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The Flu: Prevention and TreatmentInfluenza (commonly called "the flu")
and the common cold are different illnesses which share some of the
same symptoms and it is important to distinguish between them. The flu
is of course more serious than a cold and can lead to extreme fatigue,
high fever, and even death. Symptoms The flu seasons, which are when
flu affects the greatest number of people, are in early winter and late
spring. The symptoms which are common to both the cold and the flu are:
sneezing, stuffed up nose, sore throat, and some degree of fatigue.
However, its possible that you have the flu if the following symptoms
are also present: Symptoms Which Indicate The Probability Of The Flul
Fever above 100 degrees (F) l Chills/Sweats l Dry, painful, raspy cough
l Extreme degree of fatigue l Persistent headache In children the flu
may have a different presentation and can include the following
symptoms: l Fever
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l Diarrhea l Stuffy nose l Sore throat l Vomiting In individuals over
65, the main presenting symptoms can include: l Fever above 99 degrees
(F) l Weakness l Confusion l Nasal congestion Allergies can also mimic
the symptoms of the flu especially if there are, in addition to the
above: watery eyes, itchy or scratchy throat, itchy nose, and frequent
sneezing.Should Antibiotics Be Used Against The Flu? The flu is caused
by a virus: the influenza virus. Since antibiotics are only effective
against bacteria, they will never help anyone get rid of the flu. They
will cause resistant strains of bacteria to colonize your throat,
bronchial tree, lungs, intestines, and other tissues making it
difficult to treat any subsequent bacterial infections. And they may
have additional harmful and unnecessary side effects. The only time
antibiotics are indicated is if the flu is accompanied by a severe
bronchitis or pneumonia.What Can I Do Through Ayurveda To Prevent The
Flu Or Relieve My Flu Symptoms? Diet. Include the following foods in
the diet: oranges, grapefruit, red grapes, guava, blueberries,
strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, yogurt, shitake mushroom (contains
lentinan a known antiviral), spinach, broccoli (lightly steamed),
carrots, kale, pumpkin, pumpkin seeds (for zinc), wheat germ (for
vitamin E), flax seed oil (for omega 3 fatty acid), green tea. Avoid
white sugar and animal fat as much as possible for their
immuno-suppressant activity.Herbal Medicines. The purpose of using
herbal medicines in the treatment of the flu is to increase the body's
innate immune response against the virus. There are several herbs which
have been found to help in this regard. The following herbs are best
used in combination: l Kantakari (Solanum surattense) l Guggulu
(Commiphora mukul) l Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia) l Guduchi (Tinospora
cordifolia)
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l Trikatu (a mixture of the 3 pungents: pippali, adrak, and maricha) l
Kushtha (Saussurea lappa) l Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) l
Yashti-madhhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) l Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)In
addition, Chywanprash which is a fruit paste made from amalaki fruit
plus forty-six herbs is renown for protecting against flu and flu-like
sundromes.Spices. The following spices can definitely help
prevent/relieve flu symptoms: Garlic (contains alliin) Ginger Cayenne
Pepper (contains capsaicin) Horseradish (contains allyl isothiocyanate)
Mustard If Your Flu Symptoms Do Not Subside...Then What? Bear in mind
that a generalized weakness and fatigue may normally persist for up to
three weeks. However, sometimes this is due to an underlying
respiratory infection and should be treated by a physician to avoid
complications. Therefore it is important to always tell your physician
about symptoms which persist more than two weeks. This is especially
important if you are a smoker or suffer from asthma, emphysema, heart
disease, or chronic liver disease. Viral and bacterial pneumonia,
bronchitis, sinusitis, the "croup", and asthma are among the
consequences of the flu which should be promptly treated. Older people
who have diabetes, kidney disease, anemia, or heart conditions may have
a weakened immune system and may be more prone to flu's
complications.How To Avoid Getting The Flu Again. Besides getting the
annual flu vaccination, there is no way to absolutely eliminate the
possibility. However following the above recommendations will
strengthen the immune system and make any illness less severe and of
shorter duration.