses years before humans do. Be sure to get the 2009 version by checking the expiration date. It has been found that the remedy Ferrum phos is effective in treating the early stages of the flu, when used in the first 24 hours. Also the remedy Influenzinum can be taken as a prophylaxis. This remedy is made from the same disease strain as the CDC uses to make each season's flu vaccine.

1. Get Plenty of Sleep
2. Hydrate
3. Exercise
4. Spend time outdoors

HERBS TO BUILD PROTECTION AND NATURAL IMMUNITY

1.Echinaea--Echinacea is best taken in advance of getting sick.
2.Olive Leaf
3.Elderberries
4 Adaptogens
Adaptogens are plants that have the ability to resist chemical and biological stressors and to pass that ability on to humans. Eleutherococcus research has shown a 30% to 50% decrease in influenza in Russian workers. Shisandra has long been used in Chinese medicine to improve immune function through its healing action on the liver. In recent research, Shisandra proved curative to the viral hepatitis. Codonopsis is another adaptogen used in Chinese herbal medicine. It increases the red and white blood cell counts and strengthens the immune system.

VITAMINS
1. Vitamin A is one of the main components of the skin. To strengthen the skin's protective ability, take vitamin A daily. Vitamin A also increases the white blood cells that fight disease.
2. Vitamin C --Research has shown that vitamin C improves resistance to disease and prevents flu symptoms when 1,000 mg doses are taken every six hours.
3. NAC is an amino acid that has been shown to raise immunity to the flu in clinical trials.
4.Probiotics. Healthy flora in the gut supports immune function.

By improving your lifestyle, your diet, and supplementing with natural herbs, homeopathy, and vitamins, you can improve your immune system and your overall vitality.