The flu has hit here severely

[caulfield]

Everyone around me was getting sick with the flu here in LA. All of them were sick for exactly the same ammount of time, 2 weeks straight. I just got sick yesterday and I am having a HELL of a time... Last night I had a fever and had to resort to taking tylenol while eating ice cream and holding bags of frozen vegetables to my head ears and face.

So anyone know any way I can get this over with faster? Right now I am holding a Zicam under my tongue and crossing my fingers that this shit is not total BS (which I have always thought it totally is). I don't ever take echinachea, so would that help right now? What about goldenseal or cat's claw?

-caul

[X. Torris]

An echinacea liquid extract might work--- but it really has been shown to work best if you start regular administration as soon as symptoms appear.  But it couldn't hurt, I guess.  Hope you feel better soon, Caul!

[caulfield]

The Zicam is sort of working, but maybe it is all in my head. At this point I really don't care. I am not eating much right now though so it kind of does a number on my stomach. Nothing I can't handle. I have to wait till I leave work today to go buy the echinachea.  Unfortunately, my symptoms started around early Monday, when they were so slight I mistook them for allergies.

-caul

[Indra]

from the way i understand, the use of zicam only shortens the duration of a cold if taken within 48 hours of the first sign of symptoms.  it does not provide acute relief, but simply ends the cold sooner.  i dont know if it works at all for influenza.

hope you feel better.

[Indra]

p.s.
zicam has seemed to work for me in the past, when i've started taking it upon first noticing symptons.  i've used the nasal inhaler.  it's not very pleasant to snort, but such it goes.

[Jacko]

Saute a bunch of shitake and garlic in olive oil, grind a lil' fresh pepper and sea salt over it to taste, serve on linguini for a nice immune system boosting meal.  

We've seen entire public school systems shutting down in TN due to flu outbreaks recently.  After spending half my winter break sick with the flu last year I was quick to get a shot this year before the shortage was discovered.

[Stonehenge]

Vit C always seems to help me. The best thing to do is take it every day. Echinacea is supposed to be good too.

Stoney

[caulfield]

I take a multi-vitamin every day. My co-worker just gave me a few bags of echinachea tea. This tea and the Zircam rapidmelts, have completely fucked up my sense of taste. I prepared some chicken ramen to get some food in my stomach and I just about had to force it down, it tasted horrible.

[Bongo]

Are there not problems with echinacea?
A friend of mine used to take it on a regular basis but stopped after hearing that while it can temporarily boost the immune system, it can also cause damage to this delicate mechanism.
I hear a good dose of Kratom tea is good relief for flu symptoms only, you may also find yourself on the dance floor the same night no matter how crappy you felt before the tea.
Ha....

[X. Torris]

Are there not problems with echinacea?
A friend of mine used to take it on a regular basis but stopped after hearing that while it can temporarily boost the immune system, it can also cause damage to this delicate mechanism.

I think your friend heard right.  I've always heard/read that you're really not supposed to take echinacea on a regular basis, only during the onset and maybe the duration of illness--- to reduce the duration and perhaps the severity of symptoms.  I think a lot of people are misusing echinacea the way your friend was.

I've heard it recommended that any herbal shouldn't be taken for more than 8 weeks at a time without at least a 2 week break--- to prevent any decline in benefit or any detrimental effects from over-use.  I'm not a master herbalist, but it seems to be sound advice, so that's what I do when I take herbals.

[caulfield]

Yeah I heard that too, and like I said, I don't normally ever take echinacea in any form. I took 4 ml of echinacea extract last night within the span of 4 hours. This morning I had 2 ml then another 1 ml at noon, and I've dissolved 2 Zicam today so far.

My temperature is back to normal on a consistent basis and I haven't needed any Tylenol for fever or headaches. My sore throat is gone. My runny nose has settled down a bit, but my congestion is worse. My cough has not improved at all.

I'm just glad I am no longer dizzy with fever, suffering from body aches and pains, or unable to speak due to a sore throat. Severe symptoms I can totally handle, but that shit sucked.

[Cassie]

My family have some sort of immunity to the flu, i dunno how or why but we've never had it.
I do get colds though and my recommendation for healing would be to mega-dose on vitamin C and garlic.
I hate garlic so i take it by choppin it up small and swallowing like pills. As for the vitamin C, i believe in really big doses to help the body fight a virus or an infection.  I would use between 3-6grams a day for this. If you have too much you get the 'loose bowell' reaction and you know to cut it back but one can't do damage by overdose.
Get Well Soon Caul!

[caulfield]

Thanks Casser, I'm tryin.

[winder]

There is the garlique capsule supplement that doesn't hav ethe odor of garlic.

I cannot imagine a garlic free lifestyle.

And it does seem to hold disease off.
I always lunge for it when the throat starts tickling and itching.
In sauce, salsa, soup, bread, eggs, guacamole.

[Stonehenge]

Winder, garlic has some very good stuff in it. You're right about that. There are so many natural antioxidants and compounds that just seem so good for the health if used properly. I use moderate doses, I try to avoid mega doses. I take a bunch of them every day. Here are the major things I'm taking daily

Vit C
E
multvitamin
glucosamine
chrondroitin
lycopene
vinpocitine
co q10
saw palmetto
asprin
dhea
calcium
magnesium
yeast
fish oil (3gm)

And probably a few things I forgot. I have echinacea but I don't take it on a regular basis. Just when I'm sick which is very seldom. I believe it's been about 4 years since I had a cold. I can't remember the last time I had the flu, must have been when I was a kid.

Stoney