Beating the Flu

Book Excerpt: Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Preface..............................................................................   xi
Introduction: What You Will Learn in This Book........... xv
         Chapter-by-Chapter Overview ? Additional Material to Help You Beat the Flu ? Author's
         Note on Citations

PART I?THE DANGER: PANDEMIC
INFLUENZA AND INADEQUATE PROTECTION

 1.  Phase Seven: The Makings of a Super Flu...............    3
         What"s a Pandemic? ? The Infection of the World ?
         What Makes a Super Flu? ? Are We Prepared?

 2.  The Perfect Plague: Why Influenza May Be
      Nature's Most Successful Virus............................... 15
         What"s Influenza? ? What Causes the Flu? ? Symptoms
         of the Flu ? Is It a Cold or the Flu? ? How Is the Flu
         Diag­nosed? ? What?s the Conventional Medical Treatment for Flu? ? What Are the Complications of
         the Flu?

 3.  Masters of Mutation: How Viruses Evolve
      and Make Us Sick...................................................... 27
         What?s a Virus? ? How and Why Do Viruses Mutate? ? Pass the Genes ? To Drift or Shift ?
         How Efficient Is Influenza at Making Us Sick? ? The China Connection ? The
         Environmental Dimension

 4.  Prelude to a Pandemic: Why H5N1 Avian
      Influenza Is So Dangerous........................................ 35
         What?s the Bird Flu? ? How Can a Chicken Virus Infect People? ? How Sick Can You
         Get? ? How Fast Does Bird Flu Spread? ? Year of the Bird Flu

 5.  Run and Hide: The Shortcomings of Quarantine
      and the Importance of Avoidance............................. 41
         Are We Ready for a Pandemic Super Flu? ? Quarantine ? Isolation ? Meeting the Global
         Challenge of a Super Flu Pandemic

 6.  Flu Wars: The Double-Edged Sword of
      Vaccination and Antiviral Drugs................................ 47
         Vaccines ? From Hen to Hospital ? Antiviral Drugs ?
         Is There Anything Else? ? Overkill

 7.  Lessons from SARS: What We Learned
      from an Epidemic....................................................... 59
         From Plate to People ? All in the Mix ? The Chinese Medicine Experience ? What Did We
         Learn?

PART II?THE SOLUTION:
NATURAL PRESCRIPTIONS FOR SURVIVAL 

8.  Viral Immunity: Enhance Your Body?s
     Defenses against the Flu........................................... 69
         What?s Viral Immunity? ? Who?s Most at Risk? ? Bird
         Flu Immune Alert ? Build Up Your Immunity ? Natural Immune Modulators

9.  The Food Factor: Kitchen Health to Beat the Flu... 81
         Chicken Soup ? Umeboshi Plums ? Kimchi ? Garlic
         and Onions ? Green Tea ? Flu-Fighting Condiments, Flavorings, and Spices

10.  Natural Flu Solutions: How to Beat the Flu
       Using Natural Medicines............................................ 95
         Evidence-Based Natural Medicine ? Beating the Flu
         Natu­rally ? Immune-Boosting Antiviral Supplements ? Vitamins and Minerals to Help
         Beat the Flu ? Natural Antibiotics ? Antiviral and Anti-inflammatory Herbal Medicines ?
         Broad­spectrum Anti-Influenza Herbal Remedies ? Antiviral Homeopathic Medicines ?
         Traditional Chinese Antiviral Herbal Medicines

11.  Maximize Your Strategy to Beat the Flu:
       Doctor-Assisted Solutions.......................................... 115
         Opening Nature?s Medicine Chest: Biological
         Immuno­therapies ? Intranasal Mists and Nebulizers ? Injectable Homeopathic Medicines ? Injectable
         Chinese Herbal Medi­cines ? Blood Purification: The Hemopurifier

12.  Outsmart the Flu: The Importance of
       Personal Preparedness.............................................. 123
         Personal Hygiene: Your Best Chance ? Action Tips ?
         Emer­gency Preparation ? Prevention ? Recognition of Flu Symp­toms ?
         Early Intervention ? Know the Right Treatment

13.  Family Matters: Taking Care of Children
        and Seniors................................................................. 143
         Protecting Your Children ? Care and Treatment of Seniors

14.  Survive and Recover: A Plan to Beat the Flu........... 151
         A Comprehensive Approach ? Anti-Flu Prescription 1: A Healthy Foundation ?
         Anti-Flu Prescription 2: Early Treatment ? Anti-Flu Prescription 3: Maximum Intervention ?
         Anti-Flu Prescription 4: Full-Spectrum Therapy ? Anti-Flu Prescription 5: Healing and Recovery

Acknowledgments............................................................ 163
Resources......................................................................... 165
Glossary............................................................................ 169
Selected Bibliography....................................................... 173
Index................................................................................. 185