Making The Flu Season Less Dangerous-Part II
by Dr. Barbro Brost (DC)

Even the American Medical Association recognizes that everyone needs to take a high quality multi-vitamin to maintain optimum health. Make sure you get all the vitamins, minerals and trace minerals that the body needs to perform it’s billions of different functions every day.  There are uncountable brands on the market, buy a good one!  When it comes to vitamins you usually get what you pay for.  Quality costs to produce.

Supplements that specifically enhance your immune function are vitamin D, C, garlic, Echinacea and many herbal combinations put together for immune simulation.

Vitamin D3 in a high dosage has been shown in research to protect against the flu as effectively as the flu vaccine.   I recommend 5000 mg per day through the winter when we don’t get sun exposure.  Read about D3 and the flu on Dr. Mercola’s website, www.mercola.com.  Dr. Julian Whittaker, MD recommends up to 100,000 mg per day if you are getting the flu.

There is a reason Linus Pauling won the Nobel Peace Prize twice for his research on the immune enhancing effects of vitamin C.  I recommend 1000 mg per day for prevention.  If you are starting any cold or flu symptoms take 1000 mg every 3 hours to keep your blood levels high. (An estrified vitamin C will avoid the side effects of diarrhea at these high levels.)

Garlic is a natural antibiotic/antiviral herb.  A study at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, found that no virus or bacteria can survive in a Petri dish containing a garlic medium.   Parsley is the antidote for garlic breath!

Echinacea is a fabulous immune enhancing herb, but should only be taken if you have been exposed or are starting the symptoms of a cold or flu.  Taken for a longer period of time preventatively it tends to loose its effect.

At our clinic we use a product called NK Stim from Orthomolecular lab for prevention and Viracid at the first onset of any cold or flu symptoms.  There are also many homeopathic remedies that work well to ease and shorten the effect of colds and flu.

Google is a wonderful tool if you want more information about any of the supplements mentioned.  And of course, since I am a chiropractor, I recommend regular chiropractic adjustments to keep your body free of nerve irritation between your brain and the rest of your body.  People that get regular chiropractic care get sick less frequently and miss less days from work and school than the average person.

Stay healthy!