Elena Krasnov B.Sc.N.D & Simon Lo N.D.

This has been a really busy season for newsletter writing. When we started this whole project, I could not imagine that I would have something to write about every few weeks.

Those of you who follow resent developments in the health news of this great metropolitan city called Toronto would have noticed that frequent bulletins on SARS are starting to have to share space with equally alarming bulletins on West Nile Virus.

As I am writing this letter there are reports of yet more people coming down with SARS and some may have potentially got exposed on the GO Trains as far back as April 15th. As scary as this sounds, I think West Nile Virus represents an even more dangerous problem to the average person. West Nile Virus cannot be quarantined for. It is much more unpredictable. It can strike anybody, anywhere, anytime.

Obviously using protective clothing and an insect repellant is a must, but how can anyone protect himself or herself against that lonely mosquito lurking in your bedroom while you sleep. Mosquitoes all look the same to me. How can you distinguish the West Nile carrying mosquito from a healthy one.

Health Canada has said it will conduct Canada Wide surveillance for the virus, keep the blood supply system safe, investigate safe and effective pesticides and insect repellants and keep Canadians informed about new findings. However, what good does that do to those already suffering long term effects of last summer’s mosquitoes.
It is important to keep the public informed but it is just as important to take action against the disease as soon as possible.
Although 80 per cent of people infected with West Nile Virus show no symptoms and most of the rest suffer only a flu-like illness. Some of the very few unfortunate individuals who became gravely ill last summer didn’t fit into either of the above categories. They became gravely ill and 3 people even died of the disease.

I myself don’t intend to take chances. Fortunately for those of us who are looking for a more proactive role in this new challenge a number of homeopathic companies have come up with some very useful and inexpensive protocols. Because both West Nile and SARS causing agents are viruses, the homeopathic protocols can be used for both diseases in this transitional time of the year. One company even came up with a homeopathic vaccine-like preparation for West Nile. It will only cost you pennies per day and is safe for everyone.

To help protect you against a number of viruses and bacteria from a multitude of sources we are beginning to offer Myer’s Cocktails - an intra-venous infusion of vitamins and minerals. It is a great way to get an immune boost without spending a lot of money.

A healthy and strong immune system will give anyone a fighting chance no matter what the culprit is. As the Health Minister put it “ Fight the Bite”