A little late but....

Here is the alternative to the flu shots that we do in our house. Every year I've gotten the flu shot I've gotten sick. I don't do them any more and I don't have my kids get them. Instead, we try to eat well (including green smoothies), get plenty of rest, cover coughs and wash hands.

Here is my alternative to flu shots that I've learned from several different sources. So far it seems to work to deflect or lessen the virus' symptoms in our house.

I use two homeopathic medicines: oscillococcinum--available at most any drug/grocery store as well as health food stores in a white, yellow and orange box-- and influenzinum--available at most health food stores in a small blue vial. Both medications are made in France by Boiron. Homeopathic medicines are safe, have no side effects nor any drug interactions.

The oscillococcinum comes in pre-dosed vials. The instructions on the box are for flu-like symptoms so follow those if you have the flu. For a preventative, take one dose once a week during flu season. I also take a dose when I feel run down.

The influenzinum also has dosing instructions for flu-like symptoms. For a preventative, take 10 pellets once a week for 3 weeks, skip a week and take 10 pellets on the 5th week. For example, if you take your first dose on Sunday, take the next dose the following Sunday and another dose the Sunday after that. Skip the 4th Sunday and take another dose (10 pellets) on the 5th Sunday. You may then choose to stop and save the remaining pellets for symptoms should they develop. Or you may choose to take two more weekly doses (6th and 7th Sundays) until the vial is empty.

Health food stores that sell the blue vials also have many meds for many issues including cough, congestion, body aches, insect bites, insomnia..... They work well but are often short acting so you may need to take them more frequently than other over-the-counter meds. Since there is no drug interaction, you may take them with over-the-counter meds or in combination with other homeopathic meds. I give them to my kids too--full dose unless the instructions say otherwise.

Hope this info helps even if it is late into the flu season. There is plenty of info on homeopathic meds out there. Some of it talks about how there is no proof that it works. Countries like Germany, France and India use it as often as pharmaceutical meds and Germany is doing the most research on it that I know of. I like that there are no side effects from them. I trust them so much more than over-the-counter meds. They have been used a lot longer. Granted, herbs and homeopathic medicines don't always work as quickly or as drastically as pharmaceutical meds. The idea behind them is to strengthen your body to fight by itself. Most pharmaceutical meds mask symptoms and prolong illness in my humble opinion. Not to mention cause dangerous side effects. Where herbal and homeopathic meds gently coax the body into balance and health.

However, if you are weak or have a poor immune system then you should go for the pharmaceutical meds as they will save your life when your body is too weak to help itself. I don't think that pure scientific Western medicine is horrible. I just think it leaves out the tried and true. They need to incorporate/accept different healing methods. As with most everything in life, there is not one right answer. It is some combination of answers that may change the next time the same question is asked. We shouldn't get stuck in a rut thinking one is better than the other.