This is how I feel about the cold and flu season. That is, I expect to stay healthy, but I do what I can to protect myself. Although I work quite a bit to manifest good health for myself, and have good intentions to fly through the bug season with nary a sniffle or an ache, I still like to take good care of myself from October through March, give or take a month or two. How do I do this?
First of all, forget the flu shot. I would not put that mercury and dead chicken junk into my body. Besides, as I have said in newsletters in years past, the accuracy of the yearly flu shot is a big toss of the dice anyway. The CDC never has any idea what this years strain of flu will be, so the pointy heads just try to throw some abracadabra thing together to sell to the MD's to push on their unsuspecting patients. I could give you lots of facts and numbers to support this premise, but I'm bored with trying to explain away the flu shot. And you probably are, too.
Of course, it's your decision and if you feel more comfortable with the "insurance" (?) of the flu shot, then go ahead. However, I have had many patients come to me AFTER having had the flu shot, who think they are coming down with something when in fact what they are feeling is iatrogenic, or a lovely big word for "the flu shot is causing their symptoms."
I also take my own advice regarding prevention. I take the Teflon Mix every day. This combo consists of two products from Standard Process: 1) Calcium Lactate and 2) Cataplex ACP. I keep a small bowl on my desk and help myself to maybe 5 or 6 of each every day. Teflon Mix will hopefully keep you and me in our comfortable flu-free bubble.
But, if some tenacious bug gets through my Teflon shield and I actually feel as if I am coming down with something, then I stop the Teflon Mix and start the Cold Combo immediately and in great quantities. Cold Combo consists of five products 1) Phytogen from Thorne 2) Congaplex from Standard Process 3) Thymex from Standard Process 4) Zinc Lozenges from Perque and 5) Gan Mao Ling from the Asian Market here in Boulder. I might take 2 of each every hour and a half, except for zinc lozenges which I restrict to 1 lozenge every 3 hours. And, during that initial period of trying to turn the Titanic away from the iceberg, I will be drinking great quantities of water, resting, using essential oils, etc. (Zicam, an OTC nasal spray is zinc based and pretty good, too, but studies have shown some permanent loss of smell in some people, so beware.)
I have patients who have purchased both the Teflon Mix and the Cold Combo and seem to be quite happy with both. It seems to work and anyway, it's good to tie your camels to the tent - just in case. Depending on use, both Teflon Mix and Cold Combo will last you a couple of years.
In the prevention stage, I apply essential oils from Young Living. I like Thieves and Purification especially. Then if you really want to start a collection of oils, add R.C., Ravensara and Immupower. You could spend a fortune on oils, so I am mentioning just the ones esp. good for colds and flu's.
In order to kill the bugs on a continuous basis, I also suggest the use of some sort of air purifier in the home and in the office. I have a very mild non-odorous ozonator running at all times in my office which helps to sanitize the air, and protect you and me, from the sick people walking through my front door in the fall and winter. Contrary to some opinions, an ozonator - at least the brand I recommend - is not dangerous and can be on all the time.
You really should give up sugar. I think that's why there is so much flu and colds around the holidays. Look at all the sugar we are confronted with. Be strong! If you eat sugar it will kill all of your white blood cells for four hours and since the wbcs are huge defenders of your health, you will be essentially unprotected for long periods of time. Keep yourself hydrated, too because healthy hydrated tissues will be more capable of repelling unwanted bacteria and viruses.
Then I also carry a hand sanitizer with me - Purel brand is fine. I use it all the time when I am in public and after every patient. I just read an article about germs and the best way to get infected is by just touching something that a germy person has touched. Door knobs, toilet seat handles, and even menus. (Read the menu; give it back to the waitperson, then Purel your hands!) Run through in your mind all the stuff that people touch and there you will find all the viruses and bacteria waiting to be transferred to your hands and fingers. Then, you might unconsciously rub your eyes or put your fingers in your mouth while eating that potato chip and you are off to the races (or more likely to bed.)
Airplanes are veritable Petri dishes. I really dislike flying anymore, mostly for the health aspects (and the terrorist aspects and the lines and the cancellations and the overbooking and the wanton destruction of luggage and the lack of punctuality). I don't like the fact that the air we are breathing in our jetliner is continuously re-circulated which means the virus droplets the guy in first class is coughing up will eventually reach me back in cattle car. But if I must fly, I gobble Teflon Mix, take Purification with me and also wear a small ozonator around my neck I would not go anywhere without my Cold Combo either.
It pays to be a bit like Howard Hughes this time of year. Good luck!
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