Should I Get the Flu Shot?

It’s that time of year when your doctor will recommend that you get the flu shot.  We see commercials on this all day long.  I have posted this already but thought it was worth re-posting.  I hope it helps…

Every year someone asks me MY OPINION on whether or not they should get the flu shot and my answer is always “I personally wouldn’t get one”.  Remember, this is just MY opinion but I’ll tell you why.

First of all, let’s look at how the flu shot, or most vaccines work…  It kind of works like homeopathic medicine.  Homeopathic remedies are made through a process of dilution and vigorous shaking with the a very small dose of some medicinal substance.  Homeopathic medicines are considered to be a type of “nanopharmacology”.  The word “nano” means “extremely small, yet extremely powerful”.  For example, if you are allergic to bee stings, a homeopathic medicine will have the bee venom in their medicine but the bee venom has been diluted and shaken vigorously, and then that dilution is diluted and shaken again, and then that dilution is diluted again and so on and so on, for many times.  In the end, it no longer contains any molecules of the original substance, just the essence of it or the energy of it.  This solution is not enough to overwhelm the immune system and cause a reaction, rather it stimulates the healing system by creating antibodies against whatever specific substance you are using it for.  So, let’s take this theory and apply it to the flu vaccine.  First of all, they have to guess (based on research) which influenza viruses are most common for the upcoming season.  The plan is to protect you against 3 of the most common flu viruses.  The vaccine causes the body to create antibodies against those exact viruses but again it is not enough to overwhelm the immune system and make you terribly sick, albeit many people do get sick.

So, all of this sounds good right?  Sure, it makes sense.  I am a big fan of homeopathic remedies so why not the flu shot (if they guess the right flu virus going around)?  The issue for me is the additives and preservatives they put in the vaccines.  Let’s take a look at some of them:

• Formaldehyde: Added as preservative to inhibit bacterial contamination during the vaccine manufacturing process.  This preservative is listed as a carcinogen (cancer causing agent) and can devastate the immune system (doesn’t that defeat the point?)
• Mercury: Another preservative to inhibit bacterial contamination. Exposure to mercury causes damage to the kidneys and brain and is associated with autoimmune disorders.  (Note: mercury is also in our amalgam fillings in our teeth, yet you cannot dump mercury on any land because it is toxic?)
• Aluminum salts: Used to stimulate the body’s immune response to produce antigens against the virus. Aluminum has been associated with autoimmune issues such as MS and neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s disease
• Other additives may include: Neomycin, MSG, Polysorbate 80, egg protein, sucrose, sorbitol, antibiotics, gelatin

While health authorities say that all of these ingredients are safe (really?), what I feel is that not only are some of these ingredients dangerous, others may cause a weakened immune response (again, doesn’t that defeat the purpose?), allergic reactions, cell damage and overall toxicity.

So now what?

My goal for cold and flu season is to beef up my immune system.  I personally do this by taking lots of daily vitamin C (5,000 mg) and vitamin D (5-10,000 IU) as well as olive leaf extract and medicinal mushrooms such as Turkey Tail and My Community (blend of 17 different mushrooms) by Host Defense.   Also, it is important to keep your stress levels low as high stress levels will weaken the immune system, get plenty of sleep (6-8 hours if possible) and eat a healthy balanced diet.