August 2009 Homeopathic Newsletter

H1N1 Influenza Preparedness

Contents:

Anticipating the H1N1 virus this fall/winter
Current vaccine status and readiness
History of homeopathic treatment of influenza
Preparing and protecting yourself and family during this and any flu season
Special “Influenza Preparedness Consultations” starting in September

Anticipating the H1N1 virus this fall/winter

As the summer comes to an end, more and more information is coming across my desk concerning the emergence of a major influenza pandemic, which even now is possibly gathering steam and could overwhelm our communities and medical system as we move into the traditional flu season of fall and winter. Although the virulence of the last spring’s initial H1N1 virus was not as serious as original predictions, a real possibility is that what was called the “swine flu” but which is actually a new influenza A virus strain combining avian, human and swine genes, is even now undergoing further mutation to become stronger, more resistant to current drugs and more easily transmitted from human to human. When the next flu season comes around, the worst case scenario has it sweeping undeterred across the global human population, striking millions and overwhelming our medical, social and governmental resources.

It is to this dire possibility that the World Health Organization (WHO) has responded by raising the Pandemic Alert Index to the highest and most serious level - Phase 6. This level indicates that not only is human-to-human spread of the virus happening, but it is now characterized as a full pandemic where outbreaks will spontaneously happen among communities on a global level. Even now, the WHO statistics show that as of Aug. 19, 2009, there are over 32,000 confirmed cases of H1N1 2009 virus within 7 European countries, and over 182,000 confirmed cases world-wide with 1799 deaths (www.who.int).

Vaccine Production, Safety and Readiness

Scary stuff, and adding to the fear factor is the information around the H1N1 influenza vaccines which include new chemical ingredients that are being rushed into production and distribution without adequate trials in the attempt to make enough doses to go around (at least for those populations under greatest risk living in countries who can foot the pharmaceutical bills). The time needed to create a new influenza vaccine is a minimum of 4-5 months but under “pandemic” circumstances, the WHO’s own website states “Regulatory authorities have shown great flexibility in developing procedures for fast-tracking the approval and licensing of pandemic vaccines.” It is worth reading the entire article on vaccine safety at the WHO website, as they clearly state that safety issues and “adverse effects” to the new vaccines are expected but pass the responsibility for such monitoring onto individual governments. While we all want to believe that governments will do the right thing, their agenda is usually on the side of the pharmaceutical giants and large-scale chemical/drug warfare, rather than the safety of the individual in the face of such treatment. In the US, the FDA has declared itself more concerned with fast-tracking a vaccine rather than assuring its general safety and efficacy (“FDA Lays Framework for Expedited H1N1 Vaccine Approvals,” www.medpagetoday.com) and while Health Canada has yet to declare its H1N1 strategy, plans are underway to begin H1N1 vaccination in October.

Because the expected need for vaccines is so huge, right now the drug companies that have been commissioned to create vaccines (GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis, CSL and MedImmune) are “stretching” the actual flu virus ingredient (which is created by injecting the H1N1 virus directly into fertilized chicken eggs and incubating them for virus reproduction) by adding new and toxic ingredients known as “adjuvants.” These adjuvants are included because of the assumption that even though less flu virus is in the vaccine, these chemicals will inflame the nervous system enough to create an adequate immune response. Unfortunately adjuvants (including thimerisol/Mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum and Squalene) are historically ingredients that have created a whole host of dangerous and occasionally lethal responses after injection (such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome and certain auto-immune disorders) so for many individuals, the vaccine could be more dangerous than contracting the influenza itself (“The H1N1 Vaccine is a Greater Risk to Your Health than the Flu Itself” and “Governments Intensifying Fearmongering Strategies For Mass H1N1 Vaccinations,” both at www.preventdisease.com). As well, if the virus continues to mutate, the vaccines currently being produced may no longer be effective against any “round two” virus strain of this coming fall/winter, and could even work as an impetus to further mutation (an interesting article on how vaccines are often instrumental in causing viruses to mutate can be found here: www.newscientist.com). In general the annual influenza vaccine only has between a 40 – 70% effectiveness rate as the flu strains cultured may be different than the ones which actually circulate among the population (www.reuters.com).

In the panic to attack the pandemic threat however, these concerns and lack of time to test and assess both the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, are being overlooked. In some countries, vaccines against the H1N1 virus may even be mandatory and you can be sure governments, massive advertising campaigns and the medical profession will heavily promote mass vaccination. Therefore it is up to each of us to research and understand the risks of the vaccine and assess our current health status against such risks, as well as create health-based (versus fear-based) strategies to protect and treat ourselves and family from the risk of contracting influenza.

A frequent cause of death in people who contract any kind of influenza are complications such as viral or bacterial pneumonia and certain flu epidemics, such as the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, carry a greater propensity for such complications. Consequently people with chronic lung conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema as well as pregnant women and young children may be at greater risk and are being targeted by governments and health authorities to get vaccinated. Ironically, it could be these very population groups along with individuals who are immune-compromised or suffer from auto-immune disease or chronic ill health, who may also be at the highest risk for vaccine complications.

In any event, whether vaccinated or not, you may still be vulnerable to the H1N1 (or other flu) virus and should actively work to avoid contracting influenza. If you or a family member does fall ill, you also need to have a supportive plan and effective means available to treat the disease.

Homeopathy’s Track Record in Influenza Pandemics

In homeopathy’s over 200 year history, it has proven again and again to be extremely effective in epidemic and pandemic situations. In the last great influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 which killed over 600,000 people in the U.S. alone, homeopathy was extremely effective in both treating cases of the disease and protecting others from contracting it. While conventional medicine had a mortality rate of around 26% of its patients, records kept by homeopathic hospitals and doctors showed a mortality rate of between 1-2% and those who did die, often came under homeopathic treatment only when they were already deathly ill from pneumonia (An excellent book to read on this subject is “The Homeopathic Treatment of Influenza” by Sandra J. Perko, Ph.D, available from www.minimum.com).

During past epidemics and pandemics, homeopaths worked to find those few remedies which most closely matched the common symptoms of the disease striking the population and referred to these remedies as the “genus epidemicus.” During the Spanish Flu of 1918, there were 2-4 homeopathic remedies which proved curative in most cases, allowing doctors to use them both for existing patients, as well as prophylactically for people not yet affected, but who were exposed to the virus.

Currently the global homeopathic community has not yet arrived at the small number of genus epidemicus remedies for the current H1N1 virus however a number of remedies have been used curatively and as the upcoming flu season gets underway, homeopaths around the world are communicating and reporting on their work and remedies used with patients suffering from influenza. Very likely again a handful of remedies will prove effective in the majority of cases, and enable us all to prescribe quickly and effectively. Before the genus epidemicus is fully revealed however, there are a number of remedies which you should have readily available at home so that if you or a family member does come down with influenza, you can work with your homeopath over the phone and administer the appropriate remedies immediately.

Preparing and Protecting Yourself and Loved Ones This Flu Season

Doctors generally advise flu vaccination to take place before November, in order to be ready for the peak influenza season. Therefore beginning in September, I am offering a Special 1 hour Influenza Preparedness Consultation to help you prepare and protect yourself and family for the upcoming flu season. During this consultation, we will:

• assess your general state of health and areas of potential weakness/susceptibility to influenza and its complications;
• for those considering whether to receive the H1N1 vaccine, discuss its benefits/risks for you individually and how to recognize and respond to negative effects;
• offer homeopathic suggestions/strategies to diminish your individual susceptibility to influenza and possible complications as well as how to treat influenza if you do become sick; and
• tailor a home preparedness kit including homeopathic remedies specific to influenza and other prevention/treatment information and products you may want to have on hand.

While we all hope that the WHO’s Pandemic Alert Index of Phase 6 will prove to be a “worst case scenario” that never develops, we can all use this as an opportunity to prepare, educate and empower ourselves to meet whatever flu challenge does arise, either this year or in the future, with confidence and preparedness.

To book your personal Influenza Preparedness Consultation, please call me at 604-671-7863 or email me at druryperry@shaw.ca.

For those who aren’t located in the greater Vancouver area, Phone or Skype consultations and remedy delivery by mail is available. Call 604-671-7863 or email druryperry@shaw.ca to book a phone consultation.

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Susan Drury, RSHom (NA), CCH, RSCHom is a registered member of the North American Society of Homeopaths, the Canadian Society of Homeopaths and the Council for Homeopathic Certification. She regularly publishes homeopathic articles and newsletters and through her private practice and educational outreach, is dedicated to supporting people in their journey to improved health and well-being. Susan provides homeopathic services to North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and the rest of the Lower Mainland, BC. She can be reached at 604-671-7863 or druryperry@shaw.ca.