Why your first battle with flu matters most

Why your first battle with flu matters most:

 How successfully a person can fend off the flu depends not only on the virus' notorious ability to change with the season, but also on the strain first encountered during childhood, according to new research published in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens.

It is the season when many people catch the flu virus.   Here are a few helpful tips on how to deal with this. 

 

4 Essentials for Winter Health and Safety

4 Essentials for Winter Health and Safety:

 Weather conditions and cold and flu viruses can make it more difficult for you to stay healthy and safe during winter months.

 

Credit: Western Connecticut Medical Group

Dr. Rachel Chung, Family Medicine, WCMG New Canaan Primary & Immediate Care

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Cold Weather, Fall Prevention, Flexibility for Fall Prevention, flu, Flu Vaccine, inclement weather, Pneumonia Vaccine, Respiratory Illness, Winter, winter health , winter health tips, Winter Illness, Winter Wellness

Newswise — Colder temperatures, inclement weather, changes in the amount of daylight, and the spread of cold and flu viruses can all have a significant impact on your winter well-being, making it more challenging for you to stay safe and healthy.

Here are four important tips and tricks to help you cope with the cold weather, care for your immune system, and stay active until spring arrives.

Tip 1: Prepare in Advance

A little prevention in the fall can help everyone — and especially older adults — avoid serious wintertime accidents. Precautions include preventing falls by installing handrails and fixing uneven or steep stairs before the weather turns cold and icy.

Fall is also a great time to work on increasing your flexibility. Increasing your flexibility decreases your risk of falling. And if you do fall, flexibility helps to decrease the severity of the injury. Stretching several times a week can improve your flexibility. Traditional stretching, yoga, tai chi, or Pilates are all great ways to stay flexible.

Tip 2: Stay Safe Inside and Outdoors

Snow, sleet, ice, and bitter cold temperatures can make it difficult to get around by vehicle and on foot — especially if you have limited mobility or another health condition that prevents you from safely leaving home when winter weather strikes.

If you are staying home…
It is especially important for people with limited mobility to pay attention to the weather forecast and plan ahead to ensure that they are well-stocked with supplies — such as non-perishable food, water, and medication — before winter weather occurs.

If you are dependent on medication and your supply is running low, make sure you refill your prescription before a winter storm hits. For non-controlled medications, your healthcare provider may be able to work with you to authorize an early fill. And, if leaving home to pick up your medications might be an issue, check with your pharmacy to see if they offer medication delivery.

Keep your devices — especially your mobile phone — fully charged in case you suddenly lose power. Also keep a few other household items readily available and easily accessible, including: a flashlight with new batteries, extra batteries, blankets, and toilet paper, and warm clothing.
Many people use indoor fireplaces as a supplementary heat source in the winter. It is essential to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working.

If you are going out…

We all know that dressing warmly can help us stay comfortable when we head outdoors in the winter. Dressing warmly can have other benefits too. For example, if you fall, you’re less likely to get injured if your body is relaxed because you’re warm.

When there is ice and snow on the ground, avoid snow- and ice-covered walkways and watch out for black ice. Wear shoes with good traction and take shorter steps with your toes pointed outward when walking. Also take extra time when going from inside your home to your car.

Tip 3: Keep Exercising

For people who do not have a home gym and exercise outside or at the gym, winter weather can make it challenging to stick to a normal gym routine. It’s not always easy to get enough exercise in the winter because we are less inclined to go outside when it’s cold or dark. Despite these obstacles, it’s very important to continue exercising during the winter months.

The benefits of wintertime exercise

Exercise helps keep your immune system strong, reducing your risk of getting colds, flu, or other common winter illnesses. Exercise also causes your body to release mood-boosting chemicals called endorphins, which may reduce your risk of developing a type of depression often tied to fall and winter weather called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Maintaining a regular exercise routine may make it easier to avoid wintertime weight gain, which research states could be related to evolutionary factors and lack of sunlight, or lifestyle changes such as decreased activity levels or holiday eating.

How to stay active during the winter

For people who do not have mobility issues or health conditions affected by cold weather, it is possible to safely exercise outdoors. Get outside, embrace the cold, and be active. Consider winter activities and sports such as snowshoeing and cross country or downhill skiing.

When exercising outside during the winter, wear layers that allow your body to adjust to temperature changes. If you have a respiratory condition that is affected by the cold such as asthma or reactive airway disease, wear a muffler or scarf so the air you breathe is less cold, and make sure to use your inhaler before exercising outdoors.

And, of course, be sure to find a safe place to exercise and avoid hazards — such as running in icy areas — that could lead to a serious fall.

If you cannot safely leave your home during inclement weather, it is still possible to get a good workout. Consider using resistance bands for strengthening, dance for aerobic activity, and yoga or Pilates for flexibility.

Tip 4: Get Your Flu Vaccine

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that can affect the nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can sometimes lead to serious complications that result in death.
People age 65 and older, pregnant women, and children under the age of five — as well as people of any age with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease — are at a higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications.

According to a 2018 study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of eight percent of Americans get sick from the flu each season. To reduce your risk of catching the flu, the best thing you can do is get your flu vaccine, also called the influenza vaccination or flu shot.

Most people six months old and older should get the flu vaccine. You need to get a flu vaccine every year so you are protected against the current strain of the flu.

Getting the flu vaccine does more than just protect you; it also protects your friends, co-workers, and family members from getting the flu. Some people can’t get the flu vaccine, such as people who are immunocompromised. So it’s especially important for people who can get the vaccine to do so.

Flu vaccine myths and facts

Although there are many myths about the flu vaccine, it has been tested for many years and has been proven to be safe and effective.

Getting the flu vaccine does not unnecessarily expose you to the flu. To put it into perspective, you are exposed to more flu antigens by going to the grocery store than by getting the vaccine. People still go to the grocery store, so people should also get the flu vaccine.

Special flu vaccine considerations

People who are at high risk of developing serious complications from the flu — such as pregnant women and people over the age of 65 — should be sure to get the flu vaccine.

The flu can cause more severe illness in pregnant women. Because mom passes the antibodies to her developing baby during pregnancy, the flu vaccine can help protect the baby after birth. This protection is important because babies can’t receive the flu vaccine until they are six months old.
People age 65 and older should get the quadrivalent flu vaccine, which has four times the amount of flu antigen and stimulates a better response to the immunization. Another option is the adjuvanted trivalent flu vaccine, which revs up the effectiveness of the immunization.

Don’t forget about pneumonia vaccine

In addition to the flu vaccine, people age 65 and older should also get the pneumonia vaccine. If you have a history of developing pneumonia, your healthcare provider may recommend that you get the vaccine earlier. To receive full protection, you will need to receive two pneumonia vaccines given one year apart.

Check out this related article: 5 Common Holiday Stressors and How to Manage Them
By Dr. Rachel Chung, Family Medicine, Western Connecticut Medical Group New Canaan Primary & Immediate Care

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How to keep flu germs from spreading in your home

How to keep flu germs from spreading in your home:

You cannot really germ-proof your home, but you can clean and disinfect things to improve your chances of preventing the flu.

 

Credit: UAB

Neena Xavier, M.D.

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Newswise — BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Flu season can take its toll on your health, but one way to fight the virus is to stop the spread of germs at home

. University of Alabama at Birmingham Assistant Professor Neena Xavier, M.D., shares these tips to help you and your family strengthen your defenses this flu season.

What are some of the best ways to germ-proof your home? 
 
You cannot really germ-proof your home, but you can clean and disinfect things to improve your chances of preventing the flu.

First, cleaning surfaces using soap and water and disinfectant sprays can decrease the number of germs and lower the chances of spreading them around.

Second, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces can kill germs and help lower the chances of getting sick. Avoid touching used tissues or other waste when emptying your trash, and wash your hands afterward to avoid getting those germs.
 
What are the biggest germ culprits in your home, and how should you disinfect them? 
Commonly touched surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, toys, phones and faucet handles are major culprits for carrying germs. Make sure the product you are using is EPA-registered to both clean (remove germs) and disinfect (kill germs). Read the directions on the product on how to use it because different chemicals have different procedures on how many wipes are needed or how long to keep the surface wet — usually three to five minutes.

How can a humidifier or air filter help keep your home flu-free?
 
Dry air can cause scratchy throats, congestion and nosebleeds. While there are no scientific guidelines about the use of humidifiers to prevent flu, the germs may be able to survive in the drier air conditions. So the thought is that, if you keep the humidity level up in a room, the virus is less likely to survive. Just be careful of warm mist humidifiers because, if not cleaned properly, they can grow bacteria and mold, which can cause serious illness
. 
How often should you wash sheets and towels during flu season? 
 
Most studies have shown that the flu virus can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours. However, it is not necessary to wash surfaces every day. Using harsh chemicals to wipe every surface that often can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin and aggravate asthma if you suffer from it, so you may cause more harm than good. In general, the important thing is to make sure you wash regularly and do not share towels or sheets with those who are sick without washing them first.
Remember, the virus is killed by hot temperatures, so if you do clean your sheets and towels, use the hot temperature setting instead of warm.

What are the best tips to protect yourself if someone in your house already has the flu?

If it is possible, choose a bathroom for the sick person to use and their own bedroom to sleep in. Plan to clean these rooms daily. Have some disposable facemasks at the house for other members, especially those who have other medical conditions that make them more likely to get sick.
Xavier is an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences and faculty member with the Physician Assistant Studies program in the UAB School of Health Professions.
For more information on prevention, symptoms and vaccines, visit uab.edu/flu.

Foods to avoid when you have the flu

Foods to avoid when you have the flu:


 Kasey Vavrek, a registered dietitian at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, explains the worst and best foods when you have the flu.


Newswise — When you have the flu, it may seem like nothing can make you feel better (or worse). However, relief may come from an unexpected place. Oddly enough, some foods may make your flu symptoms worse – or better – without you ever realizing it.
The flu often makes consuming food difficult, as flu symptoms can cause nausea or stomach symptoms. Nausea can decrease the desire to eat, and gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea can be triggered if food is consumed too soon.
Eating nutrient-dense foods is useful no matter what kind of sickness you have. In fact, it’s especially important when you have a fever. But not all food is created equal. While comfort foods may be what you want when you’re not feeling your best, they’re not necessarily going to make you feel better. In fact, I’d suggest avoiding your go-to comfort foods, as you may end up developing a distaste for them if you consume them when nauseated.
I’d suggest avoiding these four foods when you have the flu:

1. Caffeinated drinks and alcohol

Between elevated temperatures and increased sweating, dehydration is something to be cautious of when you have a fever. Caffeine and alcohol can make your symptoms worse (especially stomach-related symptoms), so I’d recommend sipping on water and other clear liquids throughout the day to stay hydrated.

2. Greasy foods

You’ll want to avoid foods that are difficult to break down and hard on your gastrointestinal system. Foods high in saturated fat should be avoided or limited, as well as fried, greasy foods.

3. Hard to digest grains

The flu occasionally causes you to have an upset stomach, so sticking with foods that are easy to digest like simple/refined carbohydrates is recommended. Foods like dry saltine crackers, toast and pretzels are easy on your stomach and are most likely to be tolerated when you have the flu. That being said, foods that are higher in fiber are also harder to digest, so I’d recommend avoiding them at first.

4. Sugary food or drinks

You may think a vitamin-c rich fruit juices are the best things to drink when you’re sick, but most of these options aren’t nutritionally dense and can inflame your immune system. Again, I’d recommend sipping on water and other clear liquids to stay hydrated. What should I eat instead?
Broth-based soups are a good choice when you’re sick, as they’re easily tolerated but will also help to replace any fluids and sodium that may have been lost. If you’re losing a lot of fluids from stomach issues (vomiting or diarrhea), drinks with electrolytes like sports drinks or Pedialyte will help keep you hydrated better than water. Once you’re able to tolerate liquids, try slowly moving to soft, bland foods that are less likely to trigger nausea.
I’d also recommend consuming small, frequent meals once you’re able to eat, as an empty stomach can also worsen nausea in some people.
Kasey Vavrek is a registered dietitian at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

What You Need to Know to Crush the Cold & Flu

Colds And Flu

Extensive explanations on Colds and Flu!

Posted on:

Monday, December 10th 2018 at 9:45 am

Written By:

Linda Woolven & Ted Snider

This article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2018
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Did you know that the science itself on the flu vaccine shows it does virtually nothing to protect you? Here's why you should look to the evidence and not the media for guidance this cold and flu season...

Though the media and the government keep telling you to get the flu shot, the highly respected Cochrane Collaboration found that “[e]vidence from systematic reviews shows that vaccines have little or no effect on the effects measured” (BMJ 2006;333:912). That means flu vaccines have not helped prevent the flu. A 2014 Cochrane Collaboration evaluation of 116 studies---all the research up to 2013--found that vaccinating adults did not change the number of people hospitalized or the number of lost days of work (Cochrane Database of Syst Rev 2014, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD001269).

That still leaves the constant claim that the flu vaccine protects seniors from serious complications from the flu that can lead to death. But this claim, too, fails to stand up to scientific scrutiny. When subjected to proper analysis, the claimed protection against risk of death in the elderly drops to statistically insignificant levels (Am J Respir Care Med 2008 ;178: 527-533). Another study concluded that increased vaccination is not correlated with decreased mortality among seniors (Arch Intern Med 2005;165:265-272).

The More Often You Get it, the Worse it Works
But, it gets worse. Canadian researchers identified the troubling result that getting the flu vaccine each year diminishes its effectiveness. When they followed 1,939 people, they found that the ones who got the flu vaccine in the 2014-2015 season, but not the year before, had a 53% vaccine effectiveness. However, the people who got it that season and also the season before had their effectiveness rate drop significantly to -32%. If they got it that year and the two years before, the effectiveness dropped to -54%. The researchers concluded that there is a negative effect of repeated vaccination (Clin Infect Dis 2016;63(1):21-32).

No Benefit During Pregnancy for You or Your Baby
Doctors don’t only recommend the flu shot for seniors, they also recommend that pregnant women get inactivated flu vaccines even though there is little research on the safety of that recommendation during the first trimester. An important study set out to see if the recommendation is responsible by studying the effect of getting a flu vaccine that included protection against swine flu (pH1N1) on spontaneous abortions. The results were unexpected and disturbing.

But, since there is no reason for the recommendation that pregnant women get the flu vaccine, there is no reason to chance the risk of miscarriage. It is currently recommended that women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy get the flu vaccine. But an analysis of hospital admissions found that women who got vaccinated during pregnancy had the same risk for influenza like illnesses as women who did not get vaccinated. There was also no difference in the risk for outpatient visits. As for the babies, the ones who were born to vaccinated mothers had the same risk of influenza and pneumonia as infants born to unvaccinated mothers. There was also no benefit when it came to outpatient visits. The study concluded that there is no demonstrable benefit to the flu vaccine for pregnant women (Am J Perinatol 2004;21(6):333-9).

No Benefit for Your Children Either
When a double-blind study put vaccinating kids to the test by comparing vaccinated children to unvaccinated children who received a placebo for 272 days, there were 88 cases of the flu in the unvaccinated group, but—wait for it—there were 116 cases in the vaccinated group. What’s worse is that there were 487 non-flu respiratory viruses in the vaccinated group but only 88 in the unvaccinated group. So, the flu vaccine makes things significantly worse for kids (Clinical Infectious Diseases 2012;54(12):1778-83).
A second study looked at the flu vaccine for infants between 6 and 24 months. It found that the rate of influenza was not significantly different between infants who were vaccinated and infants who were not. They concluded that getting the flu vaccine did not reduce the rate of influenza in infants and children between 6-24 months (Pediatr Int 2004;46(2):122-5.

Cold Medicine: Is the Case Better for Treatment?
So conventional medicine cannot help you prevent a cold. Can it help you treat one?
Nope. When children were given the popular decongestant/antihistamine Dimetapp, they actually did worse than children given a placebo (J Pediatr 1991;118:125-30). And, though taking Aspirin or Tylenol for cold relief is a common practice, they actually make congestion and other symptoms worse (J Infect Dis 1990;162:1277- 82). They also suppress the immune system. What’s even worse is that taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) during an acute respiratory infection, like a cold or flu, increases your risk of a heart attack (J Infect Dis 2017;jiw603).

In 2007, an FDA advisory panel said that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines offer no benefit, but considerable risk, for children under six and recommended against their use.
So, the pharmaceutical approach offers nothing for the prevention or treatment of colds.

The Natural Approach
Echinacea: Echinacea, however, does both prevent and treats colds (Lancet Infect Dis 2007;7:473-80). In the largest study ever done on echinacea, 673 healthy people were given either echinacea or a placebo for 4 months in a double-blind fashion. The people on the echinacea had significantly fewer colds and cold symptoms, showing that echinacea both prevents colds and treats them if you already have one. The echinacea group caught 149 colds that lasted a total of 672 days; the placebo group caught 188 colds that lasted 850 days. The echinacea group also had significantly less recurrence of colds: 65 compared to 100 in the placebo group (Evid Based Complement Altern Med 2012(2):841315).
If you do catch a cold, echinacea helps you get better faster: symptoms improve by day 4 instead of taking twice as long on a placebo (Eur J Clin Res 1997;9:261-8). A double-blind study found that when echinacea is given at the first sign of a cold, the cold lasted an average of 6 days versus 9 days when they were given a placebo (Arzneimittelforsch 2001;51(7):563-8). Echinacea also reduces the symptoms you’ll suffer. One study found echinacea to reduce symptoms by 23.1% (J Clin Pharm Ther 2004;29:75-83). Other studies have also shown that echinacea helps you get rid of your cold faster (Phytother Res 2005;19:689-94).
A systematic review of echinacea looked at 24 double-blind studies. It found that echinacea significantly reduces your chance of catching a cold by 17%. It also had a small beneficial effect on the severity of colds compared to a placebo. The results were mixed in studies of cold duration. The authors said that it is difficult to draw conclusions from reviews like this of echinacea because of the huge variety of forms of echinacea used in the different studies (Cochrane Database of Syst Rev 2014;doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub3).
An important meta-analysis included 6 high quality, placebo-controlled, long term studies of echinacea on respiratory tract infection recurrence and complication (including pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infection, sinusitis). Echinacea reduced the risk of recurrence by a significant 35%. In people with higher susceptibility due to stress or weakened immunity, the reduction was an even more impressive 50%. Echinacea reduced the risk of complications by 50%, including 64.9% reduction of risk of pneumonia, ear infection and tonsillitis (Adv Ther 2015;32:187-200).
As for Tamiflu, the leading flu drug, a double-blind study that compared a blend of Echinacea purpurea and elderberry found that by day 5, the herbs were already slightly more effective; by day 10, 90.1% of the herb group had recovered versus 84.8% of the drug group. There were less complications and side effects in the herb group (Curr Ther Res 2015;77:66-72).
Elderberry: Elderberry boosts immunity and stops viruses from penetrating into your cells, preventing them from replicating. Elderberry helps you recover from the cold in only 2-3 days compared to 7-8 days on a placebo (J Altern Comp Med 1995;1:361- 9; J International Med Res 2004;32:132- 40). A placebo-controlled study found that elderberry relieves fever, headache, congestion and cough in only 2 days. Elderberry was also better than placebo for nasal congestion. The researchers concluded that elderberry was fast, effective and as good as or better than antiviral drugs for the flu (Online Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics 2009;5:32-43). In the most recent double-blind study, airplane travelers who took elderberry suffered a significant 52% fewer days with a cold and a significant 58% milder symptoms (Nutrients 2016;8(4)).
Vitamin C: This most famous cold fighter both prevents and treats colds. When you take 500mg a day of vitamin C, you are 70% less likely to catch a cold than when you take a placebo dose of 50mg (Eur J Clin Nutr 2005;60:9-17). A review of 21 studies that used 1-8g of vitamin C found that, in each of them, vitamin C reduced the length and severity of colds by 23% (Scand J Infect Dis 1994;26:1-6). Taking at least 2g a day works even better (Med Hypotheses 1999;52:171-8). A recent double-blind study gave 1g of vitamin C or placebo to 28 people for 8 weeks. In the vitamin C group, 7 people got colds; in the placebo group 11 people did: that’s a 45% reduction in risk. Compared to placebo, vitamin C shortened the length of the cold by 59% (Nutrients 2014;6:2572-83).
The most recent evidence for vitamin C comes from a meta-analysis of 9 controlled studies that found that taking extra vitamin C on top of regular supplementation at the onset of a cold shortened the cold by a significant 56% and significantly relieve symptoms, including chest pain, fever and chills (Biomed Res Int 2018 ;2018:1837634).
Zinc Lozenges: Several studies have shown that, when you use an effective form of zinc, zinc lozenges have a remarkable ability to kill colds. The best forms of zinc lozenge are zinc gluconate, zinc acetate and zinc gluconate-glycine. Other forms or those flavoured with citric acid, tartaric acid, sorbitol, or mannitol don’t work as well.
Several studies show that taking 13-23mg of zinc lozenges every two waking hours fights off a cold in about 4 days compared to 7-11 days with a placebo (Antimicrobial Agents Chemother 1984;25:20-24; Ann Intern Med 1996;125:81-88; Ann Intern Med 2000;133:245-52; J Infect Dis 2008;197:795- 802).
A review of the research found that when at least 75mg of zinc lozenges a day was used, people got better significantly faster in 7 out of 8 studies (Open Respir Med J 2011;5:51-58). A recent meta-analysis looked at three placebo-controlled studies that all used an effective form of zinc lozenge: zinc acetate. The zinc lozenges lessened the length of the cold by nearly 3 days. The average length of the cold in the 3 studies was 7 days. But taking zinc lozenges shortened the cold by 2.73-2.94 days: that’s a big improvement (BJCP 2016;82:1393-8)!
The most recent meta-analysis also included only studies of zinc acetate lozenges. It included 3 studies of 199 people with colds. The doses ranged from 80-92mg a day of elemental zinc. By the fifth day of the study, 70% of the zinc lozenge group had recovered from their colds compared to only 27% of the placebo group. That’s huge! That means that 2.6 times more people were cured in the zinc lozenge group. People taking zinc lozenges recovered 3.1 times faster. The researchers called this “a clinically important effect.” The zinc lozenges were equally effective regardless of the person’s age, gender or race. It also made no difference if they had allergies or were a smoker. The zinc lozenges also worked just as well on people with severe colds as it did on people whose colds were milder. Zinc lozenges not only beat the cold, they did so safely: there were no serious side effects (Open Forum Infect Dis 2017;4(2):ofx059).
Andrographis: Fast acting and effective, placebo-controlled research shows that the herb andrographis significantly improves runny nose and sore throat in only 2 days. Cough, headache, ear ache and fatigue are significantly improved in 4 days (Phytomed 1999;6:217-23). Several other studies show that andrographis fights colds and sinusitis better than placebo (Phytother Res 1995;9:559-62; Phytomed 1996;3:315-18; Phytomed 2010;17:178-85).
Andrographis also prevents colds. When 107 children took andrographis or a placebo for 3 months during the winter, the ones on the herb had a 2.1 lower risk of catching a cold (Phytomed 1997;4:101-4).
In the most recent double-blind study of people with colds, andrographis reduced the cold intensity score by 11.2 points versus 6.3 points in the placebo group. Significantly more people in the andrographis group were significantly or completely better after 5 days. After 10 days, 90.4% of the andrographis group, but only 21.2% of the placebo group, were clinically cured (Altern Ther Health Med 2018;24(2):16-26).
The combination of andrographis and eleuthero has been shown to outperform a placebo in the treatment of colds, sinusitis, laryngitis and bronchitis (Phytomed 2002;9:598-605).
Probiotics: Probiotics help fight colds (Adv Ther Respir Dis 2010;4:271–8). Students under the stress of exams suffer fewer colds and flus when taking probiotics than students taking a placebo (Br J Nutr 2015;113:426-34). Probiotics also help you recover from respiratory infections significantly faster (Eur J Clin Nutr 2016;70:463-9).
Herbal Help for Coughs: A recent systematic review and meta-analysis looked at the evidence for herbal cough remedies. Four studies on andrographis were included in a meta-analysis: it found strong evidence that andrographis reduces cough symptoms. Three high quality studies of the combination of ivy (Hedera helix), primrose and thyme were included in a meta-analysis that found strong evidence that it reduced cough symptoms (Forsch Komplementmed 2015;22(6):359-368).
So, what do you really need to know to crush a cold or flu this winter? Science says that conventional medicine has nothing to offer: vaccines don’t protect you from the flu and over-the-counter medications don’t help treat colds and flus. But, science also says that natural medicine has plenty to offer and can significantly help you to prevent and treat a cold or flu. Use the GreenMedInfo Cold & Flu database for over 100 proven natural alternatives: 

If you found this article interesting, join Linda and Ted’s newsletter and get The Natural Path delivered to your in-box every month. The Natural Path is Your Guide to Good Health & Vitality: Cutting Edge Research Made Easy. Subscribe today, and get the latest research to keep you and your family healthy.

Linda Woolven and Ted Snider are the authors of several books on natural health and of the natural health newsletter, The Natural Path. Their latest book, Chocolate: Superfood of the Gods, clearly lays out the science that dark chocolate is nature's perfect superfood.
You can see their books and subscribe to their newsletter on their website. 

Why Everything You Learned About Viruses Is WRONG

Why Everything You Learned About Viruses Is WRONG:

The Flu Season is upon us in the Northern Hemisphere.  Any information on this subject must be treated seriously!

 Groundbreaking research indicates that most of what we believed about the purportedly deadly properties of flu virus is based on nothing more than institutionalized superstition and myth.

Posted on:

Sunday, October 28th 2018 at 6:30 pm

Written By:

Sayer Ji, Founder

This article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2018
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Groundbreaking research indicates that most of what we believed about the purportedly deadly properties of viruses like influenza is based on nothing more than institutionalized superstition and myth
Germ theory is an immensely powerful force on this planet, affecting everyday interactions from a handshake, all the way up the ladder to national vaccination agendas and global eradication campaigns.
But what if fundamental research on what exactly these ‘pathogens' are, how they infect us, has not yet even been performed? What if much of what is assumed and believed about the danger of microbes, particularly viruses, has completely been undermined in light of radical new discoveries in microbiology?  
Some of our readers already know that in my previous writings I discuss why the "germs as our enemies" concept has been decimated by the relatively recent discovery of the microbiome. For in depth background on this topic, read my previous article, "How The Microbiome Destroyed the Ego, Vaccine Policy, and Patriarchy." You can also read Profound Implications of the Virome for Human Health and Autoimmunity, to get a better understanding of how viruses are actually benefificial to health. 
In this article I will take a less philosophical approach, and focus on influenza as a more concrete example of the Copernican-level paradigm shift in biomedicine and life sciences we are all presently fully immersed within, even if the medical establishment hs yast to acknowledge it.   
Deadly Flu Viruses: Vaccinate or Die? 
The hyperbolic manner in which health policymakers and the mainstream media talk about it today, flu virus is a deadly force, against which all citizens, of all ages 6 months or older, need to take an annual influenza vaccine to protect themselves against, lest they face deadly consequences. Worse, those who hold religious or philosophical objections, or who otherwise conscientiously object to vaccinating, are being characterized as doing harm to others by denying them herd immunity (a concept that has been completely debunked by a careful study of the evidence, or lack thereof). For instance, in the interview below Bill Gates tells Sanjay Gupta that he thinks non-vaccinators "kill children":

But what if I told you that there isn’t even such a thing as “flu virus,” in the sense of a monolithic, disease vector existing outside of us, conceived as it is as the relationship of predator to prey?
First, consider that the highly authorative Cochrane collaboration acknowledges there are many different flu viruses that are not, in fact, influenza A — against which flu vaccines are targeted — but which nonetheless can contribute to symptoms identical to those attributed to influenza A:

Over 200 viruses cause influenza and influenza-like illness which produce the same symptoms (fever, headache, aches and pains, cough and runny noses). Without laboratory tests, doctors cannot tell the two illnesses apart. Both last for days and rarely lead to death or serious illness. At best, vaccines might be effective against only Influenza A and B, which represent about 10% of all circulating viruses." (Source: Cochrane Summaries)." [emphasis added]

This makes for a picture of complexity that powerfully undermines health policies that presuppose vaccination equates to bona fide immunity, and by implication, necessitates the herd collectively participate in the ritual of mass vaccination campaigns as a matter of social responsibility and necessity. 
Even the use of the word “immunization” to describe vaccination is highly misleading. The moment the word is used, it already presupposes efficacy, and makes it appear as if non-vaccinators are anti-immunity, instead of what they actually are: pro-immunity (via clean air, food, water, and sunlight), but unwilling to subject themselves or their healthy children to "unavoidably unsafe" medical procedures with only theoretical benefits. 
Why Flu Virus Doesn't Exist (The Way We Were Told)
But the topic gets even more interesting when we consider the findings of a 2015 study entitled “Conserved and host-specific features of influenza virion architecture.” This was the first study ever to plumb the molecular depths of what influenza virus is actually composed of. Amazingly, given the long history of vaccine use and promotion, the full characterization of what proteins it contains, and where they are derived from, was never previously performed. How we invest billions of dollars annually into flu vaccines, and have created a global campaign to countermand a viral enemy, whose basic building blocks we don't even know, is hard to understand. But it is true nonetheless. 
The study abstract opens with this highly provocative line: 

Viruses use virions to spread between hosts, and virion composition is therefore the primary determinant of viral transmissibility and immunogenicity.” [emphasis added]

Virion are also known as “viral particles,” and they are the means by which viral nucleic acids are able to move and 'infect' living organisms. Without the viral particle (taxi) to carry around the virus DNA (passenger), it would be harmless; in fact, viruses are often described as existing somewhere between living and inanimate objects for this reason: they do not produce their own energy, nor are transmissable without a living host. And so, in this first line, the authors are making it clear that virion composition is also the primary determinant in how or whether a virus is infectious (transmits) and what effects it will have in the immune system of the infected host. 

Influenza viral particles

This distinction is important because we often think of viruses as simply pathogenic strings of DNA or RNA. The irony, of course, is that the very things we attribute so much lethality to — viral nucleic acids — are not even alive, and can not infect an organism without all the other components (proteins, lipids, extra-viral nucleic acids) which are, technically, not viral in origin, participating in the process. And so, if the components that are non-viral are essential for the virus to cause harm, how can we continue to maintain that we are up against a monolithic disease entity “out there” who "infects" us, a passive victim?  It's fundamentally non-sensical, given these findings. It also clearly undermines the incessant, fear-based rhetoric those beholden to the pro-vaccine stance to coerce the masses into undergoing the largely faith-based rite of vaccination. 
Let's dive deeper into the study's findings...
The next line of the abstract addresses the fact we opened this article with: namely, that there is great complexity involved at the level of the profound variability in virion composition:

However, the virions of many viruses are complex and pleomorphic, making them difficult to analyze in detail” 

But this problem of the great variability in the virion composition of influenza is exactly why the study was conducted. They explain: 

Here we address this by identifying and quantifying viral proteins with mass spectrometry, producing a complete and quantifiable model of the hundreds of viral and host-encoded proteins that make up the pleomorphic virions of influenza virus.  We show that a conserved influenza virion architecture, which includes substantial quantities of host proteins as well as the viral protein NSI, is elaborated with abundant host-dependent features. As a result, influenza virions produced by mammalian and avian hosts have distinct protein compositions.” 

In other words, they found that the flu virus is as much comprised of biological material from the host the virus 'infects,' as the viral genetic material of the virus per se.
How then, do we differentiate influenza virus as fully “other”? Given that it would not exist without “self” proteins, or those of other host animals like birds (avian) or insects, this would be impossible to do with any intellectual honesty intact.  
There's also the significant problem presented by flu vaccine production. Presently, human flu vaccine antigen is produced via insects and chicken eggs. This means that the virus particles extracted from these hosts would contain foreign proteins, and would therefore produce different and/or unpredictable immunological responses in humans than would be expected from human influenza viral particles. One possibility is that the dozens of foreign proteins found within avian influenza could theoretically produce antigens in humans that cross-react with self-structures resulting in autoimmunity. Safety testing, presently, does not test for these cross reactions. Clearly, this discovery opens up a pandora's box of potential problems that have never sufficiently been analyzed, since it was never understood until now that "influenza" is so thoroughly dependent upon a host for its transmissability and immunogenecity. 
Are Flu Viruses Really "Hijacked" Exosomes?
Lastly, the study identified something even more amazing:

Finally, we note that influenza virions share an underlying protein composition with exosomes, suggesting that influenza virions form by subverting micro vesicle” production.

What these researchers are talking about is the discovery that virion particles share stunning similarities to naturally occurring virus-like particles produced by all living cells called exosomes. Exosomes, like many viruses (i.e. enveloped viruses) are enclosed in a membrane, and are within the 50-100 nanometer size range that viruses are (20-400 nm). They also contain biologically active molecules, such as proteins and lipids, as well as information-containing ones like RNAs -- exactly, or very similar, to the types of contents you find in viral particles.
Watch this basic video on exosomes to get a primer:

Progress Toward a New Flu Treatment, Thanks to a Small Tweak

Progress Toward a New Flu Treatment, Thanks to a Small Tweak:

 This year’s unexpectedly aggressive flu season reminds everyone that although the flu vaccine can reduce the number of people who contract the virus, it is still not 100 percent effective. Researchers report that a tweak to a small-molecule drug shows promise for future production of new antiviral therapies that could help patients, regardless of the strain with which they are infected.

Vitamin D Reduces Risk Of Flu Study Shows

Vitamin D And Flu

Study Shows Vitamin D Reduces Risk of the Flu by up to 50%

by DailyHealthPostFebruary 26, 2018

Study Shows Vitamin D Reduces Risk of the Flu by up to 50%

by DailyHealthPostFebruary 26, 2018

When we think of a nutrient to fight colds and flu, most of us would think of vitamin C first. And while this compound is vital and tremendously important for the immune system, the next letter of the alphabet deserves the same respect. Vitamin D is an intrinsic and essential driver for the immune system.

Vitamin D is a pre-hormone that made by the skin that is converted to another form by the liver and then its final form by other cells throughout the body into a steroid hormone.

Vitamin D in all its forms modulates the immune system; it stimulates antimicrobial proteins and killer cells and reduces inflammation. The immune effects of this substance are far-reaching, destroying cancer cells and supporting brain function.

“The Sunshine Vitamin”

Vitamin D has become known as “the sunshine vitamin” because the best place to get it is from sunlight. When sunshine directly touches the skin, a chemical reaction takes place that creates vitamin D3.

This is partially why colds and flu are less common in the spring and summer: because there is more sunshine available for our skin to absorb. Our immune systems are then more robust (thanks to vitamin D) to eradicate invading micro-organisms.

Additionally, flu viruses find it easier to spread in cooler weather when people are more likely to gather indoors than outdoors. (1)

Vitamin D and Colds, Flu, and Respiratory Infections

A large clinical meta-analysis published in The British Medical Journal in 2016 found that vitamin D supplementation (daily and weekly) safely and effectively reduced the risk of respiratory infection by half, including colds and flu.

The improvement of risk was most significant in those with the greatest deficiency in vitamin D at the start of each included study. Regular supplementation was more effective than one dose every now and then. (3)

Compare the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation with that of the annual flu vaccine—it’s much more effective and without the risks that come with vaccination.

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  Elderberry Extract – The Most Effective Fruit Known To Man Against The Cold And Flu
  

  You may have never heard of elderberry extract but it’s wonderful thing to have around. Since the time of Hippocrates, …

Natural Cold Remedies: What Works, What Doesn't

Natural Cold Remedies: What Works, What Doesn't?

 Here is an extensive article with helpful tips about Cold Remedies.  I hope this is very useful.

• Colds and the flu are caused by viruses, which means antibiotics are not effective treatments and can actually lengthen the time you are sick
• There are many different ways you can shorten the amount of time you suffer from a virus and help prevent a recurrence
• Do not use over-the-counter remedies as they often contain substances now found to suppress your ability to fight the virus and will extend the time you suffer from a cold

Flu Season and Vaccines — What You Need to Know

Flu Season and Vaccines — What You Need to Know

 Important information concerning Flu and the Vaccines to protect yourself.  The worrying fact is that often we have the flu vaccine for one strain of the flu and then we catch another strain.


Newswise — As the winter months and cold weather approach, so does flu season.

Approximately 970,000 Americans were hospitalized due to the flu in 2014, and more than 40 million were affected by flu-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to symptoms including sore throat, aches, and fever, the flu can lead to serious health complications, such as pneumonia. These data, say UAB experts, are reason enough for Americans to receive their yearly influenza vaccine.

During recent flu seasons (October-May), between 80 and 90 percent of flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older. The upcoming season’s flu vaccine will protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season. This includes two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and select the influenza B viruses, depending on the flu vaccine.

Simple And Natural Home Remedies For Bronchitis

Home Remedies For Bronchitis

Winter is a few months away for us in the Northern Hemisphere and with it often flu and colds which can develop into Bronchitis or even Pneumonia.  Here are a few remedies to ease these ailments.  Bronchitis triggered my Asthma all those years ago so I know how important it is to take care and treat the symptoms shown below.


Bronchitis is actually an inflammation that happens in the bronchial tubes located between the nose and the lungs.  The virus, bacteria, or colds can cause bronchitis, with symptoms including coughing with mucus, chest pain, fatigue, muscle aches, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, and fever.

Bronchitis happens mostly after the flu or a cold, when your immune system and resistance are low, resulting in a lung irritation. So, what can you do? In most cases, people reach for over-the-counter medicines, but that doesn’t mean that home remedies for bronchitis cannot help. In fact, some of the “medicines” on the list are even more potent and powerful than traditional medicine. It is just a matter of belief.

Influenza Vaccine

News on the influenza vaccine that may be of interest.
 
Influenza Vaccine