Whole Family Wellness

04/03/2018

The use of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications in infancy could be tied to an increased risk of developing allergies later in childhood, a study finds.

03/06/2018

02/14/2018

We know that the flu vaccine this year is one of the least effective ones ever made. But are you still feeling pressure from the media, your doctors, even your family members to get the flu vaccine anyway?

Did you know that the flu vaccine can actually make you MORE CONTAGIOUS if you do get the flu??? This brand new study (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1716561115) found that people who caught the flu, but had received the flu vaccine actually had higher viral shedding than those people who had not received the flu vaccine. In fact, those who received the current and previous seasons' flu vaccines had OVER 6 TIMES MORE VIRAL SHEDDING. The association with vaccination and viral shedding was significant for influenza A but not for influenza B infections (as a reminder - the influenza A virus is the "scary" virus you all are reading about, and is linked with worldwide flu pandemics). 😳

OK, wait - let me repeat this clearly and simply:
1. The flu vaccine this year doesn't really work to prevent the flu.
2. If you do get the flu vaccine, and end up actually getting the flu - you could actually be SPREADING MORE FLU VIRUS than if you hadn't had the vaccine. Which means you are more contagious to your kids and family, friends, and co-workers.

The authors of the study conclude that:

"The association of current and prior year vaccination with increased shedding of influenza A might lead one to speculate that certain types of prior immunity promote lung inflammation, airway closure, and aerosol generation. This first observation of the phenomenon needs confirmation. If confirmed, this observation, together with recent literature suggesting reduced protection with annual vaccination, would have implications for influenza vaccination recommendations and policies."

By the way - the authors are respected researchers from prestigious universities, including one researcher from the Division of Viral Products of the Food and Drug Administration (the FDA!).

I believe that it is every parents right to choose whether or not to vaccinate their child. I make no judgment. My job as a board-certified pediatrician is to support parents in making the most informed, rational and evidence-based decision they can for their children.

Knowledge is power…

xo Holistic mama doc - Elisa Song, MD💕

P.S. If you want to know your options to keep your whole family healthy and prevent and treat flu naturally, make sure to check out the FB Live video I did, which you can now listen to on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrElisaSongMD/videos/590439971301799/ or YouTube: https://youtu.be/R0cVbRnVouM

02/12/2018

Did you know that reducing fever with medicines like Tylenol or Motrin/Advil could be fueling our flu epidemic? 🤒

This study from 2014 is an important reminder to trust in our body’s natural response to illness: FEVER!

To cut to the chase, this study used statistical models to confirm that using fever-reducing medicines (antipyretics) leads to larger flu epidemics and greater morbidity and mortality! This is based on the facts that:

1. When you reduce fever, people feel better and are more likely to interact with other people (i.e., go to work, send their kids to school, go out and do “normal” things because let’s face it - no one has time to be sick), EVEN THOUGH they’re still contagious. 😷
2. Suppressing fever actually INCREASES the amount of the influenza flu virus a person sheds (and therefore spreads to others), and PROLONGS the duration of that shedding (i.e., they stay contagious for longer!) 🤧
3. Therefore, fever reducers actually lead to a higher influenza transmission rate which will in general lead to larger epidemics with greater morbidity and mortality. 😳

The authors conclude that “the population-level effects of antipyretic treatment during influenza pandemics could be especially dramatic. It has been suggested that widespread use of aspirin in 1918 may have increased disease severity, and consequently death rates, during the pandemic, and... research in humans... suggests that antipyretic use may increase the risk of death from serious infections.”

Not only that, but “exceptionally high rates of antipyretic treatment in CHILDREN might contribute to the disproportionate role that children play in influenza transmission.”

Don’t give into fever phobia! Get my free resources today:

1. My free e-book: The Top 5 Mistakes Parents Make When Their Child Has a Fever - and what you can do instead! (www.healthykidshappykids.com/promotion/)

2. My FB Live video all about the flu, flu vaccine, Tamiflu, and safe and effective ways to naturally prevent and treat the flu! (https://www.facebook.com/DrElisaSongMD/videos/590439971301799/)

xo Holistic mama doc - Elisa Song, MD

P.S. This is the link for the actual study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3906934/

02/12/2018

Sepsis. That scary word that is causing children and adults to die from the flu.

But did you know that lives are being SAVED from sepsis with Vitamin C? The protocol in this study gave patients with sepsis in the ICU 1.5 grams of Vitamin C IV every 6 hours for 4 days, or until ICU discharge.

That's 6 grams daily. (Not that much!)

This study (http://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(16)62564-3/pdf) confirms that oxidative stress is a major cause of death in sepsis, and flu-related deaths from sepsis. It’s oxidative stress that causes the “cytokine storm” that leads to death. And what reduces oxidative stress? ANTIOXIDANTS like Vitamin C!

My takeaway – especially during this flu season, do everything you can to reduce oxidative stress for your whole family! Here are some of the best ways to reduce oxidative stress:

1. Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables everyday. Each of those colors provides different antioxidant power.
2. Keep blood sugar stable by reducing refined sugar and processed foods.
3. Ramp up those antioxidants when sick (my favorites ones are Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Glutathione)
4. Exercise daily in moderation – too much exercise can increase oxidative stress.
5. Spend time in nature – it really does help!
6. Prioritize sleep! (Sleep reduces oxidative stress, especially in our brain!)
7. Practice mindfulness and stress reduction – emotional stress directly increases oxidative stress.

Here’s to a healthy happy rest of the flu season!

xo Holistic mama doc – Elisa Song, MD 💕

P.S. For more facts about the flu, flu vaccine, Tamiflu, and safe and effective ways to naturally prevent and treat the flu, be sure to check out my FB Live video: https://www.facebook.com/DrElisaSongMD/videos/590439971301799/

02/08/2018

A new study has found that fever treatments may cause thousands of more flu deaths each season.

01/17/2018

Wanna know the truth about the flu, the flu shot, and Tamiflu? Wish you had options to boost your child’s immune system and help your family beat the flu naturally?

Then join me, board-certified holistic pediatrician, Dr. Elisa Song, MD for my Facebook Live where I teach you everything you need to know about the flu and how to get through the flu season naturally!

Learn the facts. Get rid of the fear.

Tune in on Wednesday, January 17 at 4:30pm PST/7:30pm EST for my FACEBOOK LIVE. How to join me:

• Like and Follow my Elisa Song, MD - Healthy Kids Happy Kids page
• Turn on all page notifications
• Visit my page on Wed, Jan 17 at 4:30pm PST / 7:30pm EST
• Share the love - tag, share and spread the word to any parent you know who could benefit!

Hope to see you there!
xo Holistic mama doc – Elisa Song, MD

P.S. - if anyone missed the live talk, you can catch the recording here! :-) https://www.facebook.com/DrElisaSongMD/videos/590439971301799/

01/07/2018

January 22-28, 2018! Get trusted, actionable insights to optimize you and your genes!

01/03/2018

An exclusive invitation to our free premiere screening of The Broken Brain. Discover how you can prevent and overcome brain disease. Watch The Broken Brain absolutely FREE.