What common kitchen item was used to treat swine flu 85 years ago?

In today's modern world of medicine, the FDA wont let companies make claims about their products unless they have been tested at great expense and approved as a "drug". Apparently this was not always the case.

"Dr. Mercola's blog", filled us in that in 1918 they were fighting the flu with Arm and Hammer bicarbonate of soda. We have not tried this, but it seems very interesting.

We also like using oil of oregano (not for little ones) and probiotics.