Chiropractic care may prevent the flu.
18 February 2008Flu season is here… what to do!
The headlines all scream “Flu shot only protects against 40% of viruses this season.” As we read on we find that all but five states are at code red on the influenza report map, faring best in the current epidemic seems to be Florida. To make matters worse for those with the dreaded bug, it is being reported by the CDC that one particular vaccine strain this year is showing resistance to the popular antiviral drug, Tamiflu. This is showing true in about 4.5% of all patients reporting incidents of the flu.
Why isn’t the vaccine effective? Of the stains included in this year’s vaccine, two of the three that are currently causing infections, were excluded. These vaccines are made each year on what is basically a best guess as to which strains will cause the most problems the following flu season. Apparently, in the years the drug companies have been doing this, it has been consistent against the flu for 16 of the last 19 years, however as the companies have no real way to know for sure which strains are going to be most prevalent until flu season actually arrives it is not an exact science. The two strains causing problems this year are the Brisbane and Yamagata strains, and it has been reported that these two strains are involved in more than 40% of the US cases so far this year, unfortunately its estimated that the vaccine may only be 50% effective against both. Statistically, the vaccine aims to be 70-90% effective each year. So why even have the vaccine? The CDC reports instances of approximately 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospital cases of the flu each year so their best advice is for people to have an annual vaccination, however as we just read, that can be unreliable in many instances.
Of course, the best protection would be to not get the virus in the first place, and we all know good hygiene is a must, especially for our kids. Teaching kids effective hand washing is probably the easiest way to stop them from carrying home all kinds of great bugs and viruses to the rest of the household. Chances are though, you are not always around to monitor such critical hygiene practices, so what else can we do if and when the flu bug strikes your area?
A release in 2004 from the Director of Communication for the World Chiropractic Alliance stated that:
Flu season wellness plan should include chiropractic care
CHANDLER, ARIZ, Nov. 8, 2004 — The World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) is recommending that people of all ages add chiropractic to their strategy for warding off and fighting the flu and its effects this season.
Spinal adjustments can have a positive effect on immune function, the WCA asserts, citing a growing number of researchers who are exploring the common denominators in disease processes, and the role of the nervous, immune, and hormonal systems in development of immune related illnesses, … Read the complete article at: WCA and be sure to discuss preventative care with either Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan well before next year’s flu season gets under way. Remember the ultimate goal is to avoid contracting the flu altogether.
With that being said, once the flu takes hold it can be worse than miserable to endure. We found some other helpful tips to combat the ailment at Health 911 :
- “Put your toothbrush in a glass of hydrogen peroxide. This will keep you from reinfecting yourself.
- A study done at the University of California at Davis found that those who ate 3/4 cup of yogurt daily had 25% fewer colds than non-yogurt eaters. Apparently this was from a four-fold increase in the production of infection-fighting gamma interferon.
- Hydrogen Peroxide. From what we have read, hydrogen peroxide works quite well and is supposed to be effective 80% of the time, especially if done when the symptoms first appear. While it seems contrary to what we have been taught about colds and flu we know quite a few people who have tried it with great success. … “
Check out their website to understand the inner ear connection with flu and colds, and also some ideas on how to combat both conditions using hydrogen peroxide.
Some other tips we found included:
- When you come down with a cold or the flu, your respiratory tract works hard to expel the invading viruses along a veritable “Slip ’n Slide” of mucus. Rather than drying those mucus secretions with an over-the-counter antihistamine, it’s better to accelerate the healing process by thinning them, thus making it easier to expel them. The best way to thin mucus secretions is to add water to your system by drinking warm liquids, especially herbal teas and soup broth. If you have access to a steam shower, use it. If not, bring a quart-size pot of water to a boil, remove it from the stove and place your face a comfortable distance from the steam, then cover your head with a towel. Inhale through your nose if you’re stuffy, or through your mouth for chest congestion.
Check out Mother Earth News for some other great ideas on natural remedies for the flu or the common cold.
There is a wealth of information out there for those of us who would rather treat our flu without the vaccine, however, discuss your needs and requirements for the vaccine with either Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan, before you make the decision to forgo the shot. For some folks having the vaccine can be very important. You can find more information at WebMD on both natural herbal remedies for the flu as well as some more information on the use of the vaccine.
So if you get that high fever, the familiar aching in the knees and joints, headache, coughing, and runny nose, all accompanied by a general malaise, chances are you are experiencing the flu. Remember to stay at home, grab a blanket, some pain killers, plenty of fluids and a good book, to wait it out. The good news is that the flu only usually lasts 4-7 days.
Make an adjustment, stay healthy ~ be happy: Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at (303) 674 1500 to schedule a consultation or email office@fontanachiro.com
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October 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
[...] read how chiropractic care can prevent the flu and help you avoid a flu shot read our article from February here: “CHANDLER, ARIZ, Nov. 8, 2004 — The World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) is recommending that [...]