There has been a big push this year for people to get the flu shot. Major companies provided it for free for their employees and every paper had an article on it. Just what is being injected when you get the flu shot and have any studies on humans been done on it? Most vaccinations are preserved with Thimerosal a mercury derivative, aluminum and formaldehyde. When these are injected they find their way into your fat cells and are not excreted by the normal pathways of detoxification through the liver. By the time children are two years of age they have 237 mcg of mercury in their bodies when no amount of mercury is safe in the body! It causes nerve and immune system damage. Just think how much mercury you have in your adult body from other sources as well; fish (tuna and halibut being the worst) and amalgam fillings. In my latest office newsletter I write about the increase risk of ADHD, Autism and diabetes from the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Studies are not being done on vaccinations even after one hundred million doses. (Contact the office for a free copy).

During this last fall and winter those who have received the flu vaccine have not been without risk. In the Vancouver Sun January 5^{th 2001}, a woman reported that she had six weeks of hell after receiving her vaccine. Side effects that have been reported include respiratory problems similar to pneumonia. There were 1,191 cases reported of side effects across the country as of the writing of the article. The side effects reported included feeling very sick for many weeks rather than just a few days after the vaccine. If this was a herb that caused side effects in this many people do you think that Health Canada would say that the benefits far out way the risks and to continue dispensing the herbs?

The concern we have as naturopathic physicians is not so much the short- term risk of vaccines but the long- term risk. With the rise in incidence of autoimmune and other chronic diseases we don’t know yet how much these vaccinations will later come to be blamed. Heavy metal toxicity is often a cause of chronic diseases.

In the Globe and Mail on Saturday Feb 3^rd 2001, there was an article by Justin Trudeau which I found inspiring. He was urging people to take responsibility for their lives and not to rely on governments or others to make their lives better. The same goes for medicine. Educating yourself about the truths of medicine will add years to your health and well being. Just because a drug or food has been passed by the FDA does not make it safe!

What can you do besides the flu vaccine? The elderly are the ones who need to use the most caution and naturopathic medicine provides many options for boosting the immune system naturally with herbs, vitamins and minerals. Two simple homeopathic remedies both taken once a month all year round provide good immunity for the whole family. Influenzinum and Thymulin are dispensed in tasty pellets, three times one day per month. Children are very compliant as they taste good. Families report back that it works! Dr.Linus Pauling who lived until 94 years of age, took over 20,000 mgs of Vitamin C per day and didn’t have a cold in the last 35 years of his life! Many folks find taking garlic every day, fresh or in capsule form, gives them protection.

If you do come down with the flu naturopathic medicines can help you get over the symptoms in days rather than weeks, depending on your health. Thymus tissue is used in many of our formulas to naturally boost the immune system. They are warning about another round of flu ready to strike. Get your medicine cabinet stocked with these remedies as early treatment always works the best!