Category Archives: Preventive Medicine

Antiaging and testosterone

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testosterone word in letterpressIt is obviously true that we all have to get older, but I believe we do not have to age. This last statement is true for aging physically, mentally and spiritually. I have been an M.D. 45years and doing anti-aging and holistic medicine for 25 years using Human Bio-identical Hormones (HBIH). These hormones are made by a compounding pharmacist for each individual according to the clients laboratory reports along with the client sitting for about 2 hours and telling me their symptoms and signs. Why? Because each person is an individual with their own unique physiology and listening to a client is as important (or as I think more important) as the laboratory tests.

There is so much scientific evidence based documentations on the benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Unfortunately, there exists so many myths about HRT. (please read blog on testosterone Myths). In this blog I will just explain the benefits of testosterone since progesterone and estrogen presentations have been written about so much and less about testosterone. I do have a blog on progesterone (Progesterone the brain protector). When I write about hormones I am referring only to Human Bio-identical Hormones.  a hormone with the exact molecular structure of that produced by the human ovaries and testes that nature has intended for our body’s use. They can be reproduced by a compounding pharmacist without changing the biochemical structure as is done with synthetic pharmaceutical hormones. It is the synthetic Testosterone which the media writes and talks about negatively without doing the research. The ivy league researchers and physicians also use synthetics instead of bio-identical hormones. There is a big difference between the two types of hormones. Also it is important that the dose be the physiological dose for the individual – that is the amount that nature intended for that individual person to function optimally; not the same pharmaceutical packaged dose for everyone.  The lack of testosterone in the male is called andropause (mens’ menopause) which can be equated to womens’ menopause. In fact, the symptoms and signs that the male has are very similar to the symptoms and sign of the menopausal female. (Except females do not get enlarged prostates). Some males even have hot flashes and night sweats. (See blog on Andropause compared to menopause)

So here are some facts about testosterone:

  • It has been shown that there exists 3-4 more testosterone receptors in the heart of males and females then in the male gonads (testosterone therefore is not just there to bother women). This means that it is heart protective since we know that nature always has a purpose and rarely creates biological states haphazardly.

  • Testosterone also helps stimulate the production of nitric oxide which is necessary to dilate the arteries. This helps prevent high blood pressure and for the male more consistent erections.

  • Testosterone is necessary to prevent osteoporosis. It is true for women that estrogen and progesterone help prevent osteoporosis but it is testosterone that really keeps the bones strong for both men and women That is why men do not get osteoporosis until they are much older then women. Men have been building strong bones and muscles for so long due to their higher amount of testosterone. (The Testosterone Syndrome by Eugene Shippen M.D.) Men can get osteoporosis eventually and therefore like women should after 60 get a bone density test. Even before this age if symptoms and signs suggest this deterioration is happening; such as loss of height, hunched back or even pain of the back or hips.

  • Testosterone is necessary for firm and strong muscles. This also means a flatter abdomen (not necessarily a six-pack). A 50 year old can work out hard in the Gym but if the foundation building blocks are not there (testosterone) they probably will not build hard muscles. Like a pretty house with a poor foundation eventually it will collapse even after many trials of repair.

  • Testosterone has now been shown to have receptors in the brain. Many studies have shown statistically the lower the testosterone level in men and women the more likely that these people get dementia. In fact, in one study they gave testosterone to Alzheimer men (synthetic in this study) and although it did not cure the Alzheimer Disease it dramatically slowed it down. (Pike, C., PhD. & et al (Dec. 20, 2006). “Testosterone therapy may prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.” Science Daily (abstract from the University of Southern California) & (Resnick, Susan PhD. & Moffat,Scott PhD.(2007). Low Testosterone Levels Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease in Older Men. Journal of Neurology.) They have also shown by using functional MRIs (fMRI) that testosterone is needed by the brain. These are MRIs that show different colors for the active and inactive parts of the brain. When testosterone is low it showed lower memory capacity in these areas. In fact, with really low testosterone levels these people were not able to fantasize.

  • Although I did not want to get into testosterone myths in this blog I know some people will have the question of testosterone causing prostate cancer. It has been evaluated by many prominent physicians and researchers that have come up with the same answer that testosterone does not cause prostate cancer but rather it is estrogen. This is because all fetuses start as females and have small uteri.  When the potential male fetus reaches a certain embryological maturity the prostate develops around the uteri (which remains inside the prostate called a utricle). It is estrogen that hits the utricle to cause the cancer as it would cause cancer of the uterus in a female. Also if testosterone was the cause of prostate cancer we would see more of it when males are young bucks with higher levels of testosterone then at the low testosterone levels when men are older and get prostate cancer. The argument against this is that is takes testosterone more then 50 years to cause the cancer. Well, if a man is more then 50 and it takes another 30-50 years for this to happen it will be happy years.There are numerous reasons why a male can build up too much estrogen but again this could be another blog or answer to FAQs.

  • It has now been shown that testosterone does not cause clotting of the blood as  was once thought (but never proven). Because testosterone may mildly raise the hematocrit and hemoglobin that the blood was thickened and therefore clotting would occur. This elevation does not even occur in most males using bio-identical testosterone and when elevated they are still usually within the normal limits for a male.  This was all speculation. In the following research article testosterone clotting was shown not to be the case. (Smith, A. M. et al. (2005). “Testosterone Does Not Adversely Affect Fibrinogen or Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) Levels in 46 Men with Chronic Angina.” European Journal of Endocrinology, 152 (2), 285-291.)

It is really a shame that testosterone has been vilified for such a long time because of traditional ignorance and not up-to-date healers. A lot of these myths are due to athletes and wanna be athletes taking huge doses of synthetic testosterone. It is true that any natural or unnatural product that is used in non-physiological doses can cause harm. That is why one goes to a physician that is up-to date, non-prejudicial about bio-identical hormones, and willing to listen to you and any new findings and questions that you have for him/her.

Choices are not easy for a client in choosing anti-aging hormones since there are so many prejudicial myths built up for so long in the medical community. That is one of the reasons I  have written my book (Emotional Vampires and your Hormones: an holistic physician’s view of how stress affects your well-being and what you can do about it). I present to the public medical information that is known but not promoted to let the person make their own educated decisions.

The Antibiotic Controversy

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antibiotic controversyHaving been in medicine more then 45 years of which 25 of these in Holistic Medicine. I find there are a few thoughts that are being disregarded on the topic of antibiotics by both healers and the general public.  As an holistic MD I am against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics as has been done in the past and still persists in the present despite all the AMA warnings, but at least to a significantly lesser degree . As a rational and past ER MD I know that “to throw the baby out with the bath water” is as narrow minded and dangerous as the allopathic physicians’ negative view of the use and consideration of alternative-complimentary medicine.

People that have experienced life threatening illnesses such as mesenteric gangrene, or a burst appendix, felon of the finger or sepsis, etc. have appreciation for the antibiotic use. There is a place for the emergent use of antibiotics but not their abuse as history has presented to us. A simple UTI can be handled with colloidal silver IV &/or mannitol; but as a learned MD I do not want to put the client at risk of the possible sequel of glomerulnephritis or pyelonephritis and therefore an avoidable hospital admission & the consequences of an iatrogenic infection (and hospital food). If I use an antibiotic I double the dose (AM &PM) of the probiotic while on it and keep the client on this for a minimum of 30 days after the antibiotic course. Hopefully my clients take a probiotic every day for all their life.

For 25 years I have been successful treating advanced infections with the IV use of colloidal silver &/or H202, &/or high dose Vitamin C. Always with discretion & discussion with the client. I rarely use antibiotics but as stated when I believe it is necessary I discuss this choice with the client and explain why I believe it is necessary. I use IV therapy with my holistic choices since many people have dysbiosis or leaky gut syndrome and will not absorb via treatments done orally. This way I know my alternative treatment is in their blood and going to the infection or inflamed pathology. I have for example used colloidal silver IV and H202 IV to cure the flu in12-36 hours. There is a place for all our knowledge in healing when used correctly. The treatment must fit the individual client and disease and not just be a standard textbook treatment.

I suggest to people that they have a list of questions for their physician-client interaction because so often people are intimidated or nervous and forget what they wanted to ask. The physician should take the time to explain the answers to the client and having a list should make this an easier task for the healer.

Yes, there could be side affects to any pharmaceutical but also to alternative-complimentary therapies. There are also side effects of any serious pathology like sepsis or neurocyticercosis (a parasitic infestation of the brain) when not being treated with antibiotics. The side effects without proper antibiotics of some terrible diseases is death or disability. There are so many illnesses and diseases with similar symptoms and signs that it takes a lot of education for an MD, DO or ND to learn what is called the differential diagnoses (DD), or at least to know where to look for them,  when to look for them and when to refer. The DD cannot be learned in a 1-2 year alternative course. There are long residencies so the physician can actually see these diseases and keep learning from other experts. Continuous education for licensed MDs, DOs and NDs is very stringent and monitored. After all this education I believe the healer is ready to make a decision whether to use and practice alternative-complimentary therapies or allopathic or both together. At least the previous education gives the choice and knowledge to the healer to discuss options with the client as a partnership.

Be aware that my statements in no way are my feelings of support for the big pharmaceutical conglomerates; their villainous prices in the USA (compared for the same pharmaceuticals in other countries), their ways of advertising both via the media and to physicians. My opinions are only my very long experience of learning in both fields of medicine. I feel It is the physician teaching the patient and the patient teaching the physician.

But “do not throw the baby out with the bath water.”

Compliance = Responsibility

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ComplianceMagnifying-GlassThere is a joined responsibility of the client (patient) and also the healer during treatment and prevention. I was talking to a friend the other day and asking him about the lab work that he was was supposed to have gotten and found he  was putting it off with various excuses , none of which were economic. Such as, I was too busy; while I know he starts his day at 9-10 AM and could be at the lab at 7:30 am. Yet, he wanted his physician to write him a prescription for a schedule II pharmaceutical which ethically, morally and in the practice of good medicine has to be followed by lab work between every 6-12 months.

This is a long introduction on what is the role of the patient and the physician or healer. Of course this is my opinion! The client has the responsibility of following the physician’s requests or addressing the physician with questions of why the requests are necessary. I believe the physician has the responsibility of explaining why the steps of the treatment are necessary and what they mean. If the client does not agree after the explanations, in my mind he does not trust or agree with the expertise of the healer and should move on to healer which s/he feels more comfortable

I have experienced too many avoidable problems in medicine with physicians trying to be too accommodating and sacrificing what they know as good medical practice so that the patient can be accommodated. The healer is usually doing this with an open heart and empathy for the patient. But it is comparable to a parent not explaining to their child the consequences of doing or not doing an act and then not being forceful enough to enforce what is right for the child’s safety.

On the other hand, too often the client wants the convenience of the physician doing all the work for them and believing that the “pill popping” will make them better. Obviously this is false! The medicine or alternative treatments will help alleviate or cure the person but only if directions are followed by them and/or practiced by them . For example; an orthopedic surgeon can put a prosthetic shoulder in the patient but the patient has to dutifully follow through with the post surgical assigned program to get full beneficial range of motion.

It really bothers me if the physician or healer does not sit and explain the importance of their regimen for whatever the pathology with the attitude that the client is not smart enough to understand: but it also really bothers me when the client is nonchalant about the explanation and directions and believes that the responsibility is all on the healer. Ultimately it is the client that suffers physically and mentally when the healing is not as complete as possible. I find it helpful for the client to prepare a list of questions before the interview with the physician since often time is limited and also the client is nervous and forgets problems that s/he wants to have answers. This tactic helps the physician alleviate stress of the client and also get to know the client better.

So compliance is a two way avenue. The physician can only be a guide (and life-guard when necessary) for the client and not the full time caretaker. The medicine is so often only to relieve the symptoms and signs but not the panacea for wellness. The client is responsible for following advice or not with the knowledge that there are always options and also consequences for any action. The client also needs to practice good health regimens as much as they can to keep a good immune system

I hope this blog helped to enlighten some readers it was a good cleansing for me.

A Word about Cholesterol

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Cholesterol and statinsFor some time there has been a big medical drive to bring down everybody’s cholesterol. This lowering of the total cholesterol is driven by antiquated academics and the pharmaceutical companies’ sales propaganda to both the public and physicians. Very often, a doctor looks at the total cholesterol, and if it is above 200 considers it too high and prescribes a cholesterol-lowering drug. This family of drugs are called statin drugs, and include Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor, and Crestor, to name just a few.

However, when we look only at the total cholesterol number, we fail to take into consideration the fact that there are different kinds of cholesterol, some beneficial and necessary, and some harmful. The facts are these: “good” cholesterol is necessary for the production of a lot of our body’s necessary hormones. It is the basic biochemical configuration from which are made cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, and Vitamin D.

 All the emphasis and fear around high cholesterol has eclipsed the dangers of low cholesterol. A person with total cholesterol of less than 180 has a 2.7 times greater chance of being depressed. Suicide rates may also relate to this number as far as having an inverse ratio to low cholesterol (Zubrod 2006, Lee, 2004, and Cousins, 1979). It was not infrequent for a person to come to me with a feeling of malaise, low libido, depression, and fatigue because their cholesterol was so low from being on statin drugs that they could not produce sex hormones, vitamin D (now suspected as necessary as a barrier to depression), cortisol and aldosterone.

 And there are other risks associated with lowering cholesterol. About 60% of the brain is fat, a lot of it from cholesterol, (so actually if someone calls you a fathead it’s a compliment). Fat (cholesterol) also helps form the mylin sheath around the nerves, sort of like the insulation around an electric wire, which protects the nerves and helps with the incredibly fast nerve impulses. Recently there has been scientific evidence indicating that cholesterol plays a role in the synapse between nerves, (the space that lets the nerve impulse jump from one nerve to the next.)

“Good” cholesterol is the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). This is the cholesterol that is needed for our cell membranes and for other body chemicals. HDL takes cholesterol from the cells and organs back to the liver, which disposes of the excess cholesterol by making it into bile and passing it out of the body via the intestines. The liver also stores what may be used later by the body. When HDL cholesterol is not available, or low, the body uses other types of fats to make the cell membranes and this contributes to hardening of the arterial walls.

“Bad” cholesterol is the low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). It is this cholesterol that is responsible for depositing cholesterol on the walls of the arteries, where over time it builds up and creates blockages, kind of like tartar buildup on your teeth.

 So if we consider only the number that indicates total cholesterol, it can be misleading. If HDLs are high, it makes up a big portion of the total cholesterol, but that is not a bad thing.

 The Cardiac Heart Ratio (CHR) is another index of the heart’s health that can also be a predictor of the heart’s future health. It is found by taking the total cholesterol and dividing it by the HDL. It is not a definitive marker but one factor to be considered in a complete evaluation of the cardiac status.

 Triglycerides are the most abundant fats in the human body, and are found in such foods as seeds, yolks and animal fats. There are very few of them in vegetables. They are used as body insulation since they are found just under the skin, dampening shock waves when we bump into things, and even the fat pad under the heel. But mainly they are the emergency source of energy.

The danger of triglycerides is when they are consumed in excess, by eating too much sugar (which in excess is converted to a large degree into triglycerides), and too much saturated fat. In this case the triglyceride is oxidized, and can damage the interior walls of the arteries and cause red blood cells to clump together.

All the focus on lowering total cholesterol levels has led to high dependence on cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins. So let us take a closer look at these. Some physicians believe these to be a magical group of drugs. However, there is now enough evidence that besides sometimes bringing cholesterol levels down to such low levels that the cholesterol base is not available to make other needed substances.

 We already know about the dangerous effects statins can have on the liver; liver function tests need to be done biannually for those taking statin drugs. Statin drugs carry warnings about rhabdomyalysis, which is muscle break-down that gives muscle pain (myalgia). When this occurs, the patient should immediately be taken off the drug, but all too often they are just changed to another statin, or the diagnosis of the causal agent (the statin drug) is missed and the patient is put on a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for the pain. These NSAIDs have so many side effects that the FDA had to pull some of them off the market.

 The problem here is that if the rhabdomyalysis persists it may never be cured, even if the drug is stopped. There is a simple blood test that shows if this is happening. Creatine kinase in the blood is elevated. If it is, there is muscle breakdown and the taking of the statin should be stopped.

 In Canada there is also a warning on the statin insert that the Statins will deplete CoQ10. This is because the same pathway the statin is using for lowering cholesterol also stops the production of CoQ10. CoQ10 is produced by the liver, and is used for making energy for muscles, especially needed by the heart muscle. CoQ10 is needed to make ATP (adenosinetriphosphate), used by all cells to make energy. Without ATP we lose or depress functions because we don’t have enough fuel to run the engine. Supplemental CoQ10 is necessary if statin drugs are taken. In the USA pharmaceutical companies, and some physicians, do not find a need to alert the clients taking Statins of this and the necessity of taking CoQ10 if on a Statin. The patient should also be alerted that Statins have been implicated by the FDA as potentially leading to Diabetes Mellitus.

 The statin drugs have been implicated in forgetfulness, and as being one of the co-factors for either causing dementia or being an adjunct to dementia. In fact, cognitive problems are an outstanding complaint with the statin drugs. This is very likely due to the fact that the brain also needs ATP to function. It is usually a temporary condition called transient global amnesia; the patient sometimes cannot even remember their spouse. (This came into view when former astronaut Duane Graveline MD was put on Lipitor and developed TGA. He wrote a book about the statins called Lipitor, Thief of Memory.) As mentioned, this is usually a temporary condition that disappears when the drug is stopped.

 The brain depends on cholesterol, other fatty acids and ATP, to be strong and function properly. When someone gets a “foggy brain” they are still alert enough to know that they are not functioning at their usual level. This leads to stress that only compounds the problem. The Framingham study disclosed that older persons with cholesterol under 200 perform worse on mental function tests than those with higher cholesterol (about 250mg/dl). Numerous articles are available both for and against this theory, but like any of our evidence-based drug studies it is necessary to be careful about who did the study and who paid for it. All too often the drug company producing the pharmaceutical supported the positive studies in one way or another, and may have suppressed any negative studies.

Women taking Lipitor (at one time the best-selling drug in the USA) had 10% more heart attacks then the control group taking a placebo (Whitaker, 2007). For people over 70 years of age there is no research that there is life prolongation by taking statin drugs. The same holds true for young men with high cholesterol without heart disease: Statins do not influence their longevity in any studies (Whitaker, 2007).

 Statin drugs may have their place, but there are many natural ways to take down cholesterol, with botanicals, diet and exercise, and I strongly believe they should be tried first. Statin drugs should have a place only in specific circumstances and after a change of lifestyle is programmed and followed. If statins are used the patient should be followed closely for any signs or symptoms of side effects. The drug should also be stopped when the total cholesterol falls below 160-170, because a sufficient amount of cholesterol is essential for our well-being.

I have found that relying on medications often gives the patient the impression that they can continue to follow an unhealthy lifestyle as long as they are on medication. The drug is a crutch that should be gotten rid of as soon as possible by healthy living habits. Before abrupty stopping a medicine and having studied the medicine for your own knowledge You should discuss your concerns with your physician.

Hints for the Flu Season

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FluEvery year as flu season approaches both the media and the pharmaceutical companies (and recently the government) tend to create a lot of fear. While I do not deny the potential seriousness of the viruses that cause flu (history has shown us how devastating they can be) it is also important to remember that there is action we can take to protect ourselves and our families.

Whether or not to get the flu vaccine is an individual decision. There are arguments both pro and con. Pro of course is the possibility of avoiding the virus. On the con side:

  • There are a great number of flu viruses: the vaccine targets what are expected to be the few most likely, but very often the powers-that-be miss the major causal virus.

  • The possibility of side effects, which occasionally are serious. For example: Guillain Barré Syndrome which causes paralysis. In 1976 the year of the Swine Flu it was reported that more people died of the vaccine then the Swine Flu that never developed. There were claims of 1.3 billion dollars for paralysis and 25 deaths. (Now there is a law that protects the pharmaceutical companies that make the vaccine so that they cannot be sued by the public.)

Maintaining good health through exercise, healthy food and stress management keeps the immune system strong and offers the best protection against viruses and bacteria of all types. There are several other precautionary measures that can increase your protection, or—if one of those viruses has your name on it—shorten the duration and lessen the severity of symptoms.

1. Prevention

The most common way that germs are spread is through human contact. It is important to wash the hands often, especially after going to the toilet. Wash with soap and for as long as it takes to recite a short nursery rhyme like Humpty Dumpty.

Faucets and door knobs have been touched by many others (some of whom did not wash when leaving the bathroom). It is not neurotic, especially in public places, to use a paper cloth or carry hand wipes.

Kitchen sponges (and tooth brushes) are a major source for propagating germs. Every few days or more often microwave your kitchen sponge for about 15-20 seconds. (Be careful when removing them: they stay hot for quite some time.) You can do the same to your toothbrushes.

Grandma’s advice to “keep a window open for fresh air” is especially pertinent at this time of year. In a closed environment we are constantly breathing in each other’s air and lots of folks out there are breathing in hostile microbes. Closed-in areas I believe are a major problem for spreading microbes, more so than going out in the cold or even getting wet. The human animal with a good immune system should be able to get wet and not “catch a cold.”

2. Nutrition

Nourish your body with a diet of colors. This means fruits and vegetables of all types. The more color the more different antioxidants, minerals and vitamins you are taking into your body. Fruits are full of vitamins and minerals that our bodies depend on, but wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them raw. A lot of us were conditioned to believe that fruit juice was chock full of Vitamin C and therefore a good idea when colds or flu threaten. However, fruit juice has three times the amount of sugar as a piece of fruit and the juice sugar can theoretically help germs to propagate. If you want to give your child fruit juice, dilute it with 50% filtered water.

If you have a sore throat try drinking tea (preferably herbal), with honey and lemon. The honey coats and soothes the throat while the lemon keeps down the flow of the irritating mucous.

Drink a lot of filtered water. If you have nausea and /or vomiting just sip it through a straw a little at a time throughout the day so you do not activate your stomach with contractions. Food is not important at this time but fluids are.

New York Medical School has shown that chicken soup actually raises the white blood cell count (the cells that eat up microbes). So the old jokes are right on! Chicken soup offers nutrition and fluid and helps the immune system.

Omega 3s: This is a healthy, protective fat that our cells depend on. (Actually, it is a good idea to make sure these are part of your diet all year round.) Foods that contain Omega 3s are cold water fish, almonds and walnuts, and flax. If you prefer to take your Omega 3s as a fish oil extracts make sure it’s a reputable brand because you do not want any mercury and lead in it; and keep it refrigerated to avoid a fishy flavor.

3. Symptomatic relief

But as we know, you can do everything right and still contract a virus. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. The American Medical Association is trying to teach this fact to both physicians and the public. If your doctor does prescribe antibiotics be sure to take pro-biotics such as acidophilous at the same time and for at least thirty days after completing the antibiotics to prevent yeast problems. Antibiotics do not discriminate: they kill all microbes, including the healthy ones that help to digest food. Losing the good bacteria can cause intestinal problems (called dysbiosis and leaky gut syndrome). This holds true for men, women, and children.

If you have even an inkling of an idea that you are coming down with flu symptoms start taking:

  • Vitamin C 1000 mg every 1-2 hours (I keep a supply in my pocket so I do not forget). If you should develop diarrhea you can cut back and build up to the higher dose.

  • Sambucal: This is black elderberry from Israel – I have tried the newer American brands without success and their taste is not nearly as good. Be sure to follow directions since it tastes so good you may want to take more than is necessary.

  • Oscillococcinum: This homeopathic remedy really works when symptoms first appear. Kids of all ages love it because it tastes and looks like sugar.

I find it a good idea to keep all three of these available, or at least Vitamin C since it is best to take this vitamin every day anyway. Both Sambucal and Oscillococcinum are safe for children over two years of age. But note that both Sambucal and Oscillococcinum work only if one takes one/or both within the first 36 hours of symptoms or signs of the flu.

  • For nausea and/or vomiting ginger is as effective as Dramamine, and you can supplement your fluid intake by sipping on lemon-ginger tea. You can buy the tea in health food stores or make your own. Boil the (well-washed) rind of one lemon with about an inch of ginger root cut in slices for fifteen minutes. Sweeten with honey, real maple syrup or Sucanate (a pure unadulterated sugar with all its vitamins and minerals).

  • If your head and nose are really stuffed up to the point of not functioning then it is alright to use an Afrin-like nasal spray. However, do not use more often than every 12 hours and only for three days. There is an addictive rebound effect if it is used too frequently. After three days if you still need to use it you can alternate nostrils for another two days so that you can sleep and breathe comfortably. (Some would reproach me for this last use of Nasal spray but one has to sleep to get better; using it like this will not have an addictive affect.) There are other methods such as neti pots but when one is sick and miserable this is may be uncomfortable unless one is in the habit of using the neti pot previously.

  • Aloe is very effective and fast acting for itchy rashes due to the flu. Cut a small piece off the plant, slice it lengthwise, cut off the stickers on the side and rub the gooey middle on the rash. It can be wrapped in saran wrap and kept refrigerated. (This also works on fire ant bites, poison ivy, and chickenpox). The itchy irritation is usually abolished within 3-5 minutes.

There are also alternative treatments for flu symptoms that some holistic physicians can administer:

  • Mega C IV (intravenous): this consists of a huge dose of vitamin C, the B vitamins, zinc, selenium, chromium, manganese and magnesium. The advantage of taking these nutrients IV is the security of knowing they have entered the body. If taken by mouth poor absorption may hinder the effect, the time needed for them to reach the right places is a lot longer, and the doses have to be much higher.

  • Hydrogen peroxide IV: creates an oxygen-rich blood environment in which pathogens do not thrive, and can shorten the flu’s duration to 24-48 hours instead of 6-8 days of suffering. The lethargy and the cough can linger for a few more days to weeks as the body recovers and even after it is fully recovered. Annoying but not pathological.

  • Colloidal silver IV: colloidal silver kills viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoans and has been used for hundreds of years. Now there is available a colloidal silver with none of the side effects of the past (argyria) since it is so pure.

I have used all of these methods hundreds of times on clients and my family and myself always with good effects and no side affects. These measure will not always prevent the flu, but they will help to shorten its duration, severity and uncomfortable aches and headaches.. (To find a holistic physician near you, consult www.acam.com or http://www.holisiticboard.org).