(NaturalNews) In the midst of this current Swine Flu pandemic, many are wondering what they can do other than wash their hands and avoid contact with other people, as the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organizations both advise. In the past, Americans have been advised to get flu shots but no flu shot exists for this strain of influenza. Science, esteemed medical journals, and the CDC itself do not believe that previous vaccines have been effective against the flu.
The Center for Disease Control`s own studies show they believe the flu vaccine to be only 16%-63% effective against the flu. This percentage is the same as those who do not have the flu shot. For instance, in the 2003-04 season, 147 children under 18 died of the flu. Of those, 22 had received at least one flu shot, and four had received multiple flu shots. That means that the percentage of immunized children who died was 22% of all children. If the flu shot is only 16% effective at best, your odds are the same with or without the flu shot. In addition, the children who died were mostly immune suppressed, either transplant patients, or chronically ill. Normal healthy children do not usually die from the flu.
The esteemed medical journal, LANCET, (October 1, 2005) reviewed all of the studies that tested vaccines for the flu. The article concluded that flu shots do not prevent the flu or "influenza-like illness" or pneumonia in the elderly population. Another LANCET article (February 26, 2005) analyzed every available reference published worldwide in any language. Of the twenty four studies, none of those showed that there were reductions in deaths or complications, and none even showed prevention of the flu by vaccines, or flu medications.
If you think that will increase your immunity, then get a flu shot. Other ways you can increase your immunity include drinking plenty of liquid and getting plenty of rest and exercise. You choose: injecting your body with viruses or sleeping, exercising and eating.
NBC`s Today Show (10/6/04) warned that the flu kills about 36,000 people every year in the United States, but even the CDC itself questions the numbers of flu deaths it reports. CDC spokesman, Mr. Curtis Allen debunked these numbers himself.
"There are a couple of problems with determining the number of deaths related to the flu because most people don`t die from influenza - they die from complications of influenza - so the numbers [of deaths] are based on mathematical formulas. We don`t know exactly how many people get the flu each year because it`s not a reportable disease and most physicians don`t do the test [nasal swab] to indicate whether [the symptoms are caused by] influenza."
Homeopathy was nearly effective in treating the Flu of 1918. Many herbs, especially adaptogens, are proving useful to build immunity. Vitamin C has a long list of studies proving its effectiveness in building immunity and healing the flu. Further information about how to build immunity has been presented in previous articles (see links below).
http://www.naturalnews.com/026156.htmlhttp://www.naturalnews.com/026148.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/pandemics.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm.hthttp://www.naturalnews.com/025316.htmlhttp://www.naturalnews.com/025780.htmlhttp://www.NaturalNews.com/026168.htmlhttp://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/36/2004_flu_cochi.pdf.pg 10-13
About the author
Melanie Grimes is a writer, award-winning screenwriter, medical journal editor, and adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University. She also teaches homeopathy at the Seattle School of Homeopathy and the American Homeopathic Medical College.
A trained homeopath, she is the editor of the homeopathic journal, Simillimum, and has edited alternative and integrative medical journals for 15 years. She has taught creative writing, founded the first Birkenstock store in the USA and authored medical textbooks.
Her ebook on Natural Remedies for the Flu is available at:
http://melanie-grimes.blogspot.com/2009/04/buy-natural-flu-remedy-ebook-h...Follow her blog at
http://melanie-grimes.blogspot.com/www.melaniegrimes.com
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