H1N1 tips (good advice from email making rounds)

[Vic]

The following advice, given by Dr. Oz, makes a lot of sense and isimportant for all to know:The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a globalepidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contactwith H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of aproblem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection,in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development ofsecondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in mostofficial communications, can be practiced (instead of focusingon how to stock N95 or Tamiflu): 1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all officialcommunications). 2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any partof face (unless you want to eat or bathe.)

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine or HydrogenPeroxide if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initialinfection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristicsymptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling withsalt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on aninfected one.
Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventativemethod. 4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day withwarm salt water, or hydrogen peroxide. *Not everybody may be good at JalaNeti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but*blowing the nose softly once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cottonbuds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viralpopulation.* 5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amlaand other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets,make sure that it also has Zinc to boostabsorption. 6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinkingwarm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction.They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach wherethey cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.