Herbs for Flu Prevention

By Linda B. White M.D.
Published on October 27, 2009
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Fight the flu — control the spread of seasonal influenza and H1N1 by keeping viruses off you hands and out of the air.

Herbs for flu prevention, including elderberry, eleuthero, and more have shown some researched success–and pair with other preventative measures.

Influenza viruses are highly contagious. Sneezes and coughs propel the viral droplets into the air or onto hands, and some viruses can survive on surfaces long enough to be contracted by contact with a borrowed pen, a doorknob, etc. Rub your eye, nose, or lips shortly afterward, and presto — you’re sick.

The jury is currently out on exactly how long the flu, and especially H1N1 (swine flu), can survive on surfaces. Reported time periods range from eight hours (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CDC), to 48 hours (according to the Mayo Clinic).

On the other hand, Arthur Reingold, head of epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley, says there’s virtually no evidence to prove that people can catch the influenza virus from germs found on their hands. (Regardless, frequent hand washing is still a good way to reduce the risk of contagious illnesses in general.)

One to three days after exposure, symptoms develop: fatigue, fever (in most cases, but not all), body aches, headache, sore throat, cough — even vomiting or diarrhea. Children may also develop middle ear infections. People with respiratory ailments, such as asthma, are especially vulnerable to complications such as pneumonia. Whereas influenza viruses typically take a greater toll on the very young and the elderly, H1N1 has proved worse for children and young adults.

Flu Prevention and Treatment Tips

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