HINI SWINE FLU SCARE, really? by Dr. Jackie Rogers

“You are so lucky that your kids are homeschooled so you don’t have to worry about H1N1.” Has anyone else heard these words? Come on, do they think our kids live in bubbles?

When Ellen first asked me to write an article for this issue, I was going to address the issue of the need for proper ergonomics in the homeschoolers “classroom”. I was so tired of hearing about H1N1 that I thought there was no way I would write about it. Yet I have been so inundated this past week for my opinion on the subject, that I thought it might be prudent to address it here.

   First, I need to get the legal stuff out of the way.  So let me be absolutely clear: I am not attempting to give any sort of advice on how you should proceed with taking care of the health of you and your loved ones in any form or model of health-care delivery. The following is my personal opinion that is based on historical data, research evidence and 10 years of clinical experience.

   Second, I also want to be absolutely clear that my heart goes out to anyone who has lost a loved one... to H1N1, "regular" influenza or for any reason.   There are FAR too many premature deaths in our society, driven by the increasingly toxic world we live in and accentuated by allowing a sickness-treatment model of care dictate how we create health.  It's a lot like a bankruptcy agent telling you how to invest your money... not being broke is a lot different from being wealthy.

   Finally, I believe that we all need to take that deep breath. Go ahead. Do it.  That will help you begin to deal with the anxiety that is building across our nation.  That anxiety is in the form of mass hysteria that is bubbling up regarding the predicted scourge of Swine Flu (now called H1N1).  It is a situation driven by one emotion: Fear.

   Fear is a great motivator. It makes us do knee-jerk reactive things.  Just look at what it did in Salem Massachusetts in 1692 (a lot of probably nice men and woman were burned at the stake or hung for the crime of being "witches") or the north-east US during the War of the Worlds broadcast in 1938 (a lot of people went berzerk and started preparing for the end when they thought that Martians had invaded New Jersey). Now we have the drums being banged for H1N1. I, and may others in the health care and research fields are astonished by the contrived panic over a relatively innocuous issue. You would think the end of the world was right around the corner.  The media is having a field day with this issue, selling tons of newspapers, increasing viewership and selling more ad-time.  Profit is built on sorrow in that business... they often say "If it bleeds, it leads".  However, as in all things in life, what we are told is not always as it is... so let's have a few minutes of logic, truth and reality.

   Before you decide on how you will deal with this issue (and again, I am NOT telling you what to do... I'm not your mother!), her are a few things that you really need to consider:

1)  You are still more likely to pick up Tuberculosis (over 1 million people die per year), get hit by a car (will you be driving today?), drown in the bathtub (planning on being clean this week?) or die from taking over-the-counter medication ... so why isn't the Ministry of Health and the media screaming about these more vital issues?

2)  The predicted "high-season" (based on WHO algorithms) is the last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November.  We are half-way through this "epidemic", so hang in there, we're going to be OK. Not every sniffle, sore throat or fever means you have H1N1. Even if you do, as of October 11, 2009 the World Health Organization reported that, worldwide, there have been just over 4,700 deaths due to H1N1. WORLDWIDE! In Canada alone, 2000 – 8000 people die every year from the seasonal flu!! It is just not as bad as the media is making it out to be. The numbers speak for themselves.

3)  Now this is a BIG one, so really consider this: Healthy people don't get sick, and definitely don't die... sick people do.  The inference in a lot of the reporting is that healthy people are being affected.  This is ludicrous.  The people who are getting sick are run-down at some level, and the ones who die are immuno-suppressed... it's as simple as that.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that of the 36 children who died from H1N1 from April to August, six had no chronic health conditions, but all of them had a co-occurring bacterial infection.

The most common co-occurring infection that causes flu-related deaths is staphylococcus aureus. A third of the population carries it, most in their nose or on their skin. The flu causes upper respiratory damage, which allows the staph to make its way into the lungs.

4)  The best way to survive ANY infectious process is still the same as it has been for the entire length of time we have been placed on this earth: our immune system.  Clearly, having a robust, well-functioning immune system is the best way to ensure your body’s innate ability to fight off this mild flu virus, and not succumb to secondary infections such as staphylococcus aureus. I will address your immune system again later.

So what about “The Shot”?

I am not here to tell you to get the shot or to not get the shot. Decisions regarding your health are the responsibility of one person only --- you. I am simply trying to help you sift through the mound of information that is out there, a lot of which is not accurate. It is important to recognize that there are a lot of innuendoes, half-truths and flat-out lies being disseminated throughout our media and by some of our "trusted health leaders". 

We are being told that research shows that the H1N1 vaccine is both safe and efficacious.  I suggest if you are considering rolling up your sleeve for the H1N1 shot, that you ask the person giving you the jab a few questions on the following:

1. Efficacy - Does it create a specific antigen-antibody complex, necessary for true immunity? Answer – NO

2. Safety - Does it have any potentially nasty side-effects?.

Answer – YES Preliminary data out of Europe (who have the vaccine for 2 weeks now) is already reporting deaths related to the vaccine.

However, most people will be told the exact opposite, because most of the folks delivering the procedure have no clue about the background of what they are doing, they are simply "following orders".  It is important to keep in mind that the "research" that has been done was done quickly, was carried out on a very small group of people, with no long-term follow-up of side-effects (the only “long-term” data had patients tracked for only 3 days after their injection).  So this is a typical case of "buyer beware".

If you normally get the flu shot, please be aware of a recent Canadian preliminary study that suggests that those who have gotten seasonal influenza vaccine in the past may be at greater risk for getting H1N1 and having complications.

If you are going to get the H1N1 or the seasonal flu shot, the following pertains to you:

According to two studies, published in the journal Lancet on October 17, giving your child an analgesic to prevent fever when getting a vaccine could make things worse. Their studies showed that after vaccination, the immune response was lower among babies who were given acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), right after they received the shot. The researchers also found that although fewer infants developed a fever after getting acetaminophen, they also developed significantly fewer antibodies against the disease they were vaccinated against. They believe the acetaminophen’s anti-inflammatory activity might interfere with your body’s immune system antibody response, which could explain why the vaccine was rendered less effective. A lowered immune response also means you're more susceptible to develop other infections. And, as we now know, it is secondary infections such as bacterial staph infections that turn out to be deadly -- not the flu virus in and of itself.

How to Prevent Flu the Natural Way

Please understand that there are effective ways to reduce your chances of ever getting the flu in the first place, without ever going near a vaccine.

Remember, H1N1 is milder than the normal flu bug, and it is the state of your immune system – not the virus itself – that determines whether or not you will get sick, even if you come in contact with the virus.

Following these simple guidelines can go a long way to help keep your immune system in optimal working order:

• Washing your hands – Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. Research shows that by washing your hands for at least 10 seconds with soap and water, you ccan reduce the microbes on your hands by up to 90%. Be sure you don't use antibacterial soap for this -- antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good. Instead, identify a simple chemical-free soap that you can switch your family to.

• Avoid Sugar - Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately, and as you know, a strong immune system is key to fighting off viruses and other illness. Be aware that sugar is present in foods you may not suspect, like ketchup and fruit juice.

• Get Enough Rest - Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you're tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu.

• Don't Let Stress Become Overwhelming - We all face some stress everyday, but if stress becomes overwhelming, then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness.

• Exercise - When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads.

• Drink plenty of water - Water helps to thin mucous allowing better and faster drainage.

• Potential Supplements:

1. Acidophilus – is recommended to take all cold and flu season. 70% of your bodies immunity is related to digestion!! By promoting the right bacteria in your intestines, you will be promoting your immunity.

2. Vit C – helps in the relief of cold symptoms and helps the body fight infection. Found in such food as citrus fruits, strawberries and kiwi.

3. Grape Seed Extract – as an antioxidant, it protects against digestive and respiratory infections.

4. Oil of Oregano – a proven antiviral agent

5. Garlic – has antimicrobial properties and helps boost the immune system. Allicin (a chemical in garlic) is one of the plant kingdom’s most potent antibiotic.

6. Onion – a close relative of garlic and had similar properties.

7. Ginger – has antiviral, pain relieving, and antioxidant properties. Is useful in preventing and treating colds, sore throats, and inflammation of mucous membranes. It makes a great tea and can be mixed with honey.

8. Peppermint – is an expectorant thus aids in coughs. It also reduces fever by inducing sweating and cooling the body. ** Please note that a fever is NOT necessarily a bad thing. It is the bodies best defense against germs as most are extremely temperatue sensitive.**

• Natural Treatments - Homeopathics (my personal favourite) – Oscillococcinum/ Dolicoccil/ Mucococcinum are all remedies that stimulate one’s immunity specifically for the flu and are found in grocery stores and health food stores across the city. Often after taking these remedies, you will experience a fever, then feel much better in a short period of time. My family and I have used this every year for the past 8 years with tremendous success. As I come in close contact with people daily, I will often succumb to 1 flu a year and this is all I use. Within 3 doses and only 12 hours, I am almost always completely recovered! I challenge any flu shot to do better than that – and with NO risk or side effects!! It is even safe for pregnant women and children.

For those of you who are currently sick or have sick kids... I understand the fear you are feeling.  I too have dealt with serious illness, but through my education, combined with both personal and professional experience, I have learned that in the vast majority of cases, this earth-suit my soul calls home is well-equipped to look after my needs without outside help from ANYONE! So, get some rest, wash your hands, eat right, and take care of your immune system. If you take care of your body, it won’t let you down.

I hope that the contents of this article help you to weather the storm, and allow you to relax a bit and NOT react to the fear that is being fanned by the media.  I also hope that it helps you to make the absolute best decisions regarding your health...both for now and in the future. Please feel free to contact me for clarification on anything that I have mentioned in this article.

By: Dr. Jackie Rogers

Mother of 3 healthy, happy, homeschooled children

Reprinted with permission of the author.

©Copyright Dr. Jackie Rogers 2009