AlternativeApproachestoPreventingtheFlu

ByDr.GaryNullandMelissaKarp
Itisinaccuratetostatethatthereisafluseason.Inpointoffact,dependinguponthesusceptibilityof yourimmunesystemandtheoverallstateofhealth,youaresusceptibletocontractingthefluorany oneofover200microorganismsthatcancauseflulikesymptomsatanytimeoftheyear.However, duringthespringandsummer,mostpeoplespendagreatdealoftimeoutdoors.Theyaregettinglots ofvitaminDfromthesun,theytendtoeatmorefruitsandvegetablesanddrinkfruitjuices,theyare morephysicallyactive,andtheytendtobemorerelaxed.Allofwhichisimportanttomaintaininga healthyimmunesystem.Inthefall,astheweatherchanges,similarly,ourbodyshormonelevels fluctuateandchange.Ourskintendstogetdrier,webegintolayerclothes,webecomemore sedentary,andwetendtobestressedhencemoresusceptibility.Ifitweretruethatthecoldweather inandofitselfwasapredictoroftheflu,theneveryonelivingincolderclimatesNorthernAmerica, Canada,Alaska,mostofRussia,muchofChina,allofTibet,Nepal,mostofAfghanistan,andNorway, Sweden,Denmark,Finland,wouldhavethehighestlevelofflu,phenomena,andcolds.However,thatis notthecase.Infact,wefindjusttheopposite.Thecoldimpartsahealthyresistanceandresilienceand tolerancetoinfection.Nowweareinthegripsofanationalandworldwidepanicontheswineflu,and weareonlybeingofferedthreeoptions:washyourhands,sneezeinyourelbow,andgettheswineflu andfluvaccine.Ofcoursethatisyourrighttodoso,butIwouldalsoliketosharewithyounowwhat wealsoknowactuallybuildsimmunityandstrengthensyourbiochemistryagainstanyofthese pathogens.Inadditiontothesenutrientswemustpayattentiontostoppingsugar,alcohol,smoking, anddrugintake,haltingsleepdeprivation,chronicovereating,andhighlevelsofstresstowhichwe almostalwayshaveinappropriateresponses.Thatbeingsaid,thesearethingsIwouldrecommend: HowtoBoostYourImmunityNaturally WithalloftheconfusionandpanicsurroundingtheH1N1epidemicthisseason,andtheassertionthat millionswillbecomeill,protectingyourselfagainstthevirusisextremelyimportant.Becauseboththe efficacyandsafetyofthenewfluvaccinesareunknown,thebestwaytoprotectyourselfistoboost yourimmunesystemthroughnaturalmethodsandletyourbodybeitsownbestlineofdefense. Fortunately,therearemanyeasylifestyleanddietarychangestodothis.Washingyourhands frequently,drinkinganadequateamountofwater,gettingplentyofexerciseandsleep,andcleansing thesinusesusingnasalirrigationareagreatstarttopreventionandprotection.Hereismore informationabouthoweachofthesethingscanhelpboostyourimmunesystem: Water Adequatehydrationhelpstowardoffillnessandbolsterimmunitybyflushingtoxinsfromthebody, keepingtherespiratorysystemmoist,andinsuringtheoptimalfunctionofcells.Theaverageperson needs810glassesofwaterperday.

Exercise Gettingplentyofexercisestrengthenstheentirebody,whichleadstoimprovedrespiratoryandcardiac function.Exercisealsostimulatesthecleansingbloodflowandhelpstoreducestress,another contributortoillness.1 Sleep Gettingadecentnightssleepisessentialformaintaininggoodhealthandpreventingillness.Arecent studyfoundthatpeoplewhosleeplessthansevenhourspernightareaboutthreetimesmorelikelyto developrespiratoryillnessfollowingexposuretoacoldvirusthanthosewhosleepeighthoursormore. Reducedsleepefficiency(spendinglessthan92%oftimeinbedactuallysleeping)wasalsoassociated withafiveandahalftimesgreaterlikelihoodofbecomingillthangoodsleepefficiency(spending98% ormoretimeinbedactuallyasleep). 2 NasalIrrigation Nasalsalineirrigationflushesoutmucous,debris,viruses,allergensandfungusfromthesinususing lukewarmwaterandseasalt.Itismainlyusedtotreatallergicrhinitis(runnynose)andsinusitis, however,multiplestudiesalsosupporttheuseofnasalirrigationintreatingcommoncoldsandflu. 3 , 4 , 5 Propernutritionisalsoessentialtoahealthyandstrongimmunesystem,asthelinkbetweendietand immunityiswellestablishedbyanendlessamountofscientificstudies.Nutritionaldeficienciesweaken theimmunesystem,andcancauseanincreasednumberofinfections,andallowthoseinfectionsto becomemorevirulent. 6 Therearemanytypesoffoodsandsupplementsthathelptostrengthenand supporttheimmunesystem,andevensmalldietaryandimprovementscanhaveabigimpactonyour health: VitaminD Originallycalledthesunshinecure,vitaminDcanhaveaprofoundimpactonavarietyofdifferent healthconditions,includingrespiratoryillness.VitaminDhasbeenshowntobothhelppreventand
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MelanieGrimes,HowtoBuildNaturalImmunityAgainsttheSwineFlu.April30,2009.Availableat http://www.naturalnews.com/026168.html 2 ImmunityandSwineFlu:TheInsideStory.NaturalHealthandVegetarianLife.Spring2009. 3 Wellness.com 4 DavidRabago(June1,2008),"TheUseofSalineNasalIrrigationinCommonUpperRespiratoryConditions",US Pharmacist 5 KimHJ,LeeJG,KangJW,ChoHJ,KimHS,ByeonHK,YoonJH.EffectsofalowconcentrationhypochlorousAcid nasalirrigationsolutiononbacteria,fungi,andvirus.Laryngoscope.2008Oct;118(10):18627. 6 Williams,JE.PortaltotheInterior:ViralPathogenesisandNaturalCompoundsThatRestoreMucosalImmunity andModulateInflammation.AlternativeMedicineReview,2003:8(4)

reducetheseverityanddurationofcoldsandflu,asitprotectstheliningofthecellsthatlinethe respiratorytracts,actingasabarriertoinfection.Infact,researchfoundthatpeoplewithlower vitaminDlevelswere55%morelikelytohavehadarecentupperrespiratorytractinfection(coldorflu) thanthosewithhigherlevelsofvitaminD. 7 ChildrenwithvitaminDdeficiencyarealsomorelikelytobe predisposedtorespiratoryinfections.8 VitaminDisdifficulttoconsumenaturally,asveryfewfoodsinnaturecontainvitaminD,andmost peoplearenotexposedtothesunlongenoughtoproduceenoughofthevitamin(itisestimatedthat between5and30minutesofexposureisnecessary).SomemushroomsprovidevitaminD,and enhancedmushroomsarealsoavailable.9 10Codliveroil,whichcontainsvitaminD,andvitaminD supplementsarealsoavailable.2000unitsdailyarerecommended. VitaminE MultiplestudiesinbothhumansandanimalshaveshownthatvitaminEcanimprovecellimmunityand optimizeimmunefunctionandresponsetopathogens. 11,12 Italsoprotectsotherfatsolublevitamins andthecellmembrane.ItenhancestheabsorptionofvitaminAandregeneratesvitaminC,which,as previouslydiscussed,playanimportantroleinboostingimmunity.VitaminEisfoundincommon vegetableoilssuchascorn,soybeanandcanola,wheatgerm,dark,leafygreens,cereals,nuts,and fruits. 13 , 14 VitaminA VitaminAhasbeenshowntobeanimmuneenhancerthatincreasesthewhitebloodcellsthatfight disease.ItalsohelpstheabsorptionofvitaminsC,DandE,zincandsomeBvitamins. 15 Deficienciesare
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CellDefensesandtheSunshineVitamin.ScientificAmerican,November2007.Availableat: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=celldefensesandthesunshinevitamin 8 CannellJJ,ViethR,UmhauJC,HolickMF,GrantWB,MadronichS,GarlandCF,GiovannucciE.Epidemicinfluenza andvitaminD.EpidemiolInfect.2006;134:112940. 9 Williams,E.(2007).NutritionalCarefortheCommonCold.MassageMagazine,(139),104105. http://library.molloy.edu:2085 10 MercuryFreeFluShotsAvailable:ButVitaminDandHomeopathyBetterPreventtheFlu.Availableat http://www.naturalnews.com/027362_Vitamin_D_homeopathy_the_flu.html 11 CalderPC.KewS.Theimmunesystem:atargetforfunctionalfoods?BrJNutr.2002Nov;88Suppl2:.S16577 12 Gay,R.,&Meydani,S.(2001).TheEffectsofVitaminE,VitaminB₆,andVitaminB₁₂on ImmuneFunction.NutritioninClinicalCare,4(4),188198.http://library.molloy.edu:2085,doi:10.1046/j.1523 5408.2001.00142.x 13 Williams,E.(2007).NutritionalCarefortheCommonCold.MassageMagazine,(139),104105. http://library.molloy.edu:2085 14 Gay,R.,&Meydani,S.(2001).TheEffectsofVitaminE,VitaminB₆,andVitaminB₁₂on ImmuneFunction.NutritioninClinicalCare,4(4),188198.http://library.molloy.edu:2085,doi:10.1046/j.1523 5408.2001.00142.x 15 VitaminA,Immunity,andInfection.RichardD.Semba.ClinicalInfectiousDiseases,Vol.19,No.3(Sep.,1994), pp.489499

associatedwithreducedimmunityandanincreasedriskofinfectionanddisease. 16 Vegetablesthatare yellowandorange,suchassquasharehighinvitaminA. 17 VitaminC VitaminChashistoricallybeenassociatedwithboostingtheimmunesystem,andtherearethousandsof studiesconfirmingvitaminCsabilitytofightcoldsandflueitherthroughpreventionorreducing symptomsandduration.18 , 19 OnestudyevaluatingtheeffectofvitaminConcoldsfoundthatdosesof 1,000to6,000mgadaytakenattheonsetofsymptomsreducedacold'sdurationbymorethan20 percent(anaverageofoneday). 20 Thisstudytranslatestothefluaswellbecausethecoldandinfluenza virusesaresosimilar. 21 VitaminCisessentialforresistancetoinfectionsandalsoenhancesthe absorptionofcalcium,magnesiumandiron.22A1999studypublishedintheJournalofManipulative andPhysiologicalTherapeuticsindicatedthathighdosesofvitaminCcaneffectivelyrelieveoreven preventflusymptoms.Infact,thosewhotookthevitaminCsupplementsreportedan85percent decreaseinsymptoms. 23 VitaminCisfoundinparsley,broccoli,bellpepper,strawberries,oranges, cantaloupe,kiwifruit,lemonjuice,papaya,cauliflower,kale,mustardgreens,andBrusselssprouts. Selenium Seleniumisneededtorepairotherantioxidantsand,whendeficient,increasethedurationandstrength ofaviralattack. 24 Studieshaveshownthatseleniumdeficiencyisassociatedwithgreatervirulenceof otherwisenormalstrainsofinfluenza,whichleadstomoreserioussymptoms,suchasinflammationof thelungswhichcancauselungdamage. 25 Thismaybebecausealackofseleniumpromoteschangesin thegeneticmaterialofthevirus,allowingittobecomemoredangerous. 26 27 Seleniumcanbefoundin
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Starnbach,M.Whatcanyoudo?(TheTruthAboutYourImmuneSystem:WhatYouNeedtoKnow).Health andWellnessResourceCenter.2007;29(8)0 17 Williams,E.(2007).NutritionalCarefortheCommonCold.MassageMagazine,(139),104105. http://library.molloy.edu:2085 18 HickeyS,RobertsH.Ascorbate:TheScienceof VitaminCLuluPress.2004.ISBN141160724http://www.doctoryourself.com/ascorbate.html 17.www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/vO2nO1.shtml;ElyJT.AscorbicAcid.RoleinContainmentofthe WorldAvianFluPandemic.ExperimentalBiologyandMedicine 19 Woodruft,C.(2003).Avoidingthefluthiswinter.Alive:CanadianJournalofHealth&Nutrition,(251),34. http://library.molloy.edu:2085 20 CuringtheCommonCold.PsychologyToday.Nov/Dec2001;34(6). 21 HickeyS,RobertsH.Ascorbate:TheScienceof VitaminCLuluPress.2004.ISBN141160724http://www.doctoryourself.com/ascorbate.html 17.www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/vO2nO1.shtml;ElyJT.AscorbicAcid.RoleinContainmentofthe WorldAvianFluPandemic.ExperimentalBiologyandMedicine 22 Williams,E.(2007).NutritionalCarefortheCommonCold.MassageMagazine,(139),104105. http://library.molloy.edu:2085 23 Schoenhals,K.(2004).Beatthebug.BetterNutrition,66(11),4344.http://library.molloy.edu:2085 24 Williams,E.(2007).NutritionalCarefortheCommonCold.MassageMagazine,(139),104105. http://library.molloy.edu:2085 25 B.H.(2002).Lackofnutrientturnsflunasty.ScienceNews,161(11),173.http://library.molloy.edu:2085 26 Kiefer,Dale.GettingSeriousaboutSelenium.LifeExtensionMagazine.December2004. 27 BeckMA,NelsonHK,ShiQ,VanDaelP,SchiffrinEJ,BlumS,BarclayD,LevanderOA.Seleniumdeficiency increasesthepathologyofaninfluenzavirusinfection.FASEBJ.2001Jun;15(8):14813.

meats,seafoodalthoughamoreanimalfriendlysourcewouldcomefromconsumingastandardized highqualitysupplementorincreasingyourintakeoflegumesandnuts.28 Zinc Likeselenium,zincalsoplaysanimportantroleinthedevelopmentandmaintenanceoftheimmune system,andstudieshaveshownthatevenamilddeficiencycanleadtochangesinimmunestatus. 29 30 Studieshaveshownalinkbetweenlowzinclevelsandthedevelopmentofrespiratoryinfections. 31 Whilenaturalsourcesofzincincludemeat,poultry,lamb,pork,seafood,anddairyproductssuchasmilk andcheese,yeast,andyogurt,thehealthiervegetariansourcesofzincarepeanuts,beans,and wholegraincereals,brownrice,wholewheatbread,potatoesandyogurt. GreenTea GreenteacontainsEGCG,acompoundwhichhasbeenshowntoboostimmunity.Onecupofgreentea provides1040mgofpolyphenolsandhasantioxidanteffectsgreaterthanaservingofbroccoli,spinach, carrots,orstrawberries.Thehighantioxidantactivityprotectsthebodyfrommanydifferentailments, includingcoldsandtheflu. 32 InonestudyattheUniversityofFlorida,Gainesville,researcherswho gavevolunteersagreenteasupplementcontainingLtheanineandepigallocatechingallate(EGCG)for 12weeksfounda32%reductionintheincidenceofcoldsandflu.Inaddition,thosewhodidbecome sickreportedmilderandshorterboutsofillness.Inordertomaximizeprotection,drinkingsixtoeight cupsofgreenteadailyortakinggreenteacapsulesisrecommended. 33 Probiotics Thesebacteriaplayanimportantroleindefendingthebodyagainstintrudersbyformingabarrierto infectionandsecretingchemicalsthatkillorinhibitthegrowthofpathogens. 34 Theintroductionof thesefriendlybacteriagreatlybooststheproductionofimmunecellsinadultsandsuccessfullyfightsflu inyoungchildren. 35,36 Onestudyshowedthataspecificstrainofprobiotic,Bacilluscoagulans (marketedunderthenameGanedenBC30),significantlyincreasedTcellproductionofkeyimmune activitymarkers,inhealthyadultsthatwereexposedtoinfluenza. 37 Probioticorganismsarefoundin
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Williams,E.(2007).NutritionalCarefortheCommonCold.MassageMagazine,(139),104105. http://library.molloy.edu:2085 29 MauroProvinciali,AlessioMontenovo,GiuseppinaDiStefano,MauroColombo,&etal.(1998).Effectofzincor zincplusargininesupplementationonantibodytitreandlymphocytesubsetsafterinfluenzevaccinationinelderly subjects:Arandomizedcontrolledtrial.AgeandAgeing,27(6),715722.RetrievedNovember6,2009,from ResearchLibrary.(DocumentID:37337470). 30 RoxasM,JurenkaJ.Coldsandinfluenza:areviewofdiagnosisandconventional,botanical,andnutritional considerations.AlternMedRev.2007Mar;12(1):2548. 31 CalderPC.KewS.Theimmunesystem:atargetforfunctionalfoods?BrJNutr.2002Nov;88Suppl2:.S16577 32 http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/boost_your_immunity_against_swine_flu.html 33 Howard,B.(2009).SickofBeingSlick?.GoodHousekeeping,249(5),5965.http://library.molloy.edu:2085 34 ImmunityandSwineFlu:TheInsideStory.NaturalHealthandVegetarianLife.Spring2009. 35 LeyerGJ,LiS,MubasherME,ReiferC,OuwehandAC.Probioticeffectsoncoldandinfluenzalikesymptom incidenceanddurationinchildren.Pediatrics.2009Aug;124(2): 36 CalderPC.KewS.Theimmunesystem:atargetforfunctionalfoods?BrJNutr.2002Nov;88Suppl2:.S16577 37 APatentedStrainofBacilluscoagulansIncreasedImmuneResponsetoViralChallenge

yogurtandfermentedfoods,includingtraditionallycultureddairyproductsandnewerkindsof fermentedmilks.Ratherthanturningtoanimalbyproducts,however,aneasierwaytoregulateand increasethequantityofprobioticsinyoursystemwouldincludetakingareliable,highquality supplementlikeacidophilus. Elderberry Researchhasshownthatelderberryextract,sambucol(SAM),isusefulfortreatingtheflu.Elderberry containsflavonoidsantioxidantswhichstimulatetheimmunesystem,aswellasantiinflammatory compounds.ElderberryactstoprotectagainstbothinfluenzaAandBvirusesandhasalsobeenshown toshortenthedurationandseverityofsymptomssuchasfeveriftakenwhileill.Itisimportantnotto consumeuncookedelderberrybecauseitcontainstoxiccompounds,butelderberrysupplementsare widelyavailable.Therearenoknownsideeffectsornegativeinteractions. 38,39,40 BetaGlucan Researchershavedemonstratedthatbetaglucan,auniquetypeofcarbohydrate,exhibitsantiviral propertiesagainstthefluvirusbystimulatingtheimmunesystem.Thishelpstoreducetheriskof infectionbyincreasingresistanceagainstthevirus.Additionally,studieshaveshownthatsubjectswho tookbetaglucanbeforegettingillwerefoundtohavesignificantlyhigherconcentrationsofnatural diseasefightingsubstances,helpingtoreducetheseverityanddurationofthevirusascomparedto thosewhodidnottakebetaglucan. 41 , 42 Whilebetaglucansupplementsareavailable,itcanalsobefoundinplants,yeast,barley,mushrooms, andoats. Echinacea Echinaceaisprobablythemostwellknownsupplementforthepreventionandtreatmentofcoldsand flu.Multiplestudieshaveconfirmedthattheherbcausesimmunologicalchangesthathelpsto

MiraBaron,MD.PostgraduateMedicine:Volume121:No.2. 38 NaturalMedicinesinClinicalManagementofColdandFlu.NaturalMedicinesComprehensiveDatabase. Availableat http://www.naturaldatabase.com/(S(xe2r2ourbave2u45ahxe0z55))/ce/ceCourse.aspx?s=ND&cs=&pc=03 27&cec=1&pm=5 39 ZakayRonesZ,VarsanoN,ZlotnikM,etal.Inhibitionofseveralstrainsofinfluenzavirusinvitroandreductionof symptomsbyanelderberryextract(SambucusnigraL.)duringanoutbreakofinfluenzaBPanama.JAltern ComplementMed1995;1:3619. 40 BarakV,HalperinT,KalickmanI.TheeffectofSambucol,ablackelderberrybased,naturalproduct,onthe productionofhumancytokines:I.Inflammatorycytokines.EurCytokineNetw2001;12:2906. 41 JungK,HaY,HaSK,etal.AntiviraleffectofSaccharomycescerevisiaebetaglucantoswineinfluenzavirusby increasedproductionofinterferongammaandnitricoxide.JVetMedBInfectDisVetPublicHealth.2004 Mar;51(2):726. 42 Benefitsofoatglucanonrespiratoryinfectionfollowingexercisestress:roleoflungmacrophages AmJPhysiolRegulatoryIntegrativeCompPhysiol,May2008;294:R1593R1599.

enhanceimmuneresponse. 43 , 44 Inthisway,itcanhelppreventtheonsetofillnessandiftakenat thefirstsignofacoldortheflu,itcanalsohelpstimulatetherecoveryprocessandshortenthe durationandseverityofillness.Onestudyofpeoplewithearlysymptomsofcoldandflu(suchas runnynose,scratchythroat,andfever),foundthatthosewhodrankechinaceateaeverydayfor5days feltbettersoonerthanthosewhodidnotdrinkechinaceatea. 45 Therecommendeddosagevaries,but istypicallybetween300and600mgthreetimesaday. 46 Goldenseal Goldensealismarketedasatonictoaiddigestion,soothupsetstomach,andasanantibacterialand antiviralagentthathasbeenshowntoenhancetheimmunesystem.47 Itisconsideredanatural antibioticandisoftencombinedwithEchinaceainimmunestrengtheningsupplements,asit complementsechinaceabydecreasingmucusproductionandcongestion. 48 Manyprofessional herbalistsrecommendgoldensealinherbalremediesforhayfever(alsocalledallergicrhinitis),colds, andtheflu. 49 Ginseng Ginsenghaslongbeenrecommendedasanenergyandimmunitybooster.Ithasbeenshownin controlledstudiestoreducetheincidence,durationandseverityofcoldsandfluinindividuals.Inone randomized,doubleblindprocedure,patientstakingginsengreportedhavinglesscolds,andwereat lessofariskofdevelopingcolds. 50 Anotherstudyfoundthatflupatientswhotookginsengwereless likelytoprogresstocomplicatedillness.Theyalsoreporteda30%decreaseinthedurationofthe disease. 51 Elderlyadultswho,whiletakingginseng,weregiventhefluvaccinewerealsolesslikelyto reportupperrespiratorytractinfectionsthanthosenottakingtheginseng.Itisbelievedthatginseng

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Rasmussen,P.Phytotherapyinaninfluenzapandemic.AustralianJournalofMedicalHerbalism.2009. RehmanJ,DillowJM,CarterSM,ChouJ,LeB,MaiselAS.Increasedproductionofantigenspecific immunoglobulinsGandMfollowinginvivotreatmentwiththemedicinalplantsEchinaceaangustifoliaand Hydrastiscanadensis.ImmunolLett.1999Jun1;68(23):3915. RehmanJ,DillowJM,CarterSM,ChouJ,LeB,MaiselAS. 45 UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter.Availableat:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/echinacea 000239.htm 46 BrendaAdderly.(2000,October).Winningthe"coldwar":Cuttingdownoncolds&flu.BetterNutrition,62(10), 5258.RetrievedNovember10,2009,fromResearchLibrary.(DocumentID:60421973). 47 RehmanJ,DillowJM,CarterSM,ChouJ,LeB,MaiselAS.Increasedproductionofantigenspecific immunoglobulinsGandMfollowinginvivotreatmentwiththemedicinalplantsEchinaceaangustifoliaand Hydrastiscanadensis.ImmunolLett.1999Jun1;68(23):3915. RehmanJ,DillowJM,CarterSM,ChouJ,LeB,MaiselAS. 48 BrendaAdderly.(2000,October).Winningthe"coldwar":Cuttingdownoncolds&flu.BetterNutrition,62(10), 5258.RetrievedNovember12,2009,fromProQuestHealthandMedicalComplete.(DocumentID:60421973). 49 UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter.Availableat:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/goldenseal 000252.htm 50 Roxas,M,andJurenka,J.ColdsandInfluenza:AReviewofDiagnosisandConventional,Botanical,and NutritionalConsiderations.AlternativeMedicineReview,Volume12(1)2007. 51 Khalsa,K.(2009).Buildyourimmunity.BetterNutrition,71(8),2021.RetrievedfromCINAHLPluswithFullText database.

hasthesebeneficialeffectsoncoldsandflubystimulatingtheproductionofimmunoglobulin,atypeof proteinthatneutralizesforeigninvadersinthebodysuchasvirusesandbacteria. 52 Astralagus Thisherbhasbeenusedeitheraloneorwithotherherbssuchasechinaceaorreishi,totreatcoldsand flu.Itcontainspolysaccharides,flavonoids,traceminerals,andaminoacids,allofwhichcontributeto itsabilitytostrengthentheimmunesystemandfightviruses.Itisbelievedthatastralagusstimulates thewhitebloodcellswhichdestroyinvadingcellswhilealsoenhancingthebody'sproductionof interferon(acompoundproducedinthebodytofightviruses). 53 Astralagussupplementsareavailable inavarietyofformsincludingteas,liquidsandcapsules. OilofOregano OilofOreganohasantiviral,antifungal,antibacterial,antiparasitic,antioxidantandantiinflammatory effects.Itbooststheimmunesystem,easessorethroats,relievescongestioninthelungsandsinus, helpstoloosenandremovemucus,suppressescoughsandreducesfever.Itisalsoadigestiveaidandis thoughttohelpgetridofintestinalparasites.54 Invitrostudieshaveshownthatoiloforeganoisas effectiveasantibioticsagainstbacteria.55 Andrographis ThisherbiswidelyusedinmanypartsoftheworldandisnowbeginningtogainamarketintheUnited States.Andrographishasantiinflammatory,antipyretic(antifever),antiviral,andimmunostimulatory properties,andstudieshavefoundthattakingandrographissupplementsuponfeelingsymptomatic relievessymptoms,leadstoquickerrecovery,andpreventspostinfluenzacomplications. 56 , 57 , 58 Inone study,only29%ofpeoplewhotooktheherbcamedownwithcoldorflusymptoms,comparedwith 62%ofthosewhotookplacebos.Anotherstudyfoundthatwhenchildrentookandrographis throughoutthewintertheyhada2.1timeslowerriskofcatchingcold. 59

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*PredyGN,GoelV,LovlinR,DonnerA,StittL,BasuTK.EfficacyofanextractofNorthAmericanginseng containingpolyfuranosylpyranosylsaccharidesforpreventingupperrespiratorytractinfections:arandomized controlledtrial.CMAJ.2005Oct25:173(9):10438. 53 (2008).COLD&FLUBUSTERS.Alive:CanadianJournalofHealth&Nutrition,(314),126.RetrievedfromAlt HealthWatchdatabase. 54 MikeAdams,OreganoOilEliminatesParasitesinHumans.October27,2009.Availableat: http://www.naturalnews.com/027333_parasites_oregano_health.html 55 (2008).COLD&FLUBUSTERS.Alive:CanadianJournalofHealth&Nutrition,(314),126.RetrievedfromAlt HealthWatchdatabase. 56 Oliff,H.,&Blumenthal,M.(2005).AndrographisEleutheroCombinationforUpperRespiratoryTractInfectionsin ColdsandFlu.HerbalGram,(66),2627.RetrievedfromAltHealthWatchdatabase. 57 KulichenkoLL,KireyevaLV,MalyshkinaEN,WikmanG.Arandomized,controlledstudyofKanJangversus amantadineinthetreatmentofinfluenzainVolgograd.JHerbPharmacother.2003;3(1):7793. 58 Rasmussen,P.Phytotherapyinaninfluenzapandemic.AustralianJournalofMedicalHerbalism.2009. 59 TedSnider&LindaWoolvenTheNaturalPath.(2003,November13).THENATURALPATH:Manynatural remediescanbattlecommoncolds:[FinalEdition].TheWindsorStar,p.B4.RetrievedNovember10,2009,from CanadianNewsstandComplete.(DocumentID:454571151).

AndrographiscanbefoundinaformulacalledKanJang,whichalsoincludesEleutherococcus,orasan individualsupplement. 60 Eleutherococcus Eleutherococcusisanadaptogenthathasbeenusedforthousandsofyearstopreventrespiratorytract infectionsandtoprovideenergyandvitality.61 Ithasstrongeffectsontheimmunesystem,asitisable tohelpthebodyadapttostressbycombatingharmfultoxins,improvingtheuseofoxygenbythebody, andencouragingthenormalfunctioningoftheadrenalglands.Studieshavefounda30%50%decrease intheincidenceofthefluinthosethattooksupplements,andthosethattookEleutherococcusorKan Jang(amixtureofAndrographisandEleutherococcus)thatdidbecomeillreportedshorterandless severeillnesseswithlesscomplications. 62,63 Toboostimmunity,2to3gperdayofpowderedrootin capsulesarerecommended. Garlic Garlichasnaturalantiviral,antibacterial,andimmuneboostingproperties.Astudyevaluatingagarlic supplementoncoldincidenceanddurationfoundthatfewercoldswerereportedbythosetakingthe supplements,thanthosethatdidhavecoldsymptomsreportedashorterduration. 64 Rawgarlichas beenfoundtobemoretherapeuticthancookedgarlic.65 Nacetylcysteine(NAC) Nacetylcysteinehasbeenusedforover30yearstotreatmultipleailmentsincludingbronchitisand otherlungconditions.66 ItisapotentantioxidantwithaprotectiveeffectonDNAandimmune regulatingproperties,andhasbeenfoundtobeeffectiveagainstthefluvirus,especiallyfortheelderly orthoseinaweakenedconditionandathighriskofdevelopingtheflu. 67 Onestudyfoundthat supplementsof600mgNACtakentwicedailyduringthefluseasondramaticallyreducedthefrequency andseverityofflulikesymptomsinelderlyhighriskindividuals. 68 Isatis BoththeleafandtherootofthisChineseplanthavebeenusedtotreatvariousinfections,including influenzaandupperrespiratoryinfections.Studieshaveshowntherootextracttobeantibacterial,
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Jaret,P.(2005).BoostYourImmunity.Health,19(9),118190.RetrievedfromAcademicSearchPremier database. 61 Khalsa,K..(2009,August).buildyourimmunity.BetterNutrition,71(8),2021.RetrievedNovember12,2009, fromProQuestHealthandMedicalComplete.(DocumentID:1831648721). 62 Roxas,M,andJurenka,J.ColdsandInfluenza:AReviewofDiagnosisandConventional,Botanical,and NutritionalConsiderations.AlternativeMedicineReview,Volume12(1)2007. 63 http://www.naturalnews.com/022363_blood_immune_system_health.html 64 Roxas,M,andJurenka,J.ColdsandInfluenza:AReviewofDiagnosisandConventional,Botanical,and NutritionalConsiderations.AlternativeMedicineReview,Volume12(1)2007. 65 Smith,M.(2009).flufighters.BetterNutrition,71(2),46.RetrievedfromAcademicSearchPremierdatabase. 66 Roxas,M,andJurenka,J.ColdsandInfluenza:AReviewofDiagnosisandConventional,Botanical,and NutritionalConsiderations.AlternativeMedicineReview,Volume12(1)2007. 67 .MilleaPJ.Nacetylcysteine:multipleclinicalapplications.AmFamPhysician.2009Aug1;80(3):2659 68 Smith,M.(2009).flufighters.BetterNutrition,71(2),46.RetrievedfromAcademicSearchPremierdatabase.

antiviralandantiparasiticagainstmanydifferenttypesofvirusesandbacteria.Thisislikelybecause Isatisincreaseswhitebloodcellandlymphocytecountsintheblood.69 Itisalsohascoolingeffects whichisusedtoreducefevers.Istatisiscommonlycombinedwithastralagusinherbalformulas. 70 OliveLeaf Oliveleafhasantiviral,antifungalandantiinflammatoryproperties,400%moreantioxidantsthan VitaminCanddoubletheantioxidantsofgreentea.Studieshaveshownittobeeffectiveagainst multipleviruses,includingtheflu,andbacteria. 71 Thisisbecausethecomponentsoftheoliveleaf interactwiththeproteinofvirusparticles,reducingthestrengthandinhibitingthereplicationofviruses knowntocausecoldsandtheflu.72 Oliveleafextracthasalsobeenshowntostimulatetheimmune system,enhancingresponseagainstinfection.Oliveleafshouldbetakendailytoachievethemaximum effect,andthenormaldailyrecommendeddoseis3capsules,3timesaday(eachcapsuleholds1/4 teaspoon).Tocombattheflu,take21capsulesatthestartofsymptoms,allatonce.Theflushould clearupwithin4hours.Onlyonetablespoonperdayisrecommendedforthosewithemphysema, diabetesorhighbloodpressure.73 Spirulina Spirulinaisatypeofbluegreenalgaethatisrichinprotein,vitamins,minerals,andantioxidants.It containsnutrientssuchasBcomplexvitamins,betacarotene,vitaminE,manganese,zincandselenium. Studiessuggestthatspirulinaincreasesproductionofantibodies,cytokines(infectionfightingproteins), andothercellsthatimproveimmunityandhelpwardoffinfectionandchronicillnesses. 74 Intesttubes,spirulinaseemstobeabletostopsomefluvirusesfromreproducing. 75 Itisavailablein pillorpowderform,orasflakes. GrapeSeed Grapeseedextractisoneofthemostpotentantioxidantsfoundinnatureandisusedtofightavariety ofhealthproblems.Itcontainsaspecialclassofwatersolublebioflavonoidscalledproanthocyanidins, whichstudieshaveshownhaveahighrateofantioxidantactivitythatis20to50timesgreaterthan BetaCaroteneorVitaminsCandEateliminatingspecificfreeradicals. 76 Theantioxidantandimmune

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Roxas,M,andJurenka,J.ColdsandInfluenza:AReviewofDiagnosisandConventional,Botanical,and NutritionalConsiderations.AlternativeMedicineReview,Volume12(1)2007. 70 Khalsa,K..(2009,August).buildyourimmunity.BetterNutrition,71(8),2021.RetrievedNovember10,2009, fromResearchLibrary.(DocumentID:1831648721). 71 Markin,D.,Duek,L.,&Berdicevsky,I.(2003).Invitroantimicrobialactivityofoliveleaves.Mycoses,46(34),132 136.RetrievedfromMEDLINEwithFullTextdatabase. 72 Roxas,M,andJurenka,J.ColdsandInfluenza:AReviewofDiagnosisandConventional,Botanical,and NutritionalConsiderations.AlternativeMedicineReview,Volume12(1)2007. 73 BarbiTrejo,OliveLeafOffersManyHealingBenefits.September1,2009. http://www.naturalnews.com/026950_olive_leaf_disease_health.html 74 Khan,Z.,Bhadouria,P.,&Bisen,P.(2005).NutritionalandtherapeuticpotentialofSpirulina.Current PharmaceuticalBiotechnology,6(5),373379.RetrievedfromMEDLINEwithFullTextdatabase. 75 UniversityofMaryland.Availableat:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/spirulina000327.htm 76 UniversityofMaryland.Availableat:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/grapeseed000254.htm

boostingpropertiesoftheseproanthocyanidinshavebeenshowntodeactivatevirusesandincreasethe powerofnaturalkillercellsinthebody. 77 Codonopsis ThisisanherbusedinChinesemedicinewhichincreasestheredandwhitebloodcellcountsand strengthenstheimmunesystem.Itisanadaptogenaplantthathastheabilitytoresistchemicaland biologicalstressorswhichpassesthatabilityontohumansuponconsumption,andisalsousedtotreat weaknessandfatigueafterillnessandspeeduprecovery. 78 Itisrecommendedthatcodonopsisbe usedaftertheacutephaseofanillnesshaspassedandrecoveryisunderway. 79 Quercetin Quercetinisanantioxidant,antihistamineandantiinflammatory.Itprotectsagainstfreeradicalswhich candamagecellmembranes,tamperwithDNA,andcausecelldeath.Onestudyshowedthatquercetin inhibitedvirusreplicationintheinitialstageofvirusinfectionbyindirectlyinteractingwithvirus particles. 80 Anotherstudyshowedthatquercetinwasabletoinhibitinfectivityandreplicationofa varietyofdifferentvirusesinthosewhichmightotherwisebeespeciallysusceptibletoinfectiondueto stressfulexercise. 81 Ithasalsobeensuggestedthatbecausequercetinrestoresantioxidantsinthebody, itmaybeusefulasadruginprotectingthelungfromthedeleteriouseffectsofoxygenderivedfree radicalsreleasedduringinfluenzavirusinfection. 82 Quercetincanbefoundincitrusfruits,apples, onions,parsley,tea,andredwine,aswellassupplements. 83 Ashwagandha Ashwagandhaisatonicherb,similartoginseng,whichisrecommendedtoincreaseenergyand endurance,strengthenimmunefunction,andhelpthebodyovercomeimbalancecausedbymentalor physicalstress,poordiet,lackofsleep,orenvironmentaltoxins.84 Researcherswhostudied AshwagandhaalongwithotherAyurvedicplantsfoundthatitstimulatedtheimmunesystemandhad

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KonowalchukJ,SpeirsJI.Virusinactivationbygrapesandwines.ApplEnvironMicrobiol.1976Dec;32(6):757 63. 78 MelanieGrimes,HowtoBuildNaturalImmunityAgainsttheSwineFlu.April30,2009.Availableat http://www.naturalnews.com/026168.html 79 DouglasSchar.(1999,December).5Cuttingedgesuperherbs.Prevention,51(12),110117.Retrieved November12,2009,fromResearchLibrary.(DocumentID:46510681). 80 ChoiHJ,SongJH,ParkKS,KwonDH.Inhibitoryeffectsofquercetin3rhamnosideoninfluenzaAvirus replication.EurJPharmSci.2009Jun28;37(34):32933.Epub2009Mar14. 81 DavisJM,MurphyEA,McClellanJL,CarmichaelMD,GangemiJD.Quercetinreducessusceptibilitytoinfluenza infectionfollowingstressfulexercise.AmJPhysiolRegulIntegrCompPhysiol.2008Aug;295(2):R5059.Epub2008 Jun25. 82 KumarP,KhannaM,SrivastavaV,TyagiYK,RajHG,RaviK.Effectofquercetinsupplementationonlung antioxidantsafterexperimentalinfluenzavirusinfection.ExpLungRes.2005Jun;31(5):44959. 83 UniversityofMaryland.Availableat:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/quercetin000322.htm 84 Vukovic,L..(2008,January).AYURVEDAforcoldandflucomfort.BetterNutrition,70(1),5659.Retrieved November12,2009,fromProQuestHealthandMedicalComplete.(DocumentID:1427269301).

notoxiceffects. 85 Ashwagandhaisavailableinpowderedform,capsules,andasaliquidextract.A traditionaldoseis12gofthedried,powderedroot,takenonetothreetimesdaily,orastandardized extractdoseis100200mgtwiceperday. LicoriceRoot LicoricerootisthemostcommonlyusedChineseherbandisusedtotreatavarietyofdiseases. 86 Glycyrrhizin(GL),themajorbioactivecomponentoflicoricerootextract,hasbeenshowntohaveanti inflammatory,antioxidant,andimmunemodulatingactivities. 87,88Thesepropertiesallowittobean importantsupplementforfluprevention.Onestudyfoundthatlicoriceroot(throughglycyrrhizin) protectscellsfrominfectionwithInfluenzaAvirusand,inalreadyinfectedcells,causedadrastic reductioninthenumberinfectedcells. 89 Licoriceroothasalsobeenshowntohelpwithsorethroats. 90 Turmeric ThiscompoundishighlyusedinAyurvedicandChinesemedicinetoaddressmanyhealthconcerns.It helpstostabilizethebody,andisastrongantioxidantwithantiinflammatorypropertiesaswell.Ithas alsobeenfoundtoguardagainstfreeradicaldamage,protectstheliverfromtoxiccompounds,prevents bloodplateletaggregation,stimulatesthegallbladder,detoxifiesthebodyandbooststheimmune system.CurcumininTurmericisresponsiblefortheseeffects.91 Chlorella Chlorellaprotectsthebodyinavarietyofdifferentways.Itisantimutagenic,antiinflammatory,arich sourceofantioxidantsandalsoworkstostimulatetheimmunesystem,allowingittodefenditself againstviruses,bacteria,chemicals,andforeignproteins.Itisfullofnutrientsincludingchlorophyll, whichneutralizesenvironmentaltoxinsandpollutantsandhelpsthebloodcarryoxygentoallcellsand tissues.ItisrichinvitaminsA,C,E,K,D,vitaminBcomplex,Betacarotene,lutein,twocarotenoids, protein,zinc,iron,calcium,magnesium,potassium,raretraceminerals,essentialfattyacidsincluding gammalinolenicacid(GLA),polysaccharides,andenzymesthataiddigestion.Chlorellaprovidesbinds totoxinsandhelpsremovethemfromthebody,allowingfornaturaldetoxification 92
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BrendaAdderly.(2000,October).Winningthe"coldwar":Cuttingdownoncolds&flu.BetterNutrition,62(10), 5258.RetrievedNovember12,2009,fromProQuestHealthandMedicalComplete.(DocumentID:60421973). 86 Kroes,B.,Beukelman,C.,vandenBerg,A.,Wolbink,G.,vanDijk,H.,&Labadie,R.(1997).Inhibitionofhuman complementbyglycyrrhetinicacid.Immunology,90(1),115120.RetrievedfromAcademicSearchPremier database. 87 LiverDisease;ReportssummarizeliverdiseasestudyresultsfromVirginiaCommonwealthUniversity.(2008, July).HepatitisWeekly,52.RetrievedNovember13,2009,fromProQuestHealthandMedicalComplete. (DocumentID:1511120661). 88 (2005).Chineseherbs.NaturalHealth,35(8),6667.RetrievedfromAltHealthWatchdatabase. 89 Wolkerstorfer,A.,Kurz,H.,Bachhofner,N.,&Szolar,O.(2009).GlycyrrhizininhibitsinfluenzaAvirusuptakeinto thecell.AntiviralResearch,83(2),171178.doi:10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.04.012. 90 KristinKane,&SharonLiao.(2007,January).painfreenaturally.Prevention,59(1),126,128133.Retrieved November13,2009,fromProQuestHealthandMedicalComplete.(DocumentID:1193326401). 91 http://www.naturalnews.com/022363_blood_immune_system_health.html 92 BarbaraL.Minton.ChlorellacanReplaceaClosetFullofExpensiveSupplements.NaturalNews.Tuesday, April28,2009.Availableat:http://www.naturalnews.com/026147_chlorella_cancer_blood.html