History of Success During Flu Epidemics
Homeopathy has a long, successful history for the treatment and prevention of the flu. Homeopathy was used effectively to treat one of the deadliest strains of flu in history, the 1918 Spanish flu. During the Spanish flu, Americans who were treated with traditional medicine had a mortality rate of 28.2 percent, while those who were treated with homeopathic medicines only had a mortality rate of 1.05 percent, according to a report by the American Homeopathic Institute in 1921.
Homeopathic Flu Prevention
For at least the past 150 years homeopathic practitioners have used the homeopathic medicine Influenzinum as a flu preventive. Influenzinum is a homeopathic medicine (nosode) made from flu viruses, rendered completely safe and non-toxic by a homeopathic pharmacist. A nosode is the term for any homeopathic remedy that is made from disease material. Homeoprophylaxis is the term used for the homeopathic prevention of disease.
Homeopathic Remedies for Flu
Some of the most common homeopathic remedies for flu that have been used successfully year after year include:
Oscillococcinum by Boiron: Particularly useful at the beginning stages of the flu. When in doubt about what homeopathic remedy to use for flu, try this remedy. This is the #1 selling remedy for the flu in Europe. The Canadian Homeocan version is called Homeocoksinum.
Gelsemium: The most common remedy for the flu. People needing this remedy are weak, achy and tired. There is constant chilliness and the cough is hard and painful. Gelsemium was the genus epidemicus (the most commonly used) remedy for the Spanish flu of 1918 and is still a very commonly used remedy for flu today.
Bryonia Alba: The second most used remedy for the flu after homeopathic Gelsemium. Bryonia flus come on slowly and people needing this remedy are worse from any kind of motion. People needing this remedy may also have a very painful cough. They are thirsty, hot, and desire cool fresh air. Many homeopaths consider Bryonia to be the genus epidemicus remedy for COVID-19.
Eupatorium Perfoliatum: Another common flu remedy. This remedy is indicated when there is a lot of soreness and aching of the entire body. There is so much aching in the bones that it feels like the bones could break. People who need this remedy are thirsty, whereas people needing Gelsemium are not.
Belladonna: Usually this homeopathic remedy is most useful at the beginning of a flu. A Belladonna flu has a rapid onset with a very high fever. The person may be fearful and delirious with the fever. People who need this remedy usually have a red, flushed face and have throbbing pains in the head or throat.
Rhus Toxicodendron: Someone who needs this remedy for flu is restless, with aches and pains that are worse lying still and better with continued motion. Other symptoms may include chilliness, thirst for sips of water, a dry mouth and dry sore throat.
Nux Vomica: A person with Nux Vomica flu symptoms is very chilly and always wants to be covered with a blanket; they are irritable and may have a queasy stomach.
Arsenicum Album: Useful for treatment of the flu when the virus affects the upper respiratory tract with copious watery secretions from the nose and eye inflammation. There is a lot of lethargy and prostration, nausea, vomiting, and chilliness.
Baptisia Tinctoria: Like Belladonna flus, the Baptisia flu comes on suddenly with a high fever. People who need this remedy have offensive smelling sweat, breath, and stool. Offensive diarrhea is a very characteristic symptom of people who need this flu remedy.
Please note that the above list is not an exhaustive list of homeopathic flu remedies and is only a list of the most commonly indicated flu remedies.
Dosage and Potency of Flu Remedies
Select and give only one of the above indicated homeopathic flu remedies 3-4 times per day. If there is no symptom improvement within 24 hours, you have picked the wrong remedy and a more suitable remedy should be selected. Do not give more than one remedy at a time. Once the symptoms improve, decrease dosage to 1-2 times per day until full recovery. It is best to use a 30C potency (strength) of the indicated remedy. For serious cases of the flu, it is best to consult a classical homeopath in your area.
Homeopathic Cell/Tissue Salts for Flu
Homeopathic Schussler tissue salts (aka cell salts) are low potency homeopathic remedies that are commonly available in most local health and supplement stores. Ferrum Phosphoricum 6X homeopathic cell salts are useful to bring down a fever. For high fevers, give 3 pellets once every 15 minutes to half hour until the fever starts going down. Thereafter, give 3-4 times per day until the fever dissipates. For very high fevers, instead of using cell salts, use homeopathic Belladonna 30C or 200C (see above).
To get rid of clear runny mucus, give Natrum Muriaticum 6X cell salts. For tougher, thicker white mucus, give Kali Muriaticum 6X cell salts. If the mucus is thick and yellow, give Calcarea Suphuricum 6X cell salts. 3 pellets of Nat Mur, Kali Mur or Calc Sulph cell salts can be taken 3-4 times per day.
Constitutional for Weak Immune Systems
People with low immunity should consult a classical homeopath to inquire about constitutional homeopathic treatment. Constitutional treatment is the most effective way to boost your overall immunity. Contact the clinic to find out more about constitutional treatment.
Scientific Studies
487 people suffering from influenza were assigned to either Oscillococcinum (Anas barb.) 200CK or placebo, twice daily for 5 days. Significant results were achieved with the medicine over the placebo in all areas measured. This trial was repeated in 1998 (Papp R, Schuback G, Beck E, Burkard G, Bengel J, Lehrl S, Belon P. Oscillococcinum in Patients with Influenza-like Syndromes. British Homeopathic Journal, April 1998, 87, pp69-76) with 372 people with the same results.
Objective: This study was done to determine characteristics and management of patients in France visiting allopathic general practitioners (AGPs) and homeopathic general practitioners (HGPs) for influenza-like illness (ILI).
Materials and Methods: Design: This was a prospective observational study. Settings/location: It was conducted in metropolitan France during the 2009–2010 influenza season. Subjects: Sixty-five HGPs and 124 AGPs recruited a total of 461 patients with ILI. Interventions: Patients were treated for ILI by their GPs. GPs and patients completed questionnaires recording demographic characteristics and patient symptoms when patients were included in the study. Patients reported satisfaction with treatment on day 4. Prescriptions were recorded by the GPs. Outcome measures: Outcome measures were patient characteristics, demographics, and symptoms at baseline; medications prescribed by type of physician; and satisfaction with treatment by type of physician and medication.
Results: Most AGPs (86%), and most patients visiting them (58%) were men; whereas most HGPs (57%;p<0.0001), and most patients visiting them (56%; p=0.006) were women. Patients visiting AGPs were seen sooner after the appearance of symptoms, and they self-treated more frequently with cough suppressants or expectorants (p=0.0018). Patients visiting HGPs were seen later after the appearance of symptoms and they self-treated with homeopathic medications more frequently (p<0.0001). At enrollment, headaches (p=0.025), cough (p=0.01), muscle/joint pain (p=0.049), chills/shivering (p<0.001), and nasal discharge/congestion (p=0.002) were more common in patients visiting AGPs. Of these patients, 37.1% visiting AGPs were prescribed at least one homeopathic medication, and 59.6% of patients visiting HGPs were prescribed at least one allopathic medication. Patient satisfaction with treatment did not differ between AGPs and HGPs but was highest for patients treated with homeopathic medications only.
Conclusions: In France, homeopathy is widely accepted for the treatment of ILI and does not preclude the use of allopathic medications. However, patients treated with homeopathic medications only are more satisfied with their treatment than other patients.
References and Further Reading
Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines by Dana Ullman
Homeopathy offers an alternative for the flu by Sonya McLeod
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