Influenza Preparedness

[TheShadowKnows]

Since I'm sitting at the new clinic with a two hour wait to see the doctor and take a flu test, I figured I'd make a post about the good old flu virus, although it will be full of questions and not answers on my part.

Obviously I'm not worried about my safety now as much as I am worried about having to go to work or not, but in the past, influenza has been an extremely deadly illness. The 1918-1920 influenza pandemic infected an estimated 500 million people and killed 3% of the world's population. Obviously in a grid-down or other SHTF situation, medical help may not be available, and the common flu could once again become a killer. And I'm not really even talking about avian or swine flu.

I guess what I'm asking is, what can one stock up on to combat the flu as far as preps go? Again, not really talking about for right now but for potential SHTF flu outbreaks.

 

[jontte]

would think the usual aspirins,then of course mother nature give us willow bark which does more or less the same and will cost you nothing but the trouble of harvesting it..stock upon honey as well,garlic is good,as are ginger,which reminds me of more honey

 

[jimLE]

im thinking(and if i remember right) there's certain herbs that'll at least help bring the temp down,among other things..i just gotta look it up on my herb app to see which ones are best. jontte has already pointed out some good ones.

 

[Brent S]

I think aspirin is one of the best things to have. It has a great shelf life, is dirt cheap, and dosent take much space. Keeping a fever down is as important as keeping fluids in you. Powdered Gatorade is the next thing that comes to mind. I still think that learning to not touch your eyes, mouth and nose is #1 on the list. You would be amazed at how often you tend to scratch your nose or eyes over the course of a day. Just try watching another person for a period of time and count how often they do it. Don't pick your nose, or your friends nose! Wash your hands often is good too. Preventing the flu is better than treating it anyday.

 

[DrHenley]

CoQ10 - Coenzyme Q10

It's a substance produced by your body that has a role in energy transport and in your immune response as an antioxidant. You can buy it at the supermarket.

I tested it last month against the flu, which I caught from my wife. I started taking it preemptively. I did come down with the flu, but...She had the whole nine yards, I had the fastest recovery ever. Maybe it was the CoQ10, maybe not, but it sure seems like it helped.

BTW...
If you take a statin drug (cholesterol med) or a beta blocker (blood pressure med) those can inhibit your body's synthesis of CoQ10, which causes some of the side effects of those drugs. Especially lowered energy level and inability of muscles to rebuild.

 

[Brent S]

CoQ10 - Coenzyme Q10

It's a substance produced by your body that has a role in energy transport and in your immune response as an antioxidant. You can buy it at the supermarket.

I tested it last month against the flu, which I caught from my wife. I started taking it preemptively. I did come down with the flu, but...She had the whole nine yards, I had the fastest recovery ever. Maybe it was the CoQ10, maybe not, but it sure seems like it helped.

BTW...
If you take a statin drug (cholesterol med) or a beta blocker (blood pressure med) those can inhibit your body's synthesis of CoQ10, which causes some of the side effects of those drugs. Especially lowered energy level and inability of muscles to rebuild.

Glad your bout was short, and hope the wifes' wasn't too bad. I just heard 15 deaths attributed to flu so far. Thats alot more than ebola so far, although I'm not so sure ebola is finished yet for this country.

 

[jontte]

just to cheer up everyone,how about combine these two,flu makes you weak already and add some ebola to the equation..boy,what part of my dark brain think like this

 

[Albino Yeti]

Just a reminder, flu season is swiftly upon us. For those of you who get vaccinated consider making plans to get injection in late October so the coverage carries you into early spring. Lots of strains not covered last year, scuttle butt is this years vaccination will be better.... I am "forced" to take it by my employer so I will be getting it. As mentioned in previous post best thing is prevention. Hand washing frequenting and avoiding hands to the face for any reason- especially NOSE PICKING! lol![emoji12]


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[Brent S]

Just a reminder, flu season is swiftly upon us. For those of you who get vaccinated consider making plans to get injection in late October so the coverage carries you into early spring. Lots of strains not covered last year, scuttle butt is this years vaccination will be better.... I am "forced" to take it by my employer so I will be getting it. As mentioned in previous post best thing is prevention. Hand washing frequenting and avoiding hands to the face for any reason- especially NOSE PICKING! lol![emoji12]


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Aww, no nose picking.....

 

[rachaelk]

Yarrow and Feverfew can bring down a fever too. I have lots of echinacea in my flower garden and comfrey. One of my favorite anti sick drinks in the winter when I get colds, flu, etc, especially for my little boy, who is often sick because of an impaired immune system, is comfrey tea (government says it causes cancer though.) I microwave 1 cup hot water with 2 comfrey leaves, shredded, verbascum thapsis (common mullein-the fuzzy big leaves that grow on road banks), lemon, honey, ecinacea leaves/flowers, or root, shredded. It is very mucilagiousnous and comforting.

 

[bigpaul]

I've got all the usual face masks and medical gloves, but really if it gets to a pandemic level, i'm going into personal isolation mode until the outbreak has run its course, stay indoors, nobody comes in, nobody goes out until this thing is over. these things are all spread by bodily fluids in crowded situations, so i'll remove myself from the crowds until its all over.