It appears as if the main flu drug, Tamiflu, isn’t all that helpful this flu season. The main form of the flu virus this season has become resistant to Tamiflu.
So what does this mean? If you have the flu, you’re stuck with it.
Experts say that the resistance didn’t come about due to overuse of the drug. I’d like to know exactly who these experts are; if they work for the company that produces Tamiflu, they’d have a reason to deny any claims that overuse could be linked to resistance.
Naturally, the response has been that we need more antiviral drugs and perhaps multiple combinations of them. As if that might solve the problem. When 99% of this year’s flu is resistant to the drug, I don’t understand how that isn’t a clue that something is happening. They claim its a spontaneous mutation. I’m not a geneticist; I just think there’s a significant correlation.
I think instead of getting the flu shot, there are many ways to help protect us this winter.
- drink plenty of water – water is essential to maintaining proper pH in the cells, and thus keeping vital functions going
- decrease consumption of sugar and trans fats – both of these increase inflammation
- eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables – especially the vegetables, as they contain important phytochemicals and nutrients that help keep us healthier
- Supplementation – with vitamins, herbs, omega-3, especially since most Americans lack proper amounts of these in our diets
- Exercise – this increases our metabolism, keeps our various systems (immune, cardiovascular, nervous, etc) running strong to fight off infection and releases ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters
If you do end up getting the flu, it is important to stay hydrated, stay warm, and keep kleenex handy. Obviously if more severe symptoms develop (a high fever above 102 or so, pneumonia, etc), go see your doctor.
I had the flu last year about this time, the first time in 8 years (no flu vaccine). I had chills all morning at work, then I went home for lunch. I knew something was wrong when I took a hot shower and still felt cold. Needless to say, I ended up the rest of the afternoon and next day on the couch with a fever of about 101 or 102. I just tried to drink water, eat soup, and rest. I didn’t take aspirin or tylenol, but just let it run its course. My body was doing its job just fine.
