Fight the Flu Naturally

Every year flu comes to us in November and leaves us in April. Although flu shots do prevent flu, in any given year, they do not provide absolute protection. Flu shots are made from the virus strains that are predicted to be around this year. If a different flu strain comes to the fore which is not in the vaccine, the vaccine provides no protection. We need to seek additional measures for flu prevention and be prepared to fight it in case we get it.

Sleep, Nutrition and Hygiene: The best way of preventing any acute illness, including flu, is to keep your immune system strong. For parents of young children, it is important to get enough sleep. If your child wakes you up at night, try to catch up with your sleep during the day or on a weekend, especially during flu season. Try to reduce stress, eat well, drink enough water, wash your hands and make sure your child also washes her hands often.

Homeopathic Measures: There are many natural ways to prevent flu and curb its symptoms if you get sick. One of the most effective means is homeopathy. Homeopathy is a form of holistic medicine that uses minute doses of natural substances to stimulate the body to heal itself. This natural medicine is safe, does not cause any side effects, and can be effectively used at home to treat simple acute illnesses. You can use homeopathic remedies concurrently with conventional medicines.

Children and adults should take Vitamin C supplements at the first signs of any viral infection. The adult dosage is 1000 mg twice a day. Children 1-3 years old can take 500mg of Vitamin C a day. Children older than 3 can take 500mg twice a day.

Echinacea drops stimulate the immune system. During illness adults can take 3 droppers of Echinacea three times a day. Children should take special Echinacea tincture for kids with the dosage according to the bottle directions. You can also use the elderberry extract called Sambucol for relief of flu symptoms.

If you come down with the flu, there are many homeopathic remedies that can combat it. Adults should take ahomeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum at the first signs of flu. Studies conducted in France and Germany, published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 1989 and British Homeopathic Journal in 1998, showed a significant shortening of the flu duration in patients taking Oscillococcinum. If the flu symptoms develop further, you can take another homeopathic remedy that fits your symptoms better.

For children who have become ill with flu, I often prescribe homeopathic remedies Belladonna, Gelsemium, or Pulsatilla. Adults often need Gelsemium, Eupatorium Perfoliatum, or Bryonia. Homeopaths find that during a particular flu season, one or two homeopathic remedies work for almost everybody. Those remedies vary every year. Practicing homeopaths know what those remedies are after treating a few cases in their community at the beginning of a flu season. For example, the epidemic medicine for the deadly 1918 Spanish flu was Gelsemium, which has also been the appropriate medicine for many other flu seasons. I will post the flu remedies for this flu season at my web site www.masharosen.com as soon as I know them.

Parents can quickly learn to prescribe homeopathic remedies at home for simple acute diseases. You can find more information on home prescribing in the books “The Complete Homeopathy Handbook” by Miranda Castro and in “Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines” by Stephen Cummings and Dana Ullman.

If you find that you or your child gets sick with colds or flu too often, you may consider consulting a certified homeopathic practitioner. Homeopathy strengthens immune system and makes you less susceptible to acute diseases. I used to get sick with a cold or flu almost once a month. After a professional homeopathic treatment, I get sick rarely, no more than once or twice a year.