Deciding if you need the flu shot is a personal choice that requires getting yourself educated. I hope this blog serves to jump start your education.
Here is just a few facts that I pass on to my patients:
-The flu season in the United States starts roughly November and ends around April of the following year. The peak in the flu season usually lands around January or February of each year.
- The flu vaccine only creates antibodies to the viruses in the vaccine (3 Strands). However, there are many subtypes of flu strands. So the vaccine will not protect you against all types of flu. In the defence of the vaccine makers, they try to gamble on the strands that research suggests will hit a given hemishpere within a particular year. If they are wrong the death toll for that given year will be higher due to complications from the flu virus.
-The flu shot does not make your immune system stronger it actually suppresses your immune system.
-In a year there are 25,000 (on average) deaths attributed to the flu. In some years the death toll is less than 5,000 total and some years it has risen to roughly 50,000. However, 90% of the deaths every year are in the age category of 65 years or older. If you are a younger healthier adult (19-49) the odds of you dying from the seasonal flu are minimal.
- The vaccine itself takes roughly two weeks to become effective in your body. The immune system has to make the antibodies before it can protect you against the flu so if you already have flu symptoms then you should not go and get the flu shot. Once the flu is contracted you have two options: ride it out or see your primary care physician for some antiviral medications
- If you are allergic to EGGS you should NEVER get the flu shot. The flu vaccine is produced through the use of chicken eggs and can cause an allergic reaction to those with sensitivity to eggs. If you are unsure if you are allergic to eggs and you notice gastrointestinal issues when you eat eggs I suggest you consult your doctor prior to the flu shot. In addition, if you have every had a adverse reaction to the flu shot, consult with your doctor prior to getting a shot again this year.
- There are additives in the seasonal flu shot. Many of these additives may cause adverse reactions.
Some of the additives include:
Thimerosal- This is MERCURY!!!! The same stuff that is so toxic to your body that it can kill you if you are exposed directly. This is used in the flu shot as a preservative. I recommend that my patients try to find a preservative free or thimerosal free vaccine if they opt to have a flu shot for the season. This year the CDC projects that 79 million thimerosal free doses will be available.
Gentamiacin- This is a antibiotic.
Triton X100- This is a strong detergent. (Soap)
Resin- This is known to cause allergic reactions.
Formaldehyde- This is what they embalm dead people with. It is also a known cancer causing agent.
Sucrose- This is standard table sugar.
Here is a couple of pictures we found of the flu vaccine packages:
If you decide the flu shot is not for you, there are other things you can do to stay healthy. Vitamin supplements, regular chiropractic care and good nutrition is the key to a healthy immune system. It also is very helpful to manage stress and get enough rest at night.
The vitamins I recommend to the majority of patients that do not want or can not take the flu vaccine are:
B Complex: B vitamins are water soluble and thus you will excrete the vitamins that you do not need in your urine. B vitamins are helpful in reducing stress, fatigue and brain fog. This supplement will turn you urine a very bright color of yellow and this is normal.
Vitamin D: This is a fat soluble vitamin and should be taken with a meal. Vitamin D helps protect the body from respiratory infections as well as boosting the immune system to attack mutant cells. Current research suggests that the majority of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D and that Vitamin D appears to be affective in fighting cancer. To get vitamin D naturally you can get 15-30 minutes of sunlight per day without sunscreen. You can also take a Vitamin D supplement. Consult with your doctor on the amount you should be taking per day. 400-1000 IU per day is a normal dosage. However, if you are deficient in this vitamin you may be prescribed 5000-10,000 IU per day. A simple blood test will determine your level of deficiency.
Vitamin C: This vitamin helps boost the immune system as well as reduce the time you are sick. You can find this vitamin naturally in oranges and grapefruit. You can also supplement this vitamin but be careful of extreme high doses all at once. The body can only absorb only so much of Vitamin C at a time, so taking 5000 mg at once does you no good. It is recommended that for a cold or flu you take 1000 mg of Vitamin C per day in broken up doses.
Echinacea: At the first sign of symptoms take 300 mg every 2 hours for the first day. Then 300 mg, 3 times per day for the next 7-10 days.
Other supplements: Astragalus, Bilberry, Chamomile, Elderberry, Garlic, Ginger, Ginseng, Goldenseal, Peppermint, Selenium, Siberian Ginseng, Spirulina, and Zinc.
Regular visits to your chiropractor can help keep your immune system stay on track, but when you start to feel achy and sick is when a visit to your chiropractor is most important. At the first sign of illness schedule a emergency appointment with your chiropractor to make sure you immune system is armed to fight against any viruses.
If you have any questions or comment feel free to e-mail us at cwcchiropractic@gmail.com or call the office at 636-825-6555.
Dr. Lorie Lofquist D.C.; C.K.T.P.
