Natural Influenza Treatment

by Lorna Harvey

In the 1918 flu epidemic almost twenty million people died. Doctors using drugs to battle the epidemic saw around 33% of their patients die from the flu, whereas natural hospitals such as one run by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg were having a 100% recovery rate. Dr. Kellogg shared his influenza protocols in an article in 1918. The following information is taken from that article.

First, the patients were doing water enemas twice a day to clean their bowels. They'd use two or three pints of warm water and would cleanse their colon thoroughly, until all of the filth was removed. The enemas started at the beginning of the disease and continued until complete recovery.

Second, the patients were drinking three or four quarts of water or fruit juice each day to promote elimination through the kidneys and skin. A glass was taken each half hour, when awake. Fiber, such as bran, was mixed into foods including oatmeal and rice to promote bowel movements and the elimination of the problem.

Short hot baths and hot blanket packs were used to ease fevers and help with pain in the back and legs. A hot blanket pack entailed wrapping a person in a "hot as they could stand," wrung-out wet blanket for twelve to fifteen minutes. A wool blanket covered the outside of the wet blanket, and heads and faces were kept cool. If the pulse was rapid, an ice pack was held over the heart. For very high fevers, the hot blanket packs were used only for four or five minutes.

Cold compresses were used for headaches. For high fevers, a cold compress was used immediately after a short hot blanket pack to bring down the fever.

In 1918 there wasn't the sugary, chemical laden or processed foods that are available today. It is be a good idea to avoid these types of foods but more important during a time of sickness to allow the body to heal. Patients were also kept in bed for several days after the fever was gone.

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