Got a Flu, Now what?

by Derek Cook, Naturopathic Doctor

At this point you are probably miserable and annoyed you caught the bug. So now what? Most of us have a set routine; maybe it is over the counter medications or something else. In this article I have given you some solid tips that I have used for myself, my kids and for my patients.

As mentioned in my previous newsletter article hate having a flu, taking Vitamin C right away at first set of symptoms has been one of the best ways for me to prevent a long suffering of cold and flu symptoms. I also suggested Deep Immune tincture. These suggestions really work well at the beginning of symptoms, nip it in the bud kind of strategies.

Once you are head deep into the symptoms such as fever, headache, congestion, full on sore throat, earaches and maybe even vomiting, the suggestions given up to now are of limited value. Now we have to switch to modes and start reduce the suffering while supporting our natural immune systems process of eliminating infections.

Sometimes we need to speed up recovery and limit our time away from work or to be able to get through a working day, lets face it most of us are busy and it becomes stressful to take time off. Ideally we should be taking that time off and getting plenty of liquids and lots of sleep. If you need some relief and speed up recovery, then you will want to see my list of home care remedies below.

First, it is important to understand when a fever is dangerous and when its not. This is important because we do not want to suppress a fever which is less than 38.5^oC /101^oF with medication, a “normal’ fever helps circulating lymphocytes create a 10 fold in IFN-gamma activity, essential for fighting viruses! Also, medication such as acetaminophen reduces your natural antioxidant mechanism, glutathione. Let the fever run its course! Or else, you might unknowingly compromise your immune system and get into recurrent frequent infections. And lets face it, who needs that!

If you have a high fever, above 38.5^oC /101^oF, that persists, or you are experiencing severe symptoms (i.e. difficulty breathing) go to emergency room!   Note fever temperature for kids is higher. In both cases it is best to discuss with a trained health care professional.

Here are my homecare remedies:

• “Starve a fever, feed a cold”, by not eating large meals, you will naturally shift the immune system to fight viral infections. In all likelihood, you won’t have much of an appetite. Always be sure to stay well hydrated.
• Cough, runny nose and lower fever: Probiotics have shown to reduce these symptoms.
• Coughs and upset stomach: Glycyrrhiza (licorice).
• Nausea and vomiting: A couple of slices of ginger in warm water.
• Sinus headaches, runny noses and congestion: *Steam inhalation (see below for instructions). You can also do wet sock treatment, which will start to work after 1^st treatment but works best if you do it over 3 nights. Before going to bed for the night, place cotton socks that have been drenched with warm water (and wrung out so they are not dripping) on both feet. Quickly place heavy wool socks over these and leave them on overnight while you sleep. Make sure you have a warm blanket or you will wake up with cold feet. In the morning remove them. Repeat as necessary. This pulls the congestion away from your head and sinuses.
• Earaches and sore throats: Poultice are great. For the ears you want to use freshly dice onions, place in a cheesecloth, tie and cover ear(s) for 20 minutes until the aching stops. With my kids, I get them to wear a thin hat/toque to hold the poultice. This can be repeated as often as needed. We use a carrot poultice for sore throats. Use a cheesecloth and place a ½-1 cup of fresh shredded carrots. Place this on the neck until symptoms abate.

Remember, some factors that decrease our overall immune system and lend to a higher potential of catching the flu are fear, stress, poor diets and poor sleep.

Stay healthy my friends but if you happen to find yourself in a bind, now you have some solid tools to handle the suffering, naturally!

 

 

*Instructions for Steam inhalation:

This method of introducing warm, moist air into the lungs via the nose and throat for therapeutic benefit as been around for hundreds of years and has typically been used with essential oils.

This a simple and effective home remedy for upper respiratory issue by acting like an expectorant, helping relax muscles and reduce excessive drying of mucous membranes. It also improves circulation and supports the immune system

Uses: cold & flu, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, allergies, sore throats, headaches, clogged pores.

Steps:     ***Caution, use of hot water. Take precautions to avoid burning***

1. Boil water and add to a large bowl (big enough for entire face).
2. Add 2-5 drops of essential oil (Eucalyptus, Tea Tree or other) and cover with a large or medium towel.
3. When ready, cover head and bowl with towel and gently breath at first to gauge the sharpness of the essential oil. Don’t breath too deeply at first.
4. Once comfortable, begin to breath in slowly and deeply through mouth and nose. Allow any mucous to discharge into the bowl. Continue for 10-15 min, adding essential drops as necessary.
5. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day, especially useful just before bed.
6. Do not use with small children, caution in pregnancy and heart conditions.