Could you "inoculate" yourself against the flu?

Barbrae said:
The information was from Freeman's pharmacy, not just my "belief". the typcial dose for prevention is a 9c.
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I took a quick peek at their site and I saw about a dozen different influenza remedies, for various years. A couple were, in fact, described as Influenza Vaccine although most were not. I did not see any dilution information, but I did not look at the site deeply.

Would you happen to know the answer to my question about what form the influenza remedy starts out in before dilution?

I did see a couple of things on that page that caught my eye, and I wondered if you could comment on them. One was "krypton" - does this in fact refer to the elemental gas (same chemical category as argon and neon). What conditions is this "similar" to? What is it used to treat? (edit to add) How is the gas diluted into a remedy?

(edit again) Actually, I see argon, neon, radon and helium are also on the list, so I guess this really does mean krypton gas.

The same page also listed "Ice Cream (mixed)". What is homeopathically prepared ice cream used to treat? I don't wish to sound as though I'm making fun - this is really listed on their page.

Edit to add: thanks, geni. I should have guessed...
 
Barbrae said:
The information was from Freeman's pharmacy, not just my "belief". the typcial dose for prevention is a 9c.
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OK. Anybody willing to take a preparation of live virulent flu virus not diluted entirely out of existence?

Anybody think selling this is ethical?

Rolfe.
 
Rolfe said:
OK. Anybody willing to take a preparation of live virulent flu virus not diluted entirely out of existence?

Anybody think selling this is ethical?

Rolfe.
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If it's live and virulent does that mean it's reproducing whilst being successed?
 
Benguin said:
If it's live and virulent does that mean it's reproducing whilst being successed?
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No. Viruses need cells to replicate in. They can't replicate in a cell-free medium. That's why flu viruses are grown on embryonated duck eggs.

In fact, depending on the actual concentration of virus in the "mother tincture" (the composition of which Barb doesn't seem to be able to tell us), the chances of any one 9C preparation having an intective dose are very low indeed. Which probably explains why most of their customers don't get the flu (just the ones who were going to get it anyway). I still wouldn't want to chance it though, because there's always the possibility of the occasional dose getting more than its fair share.

Rolfe.
 
While searching for the answer to my question on the net I found a couple of interesting things. While 9C seems to be a common dilution, 6C is also marketed, and I've seen numbers as low as 8X and 3C.

Apparently "nosode" is a homeopathic term for a remedy prepared from diseased tissue, pus, or the like (perhaps most of you knew that already, I didn't). I haven't found out exactly what "nosode" is used for flu... I shudder to think.
 
Barbrae said:
The information was from Freeman's pharmacy, not just my "belief". the typcial dose for prevention is a 9c.
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"Dose?" Oh, right, you don't care to correct your work here.
 
Barbrae said:
it's the former actually. It is made from the virus. It is a nosode made from the disease.
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I'm coming back to this answer from Barb regarding the source of the homoeopathic flu treatment/preventative she was talking about.

I doubted this reply at the time, and I doubt it now. Especially reading this in last week's commentary.
Missed Out on the Flu Shot? Influenzium is Your Solution! Made from the actual flu vaccine. Used to prevent and treat flu symptoms. FDA Registered [Whatever that's supposed to mean. CB]. Safe — No side effects [At least that much is true. — CB]. Shipped to your door in 1-3 days. Call to order.
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Note the sentence I bolded. "Made from the actual flu vaccine."

I think this is the same product Barb was talking about, and this quote from the advertising puff says it is potentised flu vaccine. Not wild virus.

This is much more plausible, and much less likely to fall foul of safety regs (although of course there's nothing in the preparation but solvent in either case). I think it's the truth.

Would Barb or any other passing homoeopath care to comment on this? Or do we just put it down to one more example of Barb's complete ignorance of what she's doing, and general incompetence to be giving health advice to a white mouse, never mind a human being.

Rolfe.
 
alfaniner said:
Since flu shots consist of injections of dead flu viruses, and there's such a shortage this year, is there a way that you could get the same effect on your own?

For instance, say you know someone with the flu. You shut them in a room for a few hours, allowing for millions of the little bugs to get airborne. Remove the person and wait a bit (a few hours? How long does it take for flu viruses to die in the air anyway?). Then you enter the room and inhale as much as you can. Would this be sufficient for your body to produce the proper antibodies? How about making nose drops out of the sick persons dried um, mucus? (I know, ewww, but hey, this is medical research I'm talking about here).

Just a dumb thought I had. I am doing a Marathon in two months and can't really afford a two-week downtime from the flu. I'm especially concerned about getting it on the plane three days before the event.
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To answer the original question, the reason you can't do that (could somebody more knowlegeable than I correct any mistakes I make) is that the term "flu" is a catch-all for a huge family of diverse and fast mutating little nasties that cause more or less the same symptoms. Each year a new strain will be prominant, and that's why you need a new vaccine every year. They're simply too diverse and too quickly adapting to cover with any one vaccine. If you do get a current flu shot, you're essentially doing what you proposed first; getting an up-to-date immune refresher on the latest threats.

On a somewhat related note, some think that perpetually-runny noses of young'uns acts as a natural innoculation to many strains early on. I dunno, seems plausable.
 
Theoretically, it is possible to be protected against all strains of the influenza A strain of the virus (this is the strain responsible for the pandemics) by immunising with the M2 protein which is conserved amongst all A strains and has been shown to have protective capacity in animal model studies. The aim would be to replace the annual shots with a single immunising course (2 or 3) of injections. Some companies (Merck) are working on this.
 
http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20041113-102458-5560r.htm

Interesting "big picture" look at the flu vaccine shortage and the cause. Litigations and politics. Politicians playing the blame game and not doing much to help the situation.

Sad state of affairs. I wonder how much people would clamour for vaccines once the death rates from the preventable diseases escalate. I wonder how the government would do to help save people from these diseases. I wonder how people would view sCAM when it does nothing to help even though people are buying it.

I hope Canada has a better ability to produce vaccines. I don't even know how many manufacturers there are. We have a small population at least, and hopefully will never see a shortage.
 
I tend to think that preventing and vaccinating against something as basic as the flu is not the way to go (except maybe for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems). I'd rather use things, like Oscillococcinum, to help strengthen my immune system and fight it.
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A healthy immune system is developed by allowing it to be exposed to and to fight off diseases. There are so many flu strains that you can't guarantee immunity anyway, so I think it's better to focus on strengthening the immune system, and saving the vaccines for dangerous diseases and those with compromised immune systems.
 
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neuf08 said:
I tend to think that preventing and vaccinating against something as basic as the flu is not the way to go (except maybe for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems). I'd rather use things, like Oscillococcinum, to help strengthen my immune system and fight it.
Edited by Gaspode: 
Edited to remove advertising
A healthy immune system is developed by allowing it to be exposed to and to fight off diseases. There are so many flu strains that you can't guarantee immunity anyway, so I think it's better to focus on strengthening the immune system, and saving the vaccines for dangerous diseases and those with compromised immune systems.
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Getting a vacine IS strengtening the immune system, against that particular disease.
Getting one disease will not help you against others.
 
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