Is it a pandemic or just a flare of media attention? We shouldn’t forget the swine flu epidemic in 1976, wherein one man died from the flu while hundreds died from the protective measures that followed.
So far the cases of swine flu diagnosed in the city have been described as “mild” and happily no one has died. What’s alarming about the cases in Mexico is that it seems to be striking folks in the prime of life, when usually we associated deaths from the flu with the elderly and immunocompromised.
Even in acute, infectious diseases like swine flu, natural medicines can help. Certainly if you are seriously ill, you need to go to the emergency room. But if you are interested in avoiding getting ill in the first place, it’s clear having had the flu shot won’t help in this case. Here are some natural medicines that will:
1. Green tea – Gargling with green tea has been shown to dramatically reduce the rates of flu infection (non-garglers were infected eight times more).
2. Elderberry syrup - Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is a traditional herbal remedy for upper respiratory infections. It’s sold as a syrup and has been shown to reduce the severity and length of flu symptoms. The constituents in Elderberry have a specific action against flu viruses. In one study, almost all participants who took Elderberry - 4 tablespoons of syrup per day, 2 tablespoons for kids -were symptom-free after just 2 days.
3. Vitamin C – Even relatively low amounts, such as 100 milligrams per day, have been shown to cut your risk of contracting the flu by a quarter. Greater protection can be expected with larger doses. I generally recommend 1000 milligrams 3 times per day or more.
4. Take an adaptogen – Adaptogens are herbs that helps our bodies manage stress and higher stress levels make us more prone to infection. Two of the most common are Ginseng and Eleuthero. Ginseng has been shown to reduce the frequency of flu infections.
5. Echinacea – Yes, it works. If you’ve tried Echinacea and haven’t seen results, you’re using the wrong kind of Echinacea. Always use an extract of the root of Echinacea angustifolia (not E. purpurea).
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