Flu spreads like wildfire. So what can you do to protect yourself? Stay calm and practice these simple home remedies as prevention tips :
Consume amla regularly. Amla is the highest source of vitamin C and is used to prevent many diseases. It is available in many forms like powder, juice, candy & churan (tablets). Make ginger & garlic a regular part of your diet. They are powerful antibiotics & antibacterials.Onions is also a good antiseptic. Meat can be disinfected by coating it with a paste of garlic and salt.
Clean the atmosphere of the house by burning NEEM, INCENSE (Lohbaan) & Camphor. Neem is a very powerful antiviral and antibiotic. Also use Alum in water. Bathing with neem-infused water was common in India before we got modern filtration & clean water.
Drink an infusuion of Tulsi water daily. Boil 25 leaves of Tulsi in 4 cups of water and let it cool. Adults can have half cup and give babies no more than 10 drops.
Half cup of cinnamon water in morning is a good antiviral drink. Boil an inch of cinnamon in 2 cups of water.
Eucalyptus oil prevents the nasal tract from harbouring dangerous viruses. Carry a few drops of it in your handkerchief. Also use eucalyptus oil during steam inhalation.
Black pepper in meals or a combo of black pepper, honey & ginger is a good antiviral.
Haldi (Turmeric) in meals and as a decoction is very effective in controlling viral infections.
Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.
Apart from being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong.
Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.
All these are preventive measures and apart from these you need to maintain a standard hygiene and a positive frame of mind.
Every year millions of people die of influenza in this world unnoticed and uncovered by our holy media. May be the virus has mutated a bit this time round. These are very small germs that might, under some circumstances, produce diseases. Mutation, in simple language, means that these viruses are like chameleons. They change their genetic make up sometimes very fast. This is our bane of controlling them. It only takes a few days for a virus to mutate and when it does that all our efforts to identify them drugs against the virus as also the vaccine lose their meaning. Mask will not protect healthy people against the disease in society. If one is attending to the infected, one needs to have the mask to avoid direct droplets from the patient falling into the nose or eyes etc. This virus does not float in the air all by itself for the mask to stop it. The virus is carried in small droplets from the patients' mucus secretions. Mask is a must for every patient to avoid spraying the droplets in his/her surroundings, especially if one is in a crowd or a closed aircraft cabin etc. Over crowding helps the virus to spread easily. Shaking hands is a deadly exercise in this setting. Door knobs, railings, utensils used by an infected person, kissing someone with the virus, close contact with infected people who are incubating the virus, table tops etc carry the virus even up to 48 long hours. Indian system of “Namaste” (greeting with hands folded, palms touching each other) is very healthy practice. Your best bet is to meticulously clean your hands with simple soap and water (not chemical detergent soaps) as frequently as is possible or, at least, before touching your nose, eyes and mouth. During travel or hospital visits one does well to carry a bottle of alcohol hand cleaners for use where soap and water are scarce. They are very effective. Plenty of rest, adequate sleep, nourishing but, simple foods like fruits and vegetables, not too much spoiled by over cooking and frying, avoiding cooked meat to the extent possible; plenty of water to keep the mucus membranes wet; regular non-strenuous exercise that boosts the immune system, avoiding smoking and alcohol, happy disposition with Yoga and adequate oxygenation of all the cells including those in the immune system by Praanaayaama should help to prevent this dread. Try to do proper Yoga under a professional teacher. Do not pay heed to rumours and baseless advices OR crowd talks.
I was invited by the Consul general for appreciation for my debut direction film PANAAH - Baroye Zinda Mondan which has been widely accepted by the Afghans worldwide. We did talk about Films, shooting probabilities in afghanistan and also exchanged anecdotes about our lives. He was very happy that I, an Indian, had made a film highlighting the plights of Afghans. The film can be seen online on www.sundeepmohnot.com or also on http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1155/Panaah-Baroye-Zinda-Mondan Do check the photograph on Facebook on http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=2178201&id=703343470&ref=nf
It was surely a great meeting. mr Asad Sikander, Producer of the film, is very happy with the meeting and hopes the meeting will lead to more bollywood films being shot in Afghanistan. He hopes to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
