this FLU-what are you doing to prevent it and WHAT would you do if your children get it?

[kfillmore]

I am really starting to worry. I want to be prepared. A girl my DD's age who lived on the same island just died of the flu within two days of being ill. I want to be prepared! What homeopathic remedies do you have ready, or herbs or food etc?

[CandyLandQueen]

I hear you! My mantra right now is, "A healthy immune system kicks a flu shots butt any day!" My DS is 6 months and he's not getting a flu shot. When there are waves of sickness going through my community I try to keep my boy home, we go out for walks but stay away from crowded places, I wash my hands and make everyone else wash their hands when they come home and he's not on solids yet so I'm just making sure I'm eating the highest quality diet possible for his breast milk. If my boy were eating foods, I would make sure that he was getting bone broth in every meal and consider a CLO supplement in addition to lots and lots of greens, shitake mushrooms, ginger, garlic, etc.

And this video is for whooping cough, but she does have some home made cough syrups and soups for illness. And one that might be of interest to you, a supposedly (I haven't tried it yet!) delicious garlic lemon tea. Apparently it's a great immune booster. Hope that helps some!

http://avivaromm.com/whooping-cough-in-the-thick-of-it

[sbgrace]

Sambucol Syrup has some pretty convincing evidence with influenza. I don't know that it actually helped anyone here when we got influenza last year but maybe we would have been sicker without! I did see a study showing it increased immune response (it's anti-viral) and also increased cytokines. In some influenza strains cytokines storm is a problem. So that gave me pause. I must have decided, though, it was the right choice as I used it with all of us. We do other immune boosting things--epicore, optizinc, colostrum, probiotics--as well.

Remember pediatric deaths from influenza are relatively rare. I know someone struck by lightening but that doesn't increase my risk. I guess I'm saying that she's rare and it's horribly sad and I can see how it would make you feel fearful. But do keep reminding yourself that the risk is really not that great.

[Lazurii]

If it helps your fears at all, both my kids got it, and it was quite mild.  My son had a stuffy nose and was slightly warm one night.  My daughter had a deep chest cough, stuffy nose, and ran a fever one night.  That was it.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Lazurii 

If it helps your fears at all, both my kids got it, and it was quite mild.  My son had a stuffy nose and was slightly warm one night.  My daughter had a deep chest cough, stuffy nose, and ran a fever one night.  That was it.

Can I ask you how you know this was the flu? Were your children tested? 

[Lazurii]

Originally Posted by Marnica 

Can I ask you how you know this was the flu? Were your children tested? 

  Nope, not tested, but they followed the similar pattern that The Hubby and I do when we get the flu.

Edited to add:  Forgot to say that they both had body aches.

Edited by Lazurii - 2/1/13 at 2:29pm