Influenza

Influenza, commonly known as flu, is a highly contagious viral infection caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae. It mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, the nose and throat, and may extend to the lungs and bronchial tubes. Influenza may spread as epidemic targeting thousands to millions of people during seasonal pandemic and non-pandemic years, respectively.

Symptoms
Influenza could strike without warning. Initial symptoms include chilling, fever, headache, and extreme muscular pains. The nose and throat are inflamed, and this may extend down to the windpipe of the lungs that could further result into cough, runny nose, sore throat and watery eyes.

For mild cases of fever, the temperature may rise from 39ºC (102ºF) – 40ºC (104ºF). Fatigue and general body weakness may persist for several weeks.

Causes
Faulty diets and lifestyle along with stressful living, overworking, lack of physical exercises, living in a toxic environment, and staying up late will result to weak body that is prone to influenza viruses. Therefore, unhealthy individuals are good candidates of contracting this disease.

Home Remedies
Long Pepper: Mix ½ teaspoon of long pepper powder with 2 teaspoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of ginger juice. Take it 3 times a day during the initial stages of flu. It can help avoid further complications in the larynx and the bronchial tube.

Garlic: Consume liberal amount of garlic. It is an effective antiseptic against flu.

Turmeric: Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup of milk. Take it 3 times a day. This will prevent further complications and stimulates liver activity.

Mix equal parts of onion juice and honey. Take 3-4 teaspoons of this mixture everyday.

Ginger: Mix 1 teaspoon of ginger juice, 1 cup of fenugreek decoction and few drops of honey for flavoring. It is a excellent diaphoretic that increases perspiration and lowers down the fever. To make a fenugreek decoction, simply boil 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in 1 liter water until it lowers by 1/3.

Grapefruit: Consume moderate to liberal amount of grapefruit for it tones up the body’s system and digestive tract.

Basil leaves: Boil 1 gm of basil leaves and some ginger in 1 liter water. Wait until the water lowers to a half. Drink as tea when necessary.

Finger Millet: Burn some flour of ginger millet and inhale its fumes. It will help stimulate blood circulation in the nasal mucosa and gets rid of stuffy nose.

Diets
Abstain from solid foods during the acute stages of influenza. For the first 3-5 days of the treatment, the patient should undergo an exclusive fruit and vegetable juice diet diluted in water on a 50:50 proportion, might also change depends if the condition is extreme.

Follow with an exclusive fruit diet for the next 2-3 days after the fever subsided. Follow again with a fruit and milk diet for the next 2-3 days.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and raw vegetables afterwards.

Avoid alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea, as well as cheese, potatoes, rice, stale, spices and condiments, milk, seasoned meats and all refine, processed foods.

Other suggestions
Warm water enema: Administer a warm water enema everyday for the first 3-5 days of the treatment.

Cold packs: Soak a large piece of linen material in cold water. Squeeze it, and then wrap it around the body and legs of the patient. Cover completely with a blanket. Leave for 1 hour. Remove the pack then sponge the body using lukewarm water. Repeat application several times a day to reduce temperature. Let the patient stay in bed until complete recovery.