SWINE FLU (INFLUENZA A H1N1)

WHAT IS INFLUENZA A H1N1?

Influenza AH1N1 is a contagious respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A strains of the influenza virus - H1N1 Virus. It is also called “swine Flu”. A new strain of H1N1 is a deadly mixture of viruses from pigs, birds and humans. Over 2000 cases and 160 deaths have already been reported. During March/April 2009, a new strain of influenza AH1N1emerged in Mexico and started causing illness in humans.

HOW DOES IT SPREAD?

The influenza AH1N1 virus is thought to spread in the same way as seasonal flu; in tiny droplets, expelled from the mouth and nose of an infected person when they talk, sneeze, and cough. People may get infected if they breathe in those droplets or if they touch someone or something that is contaminated with the virus and then touch their nose, mouth or eyes.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The symptoms in influenza AH1N1 is usually similar to the symptoms of normal seasonal influenza. These include sudden fever, coughing, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, sore throat, tiredness, and lack of appetite. Also, diarrhoea and vomiting are present more than in normal flu.

CAN IT BE PREVENTED OR CURED?

There‘s no vaccine for humans as also in common cold and AIDS. Modern medicine has found out some medicine like Tamiflu and Relenza which are to be effective when taken in early stage. According to Natural way of treatment, the same method for influenza (flu) can be adopted. Beside, Homoeopathic treatments can be well adopted, such as Allium cepa, Allium sat, Aconite, Bell, Bap, Bry, Eup.perf, Puls, Verat.alb, and Zingiber.

IS IT SAFE TO EAT PORK?

No, it is not safe to eat pork. It is forbidden animal and an unclean animal. Bible says in Leviticus 11:7-8 “And the swine, though he divides the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud, he is unclean to you”. “Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you”.


OTHER MEASURES:

Good hygiene is one way that can protect you and your family from wide range of infection including influenza AH1N1. These are the golden hygiene rules that everyone should follow to prevent the spread of infections:
When you /others cough or sneeze, cover your nose mouth with handkerchief/tissue. Dispose them after use.
Wash hands after you come in contact/ shake hands with a person who has flu and touching hard surfaces which are used by people very often eg. Door handle, toilet flushes etc. Thorough and frequent hand washing is an important method of preventing infections.
Avoid being in public places or crowed area like theatre, club, restaurant etc.

FIGHTING COMMON COLD !

Common cold is known as coryza or catarrh of the upper respiratory tract caused by common cold viruses. A common cold occurs more often hence, its name. It may be caused by a variety of factors. The most common being of sudden changes of temperature, dust, exposure to cold, low vitality, lack of sleep, fatigue, and other irritating inhalation etc. A common cold is an extremely irritating condition. You are not sick enough to lie on bed, yet not well enough to consult a doctor.

A Common cold usually last from three to ten days. The patient feels miserable for the first three days but in the case of weak constitution a cold may lead to more serious diseases like Tonsillitis, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Laryngitis, etc. The initial of common cold are feeling soreness of throat, congestion of nasal passage and gradually affects the whole parts of the body. Its usual symptoms are sneezing, rise of temperature, running nose with headache, soreness and burning around the nostril, sore throat, chill, ache and pain in whole body, loss of appetite, heaviness of head and loss of smell.

TREATMENT

Vitamin C: According to Dr. Lenus Pauling a Nobel Prize winning scientist state that regular intake of vitamin C 75 mg for adults and 35 mg for children will prevent the common cold. If however that person is suffering large dose of this vitamin will relieve the symptom and shorten its duration. Rich sources of vitamin C are also found in Cabbage, Drum stick & Leaf, Parsley, Indian Gooseberry, Turnip greens, Guava, Limes, Orange, etc.

Lemon: The most important component of vitamin C is Lemon, which increases the body resistance decrease, decrease toxicity, reduces the duration of illness and it’s an antibiotic. One medium size of lemon juice is diluted in warm water and add a teaspoon full of honey, which should be taken twice daily.

Garlic: Garlic contains antiseptic, antibiotic and anti spasmodic properties besides several other medicinal virtues. It reduces the severity of cold; it flushes out all toxins from the system and brings down the fever. A soup is prepared by boiling 3 – 4 cloves of chopped garlic in a cup of water under a low flame.

Ginger: Ginger is also a marvellous remedy for cold and cough. About 10gm of ginger are chopped and boiled in a glass of water. It should be strained and taken with honey.

Holy Basin (TULSI): This herb is useful in treating many common elements like cough and cold.

ACNE / PIMPLES

Acne causes a great deal of embarrassment when people tend to be sensitive about their personal appearance. Acne is an inflammatory skin disease affecting the sebaceous glands (glands which produce and oily secretion) and hair follicles. These glands are especially large upon the nose where their openings are clearly visible. The lesions are usually found on the skin of the face, neck, chest, back and shoulder. It occurs in both sexes particularly between the ages of 14 to 25. In women it tends to become worse during menstruation. Acne consists of small superficial sebaceous cyst, black head or comedones which indicate the mouth of small sebaceous ducts chocked with dust or dirt, from which a long, wormy- looking fatty mass can be squeezed.

Acne is the bane of the beauty conscious female and a boon for the drug manufactures. Millions of people find employment in the production of lotions, creams and drugs claiming to expense but without effective results. The only thing that they do is to suppress the action of the sebaceous glands temporally.

DO YOU KNOW WHY ACNE APPEARS?

• All forms of acne appears in wrong eating habits such as excessive consumption of starch, fatty food, deep fried items, sugar, irregular interval of eating.

• Imbalance of hormonal secretion.

• Dyspepsia

• Chronic constipation. When the bowel movement is not regular, the waste matter is not eliminated as quickly as it should be and the blood stream becomes surcharged with toxic matter. The skin makes an extra effort to eliminate excess waste matter results in acne and other forms of skin diseases.

TRY THIS OUT IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM ACNE

• The surest cure is to improve your diet which must not contain any sugar, fat, tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco as it tends to increase acidity and hence dyspepsia and constipation.

• Since constipation is the major cause for acne, it will be wise to review my previous blog on constipation.

• Another way to deal with acne is dietary which should include fruits, vegetables, salads, sprouted seeds, and nuts.

• Hygiene of the whole body must be looked after properly and a lot of fresh air, exercise and wash should be taken to reactivate the pores to expel the poison from the body through profuse sweating and cleansing.

• Take plenty of fresh water so that your bladder ejects the toxic matter through its activity.

• Hot fomentation should be applied locally or steaming of face can open up the pores and to bring out the morbid matter, after about 15 to 20 minutes of this treatment follow up with cold water wash.

• Deep swabs of cotton in freshly prepared lime and rub it on your face or affected area gently. Let the juice dry on itself and then wash it after sometime. This process not only removes the dirt from the pores but also gives it a glow of freshness.

• Grated cucumber applied over the area leaving it for 30 minutes is also an enhancing method and best tonic for the skin.

• Paste of fenugreek leaves applied over the affected area every night before going to bed and morning wash with warm water it prevents pimples and black heads.

• Pounded orange peels with water applied regularly are also a beneficial treatment in acne.

• Vitamin A, E and niacin taken as therapeutic purpose has been treated successfully.

NATURAL APPROACH TO HALITOSIS

AVOCADO: Avocado is a valuable range in solving bad breath. This is far superior to any mouth lotion or remedies. It plays a main role in controlling intestinal putrefaction which is one of the most important causes of bad breath.
FENUGREEK: Fenugreek counts to be the best home remedy for halitosis. Tea is made from this seed and taken regularly till you find an effective result. Tea is prepared by putting one teaspoon of fenugreek in ½ a litre of water and allows it to simmer for 20 minutes over a low flame. Then it should be strain and take it as tea.
GUAVA: Chewing tender leaves of guava also checks dental problems like bleeding gum and bad breath. Unripe Guava can be taken which is useful in bad breath. They are rich in oxalic, tannic, malic and phosphoric acids and as well as calcium, oxalate and manganese. Chewing unripe guava is also an excellent tonic for the tooth and gum.