Dr. Linda Page's Weblog

Swine flu hits the US: Are you Prepared?

Your questions about the swine flu outbreak have been pouring in. In response, this week's post focuses on the swine flu and how to be best prepared.

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is, as its name suggests, a flu bug that affects pigs. In the rare cases when swine flu has infected people, it has only occurred in people who have had direct contact with pigs. The swine flu we are seeing today is very unusual as it can be transferred from person to person, and it contains genes from swine, bird and human flu bugs. Note: You cannot get swine flu from eating pork.

To date, the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. has climbed to 68. The White House has now issued a travel advisory for Mexico, where there have been 2,000 suspected cases of swine flu and 150 deaths. In some good news, confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. seem milder than those in Mexico. In the U.S., only one person with the disease has been briefly hospitalized.

Symptoms of swine flu to watch for include: cough, sore throat, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea.

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Whole herbs strengthen immune defenses

While there is no known cure for swine flu, a sound nutritious diet should be at the forefront of recovery. Further, whole herbs can bolster immune strength, relieve aches and pains, and cleanse toxins affecting the lymphatic system.

• Vir-ex caps: Stimulates lymph system to remove pathogens.
  >>> Download Healing Program PDF for Vir-ex caps
  
  
• Anti-Bio caps: First-aid responder, now with anti-viral support.
  >>> Download Healing Program PDF for Anti-Bio caps
  
  
• D-Congest spray: Quick lung cleanse. Loosens mucous build-up. Breathe easier.
  >>> Download PDF Info Sheet for D-Congest spray
  
  

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If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and there is an outbreak in your community, please seek out medical advice and proper treatment. In addition, include whole herbs to rally your immune defenses and clear out toxins that could be making you sick.

- Linda

An acupressure facial is an effective at-home beauty treatment

A few techniques to try:
• For crows’ feet, gently press the points around the orbits of your eyes. Start from the inside orbit point (below the tear duct) and work your way to the outside point (where the upper and lower lid meet).
• To release muscular tension in the jaw, press the point located at the back corner of the jaw. Move finger up and forward. (Most people have tight jaw muscles; this point will likely be tender or sore.)
• For deep creases in the forehead, press on the muscles around the creases; mold the muscles back into the creases. Do light circular massage on the forehead to stimulate lymph flow.
• For laugh lines around the mouth, press the points at the corners of the mouth and the point in the crease between the chin and lower lip.

Acupuncture and acupressure are gaining new respect in the western world as painless, non-toxic therapies for restoring healing energy and for preventing disease. Conventional doctors find that acupuncture and acupressure work well in conjunction with conventional medicine, an unusual benefit for western medicine. Because they are free of toxins and addictive side effects, they have become valuable alternatives for people who used to live on Motrin, Advil and other pain pills that harm the liver.

To Life-long health,
Linda

Your herbal medicine chest for seasonal allergies

Springtime is here, and with it we usher in new life, growth and renewal. Unfortunately, springtime also ushers in seasonal allergies in full force. Current pollen testing reveals that 2009 may be an even worse allergy season than last year. Seasonal allergies result from your immune system's overreaction to mold, pollen or spores. If you have excess mucous in your body, it harbors environmental irritants that make you more vulnerable to seasonal allergies.

Also called hay fever, seasonal allergies are the most common type of respiratory allergy. More than 3.5 million work days and 2 million school days are lost each year as the result of hay fever. Plus, almost 90% of people with hay fever have sleep problems that keep them tired and performing poorly in school or on the job. Stress and adrenal exhaustion, common problems in western societies, as well as enzyme imbalance and essential fatty acid deficiency, set the stage for the allergy epidemic.

Do you have "hay fever" or just a cold? It's an allergic reaction if you have:

• Sudden symptoms like itchy eyes, sneezing, stuffy nose and dry cough that appear at the same time each year and don’t go away within a week.
• Sinus pain or headaches.
• Chronic insomnia.
• Worsening sense of taste and smell.
• Great fatigue when symptoms are worse.

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Herbal allergy relief

A whole herb formula not only helps to reinforce your body's defenses against allergens, but also acts to clear excess mucous and control spasmodic coughing. Decongestant herbs with antihistamine properties attack aggravating symptoms like itchy nose and eyes and chest congestion. Lymphatic cleansers help clear body pathways and assist with allergen elimination. An herbal combination with green tea, marshmallow, white pine, and bee pollen works fast to help you breath easier. Most people begin to feel relief in about 25 minutes!

• Anti-Hst caps: Fast-acting, natural antihistamines ease congestion and reduce inflammation.
  >>> Download Healing Program PDF for Anti-Hst caps
  
  
• D-Congest spray: Quick lung cleanse. Loosens mucous build-up. Breathe easier.
  >>> Download PDF Info Sheet for D-Congest spray
  
  

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For allergy relief, I find herbal combinations are more effective than single herbs because they work with multiple body functions. Additionally, remember to clean your house frequently to get rid of mold spores, dust or animal dander that may be causing allergies.

-Linda