Comman d and Conquer:

Taking Down the Flu by Mikhail Borkin

The Breakdown
In the United States, 5 to 20 percent of the catch the inuenza virus according to The Recommendations
The CDC and many non-government health authorities suggest that, with a few exceptions, everyone over 6 months of age get a u vaccine. Vaccination is especially important for people who are prone to infection or could become more ill than normal if infected. The CDC and National Institutes of Health thus urge you to get vaccinated if you have a weakened immune system (due to cancer or HIV/AIDS, for example) have a chronic health problem, including diabetes, asthma, anemia, or heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease are being treated with steroids are pregnant or may become pregnant during u season (which can last till May) have contact with children under 6 months of age are under age 5 (but older than 6 months) are over age 50 are an American Indian or Alaska native are morbidly obese (dened as having a body mass index of 40 or higher) work in health care live in a nursing home or assisted living facility

The Vaccine

There are two basic types of u vaccines: an inactive one administered by injection, and a live one thats misted into your nose (like in the photo). The former contains an inactive form of the u virus, while the latter contains a live but weakened form. Neither causes the u but occasionally cause side effects like soreness at the injection site or a mild fever or headache.

the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. An average of 200,000 people are hospitalized and anywhere from 3,000 to 49,000 die from u-related complications each year. Inuenza rapidly spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics and imposes a considerable economic burden in the form of hospital and other health care costs and lost productivity. In the United States of America, for example, recent estimates put the cost of inuenza epidemics to the economy at US$ 71-167 billion per year.

The Statistics

The Analysis

The Alternative
The most developed countries are the sickest. This is kind of an oxymoron since one would think with the high hygienic standard experienced in the west this would be the opposite. However, the sad truth is that citizens of developed nations get just as sick if not sicker than those of developing nations. There is also a much sneakier nuisance. It is a hidden culprit that is much more inconspicuous and it lies within the mind. Citizens of developed nations think they know it all and the models they have to get a picture of the world are accurate and the only ones. In one word, its an ethnocentric view of the world. Well let me present an alternative perspective. Instead of chasing a phantom new strain of u every year, lets take the focus off the virus and bring it on the human body and health. This is how we should view immunity. Chinese medical theory takes into account a persons ability to ward off pathogens. Furthermore, Chinese herbs have successfully treated infectious disease for thousands of years if one is incapable of ghting off the infection.

The vaccination strategy has saved many lives. If it had not been for vaccines, polio and measles would still be around today to torment the populace as those viruses once did. However, the inuenza is different. It is a mutating virus. That means every season it has an opportunity to showoff its great ability to change and go with the ow. Developed nations are the ones that are vaccinated the most. Statistically, they are also the ones with the highest death rate. Why is that? There are a couple aws to this strategy. First, the vaccine is manufactured prior to each season. It is known that inuenza is a highly adaptive strain of virus. How can the vaccine be properly prepared prior to each season if the virus is always changing? The analogy one can use to understand the situation is a high percentage free throw shooter is about to go to the line for potential game winning free throws. He is a 90 percent shooter, but just because he makes nine out of ten shots, does it mean he will make both? There are external factors that need to be considered such as the pressure of the game on line, crowd noise, what he ate that day, and etc. He is not guaranteed to sink those two shots because he shoots 90 percent overall just like the vaccine is not guaranteed to provide immunity to everyone that receives it. Second, the most heavily vaccinated populations are also the ones with the highest death rates from inuenza. Why? A couple of reasons need to be taken into account. Resistance is a factor to existing u therapies. The more a strain is exposed to vaccines, the more it has a chance of adapting. This is why tamiu resistance is near zero levels in developing nations.

quality fruits and vegetables are available to eat during this time. Unfortunately, this season coincides with the about the same time we start to consume foods like candies and baked goods that are associated with holidays. If one were to rationally analyze that this season is not the time to indulge, but one to prepare for harsh winter or the rainy season, would one eat cupcakes? Seasons are taken into consideration in Chinese medicine. Does it sound easy yet? It is. Exercise is another facet. Qi Gong is a longstanding tradition also practiced for centuries. It servers to strengthen tendons and improve circulation through the body by utilizing uid like movements for extended periods of time. There are Qi Gong forms for times of day, what part of the moon cycle you are in, what season youre in, what part of the body you want to strengthen, and so on. Lastly, Chinese Medicine also has a hands on mode of treatment called Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a relatively harmless modality utilizing disposable needles to manipulate energy ows within the body. Combination of these four approaches to health have affected countless lives through the ages in a positive ways.

The Call
Get educated is your rst step. Chinese Medicine offers a very practical approach to diseases. It was long recognized that these types of illnesses came in seasons. Therefore, practitioners anticipated this event by tonifying a patients immunity with herbs, diet, and exercise before the onset of the sick season. Several Chinese herbs serve to boost immunity and strengthen the energy of the body so that it functions at a high level. Healthy people dont get sick. If they did, they wouldnt be healthy. Its really simple. Parts of Chinese medicine are related only to supplementation with herbs. Diet and exercise are also a piece of the pie. Eating for the season is crucial as well. The end of summer and early fall is a prime harvest time. Therefore, the highest

The Conclusion
Every year people get the u vaccine and every year there is little to no relief from the u. Thats only because the focus is on the virus and not the person. The purpose of this short article is the familiarize the neophyte with a system to approach and demystify seasonal illness. It will take some effort on the part of public to change some ingrained traditions and to incorporate new knowledge. While some are having aches, fevers, and are laying in bed, and you are out and about enjoying the scenic snow laden landscapes, youll be glad you did!

About the Author

Mikhail is currently attending the World Medicine Institute for a Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine. He is also a prospective P.hd student in the eld of Taoist Studies and Herbology. He has received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science prior to moving onto the path of Chinese Medicine.

Works Cited
Wikipedia. 2009 Flu Pandemic in the United States, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 2009_flu_pandemic_in_the_United_States> Center for Disease Control. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm>.

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