The Alternative View

Welcome, at last, to the first issue of The Alternative View, or TAV for short. It’s been a long time coming so I hope you find what I have to say of interest. The main drive behind thisnewsletter is to pass on reliable information from my varioussources relating to topical health concerns. For example, what is the Alternative profession’s view on the issue of Swine Flu. Ihave had a number of people very worried about the vaccinebecause they already suffer from chronic fatigue and ME.What to do? Risk the flu or risk vaccine... Luckily, Dr JacobTeitelbaum MD, my colleague from across the pond andspecialist in chronic fatigue syndrome has shared his view on the subject. Being board certified in Internal medicine and working closely chronic fatigue patients his view is well worth taking seriously on the subject.

In this Issue

Swine Flu

what to do?

Silver Hydrosol

- how to use it? Some notes from an expert.

Vitamin D3

a potential added factor in the battle against H1N1.

Issue 1, 2009

Should I Take the Swine Flu Vaccine???

By Jacob Teitelbaum MD

There has been a lot of publicity regarding the Swine Flu. Unfortunately, most of ithas been sensationalistic nonsense, instead of educational and helpful. It isimportant to put the Swine Flu in perspective.The Swine Flu has been MUCH milder than the usual flu virus that hits the worldeach winter, which normally kills about 30,000- 50,000 Americans — almost allelderly and chronically ill each year. Because of this, there is the usual yearlyrecommendation to get the flu vaccine. As of September 2009, the Swine Flu hadcaused a little over 500 deaths — or only about 1% as many as the normal flu —though it would be hard to tell this from the news stories. Sadly, the news media islearning that "fear sells." On the other hand, truth is liberating.The bottom line? It is reasonable for people with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia syndrome (CFS and/or FMS) to get the flu vaccine, including theSwine flu vaccine, but not critical. For those who get severely ill when they get theflu, it is reasonable to get the vaccine. For those who get sick from vaccines or prefer to avoid them, it is best to skip them. For everyone else, it is simply a matter of personal preference. Still on the fence? Overall, I think the flu vaccine is a goodidea for those with CFS/FMS who frequently get the flu (at least 1 year out of 3).Unfortunately, taking the swine flu vaccine may lower the effectiveness of theregular flu vaccine (and vice versa), so I would still simply get the regular fluvaccine instead.

Important ways to avoid the flu.1.

When it is going around, wash your hands after getting home from publicplaces. The flu travels by "hitch hiking" a ride on your hands (when you touchsurfaces touched by those with the flu) to catch a ride to your mouth or nose.Wash your hands when you get home to send the virus down the drain.

Get your 8 hours of sleep a night to optimize your immune system. Especiallyimportant would be the

zinc

and

vitamin C

(both in optimal amountsin the

Fatigue Powder

formula).These not only help strengthen your immune system, but may evendetermine if the vaccine works(optimal zinc is important for vaccines to work).

If you catch a virus take the

Silver Hydrosol

preparation asearly in the infection as you can. Itcan give your immune system a jump start. This is safe for adultsand children alike. This comes as aliquid for internal use as well as anasal and throat spray.