Homeopathic Remedy Thwarts Flu, But Packaging Misses The Eco-Friendly Boat

Swine flu is on the tip of everyone's tongue these days, and for good reason -- if you thought the traditional flu was bad enough, trust me...you don't want to succumb to this virulent new strain.

Depending on how strong your immune system is, you can be knocked out for 1 - 2 weeks with an all-out-assault of unpleasant symptoms that seem to progress like a determined bulldozer through your body.

Yes, I'm speaking from experience since I had a mysterious late August flu that knocked me for a loop (for about 10 days) even though I pulled out all the stops and downed more herbs and homeopathic remedies than you can shake a stick at.

Okay...onto the point of this rant. I decided to seek out a preventative remedy at the vitamin store this weekend since everyone I know is sniveling and sneezing right now.

Since there is not yet an all-in-one herbal blend designed specifically to fight Swine Flu, I was advised to purchase Oscillococcinum, a homeopathic remedy made in France by Boiron but widely available at natural food stores across the nation.

The representative I spoke to said that Oscillococcinum (which contains "Anas barbariae hepatis et cordis extractum") works really well at thwarting a full-on flu as long as you catch your illness at the very beginning stages and use the homeopathic remedy in conjunction with a wide spectrum of strategic herbs such as astragulas, echinacea, Chinese mushrooms, etc.

So far, I think it's been working for me, but I did want to share my frustration about their packaging since I'm sure that other Greenwala community members would be interested.

When you think of homeopathics, you automatically presume that the companies that are producing them are a lot more "in tune" to the environment and sustainability issues.

Well, Boiron is apparently not as troubled since they supremely over-packaged 18 microscopic single dose 'vials' of their medicine in not one but TWO cardboard boxes, making the consumer think that they are getting a great deal.

Adding insult to injury, the microscopic vials -- which contain single treatments of Oscillococcinnum in what resembles a mouthful of white nonpareils -- are housed in non-recyclable plastic containers!!

At least I can recycle their superfluous cardboard packaging, but if I had an inkling that I was buying $20 worth of plastic landfill, I would have sought out another health aid instead!

Does anyone have ideas on what I can do to repurpose the tubes above (which are a little more than half the length of my pinky finger)?