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The very public scare of SARS in these recent months has prompted me to write this article. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is a deadly flu-like virus that causes a life-threatening pneumonia. I am writing this article as our first confirmed case of SARS has been diagnosed in Silicon Valley. I would like to remind my friends and patients about taking the time to ensure that your immune system is at its optimal level of functioning. During situations such as this I need to recommend all of you that prevention, through enhancing your natural immunity, is extremely important at this time. Here is what we know about SARS so far (According to Yahoo News April 9, 2003):
 

"Close to one-quarter of Hong Kong’s SARS cases are medical workers who became ill while treating infected patients. Many of the workers who recover from the disease go back into the SARS wards to continue treating patients, leading some to compare their selfless acts of bravery to New York City’s heroes of the World Trade Center disaster.

Medical authorities in Hong Kong are preparing for 3,000 SARS patients in the event the outbreak gains momentum. Thousands of people have taken to wearing surgical masks in the hopes of preventing the disease. Meanwhile, an e-mail card, which has been signed by more than 64,000 people, is being circulated to boost the morale of the medical workers.

Worldwide, 104 people have died from SARS and more than 2,600 have been infected. No hospital workers are known to have died from the disease.

Analysts say that many people in Hong Kong have little faith in their government’s leadership and are instead pulling behind the doctors and nurses who have risked their lives to treat those with the disease."

Dr. Wang’s Thoughts:

In current medical technology there is nothing that can fight this virus at this time. There is no vaccine as this is a newly identified virus. Antibiotics will not work because it is a viral induced pneumonia. Surgical masks will not adequately protect you from getting this virus. Our best prevention is to enhance our own body's immune system.

According to the World Health Organization, “anecdotal data indicate an incubation period of 2 to 10 days (average 2 to 7 days), allowing the infectious agent to be transported, unsuspected and undetected, in a symptomless air traveller from one city in the world to any other city having an international airport. Person-to-person transmission through close contact with respiratory secretions has been demonstrated. The initial symptoms are non-specific and common. The concentration of cases in previously healthy hospital staff and the proportion of patients requiring intensive care are particularly alarming.”

Boosting your own immune system to reduce your risk of acquiring this and other communicable diseases is a the best idea at this time. Health care workers who are stressed and not sleeping well are often first to acquire SARS because of their close contact with individuals who are infected. Here are some good things for you to do to maximize your own immune system functioning:

Reduce sugar and sweet intake and eliminate all sugared sodas. Sugar and simple carbohydrate will reduce your immune system functioning significantly.

Get enough rest/sleep. Inadequate sleep will decrease your immune system’s functioning

Minimize exposure to stress and stressful events. There is no single category that will negatively impact your immune system more than long term stress. Minimizing stress does not mean not feeling your feelings, but rather to feel your feelings in the moment and releasing them.

Moderate exercise will increase your body’s ability to get rid of toxins through sweat and lymph movement and decrease stress.

Maximize your intake of quality proteins, complex carbohydrates and multi-colored vegetables and fruits (careful of fruits such as banana with too much sugar)

Vitamin C 1-3 grams per day (unless contraindicated).

Take a good quality B-complex to increase your body’s ability to adapt to stressors and to support your immune system and adrenals.

Castor Oil packs to your abdomen (one per day for 4 days will increase your white blood cell count) for 40 minutes to one hour.

Detoxification-do a toxic elements hair analysis to see if you have high exposure to heavy metals. If so, work with your naturopathic doctor to help chelate the heavy metals out of your system.

Liver supportive foods: beets, carrots, onions, dandelion greens, arugula, kale, swiss chard, collard greens, beet greens, watercress. Or take a liver supportive formula to enhance your elimination of fat soluble toxins out of your system.

Water-filtered (reverse osmosis is best) or bottled (Alhambra, Aquafina are best)-1/2 ounce per one pound of body weight.

6 system detoxification-gentle, do-it-yourself at home methods to enhance your avenues of elimination.

Digestive system: ensure that your digestive system is working optimally. This is your first line of defense from foreign organisms. If your digestive system is off, make an appointment with your naturopathic doctor so that we can rebalance and ensure that you are healthy.

Constitutional Homeopathy: If you have yet to have a homeopathic remedy found for your constitution, call to make a homeopathic appointment so that one can be identified for you. Constitutional homeopathy goes a LONG way in boosting your vital force and helps to reduce your risk of illnesses, from contagions or otherwise.

Try the immune support breakfast in the morning

Eliminate foods that you may be sensitive to. Common foods are wheat, cow dairy, eggs, corn, soy, sugar etc. If you don’t know what you may be sensitive to and are curious, have your naturopathic doctor run a food sensitivity test for you.