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Natural
Herbal Alternative Remedies & Treatments for
Cold / Flu
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ImmunityPlus: ImmunityPlus is a blend of African, Asian and other herbs specifically formulated to optimize immune functioning. These herbs serve many purposes, together they: act as a liver tonic, strengthen the immune system, improve body functioning, detoxify the body and enhance convalescence.
ImmunityPlus is a potent, complex remedy that contains ingredients which provide a wide range of benefits to those suffering from depressed immune systems or who wish to reach their optimal level of functioning.
ImmunityPlus can be used to tone and strengthen the immune system during and after illness and is a useful overall tonic for the body.
Throat and Tonsil Dr.:
All about Throats and Tonsils
Throats and tonsils are very vulnerable to infection. The
throat is the passage through which we take in air - either
directly or through the nose. The air that we breathe contains
many pollutants (e.g. cigarette smoke or environmental
pollution) as well as viruses and bacteria that may infect us
with the flu and other illnesses.
Throats may become swollen, red and painful when viruses like
the common cold or flu attack throat tissue. A bacterial
condition commonly called 'strep throat' (caused by
streptococcus bacteria) can also result in extremely sore
throat and infected throat tissue.
The throat also contains our tonsils, which are two sacs of
lymphatic tissue situated at the back of the throat. Tonsils
are extremely important in protecting the body against
infection and help to guard against inhaled or ingested
organisms. They also produce antibodies which help to fight
against nose and throat infections. They may easily become
infected, especially in childhood. Symptoms of tonsillitis
include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing,
bad smelling breath, fever, listlessness, flushed cheeks and a
glassy eyed look.
Unfortunately recurring tonsillitis often leads to a
tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils). Although
doctors these days are more aware of the important role of the
tonsils in immune functioning and children's tonsils are not
whipped out quite as readily as they once were, this is still
fairly standard practice for children who suffer from
recurring bouts of tonsillitis and is one of the most common
surgical procedures performed on children.
Once the tonsils have been removed, children lose a very
important line of defense against infection and may be more
susceptible to viral and bacterial infections, as well as
allergies. It is therefore important to be sure that there are
no other options before agreeing to a tonsillectomy.
How are throat
infections and tonsillitis usually treated?
For sore throat caused by viral infection like colds or flu,
treatment usually involves OTC (over the counter) medicines
like pain killers and lozenges to suck until the infection
clears. Strep throat and tonsillitis are usually treated by
antibiotics. While antibiotics can quickly clear the infection
within a couple of days, regular use can weaken the immune
system and result in recurring infections.
It is important that strep throat and tonsillitis are treated
as they can lead to further infections elsewhere in the body.
However, it is also important to know that antibiotics and OTC
remedies are not the only options for treating these
conditions.
There are many effective natural alternatives to OTC medicines
and antibiotics routinely prescribed for strep throat and
tonsillitis.
Natural herbal and homeopathic remedies can help to safely
reduce the symptoms of these conditions, clear the infection,
cut recovery time and also strengthen the immune system to
prevent recurring infection.
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Flu
Influenza, or flu, is a respiratory infection. The most
familiar aspect of the flu is the way it can "knock you off
your feet" as it sweeps through entire communities.
The flu differs in several ways from the common cold, a
respiratory infection also caused by viruses. For example,
people with colds rarely get fevers or headaches or suffer
from the extreme exhaustion that flu viruses cause.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates
5 to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu during
each flu season, which typically lasts from November to March.
Children are two to three times more likely than adults to get
sick with the flu, and children frequently spread the virus to
others. Although most people recover from the illness, CDC
estimates that in the United States more than 200,000 people
are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die from the flu and
its complications every year.
Flu outbreaks
Flu outbreaks usually begin suddenly and occur mainly in the
late fall and winter. The disease spreads through communities
creating an epidemic. During the epidemic, the number of cases
peaks in about 3 weeks and subsides after another 3 or 4
weeks. Half of the population of a community may be affected.
Because schools are an excellent place for flu viruses to
attack and spread, families with school-age children have more
infections than other families, with an average of one-third
of family members infected each year.
Importance of flu
In addition to the rapid start of the outbreaks and the large
number of people affected, the flu is an important disease
because it can cause serious complications. Most people who
get the flu get better within a week (although they may have a
lingering cough and tire easily for a while longer). For
elderly people, newborn babies, and people with certain
chronic illnesses, however, the flu and its complications can
be life-threatening.
CAUSE
Flu is caused by a variety of influenza viruses. Researchers
identified the first virus in the 1930s. Since then, they have
classified influenza viruses into types A, B, and C.
Type A is the most common and usually causes the most serious
epidemics.
Type B outbreaks also can cause epidemics, but the disease it
produces generally is milder than that caused by type A.
Type C viruses, on the other hand, never have been connected
with a large epidemic.
TRANSMISSION
You can get the flu if someone around you who has the flu
coughs or sneezes. You can get the flu simply by touching a
surface like a telephone or door knob that has been
contaminated by a touch from someone who has the flu. The
viruses can pass through the air and enter your body through
your nose or mouth. If you've touched a contaminated surface,
they can pass from your hand to your nose or mouth.
You are at greatest risk of getting infected in highly
populated areas, such as in crowded living conditions and in
schools.
SYMPTOMS
If you get infected by the flu virus, you will usually feel
symptoms 1 to 4 days later. You can spread the flu to others
before your symptoms start and for another 3 to 4 days after
your symptoms appear. The symptoms start very quickly and may
include
Body aches
Chills
Dry cough
Fever
Headache
Sore throat
Stuffy nose
Typically, the fever begins to decline on the second or third
day of the illness. The flu almost never causes symptoms in
the stomach and intestines. The illness that some call
"stomach flu" is not influenza.
DIAGNOSIS
Usually, health care providers diagnose the flu on the basis
of whether it is epidemic in the community and whether the
person's complaints fit the current pattern of symptoms.
Health care providers rarely use laboratory tests to identify
the virus during an epidemic. Health officials, however,
monitor certain U.S. health clinics and do laboratory tests to
determine which type of flu virus is responsible for the
epidemic.
TREATMENT
Many people treat their flu by simply
Resting in bed
Drinking plenty of fluids
Taking over-the-counter medicine such as aspirin or
acetaminophen (Tylenol, for example)
COMPLICATIONS
You can have flu complications if you get a bacterial
infection, which can cause pneumonia in your weakened lungs.
Pneumonia also can be caused by the flu virus itself.
Complications usually appear after you start feeling better.
After a brief period of improvement, you may suddenly get
these symptoms
High fever
Shaking chills
Chest pain with each breath
Coughing that produces thick, yellow-greenish-colored mucus
Medicine for Treatment
If you do get the flu and want to take medicine to treat it,
your health care provider may prescribe an antiviral medicine.
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is for treating influenza A and B virus
infections in adults and children 1 year and older.
Relenza (zanamivir) is for treating influenza A and B virus
infections in children 7 years and older and adults who have
an uncomplicated flu infection and who have had symptoms for
no more than 2 days.
To work well, you must take these medicines within 48 hours
after the flu begins. They reduce the length of time fever and
other symptoms last and allow you to more quickly return to
your daily routine.
NOTE: Because of influenza A virus resistance to rimantadine
and amantadine, CDC currently recommends that you not take
these medicines to treat the flu.
Do not give aspirin to children and adolescents who have the
flu.
Do not take antibiotics to treat the flu because they do not
work on viruses. Antibiotics only work against some infections
caused by bacteria.
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PREVENTION
Flu Vaccine
The main way to keep from getting the flu is to get a yearly
flu vaccine. You can get the vaccine at your doctor's office
or a local clinic, and in many communities at workplaces,
supermarkets, and drugstores. You must get the vaccine every
year because it changes.
Scientists make a different vaccine every year because the
strains of flu viruses change from year to year. Nine to 10
months before the flu season begins, they prepare a new
vaccine made from inactivated (killed) flu viruses. Because
the viruses have been killed, they cannot infect you. The
vaccine preparation is based on the strains of the flu viruses
that are in circulation at the time. It includes those A and B
viruses (see section on types of flu viruses) expected to
circulate the following winter.
Sometimes, an unpredicted new strain may appear after the
vaccine has been made and distributed to doctors' offices and
clinics. Because of this, even if you do get the flu vaccine,
you still may get infected. If you do get infected, however,
the disease usually is milder because the vaccine will still
give you some protection.
Your immune system takes time to respond to the flu vaccine.
Therefore, you should get vaccinated every year in October or
November to prevent getting infected or reduce the severity of
the flu if you do get it. Because the flu season usually lasts
until March, however, it's not too late to get it after the
season has begun. The vaccine itself cannot cause the flu, but
you could become exposed to the virus by someone else and get
infected soon after you are vaccinated.
Until recently, you could get the flu vaccine only as an
injection (shot). In 2003, however, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved a nasal spray flu vaccine called
FluMist that you can get from your health care provider. FDA
approved it for use in healthy people aged 5 to 49 years who
are not pregnant.
Because the flu vaccine can cause problems, or side effects,
in some people, CDC recommends you talk with your health care
provider before getting a flu vaccine shot or nasal spray flu
vaccine.
Possible side effects
You should be aware that the flu vaccine can cause side
effects. The most common side effect in children and adults is
soreness at the site of the vaccination. Other side effects,
especially in children who previously have not been exposed to
the flu virus, include fever, tiredness, and sore muscles.
These side effects may begin 6 to 12 hours after vaccination
and may last for up to 2 days.
Viruses for producing the vaccine are grown in chicken eggs
and then killed with a chemical so that they can no longer
cause an infection. The flu vaccine may contain some egg
protein, which can cause an allergic reaction if you are
allergic to eggs.
Vaccine recommendations
If you are in any of the following groups or live in a
household with or provide care for someone who is, CDC
recommends that you get the flu vaccine.
You are 50 years of age or older
You have chronic diseases of your heart, lungs, or kidneys
You have diabetes
Your immune system does not function properly
You have a severe form of anemia
You will be more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season
You live in a nursing home or other chronic-care housing
facility
You are in close contact with infants or children up to 5
years of age
CDC recommends children from age 6 months up to their fifth
birthday get the flu vaccine.
Medicine for Prevention
Although the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent getting
the flu, two antiviral medicines also are available by
prescription that will help prevent flu infection-Tamiflu
(oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir).
These medicines help prevent the flu if you take them for at
least 2 weeks during the outbreak of flu in your community.
You may use these medicines if you are in close contact with
family members or others who have the flu.
You may use them if you are in close contact with people who
have been vaccinated but whom you want to give added
protection from getting the flu.
You may use them immediately following flu vaccination during
a flu epidemic to protect you during the 2- to 4-week period
before antibodies develop or when a flu epidemic is caused by
virus strains other than those covered by the vaccine.
(Antibodies are proteins from your immune system that protect
you from the flu virus.)
NOTE: Because of influenza A virus resistance to rimantadine
and amantadine, CDC currently recommends that you not take
these medicines to prevent flu.
Your health care provider can help you decide which medicine
is best for you. You should discuss the flu vaccine and
medicines with your health care provider before the flu season
begins.
Healthy habits
Good health habits are also important to help prevent the flu.
--Wash your hands often to help protect you from germs.
--Avoid close contact with people who are sick, if possible.
--Keep your distance from others when you are sick, to protect
them from becoming infected.
--Stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick, if
possible, to help prevent others from catching your illness.
--Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or
sneezing.
--Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are
often spread when you touch something that is contaminated
with them and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
You can get more recommendations to prevent and treat flu from
the CDC Web site www.cdc.gov/flu.
COMPLICATIONS
You can have flu complications if you get a bacterial
infection, which can cause pneumonia in your weakened lungs.
Pneumonia also can be caused by the flu virus itself.
Complications usually appear after you start feeling better.
After a brief period of improvement, you may suddenly get
these symptoms
High fever
Shaking chills
Chest pain with each breath
Coughing that produces thick, yellow-greenish-colored mucus
Pneumonia can be a very serious and sometimes life-threatening
condition. If you have any of these symptoms, you should
contact your health care provider immediately to get the
appropriate treatment.
Flu complications in children and teenagers
Reye's syndrome, a condition that affects the nerves,
sometimes develops in children and teenagers who are
recovering from the flu. Reye's syndrome begins with nausea
and vomiting, but the progressive mental changes (such as
confusion or delirium) cause the greatest concern.
The syndrome often begins in young people after they take
aspirin to get rid of fever or pain. Although very few
children develop Reye's syndrome, you should consult a health
care provider before giving aspirin or products that contain
aspirin to children. Acetaminophen does not seem to be
connected with Reye's syndrome.
Other complications of the flu that can affect children are
Convulsions caused by fever
Croup
Ear infections, such as otitis media
Newborn babies recently out of intensive care units are
particularly vulnerable to suffering from flu complications.
RESEARCH
To prevent another flu pandemic and reduce the number of flu
epidemics, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID) supports research to find out how influenza
viruses work. NIAID also seeks to develop better vaccines to
prevent and treat influenza virus infections.
Although flu epidemics pop up in the fall and winter seasons
in communities throughout the world every year, there has not
been a pandemic since 1968. Scientists are worried that a new
flu virus will emerge in this century and cause a severe
pandemic again. For this reason, research institutions and
health departments around the world are cooperating to track
flu outbreaks in humans and animals, and to determine what
types and strains of flu viruses cause outbreaks.
MORE INFORMATION
Visit www.PandemicFlu.gov
for one-stop access to U.S. Government
avian and pandemic flu information. The U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services is responsible for Pandemic
Influenza Planning.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
www.niaid.nih.gov/news/focuson/flu
National Institute on Aging
31 Center Drive, MSC 2292
Bethesda, MD 20892-2292
301-496-1752
www.nia.nih.gov
National Library of Medicine
MedlinePlus
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
1-888-FIND-NLM (1-888-346-3656) or 301-594-5983
www.medlineplus.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) or 404-639-3534
www.cdc.gov
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857-0001
1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)
www.fda.gov
The American Lung Association
61 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10006
212-315-8700
www.lungusa.org
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
National Coalition for Adult Immunization
4733 Bethesda Avenue, Suite 750
Bethesda, MD 20814-5278
301-656-0003
www.nfid.org/library/influenza
www.nfid.org/ncai
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