Your Health Matters!

Natural Antiviral Proven Effective

There is good news and bad news yesterday about natural “flu fighters.”

Dr. Andrew Weil, well-known proponent of more natural approaches to dis-ease had made some statements regarding the efficacy of astragalus in combatting flu.  The government is up in arms about this, but researchers from Natural News have assembled a collection of statements in support of Dr. Weil’s astragalus statements.  They have discovered that:

This medicinal herb does, indeed, boost healthy immune function and offer protection against influenza. And because it’s a multifaceted, complex plant-based medicine, it’s not outsmarted by one particular viral configuration… it’s useful against any flu (including H1N1 swine flu).

Just so you really get it, let me say it a different way.

Astragalus, a “simple herb” and not a billion-dollar researched, contrived, pharmaceutical company chemical or vaccine, actually has been shown to have the ability to kill viruses, no matter how they might change, so it is effective against any flu virus, including the H1N1.

To read more about what the experts have to say about astragalus and influenza see the entire article here….

The good news then is that you have a safe, effective alternative approach to swine flu without having to rely on any unproven, potentially dangerous, misguided and shortsighted approach such as that being marketed to us by our political leaders and physicians.

The bad news is that the powers that be, the FDA and FTC (medical and economic power brokers), are attacking a respected and compassionate physician who happens to know the facts but also happens to disagree with current politics.

This kind of abuse of free speech and free thought, this attacking of truth when it doesn’t agree with the politically correct doctrine of the moment is unacceptable in a supposedly free society.

And here I go, turning the health newsletter into a political commentary

Sorry about that, but they seem to somehow go together.

Health and politics.  Poor bedfellows.

That’s the really bad news.

Meanwhile use the good news, go in health, get your astragalus and other natural flu fighting products, in spite of what the power brokers would prefer that you believe and do.  Err on the side of truth and health.

To Your Health,

Dr Jon

P.S.  When you read the full article you will notice that astragalus does a LOT more than just fight flu viruses, AND there are more herbs that are effective as well!

Swine Flu Revisited

The issue just won’t go away, so let’s again look at the big picture.

Yesterday I was watching the Hannity show TIVO’d from earlier in the week.  He had a strict vegetarian and a couple others discussing the swing flu vaccine.  She gave him a very hard time for eating junk food and dogged him about not eating vegetables.  Interestingly, she was vehemently opposed to the vaccine, one of the other panelists took a very skeptical approach to the logistics and efficacy of the vaccine while accepting other older vaccines, while Sean was totally in favor of the vaccine.  His rationale was that all the doctors to whom he had spoken and all the research he had seen was in favor.

Here’s my problem, what frustrates me most, and what is very disheartening:

There are only two choices discussed in the argument about the vaccine.  Even if all the doctors knew everything about the virus and the vaccine, even none of the research was flawed, even if the government had all their ducks in a row and really and truly had your best interest at stake, there are still only two choices discussed:

a) get the vaccine because that is the only way we have of combating it, or
b) don’t get the vaccine because it is not safe (and that leads to a lot of political rhetoric – for example, the Yahoo
Buzz Blog from today in response to the declaration that H1N1 is a national emergency).

This approach of either to vaccinate or not is shortsighted and misses the point entirely.  It is a commentary on our modern medical system that we are so limited, that our health “toolbox” is so small.  It probably helps to explain why our country has the best health care but some of the worst health in the world.

What we need is a whole new approach (perhaps the old approach!) where we expand the toolbox and have lots more ways to effect health in ourselves and in our population.

Here are some other things we could do:

• Eat correctly and eat wholesome, nutrient dense food.  Change the way we do agriculture!
• Use herbal remedies and essential oils made from herbs.  There are herbs known to kill viruses (and bacteria, and fungi…) which won’t or are unlikely to generate resistance in organisms.
• Stop bad habits like smoking and addiction to sugar, both of which are known to seriously adversely affect our health (cancer, diabetes, a couple of reasons why vaccines are supposedly needed).  Instead of making us spend $30 for a vaccine make a pack of cigarettes or a can of coke cost $30.
• Use large doses of Vitamin C and enemas as Dr. Klenner of North Carolina did many years ago when treating children with viral illnesses.  This boosted the immune system and he lost none of these children while his colleagues were losing them all the time.  Both vitamin C and soapy water used for an enema are very inexpensive, the cost of the plastic to house the fluid being more costly than the remedy.
• Use food extracts and homeopathic remedies shown to be effective against flu and viral illnesses.
• Encourage persons to take supplements and engage in exercise programs.  Tax incentives could be offered to do this.  Would be cheaper than paying medicaid and medicare bills for illnesses that could be prevented.
• Encourage stress-reduction programs that could include regular massage therapy, relaxation/yoga sessions, EFT instruction and counseling as needed.

With a wholistic approach to health and putting people’s needs in the forefront, we could get beyond the limited approach currently in vogue.  With better health we could perhaps also get past some of the political rhetoric which isn’t particularly helpful for anyone.

So what did I tell my friend when she called today to ask if she should take the swine flu vaccine?  The big picture, of course.

• Improve your overall health with supplements and diet changes
• Exercise, breathe
• Reduce stress
• The usual handwashing, hygiene preventive measures
• Keep the natural antivirals close by and use them early for any symptoms

With these measures you likely won’t need the vaccine and would make the controversy a mute point.

To Your Health,

Dr Jon