There are many remedies to think of for flus, depending on the specific symptoms. If there is fever, for example, Aconite and Belladonna should be considered first.If the flu is predominant- ly gastrointestinal, strongly consider such remedies as Podophyllum and Arsenicum album. For a general flu, here are a couple more remedies to store in your homeopathic memory banks:

Eupatorium perfoliatum (Thoroughwort or Bone-set). This is an excellent remedy for "bone breaking" fevers in which the flu is accompanied by extreme and deep bruised feeling in the bones "as if they would break". Like China, there may be a periodic fever, often starting at 7 to 9 a.m. There is great thirst with Eupatorium, as with Bryonia. The patient may even be quite cold with chills, but they still crave ice water and ice cream.

Oscillococcinum. This is a newly produced remedy introduced by a French homeopathic pharmacy which is sold over the counter as the answer to the common flu. It is made from duck heart and liver. We have found it to be most useful when given in a 200c (the only potency in which it is sold) at the very onset of a flu. Unfortunately, most patients do not come in at this point. Otherwise, we have found it most useful to give the specific homeopathic remedy indicated in each individual set of flu symptoms.

One final remedy to mention, at least in passing, is the homeopathic nosode, Influenzinum. We have heard, anecdotally, of it being used prophylactically at the beginning of each flu season in a potency of 200c but have no data on it ourselves. If the flus continue to strike with a vengeance, we may be tempted to experiment with this as yet unproven prophylactic approach.

Dr. Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Dr. Robert Ullman are licensed naturopathic physicians and are board certified in homeopathy. They are President and Vice President of the International Foundation for Homeopathy where they teach homeopathy to licensed health care professionals. They practice in Edmonds, WA at 131 3rd Ave., N., Edmonds, WA 98020 and can be reached at (206) 774-5599.