To Get the Flu Shot or Not?

The flu shot: It’s a highly debated topic these days. So should you get it or not?

(Note to Chinese readers: please read this WeChat article instead.)

The flu shot is an inactivated version of the influenza virus that protects against certain projected strains of the virus every year. The vaccine pushes the body to develop antibodies to the given virus about two weeks after receiving the shot. Influenza is a dangerous virus that can be life-threatening, especially for very young children, the elderly, and immune-compromised patients, so many Western doctors recommend that their patients receive the flu vaccine every flu season.

In theory, it sounds like the right thing to do to protect yourself. After all, no one wants to be sick for two weeks with an awful case of the flu. However, some controversy comes into play when looking at the makeup of individual flu vaccines each year. As mentioned earlier, the vaccine protects against projected influenza strains. Human error comes into play here, so some vaccines are more effective than others, based on the individual patient’s medical history as well as the efficacy of the vaccine itself.

The other way to look at this is from the Eastern perspective. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that a body in balance is a healthy body. And on the flip side, when your body is out of balance, it can’t fully function. Your body has innate wisdom. It knows how to reach its highest potential–and how to heal itself.  The flu vaccine unnaturally jumpstarts the immune system. But if your immune system is unbalanced, the body cannot support or fight this virus, and other issues may arise. Your immune system–if balanced–should be able to ward off influenza without the help of a vaccine.

When it comes down to it, getting the flu vaccine really is a personal decision. But if you are among the many teachers and medical professionals required to get the flu shot each year, how do you prepare your body to receive it?

If you plan to get the flu vaccine, you must meet certain requirements. Ask yourself these questions, and be honest with your answers: Do you sleep well? Do you eat well? Is your body balanced? If your answers are no, the shot may cause more problems than good. So treat your body well. Feed it good food, give it restful sleep, relax and de-stress, and finally, try to let go of those negative thoughts swirling around in your mind.

If you do not plan to get the flu vaccine, prep your body for the flu season by following the same requirements listed above. If we can reach a state of balance, we can reach harmony.

Source: 

https://www.tcmworld.org/to-get-the-flu-shot-or-not/
https://thevaccinereaction.org/2015/06/should-we-fear-getting-sick-a-traditional-chinese-medicine-perspective/