Health and Wellness Experts Recommend Vitamin C For Onset of Flu Season

Fall foliage season has just passed, but health advocates say it's already time for you to start taking Vitamin C. The National Institutes of Health notes that Vitamin C "helps the immune system work properly to protect the body from disease." NIH suggests that the safe upper limits of Vitamin C for those from twelve months old to adults ranges from 400 to 2000 mg/day.

According to the CDC, the seasonal flu has not yet hit Vermont, but Vermont Wellness Advocate Charlotte Gilruth says it's not too early to prevent it. Gilruth recommends eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and foods rich in Vitamin C as well as Vitamin D, while restricting intake of sugar and other refined foods.  She urges everyone to take full advantage of "Nature's doctors”: pure drinking water, fresh air, and daily exposure to sunshine.

Gilruth encourages hygienic practices like hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes. The international not-for-profit Cochrane Collaboration has found that, “Respiratory virus spread can be reduced by hygienic measures (such as hand washing), especially around younger children. Frequent hand washing can also reduce transmission from children to other household members.” The U.S. CDC makes it clear that, “Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.”

Gilruth adds, "If you do get sick, stay home to avoid infecting others and consult your health practitioner to learn which foods, herbs, and remedies will limit the duration of the flu." Stress, including negative emotions like fear and anger, directly suppresses the immune system, so Gilruth says that, in addition to getting ample rest, incorporating lifestyle changes such as regular meditation and exercise can help prevent illness.

Flu shots have now been found to be only 50 to 60 percent effective in preventing the disease rather than the 80 to 90 percent originally estimated. Studies in Canada have found that in some cases the flu shots increase the incidence of flu and make the symptoms worse. The Cochrane Collaboration found that, “In children under the age of two, the efficacy of inactivated vaccine was similar to placebo.”

A new study released two weeks ago by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota finds similar lack of effectiveness, “trivalent inactivated flu vaccines (TIV) yield about 59% protection in adults aged 18 through 64, but consistent evidence of protection is lacking for children aged 2 to 17 and people 65 and older.”

"I think there's a very big concern among the public and wellness community that if we've got something that is at best 50 to 60 percent effective, we really need to be looking at alternatives," Gilruth says. In addition to the ineffectiveness of the flu vaccine, there are people that should not get the flu shot— such as those with egg allergies and those who do not want to ingest mercury in their bodies since all four brands of multi-dose flu vaccines—Fluzone, Fluvirin, FluLaval and Afluria—contain thimerosal with mercury levels at 25ug per dose.

Preserve Vermont's Freedom to Refuse Pharma Products

Here are a series of flyers to raise attention about the assault on Vermonter's freedom to refuse pharmaceutical products. If you support the right to choose your medical paradigm and health-care please write your Vermont senator and representative and ask them to preserve Vermont's 32-year-old philosophical exemption to vaccinations so those that choose to opt out of chicken pox or other vaccines can do so without persecution.

While those pushing to eliminate the exemption would have the public believe that all vaccines are completely safe and that there is a burgeoning public health threat, neither is true. In the coming weeks The Alternative Health Guides will be running a series of articles highlighting information about pharmaceutical industry products and a 21st century approach to disease.

Please feel free to share any of the flyers below.

Mt. Ascutney Gratefulness Retreat

In mid-May the Mt. Ascutney Healing Arts Center is holding a retreat, The Art of Gratefulness, as a fundraiser for its programs. Please share the following information with anyone you feel might be interested.

Swiss Determine Homeopathy Beneficial

Well known homeopath Dana Ullman reported in mid-February on the Swiss government's extensive investigation into the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine. The report, concluded in 2006 which explores studies through 2003, has just been released in book form.

Ullman writes, "The Swiss government's "Health Technology Assessment" on homeopathic medicine is much more comprehensive than any previous governmental report written on this subject to date."

A majority of Swiss people use and demand complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in their health care options and Swiss health insurance covers homeopathy and other CAM therapies.

The Swiss report and public resolve affirms homeopathy. Maybe one day here in the U.S. we too will have homeopathy covered by insurance!

U.V. Guide Practitioner Didi Pershouse Book Project

For those in the community who missed this Valley News article, please enjoy the story about acupuncturist and sustainable medicine advocate Didi Pershouse's book-in-progress on a sustainable medicine future. To support Didi's work directly visit her fundraising page on Indiegogo.