Flu symptoms can include severe pain within the eyeballs; muscular pain and tenderness; and a high temperature. Patients feel ill all over, and can collapse unexpectedly due to the toxicity of the virus, and dehydration. Flu claims lives among the frail and elderly who are more prone to secondary bacterial infections, causing pneumonia and bronchitis.

Symptoms

• Sore throat, cough, cold
• "Toxic" feeling all over
• Muscular aches and pains
• High fever alternating with normal temperature
• Painful, aching eyeballs

Cures

Naturopathy

Bed-rest and fluids are essential. Warm baths can reduce muscular pain and bring refreshment after copious sweating. Warm water gargles can relieve a sore throat, and steam inhalation is also comforting.

Vitamins and Minerals

Avoid solids, and take plain water and freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. Apricots, carrots and cantaloupe melons are especially rich in beta-carotene. Chicken or vegetable broth are suitable after the illness has peaked. Specific dietary supplements include vitamin C with bioflavonoids, and zinc lozenges. Beta carotene (vitamin A)in doses up to 3 or 4 times the RDA (5,000 IU or 1,000 mcg) actively boosts immunity, as do vitamin E and selenium.

Herbal Medicine

Medical herbalists may prescribe a red sage gargle for a sore throat, and an infusion of white horehound and marshmallow for a heavy, chesty cough. Try a mustard footbath to relieve "toxic" feelings, throat and head cold-type symptoms. Place a heaped tablespoon (20 ml) of dry mustard powder in a bowl (and 1 tablespoon of baking soda if the water is hard). Place your feet in the bowl and fill with comfortably warm water to cover feet and ankles. Keep feet immersed for 10-15 minutes, topping up with hot water as required. Then dry and keep your feet warm in bed, or wear slipper-socks. (Relief is thought to be due to the antibiotic properties of the mustard entering the bloodstream through the blood vessels of the feet.) take Echinacea preparations.

Aromatherapy

Add 2-3 drops of pure lavender or lemon essence to a warm bath, or to the oil in a burner. Inhale essence of eucalyptus, naiouli and/or hyssop to help reduce fever and general discomfort in the upper airways.

Homeopathy

Take 2 hourly for up to 10 doses: Gelsemium 6c for chills up and down the spine, feeling tired, weak and shaky, a bursting headache, and when passing urine seems to relieve symptoms; Rhus tox. 6c for restlessness and stiff, painful muscles; or Eupatorium 6c for severe pains in limbs, shivering, a bursting headache and aching eyeballs. To prevent flu take a "nosode," a homeopathic prescription, such as Flu 30c, or a combination of this and Bacillinum 30c, once every three weeks during winter months.

Medical Treatment

Bed-rest, fluids, and prophylactic (preventative) antibiotics will be prescribed for high-risk patients such as the elderly or those with depleted immunity and/or heart or lung disorders.

Postviral depression is a common complaint, and usually responds to nutritional therapy and counseling.

Prevention

• Stay away from others with the infection.
• Eat extra healthily to boost your immune system.
• Have a flu vaccination before the start of the flu and cold season.
• Avoid smoky, crowded places where many possible flu carriers exist, and deep-breathe fresh air several times daily.

Caution

• Go to bed sooner rather than later to help avoid complications (for example, chest infection).
• Keep up your fluid intake to around 3 1/2 pint (2 liters) a day.
• Don’t ignore chest pains – pleurisy is a sign that the lungs are affected.
• Seek medical advice for persistent symptoms, and if you have heart or lung problems.

   

• Influenza Outbreak Prevention