Fighting the flu

Your body aches as if you've just gone five rounds with Lennox Lewis; your bed has turned into a sauna; your cough is enough to rival a 40-a-day Woodbine smoker; and to top it all your head feels like it's full of the gunk that is endlessly streaming out of your nose.

It's no surprise you think you're dying.

But don't worry, say the medics, it's only the common flu and most of us will recover in a few days.

With the exception of the 'at risk' groups such as the frail elderly, most of us don't need to visit our GP, let alone casualty with flu symptoms.

So how can we treat ourselves at home? Among the more bizarre suggestions doing the rounds is to have a hot curry. But what do the experts say?

We asked a York GP, a public health consultant, a homeopath, a complementary therapist and a Chinese herbalist to offer some advice on how to avoid the flu and what to do should you get it.

Dr Paul Reed

York GP, Front Street Surgery, Acomb

The main way to avoid influenza is by vaccine, which is aimed predominately at the elderly and those with chronic illnesses for whom influenza can become life threatening.

Influenza is debilitating and flattens you, but people are beginning to realise there isn't an awful lot you can do except take paracetamol to relieve aches, pains and fever, drink lots of fluids and rest. Seek advice from a pharmacist or your GP's surgery if you are confused about what medication to take.

It can take a couple of weeks before you feel better. Watch out for complications such as sinusitis, sore ears, pains or rattling in the chest, or coughing up green phlegm, and seek advice from your doctor.

As for 'alternative' remedies, I have an open mind about people trying Vitamin C; anything else and people should seek advice from complementary medicine shops. As for hot curries, I honestly don't know, but it seems a bit bizarre to me since influenza sometimes has gastric symptoms and curry can do that by itself!

Dr Will Patterson

Consultant in public health for North Yorkshire Health Authority

There is a range of upper respiratory viruses around and the most vulnerable patients can protect against the influenza strain by getting the vaccine from their family doctor.

For the other viruses, there is no way to protect yourself. Some people have suggested wearing face masks, but there is no way you can stop yourself coming into contact with something so common and so easily transmittable - you are really wasting your time.

You can reduce the severity of symptoms by taking paracetamol, comforting drinks and taking it easy. There are a whole range of products you can buy over the counter, I don't think any are better than the others: it's a case of you pay your money and take your chance.

TLC is the best remedy for these upper respiratory infections, which are common at this time of year. They are self-limiting and healthy people will get over them in a number of days.

Angela King

Homeopath , of Fishergate Homeopathic Clinic, York

The body can heal itself, but needs the stimulus from a remedy. Homeopathy is good for flu: my husband had it very badly at Christmas, but after one of our remedies he was out of bed in three hours eating a meal. You can get a lot of remedies and advice from places like Boots, Tullivers (Goodramgate, York) or Holland & Barrett (Coney Street, York) or even a friendly chemist.

If you feel you are getting flu, buy Aconite and take it as directed on the tub which can help reduce the symptoms. If flu develops, write down your symptoms and ask for advice on what remedies are applicable. I suggest you could try: Bapt.; Bry.;Ars. or Gels. It might also be useful for someone in the family to read a simple guide to homeopathic medicine from a library, which will help in prescribing for basic ailments which affect the family. Angela King, Tel 01904 679612

Pippa Watt

Complementary therapist, York School of Complementary Medicine

The body is able to heal itself; it is the most powerful antibiotic if you get the immune system to work properly. It is important to be relaxed because if you are stressed, the immune system goes down.

I have a full-body aromatherapy massage once a fortnight with essential oils and regular reflexology, which helps relax the whole system. It is also important to watch what you eat: avoid fast food, cola and caffeine and refined carbohydrates like biscuits and sweets. I see fruit and vegetables as medicine and I only eat organic.

Echinacea is a very good herbal medicine and eucalyptus is useful too as it is an anti-viral oil which helps to ward off germs. Place two or three drops in a tissue and keep it tucked in your bra, or close to your chest. Or burn some in an oil burner at home to help the sick breathe more easily and to prevent the virus spreading. York School of Complementary Medicine, Tel: 01347 848154

Wei Zuhang

Chinese herbalist of the Herbgarden Chinese Medical Centre in Gillygate, York

Cooking with garlic can help kill off the viruses and drinking lots of watr to flush out the system can also help.

But Chinese people's main defence against the flu is a herb, the isatis root, which helps to gently boost the immune system and so prevent infection. It is taken as an infusion, drunk hot every day as a slightly bitter-sweet tea.

If you've got the flu you should continue taking isatis to make sure your weakened body doesn't pick up other infections too. There are other herbs you can also take to fight the illness: but you'll have to accept there is no instant cure.

The Herbgarden Chinese Medical Centre can be contacted on 01904 678817