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Swine flu (swine influenza) is a respiratory disease caused by viruses (influenza viruses) that infect the respiratory tract of pigs, resulting in nasal secretions, a barking cough, decreased appetite, and listless behavior. Swine flu produces most of the same symptoms in pigs as human flu produces in people. Swine flu can last about one to two weeks in pigs that survive. Swine influenza virus was first isolated from pigs in 1930 in the U.S. and has been recognized by pork producers and veterinarians to cause infections in pigs worldwide. In a number of instances, people have developed the swine flu infection when they are closely associated with pigs (for example, farmers, pork processors), and likewise, pig populations have occasionally been infected with the human flu infection. In most instances, the cross-species infections (swine virus to man; human flu virus to pigs) have remained in local areas and have not caused national or worldwide infections in either pigs or humans. Unfortunately, this cross-species situation with influenza viruses has had the potential to change. Investigators decided the 2009 so-called “swine flu” strain, first seen in Mexico, should be termed novel H1N1 flu since it was mainly found infecting people and exhibits two main surface antigens, H1 (hemagglutinin type 1) and N1 (neuraminidase type1). The eight RNA strands from novel H1N1 flu have one strand derived from human flu strains, two from avian (bird) strains, and five from swine strains.

 

Swine Flu Symptoms

People who have swine flu can be contagious one day before they have any symptoms, and as many as 7 days after they get sick. Kids can be contagious for as long as 10 days.

Most symptoms are the same as seasonal flu. They can include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue

Like seasonal flu, swine flu can lead to more serious complications, including pneumonia and respiratory failure. And it can make conditions like diabetes or asthma worse. If you have symptoms like shortness of breath, severe vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, or confusion, call your doctor right away.

 

Prevention of Swine Flu

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends flu vaccination for all people older than 6 months of age. An H1N1 virus is one component of the seasonal flu shot for 2013-2014. The flu shot also protects against two or three other influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during the 2013-2014 flu season.
The vaccine will be available as an injection or a nasal spray. The nasal spray is approved for use in healthy people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

These measures also help prevent swine flu (H1N1 flu) and limit its spread:

• Stay home if you’re sick. If you do have swine flu (H1N1 flu), you can give it to others starting about 24 hours before you develop symptoms and ending about seven days later.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and water, or if they’re unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Flu viruses can survive for two hours or longer on surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops.
• Contain your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. To avoid contaminating your hands, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inner crook of your elbow.
• Avoid contact. Stay away from crowds if possible. And if you’re at high risk of complications from the flu — for example, you’re younger than 5 or you’re 65 or older, you’re pregnant, or you have a chronic medical condition such as asthma — consider avoiding swine barns at seasonal fairs and elsewhere.
• Reduce exposure within your household. If a member of your household has swine flu, designate only one household member to be responsible for the ill person’s personal care.

 

Tests for Swine Flu

It’s hard to tell whether you have swine flu or seasonal flu, because most symptoms are the same. People with swine flu may be more likely to feel nauseous and throw up than people who have seasonal flu. But a lab test is the only way to know for sure. Even a rapid flu test you can get in your doctor’s office won’t tell you for sure.

 

Migraine headaches are caused by excessive dilation of the cerebral blood vessels, though scientists do not fully understand what causes the dilation in the first place. Blood vessels don’t just dilate spontaneously—they are presumably responding to chemical changes that are occurring in the body. A Naturopathic physician or holistic medical doctor will want to take a complete medical, family, menstrual, and diet history before considering the cause of migraine. Some of the illnesses to be ruled out are bowel problems, mold allergies, vitamin deficiencies, hypertension, TMJ misalignment, food allergies or intolerances, dehydration, spinal subluxations, coffee/caffeine intoxication, and aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal) toxicity among others. All of these problems can cause migraine symptoms and usually can be treated very easily without the use of drugs. Paradoxical as it may seem, a surprising percentage of migraine headaches may be caused by migraine medication. The “rebound effect” of analgesic and ergotomine compounds has been implicated as a contributing factor for sufferers of daily headaches. Discuss this phenomenon with your prescribing doctor if you are taking more than 30 analgesic tablets a month or if you regularly use ergotamine derivatives. Withdrawal from these products can temporarily make headaches worse, but eliminating these products altogether may ultimately mean no more headaches —ever.

 

How & What You Eat Can Cause Migraines?

When exploring the causes of headaches, the easiest place to start is diet. Food reactions are a significant contributor to headaches and some improvement in symptoms, if not complete remission, can always be achieved by eliminating problematic dietary items. The elimination/challenge trial described below is a good way to identify food reactions that may be causing your headaches.

Foods that most commonly induce migraines:

• Cow’s milk
• Wheat
• Chocolate
• Egg
• Orange
• Benzoic acid
• Cheese
• Tomato
• Tartrazine (yellow food dye)
• Rye

Foods like cheese, beer, and wine induce migraines in some people because they contain histamines and/or vasoactive compounds that cause blood vessels to expand. Women tend to react to histamine-containing foods more frequently than men do, on account of a deficiency in an enzyme (diamine oxidase) that breaks histamine down. Taking supplemental B6 may be helpful in these situations, as it can increase diamine oxidase activity.Nitrites, which are common ingredients in lunch meats and smoked/cured meats, dilate blood vessels, and may trigger migraine.

 

Nutritional Supplements for the Relief of Migraines

Wobenzyme: 5 tablets 3 times a day between meals; or, if this dose causes loose stools, 3 tablets 5 times a day
Magnesium citrate: 250mg to 500mg 3 times a day with meals
Vitamin B6: 25mg 3 times a day with meals; vitamin B6 supports the enzymatic breakdown of histamine.
5-HTP (5- Hydroxytryptophan): 100mg to 200mg 3 times a day; 5-HTP increases seritonin and endorphin levels in the brain and has been shown to be as effective as commonly used migraine drugs and with none of the side effects.

 

Physical Medicine for Migraines

• Submerge the feet in a bucket of very hot water while applying an ice compress to the back of the neck. This actually draws the blood down to the feet away from the head. Reduction of pain coincides with the duration of application
• Acupressure can be helpful. See a trained acupressure therapist for instructions on procedures to do at home.
• Chiropractic adjustments and maintaining correct spinal alignment can be very supportive in the prevention of headaches that are triggered by muscle stress and spasm.
• Miscellaneous Treatment Options for Migraines
• Intravenous magnesium: IV magnesium can be very helpful for migraine patients who have low-grade magnesium deficiencies. Physician monitoring is needed for this procedure.
• Biofeedback therapy: Look for a certified biofeedback practitioner to learn how to reduce pain with a relaxation response that is as effective as Inderol without the side effects.
• TENS Unit: Electrical nerve stimulation units can reduce muscle spasm in patients with tension and migraine headaches. A health care practitioner’s prescription is needed for insurance coverage of these units, which should be available through medical supply companies. Some chiropractors and physical therapists loan these devices out to patients for a small deposit.
• Acupuncture: Acupuncture can balance underlying hormonal deficiencies, tone the gastrointestinal system, and calm reactive blood vessels

 

Naturopathy treatment for weight loss is an interesting topic. The global figure is changing. Being overweight is primarily an issue of health. Excess weight in terms of complementary medicine is seen as an excess condition of toxicity that needs to be eliminated. Did you know that central obesity is as much linked to cardiovascular disease as cigarette smoking?

However there is no ad campaign telling us that fast food will lead to gangrene, although it can. Obesity is associated with complications in pregnancy, heart disease, late onset diabetes and certain cancers, in particular those related to oestrogen and the gastrointestinal tract.

People often have an excuse as to why they are overweight. Age, menopause, slow metabolism, child bearing, convenience and big bones, are some excuses people use. From a naturopathic perspective, there are legitimate reasons why people may gain weight that can be identified and addressed.

Why only Diets Don’t Work

• We feel deprived.
• Diets perpetuate an unhealthy obsession with food
• Diets often provide inadequate nutrition
• Diets treat the symptom and not the causes
• Diets upset the bodies’ metabolism, slowing down our Basal Metabolic Rate BMR.
• Diets don’t address cravings
• Diets don’t work alone, often needed in combination with counselling and ongoing support networks.

Effective Weight Loss Measures

• You must sweat you must go hungry
• Have reasonable expectations i.e. 1kg /week.
• Include a realistic intake of energy
• Ensure diet is nutritionally adequate.
• Reduce meal portions or have five small meals per day.
• Eat complex carbohydrates, nuts and seeds, legumes and grains and fat to give satiety.
• Eat food high in fibre to slow digestion and increase satiety.
• Relax, take a deep breath, and eat slowly.
• Select food low in saturated fats i.e. red meat, milk and cheese
• Limit sugar, supermarket foods low in fat are high in sugar
• Drink 6-8 glasses of room temperature water a day.
• Exercise, exercise, exercise to increase your BMR. Buy that wet weather gear.
• Follow the rules of healthy eating for life and not a diet for weeks/months.

Naturopathic Causes Weight Gain and Obesity

• Excess calories consumption and deficient exercise
• Blood sugar imbalance AKA Insulin Resistance
• Functional hypothyroid AKA Low Basal Metabolic Rate
• Deficiency of good fats EFAs leading to decreased Thermogenesis
• Low stomach acid AKA Hypochlorydria
• Sluggish liver AKA fatty liver

Naturopathic Treatment of Obesity-Weight Loss :- Principles

• Balance blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity
• Boost the BMR
• Stimulate thermogenesis
• Increase stomach acid
• Improve liver function

Naturopathy considers obesity to be less about diet and more about correcting underlying imbalance through lifestyle change that requires a plan of care that supports long-term sustainable health optimization.The Naturopathic Treatment of Obesity-Weight Loss works on six Principles of Naturopathy.

• Let nature heal
• Identify and treat causes
• First, do no harm
• Educate patients
• Treat the whole person
• Prevent illness

Conclusion

Naturopathic practice is oriented to facilitate patient self-healing and use the clinical encounter as an opportunity to inspire and guide patients to develop a healthier lifestyle. Treatment of obesity is a frequent focus of Naturopathy practice. While single therapeutic agents undergone testing in research trials, to date there has been no whole-system study that supports the effectiveness of naturopathic medicine for obesity. Yet, the naturopathic philosophy of the healing, including the focus on treating the whole person and preventative care suggest that it is ideally suited for the treatment and prevention of obesity.

 

Food for Boosting Immune System plays a vital role in every human’s life. In the current scenario, we find lots of Food for Boosting Immune System products available in the market. Here are a few, which will keep you and your body fit, without any processed Food for Boosting Immune System.

Wheat Germ – Wheat germ or wheatgerm is a concentrated source of several essential nutrients including Vitamin E, folate (folic acid), phosphorus, thiamin, zinc, and magnesium. It is a good source of fiber.

Garlic – Garlic contains several nutrients in rich amounts (> 20% DV), including vitamins B6 and C, and the dietary mineral, manganese (right table).

Broccoli – Broccoli is full of Nutrition like Vitamin C and Dietary Fiber. The Diindolylmethane found in broccoli is a potent modulator of the innate immune response system with anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer activity. Broccoli also contains the compound glucoraphanin, which can be processed into an anti-cancer compound sulforaphane, though the anti-cancer benefits of broccoli are greatly reduced if the vegetable is boiled.

Oysters – Oysters are one of the Excellent resources of Zinc, Iron, Calcium, and Selenium including Vitamin A and Vitamin B12.

Elderberry – studies demonstrate that elderberry may have a measurable effect in treating the flu, alleviating allergies, and boosting overall respiratory health.

Watermelon – Watermelons are mostly water — about 92 percent — but this refreshing fruit is soaked with nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant levels of vitamins A, B6, and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants, and amino acids. There’s even a modest amount of potassium. Plus, this quintessential summer snack is fat-free, very low in sodium, and has only 40 calories per cup.

The Wheat grass Juice – A Miracle Medicine. The chief constituent of wheat grass is chlorophyll which contains “concentrated sun power”. Chlorophyll increases the function of the heart, affects the vascular system, the intestines, the uterus and the lungs. It is a rich source of vitamin A, B, C and contains minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, sulfur, cobalt and zinc. It purifies the blood due to its high vitamin and mineral contents and its properties are used to cleanse and rebuild it.

 

Skin Diseases

Chlorophyll arrests growth and development of harmful bacteria. Wheat grass therapy can thus be effectively used for skin diseases and ulcerated wounds. By retarding bacterial action, it promotes cell activity and normal growth. Regular drinking of wheat grass juice creates an unfavorable environment for bacterial growth.

 

Digestive System Disorders

Wheat grass juice used as an enema helps detoxify the walls of the colon. The general procedure is to give an enema with lukewarm water. After waiting for 20 minutes, an enema of wheat grass juice is given of about 100 to 125 ml and it should be retained for 15 minutes. This enema is very helpful in disorders of the colon, mucus and ulcerative colitis, chronic constipation and bleeding piles.

 

Circulatory Disorders

The chlorophyll content present in wheat grass enhances the heart and lung functions. Capillary activity also increases, while toxemia is reduced. Iron content in the blood increases the hemoglobin, and the lungs function better. Oxygenation improves and the effect of carbon dioxide is minimized. Wheat grass juice is thus highly beneficial in the treatment of circulatory disorders.

 

Other Diseases

Several other diseases can be treated successfully by regular drinking of Wheat grass juice. These include premature greying and falling of hair, debility, abdomen pain, constipation, tooth disorders, arthritis, psoriasis, general weakness, kidney stones, weak eyesight, asthma, and insomnia.

 

How To Grow & Use Wheat Grass

Wheat grass can be grown in any sheltered place and where the temperature is mild. The direct rays of the sun have a tendency to sap the strength from the grass.

For growing wheat grass, a good variety of wheat should be soaked for 8 to 10 hours. The water should then be drained and these grains should be allowed to sprout for 15 hours. Earthen pots or wooden trays can be used to grow the wheat grass. They should be filled with compost manure and the wheat sprouts should be spread. They should be sprinkled with water once or twice a day and allowed to stay as such for six to seven days until the grass grows five to seven inches high. The grass can be cut with a scissors. It should be immediately washed and ground. Thereafter, the juice of the ground pulp should be extracted through a fine piece of cloth. The juice so extracted should be taken immediately, as its efficacy reduces every minute and the medicinal value is completely lost after three hours.

Author:- Dr Braj Bhushan, Resident Medical Officer, NIMBA Natue Cure Village

Detoxification is a process to eliminate all the harmful toxins accumulated inside the Body. In Naturopathy, it refers to eliminating substances like alcohol, drugs and metabolic wastes.

 

At Gujrat’s largest Nature Cure centre – Nimba Nature Cure Village, a Detox session may involve yoga, meditation, reflexology, sujok and relaxation therapies to cleanse and energize system. Other more specialized Detox methods include; acupuncture, sauna, Detox massage, colon hydrotherapy, ion Detox therapy, etc.

 

Signs of Toxemia

 

When toxins are retained and stored in the Body the condition is called toxemia.

• Weight gain
• Dull skin, lackluster hairs
• Decreased Immune Response
• Heaviness after meals
• Foul odor from mouth or body
• Irritation, anxiety or depression
• Excess or lack of sleep
• Uncontrolled thoughts

 

Best Natural Ways to Detox your Body with Detox Therapy

Colon Hydrotherapy

 

The colon is considered as the root of many illnesses and conditions, and therefore a total cleanse through colon hydrotherapy is highly recommended.
*Colon Hydrotherapy: Read the next article for details.

 

Detox Diet & Fasting

 

A diet of natural juices (made from fruits and vegetables) has best cleansing and regenerating effect of flushing the toxins out of the Body. At NIMBA, we serve a variety of delicious soups and salads for this purpose.
Fasting either alone with water, or a natural juice, is another powerful Detox technique but, should be undertaken only under supervision in a Nature Cure centre for therapeutic benefits.

 

Yoga & Exercise

 

Exercise improves the metabolic rate, stimulates sweating and aid up detoxification. Also, rigorous exercising may lead to increased production of metabolic wastes in the Body, hence should always be accompanied with intake of adequate amount fluids for proper excretion.

 

Detox massage

 

Gentle and rhythmic pressure is applied during a Detox Massage to aid the process of elimination of toxins. It simulates Body functions promoting a more relaxed feeling, dissolving worries, tensions and mental stresses. This helps in reducing pain and swelling too.

 

Mud therapy

 

Mud applied to the whole Body or a part of it, is a great tonic and Detox agent. It removes the excess heat created by the fermentation of accumulated toxins. It is useful in maintaining skin tone and contour.

 

Sun Bath

 

Exposing our Body to the sun rays helps the skin in manufacturing the vitamin D that is needed to allow it Detox. Early morning or the late noon is the preferred timing for a therapy session.

 

FIR Detox therapy

 

Far infra Rays are invisible to the human eye, but are deep penetrating and beneficial to the human Body. It activates the water molecules present in the human blood, increasing the blood flow and the oxygen absorption rate. Detoxification occurs in the form of sweat.

 

Ion Detox

 

A recent development in drugless healing system, Detox foot baths are used to draw the toxins from the Body into the water, evidenced by the change in the color of water.

 

Emotional Detox

 

After a Detox

Post a session, most of the guests share common positive experiences such as: a feeling of lightness, rejuvenation, mental freshness, clear skin, relief from heaviness & tiredness.

 

Benefits of Detox Therapy

• Weight loss.
• Skin beautification.
• Improved Blood circulation.
• Better cardiovascular health.
• Sound sleep.
• Reduction in fat deposits under the skin.
• Relief from Chronic pain.
• Promotes Metabolism and digestion.
• Stress reduction.

 

Author: Dr. Braj Bhushan Kumar (Resident Medical Officer, Nimba Nature Cure Village)

 

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