Flu season has arrived.

The onset of winter brings with it the danger of influenza or flu, the disease is gradually turning out to be a perilous epidemic and leaves the patient in vulnerable position. The phenomenal rise in people suffering from flu is also a matter of concern for experts.

Defining Influenza or Flu: Commonly occurring in winters Influenza or flu is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. There are two main types of mutating virus: A and B. Type A virus tends to cause more severe illness than type B. Influenza affects people of all age groups but it is most Anyone can get influenza, but it is most serious in elderly, in people with chronic underlying illnesses such as cancer, emphysema or diabetes or in those with weakened immune systems. The worst part of the disorder is its contagiousness; the disorder is highly transmittable, even a slight contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person during coughing and sneezing is enough to get prone to the disorder.

Avian Flu and its Human transmission: Widely known as bird Flu, Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The influence of Avian Flu viruses is not common in species except for birds and pigs but the incident occurring in Hongkong in 1997 was a setback. The H5N1 virus affected 18 people out of which 6 died. H5N1 is of particular concern for several reasons. H5N1 mutates rapidly and has a documented propensity to acquire genes from viruses infecting other animal species. Its ability to cause severe disease in humans has now been acknowledged on two occasions. Studies reveal that isolates from this virus have a high pathogenicity and can cause severe disease in humans.

Is Tamiflu a Savior?

Approved by the FDA on October 27, 1999 Roche’s Tamiflu (Oseltamivir Phosphate) is a medicine to treat flu. Belonging to a group of medicines called Neuraminidase Inhibitors these medications attack the influenza virus and prevent it from spreading inside your body. Tamiflu is highly effectual in treating adults, adolescents, and pediatric patients 1year of age and older with the flu whose flu symptoms started within the last day or two. It is also handy in reducing the chance of getting the flu in people age 13 and older who have a higher chance of getting the flu because they spend time with someone who has the flu. Tamiflu can also reduce the chance of getting the flu if there is a flu outbreak in the community.

Why Tamiflu?

The fact that makes Tamiflu the best medication available against influenza is that it is anti-viral. Even antibiotics can kill bacteria but they are not effective against viral infection and since flu is a viral infection it deserves treatment through an anti-viral medication, which is Tamiflu. The product (Tamiflu) is a Neuraminidase Inhibitors and treats the cause of influenza infection by inhibiting the critical neuraminidase protein on the surface of the virus. Buy Tamiflu and rid your self from the dangerous consequences of Flu. Others common medications available for flu are Amantadine and Rimantadine.

‘Tis the season, when the latest versions of flu test our immune systems. As varied as the viruses are, they have one thing in common — they thrive in acidic environments and die off in alkaline ones.

We are talking about the pH of our bloodstream, pH being that range between acidity and alkalinity. Viruses will not survive in a blood pH nearer neutral or slightly alkaline. They will thrive in an acidic bloodstream.

So, along the lines of prevention, we want to keep our blood nearer neutral in pH. How? By eating predominantly: fruits, vegetables, some seafoods, beans, nuts and seeds. A proportion of 80% alkaline-forming foods to 20% acid-forming will keep our systems healthy and flu-free.

Of course, acid-forming foods, such as wheats, meats and dairy are fine in balance (i.e., 20% of what we eat). Good to avoid completely are processed “foods” (whatever comes in boxes, cans and packages), junk and snack “foods,” sugars and corn syrups, soft drinks — you know, the stuff most of us like that wreak more havoc than we can imagine.

And let’s not forget the big mental and emotional contributors to acidic pH: stressed and negative thinking. This actually converts into very acidic physical toxins in our bodies. Excellent antidotes for this bad habit include learning meditation, breathing deeply, or just deciding to “let it go.”

Other prevention options include:

* Squeezing the juice of one lemon into a glass of filtered or spring warm water first thing every morning. The same goes for a half teaspoon of baking soda.

* Drinking several drops of Glyco-Thymoline or Alka-Thyme in water (available at many health food or drug stores) first thing every day.

* Drinking a tiny scoop of Nano-Cal in water once or twice daily (my personal favorite alkalizer, which also helps reverse thinning bones and teeth), available from http://cocoonnutrition.org.

What about environment? Ever think the air ducts in our homes could be a problem? Well, my parents would get a bad flu every year when the house heat came up. When I finally convinced them to have their duct work cleaned out some years back (Sears does it, as do some other companies), they have not once gotten an autumn cold or flu since. Their ducts had never been cleaned since the house was built in the ’40s. Over an inch of thick black soot coated the ducts, an effective breeding ground for every year’s germs that got recirculated and inhaled every time the heat came up.

It’s amazing what can be found in those ducts. This also applies to central-air-conditioned homes. We can’t do much about the offices and schools most of us spend hours a day in, but at least we can get a more recuperative sleep at night at home.

We didn’t mention flu shots as a preventive simply because of a longitudinal study by Johns-Hopkins, which reported that people who had gotten five consecutive flu shots in five years have a 10 times greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s. That’s because of the high concentration of heavy metals used in making this — and all other — vaccines. Side-effects from heavy metals are too numerous and serious to be a sensible prevention, in this author’s thinking.

We also didn’t mention anti-biotics because they do not treat viruses. They are effective (in moderation) against bacteria, like the staph and strep that cause sinus infections and sore throats. Make sure, though, that you do a round of probiotics afterwards, to restore the intestinal population of “good guys” which anti-biotics also knock out along with the “bad guys.”

But nature also has an alternative for bacteria, staph and strep, one that has no side-effects. This is a bee product, called propolis. Propolis lines the hives, which are 100% free from viruses, fungus, microbes, bacteria — better than any O.R. can claim.

What if it’s too late for prevention? If you feel a cold or flu just coming on, still in the first day or so, any of these suggestions may help nip it in the bud:

* Two capsules of cayenne pepper powder with a large glass of water. This will flush your arteries and kill the virus. (Not recommended for sensitive stomachs.)

* Squeeze the juice of two fresh lemons into a quart of orange juice (fresh squeezed is nice, but a brand with no sugar added will do). Take a half hour to an hour to sip this on an empty stomach. It will temporarily alkalize your bloodstream and defeat the virus.

* Take about 10,000 mg of vitamin C powder in a large glass of water. It may send you to the bathroom, but it will flush out the invader, too.

* Put several drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution into one ear while lying down on your side. Let it fizz up. When it’s done, roll over and let it drain out onto a tissue or paper towel. Then do the other ear the same way.

Yes, this last one is weird but it works for most colds and flus. The new thought on this is that the virus enters the body through the ear just as often as it does through the nose. I wonder if people with long hair have fewer colds and flu….?

If a cold or flu has advanced beyond the first day, the “rest in bed and drink plenty of fluids” will help shorten the course of recovery. It will also spare the rest of us from catching it, thank you very much.

It seems like as soon as cold weather hits each year, people start coughing and sneezing.

This Bird Flu supplement is designed to inform readers what can be done in the short term if an outbreak of Avian Influenza becomes a concern in this country.

Avian Influenza, or Bird Flu, is a strain of the influenza type A virus found in birds. There is currently a large amount of concern over this disease and it’s most recent strain H5N1, which has been shown to be highly deadly if contracted by humans.

This strain, which was previously thought to be localized to south east Asia, has shown up in over 14 countries, and while most infections are from direct contact with diseased birds, it has recently been shown to jump from human to human in extreme cases. The main concern of health authorities at this stage is if the virus develops the ability to easily transmit itself from human to human (like the common flu viruses we are used to) it could mean a global pandemic with millions of lives at risk.

The best course of action to be taken in the event of an outbreak is to keep informed and healthy as possible during the outbreak, by following common sense and some other simple and practical guidelines.

Our government and many others around the world have stockpiled drugs and treatments and have contingency plans for distribution of these in place. You will have more chance of survival by following these guidelines and waiting for the drugs to be distributed, than you will storming hospitals and doctors surgeries in a panic demanding drugs and treatment. History has shown this will happen, so be informed and don’t be part of the mania.

1. Avoid non-essential travel and large crowds, especially enclosed spaces with little ventilation. There has been some argument over the effectiveness of masks against Bird Flu, but if you absolutely have to be around large groups it couldn’t hurt.

2. Maintain vigilant hygiene, and enforce it on others in your home. Wash hands frequently. Avoid touching your face with hands that haven’t been washed. Clean and disinfect hard surfaces, door handles, kitchens and other high contact areas frequently.

3. Cover nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing.

4. At any sign of illness or infection, take common medicines you should have around the house for treating common influenza. These may include ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin. It won’t cure the infected, but could reduce severity of symptoms and buy the infected some more time before proper treatment is distributed.

By following the simple tips and guidelines laid out in this Bird Flu supplement, you should have more chance at avoiding illness and infection, and the means to deal with infection if it should happen to you or your family. Much of it seems like common sense, but in a pandemic situation, there is nothing more uncommon than common sense.

Cancun swine flu as it’s called is not a new strain of the infamous swine flu virus we have become accustomed to hearing about. It is usually made in reference to an outbreak of swine flu in the Mexican resort, Cancun.

Cancun is on the Yucatan Peninsular

So it appears to me that it is fair to say that we have a partial outbreak of Dog Flu in the United States, the question is, how do we put a stop to it? Aside from prophylaxis (prevention) which we are not even sure we can say we know how to properly administer, what do we do in order to keep ourselves safe from the condition? “There is no evidence that it can infect people,” said Dr. Ruben Donis of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who has published a report on the new virus in the journal Science. This said, how can he be sure of this based on the short time that the Canine strain has been prevalent?”

Health experts in the animal field know this strain of virus as an equine strain of flu that has been in circulation for the last 40 years. The troubling question that nobody knows the answer to as of yet is how this flu strain mutated in dogs being what was originally thought of as a specific horse flu?

Being that this is a relatively new strain of flu, health experts can not say for sure if we humans are at risk due to the lack of exposure that we have had to this specific flu strain: however the odds are very unlikely due to the fact that throughout time, not one person has become infected while handling a horse that had the virus.

As a dog owner it is hard to know what to do. Do we shelter our dogs remanding them to a life of indoor living, or do we continue on treating them the same way we do now? Health experts will say to do the latter, however is that their way of trying to defuse the situation, I can not say for sure.

With or without medication, the cold or the flu can give you real trouble. You can choose from a variety of medications that can give you some relief in symptoms or you can take the natural approach that may prevent, speed your recovery and help you to feel better along the way.

When is coming to children a cold or flu or other upper respiratory infection can also ends in an ear infection – acute otitis media – that appear in the space behind the eardrum, that is called the middle ear.

This is very common in children younger than age 8, as their immature ear can be easily infected. Their Eustachian tube (the tube that connects the throat and the middle ear) is shorter, softer and more horizontal which is more easily blocked by secretions than those of older children or adults. Also, very exposed could be infants because of their sucking habit. Always keep a breast or bottle feeding baby under an angle to prevent entering the liquid into theirs immature ear.

During a cold, throat infection, allergy or other upper respiratory infection, the Eustachian tube swells and prevents air from entering the middle ear, leading to allowing the secretions to enter to the middle ear and be trapped there. This leads to viruses and bacteria to grow and cause infection.

Using salt therapy you can prevent or reduce the symptoms in cold, flu or ear infection. If your baby has a stuffy nose and has difficulty breast- or bottle feeding or seems to be short of breath, the Salin device is the best. Using Salin during the night, while sleeps, your baby won’t wake you up because of the stuffy nose. He or she will be able to breathe normally, the inhaled saline will open the airways, will clean secretions and kill bacteria, reducing the duration of cold or flu and preventing an ear infection.

In the range of 0.1-2.5 microns – the same size as the most damaging micro particles from auto and industrial pollution, and invisible to the human eye — the micro particles of salt penetrate into every corner of the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli and deposit upon the surface, cleaning secretions, killing microbes and bacteria, leading in turn to a reduction in inflammation. Acting as a mucokinetic, they restore the normal transport of mucus and unclog blockages in the bronchi and bronchioles and upper respiratory tract. The inhaled saline (NaCl) is hydrophilic, so it absorbs the edema from the mucosa lining the airway passages.

In the bronchial tree: Absorption of the inflammatory edema from the mucosa lining the bronchial tree, causing asthma, will be diminished, leading to widening of the airway passages. Also, it humidifies and fluidizes the bronchial secretions in the bronchial tree leading to the relief of the broncho- spasm assisting and improving the treatment of asthma.
In the nose and para-nasal sinuses, edema of the nasal mucosa, causing nasal obstruction, will be diminished, leading to widening of the airway passage in the nose and the tubes of the sinuses and improves the sinuses drainage.

In the auditory tube: Edema of the Eustachian tube mucosa, causing obstruction and otitis media, will be diminished, leading to widening of the airway passages, better drainage of the inflammatory secretions & better aeration behind the tympanic membrane (drum).

The hygiene of the respiratory tract has a very important place in treating an preventing a respiratory infection or ear infection. Here are some tips:

1. Use Salin device and Salt Pipe to clean all the respiratory tract.

2. Correctly blow your nose often – don’t blow your nose hardly as the pressure can carry secretions back into your ear passages. Press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently the other.

3. Clean your nose with saline solution: mix 1.25 g salt in 1 cup warm water (body temperature) or you can also add in half-half quantities salt and baking soda. Put few drops in every nostril.

4. Place an extra pillow under your head creating an angle. The best way is to place it under the mattress to create a smooth slope. This will help with nasal congestion and also prevent ear infection.

For more information, kindly refer to the website.

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Because of concern about flu shot side effects, many people are interested in homeopathic remedies for flu viruses, while others focus on protecting and maintaining a healthy immune system. Here we look at typical flu shot side effects, as well as some homeopathic remedies for flu viruses.

Homeopathic healers, herbalists, doctors of natural medicine and conventional medical doctors all have differing opinions about how best to protect yourself from and/or treat the flu. These professionals may also have differing opinions about flu shot side effects and about whether or not everyone should get an annual flu shot. There is no question that some people are definitely more likely to contract viruses like colds and flus. The flu poses a greater risk to people who have a weakened immune system, because they are more likely to contract the virus and they are more likely to develop complications from the virus. Homeopathic remedies for flu might not be the best choice for someone with a weakened immune system.

Once a person contracts the flu, natural and homeopathic remedies for flu are just as effective as any other treatment. Anti-viral medications are available and may be recommended for some high risk individuals, but they must be taken with the first two days after symptoms appear. Because of concern over flu shot side effects, many people do not take the shot, but should make efforts to protect, boost and maintain a healthy immune system, particularly during cold and flu season.

Typical flu shot side effects include fever, body aches and soreness, redness or swelling at the point where the shot was given. The nasal spray vaccine is different, because it contains live weakened flu viruses and may cause runny nose, headache, sore throat and cough. These are no more desirable than flu shot side effects, but some prefer the nasal spray vaccine because it is preservative free. Thimerosal, a mercury based preservative, was commonly used in flu shots, until recently and was believed to add to the list of possible flu shot side effects. Now, there are preservative free flu shots, but it may be necessary to request them, specifically.

Homeopathic remedies for flu would differ form herbal remedies and preventatives, because homeopathic healers view illnesses differently. After looking at all of an individual’s symptoms, homeopathic remedies for flu or other conditions are chosen that would cause those same symptoms if taken at higher dosages. It is referred to as treating same with same. Those who choose to use homeopathic remedies for flu or other conditions should follow directions carefully and discontinue use if symptoms worsen or if new symptoms develop.

If you prefer to avoid possible flu shot side effects and homeopathic remedies for flu sound unappealing to you. You can still protect yourself by using herbal, vitamin and mineral products that have been shown in scientific studies to effectively boost the immune system, relieve flu symptoms, reduce recovery time and reduce the likelihood of developing life threatening complications, such as pneumonia. Unlike flu shot side effects and homeopathic remedies for flu viruses, these products are completely safe and have no unwanted side effects.

Influenza – The most dreaded infectious disease

If you want to know about the highly contagious disease influenza, want to know how it is caused, and how to treat it effectively, read on. This page can help you get basic information that you may need at the time of an influenza outbreak.

What is influenza?

Influenza is an infection caused by a virus of the respiratory tract. Influenza is a very contagious infection and can easily break into a pandemic. You may catch this infection from an infected person who is travelling with you or is working with you or from an infected family member. Influenza virus may infect others around even if the infected person has no illness symptoms. Influenza viruses can enter the body through the mucous membranes in the mouth, eyes, or nose.

Influenza is also known as ‘flu’ and crops up mostly in winter between October and March. The symptoms of influenza are as follows:

Fever – usually continuous and may be lower in older adults than in children and young people Muscle pain and body aches – often severe, usually in the arms, back and legs Headache – severe pain Loss of appetite – mainly due to a feeling of illness or fatigue Dry cough, sore throat or runny nose – more visible when the fever goes away

Other symptoms are usually more severe, when fever is high. Symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea are not related to influenza as opposed to what most people believe.

Causes for influenza

Influenza is caused by flu viruses. There are mainly three types of flu viruses – type A, type B and type C. The viruses change or mutate constantly and different strains emerge that circulate around the world every year. Type A and B are the most severe strains of viruses. Of the three viruses, type C either causes very mild illness, or has no symptoms at all. It does not cause epidemics and does not have the severe public health impact like influenza types A and B.

Influenza viruses are well known to mutate over time, therefore, new vaccines have to be developed constantly. Old vaccines may not help against a new form of virus.

Influenza viruses spread from one person to another through cough or sneeze droplets. Influenza can also be transmitted by indirect contact with a contaminated object or surface and then with your own mouth, eyes, or nose before washing your hands.

Treatment available for influenza

There are certain treatments available for influenza. They are called antiviral medicines. These treatments do not have the ability to cure the virus but can reduce the severity and symptoms of influenza by stopping the spreading of the influenza viruses. Some effective treatments can reduce the duration of the illness caused by influenza and improve health speedily.

Consult a doctor within two days of seeing signs and symptoms of influenza. You can also get a prescription treatment called Tamiflu for influenza. This treatment is used for prevention as well as treatment of influenza and has shown promising results in clinical trials. Tamiflu also eases flu symptoms and gives relief from the disease.

Tamiflu (oseltamivir) as the best influenza treatment

Tamiflu is a unique medication and helps in treatment as well as prevention of influenza. It is also recommended by World Health Organization in case of influenza pandemic and bird flu outbreak. Tamiflu is a safe and effective drug; however, it would be misleading to say that it is the best influenza treatment. Different people react differently to medications and hence you might find Tamiflu good but someone else might not. It is best to follow a doctor’s instructions in any case.