Over the past 200 years homeopathy has developed a proven track record against the flu, ranging from the basic bug to the many epidemics and pandemics of history. In fact, the spectacular ability of homeopathy to outperform allopathic treatment of influenza is well documented, even during the deadly Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-1920. This epidemic resulted in 20-40 million deaths worldwide, with more than 500,000 deaths occurring in the United States. The alarming death rate of the Spanish Flu epidemic exceeded even the ravages of the Bubonic Plague of 1347, which killed a third of the European population. Fortunately, many patients in the United States had access to homeopathic care during this time. A report in 1921 documented the dramatic success of homeopathy in the worst flu pandemic in history. Of the 24,000 cases treated with conventional medicine, the death rate was 28.2 percent; of the 26,000 cases treated with homeopathy, the death rate was an amazing 1.05 percent!

With the intensity of modern travel, flu strains can move quickly across communities and countries changing and mutating along the way. Traveling by jet, a new influenza virus from China could reach Tokyo in hours and arrive in New York City within a day. New viruses appear regularly, and flu vaccines are largely unsuccessful in managing this disease. Despite the availability of vaccines, 100,000 people died of the Asian flu in 1957, 50,000 people died of the Hong Kong Flu in 1968, and each year in the United States alone, 10,000 to 20,000 people die from complications of the flu. While the allopathic medical community struggles to manage influenza, homeopathic practitioners have been successfully preventing and treating the flu for more than 150 years.

The two most popular homeopathic flu remedies are Anas Barbariae (prepared from the Barbary duck, a known carrier of influenza viruses) and Influenzinum. From the years 1918 to 1957, homeopathic Influenzinum was derived from samples taken from patients infested with the deadly flu strain of the 1918 pandemic. Subsequently, remedies are now offered which use multiple flu strains chosen for each coming flu season by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

There are several studies and clinical trials which reveal the efficacy of both Anas Barbariae and Influenzinum in the treatment of influenza. Recent double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trials published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and British Homeopathic Journal show that Anas Barbariae  provides a statistically significant action in decreasing flu-like symptoms, including cough, runny nose, sore throat, and muscle pain, as well as in shortening the duration of the disease. In one study, full recovery from flu symptoms within 48 hours was 66.0% greater in the Anas Barbariae group than in the placebo group!

The survey documented the use of Influenzinum over a 10-year period in 453 patients. Results of the survey showed that in approximately 90 percent of the cases, no instances of the flu occurred when Influenzinum was used preventively, no matter what the dosage protocol, and 98 percent of the patients expressed a desire to continue the preventive treatment.
The above studies, though conducted in different countries, during different flu epidemics, and involving a variety of participating treatment centers, show a striking commonality: homeopathic treatment of the flu is highly effective and welcomed by patients. Conventional antiviral drugs reduce the duration of the flu by about one day if taken within the first 48 hours of illness, and can cause adverse effects such as nausea, dizziness, disturbed sleep, and depression. Comparing the results of homeopathic studies with the meager effect of conventional treatment shows that homeopathy carries the potential to make a dramatic difference in any flu epidemic, without the risk of drug side effects.

 The ideal homeopathic influenza formula should cover a broad spectrum of flu symptoms including: fever, chills, night sweats, exhaustion, aches, nausea, vomiting, headache, mucus congestion, runny nose, sore throat, swollen glands, coughs, bronchitis, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Combination formulas of greatest efficacy should contain official homeopathic remedies proven for the flu, particularly those remedies that have a history of successful use during even the most difficult of epidemics, such as Gelsemium, Arsenicum album, Bryonia, Baptisia, Rhus tox, and Eupatorium perforatum. In addition to Influenzinum (made with the current flu season viral strains) and Anas Barbariae, the bird nosode Aviaire may impart additional efficacy to a dynamic formula.

Because homeopathy works on a bioenergetic level, rather than a biochemical level, it can work quickly and curatively even with conditions previously thought to be difficult or incurable. Homeopathy offers the safest, most effective, time-tested resume when it comes to influenza, and the more intense the condition the more remarkable the results!

REFERENCES
Neustaedter, R.  FLU: Alternative Treatments and Prevention.  North Atlantic Books, 2005.
Sheperd, Dorothy MD Homeopathy in Epidemic Diseases  C.W. Daniel Company 1996

Frank J. King Jr., N.D., D.C. is a nationally recognized researcher, author and lecturer on homeopathy. In addition, Dr. King is the founder and director of King Bio; a registered homeopathic manufacturing company dedicated to empowering people to safely and naturally overcome the common problems plaguing our society.