Flu sufferers turning to alternative medicine

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Influenza is dangerously sweeping across the country and experts say it’s not even peak flu season.  Officials said they are considering this one of the worst in decades.

The most important message, according to doctors, is that it isn’t too late to get the flu shot.

Some flu sufferers are turning to alternative medicine to help ease the pain of all the symptoms.

“We have patients coming here helping with the symptoms of the flu such as aches in the body, sore throat or even somebody who is having really bad sneezing,” explained Dr. Violet Song , an acupuncturist and professor at the AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine. 

Dr. Song said they’ve seen an increase in people coming to the clinic to sooth their dreaded symptoms of the Flu.

She said people are also looking to herbs to get rid of the symptoms.  They’ll first make a diagnosis and have an herbal then give an herbal prescription specialized to each patient.

"Those are the one patients are taking in for the internal taking and the needles that we're doing some of the method can help also relieve the heat, get rid of the fever, and some of the needles can help to open the naval cavity get rid of the sore throat and cough," explained Dr. Song. 

Song said the needles are thinner than a hair strand, and that it doesn't hurt.

AOMA is offering free consultations to people Thursday and Friday evening.

They are also offering free preventative free classes.

AOMA Free Classes

• Dancing from the Deep Within, 5:30 pm

• Intro to Qigong, 7:30 pm