Polio

Description

Polio is a viral infection (poliomyelitis) that can cause an array of symptoms ranging from mild illness to full-blown paralysis.

Symptoms

Mild signs and symptoms, which primarily occur in younger children, include sore throat, fatigue, fever, headache, and vomiting. Symptoms typically occur a few hours after contact with the virus and usually last for one to three days.

Serious symptoms, which primarily affect older children and adults, include fever and muscle paralysis. Nervous system symptoms such as deep muscle discomfort, tingling, skin hypersensitivity, meningitis, stiff neck, backache, fever, severe headache, and widespread muscle twitching can also occur. These symptoms may appear rapidly and result in serious weakness or muscular paralysis. The lower half of the body is most commonly affected. When the infection spreads to the brain, you may start to experience respiratory problems.

Note: Those infected with a mild case of polio typically recover quickly. In severe cases however, recovery only occurs 50% of the time. Of those who do not recover, 25% suffer from continual muscle pain, 15% are severely disabled, and 10% die. For those who have recovered, polio can relapse years later.
Caution: Polio is not a disease that can be handled alone. Seek competent medical assistance.

Natural Remedies

Diet: Consume an organic, whole-foods diet rich in magnesium, such as dark leafy green vegetables.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the process of applying water, ice, steam and alternating cold and hot temperatures to restore health. Treatments include total body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation, and the application of warm and cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating an array of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a personal-treatment program. Many professionals including naturopathic physicians, physical therapists and day spas use Hydrotherapy as part of their treatment routines. We suggest trying several at home hydrotherapy remedies. Please seek the advice of an alternative healthcare practitioner prior to undergoing these treatments to ensure they are right for you.
*Purified water is essential in any Hydrotherapy remedy. Remedies involving purifying bath water offer clear instructions.

Nutritional Supplementation: The following nutritional supplements can help reduce polio signs and symptoms: Magnesium and niacin (taken four times daily to keep blood levels higher and to increase muscular power and motion, and to decrease pain). Take both supplements for two weeks.

Optional Professional Care

If your signs and symptoms persist despite following the methods listed above, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all demonstrated the ability to be helpful in treating polio: Bodywork, Power Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Homeopathy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Orthomolecular Treatments, Prolotherapy, and traditional Chinese Medicine. (See Glossary for explanations of these optional therapies.)