We seem to be at the mercy of every new strain of influenza that appears anywhere in the world.  Since we share the surface of the earth so much more than we ever used to, even an outbreak thousands of miles away can eventually reach your workplace, your gym, even your child's school.  Aside from becoming a hermit, what can you do? 

There is a lot of fear about H1N1 among other strains of influenza, and it is important to know the facts.  First the vaccine that was developed for the swine flu epidemic of 1976 caused dozens of deaths, hundreds of cases of Guillain Barre syndrome and was the center of more than one billion dollars in malpractice claims from paralyzed victims.  During the bird flu of 2005-2008 when Tamiflu arrived on the scene, although it was predominantly ineffective for most strains of the bird flu. 

Now people are once again lining up for flu shots and besieging their doctor's offices with requests for options.  Currently Tamiflu and Relenza have both caused thousands of reported side effects, leading to Tamiflu being banned for children in Japan.  The thing to remember is that viruses are highly adaptable and can mutate quickly to resist many treatments. 

But the one treatment that any flu strain can't protect itself against is prevention... with your immune system.  In the end, it is only your immune system that can protect you from viruses.  So this season, put your energy into protecting yourself by feeding and supporting the immune system.  Begin with concentrated phytonutrient nutrition such as Catalyn and Cyrofood by Standard Process, which are cold-processed food concentrates.  Keep up your vitamin D level which is crucial for fighting viruses.  Next is the group of products I use to support the immune system throughout the winter: Immuplex, Congaplex and the most effective Echinacea blend on the market, Echinacea Premium from Mediherb of Australia.  This protocol will do amazing things to keep your immune system at peak performance, even when exposed to the flu. 

If you have been diagnosed with a strain of flu, even H1N1, then switch to this emergency formula: Immuplex, Arginex, Cyruta Plus and Cataplex E, plus a good amount of essential fatty acids, such as cold-processed cod liver oil.  You also want to be sure that you do not have a secondary infection, such as strep or staph, which can commonly occur with a chronic viral challenge.  In these cases, an antibiotic regimen from the doctor will be the best option along with your natural protocol. 

So don't take any chances with the flu drifting around.  Make sure that you support all of your body's systems and you can weather the winter virus-free!