Elizabeth Wotton N.D. - Flu therapy: a natural and herbal approach

A Natural and Herbal Approach

Elizabeth Wotton, N.D.

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Text illustrations on by Alison Kolesar

Copyright 2000 by Storey Communications, Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wotton, Elizabeth.

Flu therapy: a natural and herbal approach / Elizabeth Wotton.

p. cm. (A Storey country wisdom bulletin; A-266)

ISBN 1-58017-348-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. InfluenzaAlternative treatment. 2. HerbsTherapeutic use. 3. Naturopathy. I. Title. II. Series.

RC150 .W64 2000

616.20306dc21 00-061253

Each year, millions of people suffer from the influenza virus. Most recover in a matter of days, but many suffer complications that can lead to long-term problems pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. And while conventional medicine is effective at fighting the secondary bacterial infections that can accompany a viral illness, it has little to offer in the way of fighting the flu.

Fortunately, each of us has a built-in network of defense mechanisms that protects us against disease-causing viruses and other infectious microorganisms.

Herbs support this network in a variety of ways. Some herbs contain compounds that kill harmful microbes on contact or stimulate the immune system to increase the activity of white blood cells. Other herbs aid in a more indirect way by thinning congestion-causing mucus to facilitate its excretion, by modulating a fever, or by enhancing resistance to infection. Still others can be used for comfort to alleviate aches and pains, to soothe an upset stomach, or to help induce a more restful sleep.

While there may be times when we need to resort to over-the-counter medications or prescription pharmaceuticals, nature has provided us with a bountiful pharmacy that we can grow in our own backyards. Read on to find out everything you need to know about flu and how herbs can help you prevent and treat it.

Danger Over the Counter

Reyes syndrome (RS) is a serious complication of certain viral infections, including the flu. Children under the age of 15 are most susceptible. Aspirin and other over-the-counter medications that contain salicylates increase a childs risk of RS. Typically occurring 3 to 5 days after a viral infection begins, RS causes persistent vomiting, lethargy, confusion, personality changes, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. Without early diagnosis and treatment, RS can cause brain damage and liver dysfunction. The best treatment is prevention: Never give a child aspirin during a flu infection. Other salicylate-containing medicines to avoid during the flu include Alka-Seltzer, Anacin, Bufferin, Dristan, Excedrin, and Pepto-Bismol.

As the days become shorter and colder, the influenza virus starts warming up for its annual onslaught. For most of the Northern Hemisphere, autumn heralds not only the beginning of the holiday season but also the start of flu season. In the months that follow, travelers crisscrossing the country, cooler temperatures, and increased levels of stress add up to conditions that are ideal for viruses to flourish.

Once viruses gain a foothold, they spread easily from person to person through respiratory droplets, those aerosol vapors that disperse through a sneeze or a cough. For susceptible people, the virus settles in quickly, bringing those familiar muscle aches, fevers, and chills that are the hallmark of the flu.

But the presence of viruses and other infectious organisms in your environment doesnt necessarily mean that youll get sick. Developing a healthful lifestyle, taking precautions to minimize your risk of infection, and knowing how to prevent and manage the flu safely will help you stay healthy no matter what the season.

There are numerous types of viral infections. Many infections commonly referred to as flu are not really caused by influenza viruses. In fact, there are only three identified influenza viruses: influenza type A, type B, and type C.

Types A and B are responsible for epidemics of respiratory illness and are associated with severe illness, complications, hospitalization, and death.

Type C is usually mild and may come and go without symptoms. It does not cause or contribute to epidemics, so it is not considered a serious health threat. Thats why prevention and treatment efforts are targeted at only types A and B.

In the United States, influenza virus infections are most prominent from November through April, peaking between late December and early March. Each year, approximately 108 million people get the flu. Flu outbreaks typically occur in small, localized populations, such as schools, daycare facilities, and families, and last for only short periods of time. And although most people will recover without complications or lingering effects, 1 percent will require hospitalization for severe illness. Of those 1 percent who are hospitalized, about 8 percent will die from complications directly caused by the flu.

Like other viruses, the influenza virus gradually evolves over time so that the virus that was causing illness last year may return this year in an altered form. Thats why no one is ever really immune to the flu. As new viruses, these mutated viruses initially go unrecognized by the immune system. And by the time the immune system has had a chance to respond, the virus is well established and spreading efficiently throughout the surrounding communities.

Thats how epidemics, or localized outbreaks, start. Pandemics, or worldwide epidemics, occur when the structure of a flu virus changes suddenly and dramatically. It becomes sufficiently different from previous flu viruses so that large numbers of people have no immune protection against it. These pandemics are rare but devastating. Although only three pandemics have occurred in the past century, among them they caused more than 20 million deaths worldwide.