Great Mother's Day Specials! Beat Swine Flu!

Unless you have been living under a rock the past few weeks, it has been virtually impossible to miss the non-stop coverage of the impending swine flu pandemic. Television news, newspapers, and the Internet have all been warning of the dangers of this particular strain. But is it really as scary as many are claiming?

With schools shutting down all over the country, including right here in Wisconsin, one has to ask how serious a problem this really is. Granted, no one really knows how bad a particular virus is going to be, so it's not a bad thing to be proactive and take extra precautions. But if we don't even close down schools and businesses during the regular flu season, and that disease supposedly kills 36,000 Americans a year, are we doing more harm than good by freaking out about this strain?

Every year during the regular flu season, experts get on TV and tell people the only way they will really be safe is to get a vaccine and possibly take some anti-viral medications if you do get sick. The same old song and dance is happening once again, as scientists go into vaccine-making mode, and drugs like Tamiflu are being stockpiled. This information really isn't preventative, and doesn't even begin to answer the real question of who gets sick and WHY?

Besides obvious precautions such as washing hands frequently, avoiding touching your eyes, nose & mouth, coughing into your elbow, and avoiding crowded places, there is no talk of real prevention of getting or spreading the swine flu. In every single news article or story I have read or listened to, I never once heard mention of the immune system, ways to boost the immune system & stay healthy, or alternative treatments that may prevent you from getting sick or that may actually help if you do get ill. I haven't heard about anti-oxidants to take, or foods, supplements & herbs that have natural anti-viral properties. Nothing. Instead everything gets funneled toward vaccines and prescriptions that often do nothing at all. There is no guarantee that a vaccine will work if one is made, and antiviral meds usually only lessen the duration of the flu by one day.

There is a reason why some people who are exposed to a virus get sick, and why others don't. It's called your immune system. A healthy immune system can fight off invaders and prevent you from getting ill, or at the very least, you only suffer a mild case of the disease. There are simple things you can do to boost your immune system, and this works for everything, not just the swine flu!

It's a good idea to get into the habit of cleaning out your nasal passages on a regular basis, but especially important during times of illness. Using a neti pot or some kind of all natural nasal wash will help clear out foreign invaders, keep tissues moist and healthy, and move any extra mucus out so that viruses and bacteria don't have a place to breed. Neti pots are available at most drug stores, and usually come with a saline and baking soda mix to aid in the wash. Hydrogen peroxide drops in the ears can also kill microbes that try to enter the body through the ear canal. Even using eye drops to keep the eyes flushed will help keep germs from entering. A salt-water gargle can help keep the mouth and throat area clean.

Next, you want to make sure you keep your digestive system healthy. About 80% of our immune system lies in our gut, so if we are going to fight off anything, this area has to be healthy. Probiotics are key to keeping good bacteria in our body, and stopping the growth of bad bacteria, viruses and fungi. Probiotics are important for everyone, but especially important if you have been sick a lot, or have been on antibiotics in the recent past. Fermented foods are also loaded with probiotics, but they need to be unpasteurized, as the heat will destroy the good bacteria. High fiber foods are also important to keep things cleaned out so that toxins don't remain in your body.

When it comes to diet, there are many things you can do to boost your immune system. Avoid sugar and processed foods, as these weaken your immune system almost immediately. Make sure you get enough Vitamin D. You want to take 2000-4000 IUS a day, but now that it is nicer out, you can get it for free by spending 30 minutes in the sun with as much skin as possible exposed. Get 7-8 hours a sleep at night, and make sure to get regular exercise. Both of these boost the immune system and decrease stress levels, as higher stress levels have been shown to weaken the immune system. If you are under a lot of stress, try adding mediation, yoga or EFT to your daily routine.

Make sure to eat fresh, raw garlic everyday. Garlic is a natural anti-viral and anti-bacterial, but microbes can't develop a resistance to it. Coconut oil is also a great natural anti-microbial, and it can be eaten raw, used for frying or applied to skin. Take a high quality omega-3 supplement such as fish or krill oil. This will decrease inflammation and help boost the immune system. Many essential oils also have natural anti-viral properties as well. Thieves, which is a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, rosemary, eucalyptus radiata and others has shown great results as anti-microbial. Therapeutic grade essential oils can be ingested, diffused, or applied topically. It is also important to drink plenty of filtered water, as staying hydrated is a simple way to stay healthy. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic and locally grown, as these tend to be higher in nutrients and have fewer chemicals.

Alternative treatments such as chiropractic, acupuncture and massage with essential oils are also important to building a strong immune system and staying healthy. Keeping your nervous system balanced so that it can properly regulate your immune and digestive systems, and maintaining proper blood flow and lymph drainage will ensure that your body is working at its best to help fight off any foreign invaders.