It is flu season. Already there are several deaths attributed to this season’s virus.
First, what is influenza and how do you know you may have it…
The flu is a contagious infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus.
The flu usually begins abruptly, with a fever between 102 to 106°F. (An adult typically has a lower fever than a child.) Other common symptoms include a flushed face, body aches, and lack of energy. Some people have dizziness or vomiting. The fever usually lasts for a day or two, but can last 5 days.
Somewhere between day 2 and day 4 of the illness, the “whole body” symptoms begin to subside, and respiratory symptoms begin to increase. The flu virus can settle anywhere in the respiratory tract, producing symptoms of a cold, croup, sore throat, bronchiolitis, ear infection, or pneumonia.
FLU SYMPTOMS:
–Rapid onset of symptoms
–High fever (greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.3 degrees Celsius)
–Severe body aches and/or headache
–Dry cough
–Congestion
–Chills
–Extreme fatigue
–Sore throat
TIPS FOR INFLUENZA PREVENTION:
–Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
–Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based cleanser.
–Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hand) when coughing or sneezing.
–Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
–If you do become sick, please keep your distance from others and if possible, stay home.
I also think it is a wise idea to increase the amount of antioxidants you are taking – particularly Vitamin C. There are some great Chinese and western herbal formulations that can boost your immune system. Be sure to get adequate sleep and exercise. Drink plenty of water and fluids – this helps keep your upper respiratory passages moist.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE EVEN YOU CATCH THE FLU?
First keep your distance and stay at home if possible. Get plenty of rest and fluids. Make some chicken soup and rent some movies.
You need to do something about it in the first 24-48 hours of the exposure and or onset of symptoms. There is a homeopathic medicine in most grocery stores and pharmacies called “Oscillococcinum”, being one of the hardest names to pronounce – most people call it “Oscillo.” This medicine is wonderfully effective if used in the first 48 hours of getting flu symptoms.
For the record the three studies that have confirmed the efficacy of Oscillococcinum are Ferley, 1989; Cassanova, 1992; Papp, 1998. Each of these trials was relatively large in the number of subjects (487 patients, 300 patients, and 372 patients), and all were multi-centered placebo-controlled and double-blind (two of the three trials were also randomized). Each of these trials showed statistically significant results.
I have been told by several patients that they had good results with Zycam. I haven’t experienced it myself – but if you have it, try it out. Also – see the article I have just posted on Homeopathic remedies for influenza. Though I don’t really like patients being their own doctor, I think the remedies are good and I have seen them be very effective I have experienced the effectiveness myself.
There are also great Chinese as well as western herbal prescriptions you can get from me or your own naturopath/Chinese medicine practitioner. I prefer to not list the names because the formulations really depend on your individual presentation.
In any case – if your symptoms persist and get much worse – you need to get evaluated by a physician.
Homeopathy is a safe and effective medicine that stimulates the body to heal itself. I am always amazed with the results – but you need to have the correct remedy to get the good results. I suggest contacting a homeopath or a physician who prescribes homeopathy to help you out.
In the mean time here a few homeopathic remedies to consider if you do have the flu.
Gelsemium (yellow jessamine):
When fatigue and a generalized heavy, weak feeling pervades the person, even leading to trembling of individual parts and to having heavy, half-open eyelids, this remedy should be considered. These people tend to have little or no thirst, can experience chills up and down their spine, and have a headache in the back part of their head.
Bryonia (white bryony):
People who have marked body aches during the flu that are aggravated by any type of motion suggest the need for this remedy. Generally, these people also have a headache in the front part of their head which is also aggravated by motion. They have dry, even chapped lips, a dry cough, and a great thirst for cold water. Despite being warm, they are averse to warm rooms. People with the flu who are very irritable and insist upon being left alone tend to benefit from this remedy.
Aconitum (monkshood):
This remedy is primarily useful during the first 24 hours of a fever. It is helpful when a fever begins after exposure to cold or cold, dry winds. Chilliness and a cold sweat may also be experienced.
Belladonna (deadly nightshade):
When a person has a rapid onset of a high fever with a flushed face, reddened mucous membranes, glassy eyes, and cold limbs, consider this remedy. Typically, the person tends to have wild dreams at night.
Nux vomica (poison nut):
When a fever with chills begin after an overindulgence of food, drink (alcohol), or drug use, consider this remedy.
Eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset):
People with the flu who experience aches in the muscles and pains in the bones and/or in their eyes often benefit from this remedy. Another characteristic symptom of people who need this remedy is chills that occur in the morning, especially 7-9am. These people desire cold drinks, even during a chill and even though it may elicit a chill response, and they feel better lying on whatever part of their body is aching.
Rhus toxicodendron (poison ivy):
This remedy is effective for people with muscle aches that are aggravated by initial motion but relieved by continued motion. These people are often very restless, especially at night in bed, tend to have a sore throat, and are very thirsty but only for sips of water at a time. If a cold sore develops during the flu, consider this medicine.
Arsenicum album (arsenic):
This is an important medicine for people with the stomach flu who experience nausea and vomiting along with a fever. These people are sensitive to and worse by exposure to cold. They experience a great thirst, but only for sips of water at a time. They feel restless and anxious, usually worrying if they might actually be sicker than they are, and they may seek several professionals’ opinion on their condition. They feel better with company around, and they feel the worse at or near midnight.
Influenzinum (influenza virus):
If a person develops long lasting symptoms after a bout of the flu, give a single dose of this remedy in the 30th or 200th potency.
DOSE: Use the 6, 12, or 30 C potency every other hour for the first two or three doses and then every six to eight hours until resolution of the condition. If significant improvement doesn’t occur consider switching remembdies. If you are getting worse - go see a doctor!
Q. How do B vitamins lower your homocysteine level, and how important is it to have a normal level?
A. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is part of everyone’s normal body chemistry. But people with high concentrations in their blood are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline. In families with a rare genetic condition that causes very high homocysteine levels, even young children can die from heart attacks.
B vitamins — particularly B6, B12, and folic acid — lower homocysteine levels by stimulating enzymes that transform homocysteine into other, less harmful amino acids. So it seemed important to test whether lowering homocysteine levels with B vitamin supplements would, in fact, translate into health benefits.
Many doctors regard the results reported from several large studies in 2006 as disappointing, including myself. Two randomized trials that included over 9,000 patients with cardiovascular disease or risk factors for heart disease concluded that B vitamins didn’t lower the risk for adverse cardiovascular events. And another randomized trial of 276 healthy people ages 65 or over found that the group taking B vitamins had no better cognitive functioning than the group taking placebo pills.
But I don’t regard these results as the last word on the subject. The people enrolled in these studies had normal or just slightly elevated homocysteine levels. So while the results convincingly demonstrate that high doses of B vitamins don’t protect against cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline in people with basically normal levels of homocysteine, they tell us little, if anything, about the value of high-dose B vitamins for people with significantly elevated levels (defined by most testing laboratories as over 20 µmol/L). Whether such individuals should be taking B vitamins is still unknown, but I think it’s a reasonable choice.
The connection between sleep and heart disease is a two-way street: Poor sleep can contribute to heart disease, and heart disease can disturb sleep, reports the January 2007 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter.
Poor sleep has been linked with high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, heart failure, heart attack and stroke, diabetes, and obesity. The thread that ties these together may be inflammation, the body’s response to injury, infection, irritation, or disease. Poor sleep increases levels of C-reactive protein and other substances that reflect active inflammation. It also revs up the body’s sympathetic nervous system, which is activated by fright or stress.
Sometimes heart disease is a cause of poor sleep. People with heart failure may wake up with trouble breathing, which stems from fluid buildup in the lungs. There’s also some evidence that heart failure leads to sleep apnea, a breathing problem that can awaken a person repeatedly throughout the night. Some people have nighttime angina (chest pain), bouts of atrial fibrillation, or palpitations (the sensation of a racing or pounding heart) that disturb sleep.
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you may need better sleep habits like the ones listed below. If these don’t work, talk with your doctor about having a sleep evaluation.
* Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
* Use your bed only for sleeping or sex.
* If you can’t sleep, get out of bed.
* Go easy on alcohol and caffeine; avoid nicotine.
* Exercise in the late afternoon.
According to sleep researchers, there are simple first steps you can take to insure you get enough good, restful sleep. Of course, if you suspect you may have a serious impediment to sleep-like apnea, for example-you should be evaluated and treated by a medical doctor. But otherwise you can improve the quality of your sleep, and thus your health, by making a few simple adjustments to diet, habits, routine and even bedroom furnishings. Try out these suggestions and see if the quality of your slumber improves:
1. Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends. “Sleeping in” on weekends throws off your rhythm. Consistency is best.
2. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music. Avoid lively conversations, action-filled television programs and achievement oriented tasks just before bedtime.
3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable-not too cool or too warm. If you sleep with a bed partner whose comfort levels are different from your own, the two of you can compromise and dress accordingly to accommodate.
4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows. There are many new materials on the market. If your bedding is more than seven or eight years old, shop around for something comfortable, trying out actual bed models in furniture showrooms.
5. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment. Reading in bed to relax is OK, but avoid doing challenging crossword puzzles or games.
6. Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime. A body focused on digestion is not fully relaxed and consequently, sleep may not reach deep, restorative levels. Eat a healthful, balanced diet with a minimum of refined sugars, which are stimulating.
7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime so you have time to wind down and the adrenaline can leave your system.
8. Avoid nicotine (cigarettes, tobacco products). Besides other detrimental health effects, tobacco products can lead to poor quality sleep when used close to bedtime.
9. Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. Stimulants can keep you awake or make it hard to go back to sleep if you awaken during the night.
10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. It can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.
