INFLUENZA

Flu is also commonly known as influenza, is the clinical condition that results from infection with influenza virus. Modern medicine has not able to indict any of the known microbes as the causative factor in influenza and talks of a virus of the influenza group, its three varieties being named, A,B and C,. Influenza has struck various parts of the world in an epidemic form in the 19th and 20th centuries and has taken a toll of millions of people. Influenza epidemic are periodically reported from various parts of the world. Not surprising influenza A H1N1 (swine flu) emerged in Mexico and started spreading throughout the world. Influenza is highly contagious and it has the potential to cause a wide spread epidemic. No disease germs can find lodgement and become active in the system of a person who is perfectly healthy in the true sense of the term.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS:

Influenza is passed on with ease from the affected person to many others who are also in an equally low vital state. The real cause of its development is with those toxic in run-down condition of the body. It originates through a lowering of the vitality of the individual. Such a state is brought about by dietic errors and a faulty style of living such as mental tension, overwork, lack of rest, living in stuffy rooms, keeping late hours. It is interesting to note that most influenza epidemics have started and do start during or just after winter; sometime it strikes people at the junction of the seasons.
The main effects of influenza viruses are on the respiratory tract, the nose, and throat, with possible spread and involvement of the lungs and bronchi. Its cardinal symptoms are fever, body ache, sore throat, severe muscular pain. The patient feels miserable and weak. There is an inflammation in the nose and throat, which may spread down the windpipe to the lungs resulting in a sore throat, cough, running of the nose and eyes.

DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS:

In acute stage of influenza the patient should abstain from all solid foods and only liquid diets and fruits and vegetable juice diluted with water on a 50:50 bases for the first three days, depending on the severity of the condition. This may be followed by fruits and milk diet for two to three days. Thereafter, the patient may adopt a well balanced diet of natural foods with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw vegetables. He should avoid spices, alcohol, tobacco, strong tea, coffee, highly season dishes, non-veg, potatoes, rice, refine products, tinned, stale foods.

TREATMENT

WATER: During the course of the fever, the natural way of reducing temperature is by means of sponging the body with cold water. This should be applied several times a day. Large intake of water is advice.

LONG PEPPER:

This will help great fully if taken in the initial stage of influenza. Take 1/3 a teaspoon of the powder and ½ a teaspoon of ginger juice sweeten with honey, should be taken thrice daily. It is especially useful in avoiding further complication.

GINGER:

Ginger is also a wonderful remedy in influenza. A teaspoonful of ginger juice is mixed with two to three teaspoonful of honey in a glass of luke warm water and should be taken three to four times a day. Instead of pure water decoction of fenugreek water can be used for more effective result. The decoction is prepared by boiling two to three teaspoonfuls of fenugreek seeds in a half a litre of water boiled under a low flame till it reduce by half.

GARLIC AND ONION:

Garlic and onion are also another effective remedy in influenza. Ground three to four cloves of garlic with half medium seize of onion (preferably white) sweeten them with two teaspoon of pure honey. This preparation should be taken daily twice or thrice.

HOLY BASIL (TULSI):

Another effective remedy for this disease is the green leaves of basil plant. Handful of this green leaves should be boiled with some ginger in a half litre of water under a low flame till about ½ the water is left. This decoction is taken as tea thrice daily, which gives immediate relief to the suffering.