Cause: A specific class of virus called Influenza virus. Various subtypes of the virus exist.

Useful Supplements: Vitamin C, N-acetylcysteine.

Useful Herbs: Boneset, Echinacea, Elderberry, Goldenseal, Wild Indigo.

Further information: Influenza is an easily-spread viral infection. Symptoms include fever, cough, headache, muscle ache, sweating, chills, vomiting, nausea, and fatigue. Infection generally lasts for seven to ten days.

Treatment for influenza is generally only symptomatic, since antibiotics are ineffective in the treatment of viral disease. Rest, pain medicine, and warm drinks help relieve much of the discomfort associated with the flu.

The only way to completely avoid flu infection is by avoiding all individuals who might be infected. Since this is virtually impossible, keeping the body healthy and well prepared to fight influenza is the best approach.

Each year, health officials try to determine which subtypes of influenza are likely to occur, and develop a vaccine to try and counteract this. It is generally recommended that people who would not tolerate the flu should receive a flu vaccine.

A healthy diet and regular exercise can improve the body’s ability to fight off infection. In addition, lower stress levels seem to decrease the likelihood of influenza infection.¹ For further suggestions on immunity-boosting methods, see Immunity Function.

The following supplements and herbs may be effective in treating the flu:

Vitamin C appears to help prevent flu infection.² In addition, it appears that when taken in high doses, it speeds recovery from influenza.³

The supplement N-acetylcysteine appears to minimize the severity of influenza infection.⁴ Subjects taking 600 mg twice daily experience far fewer and less severe symptoms when they became infected with the flu.

Echinacea, in addition to helping prevent infection, can make flu symptoms clear up more quickly than they would normally.⁵

Elderberry, taken several times daily, appears to cause flu patients to recover more rapidly.⁶

Boneset appears to stimulate immune cell function,⁷ helping the body to fight off viral infection. Boneset should not be taken by patients with liver disease.

Wild Indigo, taken with Echinacea and Goldenseal, stimulates the immune system and helps it to fight influenza.⁸

References:

¹Clover RD, Abell T, Becker LA, et al. Family functioning and stress as predictors of influenza B infection. J Fam Pract 1989;28:535–39.
²Renker K, Wegner S. Vitamin C-Prophylaxe in der Volkswertf Stralsund. Deutsche Gesundheitswesen 1954;9:702–6.
³Klenner FR. The treatment of poliomyelitis and other virus diseases with vitamin C. J Southern Med Surg 1949;111:210–14.
⁴De Flora S, et al. Attenuation of influenzalike symptomatology and improvement of cell-mediated immunity with long-term N-acetylcysteine treatment. Eur Respir J 1997;10:1535_41.
⁵Braunig B, Dorn M, Limburg E, et al. Echinacea purpurea radix for strengthening the immune response in flu-like infections. Z Phytother 1992;13:7–13 [in German].
⁶Zakay-Rones Z, Varsano N, Zlotnik M, et al. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L) during an outbreak of influenza B in Panama. J Alt Comp Med 1995;1:361–69.
⁷Woerdenbag HJ, Bos R, Hendriks H. Eupatorium perfoliatum L—the boneset. Z Phytother 1992;13:134–39.
⁸Beuscher N, Kopanski L. Stimulation of immunity by the contents of Baptisia tinctoria. Planta Med 1985;5:381–84.