Be careful, it’s coming your way!  The boogey flu will get you!  We’re having a pandemic!  Everyone is in danger!

I say, bah humbug.  All this advance notice is very suspicious to me.  It seems to me that these are scare tactics so that people out of fear become willing to buy drugs and vaccines for something that hasn’t even happened.  There has been no real evidence that the H1N1 flu is any more dangerous than the regular flu.  There is however the real possibility of adverse effects from untested vaccines (remember the 1976 swine flu, where people got Guillain-Barre from the vaccines?). 

I would be much more concerned about the dangers of mandated vaccines, especially if drug companies are not liable for people who get hurt by them.  See
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/08/20/Legal-Immunity-Set-for-Swine-Flu-Vaccine-Makers.aspx

What to do then?
1.  First of all, don’t get sucked into this fear and paranoia – wait for evidence. 
2.  Keep sensible precautions, such as washing your hands with soap several times during the day.
3.  Don’t worry about this all the time.  Remember the old saying “That which I feared hath come to pass.” 
4.  If you get the flu, don’t think of it as a big deal.
5.  Treat the flu you get, whatever its name, with sensible natural remedies:  rest, plenty of fluids, chicken soup, herbal teas, lots of garlic (a natural antibiotic), and more rest.

Here are two great ways to increase your intake of garlic.
1.  Peel a small clove of garlic and chop it into small pieces.  Swallow this with some juice or water, without chewing, and you will not get garlic breath.  It’s a great preventative.

2.  Russian Garlic toast.  Make a slice of good wholemeal toast.  Peel a clove of garlic and rub the garlic all over the toast.  It may get all used up.  Sprinkle with a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, and a few grains of sea salt.  Eat heartily.  You may want to give some to the rest of the family, as this will give you garlic breath.  Worth it!

Annemarie Colbin, Ph.D.