How to protect yourself from the flu and acute respiratory viral infections: A detailed discussion of immunity with Dr. Mikhail Fulmes

Winter in New York City is so varied... On the one hand, it's a fairytale: fluffy snow, skating rinks where everyone laughs, twinkling lights in the trees. On the other, there are enclosed spaces, crowded transportation, constant contact with people, and the feeling that someone is constantly coughing. Every year, the city experiences a surge in flu season, but the consequences vary for everyone: some get through the winter without a single sneeze, while others get sick several times over the course of a couple of months.

Why does this happen? As the physician and founder explained to ForumDaily New York Dr. Fulmes Health Institute Mikhail Fulmes, it's not just and not so much about the viruses themselves, but about the state of our immune system and the overall resources of the body.

"We're used to thinking of the virus as the main enemy," he says. "But the virus is just a factor. The decisive factor is always the state of the person's immune system."

Immunity is a system, not a “button”

The immune system isn't an isolated mechanism that can be "switched on" with a pill or a vaccine. It's a complex network of interconnected processes: from hormonal levels and metabolism to the state of the nervous system and even psycho-emotional state.

When this system works harmoniously, a person can come into contact with viruses without even noticing. However, when the body is exhausted, the same virus causes severe illness, high fever, and requires a long recovery period.

One of the most obvious indicators of immune health is the frequency of illnesses. If a person gets sick three to five times a year, especially severely and for a long time, this almost always indicates systemic problems. However, according to the doctor, a person who either never gets sick or experiences seasonal infections very rarely can be considered normal.

What does immunity depend on and how can we strengthen it?

Immunity almost always suffers secondarily—due to a slow metabolism, hormonal imbalances, chronic stress, vitamin deficiencies, and constant toxic load. The body simply lacks the resources to fully defend itself. The immune system requires a huge amount of energy. If energy is insufficient, the body begins to conserve energy, and defense is one of the first functions to be "disabled."

This means that immunity needs to be restored by improving the functioning of all the systems listed above.

Five foundations of health without which immunity does not work

When discussing immune system strengthening, Dr. Fulmes constantly returns to a systems approach. He emphasizes that it's impossible to improve one function without addressing the others.

The first thing that starts everything is this psycho-emotional stateChronic stress, anxiety, and suppressed emotions trigger a cascade of reactions that increase inflammation and suppress the immune response. On the other hand, inner peace, strong values, spiritual practices, seeking and connecting with the energy of the Creator, or simply a sense of grounding allow the body to maintain balance.

The second important aspect is hormonal backgroundImmunity is closely linked to thyroid hormones, cortisol, melatonin, and vitamin D. If any one of these is low, the entire immune system breaks down.

The third basis is - food and waterThe modern urban diet is overloaded with ultra-processed foods, trans fats, and sugar, which creates constant underlying inflammation. The doctor pays special attention to water.

"Health starts with water. It's basic chemistry. Good water provides energy without the body expending any energy," he says. Dr. Fulmes emphasizes that the water we drink today is often technically safe, but it lacks the beneficial micronutrients and energy the body needs.

Fresh air and movement — another underestimated factor. Microcirculation, which nourishes cells and removes waste, is directly dependent on muscle function.

"The heart can't pump blood through the microcapillaries. The muscles do that. Without movement, the tissues literally stagnate," explains Dr. Fulmes.

Finally, the toxins and chronic infectious loadPolluted air, smoking, household chemicals, chronic latent inflammation—all of this creates a constant burden, forcing the body to focus on survival rather than protecting itself from viruses.

On the subject: How Modern Life Destroys Health: Advice and Solutions from Dr. Michael Fulmes

What can we do about this?

The first thing you can do to boost your immunity, completely free of charge, is to eliminate the negative factors mentioned above. This means moving more, eating less processed foods, drinking chicory instead of coffee, and avoiding stress. Optimize your digestion, especially considering medications that reduce hydrochloric acid production. This is beneficial not only for your immunity but for all body systems as a whole. Below are some more specific tips.

Improve thyroid function

"The thyroid gland sets the pace for all processes in the body. If it's not functioning properly, the immune system physically can't function," the doctor explains.

He points to a simple but revealing benchmark: morning basal body temperature. It should be measured immediately after opening your eyes in the morning, keeping the thermometer close to you so you don't have to get up or move. If your morning basal body temperature is consistently below 36,5°C, this may indicate a slow metabolism, even if your blood tests are formally normal.

To improve thyroid function naturally, you first need to adjust your diet. However, this is only suitable for prevention and for people who have no diagnosed thyroid conditions. If you have any, consult a doctor to develop a personalized approach that works for your diagnosis. So, to improve thyroid function, you should consume:

• Iodine is the basis for the hormones T3 and T4. Aim for approximately 150–250 mcg per day from food (sea fish, shrimp, mussels, seaweed, iodized salt, feijoa, or persimmon). You can also use, for example, 2% Lugol's solution. It can be applied to butter or fat and consumed. Dr. Fulmes recommends taking 3-5-10 drops of 2% Lugol's solution per day if you have no kidney problems.
• Selenium protects the thyroid and helps convert T4 into active T3. To maintain selenium levels, 2–3 Brazil nuts a day (which provides 100–200 mcg), or tuna, eggs, or sunflower seeds are sufficient. No more than 4–5 nuts a day is necessary, as selenium is toxic in excess.
• Zinc — involved in hormone synthesis and activation. Sources: beef, pumpkin seeds, oysters, chickpeas, cashews. Aim for about 8–11 mg per day from food.

Vitamin D and protection against viruses

Dr. Fulmes places a special emphasis on vitamin D, which is especially important for residents of New York and other northern cities, where there are very few sunny days per year.

"I regularly see patients with levels of 15–20 (the norm is 30 nmol/L). Sometimes even lower. This isn't just a deficiency—it's a catastrophe," he says.

Dr. Fulmes recommends taking vitamin D in large doses: “Nothing bad will happen from 50 a day, and it must be taken in combination with K2 – the level needs to be raised to at least 60-70 nmol/L.”

Vitamin D is involved in regulating the immune response, influencing antiviral protection and the severity of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections.

“When vitamin D is low, the immune system is effectively left uncoordinated,” the doctor explains.

Propolis

Dr. Fulmes emphasizes that propolis is a natural antibiotic, adapted to the specific season of illness.

"Propolis comes to us from trees. Plants get sick just like us, so they produce propolis to protect themselves. It changes every year, depending on the situation in the region," the doctor explained.

He recommends taking half a spoonful to a spoonful of honey and adding a few drops of propolis in an alcohol solution. This solution is even safe for children—a few drops of the alcohol solution won't harm their bodies. If you're concerned about the alcohol, you can buy a water-based solution for children.

Sleep is not just rest, but treatment

The doctor specifically addresses sleep, emphasizing that it is not a passive state: “Sleep is the moment when the body emerges from the chaos of external life and can heal itself.”

Sleep deprivation automatically reduces the production of melatonin, a hormone involved in the nighttime restoration of the immune system. Therefore, a healthy sleep schedule (at least 6 hours per night) is essential for a strong immune system.

How Dr. Fulmes Health Institute Helps Restore Immune Health

Dr. Fulmes Health Institute Offers a personalized approach to strengthening the immune system and improving overall health: blood tests, vitamin levels, hormone levels, inflammation markers, and liver and kidney health assessments. This allows for the development of an immune support plan that truly works for each individual patient.

"No two patients are alike. What works for one may not work for another," the doctor emphasizes.

Therefore, immune support and recovery programs are selected individually, taking into account age, lifestyle, concomitant conditions, and the body's current resources.

Dr. Fulmes notes, "Systematic work with the body over 3-6 months allows you to see noticeable improvements in your condition, increased energy, and a reduction in the frequency of illnesses. But the key word is 'systemic.'"

One of the key tools for restoring health and immunity at Dr. Fulmes Health Institute is intravenous infusionsThis method of administering vitamins and microelements bypasses the digestive tract and delivers substances directly into the bloodstream—in concentrations that are impossible to obtain with tablets; in other words, the gastrointestinal tract cannot fully absorb them.

High-dose vitamin C occupies a special place, which is used to support the antiviral response and reduce the inflammatory load.

“We can’t absorb the doses of vitamin C that actually work at the immune system level through the stomach,” explains Dr. Fulmes.

In addition to vitamin C, the clinic uses individually tailored IV cocktails that may include vitamin B12, magnesium, glutathione, NAD, and other substances involved in energy metabolism and cellular regeneration. Let's take a closer look at these components.

Glutathione and detoxification

Glutathione is one of the body's main antioxidants, and its levels directly impact the body's ability to cope with inflammation and toxic stress.

"If glutathione levels are low, the body spends resources not on immunity, but on fighting its own waste," the doctor explains.

In a metropolitan city like New York, where people are constantly exposed to polluted air, stress, and chemicals, supporting detox systems is especially important.

NAD and energy recovery.

The clinic pays special attention to energy metabolism. One of the tools used here is NAD, a coenzyme involved in the functioning of mitochondria, also known as the "power plants" of cells.

"Without energy, immunity is impossible," emphasizes Dr. Fulmes. "If cells don't receive enough energy, they can't adequately respond to the viral load."

NAD treatments are used both for recovery after illness and to support patients with chronic fatigue and protracted post-viral conditions.

Oxygen and ozone therapy

Dr. Fulmes Health Institute also uses oxygen treatments and various forms of ozone therapyThey help improve microcirculation, tissue oxygenation, and create an unfavorable environment for pathogenic microorganisms.

“We drip ozone-enriched saline solution intravenously, we have ozone sauna"Ozonized water, oxygen cocktails. Inhalations with ozonized glycerin are also available. All of this is very important for immunity, as ozone helps remove toxins from the body, modulates the immune system, and directly kills viruses and bacteria," explained Dr. Fulmes.

Methylene Blue: A Rare but Powerful Tool

According to Dr. Fulmes, special attention should be paid to methylene blue — a substance with a long history of use in medicine.

"This is a rare example of a remedy with a very broad spectrum of action: antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and metabolic. It improves brain metabolism and energy processes in tissues," he explains.

In the clinic methylene blue Used as part of comprehensive programs aimed at supporting energy processes and recovery from infectious diseases. It is highly effective for chronic coughs and urinary tract infections.

When talking about immunity and fighting viruses, we can't ignore Pyro-energen deviceDr. Fulmes Health Institute is one of the few clinics in New York City that offers this device. Invented in Japan in 1968, it has the ability to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, address immune issues, kill viruses, and harmonize the body's functions.

"Pyro-Energen affects the body using static electricity. It creates an environment in which viruses cannot reproduce and mutate," the doctor explained.

What to do if you are already sick

Dr. Fulmes advises against the idea of ​​"toughing it out" by continuing to go to work. Such "heroism" could actually worsen the condition.

Many people underestimate the importance of adequate sleep and rest. When the body is fighting an infection, energy is diverted to producing antibodies and activating immune cells. Lack of sleep reduces the effectiveness of the immune response and can prolong the illness.

"Rest, sleep, good water, light food, and definitely broths—these aren't just platitudes, they're real recovery tools. You also need to take a healthy dose of vitamin C (5-10 g or more per day)," he emphasizes.

Inhalations with hydrogen peroxide are helpful. Dr. Fulmes recommends diluting it with water at a ratio of one part to two or three parts. You can also add a drop of iodine and simply inhale as usual.

Our traditional desire to bring oranges and lemons to someone sick with the flu isn't particularly effective from a medical perspective, as one orange contains about 25-30 mg of vitamin C, a very low dose. Fruits with vitamin C are more beneficial as a support system: they provide the body with fluids, which are essential during illness, a boost of energy, and the positive emotions of friends caring and bringing fruit, which also has a therapeutic effect.

Flu/Covid Vaccinations and Immunity

Speaking about flu and COVID vaccinations, Dr. Fulmes emphasizes that he is not opposed to vaccinations, but considers it a mistake to view them as a substitute for immunity.

"If a person feels more comfortable getting vaccinated, that's their choice. But their immune system needs to be healthy in any case," he says.

To schedule a consultation and tests at Dr. Fulmes Health Institute, call (718) 743-4450 or visit the website. www.doctorfulmes.com (There you will also find products from Dr. Fulmes for health maintenance, prevention and treatment optimization).

This text is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or a guide to action.