SWINE FLU PANDEMIC – 2009

INFORMATION FOR PERSONS CONSIDERING A HOMOEOPATHIC ALTERNATIVE ROUTE TO DEALING WITH AN EPIDEMIC / PANDEMIC
The information available via the nhs for the current considered potential swine flu pandemic is somewhat vague and lacking any clear definition about how the symptoms have evolved.
Nothing is gained by instilling fear and panic into the population – there is a need to raise awareness, and it is essential to maintain an air of calm and rational judgement without exaggeration or unreality. At this stage, in this country, we have been led to believe that those persons who have succumbed to the symptoms have been mildly affected and no serious complications.
Whenever there is an epidemic or a pandemic, not everyone will succumb to its effects. It is down to an individual’s susceptibility as to whether or not they will become a victim.
It is essential to recognise and understand symptoms in the following way:-
1. Diligent observation of yourself or another family member who may be suffering any symptom(s) is paramount, because the way in which the symptom(s) arise must be accurately recorded. Get all family members to keep a vigilant eye on one another, especially if one feels in any way out of sorts.
2. Consider the pace of onset – have the symptoms come on fast or slow
3. How is the patient behaving psychologically – what is their state of mind and behaviour like in comparison to how they are normally
How do they look by comparison with normal? Are they e.g. paler or flushed, restless or flat out and looking exhausted? Any response that is unusual needs recording.
4. How had the weather been in the preceding few days – any sudden changes can affect those persons who are susceptible to changes in either the temperature or the barometric pressure? If you own a barometer, making a daily recording in a diary, and a note of the weather can be a useful assistant to this understanding of oneself and others in the family? BE AWARE.
The change in the weather is just one possible causative factor. There can be all manner of different causative factors that can affect an individual. With every causation to the onset of any symptom(s) there is the EVENT itself and then THE INDIVIDUAL’S REACTION TO THAT EVENT.
Often there is something that happens to trigger the person’s immune system; it could be a fall, a shock, be it mental, emotional or physical, e.g., hearing some bad news; or someone may become more susceptible because they have been living or working under pressure or some other strain for a protracted period of time and then, because they have become worn down and tired, their body succumbs to the flu or virus.
The symptoms that the nhs have supplied us with are:-
a) Sneezing
b) A blocked nose
c) A runny nose, beginning with clear fluid(mucus), that often becomes thicker and into yellow/green mucus after 2-3 days
d) Sore throat
e) Pain when swallowing
f) A high temperature, between 37.0 to 38.3°C or 98.6 to 101°F
g) Mild earache
h) Tiredness
i) Headache
j) Coughing
Vague symptoms such as these tell us little in terms of the individual expression of the dis-ease within each person. It is therefore important to identify how the symptoms show themselves, and if they belong just to one side of the body or both.
5. Make a note of the way in which the symptoms have emerged and note all the characteristics of how the symptoms show themselves, e.g. sudden fever, then cough, then sore throat on the right hand side that extends into the ear that then hurts the throat to swallow cold drinks and empty swallowing but better for warm drinks
6. Are there any symptoms that dominate the person, e.g. have they got a cough that gives them no rest, or is worse as they lay down at night, and does it get to the point that they choke with it and are eventually sick from the constant gagging? In other words ask them which symptom feels the worst?
7. Are there any symptoms that seem unrelated, or any symptoms that would be considered to not belong to a traditional influenza type state?
8. Take temperature of children especially, but it’s worthwhile doing it for all family members, to find their average norm, so that if they are getting “out of sorts”, then a detectable rise in their temperature could be an indication of the onset of a fever and maybe the start of some form of infection or virus. Please understand that not every fever is going to mean that the person has Swine Flu. Children especially can be prone to fevers e.g. with teething, or chicken pox, or even just a common cold can cause a fever in some individuals. Likewise with the pulse.
Updated information will appear on the website – www.edgeonhealth.co.uk

If you suspect any symptoms may be of concern, please phone your Homoeopath, AFTER YOU HAVE CONSIDERED AND ANSWERED ALL THE OBSERVATIONS AND QUESTIONS ON THIS SHEET, and completed the sheet “CHECKLIST OF SYMPTOMS”. Thank you.
Homoeopathic treatment during epidemics has proved to be greatly effective in the past, and Homoeopathic Remedies do not give unpleasant side effects.



CHECKLIST OF SYMPTOMS.
1. Have the symptoms come on quickly or slowly?
2. What time of day did they start?
3. Was there any obvious causation to the onset? (see item 4 – info.sheet)
4. Is the patient in a different frame of mind from their normal behaviour?
5. How do they appear? How is this different from their normal appearance?
6. Show by marking 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc how the symptoms emerged.
7. Are there any symptoms that are distressing the patient more than any other? Grade the symptoms by emphasising how intense they are.
8. Fever? – What is their temperature? How are they displaying the fever? Some people have an internal fever with external chilliness, whilst others are the opposite – both are more unusual than fever with heat or chill with shivering, and are therefore of greater significance.
9. Are they seeking to be covered up and the heating / fire on / up fully, or are they throwing off the covers, opening windows / doors, or otherwise?
10. Are they perspiring? If so where, and what does it smell like?
11. Are they seeking to be still, or are they restless and moving about?
12. How is their energy by comparison with normal?
13. Are they complaining of any aches and pains of the body or head? If so do the pains seem to be in the bones, muscles or soft tissues, and how are they referring to that pain, e.g. throbbing headache? Is there any obvious restriction of movement or even any level of spasticity or paralysis?
14. Is their nose stuffed up or running or both or alternating? Any other nose symptoms or nasal effects on breathing?
15. Are there any symptoms with the eyes or vision?
16. Do they have a sore throat? If so does it appear to be worse on one side or the other or in the middle? Take a torch and look down the throat asking them to say AARRHH several times, so that the tongue depresses enough that you are then able to see any discolouration or white spots or ulcers.
17. Do they have any problem swallowing? Does it either make things worse or better if they have a cold or hot drink? Are they drinking more drinks that usual, or leaving drinks they would normally have taken? Does the sore throat extend into the ears causing any earache?
18. Do they have a cough? Describe what it is like. Is it constant / intermittent? Does it seem dry or rattly? Are they choking with the phlegm? Is there any pain in the chest on coughing or otherwise? Is there any breathlessness or wheezing? Any facial discolouration with the coughing? Does the patient have to position their body in any way to minimise the impact of the cough?
19. In general terms, is there anything that makes the patient feel better or worse, e.g. are they asking for a window open?
20. Are there any other symptoms that strike as different from normal?



STRATEGIES IN SELF HELP.
Next, it is necessary to understand when and where it is safe to self treat and when it is ESSENTIAL to have the input of your Homoeopath.
Where the symptoms are mild and easily interpreted it is safe to self prescribe.
Gelsemium – here the patient’s symptoms will develop usually fairly slowly – they will become gradually more and more lethargic, develop heavy eyes, feel heavy and achy all over and need to lie down, as they become weaker and weaker. Their appetite may dwindle and they will become thirstless. They will normally progress into a shivery trembling state and want to be covered up, albeit the fever they have will mean that they want a window open for the fresh air. They tend to need to urinate, which eases their symptoms. Their head may feel congested and they feel worse when they are overheated. HEAVY, WEARY & WEAK

Eupatorium Perfoliatum – here the patient’s symptoms are dominated by the extensive deep bone pains – they feel bruised or as if broken. They are extremely restless, and tend to have a chill that starts in the small of the back. Even though they can have a fever there is only scanty perspiration. They tend to be extremely thirsty for cold drinks and desire ice cream. This remedy is most evident when there is a gastric aspect to the flu symptoms, when the other symptoms mentioned are also present. BRUISED AND BROKEN

Belladonna – this remedy is most indicated when the symptoms come on suddenly. Usually, there is a high fever with dry burning hot red face and pounding headache that is wore for noise, light and draft of air; the patient wants to close their eyes and remain in the dark, still and quiet. There is often sore throat, usually worse on the right hand side, and as it feels swollen can cause restriction on swallowing. The patient often desires lemons or lemonade. They can feel vertigo on turning in bed, and are often better for lying on the abdomen. CONGESTED

Bryonia – in this remedy picture there is extreme dryness and the patient is nearly always worse for motion – so when the patient has a cough, it is dry and they will hold their chest to cough; when there is a headache, they will hold their head; with their general flu like aches and pains they want to remain completely still, and the slightest movement will aggravate. Excessive dryness of the throat and mouth; the patient craves large quantities of cold water and drinks it in gulps. Symptoms tend to start in the morning and get worse as the day goes on. DRYNESS

These are the four main remedies so far witnessed. If you have any other concerns in my absence, please phone the Homoeopathic Helpline on 09065 343404 – they charge £1.50 per minute.

IF YOU START TO COUGH UP BLOOD OR APPEAR SERIOUSLY ILL CONTACT YOUR HOMOEOPATH, GP, OR NHS HELPLINE IMMEDIATLEY – DO NOT DELAY – IT COULD BE FATAL