Alternative Medicine Cabinet—Flu Season Fandango

Choosing between flu shots and alternative remedies can dance you in circles. Here are pros and cons of each.

With flu season upon us, it’s time again to face that annual dilemma–flu shot or no flu shot? Conventional medical circles embrace it as a simple, slam-dunk solution: Get the shot and you can walk into a room full of flu germs with near impunity. But if this is the case, why do so many alternative medical practitioners distrust it? And if such mistrust is justified, should you get one, or could it wind up doing more harm than good?

Pierre Brunschwig, MD, a holistic doctor at Helios Integrated Medicine in Boulder, Colo., and a charter fellow of the American Board of Holistic Medicine, is wary. He says that each winter’s flu formula is reformulated based on strains of flu that arrive in the Southern Hemisphere during its winter, which is our summer. Brunschwig says there’s no guarantee that the Southern Hemisphere formulation will match the strains active in North America by the time our winter rolls around.

But making the decision to get a flu shot goes well beyond this issue. While some holistic practitioners do think the harm always outweighs the good, others feel the shot could prove helpful, depending on your age, health and circumstances. Regardless of whether you get the shot or not, natural alternatives can help keep you healthy this winter.

The flu shot controversy

If you‘re debating whether to get a flu shot, consider the advice of Sherri Tenpenny, DO, of Middleburg Heights, Ohio: Become informed about the specific substances being delivered through the needle, she warns. For example, Tenpenny says, “during the flu vaccine manufacturing process, antibiotics such as neomycin, polymyxin B and gentamicin are added to eliminate stray bacteria found in the mixture.” The final solution can contain additives such as Triton-X 100, a detergent; polysorbate 80, an emulsifier that is a potential carcinogen; and additives such as formaldehyde to inactivate the virus as well as gelatin and residual egg proteins used to nourish the cultures. Bottom line, according to Brunschwig, “if you have an egg allergy, you simply can’t get the vaccine.” Not all flu formulations are alike, either, so if you decide to get one, ask your doctor about the specific ingredients.

One of the most worrisome issues is that some flu shots contain a substance called thimerosal, an organic form of mercury used as a preservative. “Many influenza vaccines still contain thimerosal,” Tenpenny says, which is being investigated for its link to brain injury and autoimmune disease. Several studies have found significantly increased odds of neurodevelopmental disorders—including autism, mental retardation, speech disorders, personality disorders and thinking abnormalities—in children (not adults) following thimerosal-containing vaccines.

Brunschwig says that further risks with the injectable flu shot include local reactions at the injection site and anaphylaxis (a sudden, severe allergic reaction to the vaccine components). Two more serious, but fairly unlikely, responses are vasculitis (a severe inflammation of the blood vessels due to an autoimmune response) and Landry-Guillain-Barré syndrome (LGBS, a disorder in which the body damages its own nerve cells). In 1976 the swine flu vaccine was associated with LGBS, but several later studies evaluated other flu vaccines, and only one showed an association with LGBS—in that case one person out of 1 million may have been at risk.

Debra Brammer, ND, associate clinical dean at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Wash., says other possible contraindications include past incidences of either becoming seriously ill or contracting a high fever within 48 hours of the shot. She also cautions those who have a history of seizures or a seizure disorder, or who have ever had a reaction of any kind to a vaccination. If you fit this profile, consult with a physician before proceeding with a flu shot.

Should you get the shot?

First, assess your individual situation and risk factors, Brunschwig says. “I look at people who have risk–a job where they deal with the public in large numbers or who travel a lot in airplanes and those who have one or more children, are elderly or in frail health. I also discuss various scenarios with patients, such as ‘Have you thought about what it would be like if the whole family got the flu—would this change your interest in flu vaccination?’”

Brammer says that from a naturopathic point of view, getting the actual flu may not be such a bad thing. “I sometimes think getting the flu isn’t the worst thing, unless you have an impairment—conditions like diabetes, a lung dysfunction like asthma, pulmonary disease of any kind, emphysema, frequent pneumonia or impaired immunity—then you need to think about having the flu vaccine,” Brammer explains. She adds that there may even be an advantage to getting the flu while you’re relatively healthy because it may make you more resistant to the flu later in life. “Exposure to germs when you’re healthy is a good thing,” Brammer says. “When I’m 70 and not as healthy, I’ll be glad I had some of these influenzas when I was 23 and got the flu. My body would know that flu. Even though viruses change and mutate, new viruses will come along that are similar to past ones, offering some limited immunity.” Brammer also says that getting the flu is an opportunity for the body to detoxify. “It’s a good way to exercise the immune system and tells us how well it’s working,” she says.

Flu shot alternatives

If you’ve decided the flu shot isn’t for you, what can you do so you don’t get sick? Or if you do get the flu, how can you ease your symptoms?

For those who don’t want the shot but want to get a flu vaccine, Brunschwig recommends a nasal spray version of the vaccine called FluMist. “It’s thimerosal-free, intranasal, appropriate for people from 5 to 50 years of age and has a lower side-effect profile,” Brunschwig says. “But because it’s a live virus, you can get mild transient flu symptoms.” However, those with egg allergies be warned: FluMist still contains egg proteins.

Brammer likes to create custom homeopathic remedies for those who are fighting the flu, depending on their symptoms. The herbs she often employs in these remedies include: lime flower (Tilia) for nasal congestion and as a diaphoretic (meaning that it brings blood to the surface to make you sweat and help drop fever) yarrow (Achillea millefolium) for anti-inflammatory properties and as a diaphoretic; mint, which has salicylates that help to open up nasal passages; and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), which also acts as a diaphoretic. In addition, elderberry (Sambucus nigra) helps with fever, muscle pain and respiratory symptoms. It also strengthens cell membranes so a virus cannot penetrate. Brammer explains that these remedies also have some anti-inflammatory actions and will reduce nasal congestion and discharge. If you prefer, the straight herbs are also good and can be taken as a supplement. Brewing a tea is especially nice because the warmth and moisture are so comforting during the flu.

Brammer also recommends elderberry in syrup form to dry up congestion and finds the herb hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) useful for upper respiratory congestion. For spasmodic coughs that just won’t stop, she recommends yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum), an expectorant. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea and E. pallida) is an effective immune enhancer—studies show it increases white blood cell counts—so it may help with viral flu. As an interesting note, however, a recent New England Journal of Medicine study found echinacea neither prevented colds nor eased cold symptoms, so its efficacy for this particular illness is now in debate.

Of course, sometimes the simplest preventive actions yield the most immediate results: Wash your hands and remember what your mother said—get enough sleep and eat your fruits and vegetables. Both these keep your immune system fit. And Brammer adds, “One of the best flu preventatives is making quiet time to ratchet down the stress and restore serenity in your life.”

Favorite flu remedies

If you’re wondering which of the many available flu products can really help you out, a number of options have excellent track records. Look for these products in your favorite natural foods market or natural pharmacy or find them online.

“High on my prevention list is a homeopathic remedy called Dolivaxil [by Dolisos],” says Pierre Brunschwig, MD, a holistic doctor at Helios Integrated Medicine in Boulder, Colo. “It‘s a good, low-risk option to prevent influenza. Like the vaccine, it‘s based on each year‘s flu strains, which is a very clever aspect of this remedy.” He recommends starting Dolivaxil in October, as you need to take it for several weeks before flu season starts. The remedy is taken once a week for four weeks; then you wait for three weeks and take the fifth capsule.

Brunschwig also recommends Oscillococcinum by the manufacturer Boiron, a homeopathic remedy useful for those already caught by the flu bug. Numerous studies show Oscillococcinum can reduce the severity and duration of the flu,
Brunschwig says.

The editors at Alternative Medicine magazine also have some favorites of their own. Although the name is directed at colds rather than flu, Cold Snap by the Oriental Herb Company is designed to increase chi and enhance the body‘s immune system rather than directly attack a particular virus. This makes the formulation effective for flu as well as colds. In our experience, flu symptoms start to abate within a day of taking the remedy.

Along the lines of boosting immunity, ImmPower by American BioSciences Inc. employs the principles of Japanese medicine and contains a proprietary blend of fermented basidiomycota mushroom extracts–a division that includes many common mushrooms such as chanterelles. Numerous studies show ImmPower aids T-cell activity by helping to maintain peak levels of natural killer cells and macrophages (types of white blood cells) and by supporting cytokine production (which responds to infections).

Boost your immune system and fight the flu naturally

In addition to those herbs and supplements mentioned in this story, here are additional powerful ways to fight the flu naturally:

• Western larch (Larix occidentalis) is a powerful immunity booster that can help prevent flu and relieve its severity. Recommended dosage: 1 to 3 tablespoons of powdered larch per day.

• Olive leaf extract (Olea europaea) is a powerful antiviral and antibacterial supplement as well as an immunity enhancer. Take one tablet every six hours.

• NAC (N-acetylcysteine), a form of the amino acid cysteine, has been shown both to reduce the severity of flu symptoms and boost the immune system. Take 600 mg twice per day.

• Oregano oil (Origanum vulgare) is a superior antimicrobial agent for fighting the flu. It can also help to alleviate flu symptoms and even doubles as a potent pain reliever. Take 3 to 5 drops three times per day.