Web MD Urges CML Patients to Get Flu Shots/Echinacea

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CDC: Flu Vaccine Arriving, Get Yours ASAP

'Flu Ends with U' Campaign Starts in September

By J. DeNoon

WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Aug. 12, 2010 -- " It may still be late summer, but this year's flu vaccine

already is arriving -- and the CDC wants you to get yours right away. That " you "

means " everybody. " For the first time, the seasonal flu vaccine is recommended

for all men, women -- including pregnant women -- and children over age 6

months. Exceptions include only those allergic to eggs or those with other

health issues that make vaccination unwise. And there will be plenty of vaccine

out there. Manufacturers tell the CDC they'll have 170 million doses on hand.

They've already begun shipping the vaccine across the nation. "

http://tinyurl.com/23m559c

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STORY OF ECHINACEA*

Echinacea is an herb. Several species of the echinacea plant are used to make

medicine from its leaves, flower, and root. Echinacea is widely used to fight

infections, especially the common cold and other upper respiratory infections.

Some people take echinacea at the first sign of a cold, hoping they will be able

to keep the cold from developing. Other people take echinacea after cold

symptoms have started, hoping they can make symptoms less severe. The people who

use echinacea to treat symptoms have the right idea. Research to date shows that

echinacea can help treat a cold, but it won’t prevent one. Other uses not

related to infection include chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), rheumatism,

migraines, acid indigestion, pain, dizziness, rattlesnake bites, and attention

deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sometimes people apply echinacea to

their skin to treat boils, abscesses, skin wounds, ulcers, burns, eczema,

psoriasis, UV radiation skin damage, herpes simplex, bee stings, and

hemorrhoids.

How does it work? (Please read *disclaimer)

" Echinacea seems to activate chemicals in the body that decrease inflammation,

which might reduce cold and flu symptoms. Laboratory research suggests that

echinacea can stimulate the body’s immune system, but there is no evidence that

this occurs in people. Echinacea also seems to contain some chemicals that can

attack yeast and other kinds of fungi directly.

* " There are concerns about the quality of some echinacea products on the market.

Echinacea products are frequently mislabeled, and some may not even contain

echinacea, despite label claims. Don’t be fooled by the term “standardized.” It

doesn’t necessarily indicate accurate labeling. Also, some echinacea products

have been contaminated with selenium, arsenic, and lead. "

http://tinyurl.com/2ax6kde

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FYI,

Lottie Duthu