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Flu usually starts suddenly with chills, fever, aching muscles and sneezing. Soon you may develop a sore throat, a dry cough, sensitive skin, painful eyes, weakness and a headache. You probably won’t feel hungry. The fever accompanying flu generally lasts from three to five days. It is common to feel run-down for some weeks after these symptoms have passed.

Popularly known as flu, influenza is caused by a number of similar viruses. It occurs more often in winter and sometimes reaches epidemic proportions. It spreads quikly, especially in schools and institution , but those in poor health should see their doctor.

Flu viruses have an apparently infinite capacity to mutate, so building up resistance to one strain doesn’t guarantee immunity to its successor.

At the first sign of flu, gargle morning and night of antiseptic tea tree and geranium oils in half a glass of warm water.

Both colds and flu can cause a sore throat, cough and runny nose. Although there’s usually no mistaking flu because of the severity of symptoms, the only sure way of distinguishing a bad cold from flu is for your doctor to send nose and throat swabs to a lab. However, this is rarely necessary.

PREVENTION

Try to improve your resistance to infection before the winter flu season gets underway, if you still get the flu, it may be a milder case.

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Get some aerobic exercise each day.
• Take a daily multiple vitamin and mineral supplement (including beta-carotene, vitamin C and E, flavonoids and the minerals selenium and zinc)
• Try not to get too tired or too stressed.
• Don’t expose yourself to crowds when there are cases of the flu around.
• Take echinacea  tea , tincture or tablets daily.
• Eat garlic pr take garlic tablets daily.
• Try taking a course of the herb goldenseal, which is mildly antibiotic, to help combat infection.

TREATMENT

Treat flu carefully because it can cause serious complications. Stay at home so that you don’t spread infection, and stay in bed because you need your strength to fight the flu viruses. Follow the recommendations for reducing fever and cold diet .

Be wary of over-the counter medicines that may mask symptoms and make you think you can be up and about when you’re  actually still sick. Stay home for at least one day after your temperature has returned to normal.

• Drink plenty of nonalcoholic, caffeine-free fluids, including water, fruit juice , barley water.[see illustration] and herbal teas [see herbal remedies on this page below]. Sipping warm blackcurrant cordial may soothe your sore throat even as it  provides extra vitamin C, which helps fight infection.

Herbal remedies

• Drink Echinacea tea threetimes a day, or take tablets or capsules according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• A tea made from elderflowers, peppermint, yarrow and catnip may bring down a fever and reduce aches and pains.
• Elderberry extract may help stop flu viruses from multiplying.

Caution for safety concerns about the use of herbs.

Aromatherapy

• Soothe congestion with steam inhalations, scented with few drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil.
• Cajeput oil helps reduce fever and ease aching muscles. Add two drops of this essential oil to a tablespoon of jojoba oil and smooth behind the ears, over forehead, on each side of your nose and your chest four times a day . Or add six to eight drops of cajuput oil to a warm [not hot] bath. Do not use this oil if you are in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Homeopathy

• Aconite: if you suddenly become feverish, especially after catching a chill.
• Allium cepa: an all- purpose cold and flu remedy, if you have a very runny nose with a burning discharge.
• Eupatorium: if the aching feels as though it is penetrating your bones.
• Gelsemium: if shivering and shaking are predominant symptoms.

When to get medical help

• You are no better ater a week or your symptoms worsen after three or four days.
• Symptoms remain after four weeks or recur,
• You cough up lots of green or yellow phlegm.
• You are among those for whom flu immunization is especially recommended.

Get help right away if:

• You experience chest pain or breathlessness.
• You have a stiff neck, a severe headaches, an aversion to bright light , a rash, confusion or severe joint pain,
• You cough up blood.

See also: Colds, Coughs, Fever, Headache, Sore throat.

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