10.10.2009

Update on the Swine Flu VACCINE

This is from Dr. Clark Hansen, NMD in Arizona, and I thought it was VERY WORTHY of sharing.

Swine Flu Vaccine Fears: What Questions Must be Answered?

Lesson we apparently didn’t learn from the Swine Flu Fiasco of 1976

This “60-Minutes”video from 1979 is a video you must watch. The 2009 H1N1Swine Flu Vaccine is being rushed through production so fast that it will not be tested by sufficient numbers or given sufficient time to determine whether or not the vaccine is even safe or effective. This new vaccine could kill more people than the Swine Flu itself, just like the Swine Flu fiasco of 1976, in which the Swine Flu only killed 1 person, but the vaccine killed or injured thousands of Americans and led to billions of dollars in claims of damages for Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome, a paralyzing neuromuscular disorders that left thousands injured or paralyzed for life.

What Questions Need to be Answered Before Anyone gets Vaccinated?

How severe is the 2009 H1N1 Swine Flu compared to the typical seasonal flu? It may be very contagious but may not be very harmful. How virulent is this Swine Flu?

What’s in the Vaccine? Is the Vaccine safe?

Does the vaccine contain mercury (Thimerosal)? How much mercury does it contain? What other toxic chemicals are in the vaccine? Does it contain formaldehyde, formalin, antibiotics, egg proteins, green monkey kidney cells, insect cell culture remnants, adjuvants like squalene that have been linked to the Gulf War Syndrome from the Anthrax vaccine?

How long does it take for neruological damage or Guillain-Barré syndrome to show up after the vaccine?

Does the Vaccine work? The clinical trials were specifically limited to a very small (100+) number of patients per group for a very short time. Were these studies sufficient to prove safety and effectiveness?

Which will cause a higher percentage of serious harm: the vaccine or the Swine flu?

We Deserve to Know these Answers

What was disturbing in 1976 and today is the speed by which the H1N1 vaccine was developed and rushed to market. The lack of a detailed public explanation is not inspiring confidence. As a result a Consumer Reports poll shows that only 35% will surely get the H1N1 flu shot.

The Food and Drug Administration has formally approved all of the 250 million doses of the Swine flu vaccine purchased by the U.S. Government before studies required to prove their safety or effectiveness have been completed under the cover of The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act).

What are the Results of the Clinical Trials of the Vaccines?

So far, top U.S. health officials have given only vague details about the results of the clinical trials underway to test the safety and effectiveness of the Swine flu vaccine. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is giving only guarded answers.

Vague explanations like the following should make us all ask a lot more questions.

“A single dose of vaccine could be enough to immunize adults against swine flu, Fauci said.”

Preliminary data from our trials indicate that a single 15-microgram dose of … vaccine is well tolerated and induces an immune response in most healthy adults, said Fauci.”

Among children 10 to 17 years old, 76 percent had a “robust” immune response to the vaccine. For children 3 to 9 years old, 36 percent had a robust response. Among children 6 months to 36 months, the immune response rate was 25 percent, Fauci said.

Results of NIH-sponsored clinical trials which began last month showed that a swine flu vaccine produced by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur produced “a robust immune response” in 96 percent of adults aged 18 to 64 after “the rather short time point of eight to 10 days after vaccination,” Fauci said.

This is all only “preliminary data.” How many individuals were involved in the “preliminary” clinical trials? Only about 100 per study. When will we get the proven final data? The formal clinical trials will not be completed until sometime next year between March and October of 2010.

What is a “robust immune response?” This is intentionally vague and not quantifiable. No one really knows or at least know one is willing to tell the American public. The preliminary clinical trials have not been published and the top U.S. officials are not being frank or forthcoming.

What s “well tolerated mean?”

We Need More Answers!

Fortunately for now the Swine Flu vaccine is not mandatory. However, a declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization gives them the authority to make the vaccines manditory and to declare marshal law to enforce them at any time.

Why are the Vaccine Manufacturers Immune from Liability Lawsuits?

Vaccine makers and all federal officials have been granted total legal immunity from any and all lawsuits that may result from the new swine flu vaccine, under a document signed by U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Kathleen Sebelius, in June 2009.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, has granted vaccine makers total legal immunity from any and all lawsuits that may result from any new swine flu vaccine, because if the governement did not grant them this immunity they would not have made the vaccines.

It turns out that DHHS Secretary Sibelius has not only given immunity to the manufactures of swine flu vaccines, but also the makers of Tamiflu and Relenza for injuries stemming from their use against swine flu. She also granted immunity to future swine flu vaccines and “any associated adjuvants.” The order was published in the June 25, 2009 Federal Register.

Since the 1980s, the government has protected vaccine makers against lawsuits over the use of childhood vaccines. A federal court handles all vaccine injury claims and decides who will be paid from a special fund. Thousands of parents whose otherwise perfectly healthy children developed autism after getting a vaccine are still waiting for compensation. Most have been frankly denied.

The document signed by Secretary Sebelius grants immunity to federal officials and drug manufacturers under the provisions of The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREPA), a 2006 law for public health emergencies.

Vaccine Rush Sacrifices Safety for Profits of Vaccine Manufactures

“Here is the problem,” according to Dr. Meryl Nass, M.D., vaccine expert and board member of the Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP):

“Once the PREP Act is invoked to shield manufacturers from liability, the pharmaceutical firms have no financial incentive to make the safest product, and have a negative incentive to test it for safety. As long as they do not deliberately harm consumers of the product, they will not be liable for damages.

Are you following this argument closely? In order to avoid having prior knowledge of possible harm to users of the product, for which they could be found liable, it is in the manufacturers’ best interest to know as little as possible about adverse reactions caused by their product.

Thus manufacturers can be expected to perform minimal testing, as they have been incentivized by PREPA to avoid learning of potential harms related to their product. Thus the speed at which the product will be distributed serves two purposes: it provides the needed excuse to avoid adequate testing, as well as providing rapid vaccine availability.”

Will There Be Enough Vaccine Soon Enough for Everyone?

The vaccine manufacturers are having difficulty producing sufficient quantities of the Swine flu vaccine.

The U.S. government has purchased 250 million doses of the Swine Flu vaccine for $10 Billion dollars. Approximately only 45 million doses will be available by the middle of October. The five pharmaceutical companies making the vaccine for the US hope that they will be able to collectively provide an additional 20 million doses per week from mid October through December. This would deliver approximately 240 million doses.

Since two shots will be required for all of the approximately 20 million children ages 6 months to 9 years, that leaves only 200 million doses for the remaining 285 million Americans. Any possible immunity from the vaccine is not expected to occur for 30 days after the vaccine This would make it the middle of November before the first Americans vaccinated can expect any possible immune protection from the vaccine. If the virus comes a little early, any vaccine may be too late.

9.22.2009

We're at ANOTHER EXPO THIS WEEKEND!!


Better To Be Ready will be at the "What a Woman Wants Show" at the Southtowne Expo Center in Sandy, Utah Friday and Saturday, September 25-26, 2009!! You now have ANOTHER opportunity to come check us out with and have a great time! Remember, we have food samples, other product examples, and GREAT GIVEAWAYS at these! So try to come! Here are the details:

Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
9575 South State Street
Sandy, Utah
Click HERE for the official website- for more details, including a map :)

Also, we have 48 FREE TICKETS to the event! We're giving them away on a first come first serve basis. So- if money is your only reason for not showing up... LEAVE ME A COMMENT that you would like one of the tickets and I'll put your name down at will call so you can pick it up!

So come chat with us about food storage, seed banks, 72 hr. kits, HOME PARTIES or ask how you can get your own store! Taste some freeze dried food (so good) and just come have a good time away! We can't wait to see you there!

9.09.2009

Better To Be Ready at the Utah Valley Women's Expo!!


Who: BETTER TO BE READY at the Utah Valley Women's Expo
What: Food sampling, daily give-aways, hands on viewing and testing of products found in our online store!
Where: UVU (Utah Valley University) McKay Events Center, Orem, Utah
When: Friday and Saturday (September 11th and 12th) from 11am-8pm
Cost: $5 per ticket

Come and HAVE A GREAT TIME! If you're in Utah and have never gone to one of these they're great! There's always SUCH FUN STUFF to check out (yes, besides us). AND if you're not really an "online" shopper or are a little hesitant about hosting a party for yourself (even though you get GREAT rewards) then come to test the freeze dried food we sell, as well as some of the other products! This is a GREAT low key opportunity to get to know more about Better To Be Ready and what we offer! SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!!

PS- this is NOT JUST FOR WOMEN! So if you're a man, don't be thrown off! There will be, maybe few, but yes, some other men there- especially with our business :) So COME CHECK US OUT!

9.04.2009

UN chief visits 'doomsday' seed vault in Arctic

I thought this was interesting so I wanted to share... found this article at Breitbart.com posted on September 2, 2009.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited Wednesday a vault carved into the Arctic permafrost, filled with samples of the world's most important seeds in case food crops are wiped out by a catastrophe.

"The world faces many daunting challenges today, one of the greatest of which is how to feed a growing population in the context of climate change," a bundled-up Ban told reporters after he toured the site in the Svalbard archipelago some 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) from the North Pole.

"The seeds stored here in Svalbard will help us do just that. Sustainable food production may not begin in this cold Arctic environment, but it does begin by conserving crop diversity," he said.

Aimed at safeguarding biodiversity in the face of climate change, wars and other natural and man-made disasters, the seed bank has the capacity to hold up to 4.5 million batches of seeds, or twice the number of crop varieties believed to exist in the world today.

The vault was inaugurated in February 2008, and so far some 25 international and national institutes from 22 countries have deposited some 400,000 batches, according to the Norwegian government.

Overlooking a fjord, the vault forms a long trident-shaped tunnel bored deep into the Svalbard sandstone and limestone.

Metal shelves lining three cold chambers will eventually be stacked with airtight bags filled with seed samples.

After passing through an airlock designed to keep temperatures inside the main vault at minus 18 degrees Celsius (minus 0.4 Fahrenheit), Ban looked on with interest as he was shown plastic boxes filled with samples.

"This site, collated by all the countries, is really creative. I'm inspired by this vision to sustain the world in the future," he said.

He seemed also taken with the chilly temperature in the vault.

"It's very cold, even colder than the Arctic. My lips are frozen."


Pretty interesting, huh? I never knew that the countries in this world had something like that, makes me impressed. Did you know you can buy your OWN survival seed bank? Just click HERE and read all the details about it! It's a GREAT thing to include amongst all your emergency preparedness items!

9.01.2009

Homemaking

NOT JUST TO SAVE MONEY
BUT FOR EMERGENCIES TOO!!


What would you do if you couldn't go to the store for awhile do to lack of supply in the stores or because it just wasn't safe for one reason or another? Do you have enough of EVERYTHING?! Yes, I'm not just talking about water and food, but do you have enough soap and kleenex and baby wipes and toilet paper and laundry detergent?

Well, if not, you may want to think about stocking up on a few simple items along with a bunch of spray bottles, etc. and making your own cleaning supplies at home. (As well as stocking up on toilet paper- cause who really wants to run out of that in an emergency?) I believe the biggest reason for doing this when times are GOOD is so that you can have practice and a stock pile for when times are BAD.

Here are two FABULOUS recipes from makingcentsofsavings.blogspot.com that can help you make a stock pile of laundry detergent and handsoap for when times are bad. If you do your handsoap this way- you'll automatically have a stock pile SO FAST! I LOVE doing it this way because, well, we use A LOT of soap around here- so now I KNOW I have a long back up supply with my refill bottles from Costco!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:

1 bar Fels Naptha soap

1 cup washing soda (arm & Hammer)

1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax

*Grate the bar of Fels Naptha with a cheese grater. Place the grated Fels Naptha in a saucepan and cover with 6-8 cups of water. Heat on low until dissolved.

*Add 1 cup of washing soda and 1 cup of Borax and mix well. Pour mixture into 5-gallon bucket. Fill the bucket with warm water, and stop when you get within 3 inches from the top. Stir well.

*As it cool, it will thicken. Use 1/2 - 1 cup per wash load. Safe for H.E. Washers too.

Yields approx. 75 cups



Once your laundry detergent cools, stir it one more time with a wisk. You might have to put your hand in there to reach the bottom. It will look kind of like egg drop soup, but the more you stir it the more pasty it will look. You can either use the detergent right out of the 5-gallon bucket, but if your like me....you prefer less mess. I had saved a couple of my empty laundry detergent bottles (and then asked friends and family for some of theirs) and then poured my detergent into the empty bottles. Make sure to rinse them out first before you start pouring in your homemade stuff.



My total on my 3 items where:

1 box Borax-$3.49 (can make up to nine 5-gallon buckets worth)

1 box Wash soda-$2.73 (can make up to six or seven 5-gallon buckets worth)

1 Fels Naptha Bar-$1.06

I figured out that one 5-gallon bucket of homemade laundry detergent approx. costed me $2.00 to make and that each wash load will only cost me $0.03-$0.04. Now that's definitely saving money!

Posted by Stephanie at 7:53 PM

Homemade Laundry Detergent Tips


First off, I want to let everyone know that all of my frugal posts will be true, tried, and tested. That way you know that everything that I post on here will be proof that it really does work and it's not just something that I heard about.

My mother in law is the one who gave me the recipe for the homemade laundry detergent. She has made it several times and uses it all the time. She no longer buys store bought laundry detergent, which is so great. Here's some questions that people have asked me about the laundry detergent.

1. Can you scent your own laundry detergent?

Yes! I spoke with my mother in law and she said that you can use essential oils. She tried a lemon scented oil and it smelled fantastic. But......there is a but! You need to use an entire bottle of essential oil to scent one bucket of laundry detergent. That can get a little pricey, but if you want to do it, YOU CAN! So, rock on! I made my first batch of detergent yesterday and I'll let you in on a secret. This detergent smells fantastic just by itself. While I was making it on the stove, my whole house smelled wonderful. The smell is so clean, fresh, and crisp. I don't think it needs any extra scenting, but that's my opinion.

2. How many empty detergent jugs will it make?

It depends on the size of your detergent jugs. If you use regular sized jugs, you'll get about 2 to 4 filled full.

3. How do I make my detergent look really creamy?

Stir, stir, stir! With a wisk of course. The more it cools and the more you stir, the creamier it will become. But, if you don't really care what it looks like, that's cool too. It works no matter what you do to it. Here's another little secret that I figured out. If you don't like stirring (which I don't because I get a little impatient) just pour your detergent into your old empty detergent jugs and shake them. The more you shake....WaaLaa! Creamy detergent!

Posted by Stephanie at 2:11 PM

Labels: Cleaners, Food Storage, Laundry, Tips

May 12, 2009


Homemade Foaming Hand Soap

As you know I love to save $$, and my favorite frugal tips are the simple ones! Following is how I keep the costs down on hand soap...

My favorite soap for the bathrooms and kitchen are the Bath & Body Works antibacterial foaming soaps. The big fluffy suds that come out are so fun the kids even enjoy washing their hands!

So one day I got creative, and attempted to make my own refill for my existing bottle.

Guess what... it worked! I've been doing this for about 5 years now, and have saved loads of money with this simple trick.

What You'll Need: Liquid Antibacterial Soap (Softsoap, Dial, etc.) & 1 empty bottle of Bath & Body Works Antibacterial Gentle Foaming Hand Soap (the other styles of bottles will not work).



Step #1: Fill up the bottle with about 1 inch of antibacterial liquid soap. {I buy the large bottles from Costco}



Step #2: Slowly fill the rest of the bottle with tap water, put lid back on, and gently tip upside down and back and forth to mix the soap and water together. Don't shake ~ it will get too sudsy.



And there you have it! I love that it is a diluted version of antibacterial soap, and is much gentler on my family's sensitive skin. I also love that one big bottle of antibacterial soap literally lasts us years... and years... and years!

How's that for frugal?!?


That's all from makingcentsofsavings- I hope this helps you stockpile some important household items for yourself. I've also found some recipes for other homemade cleaners on other sites, I haven't tried them yet, but if you would like those too, just leave a comment and let me know! I can post on it or email them to you to try out if you leave your email address :)

5.03.2009

Get yourself a RAIN BARREL

Rain barrels are AWESOME! You can buy them from TONS of companies and stores (below is a rain barrel pictured from Gardeners Supply Company that holds 75 gallons!) or make one on your own. They are basically water barrels that you put under the gutter of your house so that when it rains your barrel collects all that free water for you to use! They are SO fabulous!!! For drought times, for emergencies, for anytime really- get a rain barrel! You could use the water from your barrel for watering your garden, plants, or grass in a drought, OR washing your dishes, or flushing your toilets in an emergency. Or even for drinking water if you filter it! Some rain barrels come with spouts and hoses too! I highly suggest getting one, and if you can't afford it (most are over $100) then make one yourself :) It's one thing that would be TOTALLY worth the effort.


Your rain barrel doesn't have to look frumpy in your yard either, there are SO MANY styles! Google "rain barrel" and see what you can find! Below is another version from Gardeners Supply Company, just to show you how attractive some versions can be if you want to spend the money :)


Go HERE to watch a You Tube Video about rain barrels. If you want to make your own, but that quick little video wasn't enough information on how to do it, go HERE for more details on how to make your own :)

ENJOY COLLECTING THE RAIN :)

4.27.2009

GREAT Source of Information

For pandemic information go to:

www.getpandemicready.org

Swine Flu

I recommend you read the following as we prepare ourselves for a possible pandemic-
PREPARE YOUR FAMILY WITH THE FOLLOWING!
Dr. Hansen is an AMAZING doctor, please don't discount him because he does natural medicine, the things he has recommended for us and our family has kept us healthier than anything else we've ever done. We ALWAYS use Oscillococcinum now when my kids get a fever and they are better within a day or two, it really is amazing... We should all have these things in our "Food Storage" supply- just in case.

logo Hansen Clinic White
Vital Health Alert
Swine Flu Pandemic
April 26, 2009 - Vol 22, Issue 4.1
In This Issue
Swine flu Pandemic
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links

Swine Flu Concerns
Dr. Hansen with patient

Dr. Hansen's Vital Health News will keep you up to date with the latest health news, nutritional and herbal research, Drug Alerts, False Alarms, Diets, healthy foods, great tasting recipes, Anti-aging Breakthroughs, Skin Care Products, Speical Promotions and FREE Give-Aways. Don't miss a single issue! And please forward a copy to all your friends and family.


U.S. Declares Swine Flu a Public Health Emergency
Swine Flu PrecautionsApril 26, 2009 - The world's governments enare racing to avoid both a Swine Flu pandemic and global hysteria Sunday as additional swine flu cases surfaced from Canada to New Zealand and the United States declared it a public health emergency.

The first outbreaks were confirmed in Mexico on April 13th. This weekend, Mexico City, closed churches, markets and restaurants because more than 1324 people have been infected nationwide and there have been 22 confirmed deaths and 86 suspected deaths. Few people ventured onto the streets, and some wore face masks. U.S. Officials reported 20 U.S. cases of swine flu in five states so far, with the latest in Ohio and New York.

CDC Warning
Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, predicted "We're going to see more severe disease in this country." At a White House news conference, Besser and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano sought to assure Americans that health officials are taking all appropriate steps to minimize the impact of the outbreak.

The U.S. declared the situation a health emergency so that it could ship roughly 12 million doses of the flu-fighting drug Tamiflu from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually need them. Priority will be given to the five states with known cases so far: California, Texas, New York, Ohio and Kansas. For now however, the 20 confirmed cases of Americans who have been confirmed to have Swine Flu are recovering easily and don't appear to be in serious danger.

World Health Organization Precautions
The World Health Organization and U.S. were following a playbook of precautions developed over the past five years to prepare for the next super-flu. The WHO on Saturday asked all countries to step up detection of this strain of A/H1N1 swine flu and will reconsider on Tuesday whether to raise the pandemic threat level, in turn triggering additional actions.

A potential pandemic virus is defined, among other things, as a novel strain that's not easily treated. This new strain can be treated with Tamiflu (oseltamavir) and Relenza (zanamavir), but not two older flu drugs. However, in order to be effective these drugs must be taken within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms.

"Right now we have cases occurring in a couple of different countries and in multiple locations, but we also know that in the modern world that cases can simply move around from single locations and not really become established," cautioned WHO flu chief Dr. Keiji Fukuda.

There is no vaccine against swine flu, but the CDC has taken the initial step necessary for producing one - creating a seed stock of the virus - should authorities decide that's necessary. This year's flu vaccine offers no cross-protection to the new virus, CDC officials said Sunday.

Should You Get a Rx for Tamiflu?
Tamiflu and Relenza, both appear to work against type A flus and may work against this new strain of the Swine flu virus, although clinical studies will need to be done to prove that they work. There is no vaccine for this strain of human Swine flu.

Roche's Tamiflu is the most effective known drug against Influenza Type A infections and the most frequently prescribed in America. It inhibits the enzyme neuraminidase that stops the virus from spreading, but must be taken within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms. The US has stockpiled 12 million doses of Tamiflu, which is just enough for 4% of the U.S. population. However, experts estimate that in order to stop the spread of an epidemic flu, the coverage will need to reach 20% of the population.

Tamiflu is generally well tolerated but can cause side-effects inlcuding mild-to-moderate nausea or vomiting in 10% of the population. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, headache and fatigue. Other less common side effects may include bronchitis, sleeplessness and vertigo.

Are There Natural Treatments for Swine Flu?
Dr. Hansen recommends taking Oscillococcinum® for the treatment of all forms of the flu, including Swine Flu and Bird Flu. Additionally, he also recommends taking the herbal formula known as PhytoBiotic, which contains a natural neuraminidase inhibitor like Tamiflu.

What is Oscillococcinum®? Oscillococcinum box
Oscillococcinum® is the number one Over-The-Counter Flu medicine in France. Oscillococcinum is a 200c dilution of an autolysate of Barbary duck liver and heart. It was introduced in the 1930's by Dr Joseph Roy, who believed that it contained a microbe that caused influenza. Dr. Roy's theory has now been shown to have merit since birds have been shown to be a major reservoir of human influenza viruses.

The effectiveness of Oscillococcinum has now been confirmed by a several double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trials published in the Lancet, the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and others. Eighty percent of patients treated with Oscillococcinum reported a successful outcome (vs 38% of the placebo group). Full recovery from flu symptoms within 48 hours was 66% greater in the Oscillococcinum group than in the placebo group.

How is Oscillococcinum taken?
Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic medicine in tiny granules. It should be dissolved under the tongue. Dr. Hansen recommends that everyone take a preventive dose of Oscillococcinum as soon as possible in light of the possible Swine Flu pandemic. Dr. Hansen says, "Oscillococcinum is the most effective flu remedy ever discovered. It works quickly to stop flu symptoms within hours, if taken at the onset of the first symptoms of the flu, including the general malaise, body aches, chills and fever. Most patients only need to take one or two doses and the flu just seems to vanish."

For active infections, Dr. Hansen tells his patients to take the following dosage: for adults and children over the age of 12, dissolve the entire contents of one tube under the tongue every 6 hours, up to 3 times per day for two days. For children 12 and under, take ½ the adult dose.

Is there a Natural Alternative to Tamiflu?Phytobiotic bottle
Rather than prescribing the drug Tamiflu, Dr. Hansenprescribes an herbal formula known as Phytobiotic. This unique herbal formula that contains the herb Elderberry, which works like Tamiflu to inhibit the enzyme neuraminidase, but without the side effects. Phytobiotic also contains Andrographis, Echinacea, Atragalus and Goldenseal, which make the formula effective against a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria and fungal organisms, because you can't always tell what is causing your symptoms.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)has been proven in double blind clinical trials to be as effective as Tamiflu. In one trial 90% of the group taking Elderberry recovered completely from the fever, chills, body aches, and cough twice as fast (within 3 days rather than 6 or more days) as the group receiving the placebo.

Viruses can do no harm unless they can get inside human cells and reproduce themselves. Bioflavanoids found in the Elderberry are thought to coat the virus and inhibit the action of neuraminidase, which otherwise would break down the cell wall membrane, allowing the virus to get inside. For this reason, Elderberry, like Tamiflu, must be taken within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms.

Elderberry extract has been found to be effective against eight different strains of influenza including the Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ann Arbor, Texas, Panama, Yamajata, and Shangdong viruses. In addition to its direct antiviral effects, Elderberry also enhances immunity by increasing the production of lymphocytes and acts as a potent antioxidant.

Additional PhytoBiotic Ingredients
Andrographis paniculata is used in China as an official medicine for inflammation, colds, fevers, laryngitis and diarrhea. In a recent double blind placebo controlled study performed in Sweden, 85 mg taken three times daily for five days significantly reduced symptoms of the common cold and sinusitis, as well as time off work.

Echinacea angustifolia (Purple Coneflower). In spite of one recently reported, poorly designed study that used only one-third of the appropriate dose in the treatment protocol, Echinacea has been previously proven in multiple studies to contain a wide array of active immune stimulating components that enhance immunity against several viruses including influenza, Epstein-Barr virus & herpes virus. Echinacea has been shown to prevent colds, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and other infections.

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)has been shown to increase Macrophage phagocytosis (the engulfing or "eating" of solid material, e.g. bacteria, allergens, and immune complexes) within six hours of treatment and last for more than 72 hours. It has also been shown to increase Interleukin-2 activity ten fold, stimulate T-Cells in healthy animals and restores immune function in cancer patients.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) extract exhibits a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity. The berberine in Goldenseal appears to inhibit the adhesion of bacteria to host cells and prevent their growth. Berberine has been shown to be 3 times more effective at lowering fevers than aspirin in rats. It has shown activity against bacteria, protozoa, and fungi, including Staphylococcus, Streptomyces, Chlamydia, Corynebacterium diptheria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typlhi, Vibrio cholerae, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas, Shigella dysenteriae, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia, and Candida albicans.

How much Phytobiotic should be taken?
For prevention of Colds and Flus, Dr. Hansen recommends 1 Capsule twice daily for children and 2 Capsules twice daily for adults. For active symptoms or infections, Dr. Hansen recommends 2 Capsules 3 times daily for children and 3 Capsules 3 times daily for adults.

For children who cannot swallow pills, Dr. Hansen recommends liquid Elderberry and Wild Cherry: 2 ml twice daily for prevention and 4ml 3 times daily for treatment.


For more information about PhytoBiotic and Oscillococcinum, click here.

Dr. Hansen's Vital Health News is published and distributed by Dr. Clark Hansen, N.M.D.,

Hansen Clinic and Vital Formulations, Inc.

Please feel free to forward this email to all of your friends and family. Thanks.

Vital Formulations, Inc Phone: 480-991-6298

4.21.2009

THE TRUTH about Water Barrels


Do you have your water storage? Or do you just have barrels like me, totally unfilled? Why do we leave them in our garages unfilled? GREAT QUESTION. Maybe it's because we don't know how to fill them up. Maybe it's because we don't know if we can store them on the cement or if we need to figure out some way to elevate them. And WHY would we need to elevate them? I have always wondered this myself. I'm one who doesn't like to follow blindly- I always ask why (yes, I'm like your two year old- but after I know why I won't ask you the same why five more times).

So- I called a water barrel manufacturer and asked if, and why and HERE'S THE ANSWER: Water barrels should be elevated off of the cement floor if you live in an area where there is radon present. What is radon? A colorless, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up from the earth (as the result of the natural decay of uranium in the earth). It's heavier than air and is common in many parts of the country. Radon gas exposure is associated with lung cancer. How do you know if you have radon in your home then? Most people don't know. There are radon test kits that you can do yourself, or have a home inspector do for you (there are ways to get rid of it if you do, so don't panic). The easiest way is to just assume that you do have radon if you live in a rocky area for our water barrel scenario. Realistically there are TONS of places in UT that DO have radon (I'm a Realtor, so I know this because of all the real estate classes I've gone to). How to elevate? The company said that if you put a piece of plywood between the barrels and the floor, that's enough elevation (You could also use 2x4's, cement blocks, or MDF as well- your preference).

So now you know, to be safe-
KEEP WATER BARRELS OFF OF CEMENT (unless you're POSITIVE there's absolutely NO RADON where your home is located)
Fill your water barrel with your garden hose (after you run it for a minute or so to make sure it's clear of dirt and bugs)

And now there's NO EXCUSE not to get those barrels filled in your garage! I told my husband this weekend, "I'd rather be ready 50 YEARS TO EARLY than 1 MINUTE TOO LATE!" Seriously, wouldn't you? So fill up your barrels TODAY!

4.08.2009

Earthquake Prep 101

What would YOU do in an earthquake? Are you prepared?

I was PERSONALLY in the San Fransisco earthquake of 1989! It was one of the scariest things I've ever experienced in my life- I was eight years old at the time, and was NOT prepared. I sat and slept in door jams for a week following, and am still SUPER sensitive to earthquakes (I can feel them even if VERY small, when no one else does)... We were at my grandma's house, my dad was in the hospital, and my Uncle was on the Bay Bridge. SCARY! I WISH I had been better prepared...

Did you know earthquakes don't just happen in California? They happen ALL over the place, ESPECIALLY Utah. You never thought that could happen in happy valley did you? The Wasatch FAULT is one of the longest and most active normal faults in the world! Seriously. But even if you don't live in UT, you NEED to be prepared for this.

BEFORE the quake...
Properly secure furniture, decor, and pictures/paintings to your walls
Make sure beds are away from windows
Put kid safety latches on ALL cabinets so you won't have stuff flying at you during the quake
Have a 72 hr kit ready

If an earthquake happens and you are...
In bed- cover your head with a pillow and wait it out til the shaking stops
In your car- pull over to the shoulder, stop, set your parking brake, turn on the radio to get emergency info, and STAY IN YOUR CAR
In the kitchen- turn off the stove (if on) get away from cupboards
In a room- get under a sturdy table/desk, wait out the shaking, OR/AND get away from windows and get in a sturdy door frame or get on the floor, crouch down, cover your head and brace against an inside wall
In a public place- DO NOT EXIT, remember- drop (to the ground), cover (your head), and hold on!

AFTER the earthquake stops...
Make sure you have a 72 hr kit prepared!!! It takes a while for everything to get back up and running properly! Don't count on others taking care of you! Prepare now so you can take care of yourself!
Make sure you know how to shut off gas, water, and electricity in your home if need be.
Make sure you have a location/plan to meet up with any family members that may not be home at the time the earthquake happens.

THESE ARE THE BASICS!! If you want to be MORE prepared, click on the following...




THIS link also has specific handbooks for those who live in earthquake ZONES- such as California, Utah, Nevada, and Alaska- they also have other good stuff :)
See where the latest earthquakes have been happening HERE. Seriously, SO interesting, did you know that on April 2nd there was a magnitude 2.5 earthquake with it's epicenter (DIRECT location) 5 miles south of Park City? Check out the map for where YOU LIVE!

And when you finish checking that out- test yourself with this earthquake quiz! It's fun, and educational :)



3.23.2009

Sun Oven

Don't worry, I get nothing for posting this- but I'm wondering if you've ever heard of the "Global Sun Oven".
SERIOUSLY AWESOME to have included with your food storage! (But remember to use it often so you don't freak out in an emergency situation with not knowing how to use it!) I want one of these! And thank goodness, BETTER TO BE READY is working on becoming a distributor! Again, AWESOME! I've always wondered how I would cook bread if I had no electricity. I had researched doing it in a dutch oven, but that was the best I could come up with. Now there's the "Global Sun Oven". I'm TOTALLY impressed. They're a little pricey, but an AMAZING device. So if you're wondering how you would cook with no power, take a look at these here.

3.17.2009

What to put in your 72 hr kit

Many people are confused on what should go into their 72 hr kits. There are tons of places you can look for information on the topic. Being the researcher I am I looked at ALL of those places, combined all the information, plus added some things of my own, and came up with a checklist for you. I hope you find the information useful so you can create, purchase, or add to your family's 72 hr kit. Just CLICK ON THE PICTURE to make it bigger...


3.09.2009

Top Ten Food Storage Mistakes

1. Variety
Many people buy a year supply of wheat for their family and call it good. What in the WORLD are you going to do with a bunch of wheat? Eat it raw? Besides the fact that no one would want to eat JUST WHEAT for two weeks or more in a row. How boring, you'll get tired of it fast... You need ALL the ingredients for a "recipe". Just because it's food "storage" doesn't mean it should be looked at differently than "normal" food, because one day this could be your "normal" food supply.
2. Flavor
Many people forget to put spices and extras (like cinnamon, jam, etc) that help flavor your food and make it not bland into their food storage.
3. Comfort
Many people don't imagine themselves REALLY living off of their food storage. Well, if you ever HAD to, can you imagine NEVER having any treats? Don't forget to add those in! Add candy, or easy to make goodies like pudding, jello, or cookies (you could make with powdered eggs, milk, etc). Remember those "other" items that can help put you and your children at ease such as books, games, a simple paper and pen or a blanket...
4. Health
Don't forget that in an emergency you could be even MORE likely to need things like vitamins and medications. How horrible would that be if you got hurt and didn't have any over the counter pain killers on hand such as "Ibuprofen" or "Tylenol". ESPECIALLY if your kids needed them. Don't forget the hygiene and sanitation supplies as well, that's one thing you DO NOT want to be without. A little hand sanitizer and toilet paper can go a long way.
5. Water
Many people think about "food storage" and completely FORGET about water storage! DON'T! YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT WATER! People go to the hospital all the time in "normal" every day scenarios for dehydration. You need to store at least one gallon of water per person per day. Don't be without this essential!
6. Preparation
Many people that have "traditional" food storage such as grains, legumes, sugar, salt, etc. have NO IDEA what to make with it or how to use it. If you're in a stressed situation that is NOT the time to be figuring it out. Make sure you get some recipes and learn how to use it now!
7. Eating
A lot of people eat TOTALLY DIFFERENT things on a daily basis then what they are storing. YIKES! This can really mess up your body if for example all you eat is white flour and you're storing a bunch of whole wheat that you'll grind up in an emergency in your basement. Store what you eat and eat what you store.
8. Storage
A lot of people don't store their food in appropriate containers thus creating A LOT of waste in their storage when rodents, insects, or moisture get into their food before they do.
9. Rotation
Many people don't rotate their food as often as needed creating a lot of waste and food that needs to be thrown out. Make sure you have a good rotation system. (Or store freeze dried food that doesn't need to be rotated except for every 30 years)
10. Purchasing
Many people when they get some extra money will purchase one staple at a time, such as 20 bags of wheat and then next time they'll get 20 bags of rice, and then next time they'll get 5 water barrels... Hold up. If you do it this way and an emergency happens in the mean time you're going to fall WAY short. Buy a little of everything you would need for a "recipe" in your food storage each time, and DON'T FORGET THE WATER!

3.01.2009

Being Prepared

We hear about it all the time. We need to be prepared for emergencies that might come. But how many of us really are? Most of us don't even know all the different aspects that go into being prepared. We've listened to countless people discussing what it takes, but when it comes down to it we don't really know what to do. This blog will post by post solve that problem for you.

In this blog I will discuss 72 hr kits, food storage, water storage, critique different emergency preparedness products, and give emergency preparedness information on various topics. So please check back, and I hope you find the information as useful as I do.