[vetvetdoug]

Only an anti-viral can ameliorate the effects of the Orthomyxo virus. Tamiflu inhibits the neuramidase enzyme and therefore blocks or reduces the virus from replicating and that makes the virus less virulent. Tamiflu only works on RNA viruses that use reverse transcriptase. Vaccination to the specific strain of the Orthomyxoviridae is the only prevention. What I've seen here is a myriad of witch's brews and quackery. Being healthy and having a good level of D3 or vitamin C may help but if confronted with an infective dose of virions of the flu they will be ineffective.

[exDemMom]

What I've seen here is a myriad of witch's brews and quackery.

Indeed, thank you.

I try to counter the quackery when I can. Some of it is fairly harmless (e.g. spending twice as much on food labeled organic, even though it is indistinguishable from other food) and I leave that alone. But where quackery can endanger people's lives and even prevent them from seeking medical attention, I step in with real information.