Is it always a good idea to get a flu shot? Who should get one? And are they truly effective at preventing the flu? Is there an herbal equivalent that's as effective at keeping the flu away?
Thanks,
Ben
Good Question, Ben.
To get the Flu Shot – or not?
Flu shots. Are they effective? Is it wise to get one? This is a controversial subject. The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends that senior citizens receive annual flu shots, and reports that “flu shots reduce the risk of serious complications from the flu by 70-85%.”
However, the reality is that the viruses mutate from year to year, and the chances of targeting the correct virus is a bit of a craps shoot. The 2007-2008 version of the flu shot cut the odds of getting influenza A or B by about 25%. Which isn’t too bad, really. But this type of the virus represented less than 15% of all cases of the flu.
The other point to consider is that only 5-20% of the world’s population gets the flu each season. The pharmaceutical and media hype surrounding the adverse effects of the flu often outweigh the real experience and genuine numbers of people suffering the flu.
Many conservative physicians are now saying that healthy people under age 60 do not benefit from flu shots enough to warrant receiving them – this “benefit” being measured in terms of reduced odd of contracting the flu, days lost at work, or stopping the spread of the virus.
Other health advocates take an even stronger position against the flu shot:
Consumer health advocate Mike Adams, author of "Conquering the Common Cold," called flu vaccine shots "one of the greatest medical cons perpetrated on the populations of the world," and questioned new U.S. policies pushing the vaccines on young children and expectant mothers.
"Flu shots only prevent colds in about 1 percent of people who get them, making them 99 percent useless," Adams
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) states that 90% of deaths from influenza occur among the elderly. Considering that nearly 65% of all deaths (from any cause) occur in this age group, it is nearly impossible to prove that flu shots significantly increase life expectancy in this group. The truth is that most people--young and old--will weather a bout of the flu without hospitalization or complications.
What harm is there in the flu shot?
There is always some element of risk when you intentionally introduce a virus to the body, even if it’s a dead virus. [could use more here] There is also a suspected link between flu vaccinations as Alzeheimer’s Disease. Hugh Fudenberg, MD, an immunogeneticist and biologist with nearly 850 papers published in peer review journals, has reported that if an individual had five consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied), his/her chances of getting Alzheimer's Disease is ten times higher than if they had zero, one, or two shots.
What can you do instead to prevent getting the flu?
There are a number of simple and quite effective things you can do for yourself to prevent the flu. Some of the following recommendations are even arguably much more effective in keeping illness at bay than a flu shot:
- Wash your hands! A common way people contract viral illnesses is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with a virus. The CDC states, "the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands."
- Get enough rest. A worn down body equals a less effective immune system, and is five times more likely to catch a virus, from the common cold to the flu. Shoot for a minimum of eight hours a night, and when you feel yourself beginning to get sick, get at least an hour more each night.
- Eat a healthy diet. A well-nourished body has a far better chance of fighting a budding illness than one which exists on chips and sodas. Avoiding processed foods, refined sugars, and trans-fats is always a good idea, but during flu season, it’s even more important.
- Exercise regularly. A healthy blood flow ensures a healthier you.
- Drink plenty of purified water daily; this will flush toxins from the body more quickly and efficiently, and will result in a healthier, hydrated you.
- Wash your hands! A common way people contract viral illnesses is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with a virus. The CDC states, "the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands."
- Use herbs. Astragalus and Ashwagandha are both good herbs to help build a stronger immune system. And if you feel yourself getting sick, switch to Echinacea for a boost to the immune system.
By taking care of yourself, getting enough rest, washing your hands frequently, and eating a healthy diet, chances are good that you can stay healthy this winter –without the help of a flu shot!
--The Herbalist
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