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In this article we covered Flu Symptoms And Home Remedies. Influenza is a common respiratory illness that affects people from all age groups. Flu symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, catarrh, and headache. Home remedies for flu are being used for centuries and have proven to be effective.

Influenza is a highly contagious, respiratory illness that affects people from all age groups and geographic backgrounds. In temperate regions, it occurs mostly in the winter months. There is no clear seasonal pattern in tropical climates. It varies in its severity from person to person. Sometimes, it presents as a mild, temporary infection. Other times, it can cause complications like red urine and ultimately lead to death. Influenza causes approximately 375,000 deaths worldwide each year.

Does Tamiflu work. The evidence says no.  New cochrane review: "The influenza virus-specific mechanism of action proposed by the produces does not fit the clinical evidence".

this is a pdf article only and not much is available for public read: estrogen found to have antiviral activity against influenza A in women via ER-beta activation.

Cochrane review on the latest data on the flue vaccine and it is not to impressive.

The point of this post is not the drug, but the fact that the inhibition of TLR4 blocked cytokine storm from influenza.

Study suggests LPS mediated obesity increases pathogenicity of influenza virus.

In this study, flu vaccine is found to reduce MI risk by 45%.  Now, the take home point here is that those with cardiovascular compromise need to avoid the flu--not, that the flu vaccine by itself reduces the risk. The authors of this study fail to state the low success of the flu vaccine in the prevention of the flu.  They also fail to state the increased inflammation as a result of the vaccine itself.  A better approach would be to use natural therapies i.e.. vitamin D that have been shown to prevent the flu. 

Summary of 2010 Cochrane review on flu vaccines

exhaustive review of the flu vaccine data reveals VERY poor matching of vaccine, poor prevention of flu symptoms, and only modest effect on reduction in hospital admission or complication rates.   Final conclusion: "There is no evidence that they affect complications, such as pneumonia, or TRANSMISSION.

Boswellia found to be useful against the influenza virus.

How well does Tamiflu work?  Does a decrease in 7 symptomatic days to 6.3 significant enough to offset the high incidence of side effects?  I guess that is a personal decision.

flu vaccine effectiveness rates.

New Cochrane update on the flu vaccine.  The results are no different than previous results that is why the authors said, "observational data...have not been updated due to their lack of influence on the review conclusions.  Restated: The flu vaccine again shown to fail 99% of the time to prevent the flu and 99% of the time to prevent hospitalization.  

Influenza and other virus' induce cytokine production i.e. cytokine storm via TLR

interesting screening of 5707 articles on flu vaccine finds that evidence for flu vaccine in those > 65 is "lacking".

N-acetylcysteine, also known as NAC, a precursor to glutathione, is shown to significantly reduce the incidence of flu symptoms.  NAC should be taken through out the winter months as a flu prevention?  Well, this study does not support that, but if one gets the flu, NAC will significantly reduce the flu symptoms.

This article's conclusion fits the definition of insane. This article found that the flu vaccine in pregnant women found significant increased CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 inflammatory biomarkers.  It is well recognized the impact of inflammation on health and in this case the developing baby.   For example, preeclampsia and preterm birth are inflammatory conditions.  Yet, ACOG has made recommmendations for all pregnant women to get the flu vaccine?!?! Here is their conclusion: "However, further research is needed to confirm that the mild inflammatory response elicited by vaccination is benign in pregnancy".  Take home, you are being studied to see the effects of the flu vaccine on you, if you are pregnant, and your developing child.  And who decides what "mild" is anyways.  If you develop preeclampsia and delivery early, where is the "mild" in that?

flu vaccine did not effect mortality rate in elderly population in 1980s and 1990s.

Don't look now, but flu vaccine of healthcare workers not shown to prevent flu in patients in long-term care facilities.

flu vaccine not effective in obese individuals due to compromised CD8 cell activity; no surprise due to the fact that obesity is an inflammatory disease.