It is my belief that immunization is the single greatest thing medicine has offered to humankind. Immunization embodies the essence of preventive medicine. Because of immunization, millions are spared from death and disease.
Yes, I agree. Immunization is a great tool and that it's use spares millions from death and disease.
BUT...
"...single greatest thing medicine has offered to mankind"?
I'm afraid that I have to disagree with this a bit. Given that I am now into alternative medicine, I feel that this statement must be qualified a bit more. For one thing, immunization is a gift not of medicine as a whole, but of Euro-American Pharmaceutical Medicine. Chinese, Ayurvedic, and other forms of medicine are not involved in immunization at all.
Secondly, I consider antibiotics to be the greatest gift of Euro-American Pharmaceutical Medicine to mankind. Sometimes, antibiotic use causes more harm than good, admittedly, but there is no doubt that antimicrobials and antibiotics, when used properly, does much to eradicate diseases that many forms of complementary medicine are helpless against.
"Immunization embodies the essence of preventive medicine."
Sorry my friend, I was forced to gag on this one. Immunization is nowhere near the embodiment of the essence of preventive medicine. To paraphrase Dr. House of House, MD, there is a Great Wall of China with armed sentries between immunization and the embodiment of preventive medicine.
The true embodiment of preventive medicine, in my humble opinion, and in the opinion of the sages of Chinese medicine, is adapting one's life to Heaven. What does this mean? It means living properly, adjusting one's clothing and diet to the environment and particular health conditions, proper exercise, etc. It means being in harmony with nature. Proper diet doesn't necessarily mean counting calories too. Let me give just one example. Grilled foods are popular in Japan and Korea. Japanese and Korean weather is very cold. Therefore, grilled foods which add Heat to the body is good and adaptive to the environment. However, the weather here in the Philippines is already hot. By eating grilled foods, we are adding more Heat. Hence, we feel hotter. We are then forced to drinking ice water a lot to feel cooler, which then impedes digestion and causes a whole myriad of other problems. Is it therefore no surprise that Filipinos are generally less healthy than they?
For me, immunization, especially adult immunization, is good but risky. Vaccines may contain unknown proteins that may trigger autoimmune reactions. Is it too much for me to speculate that there MAY be a connection between the increase in vaccine use and the interestingly concomitant increase in autoimmune diseases? Is it not possible that, by emphasizing vaccination, we are also indirectly telling people that it's okay to abuse your lifestyle. Who needs to protect oneself from excess Wind and Cold when there is a shot available to combat a few strains of influenza?
Don't get me wrong. I believe in vaccination. My daughter's been vaccinated against the major infectious diseases such as Hepatitis. However, I strongly object to any statement that leads to a false sense of security in patients. I also want people to know that there are risks involved with vaccination. Just Google the terms "vaccination", "autoimmune", "mercury" and "animal protein".
I will say it again. Vaccination is not the essence of preventive medicine. It is proper lifestyle and diet. My daughter is now 2 and half years old. I have taken great pains to adjust her diet and activity according to Chinese medicine principles. I am proud to say that she has only had ONE cold in her whole life. Never had fever except after one vaccination. People look at her think she's five years old due to her physical stature and activity. Lifestyle adjustment people!
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