Well, conspiracy theorists, pay heed. I have just been vaccinated for the H1N1 virus. I didn’t drop dead or anything, so there’s that.
suck it, swine flu
One of the perks of working for a hospital system is that they provide employees with free vaccines. I’ve already been vaccinated against the regular flu, so I should be set. If I get the flu, it’s not because I didn’t do my best to prevent it.
Speaking of preventing the flu, I got an email about what we can do in spite of the inevitability of coming into contact with one sort of virus or another. The most interesting aspect of the instructions is the recommended use of salt water:
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption. And don’t forget Vitamin D.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
I had been thinking about getting a Neti pot anyway, since I have such horrible sinus and allergy problems. Now it seems it could keep you from getting sick in the first place.
Tomorrow I will be meeting one of my Make-A-Wish children who has just gotten over the H1N1 virus. Obviously I can’t get it from the poor little guy, but I figured it can’t hurt to be on the safe side!
Courtney Hoyt 
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