| Chinese Herbs |
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THE SWINE FLU AND CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE
By John Heuertz, DOM
What Are the Symptoms to Watch for?
The Centers for Disease Control has stated that the symptoms for swine flu are to be considered “similar to
regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with
swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.”
What Is the Pathogenesis of Swine Flu?
Unlike the common cold, which attaches to the adenoids, the influenza virus attaches to the lung tissue itself.
The lungs become inflamed and the body reacts with “flu-like symptoms.” Incubation for most influenza viruses
are from 1-4 days. It is not yet known for certain whether the swine flu follows the same incubation pattern.
What Is the Contagious Phase for Swine Flu?
As of the writing of this paper, this information is not certain. In the absence of certainty we must act upon the
assumption that the contagious phase of swine flu will behave much like that of other influenza viruses. In other
influenza viruses a person is contagious from about 1 day before the onset of symptoms up to 7 days after the
symptoms appear. Children can be contagious up to one week after the fever has dispersed.
Why Is the Swine Flu so Dangerous?
Much of the answer to this question is conjecture, but we believe this: Most of the influenza viruses we encounter
during regular “flu season” are variants of viruses we have already adapted to. It may be easier for our bodies to
figure out how to respond to a variant compared to a more radical mutation. It has been hypothesized that the
reason young and healthy people are more susceptible to extreme reactions to swine flu is that their immune
response may be more extreme. This may also be why some infected with swine flu develop vomiting and
diarrhea, even though influenza is a respiratory virus. The gastrointestinal response may be the body’s panic
mode while attempting to expel the pathogen. But this explanation remains a hypothesis. From an OM
perspective, if there is vomiting and diarrhea, then the energetic of the digestive system is involved and needs to
be addressed. It should be borne in mind, however, that getting the digestive response under control should be
viewed as treating the symptom, while the cause is likely to remain in the lungs.
| Joanna E. Rowland Acupuncture Physician |
The Complete Wellness Medical Center 501 West State Rd 434 Winter Springs, FL 32708 (407) 327-0410 |
ROWLAND ACUPUNCTURE