H1N1 (the politically-correct name for the formerly known “swine flu”) is a serious matter, but I couldn’t help but add a little humor by mentioning that it makes me think of flying pigs, like the one the hails over Topanga Canyon, CA (right).

Laughter is the best medicine, after all!
I’ve heard its not easy to laugh when you’ve got H1N1, so below, are 10 simple tips for preventing yourself from becoming a statistic in this year’s top story.  These prevention tips are drawn from Ancient Ayurvedic Wisdom, Modern Scientific Research and your Mother’s common sense.

Many of the following recommendations come from Dr. Vinay Goyal of India, and are Ayurvedic in nature, using common sense and ancient wisdom.  Thanks to Dr. Jennifer Curtiss, ND in Portland, for her additions.

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. Keep in mind that the only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat; therefore, one key is to stop the proliferation of the virus in these portals.

1. Listen to your mother: Cover your mouth when you cough and wash your hands frequently.

2.  Keep your hands off of your face. 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.

4.  Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. 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. You can go a step further by swabbing with sesame oil, coating each nostril after cleaning.  This is a daily recommendation in Ayurveda and is said to enhance protection of the nasal passageway.

5. Drink warm liquids (ideally plain water or tea) throughout the day. Drinking warm liquids helps to wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

6.  Daily hydrotherapy in the shower; end your hot shower with cold water.  If this is a shocker to do, progress over days or weeks from cool water to cold water and from a quick spray to as long as a couple minutes.  A 1990 study in Germany showed that this preventative method led to 50% less flus and colds and in a sick person, lessened the symptoms of a flu or cold by 50%.

7. Support your immune system through the tenets of Ayurveda: Proper SLEEP, Proper FOOD and Proper EXERCISE.  This cannot be emphasized enough.  If you are living a stressful lifestyle, barely sleeping (suppresses immune systems), eating sugar (feeds viruses and cancer) and not getting your veggies (provide nutrients and antioxidants), you are asking to get sick.  Remember to slow down, breath, eat consciously and be mindful.  If you need support with this, call me, I know people (wink, wink)…

8. Take a high-quality, high-absorption multivitamin and mineral formula. LifePak Nano* (http://balancedwellness.lifepaknano.com/lpnano/index.html), a product I distribute at wholesale, was recently in the news as an example of a high-quality flu-prevention supplement because provides over 60 antioxidants plus 20 flavanoids, which bind to the H1N1 virus and prevent it from infecting.
(CBS Chicago)

9.) Besides Vitamin C (taken with Zinc) and Vitamin D, other supplements you may not know about that are specific to building immunity are:
Probiotics*: take them everyday to colonize your gut and build your immunity.
Bovine Colostrum*;  Amazing immunity, need to be properly sourced
Elderberry: safe for all ages, and pregnant and nursing mothers.   Flavanoids from elderberry bind H1N1 virions to block the ability of the virus to infect host cells.
Medicinal Mushrooms which provide Beta-Glucans and build immunity (Reishi*, Cordyceps*, etc.)  Sourcing is very important.
*I can direct you to high quality sources and provide more information on these items, just send me an email.

10. When traveling or when in large crowds of people, chew xylitol gum, an antimicrobial, to act as another barrier against the virus.  (New to me, special thanks to Dr. Curtiss for this one, I would only add to chew with your mouth closed!)