Homeopathy is a unique system of medicine, where a preventive can be given to general population for control of spread of epidemic at its incipient stage. Swine flu is one such disease. In last 10 years India has faced many outbreaks of the dreaded disease. Mass hysteria created by media fails to underline the importance to preventive measures in all flu like sicknesses including swine flu. Homeopathic preventive medicines, along with general preventive measures can stop spread of swine flu.
What is swine flu: Swine flu or influenza commonly causes outbreaks of flu in pigs. Rarely, humans can catch it, while coming in contact with pigs (pig to human).
How does it spreads? : Like any other flu (human to human)
- If someone with the infection coughs or sneezes near you, the droplets from them can infect you
- Contact with surface touched by infected people, like stairs railings, doors etc
At risk people: the following groups are more vulnerable:
- Children younger than 5 years old
- Pregnant females
- People older than 65 years old
- People suffering from long term debilitating diseases like, diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, neurological conditions etc
Symptoms of swine flu: symptoms are like any other “flu” i.e
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Chills
- Body aches
- Weakness
Most of the above symptoms are generally mild and patient usually gets better in a week
General preventive measures:
- Wear masks
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Don’t touch your face frequently, especially when you are out.
- Drink warm water. It flushes the virus in the throat to stomach, where it cannot survive
- Cleaning hands, face, blowing nose and clearing throat after coming from outside is a good practice.
- Gargling twice a day with warm salt water will help in decrease in proliferation of virus in throat.
- Cleaning nose with warm water (or jal neeti) can also be done. Special jal neeti pots are available in market. Remember to use clean water for this purpose.
- Take good nutrition. Seasonal citrus fruits are high in vitamin c and boots the immunity of body.
Prevention of Swine Flu through Homeopathy: Homeopathy can both prevent and cure swine flu. Depending upon the common symptoms of the affected people, the following medicines were found to be effective in previous outbreaks of swine flu: Arsenic , Gelsimum, Bryonia, Influenzinum, Rhus tox etc. The reports of “Common symptoms” of this outbreak are still to come and preventive medicine for this outbreak will accordingly be decided (we will keep you updated on that!)
What to do if you are having symptoms of flu:
- Do not panic! Remember it’s like any other flu and will get better on its own in 5-7 days.
- Stay in well ventilated room.
- Use disposable tissues.
- Stay at home and rest.
- Call the nearest doctor if you have high fever, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, pain in abdomen vomiting, etc
Dr Renu Pande, MD (Senior Homeopath)