Preventive Steps for H1N1

To all my dear friends, take note on these following simple preventive steps for H1N1 which are not fully highlighted in most official communications. All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most household, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public holidays.

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch anypart of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if youdon't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in thethroat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with saltwater has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has onan infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive andpowerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every daywith warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or SutraNeti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing thenose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton budsdipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viralpopulation.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C(Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with VitaminC tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquidshas the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. Theywash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach wherethey cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

7 Drink water frequently to keep your throat moist all the time.