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Tired of COLD & FLU?
Let Nature Boost Your Resistence
Article by herbalist Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
With the change of seasons and the temperature dropping, many folks
are experiencing an increase in incidence of cold and flu.
I have had numerous emails and calls regarding my opinions of flu
shots, so I decided to write about some of the latest information
on how to prevent cold and flu. I have written about this
topic before but from a different angle.
I
will revisit some of the concepts in previous articles.
What is a cold? What is the
flu? There are over 200 viruses
that can cause the common cold or influenza.
The main differences are in the symptoms. An individual with a cold
will exhibit general malaise, fever, headache, and upper
respiratory tract congestion. A watery discharge, dry, sore throat
and thicker mucus secretion are typical.
With the flu you will have the same type
of symptoms but they will be more severe with
body aches.
The
flu also usually occurs as epidemics, which is
why flu (influenza) vaccines are being promoted.
Because there are so many strains of flu,
swine, Asian, Russian, to name a few, how do you really
know that the vaccine you get will cover your specific type
of flu?
The safety and efficacy of flu vaccines is debatable.
Viruses are divided into three categories: A, B, and C.
You might get vaccinated for type A and
still get the flu because it is a different strain.
Despite warnings of adverse effects of both
trialed "live" and "killed” vaccines, flu vaccines have
been gradually introduced to the market. Reported post
vaccine reactions include encephalomyelitis (acute inflammation of
the brain), Guillain-Barre'Syndrome (a form of paralysis),
neurological illness, neuritis (inflammation of the nerves), and
suspected autoimmune disorders.
Analysis of some data shows that there
is no difference in the incidence of flu in individuals
receiving flu vaccine and those not receiving the vaccine.
Trials demonstrated that the vaccine is
ineffective in preventing disease and produces
unacceptable reactions in children.
Of
course there are always going to be certain conditions
that may warrant the need for a flu vaccine,
specifically elderly with
cardiac weakness or immunological weakness such as
cancer or Aids.
My
recommendation is for you to do more research and make a
decision based on that.
Let's look at some of the underlying issues involved with
colds and flu and how we can overcome some of
the symptoms and even prevent it from
happening.
Paying attention to the foods we eat can help
avoid creating the imbalances and toxicity that leads to illnesses
of all sorts. It is important to avoid the
foods that decrease immune functions. Research
shows that the intake of refined sugars reduces the
function of white blood cells. This
includes white sugar, corn syrup, alcohol and even natural
sweeteners like honey, dried fruit, fruit juice, and concentrated
fruit sweeteners.
Excess toxins from animal foods and chemical
preservatives and additives need to be
reduced also. Dr. Hibbs states that getting
extra sleep, drinking more fluid
in the form of herbal teas and clean water
along with fresh fruits and vegetables will strengthen the
immunity as well as aid detoxification
processes. Reducing dairy products
during a cold or flu outbreak will help to reduce the
amount of mucous being eliminated.
What can we do once we begin to feel the symptoms of cold and
flu?
There are numerous folk remedies that come to
mind. Let’s look at some nutritional supplements and some of the
herbal remedies that will enhance the immune system
and reduce symptoms. Vitamin C has
long been touted for the common cold.
Dr. Linus Pauling, the father of vitamin C research,
recommends taking vitamin C at the onset of a cold
or flu; doses of 500 mg to 1000 mg every two hours.
This may seem like a lot and it is, but research shows
that vitamin C has anti-viral, anti-bacterial
and immunostimulant properties. It
enhances white blood cell production, increases interferon
levels and promotes thymic hormone release that
activated the total immunity. At this dosage
level, however, some folks may experience stomach upset
and loose stool. If one experiences
these symptoms, it is recommended that they begin
with a lower dose and increase over a slower period of
time. Remember there is
not any toxicity with the use of vitamin C.
More recently research has targeted the mineral zinc in
the form of a zinc lozenge that you dissolve
in your mouth at the first onset of a cold or flu.
Zinc aspartate is the form used and dosage is one
15 mg tablet every four hours the first 3 days.
Zinc maintains a healthy immune system and promotes thymic
hormone activity.
With the use of zinc, the duration of the cold or flu has
been shown to decrease.
It
also helps with the accompanying symptoms of sore throat.
One fact about the use of zinc
lozenges is that for it to be effective, it
must be ionized with saliva.
This means you must suck on the lozenges. The
lozenges you take must be free of sorbitol, mannitol, and citric
acid. The best lozenges use glycine as a sweetener.
Because the cold and flu virus implant at the throat site before
moving into deeper sites in the body, I use a throat spray
that includes a compound called beta 1-3 glucan.
This compound has been shown to increase the macrophage
activity of the immune system thus reducing
the number of potential pathogens.
I
also use the herb elderberry extract for the
same purpose. Both substances have been thoroughly
researched and have been proven to be effective.
Of
course, the use of Echinacea, which I hope you
are all aware, has been very effective in
treating and preventing the spread of cold and flu.
Remember that the research shows that the fresh expressed
juice from the flower top, leaf and stem of Echinacea
Purpurea was the most effective, not the root.
The root of the variety Echinacea Angustifolia has been as
effective as the fresh pressed juice.
Make sure you get the right stuff.
Goldenseal, better known as yellow root, also is
beneficial to the immune system.
Goldenseal is anti-bacterial, anti-viral,
and many germs or pathogens can not live when it is present in the
system. The medicinal value is due to
the content of berberine, an alkaloid.
It is also good for the sinuses when
they are plugged up by its action on reducing the
inflammation in the sinus tissue.
Another plant familiar to our area is elderberry fruit and
flower. In recent research,
elderberry extract was found to prevent the spread of cold or flu
virus when taken at the first onset of symptoms.
Flu viruses implant in the throat first
and then move to other areas of the body.
They found that elderberry prevents the growth of these
viruses. The flower of
elderberry has long been combined with yarrow or peppermint to
break a fever and to help clear the lungs of congestion.
I
also prefer the use of fresh ginger tea.
Ginger has numerous properties that aid
the body. It helps to clear mucous
from the head and lungs and is good for vomiting
and nausea.
To make a cup of tea, slice 2 or 3 thin
slices off the fresh root. Steep the root in
boiling water for 10 minutes. You can then
add some fresh lemon juice for more
flavor.
One
other remedy I use is a homeopathic preparation called
Oscillococcinum. A recent double blind placebo
study in Great Britain confirmed the curative
effectiveness of this compound to reduce the
severity and duration.
No
one likes to come down with a cold or flu. Improving the
immune system with lifestyle adjustment seems to be the best way to
prevent it.
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