WHO (World Health Organization) has just declared that the Swine Flu (H1N1) has reached pandemic proportions¹. This means that health experts believe that it is now an unstoppable virus. This new virus can be transmitted from human to human and causes influenza and the symptoms related to it.

Many are very worried that this will kill many people, cause global panic, and economic downturns. With this in mind, we hope that this article will shed some light on possible preventions and how you can fight back so that you don’t feel so powerless in this coming storm.

First and foremost, please don’t panic. Things are not nearly as bad as they might seem. The symptoms of this flu are not as severe as you might believe; most healthy people that get it have reported that it feels like a very intense flu. The reports indicate that most healthy people are knocked off their feet for a couple of days when they are first infected, which can be intense, with headaches, nausea, and fatigue. These symptoms usually go away after a few days and are followed by coughing, nasal congestion, soreness of throat, vomiting, and headaches.

Most people have very little to fear from this current version of the Swine Flu. Whether you are old or young, you can easily overcome this flu by being smart and taking good care of yourself. In the Northern Hemisphere we are deep into spring which brings with it Hay Fever or Rhinitis (as it is known medically); many who suffer from these extremely common symptoms might think that they have been infected by the H1N1 virus. Please don’t jump to quick conclusions and stay positive.

Do go see your doctor if you experience any heavy symptoms as mentioned. But also take cold/flu and allergen medication like normal.  The worst that can happen is that people begin to panic and act irrationally, endangering themselves and the lives of others. It has been reported for example that Argentina has brought its emergency health services to the brink of collapse due to panic. As thousands rushed to hospitals fearing the worst, the Buenos Aires medical centers have received a massive blow that makes treating actual patients nearly impossible. It has been also reported that people began stoning a bus because they believed that it contained a person infected with Swine Flu ². This is definitely what you want to avoid doing.

Do take all of the precautions that you can:

•    Buy some hand sanitizer with large alcohol content and use it on a regular basis. Use it after you get home from work and whenever you have been in public, especially after touching things like public door handles or using ATM machines. Or wash your hands on a regular basis, with good soap and making sure to scrub for a good minute.
•    Keep a stock of simple surgical face masks. If things do get bad in your area, like they did in Mexico City for example, these handy little masks can give you good protection from air-born viruses. Recycle them on a regular basis, making sure to bag and throw away used masks properly.
•    Stock up on some household supplies: Water, food, toiletries, batteries, etc. Nothing crazy, a good three week supply would be perfect. The biggest threat is a panic or a governmental shut down of public works, like Mexico, which will mean that access to supplies, might be limited.

The WHO has asked that the immunization campaign be speeded up and it is believed that this can begin as early as September. Until then there are some medical and some natural medicines that you can use to help yourself:

A.    Number one on the medical list is Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) which seems to provide some resistance to the H1N1 virus. You can also use Zanamivir (Relenza) which can also help. Most developed nations have a large supply of these medical agents and a visit to the doctor will allow you access to these.
B.    If you don’t have access to the above or are inclined to take more natural cures, then we recommend the following:
•    Garlic; this is an amazing herb that has been used for thousands of years to fight off just about anything. Get the real stuff, not pills, and take up to twelve cloves a day if necessary.
•    Juniper
•    Lemon Balm
•    Tannic Acid; Pine trees (Pine needle tea) or really concentrated tea are great sources of this.
•    Oregano Oil; Fantastic stuff. Will kill just about anything. Make sure that you get some with the highest carvacrol concentration possible. A few drops under the tongue twice a day is all you need.
•    Spicy food; do you think that it’s a coincidence that spicy food is popular in all countries that have hot tropical weather? Food that is spicy, with high concentrations of hot peppers, will kill most intestinal bacteria.

All of the natural stuff can be gotten at a grocery store or a health store. Get one or all of these if you like and you will be well prepared. Do some research on your own or ask a person at a health store and they will give you plenty of information. There are other herbs out there that can help but these are the only ones that I am willing to bet on.

Finally stay positive. Many health studies have reported that there is nothing more powerful than a positive mental attitude. Use visualization and relaxation to fight off those nasty little viruses. Know that you are healthy and that you will stay that way, and you will be surprised by the results.

1.     http://www.who.int

2.    news.yahoo.com 200611