Mumps

Mumps is a viral infection mainly affecting children between the ages of five and fifteen. The parotid glands, which are salivary glands along the jaw, become swollen and painful, making the patient look like a toad. Other symptoms include headache, fever, and agony when consuming acidic foods. Mumps is less communicable than measles or chicken pox, and… thankfully… one attack usually confers lifelong immunity.

Symptoms appear within two to three weeks of infection, and usually the patient recovers and all is well within a week or two. However, one complication for males who have mumps after puberty is orchitis: inflamed testicles, which in the worst case scenario may lead to infertility.

What To Do

Diet

• Anything sour is going to increase the production of saliva. This is bound to be a painful event while the salivary glands are swollen, so avoid citrus, pineapple, acidic fruit juices, vinegar and wine.
• Watermelon and rockmelon juice will taste fabulous.
• You won’t feel like chewing. Drink smoothies, or eat soft foods such as poached fruit, baked vegetables, soups and natural ice-blocks.

Herbs and Supplements

• Herbs that will ease the symptoms of mumps include boneset, elder and poke root. Take them in tea or tincture form.
• Echinacea and vitamin C will help the immune system throw the virus sooner and prevent complications.
• The tissue salt Ferrum. phos. will reduce fever and inflammation. Take one tablet every two hours.
• To a cool wet cloth add either crushed Ferrum. phos., and/or a couple of drops of peppermint oil.
• If mumps is doing the rounds, give children at risk seven drops of the homoeopathic remedy Parotidinum 30C each day for a couple of weeks.

Other Steps

• Rest