The Swine Flu is a Viral Illness, and Viruses May Be Fought in Many Ways

There are many modern day medications to combat viral illness. It should be noted that these are specific to viruses, as antibiotics used against ear infections, strep throat, infected wounds and other bacterial illnesses are not effective against viral attacks. The popular antiviral drug Tamiflu is expensive, has a side effect of producing nausea, and cannot prevent viral replication (killing) of all viruses. There are similar of these medicines on the market now. An older antiviral prescription drug, Symmetrel is not nearly as expensive as the new breed and is available as a generic- amatandine. Neither can it kill all viruses.

There are also many known herbal preparations that effect degrees of activity against viral illness, and in fact some of these same plants show anti-bacterial activity as well. These herbal extractions, standardized or whole plant, liquid and pill or capsule may be used quite successfully in assisting our body to fight off 'germ attacks' whether it is viral or bacterial. Oriental herbals have been used with great success for centuries and some are now being truly accepted in the U.S. as viable against viral and bacterial illnesses. Our presently established medical environment is reluctant to accept many of these time-honored methods and it is regretful that simple natural preparations are not promoted as they should be. It is still our priviledge to educate ourself and promote knowledgable use of these valuable plant medicines, deciphering their abilities in our own personal experience.

Our ultimate defense against any disease causing agent is a healthy immune system. That is our natural gift from the Creator and is as much a part of our body, soul, spirit self as anything could be. But regretfully, our societal demise in the areas of work, rest, eating, nutrition, is seen in that same demise of personal health. Our body faces constant bombardment from environmental chemicals that our immune system was not meant to handle. We have foods that are overprocessed, over-sugared, over-eaten, and our bodies are affected and stressed by the combined load of negative occurances whether they be physical, social. spiritual or mental. Thus our poor devasted immune system keeps fighting loosing battles, and it is weakening in a younger and younger generation.

We would be healthily wiser to retract ourselves from the hideous American diet, and return to whole foods, many raw foods, very restricted sugars and a balance of healthy nutritious food. This one (huge) change could immensely assist our natural immunity so that much of what attacks us would be only slightly noticable - because our healthy 'caretaker' would be vastly more able to fight off the incidences by disease causing microbes.

One of the first factors to help our body fight illness is to stop eating/drinking all sugar as the ingestion of refined sugar will decrease the activity of our defense cells for about four hours. An immediate increase in water intake will help eliminate the toxic residue of the war between germs and defense cells. Also an increased intake of vitamin C for most people is quite helpful and some physicians will even give it by intravenous solution for acute illness. There are many helpful herbal and homeopathic medicines available that do not carry with them the load of negative side effects that most drugs have, although prescription drugs may have their place when used properly. Even when prescription drugs are deemed necessary the addition of herbals or homeopathics can be remarkably helpful with symptoms and rate of healing.

Your local health food store should have a variety of choices in herbal and homeopathic supplements. There are liquid extracts, teas, capsules, pills, and in my opinion, the best homeopathics are tiny pellets or tabs to melt under the tongue and the water/alcohol liquids.  There are oral and nasal sprays available that are not addictive and quite helpful for symptoms such as sore throat, fever, muscle aches, headache, nausea and vomiting.  A favorite beginner's book is a paperback by Dana Ullman, who gives a great history of the rise of homeopathic treatment and the regretful political reasons for its demise in the USA. That one and several more good primary information books are in Libraries. It is a great subject for research and may give you more wonderful answers than you could expect. 

Viruses are not in themselves able to reproduce and must have a host cell to begin replication. Even though viral material is present in the bloodstream, if it cannot invade the host cell, it cannot multiply. This is where the activity of our immune system attempts protection against the viral invaders by stimulating macrophages and defensive cellular activity to isolate and ingest the viruses. Again, a healthy immune system has magnificently greater ability to defeat the viral onslaught than one weakened by negative features of environment or heredity.

Wild ducks and swine are said to be carriers of about every natural virus known. The wild duck is a source of homeopathic remedies for viral illness, i.e. colds and flu. The medicine is made from diluted and potentized heart and liver of the duck, and the viral 'frequencies' are implanted in the remedy solutions for treatment of viral illness. (Further information on several remedies both homeopathic and herbal are found on the hubpage: How to prepare and stay calm in the threat of swine flu...Other hubpages also have good information to consider.  An online search will yield vast scientific informating regarding natural assistance for fighting  off viral illness, and much to peruse for keeping our immunity guard at alert level.