Common Colds/Flu
Common Cold and Flu are some of the most common medical illnesses. Each year, millions of people suffer from colds and flu, yet there is no effective medical treatment. Why? Because viruses causing these illnesses keep changing their chemical structure. That's why you do not acquire permanent immunity after an episode of the flu or common cold as you do with other viral illnesses, such as the Measles. For the same reason, Flu vaccines are not very effective either, although millions of Americans receive these shots every year. They end up getting the Flu anyway.
Usual Medical Treatment may Cause more Harm than Good.
Usual Medical treatment of the Flu and Common Colds is aimed at controlling the symptoms. These treatments are readily available over the counter. It is a multi-million dollar industry. These remedies primarily consist of a nasal decongestant, an antihistamine, a cough suppressant and a pain reliever.
Each one of these ingredients can cause severe side-effects. For example, a nasal decongestant can raise blood pressure, cause rapid heart beat and may even cause a heart attack. Most antihistamines often cause drowsiness and its serious consequences, such as a car accident.They can also cause acute retention of urine and an acute episode of glaucoma. Cough suppressants really do not work except for brief periods. Pain relievers such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol in the USA) can cause liver damage. Other pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen, Naprosyn and Naproxen, can cause stomach upset and rarely, bleeding from the stomach and acute renal shut down in patients with diabetes and any cardiovascualr disease or chronic renal disease.
In addition, here is the biggest problem: These treatments often prolong the illness, leading to prolonged use of these medications which culminates in the unnecessary prescription of Antibiotics with their own potential serious side-effects.
How do these treatments prolong the illness?
You need to understand how your body responds to an attack by an army of viruses: The affected areas, such as the nose, sinuses and throat, get inflammed, which enhances blood circulation to these areas, bringing in an army of Your Immune Cells to fight off the invading viruses. As a result, there is an increased production of secretions in the nose and throat area. In addition to killing off viruses, the body also flushes away the invading viruses in these secretions.
Now, consider how a nasal decongestant works: These drugs reduce the blood flow to the nose and throat area. How does an antihistamine work? By drying up the secretions in the nose, sinuses and and throat area. Isn't it obvious that these treatments work against your immune system and helps to prolong your illness?
Another problem: For your immune system to effectively fight off viruses, it needs full support from your entire body. In order to conserve energy, the body must rest and provide as much energy to the immune system as it needs. That's why there is sneezing, watery eyes, body aches and pains, exhaustion, fever and headaches. All of these symptoms force you to take rest. However, you decide to take the medicines that temporarlly control your symptoms and you continue with your work and other activities instead of resting. Once the effect of theses medicines wears off, you feel worse. Then, you take the next dose and the vicious cycle continues.
A More Physiological, Safe and Effective Approach
Here is an outline, which is physiological, that boosts up your immune system and is very effective. This approach shortens the course of illness and has NO side-effects. I used it during my recent bout with the Flu. In a matter of just two days, I was cured of Flu symptoms.
Let me share with you what I did.
1.Rest, which includes no reading, watching TV or surfing the internet. All of these mental activities consume a lot of energy. I also did minimal talking. The Voice uses up alot of energy. I stayed in the present moment, for the most part.
2.Staying Warm. I put on three layers of clothes: under shirt, flannel shirt and a sweater. I raised the thermostat to 80 degrees Farenheit, used an electric heater, set up a fire in the fireplace and sat in front of it by myself. It is also a wonderful meditative experience as many of you already know.
3. Local Heat Application: I used a local heat applicator in the form of a small pillow that you can heat in a microwave that my brother and sister-in-law gave me for Christmas. I put it alternately on my nose, eyes, ears and throat.
4. Frequent cleansing of nose and mouth with tolerably hot water. Steam inhalation once a day in the morning. I continued using Hydrogen peroxide to brush my teeth twice a day as I routinely do.
5. Large amounts of water. I drank 500 ml of bottled water at room teperature every 2-3 hours, while awake.
6. Lots of Food. I ate every 3-4 hours while awake. All kinds of hot foods such as oatmeal, eggs omelette, hot tea with honey, chicken soup, hot Indian spicy chicken rice (called chicken Biryani). Plenty of fresh fruits including oranges, bananas, apples and pears.
7. Vitamin D: I tripled the dose of my daily Vitamin D3 to 10,000 I.U. three times a day for two days.
8. Zinc. I took Zinc in the tablet form, 100 mg twice a day for two days.
The Choice is Yours!
I just shared with you my own experience and thoughts about the treatment of the Flu and Common Colds. It is not my intention to convince you one way or the other. Ultimately, the choice is all yours!
You should also be aware that I am a healthy 55 year old with No medical conditions.
Update:
Since publication of this report about six months ago, a number of people have told me they followed this approach. They too were able to rid of cold/ flu in a short period of time.
This winter season ( 2011-2012 ), Cold / or Flu has not affected me so far. Knock on the woods! I continue to take 5000 IU of Sublingual Vitamin D 3.
This article was written by Sarfraz Zaidi, MD, FACE. Dr. Zaidi
specializes in Diabetes,
Endocrinology
and Metabolism.
Dr. Zaidi is a former assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA and Director of the Jamila Diabetes and Endocrine Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California.
Copyright © 1999-2011 All rights reserved.