Autumn and Winter 2009
Dealing with Flues and Colds in the winter season.
With the flushing cold autumn New Zealand Southerlies outdoor life decreases dramatically. Rain clouds sweep the skies and the grass is soggy. The heaters are on early in the morning and at night. At home we huddle closer together for comfort and warmth. The sun is good in the lee of the wind This closer proximity of people increases the risk of transfer of bugs and viruses. It is becoming clear that the much hyped by the press and consequently feared H1N1 pandemic is still spreading. The spread is slow but can be stopped. Using drugs is not the answer. Fatalities are mainly the consequence of a secondary infection or another predisposing factor like in the very young and old age, as well as immune deficiencies.
In my opinion this new virus is a germ warfare attack on humanity released by those that profit from the vaccination/drug trade. Of course any authority will never admit it to. There are a number of research voices that say that the virus was released "accidentally" from a laboratory. Accidentally? Yeah ...Right! As long as they are playing with genetic engineered viruses, like the bird flue, SARS and now the "swine flue", there will be more of these accidental releases/escapes in the future and it will happen in another part of the world next time. I think it is fairly innocuous biological warfare to test efficacy of the spread of short-term illnesses that will immobilise an economy or country.
As with this H1N1 virus there is no direct immunity, you will have to live through it to get that. However you can build a good defence yourself and develop this immunity without getting the disease as your body's immune mechanism will update itself and stay vigilant. This is the only way to fend of infection.
What you can do:
There are a number of simple things you can do for yourself and family that will dramatically reduce the possibility of getting infected.
Surgical masks are not the answer: they are designed to reduce infection from the "surgeon to the patient", so good only once you have the bug yourself and do not want to spread it. When the mask is not sealed off properly, like a gas mask, it is fairly well useless if you think it will protect you from catching the virus. A virus is also so small it will go through any filter. You will not be able to breathe through a viral filter, as the holes for gas exchange are too small!
Tamiflue has some serious side effects, most of them are worse then the flue itself. I am not sure if I would take that drug.
Winter flue vaccinations only work half the time, some people swear by them and some complain they did not work. Personally I would not have a vaccination unless I was very weak and old. Vaccinating young babies is evil! Babies have a very limited immune building mechanism, which develops with age. Breast-feeding still is the best method to transfer passive immunity. There are a lot of voices that vaccinations reduce general immune function and leave the body open to other immune disfunctions (asthma, eczema, food allergies to note). Therefore get all the facts before you immunise and so you are not used as a guinea piglet.
Feeling depressed also depresses your immune system. Treatment is sunlight, Vit D, meditation, herbs, diet correction (increase your protein intake) and exercise.
Increase exercise and increase your immune system. People that exercise daily are less prone to get a cold or a flue.
Supplements with Vitamin C, bioflavenoids, Beta-carotenes.
Herbs like Echinaceae, Astragalus, Olive leaf are very good to keep the immune system primed.
Eat lots of Turmeric (Curcuminoids) it is also a good anti-inflammatory agent.
You Suppress your immune system with:
Excess arginine foods - peanuts and peanut butter.Cortisol treatment, incl. asthma inhalers.
Wearing sunglasses all the time. Get the full light spectrum exposure.
Avoiding sunlight with excessive sunblock usage, hoodies, sunglassses. Note that excessive sun exposure does the reverse, it reduces immune function!
Excessive exercise also reduces hormonal function.
Lack of sleep.
Obesity, excessive adipose tissue, abdominal fat produces inflammatory agents. Syndrome X!!
Jetlag reduces immune function and a salt spray is good for nasal dehydration during a flight.
Hypothyroid function depresses immune function. Aging deteriorates immune function. Thus keep your anti-aging and immune systems up to date with exercise and supplements is a good idea.
Excess stress impairs immune function.
Allergies increase the burden on the immune system, eat to the blood group system (see above). Smoking, including marijuana, depresses various functions of the immune system. Any one with lung, heart and cancer problems has the risk of a depressed immune system.