INFLUENZA:

Cause : According to medical science influenza is a contagious disease springing from germs. Many men may get infected at one time, bringing on an epidemic. In its first stage it appears to be a cold fever. Ayurveda calls it rheumatic fever. It has such a beginning, but it lasts longer than a cold fever and often turns to bronchitis and pneumonia.

Symptoms: Headache, sneezing, running eyes and nose, body aches, slow fever, cough, brain fever, profuse perspiration, shivering, dullness, constipation etc.

Treatment: Juice of tulsi and betel leaves, rocksalt, and Makaradhwaja (by weight 1. 875 or 3. 750 agains) to be given twice or thrice daily. Sarbajwara Bati and Sadhana Pachan are excellent remedies; both are antipyretic; selection should be made according to symptoms. If there is head and body ache, recommend Mahalakshmibilas with betel juice, ginger juice, and rocksalt. If there is much phlegm, give Naradiya Mahalakshmibilas. Where there is cough, Chandramrita Ras is to be taken. For children extract of tulsi and betel leaves, honey and Makaradhwaja (.9375 grains by weight) should be administered twice daily. If a child has severe cold and cough along with the influenza, get it to suck Chandramrita Ras with sugar candy.

Diet: Very light food, such as barley, sago, etc. Good air and light are necessary. The patient should live in an airy room and he should have complete rest. His body should be washed with hot water and well dried.