Flee the Flu

Redlands Daily Facts Health Section
Staff Writer

Q: How can I avoid the H1N1 flu?

Mimi: Oinky, oinky Swine Flu has everybody scared. First off, you can't catch it by eating pork. Second, the good news is that those of us that survived the Asian Flu in 1959 probably won't get the swine flu. It seems we built up some good strong antibodies.

Freaking out doesn't solve anything. Taking normal precautions to avoid any illness makes sense. You are already washing your hands while singing Mary Had a Little Lamb or Happy Birthday twice or reciting the alphabet so other people in the washroom think you are nuts. That's ok. Let them think that. Then they will avoid you and you won't catch anything from them. That's probably the truth behind eating lots of garlic or hanging it around your neck. Or is that to prevent vampires from biting?

Use hot water and soap and rub vigorously. Cup your fingers to put your nails into your palms, and get your nails clean too. It appears that antibacterial soap or detergent isn't any better than plain old soap or dish detergent on killing germs.

You've learned the Dracula cough where you bring your arm up across your face like Dracula and cough into your elbow. This is so much better than coughing on your hands and then touching everything in sight. How about the people who cough into their hands and then offer the hand in a handshake. At church I hug everybody who wants to shake hands. It's friendly and healthy.

You are already stoking the germ fighting fires with lots of Vitamin C in supplements and high C foods. Pig out on Redlands oranges. You've increased your zinc for healing. Increasing Vitamin D with supplements and more sun exposure is the newest rallying cry. If it strengthens my cells against bugs, then I'm all for it. We already take free radical scavengers in the form of antioxidants in Pomegranate Supplements and load up our plates with fruits and veggies.

You've decreased junk food, alcohol, sodas and fried foods. You've increased your water intake to stay hydrated. And you avoid sick people while you keep a positive attitude because you know that your body WANTS to stay healthy.

The following is from Dr. Goyal (if you want his credentials, e-mail me at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com).

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. The initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms can be stopped. 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.
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, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method. 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.
4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (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.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much of warm liquids 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.

Consume warm liquids-Chicken Soup, also known as Jewish Penicillin, cures what ails you. Every Jewish Mother knows that. Hot tea with lemon and honey soothes and heals. Don't wait until you are sick to try these. They can keep you healthy.

Here come the goopies: At night after sniffing up warm salt water (I use distilled water because I don't like the feel of chlorine in my sinuses) put Vaseline on a cotton swab or on your finger and apply to the inside of your nostrils. It will help keep the delicate skin inside your nose from drying and cracking and making places for germs to get in. Apply Vaseline outside of your nostrils to help trap dust and allergens. Apply Vaseline or lip balm to your lips at night before bed.

If you have dry eyes and tend to touch them, use lubricating eye drops often. Do not use drops designed for allergies or red eyes. Read the label. At night after removing eye make-up and cleaning your face, you can rub Vaseline around your eyes to ease the discomfort of itchy eyes.

If your skin, eyes, lips, or nose feel dry during the winter, use a vaporizer in your bedroom at night, and turn down the thermostat.

And, as always, get enough sleep.

Mimi Barre is the owner of International Day Spa, 325 Cajon St., Redlands. Send your skin care questions to her at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com. She and her estheticians are available for personal consultations, (909) 793-9080.