newspaper article-flu

[Guest guest]

This is a doctor in my area that practice environmental medicine.

......................................

WHILE SOME SCRAMBLE FOR FLU SHOTS, 1 DOCTOR OFFERS AN

ALTERNATIVE - INJECTIONS PROVIDE QUICK RELIEF, HE SAYS

A national shortage of flu vaccine is producing widespread panic and long lines

of people waiting for shots. But not at Dr. Sullivan's family practice

near Mechanicsburg. " My patients are totally safe from the flu. They might get

it, but I can fix it, " says Sullivan, a family physician.

Sullivan, who embraces both traditional and alternative medicine, says he cures

the flu with a little-known treatment involving diluted flu vaccine. He gives

patients several injections to determine the right dose, then sends them home

with prefilled syringes and instructions for giving themselves additional

injections. Hey says patients start feeling better almost immediately, and

usually become well enough to return to work the next day. Sullivan, 55, says

he's been offering the treatment for about 10 years, and estimates he cures

about 100 people annually.

Dr. Goldman, an infectious disease physician at Pinnacle Health System says

he's never heard of it. He's " suspicious " of treatments that aren't backed by

clinical trials and doesn't prescribe them. " I can't say it doesn't work, but

it's not something I would feel comfortable prescribing for patients without

some objective evidence that it works. " he says.

Dr. Carolyn Bridges, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, says she's heard perhaps one mention of the treatment in her eight

years with the CDC. " I don't know of any data on this topic, " she says. The

CDC recommends using one of the anti-viral drugs approved by the food and drug

administration for treating the flu, Bridges Says.

Flu experts at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center haven't heard of the

treatment and had nothing to say about it, a spokes woman said.

Sullivan acknowledges the lack of studies related to the treatment, which he

learned about an environmental medicine conference 10 years ago. He says that's

because it involves flu vaccine, which isn't a highly profitable drug. Drug

manufacturers have no motive to promote the treatment or fund clinical studies,

he said. He says it works by producing an immune system response that combats

the flu.

Kissel of Susquehanna Twp. says she got the flu in July and went to

Sullivan, her regular doctor. He gave her an injection in her upper arm, then

began watching for a skin reaction. Fifteen minutes later he gave her another

injection. Every few minutes he asked if she felt any better, she says. Within

about a half-hour, Kissel says, her sinus pressure eased, and she started

feeling better. After three or four " skin tests, " Sullivan sent her home with a

supply of prefilled syringes. She injected herself three more times over the

next 1 1/2 days. " Within a few hours I was feeling 90 percent better, " says

Kissel, 30

Sullivan uses the skin tests to arrive at the " neutralizing dose " that cures the

flu. It usually takes two or three. He looks for " 80 percent " improvement

before sending patients home. Symptoms will return, and that's when patients

give themselves an injection. Most patients need to inject themselves three

times daily for the next two or three days, he says.

Sullivan charges $7 per skin tests, and $5 for each vaccine filled syringe.

It's not covered by insurance. A preventative dose of vaccine generally costs

$15-20.

Sullivan says he can cure 30-40 people with the amount of vaccine in one

preventative dose. He says he's seen no negative side effects among his

patients. The only time the treatment fails is when the illness isn't really

the flu, or if the patient is using aspirin or other nonsteroidal pain

medication, which he says suppresses the immune system response.

However, Goldman, the Pinnacle infectious disease physician, notes the flu often

goes away in 3-4 days, and in the improvement cited by Sullivan could stem from

the illness having run its natural course.

Jay , a former Camp Hill resident, says Sullivan has cured him several

times. " All I know is he gives different levels of a shot and waits a period of

time to see if it makes you feel better, and at some point you start feeling

better, like you're not sick at all, I've gotten over the flu in a day by doing

that say , 57.

Jim Pezzuti of Susquehanna Twp. says he was camping and backpacking two years

ago when he came down with what Sullivan suspected was the flu. He likens the

process of finding the correct dose to an allergy test. " He did a couple of

those and all of a sudden he hit one and, and I'll tell you in a couple minutes

I could feel myself getting better, " says Pezzuti, 55

Sullivan still recommends preventative flu shots. But with the shortage, he

plans to use all his doses for treating flu cases, rather than preventative

doses. He estimates he has enough vaccine to treat 1,000 people. Even with

elderly and other high risk patients, he says, he can cure them and spare them

major complications if they come in quickly after becoming ill.

He says he's taught children as young as eight to inject themselves. For

children 2-6 he gives drops of the diluted vaccine, and he doesn't give the

treatment to children under age 2.

Sunday Patriot News 10-17-04

[Guest guest]

To me it sounds like this doctor is giving what are called nosodes.Nosodes

are homeopathic vaccines and have virtually no side effects.

R

[Guest guest]

I am not all familiar with homeopathic treatments. The article didn't give

the treatment a name but he said he learned it from a conference so it had

to be

called something. I didn't know homeopathic treatments involved any

injections. Thanks for mentioning this.

Today on the news they said they are going to create a lottery to give

out the rest of the flu medication. Now if they could only stretch the

formula like this doctor is doing there would be plenty for those that

actually need it.

liz d.

> [Original Message]

> From: & Jack Rawlings <jamaraw@...>

> < >

> Date: 10/17/2004 11:11:11 PM

> Subject: Re: [ ] newspaper article-flu

>

>

> To me it sounds like this doctor is giving what are called nosodes.Nosodes

> are homeopathic vaccines and have virtually no side effects.

> R

>

[Guest guest]

> I am not all familiar with homeopathic treatments. The article

didn't give

> the treatment a name but he said he learned it from a conference

so it had

> to be

> called something. I didn't know homeopathic treatments involved

any

> injections. Thanks for mentioning this.

I don't think that is what is meant. I think what is meant

is that there are some homeopathics which are useful for

creating better immunity. These would presumably be in the

usual forms that homeopathics come in--- drops or little

tablets or pellets etc.

good wishes,

Moria

======

>

> Today on the news they said they are going to create a lottery to

give

> out the rest of the flu medication. Now if they could only

stretch the

> formula like this doctor is doing there would be plenty for those

that

> actually need it.

>

> liz d.

>

>

> > [Original Message]

> > From: & Jack Rawlings <jamaraw@c...>

> > < >

> > Date: 10/17/2004 11:11:11 PM

> > Subject: Re: [ ] newspaper article-flu

> >

> >

> > To me it sounds like this doctor is giving what are called

nosodes.Nosodes

> > are homeopathic vaccines and have virtually no side effects.

> > R

> >