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H1N1 (Swine) FLU CONCERNS;

WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Once again the news is scary. Two years ago it was concerns about avian flu and now we are suddenly confronted with the H1N1 (swine) flu outbreak. This concern is real though, unlike the speculative reports two years ago. But DON’T PANIC! This is manageable, just like any other influenza. So even if this becomes a source of a lot of illness in your community, the vast majority of people who get sick will just be miserable for a while.

One note to clear up some confusion: eating pork or being around a pig will not give you this swine flu that is in the news. The only way to get infected with this swine flu virus is to be exposed to people sick with it. There is no other way. And it is also worth noting that not everyone who is exposed will get sick, just those who are susceptible.

While this article is a recap of previous articles, given the current headlines it is a useful and timely review. To start, it is important to remember one of the best ways to prevent colds and flu is to take care of yourself and to keep your immune system functioning optimally so you are less susceptible. This involves avoiding activities that would weaken or deplete your immune system and engage in immune strengthening and supporting actions (see below). If you are healthy to start with you have a better chance of not suffering the worst consequences if you do get sick. So take care of your health!

In addition, remember homeopaths have been successfully treating influenza for over 200 years. In fact, during the swine flu epidemic of 1918 homeopaths had an excellent success rate with their patients who came to get help at the start. There is a great book on this called The Homeopathic Treatment of Influenza by Sandra Perko, PhD.

The Cold And The Flu - What’s The Difference?
It is important to first to know if you have real influenza or just a cold or stomach virus (“stomach flu”). Your physician can test for influenza but it is nice to know the difference between these diseases. Viruses are the initial causes of all these infections so antibiotics have no benefit except perhaps to prevent a secondary bacterial infection. And it is worth noting that antibiotics sometimes suppress the immune system, so if there is no clear benefit it is best to not use antibiotics on viral infections. There are now some pharmaceutical antivirals that can help with these viruses but they are not very reliable. A recent report from Europe said that they only relieve the symptoms of flu and do not affect the mortality. But remember, your body has many built-in tools to fight infections; you just have to use them.
 
Flu (influenza):
Real influenza is a severe respiratory infection. It is very common during winter months and is the illness that the “flu shot” is intended to be prevent. It usually presents with a headache, aches and pains in the muscles, sore throat, fever, chills, and general malaise (weakness, sleepiness and/or exhaustion). Occasionally there can be diarrhea, nausea or vomiting but usually not. The symptoms are usually much more severe then the common cold, especially the aches and pains and fever.

The common cold:
The common cold is an inflammation of the nose and throat lining. Colds are more common during spring and fall and less frequent in winter. Typical signs and symptoms are a watery runny nose and congestion, sneezing, a sore throat and feelings of chills without a fever.

Intestinal or stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis):
People often mistakenly think that the “stomach flu” is the same as the “flu.” This isn’t true. They are completely different viruses. So don’t expect the flu shot to protect you from the stomach flu. This is an infection of the digestive tract. It usually produces a combination of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea sometimes with abdominal pain or fever. Occasionally there are some upper respiratory symptoms but usually not.

Prevention
Get plenty of rest. Heed the urge to nap or go to bed earlier than usual, and give your immune system the rest it needs to stay strong.

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration lowers immunity. Have an extra glass of water before you feel thirsty. If you start to feel like you may be coming down with something drink 4 to 6 glasses of water over the next 3-4 hours.

Eat a diet low in sugar, caffeine and refined products. Sugar in all of its forms (including fruit juice) depresses the immune system and increases your vulnerability to infective agents like viruses and bacteria. Also once alcoholic beverages enter your bloodstream they can act similarly to sugar. Instead of having candy, sweets and alcohol, have nuts or precut veggies such as carrots and celery and stick as much as possible to teas and water for beverages.

Wash you hands often and avoid touching your face. A consistent method of flu transmission is hand to mouth contact. We are generally not even aware of how often we touch our faces, especially if we might have a runny nose. Think of every doorknob or other object we touch daily that any number of people may have also touched. To be most effective with hand washing, scrub with hot water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds. Some studies have shown that antibacterial soap is no more effective than regular soap. Using portable hand sanitizers are helpful too.

Stay away from poorly ventilated places. This increases the likelihood that you will be exposed to an infectious agent. Also, keep a safe distance from people who may be ill, if appropriate. Of course, when you are sick cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. It is suggested that you use something other than your hand to cover your month with coughing and sneezing such as sneezing into your elbow.

And above all, if you or a family member, or a co-worker are sick STAY HOME! If you are in charge of employees, support them to stay home when sick. Keep sick kids home from daycare and school. Sick people who stay home and take care of themselves will recover faster, get less sick and not spread it to others. 

It is now apparent that the H1N1 flu remains infective as much as two days longer than the regular influenza. So even after the symptoms have begun to improve and you may feel like you are your child can go back to work or school, it may still be communicable. 

Flu Vaccines
It is our belief that each family should research the pros and cons of vaccinations for themselves. Although we are vigorously against mandatory vaccinations, if people are not able to do this research for themselves, then following the conventional advice is probably the best option. However, there are reasons to get the flu vaccination as well as reasons to avoid it. There are very strong opinions on each side of the debate but we do not see it as a black and white decision. Thus, we encourage people to study this question for themselves and make their own decision about which set of risks they are most comfortable with. There is no single answer that is "right" for everyone, it is just a question of weighing the risks and filtering that through your own situation and values. 

Homeopathic and Naturopathic Prophylaxis

The homeopathic remedy Influenzinum 30c is used by some homeopaths to "inoculate" people against influenza. This should not be considered an reliable substitute for conventional vaccinations - we don't have the studies to support such a statement. But if a person already has personal or medical reasons to not get the H1N1 or regular influenza vaccination, this is something that may give some protection. For homeopathic prophylaxis one option is to take one dose of Influenzinum 30c once a day for 10 days. 

For naturopathic prophylaxis take high doses of Vitamins C and D along with a good high potency multi-vitamin/mineral is recommended throughout the flu season . Doses of 4000 mgs of vitamin C in divided doses and at least 2000 IUs of vitamin D per day is commonly recommended. Taking the herbal anitvirals oil of oregano, olive leaf extract, and black elderberry preventatively may also be helpful. Adjust the doses proportionally by weight for children. 

If you notice symptoms developing immediately start the following treatment protocols. 

Treatment

Viruses are the initial cause of influenza so antibiotics have no benefit and may suppress the immune system. Tamiflu (oseltamirvir) is the pharmaceutical antiviral that is prescribed for influenza. It may help some but is not very effective. A recent report from Europe said that it only relieves the symptoms of flu and does not affect the mortality. But remember, your body has many built-in tools to fight infections; you just have to use them.

We recommend beginning the “infection protocol” (echinacea/golden seal compound, vitamin C, hydrotherapy, etc.) as soon as you notice the beginning of any symptoms, regardless of whether the symptoms are of the cold, flu or stomach flu. Even if you don’t know which virus it is the sooner you start stimulating the immune system the more likely you are to shorten the duration of the illness. Many people will start high doses of vitamin C with the first hint of anything.  

One common mistake people make when treating themselves or family members is to suppress symptoms with over-the-counter medications like aspirin, Tylenol (acetaminophen), decongestants, antihistamines, etc. Unless a fever is up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (some alternative doctors say 102), or has been ongoing for several days, it is usually better to leave it alone and let it do nature's work of fighting the infection. Fever is part of your body's defense mechanism and it will lengthen the time of recovery if suppressed unnecessarily. (NOTE: persistent high fevers can be a sign of pneumonia so use good judgment - contact your health care practitioner if in doubt.) The same can be said for decongestants and the like. On the other hand, expectorants can be helpful.  

It is possible to get dramatic relief from the influenza, bronchitis and other infections by taking the correct individually prescribed acute homeopathic remedy. In such a situation the patient’s symptoms are evaluated to find the most accurately matched remedy for that person’s particular symptoms and reactions to the illness. When the remedy is correctly prescribed for the individual instead of the disease, relief can be dramatic, often within hours.

It is also possible to get relief using the more generic “flu” and “cold” combination homeopathic remedies that are available in the health food stories and some pharmacies. Look for a combination remedy called "flu"/"influenza," Influenzinum, or Oscillococcinum. These are well worth the investment. You may even want to pick up one of these combination homeopathic remedies just to have in your medicine cabinet. They have a long shelf life.

For acute conditions like these infections, combination remedies are perfectly safe and they are worth a try. However, they are not individually prescribed and so are not as accurate as an individually prescribed homeopathic remedy. Consider calling the office for an appointment if you or a family member needs homeopathic treatment. If you live an area away from us see a homeopath in your area. Visit our links webpage for referral lists.

In previous epidemics, including influenza epidemics, homeopathic practitioners have noticed trends in that particular epidemic. It is typical for a cluster of homeopathic remedies to fit the most common presentation of the infection. There is no way to know which homeopathic remedies these will be before the epidemic has been encountered by the homeopathic community but as these occur, the profession reports it, and the rest of us are more prepared to prescribe for that particular epidemic. We are currently waiting for such a report from Mexico where homeopathy is common. Our intention is to post this on our website when this information becomes available.

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