Got this in my email today from a nurse friend. Makes sense to me and I am going to do it starting today. I'll add this to my Vit. D3 and garlic habit.

Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009, 7:56 PM
Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB
(Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical
experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions
like Hinduja Hospital ,Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital ,
Tata Memorial etc..
Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department
and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical
Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him makes a lot of sense and
is important for all to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and
mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's
almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in
spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much
of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of
H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation,
aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary
infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in
most official communications, can be practiced (instead of
focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official
communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to
touch any part of face (except to eat or bathe).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine
if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial
infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and
show characteristic symptoms. gargling prevents
proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the
same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an
infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive
and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once
every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good
at using a Neti pot to clean nasal cavities, but *blowing
the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with
cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in
bringing down viral population.*

5.. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich
in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to
supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also
has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you
can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling,
but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating
viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot
survive, proliferate or do any harm.

Pass this on to your entire e-list. You never know
who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of
it.