• how to tell if it's just a cold, or flu
• drugs that can help prevent the flu, or treat it
• natural preventative things you can do and take
• whether thyroid patients get a flu shot?
• warnings about the FluMist nasal vaccine for autoimmune patients

• Fever is rare in cold, but characteristic in flu, usually high (102-104 F); lasts 3-4 days
• Headache is rare in a cold, prominent in flu
• General aches, pains are not common in colds, but are usual and often severe in flu
• Fatigue, weakness is mild in a cold, severe in flu, can last up to 2-3 weeks
• Extreme exhaustion, rarely in cold, early and prominent in flu
• Stuffy nose, common in cold, but only sometimes in flu
• Sneezing is common in cold, sometimes in flu
• Sore throat is common in cold, sometimes in flu
• Chest discomfort, cough, are mild to moderate in colds, but hacking cough common in flu and can become severe

• don’t share – keep items including towels, washcloths, silverware, cups, glasses, straws, and razors to yourself
• remain healthy – if you are healthy, you are less at risk of becoming ill – keep up your good health with a good diet, plenty of rest and regular exercise
• avoid crowds – Avoid expose to crowds of people – if you do get the flu, stay at home to avoid putting others at risk.

Jacob Teitelbaum’s Daily Energy Enfusion, which, with a pleasant tasting drink made from a powder, and one capsule, replaces dozens of vitamin, mineral and supplement pills, with a high-quality vitamin that is specially formulated for people with immune system dysfunctions and metabolic problems like thyroid disease and chronic fatigue syndrome. Get it at health food or vitamin stores, or online at Iherb.

Another excellent multivitamin is Source Naturals’ “Wellness Formula Herbal Defense Complex.” It combines herbs, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals in a formula designed to boost the immune system and mount a response to infection. Get it at health food or vitamin stores, or online at Iherb.

Another thing you may want to get the whole family doing is preventative Vitamin C. My daughter and I are both taking at least 1 or more daily of the Emergen-C Vitamin C drinks. She loves them, they're delicious, not sugary, low-cal, and packed with 1000 mg of C, plus other vitamins. We've tried all the flavors, the raspberry is best!! It's like a fizzy soda, but healthy. I now prefer them to having a Coke!) you get 30 little single-serve packets, each makes a 12-ounce drink, for like $10 or so. We get them at Trader Joes, or from Iherb. Our favorite flavors are Raspberry and Cranberry: Raspberry Emergen-C, Box of 36 packages, from Iherb Cranberry Emergen-C, Box of 36 packages, from Iherb If you're suspecting cold or flu onset, some experts believe that as much as 1 to 6 grams of Vitamin C per day may help. The suggested dosage would be 1000 mg every 2 hours, unless diarrhea or gas occurs.

Also, I suggest you stock up on Sambucol, the elderberry extract. There's research that found that patients with early signs of the flu who took 4 tablespoons of black elderberry extract per day found that within 24 hours, fever, cough, and muscle pain were significantly reduced in 20% of the patients. After the second day, 70% reported feeling better, and after 3 days, 90% claimed a complete cure from all flu symptoms. Kids can take this too, it's perfectly safe. You can get it at various health food stores, or online at Iherb.

Another highly recommended natural flu remedy is the homeopathy remedy Oscillococcinum (pronounced “oh-sill-oh-cox-sin-um”). This homeopathic flu remedy enjoys worldwide popularity due to its safety in adults and children above two, and lack of side effects and interactions. Oscillo is thought to stimulate your body’s own defenses. It works best at the onset of symptoms, when your body has more resources to react. In recent clinical studies, 63% of patients treated with Oscillococcinum showed clear improvement in 48 hours. You can get it at various health food stores, or online at Iherb.

• Zinc Lozenges -- Over-the-counter zinc lozenges can help reduce the effects of a flu or cold. (Online from Iherb)
• Vitamin A -- Some experts recommend 25,000 IU four times daily for at least three but not more than five days, provided you weigh at least 120 pounds and do not have a liver problem, during the acute phase of flu or colds. (Online from Iherb)
• Garlic - garlic has natural antibiotic effects, and some experts suggest ten capsules a day of a high allicin content garlic in the first six hours of cold symptoms. (Online from Iherb)
• Echinacea and Olive Leaf -- Can help combat flus and viruses (Online from Iherb)
• Camu-camu - The Amazonian rainforest fruit, can help combat viruses. I recommend Whole World Botanicals camu, which you can buy online, at their site, or by calling them toll-free at phone 888-757-6026

In particular, thyroid sufferers have an immune problem that is likely to be made worse by injectible vaccinations. A person with high or low thyroid has an immune system that is TH2 predominant (T-Helper Cell Type 2). All vaccinations given by injection further stimulate this particular out-of-balance situation and thus have the potential of making the autoimmune response and the resultant thyroid situation worse.