Natural Remedies for Flu
It's that time of year again: roasting chestnuts, hot spiced cider, goodwill, and--influenza. In preparation for flu season, NCC Natural Alternatives once again welcomed Cliff Kearns, DC, DNBHE. He spoke on homeopathic self-defense for the flu on November 1. This is the third in a series of lectures that Dr. Kearns has given for NCC students on classical homeopathy.
Dr. Kearns began with a brief epidemiological overview. He discussed the flu pandemic of 1918, in which fifty million people lost their lives worldwide--550 thousand in the United States alone. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a serious neurological disease that can follow viral infections, or even flu vaccinations. These examples illustrate that the flu should be taken seriously, beyond the inconvenience of sniffles and muscle aches. Also, the fact that patients of homeopathic physicians had a much higher survival rate than those receiving standard care during the flu pandemic, indicates the power and effectiveness of homeopathy in treating this illness.
Since homeopathy is individualized to the patient, there are many remedies that can treat the flu. Dr. Kearns gave us an overview of several remedies, giving a "picture" of each, based on the most common patient presentations.
The first remedy discussed was Gelsemium. This is for the patient who is chilly, and is profoundly fatigued. The onset of flu is gradual, over 6-12 hours. The patient's limbs feel heavy, and she may have chills in the back. A Gelsemium flu almost always has a headache; and despite dry mouth and lips, the patient is without thirst.
Baptisia is similar to Gelsemium, but more intense. The dull, heavy feeling manifests as a state of mental confusion, and defective proprioception—the patient's body feels "dissociated." Pharyngitis accompanies a dark red throat with white spots. The Baptisia patient is chilly, but unlike Gelsemium, is very thirsty. GI disturbances, such as nausea and diarrhea are usually seen with this remedy picture.
The chief modality of Bryonia, no matter what the symptom, is WORSE WITH MOTION; the flu is no exception. The patient's demeanor is irritable and capricious; he is also hot, and thirsty for large quantities of water. The Bryonia headache is intense, and the patient may have hoarseness and an explosive cough.
When you think about the achiness of the flu, think Eupatorium perfoliatum. The quick onset in this case brings aches that feel like "bone pain." This patient is chilly (with possible heat at the vertex of the head), vomits a lot, and is very sensitive to smells. The trachea burns, producing great thirst for cold drinks.
In contrast, the Rhus toxicodendron patient only wants small sips of water. This flu comes on slowly after exposure to wet and cold. The aches of Rhus tox are relieved by motion; combined with a deep anxiety, this makes sleep difficult. This is perhaps the chilliest patient, and the sore throat is accompanied by mucus that blocks the voice.
Pyrogen is a remedy not only for flu, but also for septic states. In spite of mucus in the throat, the patient is quite loquacious. He may have a high fever, but the pulse is not increased as much as expected (i.e., an increase of 10 bpm for each 1ºF increase). A bursting headache complements tinnitus. The pain or achiness may start in the legs, and ascend from there.
Anas barbariae is sold under the trade names Oscillococcinum or Flu Solution. It is not a well-proven remedy; thus it is not very specific. If given at the very onset of flu, however, it may stop the progression of the illness.
Handouts from this seminar are available in the Natural Alternatives folder on reserve at the Learning Resource Center. Also at the LRC, ask for the video tapes of our two previous seminars with Dr. Kearns.
Reprinted from The Synapse, December 1997.
(Synapse Article Index) |
(Home) |