10 Home Remedies People Use to Guard Against Swine Flu

From tulsi leaves and raw garlic to turmeric milk and frequent handwashing, here are 10 everyday steps suggested to help ward off swine flu.

With swine flu cases rising, many people are looking for simple, low-cost steps they can take at home to strengthen their resistance against the H1N1 virus and common flu. The advice below is not a cure. It is a set of everyday measures, and anyone already ill is warned they will help only to a limited extent.

The steps do not need to be followed all at once. The suggestion is to pick a combination that suits you. Most of the remedies rely on herbs, kitchen staples and hygiene rather than prescription drugs, and several are aimed at keeping the throat, nose and lungs clear.

Herbs and kitchen staples

Tulsi, known in English as basil and by its medicinal name Ocimum sanctum, tops the list. The recommendation is to chew five properly washed tulsi leaves every morning. Tulsi is credited with a range of therapeutic properties, keeping the throat and lungs clear and supporting immunity against infection.

Giloi, or Tinospora cordifolia, is a plant found easily in many areas. To make a kadha, or concoction, take a one-foot-long branch of giloi, add five or six tulsi leaves and boil in water for 15 to 20 minutes, long enough for the water to draw out the plant's properties. Season to taste with black pepper and sendha, rock or black salt, or add misri, crystallised sugar lumps, to sweeten it. Let it cool a little and drink while still warm. If the plant is not available, processed giloi powder from suppliers such as Hamdard can be used to make a similar drink once a day.

Garlic and dairy also feature. Those who can tolerate it are advised to swallow two pods of raw garlic first thing in the morning with lukewarm water, which is said to build immunity. People who are not allergic to milk can drink a glass of hot or lukewarm milk each night with a small measure of haldi, or turmeric.

Aloe vera, known as gwarpatha, is another commonly available plant. Its thick, cactus-like leaves hold an odourless gel, and a teaspoon of that gel taken with water daily is said to help skin, joint pain and immunity.

Camphor, homeopathy and Vitamin C

A small piece of camphor, or kapoor, roughly the size of a tablet, can be taken once or twice a month, but no more. Adults can swallow it with water, while children may need it mixed into mashed potato or banana to get it down. The warning is clear: camphor is not for daily use, only once a season or once a month.

On the homeopathic side, the remedies named are Pyrogenium 200 and Influenzium 200, taken as five tablets three times a day or two to three drops three times a day. Neither is described as targeting H1N1 specifically. They are presented only as a preventive against common flu virus.

Citrus fruit and Vitamin C round out the diet advice. Amla, or Indian gooseberry, is singled out for its Vitamin C content. Because fresh amla will not reach the market for another three to four months, packaged amla juice, now widely sold, is suggested as an alternative.

Breathing, movement and clean hands

Daily pranayam is recommended, ideally under guidance for anyone not already trained in it, along with a regular morning jog or walk. Even in small amounts, this is said to keep the throat and lungs in good condition and improve the body's resistance to illnesses affecting the nose, throat and lungs.

The final measure is the most conventional: frequent handwashing. The advice is to wash with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds, especially before meals and after touching any surface that might be contaminated, such as a door handle or knob. That applies particularly after returning from a public place or using public transport. Where soap and warm water are not immediately available, alcohol-based hand cleaners should be kept on hand and used in the meantime.

The overriding message accompanying the list is not to panic. The remedies are framed as easy steps to tackle a flu virus of any kind, including swine flu, and can be combined to suit the individual rather than followed rigidly.

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