If You Are Suffering From... The Flu (Influenza)

The flu is highly contagious virus that spread through contact with infected bodily fluids.  The virus spreads rapidly throughout the body and, aside from specific antiviral medication (like Tamiflu), is only eradicated by your body's immune system.  The video below shows how the flu spreads in your body.



This virus comes with miserable symptoms including fever, body aches, chills, diarrhea, and vomiting.  I personally subscribe to the notion that prevention is one of the best ways to deal with flu but there are helpful tools for 

 

PREVENTION

In addition to the flu vaccine, which by all accounts is the most effective preventative measure, several alternative options can help you prevent the onset of flu, including the following:

(1) Flu Vaccine - not an alternative therapy but by all accounts the most effective.
(2) Lifestyle Choices (diet, exercise, etc.) that help maintain a strong immune system.
(3) Immune Boosting Therapies:

• Echinacea is scientifically proven to help with upper respiratory infections, like the flu, according to Germany's Commission E.  
• Turmeric is also highly suspected to boost immune function (though not scientifically proven). 

(4) Sleep - the primary means for your body to focus energy on internal affairs.

 

TREATMENT

If you are unfortunate enough to be symptomatic, in addition to Tamiflu (an amazing antiviral medicine), the following alternative therapies are worth exploring:

(1) Immune Boosting Therapies:

• Echinacea is scientifically proven to help with upper respiratory infections, like the flu, according to Germany's Commission E.  
• Turmeric is also highly suspected to boost immune function (though not scientifically proven).

(2) Sleep - the primary means for your body to focus energy on internal affairs.

 

WHAT WORKED FOR ME

I have just finished a trial of Echinacea and Turmeric Tea while being in extremely close contact with confirmed flu.  Additionally, I was unable to sleep, due to the flu-driven nighttime needs of my daughter.  Though I did feel more tired than normal, I ultimately did not get the flu.  I'm sold.  

Flu Season

Flu season has hit our house.  We all got the flu vaccine this year - but have been exposed to one of the majority of flu viruses not covered by this year's vaccine.  One daughter confirmed with the flu, another highly suspected with the flu.  We took our girls to the pediatrician early enough to acquire Tamiflu, in my experience an amazing conventional treatment, for the girls.  However, as Ingrid and I are not symptomatic (yet), we are anxiously awaiting our own fates.

When it comes to contracting illness, Ingrid has a pretty good history of not contracting illness.  I have a miserable history - it's virtually guaranteed that I'll contract any illness in close proximity.  I had not done any research on alternative therapies for acute illnesses until late last night while frantically looking for a credible alternative therapy that might help fend off, reduce the duration, or reduce the intensity of any oncoming flu.

The flu, just like the common cold, is a virus (though they are different viruses) and prevention and treatment of each is generically (though not always specifically) interchangeable.  It is highly contagious and spread through contact with infected bodily fluids.  The virus spreads rapidly throughout the body and, aside from specific antiviral medication (like Tamiflu), is only eradicated by your body's immune system.  The video below shows how the flu spreads in your body.



There are a lot of alternative therapies touted on the internet to help prevent or treat the flu (many of them unsubstantiated as far as my research showed).  A common thread between some of the more plausible therapies was their purported role in boosting the body's immune system to quickly deal with any invading virus.  Under this generic guideline, my immediate reaction was to start a regimen of Turmeric Tea (not proven but highly suspected to boost immune function and/or kill viruses).    After consulting a number of the resources that I use to spearhead my own research into alternative therapies, I also ran out to the store to grab some Echinacea.  Echinacea is approved for use by Germany's Commission E (The equivalent to the US Food & Drug Administration) for treating upper respiratory infections (URIs) - though the literature I've read makes distinctions between specific plant parts and species and recommended dosages.  More to come on Echinacea in a separate blog post - but for my immediate purposes, I decided there was enough evidence in support of echinacea to make the purchase (for an in depth look, click here to read the American Botanic Council's clinical guide to echinacea).

Since Adelaide got ill, I've been coughed on (in the face), snotted on, handled dirty clothes, tissues, and blankets, and spent significant time comforting in extremely close proximity.  Although by no means scientific, if I don't get the flu I'll consider my efforts with turmeric and echinacea a likely contributing factor.  We'll know shortly...  

For more on the flu, click here to read what the CDC has to say.   

On Herbs - Turmeric

Turmeric is a shrub related to ginger and used primarily in Indian cuisine.  It is bright yellow, offering natural coloring for mustard and cheeses.  Until recently, Ingrid and I had three or four year old Turmeric in our cupboard from our few dalliances into Indian cooking.  Turmeric is widely by alternative medical practitioners and has peaked interest by the western medical community in recent years.  Most of the fuss has revolved around on particular component of turmeric, curcumin, which is a known antioxidant with very promising research to support its use for a variety of ailments including cancer and neurological disease.  Turmeric is a Group A herb for certain uses including an upset stomach and loss of appetite and a Group B herb for a wide variety of other.  For more on group classifications see the On Herbs post by clicking here. 

The Science

The science is in - Turmeric has been documented as helpful with digestive conditions such as upset stomach and loss of appetite according to Germany's Commission E (Germany's equivalent to the US Food & Drug Administration).

Additional Potential Uses

Turmeric is widely used in Indian and Chinese medicine for millenia for a variety of ailments; and there is a lot of buzz about Turmeric (actually curcumin, the active ingredient in Turmeric) these days in the western medical sphere as a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with promise for use in preventing and/or treating cancer, neurological disease, bacteria and viral infections, heart disease, chronic and autoimmune ailments and, quite honestly a host of other ailments including but not limited to diarrhea, fever, bronchitis, colds, parasitic worms, leprosy, bladder and kidney inflammations, bruises, leech bites, festering eye infections, mouth inflammations, skin conditions, and infected wounds, chronic coughs, and colds. Many studies in animals a the laboratory have identified these potential uses - and trials on humans are currently under way (as of 2014).  It will be a few years until the results of these studies are known and published, but I think it likely that the health benefits of Turmeric will be validated for a number of these uses.

My Personal Experience

I started to dabble in turmeric tea a short time ago during a bout of nausea.  I drank turmeric tea once or twice a day for a week and the nausea completely subsided.  In every instance since where I feel nauseated, bloated, or otherwise off a few doses of turmeric tea help.  I am ready to move on to daily turmeric pills to see if I can't reap long-term preventative benefits. 

Preparations

Turmeric Capsules
Turmeric Tea

Click here for the alternative road recipe page, which will include recipes for all preparations listed.

Additional Resources

The University of Maryland discusses the science and current studies on turmeric.  Click here to read what the University of Maryland has to say on the subject.

The American Cancer Society discusses the science and current studies on turmeric.  Click here to read what the American Cancer Society has to say on the subject.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a Natural Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) that talks about the science on Turmeric.  Click here to read what the NIH NCCAM has to say on the subject.