- Written by Rebecca Gower, B.A. M.A. DSHM (hons)
It seems like everyday the news or radio is reporting about the Swine Flu or the H1N1 virus which is supposed to be the next pandemic. All of these reports can ramp up the fear and panic, especially for those of us with small children. First, let’s all take a deep breath and try to look at this whole situation with some perspective.
The Cause for Concern:
There are some good reasons why many public health officials are concerned about the H1N1 virus. The first reason is that it is a new virus- which means that it is a strain that we haven’t seen before and thus, we haven’t developed natural antibodies against it. Another possible cause of concern is that young, healthy adults appeared to have died from this virus especially in the early stages in Mexico. It is possible that there were other factors involved in these deaths. Another reason for encouragement is that there has been a milder form of H1N1 in North America.
Difficulty in Conventional Medical Treatment:
It looks as if this virus is sensitive to two anti-viral agents (Tamiflu and Relenza). There are a few pharmaceutical companies that are racing to produce a vaccine. One of the biggest problems is that it takes a lot of time to identify and make a vaccine capable of managing a severe outbreak of the flu. This is especially true if the virus mutates and is able to develop resistance to medication or a vaccine. We already know that the ‘flu shot’ is only approximately 40% effective partly because epidemiologists cannot accurately predict all of the specific strains of influenza that change with each flu season.
Enter Homeopathy…
Homeopathy gained its reputation by successfully treating many of infectious epidemics of the 18th and 19thcentury including outbreaks of Cholera, Typhoid, Scarlet Fever and the Spanish Flu of 1919. The Spanish Flu is particularly relevant to the current H1N1 outbreak because it was also a H1N1 type A influenza virus. Public health records indicate the amazing success in homeopathy in treating people during the Spanish Flu. The mortality rate of people treated with conventional medicine was 30 percent while those treated by homeopathic physicians had mortality rate of 1.05 percent. Of the fifteen hundred cases reported at the Homeopathic Medical Society of the District of Columbia there were only fifteen deaths. Recoveries in the National Homeopathic Hospital were 100%. In Ohio, of 1,000 cases of influenza, Dr. T. A. McCann, MD, Dayton, Ohio reported NO DEATHS.
Using Homeopathy to Prevent and Treat Influenza
Homeopathy can assist in the treatment of Influenza in several ways;
Prevention:
Homeopaths have been using Homeopathic Prophylaxis (or preventative treatment) to prevent the development of Influenza for over 150 years. The main remedy used for this is called Influenzinum. Homeopathic Prophylaxis is different from the ‘flu shot’ in that the ‘flu shot’ involves introducing crude doses of Influenza along with several chemicals into your body including thimerosol (mercury) and formaldehyde. On the other hand, homeopathic remedies including Influenzinum, have no extra chemicals in them and do not create side effects.
Acute Treatment:
Homeopathy can be used very successfully to treat symptoms of influenza while you are sick. In most cases, this type of homeopathic treatment can cure and speed up recovery from even severe forms of influenza. The pattern of symptoms of most cases of Influenza match very closely to symptoms that several homeopathic remedies are known to cure.
Chronic Treatment:
One of the advantages of Homeopathic treatment is that it reduces susceptibility to illness. This means that it will lessen both the frequency and intensity of illness over time if you are someone that seems to come down with every cold or virus especially during the winter months. At the same time, it can improve many health complaints ranging from headaches, indigestion, skin conditions, PMS/menstrual discomfort, and much more.
Rebecca Gower is a Homeopathic Physician in private practice in Toronto. She offers free homeopathic flu prevention starting in October or upon request. For more information, she can be reached at 647-688-8290 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ” mce_href=”mailto: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ” style=”color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);”>redpearlhomeopathy@gmail.com. You can also check out her new homeopathic blog at http://redpearlhomeopathy.blogspot.com/
