VACCINE FREE: Now What? INFLUENZA ESSENTIALS. By Donna Powers RCSHom, CCH, RSHom (NA)

Transcription

1 VACCINE FREE: Now What? INFLUENZA ESSENTIALS By Donna Powers RCSHom, CCH, RSHom (NA)

2 Influenza PART 1: THE DISEASE & IT S SYMPTOMS 1. Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. Although the flu affects both sexes and all age groups, kids tend to get it more often than adults. The illness even has its own season from November to April, with most cases occurring between late December and early March. Signs & Symptoms The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms are usually more severe than the typical sneezing and stuffiness of a cold. Symptoms of the flu may include: fever cough sore throat nausea or vomiting chills headache dizziness loss of appetite tiredness ear pain weakness muscle aches diarrhea runny nose Infants with the flu may simply seem sick all of a sudden or "just don't look right." The flu discussed here is not the same strain of virus as the avian flu. 2

3 Duration After 5 days, fever and other symptoms have usually disappeared, but a cough and weakness may continue. All symptoms are usually gone within a week or two. However, it's important to treat the flu seriously because it can lead to pneumonia and other lifethreatening complications, particularly in infants, senior citizens, and people with longterm health problems. Contagiousness Spread by virus-infected droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air, the flu is contagious. People infected with the flu are contagious from a day before they feel sick until their symptoms have resolved (usually about 1 week for adults, but can be up to 2 weeks for young kids). The flu usually occurs in small outbreaks, but epidemics tend to occur every several years. Epidemics (when the illness spreads rapidly and affects many people in an area at the same time) peak within 2 or 3 weeks after the first cases occur. About the Flu Vaccine The flu vaccine usually is offered between September and mid-november, although it may be given at other times of the year. It reduces the average person's chances of catching the flu by up to 80% during flu season. Because the vaccine prevents infection with only a few of the viruses that can cause flu-like symptoms, it isn't a guarantee against getting sick. But even if someone who's gotten the shot gets the flu, symptoms usually will be fewer and milder. Flu vaccines are available as a shot or nasal mist. Given as an injection, the flu shot contains killed flu viruses that will not cause the flu, but will prepare the body to fight off infection by the live flu virus. Getting a shot of the killed virus means a person is protected against that particular type of live flu virus if he or she comes into contact with it. Because the nasal mist contains weakened live flu viruses, it is not for people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions. It is only for healthy, nonpregnant people between the ages of 2 and 49 years. 3

4 People who got the vaccine last year aren't protected from getting the flu this year because the protection wears off and flu viruses constantly change. That's why the vaccine is updated each year to include the most current strains of the virus. Kids under 9 who get a flu shot for the first time will receive two separate shots a month apart. It can take about 2 weeks after the shot for the body to build up protection to the flu. Getting the shot before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or protection from, the virus. Although you can get a flu shot well into flu season, it's best to try to get it earlier rather than later. However, even as late as January there are still 2 or 3 months left in the flu season, so it's still a good idea to get protection. About the Flu Vaccine In times when the vaccine is in short supply, certain people need it more than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often will recommend that certain high-risk groups be given priority when flu shot supplies are limited. The CDC does not anticipate a shortage this year, but it's difficult to predict how many doses will be used. Call your doctor or local public health department about vaccine availability in your area. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the CDC currently recommend that these high-risk groups be given the flu shot: kids 6 59 months old anyone 50 years and older women who will be pregnant during the flu season anyone who lives or works with infants under 6 months old residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes any adult or child with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma health-care personnel who have direct contact with patients kids ages 6 months to 18 years on long-term aspirin therapy out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of anyone in any of the high-risk groups 4

5 People who should not get the flu shot include: infants under 6 months old anyone who's severely allergic to eggs and egg products (ingredients for flu shots are grown inside eggs, so tell your doctor if your child is allergic to eggs or egg products before he or she gets a flu shot) anyone who's ever had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination anyone with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare condition that affects the immune system and nerves anyone with a fever Preventing the Flu From Spreading There's no guaranteed way including being vaccinated to prevent anyone from getting the flu. Avoiding large crowds can help, but it's often impossible to keep kids cooped up. Here are some practical ways to help prevent the spread of the flu: Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Never pick up used tissues. Never share cups and eating utensils Stay home from work or school when you're sick with the flu. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Conventional Treatment Cases of the flu rarely require specific medical treatment. But some kids with chronic medical conditions may become sicker with the flu and need to be hospitalized, and flu in an infant can also be dangerous. For a severely ill child or one with other special circumstances, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine that can ease flu symptoms, but only if it's given within 48 hours of the onset of the flu. 5

6 These at-home tips can help most otherwise healthy kids cope with the flu. Have them: drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration get plenty of sleep and take it easy take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and aches (but do not give aspirin unless your doctor instructs you to do so) wear layers, since the flu often makes them cold one minute and hot the next (wearing layers like a T-shirt, sweatshirt, and robe makes it easy to add or subtract clothes as needed) When to Call the Doctor Call the doctor if your child: has flu symptoms has a high temperature seems to get better, but then feels worse than before has any trouble breathing, seems confused, or seems to be getting worse For the most part, though, the flu is usually gone in a week or two with a little rest and tender loving care. Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD Date reviewed: October Related concepts: Influenza For many people, cold and flu have become an inseparable pair, like salt and pepper or New Year's and weight loss. Walking down the "cold and flu" aisle of any drugstore, you will find stacks of bright boxes with bold claims of help for those suffering from a cold or the flu. Since the two illnesses share some similar symptoms, and both come during "cold and flu season," the two often run together in people's minds. We have a vague idea that they are different, but if pressed, have a hard time saying exactly how. The cold is much more common. The flu is much more serious. 6

7 What is it? A single family of viruses the influenza viruses causes the flu. Unlike with the common cold, both adults and children with the flu generally have a fever and feel sick all over. For the great majority of people, the illness is quite unpleasant but not dangerous. However, the flu can be quite a serious illness. The most deadly recent worldwide outbreak was the flu epidemic at the beginning of the 20th century, which killed more than 20 million people. Even today, more than 20,000 people in the United Sates die from the flu each year. This number is a small percentage of those who get the flu (much less than one percent). They are primarily those who are weak from advanced age or a major illness. Still, about one percent of otherwise healthy children get sick enough from the flu to be hospitalized. Who gets it? Most people get the flu once every year or two or three unless they are vaccinated. It can happen at any age, but is most common among school-aged children. The flu is most common during the winter months. What are the symptoms? The flu can take many forms. It is not, primarily, tummy flu. Classically, the flu begins abruptly, with a fever in the 102 to 106 degree range, a flushed face, body aches, and marked lack of energy. Some people have other systemic symptoms such as dizziness or vomiting. The fever usually lasts for a day or two, but can last five days. Somewhere between day 2 and day 4 of the illness, the "whole body" symptoms begin to subside, and respiratory symptoms begin to increase. The virus can settle anywhere in the respiratory tract, producing symptoms of a cold, croup, sore throat, bronchiolitis, ear infection, and/or pneumonia. The most prominent of the respiratory symptoms is usually a dry, hacking cough. Most people also develop a sore (red) throat and a headache. Nasal discharge and sneezing are not uncommon. The initial symptoms of inhalational anthrax can be similar to those of the flu. 7

8 Is it contagious? The flu is very contagious. It can be spread by airborne, droplet, or contact transmission and by fomites. How long does it last? Inhaling droplets from coughs or sneezes is the most common way to catch the flu. Symptoms appear 1 to 7 days later (usually 2 to 3 days). Symptoms (except the cough) usually disappear within 4 to 7 days. Sometimes there is a second wave of fever at this time. The cough and tiredness usually lasts for weeks after the rest of the illness is over. The flu is airborne and quite contagious, and with its short incubation period, it often slams into a community all at once, creating a noticeable cluster of school and work absences. Within 2 or 3 weeks of its arrival, most of the classroom has had it. How is it diagnosed? The diagnosis is often based on the history and physical examination. Viral studies on nasal or throat swabs obtained during the first 72 hours of symptoms can verify the diagnosis if there is a question. Blood tests can make the diagnosis after the fact. The initial symptoms of inhalational anthrax can be difficult to distinguish from the flu. How is it treated? Specific antiviral medications are available, and recommended for those with severe illness, those at high risk for complications, and children with social situations that would make treatment benefits outweigh the risks. If specific treatment is to be used, it should be started as early in the illness as possible. Rest, fluids, and fever control are useful for most children. Other treatments are aimed at reducing specific symptoms. Aspirin use in children with influenza increases the risk of Reye syndrome. 8

9 How can it be prevented? People are most contagious beginning 24 hours before they develop symptoms (and up to 7 days afterwards), making it difficult to prevent the flu by avoiding sick individuals. The flu vaccine is a specific and effective way to prevent the flu. It is available for children over 6 months old. Children under 9 years old need two doses of the vaccine the first year they get it. Yearly flu vaccine is especially important for children with asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), heart disease, HIV, sickle cell anemia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and a number of other chronic childhood conditions. Alan Greene MD FAAP PART 2: Suggested Homeopathic Remedies for Influenza What follows is a brief Materia Medica of the most common remedies for influenza. These remedies are included in the Remedy Kit available for sale on this site. If you get a flu, it is always a good idea to see your doctor to be sure you are not missing something important. The homeopathic remedies may help your immune system deal with the flu virus more effectively. We recommend you work with a professional homeopath to figure out the best remedy for you. However, if you want to treat yourself, it is possible. If you decide to do that, we recommend you read some beginner homeopathic book to familiarize yourself with the basic homeopathic philosophy and procedure. For a brief discussion of Homeopathy in general and suggested reading list see Read through the descriptions of the symptoms and compare to your symptoms. The remedy that matches your symptoms the best is the one most likely to help. In most cases one starts with the lower potency of the indicated remedy, takes it every hour or two as long as it is effective, then goes up the potency if the effectiveness wanes. Once you feel better on a remedy, stop taking it. When you feel worse again, start taking it again. Our kit contains the following potencies: 30C, 200C, 1M. We do not recommend going above 200C without the advise of a professional homeopath. 9

10 As more cases of any specific epidemic are seen by homeopaths, it usually becomes clear that two or three remedies cover the majority of the cases. A remedy most often seen in an epidemic is called genus epidemicus. Unfortunately, we don't know what it is until many people become sick and are helped by that remedy. As soon as this information becomes available, we will place it on our web site and the remedy will be made available on the Remedy Kit page. Until then, we should be ready with the following remedies. Please note: Homeopathic practitioners do not diagnose or treat disease, unless they are licensed to do so. Homeopathic remedies do not treat any specific disease. All they can do is improve your body's ability to fight disease by stimulating its defense mechanism. Aconite: Sudden onset of the flu with great anxiety and fear. She thinks she is about to die. Symptoms come on very suddenly, especially after exposure to a dry, cold wind or from an emotional shock or fright. High fever, dry cough, sore throat and feeling of great worry and fear. The individual is very restless. Fear of death with anxiety, tossing and trembling. Croupy cough, early stages of croup. Pneumonia with sudden onset. Coughing up of blood. Better: in fresh air Worse: in a warm room, in the evening or at night, lying on the left side, hearing music, when exposed to tobacco smoke. Other uses: any situation where the person is scared, such if they just witnessed something horrible, were just involved in an accident, etc. 10

11 Arnica: Flu with a feeling of soreness, as if bruised internally and externally. Sends others away saying, I m fine, there s nothing wrong with me, when it s evident that they are very sick. Complains that the bed feels too hard. Fear of others approaching and touching them because their body is so sore. Desires sour drinks and alcohol. Other uses: This is the main initial remedy for acute trauma, injuries and accidents. Bumps, bruises, sprains, strains, cuts, etc. It is commonly given to patients before and after surgery to improve outcome, decrease bleeding and bruising and promote healing. You will find Arnica in all homeopathic emergency kits. Arsenicum Album: Extremely restless, oversensitive, anxious and weak. Fear of death. Extreme prostration, out of proportion to the disease. Very restless, can t stay in one place. Does not want to be left alone. Chilly. Pale face with an anxious expression. Burning pains that are better with warm applications. Thirsty, drinks in small sips often. Worse between 1 and 2 a.m. Vomiting and diarrhea are common. Diarrhea with acrid, offensive, watery stools. Too neat, upset by clutter. Desires fatty and sour things, especially lemon. Other uses: Food poisonings, stomach flues. (NA) 11

12 Baptisia: Looks drowsy and drunk. Flu with high fever and a feeling of being bruised all over. Flu that comes on suddenly. Sensation of being bruised and sore all over, the body and limbs feel as if they are scattered. Profuse sweating with a high fever and an intense thirst. Dull red face, looks dazed and sluggish as if they may fall asleep at any time. The bed feels hard (Compare with Pyrogenium and Arnica) Stupefying headache, with confusion. Delirium with strange sensations, like as if there is somebody else in bed with him, parts of her body are separated, etc. Patient smells bad. Belladonna: Flu with a high fever, red face and dilated pupils. Dryness and burning heat. Everything is intense and concentrated in the head. High fever that comes on suddenly, often as a result of a change in temperature (e.g. becoming chilled or overheated, washing the hair). Flushed face, sore throat, eyes wide and staring, pupils dilated, bright red tongue, red throat with white spots on the tonsils. Constriction on attempting to swallow Ejection of food and drink through the nose and mouth from spasm. There may be confusion, delirium or vivid hallucinations. Twitching and starting. Headache. Symptoms tend to affect the right side of the body. Craving for lemon or lemonade. General aggravation at 3 p.m. Better: standing, sitting upright, in a warm room. Worse: any noise, bright light, movement, lying down, night. Other uses: strep throat, meningitis, abdominal cramps, menstrual cramps, etc, when the overall picture fits. 12

13 Bryonia: Extremely irritable, talks about business. Flu with a severe, throbbing headache, body pains. All symptoms are worse from any motion. Slow onset. Thirst for large amounts infrequently, preferably cold. Pains (headache, body pains) better by pressure. Lies on the painful part. Dryness everywhere, dry tongue, with generally a white coating Nose bleed Pneumonia, especially of the right side; pleurisy (pain on breathing and coughing). Business: worries, talks and dreams about it. Wants to go home. May be confused and not realize she is at home. Better: pressure, rest Worse: any excitement, noise, touch, movement, bright light, from eating and coughing and at around 3am and 9pm. Other uses: Pain in joints, sprains, strains, when symptoms are worse from movement. Gelsemium: Flu with chills and paralytic weakness. They feel as if run over by a truck. This tends to be the number 1 flu remedy. Slow onset After worrying about a forthcoming task or event such as a public speaking engagement. Sore throat. Bursting headache beginning in the neck and which may extend over the head to the eyes and forehead; relieved by copious urination. Double vision often before or during the headache. Eyelids are heavy and droopy, can t keep them open. Fatigue, heaviness and dullness. The legs feel weak and shaky and they just want to lie in bed. Pain is felt in the muscles. No thirst. Aching muscles. 13

14 Chills begin in the hands and feet, and run up and down the spine. Worse: early morning and last thing at night, in the sun, and when exposed to tobacco smoke. Better: urination, fresh air Comparisons: Bryonia also has pains, but they are much worse from any movement. Gelsemium patient does not want to move due to fatigue and heaviness, not aggravation from movement. Eupatorium perfoliatum: Flu with body pains so severe, that the bones feel broken. Feels as if run over by a truck, with pain deep in the bones. Bursting headache and sore eyes. Thirsty for ice cold water (opposite to Gelsemium, which is not thirsty). Chills running up and down the back. High fever preceded by chills, especially from 7 9am. Worse: movement Eupatorium perfoliatum patient also feels as if run over by a truck, but the pains are more severe, and they are felt in the bones. In addition, Eup-per patient is thirsty, and Gels patient is not. Other uses: Anxiety anticipating an important engagement. Kali sulphuricum: Yellow, slimy Fever with easy sweating Yellow slimy tongue, nasal discharge, ear discharge, diarrhea. Cough with easily expelled yellow slimy sputum. Thirsty. Averse to hot drinks. Wants to lie down, but it makes her worse, so she must walk for relief. 14

15 Mercurius solubilis: Dirty, smelly, drooling. Increased salivation, offensive breath, profuse offensive sweat. Filthy tongue, large, flabby, tooth notched Thirsty Craves bread and butter. Worse: night, heat of bed Nux Vomica: Flu with great irritability and over sensitivity. Easily offended, angry, cold. Irritable, impatient, angry and easily offended. Very chilly. Chilliness on the slightest movement. On the slightest exposure to the open air, shivering and chilliness for an hour; dreads to go out into the open air. By the slightest draught he gets chilled. He cannot get warm. Great coldness not removed by heat, or by bed coverings. Wants to be completely covered. Very sensitive to light, noise and odors. Shivering and chilliness immediately after drinking. Fastidious. Wants everything just so. Collapse and fatigue states from overwork. Other uses: Ailments from overdoing: overeating, overwork, etc. Hangover. Phosphorus: The flu quickly affects the lungs, especially the base of the right lung. Lots of cough. Bleeding. Bloody sputum, bright red. Craves cold drinks, which may be vomited when they become warm in the stomach. Burning, pressure and constriction in the chest; worse lying on the left side; worse lying on the painful side (patient and the cough). Nose bleed, bright red. Cough, worse talking and laughing. 15

16 Rhus toxicodendron: Stiff and restless, better with movement. Restlessness. Wants to move all the time. Aching and stiffness in the joints, worse on first starting to move and better with continued movement. Red triangle on the tip of the tongue. Intense fever: thirsty: great prostration: weeps without knowing why. Severe aching in the bones. Fear of poisoning. She may refuse taking medicine feeling it is poison. Anxiety and fear which are worse at night. Other uses: Sprains, strains, when the pain is better with movement (opposite of Bryonia). Pulsatilla: Clingy and weepy when sick. Flitting chilliness; chills in spots. Chilly in a warm room. One sided chilliness heat sweat. One cheek red, the other white. Palpitations with anxiety: must throw off the clothes. Dry cough at night, better sitting up, worse on lying down again. Thick yellow-green discharge from nose. Yellow-green expectoration. Craves butter, cream, pastries. Thirstless. Tearful, craves company and sympathy. Worse: external warmth, closed room Better: open air, outside, slow motion Other uses: This is one of the most commonly used remedies in children. Whatever the problem (ear infection, teething, cold, etc), when the child is weepy, wants the caregiver next to him all the time and gets better only when held. This is opposite to Chamomilla children, who are often angry and reject kindness. 16

17 Pyrogenium: Septic states. Extremely restless. Has to keep on moving, rocking, wringing, for momentary relief. The bed feels too hard, aching everywhere, feels beaten and bruised. Everything is offensive: sweat, breath, discharges, stool, etc. The pulse is abnormally rapid for the temperature. High temperature with slow pulse, or the reverse. Creeping chills in the back, with a thumping heart. Bursting headache. Rapid bed sores. Feels as if someone else is in his bed. Consciousness of the heart beating. Sulphur Hot, burning sensations. This is a well-known remedy for skin irritation. Partially recovers and then relapses. Very sensitive to the open air and drafts (opposite to Pulsatilla); worse from washing and taking a bath. The crown of the head is very hot but the feet are cold. The soles of the feet burn at night; they must be put out of the bed. Hungry and starving at 11am, but not before then. Often left-sided This one is hard to figure out. Your professional homeopath will know when it is indicated. 17

18 DESPERATE CASE REMEDIES Carbo vegetalis: "Corpse reviver Desperate cases. Cold; even the breath and tongue are cold; very pale, air hunger, asks for the windows to be opened, to be fanned. Shortness of breath. Must sit up in bed. Bloating, indigestion, and tremendous amount of gas. This is a frequent ICU remedy, when life seems to be draining away. China (Cinchona officinalis): Ailment from loss of fluids: blood loss, vomiting, diarrhea. Debility with chilliness. Anemic; pallid; weak. Sensitive to touch: motion: to cold air. Worse at regular period: alternate days, every third day, every seven days, etc. Weariness of the limbs, with desire to stretch, move or change position. Painless diarrhea with a lot of gas. Other uses: A very common remedy for diarrhea Possible avian flu remedies From the symptoms of avian flu collected so far, homeopathic communities worldwide are predicting the following remedies to be useful in avian flu cases. Many more remedies may get added as the time passes and we collect more information on avian flu. This information is hypothetical and has not been tested in the field. 18

19 Antimonium tartaricum: pneumonia with rattling of mucus in the chest. Profuse mucus in bronchi with drowsiness. Loose, coarse rattling but scanty expectoration. Suffocative shortness of breath; alternating with cough. Chest seems full, yet less and less is raised, followed by vomiting or sleep. Nausea; in waves; with weakness and cold sweat. Forcible vomiting, followed by exhaustion and sleep Tongue coated thick white with reddened papillae and edges. Vomiting better lying on right side. Desire for acids, apples. Anxiety, aversion to being looked at; wants to be left alone. Sleepy, weak, sweaty. Worse: heat; warm room. Asclepias tuberosa (Pleurisy root) Influenza with marked weakness on walking. Shooting pleuritic pains (pains with inspiration) during and lingering after influenza. Bleeding from gums, coughing up blood, bleeding from nose. Worse: Lying, especially on left side. Motion of arms. Deep inspiration. Better: Bending forward. 19

20 Euphorbium resinifera (Gum Euphorbium): Flu with burning pains in the bones. Intense burning pains as if a live coal were on, or in the part. Pharyngitis with a sensation as if expired air was a burning flame. Worse: Touch; rest; sitting; beginning of motion. Better: Continued motion; cold applications (compare with Arsenicum, which has burning pains better from hot applications). Euphrasia: Flu with eye symptoms. Acrid tears and bland nasal discharge. Burning, smarting eyes and aversion to light and constant winking. Cough with large quantities of mucus. Ipecacuanha: She coughs till she vomits. Dry, spasmodic cough ending in choking, gagging and vomiting. Person stiffens and becomes pale or blue; gasps for breath. Constant nausea not relieved by vomiting. Clean tongue. Profuse salivation with the nausea. No thirst. Worse: Heat. Other uses: Any ailments or pains attended with constant nausea and clean tongue. Whooping cough. 20

21 Sanguinaria: Flu with burning in various parts and headache. Right-sided remedy. Burning in various parts: eyeballs, cheeks, tongue, throat, chest, stomach, palms and soles. Headaches, especially right sided, spreading from shoulder over the head to the eye. Spasmodic cough with expectoration of rust-colored sputum. Runny or stopped-up nose, followed by diarrhea. Dryness of mucous membranes. Desire for spicy and pungent food. Warm-blooded. Oscillococcinum: Prevention and/or Common symptoms of flu Anxiety, paleness, chill. Sensitiveness to hygrometric and meteorologic changes. sensitive to cold. Fixed ideas, obsessions. Agony, anxious without any motive. Obstinate. A busy body, maniac, cannot bear disorder, fear of dirt, fear of being polluted. Has the need to wash his hands very often and is afraid of giving his hand to others for the fear of pollution, contagion. Tongue white. Swelling of the stomach. 21

22 Can digest neither milk nor eggs. Putrid regurgitations. Aquous or food vomiting. Abdominal cramping pains followed by foetid diarrhoea. Sometimes stubborn constipation. Yellow conjuctiva. Thermoregulation: Bruised sensation, chill, hyperthermia, headache with considerable throbbing. Runny watery nose and eyes. Stuffed nose, nasal obstruction, sneezing. Serous discharge from the nose, then muco - purulent. Pain in the frontal and maxillary region. Nasal voice, aphonia, dry painful cough. Muco - purulent expectoration with humid cough. Pains sometimes as if from needles in one or both ears (In children, this symptom may not be found. Look at the tympanum which alone may be red at first, and swollen if there is purulent collection). Hearing loss. Influenza is a disease caused by a member of the Orthomyxoviridae. Many features are common with those of the paramyxovirus infections of the respiratory tract. Influenza is characterized by fever, myalgia, headache and pharyngitis. In addition there may be cough and in severe cases, prostration. There is usually not coryza (runny nose), which characterizes common cold infections. Gelsemium. [Gels] This remedy corresponds to the commencement of the trouble, when the patient is weak, tired and aches throughout the body. It removes speedily the intense aching and muscular soreness. There is constant chilliness and the patient hugs the fire; the fever is less acute than that of Aconite, and the cough is hard and painful. There are paroxysms of sneezing with excoriating discharge, and great torpor and apathy. An extensive experience with this remedy in the great Epidemic of 1918 proved its usefulness. Simple cases were speedily cured. Those that were complicated with initial treatments by Aspirin were only those, which had dangerous complications. 22

23 Allium cepa. [All-c] Profuse catarrhal coryza; the nose runs freely, there is sneezing, irritability cough, the face is swollen and looks inflamed Eupatorium perfoliatum. [Eup-per] This remedy has much soreness and aching of the entire body; hoarseness and cough, with great soreness of the larynx and upper respiratory tract. Coryza with thirst and drinking causes vomiting. The cough is a very shattering one, hurts the head and chest, and as in Drosera, the patient holds the chest with the hands. The break bone pains are characteristic of the remedy. Add to these symptoms acute bilious derangements, and it is all the more indicated. Many physicians rely on this remedy in la grippe almost exclusively in the early stages. Sabadilla. [Sabad] Sneezing is the great keynote of this remedy. Sneezing and lachrymation on going into the open air. The throat is swollen and the pain is worse on empty swallowing; the sneezing is excessive, shaking the whole body. Shuddering, with gooseflesh chills creeping upwards, are also prominent symptoms. Frontal headache, dryness of mouth, without thirst and cough, worse on lying down, are additional symptoms. Arsenicum. [Ars] This remedy corresponds to the trial form of influenza. It covers more phases of grippe than perhaps any other remedy. Hughes believes that it will cut short an attack, especially when there is a copious flow, prostration and paroxysmal coryza. Its periodicity makes it suitable to epidemics, and it suits the early symptoms when the affection is in the upper portion of the respiratory tract. The burning dryness and copious watery excoriating secretion and the involvement of the conjunctiva (lining of the eyes) are unmistakable indications. Languor and prostration are prominent symptoms. 23

24 Dulcamara. [Dulc] This is one of our best remedies in the acute form; the eyes are suffused, the throat is sore and the cough hurts because of the muscular soreness. If brought on by damp, cold changes in the weather, so much the surer is Dulcamara indicated. (You can also think of this one when/if you are in air conditioning and going from heat to cold environments continually) Rhus toxicodendron. [Rhus-t] Influenza, with severe aching in all the bones, sneezing and coughing. The cough is worse evenings and is caused by a tickling behind the upper part of the sternum. Especially is it useful in cases brought on by exposure to dampness. There is much prostration and depression, and the patient may have some symptoms, which are suspicious as pointing towards typhoid fever, such as burning tongue, stupor and delirium. Aching pains, nightly restlessness are keynotes symptoms. Baptisia. [Bapt] The gastro-intestinal form of grippe may need this remedy, especially when there are present putrid diarrhoea stools. Clarke considers this remedy the nearest specific for the disease; he prefers the 30th potency Sticta. [Stict] Nasal catarrh; headache, thirst, nightly expectoration, great watering of eyes, running at nose, hoarseness of voice, frontal headache and depression of whole cough of this class of patients." 24