The Importance of Being: One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Friday, February 25, 2005

One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Wow. It seems that the whole world is sick. No, I don't mean that the world has gone mad, although that also seems to be true. Lately, everyone I know has been hit with a nasty, nasty flu bug. I had a fever off and on for four days. It was the kind of illness that makes you feel like you've been run over by an eighteen wheeler. I haven't been hit that hard in years.

In North Carolina, hospitals are still filled with flu victims. Michigan is calling this flu season the third worst in the last eight years. Mississippi is urging residents to get vaccinated. Personally, I never had much faith in flu shots. I used to get one every year, and it never did me any good; I still got sick at least once. Plus, there is quite a bit of evidence to indicate that vaccinations do more harm than good, and in fact do little to combat the flu threat.

I know that this is still flu season, but it ain't just in the US. I have a friend who lives in France who claims that the whole country has been smacked hard by a nasty cold. Another friend in Sweden says that he watched as all his coworkers disappeared one by one as they were bedridden by a merciless bug. To top it all off, the bird flu is still going strong.

Somehow, I don't think it is a coincidence that so many people are so ill this season. It is almost as if something is in the air, and I don't mean just a wicked virus. Whether it's Europe's sudden perfectly scripted and well-acted faux change of heart in supporting Bush and his antics, or the Shrub's grilling of supposed ally Vladimir Putin yesterday, things are getting REALLY weird...

The flu did give me a chance to read Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Although the book is supposed to be based on a lot of facts, it seemed to me that Brown got his facts confused with fiction. For a far more accurate and relevant story along similar lines, check out this review that ties into the life of one of history's greatest mysteries, Fulcanelli.

3 Comments:

Many of our modern drugs have harsh side-affects and cost the “earth”, so the next time you come down with a cold or the flu or chronic stress, why not try a gentle alternative that costs next to nothing?

Instead of immediately forking over large amounts of money for over-the-counter drugs, go to the kitchen cupboard and see what you can find to relieve your symptoms including chronic stress.

Here are some helpful hints for chronic stress …

A simple hot compress applied to the face is very soothing to those throbbing aches and pains of a blocked sinus, while a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a handkerchief can provide welcome relief for similar conditions. While supplements of vitamin C, D and zinc will shorten the lifespan of a common cold, a hot lemon drink is also extremely good. And be sure to cuddle-up in bed when you have a cold, as it will make the body sweat out the germs.

Cool lemon juice and honey are a great soother for a sore throat and gives the body much-needed vitamin C at the same time The juice of one lemon in a glass of water is sufficient. Melt the honey in a little hot water for ease of mixing.

A smear of Vaseline or petroleum jelly will do wonders for those sore lips and nose that often accompany a cold.

A 'streaming cold' where the nose and eyes water profusely, can respond to drinking onion water. Simply dip a slice of onion into a glass of hot water for two seconds, then sip the cooled water throughout the day. Half an onion on the bedside table also alleviates cold symptoms because its odor is inhaled while you sleep.

People prone to catarrh may find that chewing the buds from a pine or larch throughout the day will clear up their condition in just a few days.

Do you suffer from sore eyes? If your eyes are sore from lengthy exposure to the sun, try beating the white of an egg and then spread it over a cloth and bandage the eyes with it. Leave the preparation on overnight. Soft cheese (quark) is also a good remedy for this condition.

For those unpleasant times when you suffer from diarrhea, two tablespoons of brown vinegar will usually fix the problem. Vinegar can be rather horrible to take, but who cares! The problem is more horrible. Vinegar can usually be found in most people's cupboards, so you don't need to worry about finding someone to run to the shop for you in an emergency.

Sleepless? Instead of reaching for sleeping pills, which can quickly become addictive, try this: Drink only caffeine free tea or coffee starting late in the afternoon.. Go to bed earlier rather than later, as being overtired tends to keep people awake. Make sure the bedroom is dark and quiet. Use only pure wool or cotton sheets and blankets. Polyester materials can cause sweat and make you thirsty (if your child constantly asks for water throughout the night, this could be the reason).

And don't watch those scary movies just before retiring! If you still can't sleep, make a tea of lemongrass or drink a nightcap of herbal tea containing chamomile. It's easy to grow lemongrass in your garden or start a flower pot on the balcony for ease of picking. Simply steep a handful in boiling water for five minutes. Honey may be added for a sweetener.

Of course there will be times when you do need modern drugs, so if these simple remedies don't have the required affect, be sure to see a health care professional.

chronic stress

By Anonymous, at 1:29 AM
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By Roberto Iza Valdes, at 6:35 AM
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By Roberto Iza Valdes, at 11:39 PM