Natural defenses for the Flu Season.

It seems that with each change in the season, and especially as we enter Autumn, the C.D.C. and Departments of Health issue their warnings about the potential for a flu epidemic. This year is proving to be no different, and with the incidence of the H1N1 or Swine flu everyone is encouraged and, shockingly reports are filtering through that we may be mandated, to get the latest flu vaccine.

Cause for concern for many are the constituents of this vaccine; formaldehyde, aluminium, egg protein, and especially the use of Squalene, as an adjuvant. Adjuvants are pharmacological or immunological agents that modify the effect of other agents (e.g., drugs, vaccines) while having few if any direct effects (see discussion that follows), when given by themselves. (Definition from Wikipedia). In the case of a vaccine the adjuvant is added to raise the effect of the vaccine, so that it has a quicker more potent effect. One can think of it as turbo charging the vaccine.
Squalene in and of itself is a naturally occurring substance within the body, but when introduced by the foreign route of injection provokes the immune response. The effect is that the body registers this as a foreign substance and goes after it by destroying it. Even destroying it in areas where it is vital to the health of the Nervous System resulting in inflammatory syndromes.


A link between Gulf War Syndrome and Gulf War veterans who received Squalene containing vaccines has received much attention but has been questionably debunked by both the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense.


So where do we go from here if we want to boost and aid the immune system from a natural standpoint? I have decided to break the recommendations down into two parts. In this post I will address immune strengthening through the use of natural supplements and in Part Two will talk about how chiropractic affords a superlative means of engaging the immune system.


The main thrust of any supplemental regimen is to boost the immune system so that it becomes more effective and more fortified in launching a precise response.


Echinacea:  Modulates the immune response by interaction of alkylamides (functional constituent) with CB2 receptors.  Boosts white blood cell count, especially natural killer cells. 
Andrographis Complex: Supports and enhances immune reponse following stress, sudden weather changes or temperature. Supports healthy respiratory system function.
Euphrasia Complex:  Supports healthy mucous membranes especially those of the nose and sinuses. Assists in maintaining healthy breathing passages to support free and clear breathing.  Maintains normal respiratory tract function through normal mucus secretion.
Garlic:  Enhances immune system response and promotes healthy lung function.
Vitamin D: helps regulate cell growth, immunity and metabolism.  Vitamin D acts as a substrate for multiple gene regulated functions in the body, one of which is the ability to fight infections.  It produces over 200 anti-microbial peptides through this action, one of which is cathelicidin - a naturally occuring broad-spectrum antibiotic.   
Calcium Lactate: promotes the uptake of Vitamin D, and modulates the amount of tissue and blood calcium.    

It is imperative that the supplements taken are from a wholefood base and are not synthectically derived.  Your body no more knows what to do with these as it does with a bunch of chemicals or parts of the whole. Hence, avoid fractionated neutraceuticals.  You will be able to differentiate whether the supplement is of this ilk if on the doasge chart they come in mega dosages e.g. 1000% ,or if it refers to the vitamin as something, e.g. Vitamin C as ascorbic acid.