Did you know that flu season is technically from October until May? However, the most prevalent time is from November to February. Most people are familiar with its occurrence during this popular time so it is usually addressed in one of 2 ways: getting the flu vaccine or increasing your immunity naturally. Influenza is a virus that causes symptom from cough and fatigue to fever and body aches. It is usually more severe than a cold. It can take someone anywhere from 1-3 weeks to completely recover from it. The body takes a little longer to discover it because it is smaller than bacteria and it has sneakier mechanisms to camouflage itself. Every year the USDA decides which flu strains are causing the most trouble, and then will manufacture vaccines with those strains. With the administration of a vaccine, these virus-causing strains are killed and isolated in the injection. This will cause the body to make antibodies against the flu as a defense in the person after exposure.
Some of the drawbacks reported from receiving those vaccines include people becoming ill after receiving them or experiencing allergic reactions due to the vaccine’s egg component. Sometimes people will report that they contracted the flu even after receiving the vaccine. Despite reports of the effectiveness of staving off the flu, there are many who claim that it did not. All is not lost because there are ways to prevent being attacked by the virus without the vaccine. One of the easiest and best ways to prevent falling ill to the flu is to wash your hands often. This seems like a simplistic tip but it works remarkably well. The influenza virus is very contagious and can be spread through air and surfaces. Since we are an interactive society, our ability to transmit viruses and bacteria across surfaces is great. Think about that statement. We often touch door knobs, cell phones, desks, counter surfaces, writing utensils, etc. These surfaces can be a breeding ground for microbes.
Another way to decrease your chances of contracting the virus is to get adequate sleep at night. There are worker bees in our body that are active at night. There are biological mechanisms that occur in the body 24/7 to keep it in balance. Naturopathic medicine also offers services such as prescribing high nutrient IV’s and formulated nutrient injections. The combinations of these tips without the vaccine have been very effective for me and my patients. Happy Holidays!
Dr. Magda Peronel, ND