| Influenza, also known as flu, is the clinical condition that | | | | comesdown to normal. The warm water enema |
| results from infection with influenzaviruses. The main | | | | should be taken daily during this period to cleanse |
| effects of the influenza viruses are on the upper | | | | thebowels. |
| respiratory tract, the noseand throat, with possible | | | | After fever subsides the patient may adopt an all-fruit |
| spread and involvement of the lungs and bronchi. | | | | diet for two or three days. In this regimen,the patient |
| The disease is highly contagious and it has potential to | | | | should take three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits |
| cause wide spread epidemics affectingsizeable portion | | | | such as apples, pears, grapes,oranges, pineapple, |
| of a population at any time. Although it is more | | | | peaches and melons at five-hourly intervals. Bananas |
| common during winter it maystrike at any time. It | | | | or dried, stewed ortinned fruits however, should not be |
| affects people of all ages. | | | | taken. No other food stuff should be added to the |
| Symptoms | | | | fruitmeals, otherwise the value of the treatment will be |
| Influenza strikes suddenly. It usually begins with a chill, | | | | lost. This may be followed by a further two orthree |
| fever, headache and severe muscularpains. The | | | | days on fruits and milk diet. Thereafter, the patient may |
| patient feels miserable and weak. There is an | | | | adopt a well-balanced diet of threebasic food groups |
| inflammation in the nose and throat,which may spread | | | | namely, (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables, and (iii) |
| down the windpipe to the lungs, resulting in a sore | | | | fruits. |
| throat, cough, running ofthe nose and eyes. In milder | | | | Spices and condiments , and pickles, which make food |
| case of influenza the temperature rises to 102 o F and | | | | more palatal and lead to overeating,must be avoided. |
| lasts for twoor three days. In severe cases, it may go | | | | Lemon juice may be used in salad dressing. Alcohol, |
| upto 104 o F and last for four or five days. | | | | tobacco, strong tea andcoffee, highly seasoned meats, |
| Theconsequent weakness and fatigue may continue | | | | over-boiled milk, pulses, potato, rice, cheese, |
| for several weeks. This may be followed by adeep | | | | refined,processed, stale and tinned foods should all be |
| chest cough due to irritation in the windpipe. | | | | avoided. |
| Causes | | | | Certain remedies have been found highly beneficial in |
| Influenza is what is known as germ disease. It is, | | | | the treatment of influenza. The mostimportant of these |
| however, not caused primarily by the action ofthe | | | | is the use of long pepper. Half a teaspoonful of the |
| germs as is generally believed, but develops due to a | | | | powder of the long pepperwith two teaspoonfuls of |
| toxic and run-down condition of thesystem of the | | | | honey and half a teaspoonful of juice of ginger should |
| affected person. This condition is brought about by | | | | be taken thrice aday. This will help greatly if taken in |
| dietetic errors and a faulty styleof living such as worry, | | | | initial stages of the disease. It is especially useful |
| over work, lack of proper exercise , living in stuffy | | | | inavoiding complications which follow the onset of the |
| rooms and keepinglate hours. No disease germs can | | | | disease, namely, the involvement of thelarynx and |
| find lodgment and become active in the system of a | | | | bronchial tube. |
| personwho is perfectly healthy in the true sense of the | | | | Another excellent remedy for influenza is the green |
| term. Influenza is passed on with ease from | | | | leaves of basil or tulsi plant. About one gramof these |
| oneaffected person to an other especially to those | | | | leaves should be boiled along with some ginger n half a |
| who are also in an equally low vital stage. That ishow | | | | litre ofwater till about half thewater is left. This |
| an epidemic starts. | | | | decoction should be taken as tea. It gives immediate |
| Treatment | | | | relief. |
| Influenza , like all other acute diseases, is a natural | | | | Garlic and turmeric are other effective food medicines |
| attempt at self-cleansing and if rightlytreated in a | | | | for influenza. Garlic is useful as a generalantiseptic and |
| natural way, immense good can ensue so far as the | | | | should be given as much as the patient can bear. |
| future health of the patient isconcerned. In the acute | | | | Garlic juice may also be suckedup the nose. A |
| stage of influenza, a patient should abstain from all solid | | | | teaspoonful of turmeric powder should be mixed in a |
| foods and onlydrink fruit and vegetable juices diluted | | | | cup of warm milk and takenthree times in the day. It |
| with water, 50 - 50 for first three to five days, | | | | will prevent complications arising from influenza and |
| dependingon the severity of the disease. The juice | | | | also activate theliver which becomes sluggish during |
| fast should be continued till the temperature | | | | the attack. |