So many people are getting the flu. Fiona, her adorable son, and now Jane Raymond just called me to tell me all her kids probably have H1N1!
More surprisingly, Jane wasn't worried about getting it herself and she said her kids are getting better by the second because she has the secret cure; Elderberry Tincture. Who knew she was into Naturopahy? I could swear she shaves her legs.
Go figure, it's selling out on all the Whole Foods & New Season's shelves across Portland. I have to ask y to grab some from work before all the goofy naturopaths beat me to it in their hybrid cars. Lucky for me, half of them ride unicycle and may very well trip over their dread locks on the way to the store.
In case you're as clue-less as I am about anything in the über-stinky natural medicine isle, a tincture is a an “an alcohol-based derivative of a fresh herb or other natural plant material, used primarily as an alternative medicine or dietary supplement.” Jane seems pretty confident that it's bringing everyone back to health at her house but even if it's not, "mind-over-matter" is a very powerful tonic in itself.
Jane also recommended the following:

• Garlic
• Zinc throat lozenges (carbonated, gluconate)
• Salt water gargle
• Salt water nose cleansing (q-tip...nose bidet...)

This is what I figure, it's worth a shot. The doctor who treated Fiona sent her home pretty much empty handed (if you consider sans-codeine, empty handed.) Under the circumstances, I would give Jane's 21st Century Hippy solution a try.
In an email Jane forwarded me from Dr. Vinay Goyal MBBS,DRM,DNB, Dr. Vinay recommended what Jane told me and also had some preventative recommendations:

1. Frequent hand-washing
2. "Hands-off-the-face"
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt).
4. Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water.
5. Boost your natural immunity with Vitamin C 
6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can

Getting sick sucks, so stay healthy and keep an open mind when you are looking for a cure!