Is There Really a Flu Season?

We often hear about the flu season along with dire predictions about how bad it will be the next six months or so.

Is there really a flu season?  Or is it a payback season for all the unhealthy living we have done, coupled with cold weather and the lack of sunshine, which equals lack of vitamin D?

Diet

Let’s begin with the Standard American Diet or SAD. Sad indeed.

When I look through the grocery advertisements in the Sunday paper, I see more specials for junky food than for healthy food. The week of Thanksgiving, this week, tends to actually have healthier ads that other weeks.  Turkey, Sweet Potatoes, Mashed potatoes are generally on the healthier end of the spectrum, depending on how you prepare them.  But there are still the discounts for buying multiple cases of soda pop–which is never healthy. Stove Top Stuffing–bad news.  Jello or pudding–full of nasty ingredients. (BTW, Gelatin itself is good.  Its the sugar and artificial color that ruin it. So make it yourself from scratch.)  Let’s face it. Eating healthy is an expensive venture.  Thanksgiving or not.

Then we have the trifecta of candy holidays, Halloween, Christmas and Valentines Day.  Then throw in the jelly beans and chocolate bunnies at Easter and you have the entire flu season covered. They are perfectly spread out so that they are about equal distant apart, to be sure there is a regular supply of sugar running through our veins, suppressing our immune system.  Even WebMD admits that sugary foods and drinks curb the positive effects of cells that affect bacteria and viruses.  This is even true of orange juice, which has a high level of natural sugars.

And of course alcohol.  Alcohol begins flowing around Thanksgiving and continues through the new year.  Alcohol is highly refined sugar, so any negative affects that can be assigned to sugar and also be assigned to alcohol.  Plus additional ones all its own.

Vitamin D

As you have probably heard by now, we get a steady supply of Vitamin D from the sun in the summer, as long as you spend at least 15 minutes out side in the sun each day.  Winter becomes problematic.  Not only do we not spend time outside during the winter, usually, the sun is at the wrong angle to absorb much Vitamin D.  So even if you are a winter outdoors enthusiast, you are probably deficient in Vitamin D. This is especially true if you live north of a line from Philadelphia to San Francisco.  In Minnesota, we do.

Why is this a problem?  According to Harvard University, low levels of Vitamin D has been linked with all sorts of immune system problems, chronic and acute.  This includes influenza.  http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/

Exercise

Regular exercise can also help reduce your risk of getting sick.  But of course, if you tend to prefer exercising outdoors, you may be reducing your exercise.  Exercising in the gym is always an option, but puts you in contact with a lot of other people, spreading their germs because they too eat poorly and don’t get enough vitamin D and are exposed to cold weather as well.

Weather

Conventional wisdom says that getting cold doesn’t give you a cold or make you sick.  But spend a day with a homeopath during changes of seasons and particularly cold weather and you will see that there is an effect.  For example, the homeopathic remedy Aconite is well known to be effective against colds, high fevers, and ear infections that come on after exposure to cold, dry wind in the winter.  So yes, getting cold can make you sick.

The interaction of diet, lack of vitamin D and the cold weather in the winter can converge and increase your susceptibility in the months of November through April, the most common months to get colds and respiratory influenza.

So if we tie it all together–Standard American Diet, low levels of Vitamin D, lack of exercise and cold weather–we make a perfect host for bacteria and germs of all sorts, just lurking around, ready to make us sick if we give them the chance.

What does a healthy host–that is, one that doesn’t attract germs–look like?  That is a topic for another blog.

Flu Season?  Is it natural or a consequence of our lifestyles?  You decide.

Kathryn
651-748-1556
http://www.lotushomeopathy.com

 

Homeopathic Flu Clinic

I made a stop at Costco today.  I saw this sign as soon as I came into the store.  It was hard to miss.  It probably had the desired effect on those who are likely to get a flu shot.

Although I can’t do a “road show”, it got me thinking that I can establish my own Flu Clinic.

Homeopathy has been used to prevent disease for 200 years.  Since the time of Samuel Hahnemann, MD, the developer of the principals of homeopathy, homeopathic remedies have been found to be very effective at protecting against disease.  This is called Homeoprophylaxis.

There are three ways of doing this.

First is using classical, constitutional homeopathy.  Making the whole organism stronger helps one fight off the acute bugs that may be circulating through the population.

Second, when there is an acute illness that has established itself among the population, such as influenza or Typhoid in Hahnemann’s time or Ebola in modern times, generally it is revealed that one remedy and one to two minor remedies help most people.  We call this the Genus Epidemicus.  Those who have not gotten sick can take that Genus Epidemicus to prevent getting the illness.  Of course, we do not know what that is for this year’s flu season.  But I will post it if we figure it out.

Finally, homeopaths use Nosodes to help protect against acute illnesses.  I use a nosode called Influenzinum to strengthen the body’s resistance to the flu.  This is what will be in the Flu Clinic.

The process is simple.  You schedule a Influenza Clinic appointment on my website, http://www.lotushomeopathy.com/homeoprophylaxis.html. Scroll down to the section Homeoprophylaxis For Whatever Is Going Around. Click on BookNow at the bottom of the screen.  Choose Individual or Family Influenza Clinic on the drop down list of appointments.  Please indicate whether you are doing this via phone or in person.  You will receive six doses of the remedy per person, one for each month during the flu season.  We will discuss how to use it.  You will sign waivers.  If you get the flu during the 2014-2015 flu season, I will treat your influenza for free.  Remedies will be extra, of course.  The doctor doesn’t even give you that warranty.  If you have any questions, please call me at 651-748-1556.  More directions on the website above.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Remedies Not Shots

See you at the Flu Clinic.

Kathryn
651-748-1556

Respiratory Virus D-68 and Homeopathy

In the midwest, hundreds of children have been hospitalized with the Enterovirus D-68.  This is a serious respiratory virus that can cause wheezing and coughing.

Coughing without covering your mouth can spread a respiratory virus.

According to Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota,  the virus infects the gastrointestinal tract. “It often spreads when children get fecal matter on their hands and then touch their mouths.” The virus can also be spread by coughing.  The virus can also live on surfaces such as doorknobs, toys, eating utensils, and other frequently touched objects.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/08/midwest-enterovirus-hospitalizations/15277115/

At the bottom of this article you will find the recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health on preventing the spread of this virus.

But what does the natural health world have to say about this virus?

First, it seems like if it enters through the GI tract, diet would be especially important.  Limit sugars, sweets, alcohol.  If you aren’t taking probiotics on a regular basis, be sure to start doing so.  One probiotic that is particularly good at dealing with such bugs that are going around that can affect the GI tract is Saccharomyces boulardii.  You should consider adding 1 – 2 capsules (morning and evening if you choose two) per day to your usual regimen.  This probiotic is widely available.

Second, homeopathy can help.  Since this virus has made its appearance, we have been experiencing typical fall weather.  Warm days and cool nights.  We did have a few days of cool days and cool nights as well, but largely, it has been a typical fall.   The remedy frequently needed for this type of weather is Dulcamara.  It would be good to have some available in a 30C.  However, if you get sick, don’t assume you need this remedy.  It still has to match the physical symptoms.  So call your homeopath before taking it.  If you wish to have some on hand and can’t find it in the local health food store, please call me at the number below, and I can get some to you.

However, if you have a history of respiratory illness, it is best to consult your professional homeopath before trying to treat this at home.  And if you are wheezing or having difficulty breathing, you should go to the nearest ER.

There are ways that homeopathy can also help prevent such a virus from taking hold.  If you have a chronic respiratory illness such as Asthma, you should seek constitutional care from a professional homeopath to heal and strengthen your respiratory system.

Please read the post on Influenza to get more information on how homeopathy can help.  I recently reposted this blog from 2012 and you can find it here.  The advice posted here is relevant to this enterovirus as well.

Here is good advice from the Minnesota Department of Health.  They leave out some important suggestions, but I have included them above.

You can help protect yourself and others from respiratory illnesses by following these steps:

• People who are sick with respiratory illness should limit their contact with others, cover their coughs and sneezes, and wash their hands frequently.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, going to the bathroom or changing diapers.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.

http://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2014/enterovirus091714.html

 

Be well,

Kathryn

651-748-1556

www.lotushomeopathy.com

 

Was it the flu or not? Who Cares?

My son got sick last week.  Bless his heart.  He put up with a gym class at the end of the day rather than calling me to come and get him from middle school.

I was intending to bring him to the chiropractor after school, which I did.  I figured it could only help and certainly wouldn’t hurt.

We got home and I gave him a remedy that fit his stomach ache symptoms–Colocynthis.  Stomach cramps.  Better from bending double.  Crabby, irritable, thinks everyone else is stupid.

It helped, but a new symptom developed.  He couldn’t eat without developing a stomach ache.  And he was hungry.  Bummer.  Gave him a different remedy–this time it was Chamomilla. Finally he developed a fever.  He became absolutely freezing for awhile.  This is actually not a bad sign.  It is a signal that the immune system is ramping up and the cytokine’s are present.

At bedtime, I gave him a different remedy because the stomach ache had gone and now he had a headache.  Worse from moving.  Better from putting pressure on his head.  I gave him Bryonia, not only because of the motion symptoms, but also he developed some restlessness.  This meant that he wanted to move to get comfortable, but whenever he moved he felt worse.  This is the picture-perfect paradox of Bryonia.  A dose before bed.  He is 13, so I left him the bottle on his night stand so he could give himself a dose in the middle of the night if he happened to wake up.

The next morning, I let him sleep in.  He had a bit of a headache still in the morning.  I gave him a dose of Bryonia soon after waking.  By noon, he was much better.  Nearly recovered, except for a bit of remaining stomach sensitivity.

He played two basketball games on Saturday and one on Sunday.

What this demonstrates is what we frequently see with homeopathy.  That you don’t always avoid the illness, but homeopathic remedies can help you move through each stage of the illness much more rapidly.  Did he need all those remedies?  Would Bryonia have helped him from the start?  Not likely.  Bryonia isn’t even listed as a remedy for stomach pain helped by bending double.  But the rapid progression through three homeopathic remedy states indicates that he may have been sick for longer, had he not had the remedies.  When  you get the flu or flu-like symptoms, your state can change rapidly and frequently.  It isn’t enough to say take X number of doses of this remedy.  You must pay attention to the symptoms you are experiencing.  Call the homeopath if you aren’t sure what to do next.

Did he have the flu?  I actually don’t really care, nor does it really matter as far as homeopathy is concerned.  The important thing is that his flu-like symptoms were helped and he progressed through the illness rapidly, coming out stronger in the end.

Homeopathy and Influenza

Offers for vaccinations of all types are seen all over.

If it weren’t for the weather changing to give us a hint that Flu Season is forthcoming, driving around your local Target or Walgreen’s would be a dead giveaway.

Everywhere you look there are signs encouraging you to get the flu shot–and perhaps others.

Before you get sidetracked and enter the store, you should know that Homeopathy has a long track record of helping people who have influenza.

There are three ways homeopathy can help prevent influenza.

First is a good constitutional remedy.  Any acute illness is about opportunity.  Most germs are opportunistic, and the flu virus is no exception.  The best way to prevent acute illness is not through vaccinations, but from becoming more healthy in our core.  A constitutional remedy strengthens your whole being, making you less susceptible to any illness, including influenza.  A constitutional remedy can be recommended at any time, but it does take time to work, each year, making you stronger and stronger.

Second, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the developer of the principals of homeopathy, spoke of something called the genus epidemicus.  What he was referring to was the most common remedy or remedies that are needed when an epidemic is going around.  During the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, the most common remedy was Gelsemium, followed by Bryonia. Influenza could have been prevented by giving preventive doses of Gelsemium or Bryonia or both to family members and friends of those who suffered through it.  It is different each year and it cannot be determined which remedy will serve this purpose until several cases have been helped with a remedy or remedies.  Fortunately, with the internet making communication easier, homeopaths are in touch each flu season to share information.

Finally, homeopathic nosodes–remedies made from disease sources–can be used to help ward off the flu.  Referred to as homeoprophylaxis, studies have been conducted all over the globe showing the efficacy of this approach.  Please read the references here to learn more.  For influenza, homeopaths can use the remedy called Influenzinum to lower the risk.  When vaccines are developed, they use a particular strain of the flu each year to make a new shot.  The theory presented is that you are only immune to the current strains and each year there are new strains.  This may be true, or it may be a money making scheme.  Because homeopathy is more concerned with symptoms than with influenza strains, we can use the same dose of Influenzinum each year to reduce the risk of illness.  If you are interested in getting a few doses of influenzinum, please click here.  Put a note in the comment section that you are interested in lowering your risk of catching influenza with nosodes.

Personally, I would definitely invest in option #1, the constitutional remedy approach.  I would also try the nosodes, #3, especially if it is close to flu season and you don’t have a good constitutional remedy.  Finally, if necessary, I would try #2.

 

Kathryn

651-748-1556

www.lotushomeopathy.com

 

Remedy of the Week #5

People who need this remedy feel cold and want warm beverages.

This week’s remedy of the week is one that has been useful the past month or so.  This remedy is good for many things, but it is particularly well known for use in Food Poisoning.  You know the feeling.  Vomiting, freezing cold, you don’t want to be left alone.

If you need this remedy, you probably are a bit anxious and restless. It may occur to you that you’ll never get well, or you may even think you’ll die.  You might WANT to die you feel so awful.

You may be wondering how this remedy has been useful in the past month or so.  Have that many people gotten food poisoning?  Is there something wrong with the local restaurants?  Not at all.  It also happens to be a really good remedy for gastroenteritis, sometimes commonly referred to as the stomach flu.  Who knows, it could be genuine influenza that is going around.  In homeopathy, we just look at the symptoms.  Diagnosis not necessary.  My colleagues and I have been using this remedy for the stomach flu that is going around.

Click here to learn what the Remedy of the Week is, and to learn how you can use this and other remedies to PREVENT getting sick.