Last week .  Flu sick.  Bed was my best friend for days–something, thankfully, to which I am not accustomed. 

I received an email forward from my friend Theresa, the kind I typically barely read before clicking "delete"; in this case, something about health.  B u t because I'm respecting the whole Swine Flu thing a bit more than I did, say, two weeks ago, I read it.  It contained information that was new to me, and I figured if I hadn't heard some of this, maybe a few of you hadn't either.  {Thanks to who directed me to the original source!}

Regardless, following these directives won't hurt you and they might just help you.  Feel free to cut and paste and forward to everyone in your address book.  They'll probably ignore it but you might just be saving a life ;).

Tips to help prevent contracting Swine Flu/H1N1

  1. The
    only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat.  In a global
    epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into
    contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.  Contact with H1N1 is not
    so much of a problem as proliferation is. 
  2. While
    you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection,
    in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and
    development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully
    highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead
    of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
  •  Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
  •  "Hands-off-the-face" approach.  Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap <– that made me giggle).
  • Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't
    trust salt).  H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the
    throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. 
    Simple gargling prevents proliferation.  In a way, gargling with salt
    water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on
    an infected one. 
    Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and
    powerful preventative method.
  • Clean your nostrils at least once every day with
    warm salt water.
      Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti
    (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose
    hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in
    warm salt water is very effective
    in bringing down viral population.
  • Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C
    (Amla and other citrus fruits).   If you have to supplement with Vitamin
    C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
  • Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can.  Drinking
    warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse
    direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the
    stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

Was this stuff news to you?   Some of these suggestions were completely new to me!


Pin It on Pinterest