Glandular fever is caused by an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus, a close relative of the herpes virus. The infection often occurs in adolescents and young adults (although this is not always the case, as can be seen in the second case study below). Symptoms of glandular fever include a sore throat, headache, swollen glands, and exhaustion. The condition is often preceded by a degree of stress. Symptoms can last for months and may recur for several years. A number of abnormalities have been shown to occur after such an infection, including food allergies, changes in the immune system and cellular metabolism, as well as persistence of the virus. Some people are written off as neurotic or malingering, but they are often very sick.

What can you do to help The remedies for glandular fever should be aimed at improving the situation of nervous exhaustion, as well as to improve the lymphatic congestion most frequently associated with the condition. This then means:

• Vitamin C, B vitamins and zinc to improve immunity and energy levels. These can be obtained as part of a good multivitamin and mineral supplement.
• Potassium phosphate to help the nervous system.
• Herbs to help cleanse the liver and lymphatic system. These include: burdock, dandelion, red clover, violet leaves, and knapweed.
• Herbs for the nervous system such as linden blossoms (linden) and hops.
• It is important to eat a diet that supports the immune system by cleansing the colon and the rest of the body.

Herbal mixture for glandular fever One herbal blend that can help with diehard viral infections like glandular fever, even if the problem has turned into low-level debilitating weakness, is as follows.

• 2 parts echinacea
• 2 parts poke root
• 2 parts wild indigo
• 2 parts wormwood
• 1 part myrrh

Combine the herbs and use 2 teaspoons of the herbal mix in a cup and pour over boiling water. Allow this to sit for 10-15 minutes. Strain the tea when it has cooled. The mixture should be drunk three times a day. If you don’t like the unpleasant taste, you can mask it by using licorice.

Case study: glandular fever Ian, 22, visited with an acute attack of glandular fever. He had been off work for five weeks and had an enlarged liver and spleen as associated problems.

Ian’s treatment consisted of:

• a general multivitamin and mineral supplement with additional vitamins: zinc, vitamin C and B complex.
• General cleansing of the colon, in particular through dietary changes and digestive support.
• Lymphatic cleansing and liver toning herbs: burdock, violet leaves, dandelion root and leaves, hops, linden flowers, centaury and wahoo.

Since Ian was an acute case, some of these herbs were administered more frequently than the usual three times a day. Ian was seen after two weeks instead of the usual four. By this time, he was generally better and the treatment described above was continued. At a subsequent visit he reported that all symptoms had improved.

Case study: Fatigue after a viral infection Neil was a 57-year-old car salesman who had had a severe attack of glandular fever 18 months earlier. Since then he had been worried about tiredness and swollen glands in his neck. He also experienced weight loss, depression, loss of taste, and headaches. Investigations showed that their blood zinc levels were normal but at a very low level in sweat (107 parts per billion – normal range 360 ​​- 680 parts per billion).

His treatment consisted of the following:

• Zinc supplements and multivitamins and minerals.
• Colon cleansing and changes in your diet to include more fresh fruits and vegetables and a reduction in dairy and refined flour production.
• Herbs for your liver and lymphatic system: dandelion, milk thistle, burdock, echinacea and centaury.

Within a week he had his sense of taste restored and he felt less tired. Over the next three months, he continued to improve with his energy level nearly returning to normal and his enlarged glands returning to his normal size. Zinc, iron, and vitamin B6 deficiencies are relatively common and are important causes of poor resistance or poor recovery from infections. Sometimes zinc deficiencies can be present despite normal blood zinc levels and zinc supplementation is worth trying along with multivitamin and mineral supplements and a healthy diet and colon cleanse.

Glandular fever is a disease that can go unnoticed with a debilitating effect. It can be treated with a natural approach that cleanses the colon, improves diet, digestive, nervous and lymphatic systems.