Influenza or grippe is also known as flu and it is an infectious viral disease. It is the clinical condition, which is transmitted through droplet infection, use of infested towels and kerchiefs, etc. The disease occurs in an endemic or epidemic form. The disease is highly contagious and it has potential to cause widespread epidemics affecting sizeable portion of a population at any time. Although it is more common during winter it may strike at any time. It affects people of all ages. The main effects of the influenza viruses are on the upper respiratory tract, the nose and throat, with possible spread and involvement of the lungs and bronchi.

Symptoms of Influenza:
Influenza strikes suddenly. It usually begins with a chill, fever, headache, prostration, sleeplessness and severe muscular pains. The patient feels miserable and weak. There is an inflammation in the nose and throat, which may spread down the windpipe to the lungs, resulting in a sore throat, cough, running of the nose and eyes. In milder cases of influenza, the temperature rises to 102F and lasts for two or three days. In severe cases, it may go upto 104 F and last for four or five days. The consequent weakness and fatigue may continue for several weeks. This may be followed by a deep chest cough due to irritation in the windpipe.

Causes of Influenza:
Influenza is as a germ disease that is developed due to a toxic and run-down condition of the system of the affected person. Dietetic errors, over work, lack of proper exercise, living in stuffy rooms, keeping late hours and a faulty style of living bring about this condition. Influenza is passed on with ease from one affected person to another especially to those who are also in an equally low vital state. That is how an epidemic starts.

Treatment of Influenza by Nature Cure:
Influenza, like all other acute diseases, is a natural attempt at self-cleansing and if rightly treated in a natural way, immense good can ensue so far as the future health of the patient is concerned.

Diet:
In the acute stage of influenza, the patient should abstain from all solid foods and only drink fruit and vegetable juices diluted with water, 50 -50 for first three to five days, depending on the severity of the disease. The juice fast should be continued till the temperature comes down to normal. The warm water enema should be taken daily during this period to cleanse the bowels.

After the fever subsides the patient may adopt an all fruit diet for two or three days. In this regimen, the patient should take three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, oranges, pineapple, peaches and melons at five-hourly intervals. This diet can be continued for the next two or three days of fruits and milk diet. Thereafter, the patient may adopt a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely, (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables, and (iii) fruits.

Bananas and dried, stewed or tinned fruits however should not be taken. No other foodstuff should be added to the fruit meals. Spices and condiments, and pickles, which make food more palatable and lead to overeating, must be avoided. Lemon juice may be used in salad dressing. Alcohol, tobacco, strong tea and coffee, highly seasoned meats, over-boiled milk, pulses, potato, rice, cheese, refined, processed, stale and tinned foods should all be avoided.

Home Remedies:
In the treatment of influenza certain remedies have been found to be highly useful. The most important of these is the use of long pepper. Half a teaspoonful of the powder of long pepper with two teaspoonfuls of honey and half a teaspoonful of juice of ginger should be taken thrice a day. It is especially useful in avoiding complications, in the initial stages of influenza, which follow the onset of the disease, namely, the involvement of the larynx and the bronchial tube.

Another excellent remedy for influenza is the green leaf of basil plant. About one gram of these leaves should be boiled along with some ginger in half a litre of water till about half the water is left. This decoction should, be taken as tea. It gives immediate relief. Garlic and turmeric are other effective food medicines for influenza. Garlic is useful as a general antiseptic and should be given as much as the patient can bear. Garlic juice may also be sucked up the nose. A teaspoonful of turmeric powder should be mixed in a cup of warm milk and taken three times in the day. It will prevent complications arising from influenza and also activate the liver, which becomes sluggish during the attack.

Boil ten gms of Tulsi leaf juice with a cupful of water till half of the water is boiled away. Add white (refined) sugar. This is a remedy for influenza.
Treatment of Influenza by Acupressure:
Because acupressure stimulates the body to expel the virus more quickly, it may seem at first that the flu is worsening. Although acupressure cannot cure flu, working on certain points can help a person get better quicker and increase the resistance to future colds & flu. Potent point b 36, called bearing support, is especially good for stimulating the body`s natural resistance to colds and flus. It`s located near the spine, off the tips of the shoulder blades. According to traditional Chinese medicine, wind and cold enter the pores of the skin at this point.1 the muscles in this upper back area tend to get tense just before a cold or flu takes hold.2.

Treatment of Influenza by Magnetic Therapy:
The magnets should be applied to the palms of hands in the morning and to the soles of feet in the evening. Mixed magnetized water should be taken four times daily. This will provide relief in the symptoms of the malaise and pain in the limbs. The water can also be taken as a preventive during epidemics; in such cases the water should be taken twice daily. South-pole oil may be applied to the forehead in case of intense pain, and if need be, the CCM may be applied locally to the head to relieve headache.