Homeopathy has a lot to offer flu sufferers. In past major flu pandemics, especially the Spanish flu of 1916-1918, the mortality rate was signifantly less for homeopathic patients than for the patients of the regular medical doctors of the time. Now, emergency medicine can make a difference in severe cases or with severe secondary infections. This is expensive medicine, though. Wouldn't it be better for everyone if the flu were less severe in the first place? This, apparently, is not available with current allopathic drugs, but often homeopathy can help flu sufferers.

People are very concerned about flu, as demonstrated by the persistent news about avian flu and the ever-increasing possibility of another pandemic. If you are concerned about getting the flu, consider the possibilities that homeopathy offers. Think ahead of time about what you might want to do to prevent and/or treat the flu.

You can use a homeopathic flu prophylactic. Different homeopathic pharmacies make a homeopathically-prepared remedy called influenzinum from each year's flu vaccine. This remedy can be taken at the beginning of flu season according to a specific protocol, as a "homeopathic vaccination." Many of my patients swear by it. Overall, there's some controversy about how well it works to prevent the flu so it's not a guarantee that you won't get the flu at all. Like the flu vaccine, the efficacy of the homeopathic preparation may depend on the accuracy of the predictions made about which flu viruses will predominate. But the flu vaccine sometimes has side affects that seem risky to some including the possibility of mercury-based additives.

Having a healthy immune system obviously gives you the best chance of fighting the flu and recovering quickly without secondary infections. Homeopathic treatment is one way to achieve better health. During homeopathic treatment, you may have found a remedy that often helps you, a constitutional remedy. This is the first remedy to try if you feel you are coming down with the flu. If you have not previously had homeopathic treatment, consider making an appointment with a homeopathic practitioner to resolve chronic or re-curring ailments which may be taxing your energy. Once your immune system is free of having to deal with the things that keep you from experiencing 100% joy, it makes sense that your susceptibility to the affects of flu will be diminished. I think this is the best long-term prevention strategy for avoiding a bad case of the flu.

Homeopathic remedies can be used for actual treatment of the flu. If you take a good remedy at the onset of flu symptoms it may be possible to shorten the length of illness and lessen the severity. You can use homeopathic remedies during the flu even if you've already tried other forms of prevention, including flu vaccine and homeopathic remedies.

And what's a "good remedy" for the flu? Why, one that helps your immune system fight the disease, of course. Homeopathic remedies are individualized and there may be dozens of remedies that could possibly be used for people with common flu symptoms. There are books with symptom descriptions for some of the more common homeopathic flu remedies. You can also learn more about homeopathy at a study group. Of course, you may prefer to consult with a homeopath. Luckily, in epidemics, homeopaths can often spot a particular pattern of symptoms and some remedies that may be particularly useful during that epidemic. I'm proud to say that the homeopathic community seems to be getting its act together and there is more and more ability to communicate this information for everyone's benefit.

Patients of Vis-a-Vis Wellness who are currently seeing me for followups probably know what their constitutional remedy is; previously-treated patients should call to get more information. I'm also available for acute flu consultations.