The mania continues

Over the past few months I've been contacted by concerned patients about the risks of swine flu and it seems the level of fear for this disease has reached fever pitch…if you’ll excuse the pun.

What I find totally mind boggling is how a disease like this can be hyped to the level that it has?! The strange part is that it seems it’s only the hype that people hear and not the real truths!
For example, I was astounded to hear all the following statements used in the same news broadcast:
• ‘The World Health Organization has raised their swine flu alert level to level 6’
• ‘Most cases of swine flu are mild and the people recover without complication’
• ‘Swine flu is now regarded as unstoppable’

Now here’s the funny part, if you speak to anybody about these news broadcasts they only remember the big words like ‘unstoppable’ and ‘alert level 6’ and not the ‘mild’ or ‘recover without complication’ part!
Yes I know that people have died from swine flu but normal seasonal flu claims more lives worldwide on a yearly basis anyway. The only point is that the TV news stations don’t give us a blow by blow tally of how many people die every day (for which I’m very grateful!)

Now, before you spend the R750 on the H1N1 test, or the R1000 on a variety of prescription medicines, I would like to advise a few less invasive ideas.

My approach to swine flu is exactly the same as my approach to other winter diseases. You can implement these measures to prevent getting sick in the first place or if you fall ill you can reduce the intensity!

STEP 1: Remove known allergens!

Dairy is an allergen and it irritates the mucosal membranes of the respiratory tract. I would strongly advise anyone who wants to avoid colds and flu to avoid dairy as well.
The other problem is sugar. Sugar is an immune suppressant and falls in the same category as dairy as a “best-to-avoid” food during winter (or the whole year for that matter!).

Substitutes: For dairy: Goat, rice, soya, palm, potato and oat milk. Goat’s milk yoghurt and cheeses are acceptable substitutes for bovine dairy for a person of any age. For sugar: Use Xylitol or Stevia (both natural sweeteners). For non-diabetics you can also use honey or fructose.

STEP 2: Basic prevention tips

1. Drink enough water (dehydration decreases your defenses against viruses)
2. Wash your hands regularly (viruses are transmitted via sputum and other bodily fluids)
3. Learn to manage any stress in your life
4. Maintain a healthy sleep pattern (6-8 hours per night)
5. Exercise regularly (frequency rather than intensity)
6. If you have flu stay at home and rest! Many people get their complications from flu because they don't slow down
7. Don't hesitate to visit your doctor if you're worried about something. Early intervention always works better.

STEP 3: Supplements

1. Take more vitamin C per day. Using 2000 – 4000mg of a buffered vitamin C will raise your defenses,
2. Drink 20mg of Zinc per day for the entire winter. Stop when summer starts,
3. Use 40 drops of olive leaf extract every day in a glass of water. Do this 4 times daily if an illness starts,
4. Use 5 drops of propolis in water or fruit juice daily,
5. Drink 5 capsules of colostrum every day. Increase this to 20 capsules if an illness starts.

STEP 4: Home brew

Click on the link below to learn how you can make your own infection buster tea! You can drink this every day for an unlimited period of time!

STEP 4: Big guns

If you feel that your cold or flu is getting out of hand then pay your doctor a visit. It would however, be ideal if your attending practitioner can upgrade your treatment to an intravenous vitamin C infusion which in my opinion is one of the most powerful anti-viral therapies available! There should be a doctor or homeopath in your area that can help you with this.

I trust these ideas give you some assurance.
The biggest favour you can probably do for yourself however is not to act or make decisions based on fear due to media hype!

In health,

Dr Anton

Disclaimer

The information contained in this email is not intended to replace the attention or advice of a physician or other health care professional. Anyone who wishes to embark on any dietary, drug, exercise, or other lifestyle change that is intended to prevent or treat a specific disease should first consult a qualified health care professional.

The information in this treatment approach is only as current as the day it was initially sent.

This treatment approach contains information that is subject to change as new data emerge. This suggested treatment regimen cannot guarantee a cure for the disease or condition that it focuses on.