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Homeopathic Ammunition to Fight Flu
by author Nicole Duelli, CCH, RSHom

Many people fear the flu and are turning to yearly flu shots in record numbers despite conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of such measures.

The threat of a serious epidemic, such as an avian flu, is real. It has happened before. In 1918, an influenza pandemic infected approximately 20 percent of the world’s population and left over 20 million people dead. According to Dr. Todd Hoover of the National Centre of Homeopathy, homeopathic remedies were remarkably effective during that pandemic, with a death rate of one percent or fewer, while the death rate for those treated conventionally was reported at 2.5 to 10 percent.

Homeopathy uses an age-old principle to boost the immune system: a similar, but smaller and weaker dose of the actual disease (a remedy) is administered in order to prevent that same disease. Get to know a handful of flu remedies and you will be armed with ammunition this flu season!

Gelsemium is a flu remedy par excellence. Not only was it the primary flu remedy in 1918, but it was also used in 2004, after a hurricane swept across the southern US, to treat survivors who developed flu symptoms. Choose Gelsemium when the main symptom is exhaustion, heavy eyelids, trembling, dizziness with chills down the spine, and a headache at the back of the head. Symptoms develop slowly and the person feels achy with a low-grade fever.

Bryonia is another excellent flu remedy when painful muscles and headaches are the main symptom. The person wants to lie very still, prefers to be alone, and feels worse with movement. They may have a dry, painful cough and occasional thirst.

While Gelsemium and Byronia were the two primary remedies used in the 1918 flu, there are other remedies, each treating its own unique set of flu symptoms. At the first signs of flu, many homeopaths use Aconite for sudden high fever, agitation, and fear, or Belladonna for sudden high fever, hot congested head, cold hands and feet, and dullness. Others ecommend Ferrum phosphoricum depending on signs or symptoms.

For later stages of the flu, there are other remedies to consider. Homeopaths administer Arsenicum for exhaustion, burning pains, diarrhea, and vomiting; Eupatorium for severe bone pain; Nux vomica for aching, irritability, and chills, and Rhus toxicodendron for aching, stiffness, and restlessness.

Homeopathic remedies do not offer a natural alternative to vaccines. However, in an epidemic, one remedy naturally becomes dominant, and this remedy given preventively could offer protection. The National Center for Homeopathy has set up a flu tracking system, where curative responses to remedies are posted region by region throughout the flu season. Visit homeopathic.org.

Really, the only way to achieve natural immunity to any type of flu is to recover from it. Homeopathy is an excellent tool to assist the body’s immune system, and treatment can be given as soon as symptoms appear, even when the diagnosis is unclear.

Nicole Duelli, CCH, RSHom, enjoys sharing her love for homeopathy. She is a certified classical homeopath who trained in Germany as a naturopathic practitioner and practises in Vancouver.

Source: alive #287, September 2006