Holistic Treatments for Mononucleosis
Holistic treatments refer to medications that when taken, cure the disease and not just the symptoms. There are no holistic treatments available for mononucleosis (mono), but some medications prescribed can help deal with the condition. In most cases, doctors recommend medicines designed for treatment of the symptoms caused by infectious mononucleosis. Although no single medical prescription has proved its ability to treat mononucleosis, rest, and treatment of the symptoms happen to be the two major holistic treatments for mononucleosis. Since the disease in most cases is mild, applying these two methods can be very rewarding in decreasing the duration the condition lasts. The physician needs to understand the symptoms of their patient to come up with the best prescription.
Rest
The mono condition is usually accompanied by heightened fatigue and weakness for the first one to two weeks after infection. At this time, it is important to get plenty of rest, in addition to intake sufficient amounts of water and other fluids. It is also advised against participating in contact sports and lifting heavy objects for at least two months to reduce the chances of spleen rupture. The symptoms begin disappearing after about two weeks.
Pain Relieving Drugs and Antibiotics
To reduce fever, physicians and doctors usually prescribe pain relieving medicines. These include drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. A doctor must be consulted before the parent or guardian with a sick child, administers over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. To avoid development of Reye's syndrome in children under 18 years of age, should not be given aspirin to deal with the fever. The drugs administered should be anti-inflammatory containing no steroids. Before intake of these drugs, ensure that the consequences of taking them is not the long term.
The surgical operation can be recommended in cases where the spleen has ruptured or enlarged. Removal of the spleen is then a viable option.
This can greatly assist in the reduction of symptoms as well as strengthen and enhance your immune system, making it more effective in curbing diseases. You need to choose and strictly follow a nutrition that contains supplements effective in this respect. You need to consume more foods rich in anti-oxidants. This includes most green vegetables and fruits. Red meat should be avoided or replaced with other options that are rich in proteins such as soy, lean meat, beans, cold water fish, etc. Healthy cooking oils should be used, and daily consumption of water should be high.
Things like sugar and white bread are refined and should be avoided. Others that fall under this category include caffeine, processed foods, tobacco, cookies, crackers, alcohol, onion rings and margarine. This helps in the elimination of trans fatty acids, which are abundant in baked products for commercial purposes.
Herbs
Herbs may come in handy for immune system strengthening as well as supporting other systems of the body. Products like green tea are free of caffeine and have both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cranberry and astragalus have both shown the ability to fight and kill viruses respectively. Researchers are uncertain if these two herbs can work against the Epstein-Barr virus. These herbs should not be consumed by individuals with bleeding and clotting problems before consulting a doctor. Lastly, people with allergies to aspirin should avoid cranberries at all cost.
