Flu Shot Foul Up

Dear Health Conscious Reader,

You may have taken the flu shot this winter…

Along with that, your doctor may have given you a pain reliever such as Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, or aspirin to avoid discomfort as the vaccine takes effect.

Most doctors even recommend it.

But the combination of vaccine and these medications aren’t such a great idea.

A very recent study shows that when common over-the-counter pain relievers are given in combination with a vaccine, it actually reduces your immunity.1 This means the vaccine may not protect you as well as it should.

What’s worse, the discomfort may actually be a result of the pain reliever. Popular pain relievers are known to cause stomach upset and even ulcers,2 not to mention damage to your kidneys.3

If that’s not enough to spoil your day, Tylenol reduces the one most important antioxidant in your entire body, glutathione.4

Glutathione in your body is like an oil filter in a car. It filters out the bad junk and keeps you running in tip-top shape. When you reduce the glutathione in your body by taking Tylenol, you can’t filter out the toxins that are commonly found in vaccines, and they take over.

Just like a car that runs on dirty oil and breaks down, your body will too.

Some safe alternatives that will a

ctually increase your immunity and help the vaccine work properly are fish oil, MSM (methylsulphonylmethane), and an assortment of herbs and spices you probably have in your kitchen cupboard, such as turmeric, rosemary, oregano, and ginger.

  • Many studies show that fish oil has equal pain-relieving effects as NSAIDs without any of the problems.5 Take it daily in capsule form or alternate with a nice piece of salmon for dinner. If you’re taking a capsule and it makes you burp up a fishy taste, try freezing it first and you won’t have that problem.
  • MSM is one of my favorite pain relievers and has a wide variety of benefits besides, such as healing your joints and making your cells work more efficiently.6 You can increase your MSM by eating more cruciferous (crunchy) vegetables, or you’ll find it in my Primal Flex formula along with other safe, effective, and natural pain-relieving ingredients.
  • Turmeric and its active ingredient, curcumin, pack a double punch as it not only fights inflammation but also calms down the gastrointestinal tract. Try it as a marinade, add it to chili, stews, and sautés, or you can buy capsules of curcumin to take daily.
  • Rosemary and oregano are popular herbs this time of year, and I suggest you use them often as a spice, as both are great for pain and relief from inflammation. Or brew some rosemary up as a tea—it will also make the house smell good.
  • Ginger contains numerous properties to reduce pain, and the great thing is it works really fast. You can find it in capsules or in my Primal Flex formula. Or you can find it as a powder for use in the kitchen, or it can even be used as a poultice. Don’t forget… it too makes a delicious tea, and its effects are almost immediate.

Finally, if nothing seems to work, don’t forget the power of human touch to avoid crankiness after a vaccination. Massage works wonders on the body and spirit and can help ease your pain.7

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

  1. Bancos, S., Bernard, M. et. al “Ibuprofen and other widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit antibody production in human cells” Cellular Immunology 2009; 258(1):18-28.
  2. Cryer, B., Feldman, M. “Cyclooxygenase-1 and Cyclooxygenase-2 Selectivity of Widely Used Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.” American Journal of Medicine1998; 104 (5): 413-421.
  3. Bjorkman, D. “The effect of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandins.” American Journal of Medicine 1998; 105 S2 (1): 8S-12S.
  4. “Understanding Acetaminophen Poisoning.” Science Daily 10/14/02-12/15/09
    http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2002/10/021014072451.htm
  5. Maroon JC, Bost JW. “Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) as an anti-inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain.” Surg Neurol. 2006 Apr;65(4):326-31.
  6. Kim LS, Axelrod LJ, Howard P, Buratovich N, Walters RF. “Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial.” Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2006;14:286-294.
  7. Jain S, Mills PJ. “Biofield Therapies: Helpful or Full of Hype? A Best Evidence Synthesis.” Int J Behav Med. 2009 Oct 24