Interviews by Jenny Rough

It’s heee-eere: November. If you’re anxiously anticipating cold dark days, nasty bugs, dry skin and the packing on of the dreaded holiday pounds, take heart (and a spoonful of cod liver oil). We brought together seven holistic practitioners to pick their brains on everything from fighting the flu to battling the winter blues. So this season, when the guy in the adjacent cubical sneezes, instead of cringing, rest assured… and hand him this article.

To Flu Or Not To Flu?

Every year the flu shot beckons like a siren with the sweet, sweet promise of a sickness-free season. Should I look the other way or succumb to a shot in the arm?

Amanda Brimhall, Naturopathic Physician, Seattle

I recommend the flu shot for the elderly and patients with special immune compromised situations, like HIV or cancer patients, because they’re more susceptible to the virus and their body can’t fight it off as well. But a healthy adult has no reason to get one. By the time people catch the flu, the strain will have probably mutated, so they’re no longer protected by the flu shot. The idea is to keep your body strong so you can fight off the flu in the first place.

Djehuty Ma’at-Ra, Herbalist, LA

I adamantly oppose all shots and think people should avoid them. People get the flu because they think about flu season too much. I thought there were four seasons, now there are five. Vaccines are not natural. They have [foreign substances] that aren’t in the human body. In ancient times people weren’t injecting themselves. When gorillas start asking for flu shots, then you can get one. Until then, pay attention to your body and build your immune system.

Jenefer Huntoon, Naturopathic Physician, Seattle

I encourage patients to do their own research — go online and look at it from both angles — then make your own decision. It’s scary when you start reading because you’ll find news reports about people who died from the flu. But if you look closely, you’ll see they are usually people who have weakened immune systems. I personally don’t get flu shots because I believe exposure to the flu on a regular basis builds my immune system. The flu is not something we should be afraid of if we’re working on our overall health year-round.