Common Illness: A Slice of Orange - May 2011 - Beat flu naturally

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Beat flu naturally

YOU CAN COME BACK FROM FLU WITH SOME HYGIENE, TENDER LOVING CARE, AND A FEW KITCHEN TRICKS.

A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.

Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD

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M AY ALWAYS BRINGS WITH IT MAY SHOWERS—AND BY THE TIME THIS MONTH IS OVER, SO WILL THE SUMMER SEASON. WELCOME THE RAIN, FLOODS, CHILLS—AND THE FLU.

F

lu is a contraction of the word,

the flu within a week—that is, after it bat-

“influenza”, an infectious disease

ters you down first with a barrage of de-

caused by one of the many strains

bilitating symptoms: fever, cough,

of the influenza virus. The virus is

colds, body aches, sore throat, fa-

transmitted through the air, or through direct

tigue, headache, and watery eyes.

contact with nasal secretions. The virus is so easy to transmit that every year, up to 500,000 people are afflicted worldwide, 49,000 of which die—mostly the elderly, young children, or those with other diseas-

AN EXCEPTION, OF COURSE, IS THE INFLUENZA A/H1N1 STRAIN, WHICH CAN BE DEADLY NO MATTER HOW

es, such as heart disease, lung disease,

HEALTHY YOU ARE. IF YOU HAVE

cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, or

CHEST PAIN OR DIFFICULTY BREATH-

other diseases that weaken a person’s im-

ING, VISIT THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

mune system.

Fortunately, there are perfectly natu-

But if you are an everyday healthy Joe/

ral remedies that you can do to

Jane, you should be able to recover from

help you beat the flu.

Beat flu symptoms Here are some natural ways to ease the bothersome cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and other symptoms of the flu:

property. Just make sure you use real, and not artificial, honey. Gargle as often as required.

5. Sleep with an extra pillow under your head. This will help drain the mucus away from your sinuses and nasal passages.

1. Nasal irrigation. Adults with stuffy noses can clear their stuffy nose of mucus and viruses by irrigating their nasal cavity with salt-water. Get a glass of sterilized warm water. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (not baking powder). Using a bulb syringe, squirt water into one nostril. Let it drain. Repeat two to three times, and then treat the other nostril.

This can be uncomfortable or painful at first, but you will get used to it after a while.

3. Steam. This is a remedy that I have proven to myself when getting sick overseas. Cold air is dry, and can dry up and irritate your nose and throat. What I do is sit inside a closed bathroom with the hot shower on, creating steam. This is much safer than to sit under a pot of boiling water, where you can burn yourself with the flame, water or steam. But if you do decide to use boiling water, throw in a few slices of ginger into the water for a more soothing effect. Repeat every four hours.

6. Drink lots of fluids. Keeping yourself hydrated will help liquefy thick mucus.

Warm liquids are better than cold ones.

Drink at least 8 cups of warm water, tea or juices every day.

For children, use commercially available saline (salt water) nasal sprays.

Do not repeat more than three times a day.

2. Gargle. Gargling with warm fluids can soothe an itchy throat. You may use warm water with a pinch of salt, or if it’s really itchy, use tea. Tea has tannins, which have an astringent effect that tightens inflamed membranes of your throat. You may also add honey, which has an antimicrobial

4. Hot or cold packs. This is to soothe congested and painful sinuses. To make a pack, fill a bottle with warm/cold water, and then wrap the bottle with a washcloth so you won’t burn your skin with the heat/ cold. Apply on your sinuses (just above or below your eyes) for five to 10 minutes. Repeat three times a day. During the first day of illness, a cold pack is best. Thereafter, use a warm pack.

7. Drink a hot toddy. Do this ONLY if you are having a hard time sleeping because of nasal congestion—and you do not have liver disease. First, make a cup of hot tea. Add one teaspoon of honey and one small shot of whiskey or brandy. Add some lemon juice. Do not drink more than one serving, because too much alcohol can irritate the membranes of your nose and throat.

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Beat flu faster HERE ARE SOME NATURAL WAYS TO GET WELL, FASTER:

1. Sleep. The flu virus is extremely taxing on your immune system. Sleep will balance the hormones in your body and conserve nutrients to ensure that your body can combat the virus faster.

2. Eat foods that boost your immune system. Load your body with vitamin C by eating fruits, bell peppers and tomatoes. Stack up on beta-carotene with carrots and squash. Onions and garlic

have phytochemicals that also boost your immune system.

3. Hot chicken soup. Naturally made chicken soup has been clinically proven to help shorten a flu’s duration. It may be because of the warmth, or some chemicals from the chicken or the vegetables, but nobody’s sure. All we know is that it works.

4. Echinacea. Nature’s wonder drug,

Echinacea boosts the immune system, relieves pain and inflammation, and may have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. Echinacea supplements are available in many health shops. To be effective, take a dose at the very first sign of the flu, and every four hours after that until you are well.

Echinacea can be very potent, and may sometimes cause allergies, asthma attacks, nausea, vomiting, unpleasant taste, stomach pain, diarrhea, sore throat, dry mouth, headache, numbness of the tongue, dizziness, insomnia, disorientation, and joint and muscle aches.

If it is your first time to take it, stop as soon as you feel it is not working or develop any of the mentioned side effects. Visit a doctor. Also, do not take Echinacea if you are drinking coffee or other medications, or if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have other diseases.

In less than a week, you’d be up and about, healthy, naturally!

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The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2011 ActiveLink

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