. I wasn’t scared. Not only was I breastfeeding her, everyone in my household—me, my husband, and daughter—supplemented with a tincture of elderberry, astragalus root, clove, ginger root, and mullein leaf during flu season. My toddler was in the habit of eating organic fruits and vegetables daily, and as a family we ate healthfully.I took off work and made my daughter as comfortable as possible.
I rushed her to medical care. Thankfully, they were able to bring down her fever. She tested positive for influenza A. She was not given Tamiflu because she had been sick too long to make it worthwhile. Ultimately, I got to take her home and continue caring for her. Enter my mother and aunt. They insisted on coming over to help. I told Mom to stay away. She and her sister are senior citizens, have multiple chronic conditions, and eat highly processed diets. If the flu was knocking us down for the count , I was afraid of what it would do to them.
Of course it didn’t. That’s why scientists invented a flu vaccine. I am so tired of stories like this elevating science deniers. They are a risk to everyone.