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