Fears around H1N1 or Swine Flu, and flu in general, are mounting as we head on into flu season. Keep in mind that excessive fear will negatively impact your immune system, which will ultimately be your best defense.

Some facts to bear in mind:

* Some people die from the flu, but most do not. There are 36,000 deaths from flu-related complications every year. The deaths from H1N1 do not so far represent a substantial increase of those, partly because, for unknown reasons, the virus has not proved as virulent in the US as it was when it first appeared in Mexico.

* Natural, non-invasive solutions for immune support exist. While vaccinations are the preferred course of action according to world health authorities, there are valid concerns around the efficacy and safety of that approach. Do your research on this. Important to note is the success rate of homeopathic medicine in preventing flu-related deaths during the epidemic of 1918. The death rate was 28.2% among those people treated with what we would today call “conventional medicine”, while only 1.05% of those treated homeopathically met the same fate.

To attempt to prevent the flu without vaccination, if that is the route you choose, here are some recommendations:

* Wash your hands frequently.

* Get adequate rest.

* Have homeopathic flu remedies on hand to take at the first onset. This would include gelsemium and byronia, which were mentioned as the primary remedies used to control the 1918 epidemic.

* Recent studies have  shown that full-spectrum elderberry extract,  such as Immunity Take Care by New Chapter, effectively blocks the H1N1 virus.

* As an alternative to the vaccinations, a homeopathic remedy made directly from viral strains is available, possibly at our store in the near future. Please call and ask our naturopath for more information.