Social health communication is nothing more than product marketing these days. It has nothing to do with health, and everything to do with getting you to buy products. And it works on the principle that "the bogey man is coming!" and people should be scared, really, really scared.

Then we are told that the only way to protect ourselves from this bogey man is to purchase a drug - a pill, a spray, an injection - and that anyone who doubts this received wisdom is deluded and has been misled.

The fact that there are articles in every major publication, all over radio and TV, is what worries me. The Op-Ed page of the New York Times (10/12/09) and New York Magazine (Oct 12, '09) are two that are in front of me right now. The so-called epidemic hasn't even happened yet, and it's already such a brouhaha. New York Magazine calls it "a health crisis that may never live up to its billing." Meanwhile, the pro-vaccine forces are out en-masse telling us that if you get an adverse reaction to the vaccine, it is probably coincidental and would have happened any way. In the Times article, Dr Paul Offit, who is the inventor of a vaccine and is known as having conflicts of interest in this issue (just Google his name and "conflict of interest" for more information), mentions what he considers "myths" about the flu vaccine. The four myths he mentions are

a) that it is unsafe,
b) that is it untested,
c) that it contains a dangerous adjuvant, and
d) that it has dangerous preservatives.

From my point of view, a) is not known and we'll find out after we have that wonderful scientific tool "post-marketing surveillance." This consists of having thousands or even millions of people pay for the vaccine, get it, and then waiting to see what happens. If enough people get sick (AND IF THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN IT AWAY WITH THEIR MYTHOLOGY), the vaccine may then be pulled from the market, as happened with the flu vaccine and Guillain-Barre in 1978. I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to be one of these guinea pigs.

b) is of course correct - the vaccine has been tested for a few weeks in small groups of people - for a short time. I would like to see a proper randomized controlled double blind study, with a control group, for several years so as to track long-term effects, to see if this vaccine is both safe and effective - this of course would be difficult, and who's got the time, the willingness, or the money, to actually do this? Those who have the money and the time (the pharmaceutical companies) don't have the willingness, in case it doesn't turn out right. So they just test briefly to make sure people don't keel over on the spot. Everything else can be dismissed as coincidence.

c) I don't know if the vaccine has an adjuvant. Offit says it doesn't. Most vaccines do. See www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/e_20031124/beutler.html. It's a moot point for me. As is d), that it has dangerous preservatives. These include mercury and/or aluminum salts. Dr Offit is very cavalier about children or adults being injected with mercury and/or aluminum salts. He doesn't think they are unsafe. He can have his opinions, I have mine: I can't see why injecting people with those substances is healthful!

While some scaremongers are whipping up public panic, other authorities are saying, it will probably be nothing worse than the regular flu. So what do you do about the regular flu? Or what can you do to prevent it?

For prevention, I do think that hand washing with soap several times a day is a good idea. Another good idea is to make sure you sleep enough and you manage your stress wisely. Lack of sleep and excess stress are probably some of the major triggers of illness. Here's another trigger: eating dairy and sugar regularly. So, do keep off the dairy, especially protein-rich products, which are major contributors to mucus production. Keep your sugar intake low, as sugar may weaken your immune system and thereby contribute to contagious diseases.

What to do if you get the flu? At the first symptoms, take the day off and stay in bed. This will save you time. Chicken soup, vegetable soup, and lots of garlic are excellent home remedies. Some herbal teas are also good - thyme, Echinacea, mint, chamomile, with lemon and honey. Sleep and sweat - take a hot shower, then a cold spritz right afterwards, put on your pajamas on your wet skin (yes) and robe, wrap yourself in some towels, and go back to bed to sweat. This is an old European remedy, and it's terrific. With this regime you might go through the flu in about 2-3 days, much better than the usual 2 weeks.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic. It used to be known for keeping away the evil spirits. It may keep away the bad bugs too. A good way to take it is by chopping up a clove into small pieces, and swallowing it. You can do this 2-3 times a day for a day or two. This gives you no garlic breath if you don't chew it.