Having the flu is good for you – Flu Facts

Having the flu is good for you

For thousands of years healers have viewed acute illness such as cold, flu and fever a powerful weapons your body uses for cleansing and healing.  While these are uncomfortable experiences, it is not only how your body detoxifies you but it also has a powerful benefit. Studies report that the cold and flu may protect you from getting cancer:

Those with carcinomas of the stomach, colon, rectum, breast, and ovary… were interviewed. A history of common colds or influenza prior to the interview was found to be associated with a decreased cancer risk.

Abel U, Becker N, Angerer R et al. Common infections in the history of cancer patients and controls. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 1991;117(4);339-344.

Subjects who reported a history of infectious diseases (e.g., colds, flu) showed a 30% reduction in risk [of brain tumor].

Schlehoper B, Blettner M, Preston-Martin S et al. Role of medical history in brain tumor development results from the international adult brain tumor study. International Journal of Cancer. 1999;82:155-160.

If you have a bad cold or the flu do not suppress your fever or other symptoms with drugs. Instead respect what your body is telling you; work with your body to cleanse and detoxify your system. If you don’t, you can stay sick longer. As researchers have reported:

Taking aspirin or Tylenol™ for the flu could prolong your illness by up to 3½ days.

Plaisance KI et al. Effect of antipyretic therapy on the duration of illness in experimental influenza A, Shigella connei, and Rickettsia rickettsii infections. Pharmacotherapy. 2000;20(12):1417-1433.

Real protection

Certainly if a child or adult is expressing symptoms we must give comfort and support them, making sure their body is functioning within a healthy range of expression. People must remain hydrated, nourished, comforted and properly managed. Natural healthcare systems that respect symptom expression include systems such as chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine and other “holistic” systems.

In our mad dash to protect people from expressing symptoms we should pause and consider that suppression of symptoms is not health.

Symptoms are the way the body heals and by suppressing disease symptoms we may be deeper, more serious illness later on.

True health is when the body is able to express itself naturally.