Well here we are in the peak of flu season again and as I write this post, I’m currently recovering from a severe cold that left me weak and miserable all week. I had a flu shot back in November, but as we all know, they don’t always help.
The CDC this year has estimated that between 40 and 90 million Americans will come down with the flu between the months of November and March. Most of those people will suffer with the aches and pains for a few days and then recover. An average of 14,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications yearly, and 36,000 Americans die each year from complications of flu. (Source: CDC)
There are three types of viruses — influenza A, B and C. Types A and B are to blame for majority of respiratory illness that occur most winters. Type C causes mild illness or no symptoms at all. Flu viruses are spread from one person to another by sneezing, coughing or direct contact, which is why we call them airborne.
Since there is no cure and the virus is constantly changing, usually as a result of mutations in the viral genes, all you can really do is get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Tylenol will help for fever and muscle aches, but all those medications on the market won’t do much to get rid of your symptoms or make you feel better. There is no treatment for the flu since antibiotics do not work against viruses. They are only used if you get bronchitis or pneumonia as a complication of the flu.
So what are your personal experiences, tips, and/or home remedies that you use when the flu strikes? When I feel a cold coming on I always load up on the vitamin C and Echinacea. I’ve always heard that Zinc was good, but it’s never worked for me and it tastes bad (at least the lozenges do). I try to get as much rest as I can, but I can’t stand lying around the house all day doing nothing, so I usually only take one day off of work (the day I’m feeling worst) and suffer through the rest of the week. I drink lots of water, hot tea and usually live on toast and chicken soup for a few days.
As a daily defense, I’m a constant hand washer. Every time I go out in public and I touch a door knob, grocery cart, etc. I wash my hands as soon as soon as I walk in the house. As well as washing my hands throughout the day at work. One thing that Albertsons and Smiths provide, right next to the shopping carts, are those antibacterial wipes. I always use those to clean the handles of the grocery basket or cart as those carry lots of germs. I only wish Wal-Mart would do the same.
Please share your experiences, tips, & remedies.
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Gato got runned over by Marcus many moons ago. Be ye daft, 2486? 
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I used to get chronic sinusitis, tonsillitus and ear infections so bad every year. My sinuses got so bad that they wanted to scope them out. I got bad colds every year, even if I’d had a flu shot.
I was constantly using up my sick and vacation time for upper respiratory stuff…and I didn’t smoke, so why couldn’t I shake the viruses? And they’d always degenerate into pneumonia or some other bacterial issue.
Finally, in the spring of 2004, a friend who worked for Melaleuca told me about a product they sell called Activate. Now, mind you, I’m not a fan of Frank Vandersloot’s politics (although I really like his fireworks, I have to give him that) so I try not to buy his products. And this one has echinacea and zinc, and some other stuff in a proprietary blend. I had tried these herbs before with no success. So I was skeptical.
But I have to tell you, I tried it, (and the trick is to take 3 at once as soon as you feel that first inkling that something’s coming…my glands start to swell, my throat starts to tighten up and I get a little cloggy)…and I start a regimen of 3 a day, for a few days.
I think since I started using Activate, in the last 4 years I’ve only had one bout of bronchitis, and two really bad colds…and nothing else, even minor colds. It’s a freakin’ miracle. My whole family uses it with great success.
One of the things I read was that Echinacea comes in two forms, basically, and the one you really want to use (that seems to pass the tests when they do them) is the purpurea form. And Activate has that form.
Anyway, if you’re already sick and you take it, it doesn’t seem to help, much. So you have to be in tune with your body to ward off the illness.
I also wash my hands as much as possible, and I have the alcohol gel at my desk, etc. But I praise Activate to high heaven.