Posted by Dr. Tara Hickman on Sat, Aug 08, 2009
This winter will no doubt be a troubling flu season for everyone, especially kids. Prevention is always the best option and I have included some helpful tips to make sure that your family has the best chance of avoiding the flu.
Wash your hands. This has no doubt had a bigger effect on germ transmission than anything else. Friction is just as important as soap, so rub your hand vigorously under running water, and teach you kids to do the same.- Eat well and get rest. This seems like a no brainer, but if your children do not eat their fruits and vegetables, they will be more susceptible to flu bugs. Don’t be afraid to tell them this. Let them know that eating those foods will make them strong and keep them from getting sick. To learn more about getting your kids to eat healthy, read Dr. Tara's article, “Broccoli is Gross!” - A mom's guide to healthy eating for kids, in The Colic Care® Blog.
- Stay on probiotics the entire winter season. Probiotics are “friendly” bacteria that provide precursors for our immune system, among a host of other beneficial processes.
- Consider herbal teas. Make herbal teas made of lemon balm, avena, echinacea, etc. and try them on your kids. You never know, they may like the taste. Try adding some xylitol which has its own immune boosting effects, and is a natural sweetener.
- Vitamin C. The key to vitamin C is to keep a high level throughout the day, not a big dose at one time. It is water soluble, so it tends to exit the body quickly. A mere 250 to 500mg several times per day is much more effective at boosting the body’s immune response. Emergen-C is a great option and tastes great for kids.
- Visit a licensed naturopathic physician. They can help you with dosing immune boosting nutrients, such as vitamin A and vitamin D. These are fat-soluble vitamins, which means that you can overdose on these, and you need a knowledgeable medical professional to help you determine what dosage is appropriate for your child.
Hopefully, this season will not be the pandemic that is predicted. And following the above tips can help you avoid contracting any bugs that may be going around. Thanks for reading and don't forget to Ask Dr. Tara if you have any questions!!
Posted by Dr. Tara Hickman on Sun, Aug 02, 2009
One of the most common questions I see in my office is concerning vaccinations. The fear-based campaign (on both sides!) has made it extremely difficult for parents to feel confident about decisions regarding how and when to vaccinate. I believe in educated choices, and do everything I can to direct parents to information from both sides. This is easier for vaccinations that have been used for several years, but what about new vaccines, such as the H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
With all new vaccines, the safety profile is the most concerning. When a similar “Swine flu” outbreak happened in the 70’s, the vaccine created caused a serious complication called “Guillian-Barre Syndrome” (ascending paralysis), and the actual flu virus was not the fatal pandemic they were expecting. Besides complications (that are worse than the risk of contracting the flu), the other concerns would be what preservatives and “immune stimulators” will be in the vaccine. Much work has been done to eliminate mercury from most children’s vaccines, but flu vaccines are notorious for still using mercury as a preservative. I will be waiting to see what the ingredients contain, as well as what the safety trials show before making any recommendations.
Ultimately, there will not be enough vaccine for everybody, and their will be preference given for pregnant moms, children over 6 months, elderly, health care workers, and young adults (19-24). So far, this flu has not been the deadly pandemic that they have predicted, and I will be treating this flu in the same way that I approach all disease—by supporting the body’s natural immune system. It is more effective to provide an inhospitable environment within the body for any bug, than it is to run around trying to find specific vaccines and medications to fight every bug that comes along. Our bodies have an amazing, built-in system to keep foreign invaders at bay, and the most effective therapy is anything that supports this system.
If you have any questions about this article, or anything else for that matter, please feel free to Ask Dr. Tara!!