Mindful Metropolis November 2009 : Page 19
vaccine and questions about close ties between government and drug makers. The new vaccine likely will be the fastest ever to market, and im- munity has been granted to the vaccine’s devel- opers—purportedly in the interest of efficien- cy—by secretary of health and human services Kathleen Sebelius, raising numerous eyebrows. vaccination rebellion Yet one more vaccine in the mix also raises questions about the overall vaccination sched- ule. Ten vaccines were recommended for children in the 1970s; the number now is 36, making U.S. children the most vaccinated kids on earth. There are also questions about side effects and the safety of combo vaccines. Some parents completely eschew vaccina- tions for their children, but the long-termeffects of such rebellion remain to be seen. There are, however, signposts. In 1990 the CDC reported large outbreaks of rubella among unvaccinated Californians and among midwest Amish. Britain experienced a 24-fold increase in measles asso- ciated with a drop in measles vaccinations. This decrease in vaccinations had followed publica- tion of a study—later discredited—in the medical journal, Lancet, connecting autism to the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine. General disillusionment with the medical community and fear that pharmaceutical compa- nies put profit ahead of health are contributing to anti-vaccination anxiety. Previous gross mistakes also have damaged the credibility of vaccination programs. During the 1976 swine flu outbreak, the vaccine was pulled after cases of a neurologi- cal condition that causes paralysis, Guillain-Bar- ré, were linked to the vaccine. Nonetheless, “I think a parent who says ‘no vaccine’ is living in a bubble,” says integrative physician Paul Abramson. “There are indi- vidual and societal benefits from vaccination.” Abramson expresses concern about how fast the H1N1 vaccine is coming to market, but he’s also seen the full spectrum of symptoms, from mild to critical illness. “If you’re not in one of the high-risk groups, I’m not sure there’s any need to push,” he says. “But people in high-risk groups may want to consider getting vaccinated. If there’s an option without thimerosal, I’d err on the side of caution.” Many believe there’s a link between thimero- sal (ethyl mercury), long used as a preservative in vaccines, and autism. While medical research claims no linkage, some studies, including one published this year in Toxicology and Environ- mental Toxicology, show otherwise. Debate con- tinues, apparently with no reconciliation any time soon. Although only trace elements of thimerosal have been used in most childhood vaccines since 2001, it’s still included in some flu vaccines. For those who choose to vaccinate, Dr. Martha Howard in Chicago recommends asking for a single-dose vial, which doesn’t have thimerosal or an adjuvant (substance that boosts a vaccine’s effectiveness). A nasal spray vaccine called Flu- Mist, containing a weakened, live virus (not rec- ommended for some high-risk groups), will be thimerosal-free and may be first to market. The injections will contain killed virus. “I would just be wary of vaccinations,” cau- tions naturopathic M.D. Dana Churchill. He acknowledges the importance of some vaccines, but notes that autism, thimerosal, autoimmune illnesses and toxicity are red flags. prevention Basics As with seasonal flu, H1N1 virus is spread by coughing, sneezing and touching—virus potentially live a day on surfaces and in the air. Symptoms are similar as well, and include coughing, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, runny nose and sore throat, and poten- tially diarrhea and vomiting. To protect yourself, think basic hygiene. Avoid close contact with sick people, don’t touch your eyes, mouth and nose and cough into your sleeve or a tissue. Common sense also dictates staying home if you’re sick—a practice ignored by many. Frequent hand washing with soap and water goes without saying. If sanitizing gel is handier, CleanWell is made from essential plant oils and doesn’t use alcohol, and organic hand sanitizer Clean George doesn’t contain triclosan or ben- zalknonium, antiseptics that are toxic when mixed with water. If you get sick with H1N1, antiviral drugs— oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza)— may reduce symptoms and length of illness, just as they may do with seasonal influenza. WHO claims antivirals may help prevent severe disease and death, but other medical practitioners credit them with only limited effectiveness. Although there are a multitude who won’t even consider being vaccinated, many more will opt for immunization. As Illinois obstetrician David Rivera says, “I got a swine flu shot in 1976, when I was a medical student, and there was hysteria about the vaccination then. I plan on getting my shot as I do every year.” While public health recommendations are based on the big picture, they may not apply to one individual for a variety of reasons. Ultimate- ly, it comes down to personal choice. other homeopaths recommend Boiron’s oscillococcinum (derived from duck liver and heart), oil of oregano (hailed as an antiviral) and mustard oil. also suggested have been n-acetylcysteine, an amino acid available in health food stores; two chinese herbs in tan- dem—Zhong gan ling and yin chiao chieh tu pien; and garlic and beta-glucans, both of which activate the immune system. it’s also a good idea to drink fresh lemon juice, which helps restore the body’s acid/alkaline balance. naturopath stephen stiteler suggests emulsified vitamin d and plenty of omega oils. additionally, he and others emphasize the importance of avoiding sugar and pro- cessed foods, maintaining an appropriate diet, getting sufficient rest, adjusting stress levels and exercising. if you do get sick, whether taking an anti- viral or homeopathic approach to symptoms, it’s important to address the illness quickly. dr. Hans Gruenn recommends that you “throw everything and the kitchen sink at it” within the first few hours, because there’s a short window of time in which to fight back. How- ever, treatment by a licensed medical doctor should be sought if symptoms are severe. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This article originally appeared in the Oc- tober-November issue of Whole Life mag- azine. Reprinted with permission. Visit wholelifemagazine.com. mindfulmetropolis.com 19 the beSt DeFenSe: Stay Well Dr. ChurChill SayS his experience has been that once the immune system—which is “75 percent in the gut”—calms down, there’s a return to health. to stay ahead of H1n1, the naturopath suggests three homeopathic remedies: influenzinum, made from the flu vaccine that’s created for each year’s unique flu; Baptisia tinctoria, made from the peren- nial plant, wild indigo; and arsenicum album, derived from arsenic.
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