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Beating and Avoiding the Avian and Other Influenzas by Tony M. Isaacs
Are you worried about the possible outbreak of the Avian Flu among
humans? You should be! I hope that all of the publicity about
the Bird Flu proves to be a false alarm, but I have to tell you
that from what I have learned so far about the Avian Flu, I think
that the worst thing any of us could do is to ignore it and hope
it goes away, because it may not and I shudder to think about
it ever mutating to where it can be spread from human to human.
Let's take a look at what we know so far about the Avian Flu:
First of all, the Avian Flu has not
yet mutated and there is no need for panic, but there certainly
is plenty of reasons for concern and a need to be vigilant, because
the flu could easily mutate to one that is spread by humans -
and it is the very nature of viruses to mutate. We should also
be mindful of the fact that the world is due for another outbreak
of a widespread and dangerous influenza epidemic of the kind that
appear to occur on a regular basis about every 30 years.
If the Avian Flu does mutate to a
human flu and is even partially as deadly as some predict, the
resulting worldwide pandemic could be an epic modern day plague
that changes the world as we know it and makes HIV, 9/11, the
great Tsunami and the destruction of New Orleans seem mild by
comparison - and there would likely be very little the world can
do to prevent it. We can only hope that the next big worldwide
influenza outbreak does not involve the current Avian Flu, or
any other avian flu, because such flu would be a type that humans
have not been exposed to and thus have no built in resistance
to. Owing to this lack of built in resistance, such an outbreak
involving that kind of flu could prove to be uniquely horrific.
In a normal outbreak of influenza,
the most vulnerable are usually the elderly, the very young, and
those who are already ill or otherwise in a weakened state - in
other words, those whose immune systems are not strong enough
to successfully ward off and fight illness. While a human version
of the Avian Flu is likely to be every bit as deadly or more so
for those who are the usual flu victims, unlike the usual varieties
of influenza, the Avian Flu would actually be even more deadly
for the group that is usually least affected by flu outbreaks:
the most robust and healthy among us, the adults in the prime
of life. That is because an avian flu like the Avian Flu turns
the body's own immune system against itself and a strong immune
system can become a deadly instrument of death as it over-reacts
to a threat it has never been exposed to and releases a torrent
of chemicals to combat the new threat which end up literally filling
and eating up the lungs, suffocating what had been a strong and
vigorous individual.
Such was exactly the case in a previous
outbreak of another avian flu, one very similar to the Avian Flu.
The Spanish Flu of 1918-19 was the most deadly epidemic in recorded
history, killing 30 to 40 million or more people in one year –
more than were killed in any war including Great World War, more
than were killed in the 4 terrifying years of the Plague of Black
Death (the Bubonic Plague) of 1347-1351, and more than were killed
by HIV-AIDS in it’s first 25 years of existence. In the
United States it infected 28% of all Americans, caused the deaths
of at least 675,000 and in a single year was responsible for a
10 year drop in the life expectancy rate. In 1918, the death rate
for influenza and pneumonia for 15 to 35 year olds was 20 times
higher than in previous years.
Many authorities fear that if the
modern day Avian Flu mutates to one that can be spread by humans,
it could be an even more deadly flu than the one in 1918-19. Indeed,
where humans have been exposed to infected birds and contracted
the Avian Flu so far, the death rate appears to be significantly
higher than it was for the deadly Spanish Flu.
The picture becomes truly staggering
when you add to the expected high death rate the fact that the
world population is now 2 1/2 times greater than it was in 1918-19
and not only is the population much larger, it is also much more
concentrated with much more human interaction. And then you have
the fact that, unlike the horse and buggy days of 1918-19, modern
travel brings humans almost instantly to and from all points of
the globe.
In all likelihood, only an immediate
worldwide quarantine and shutdown of all travel would have a chance
at stopping the spread of a worldwide pandemic, and that is something
that is both unachievable and, at this point, unthinkable (although
if the pandemic were to turn out to be as dire as some predict,
such measures would probably be attempted out of desperation,
but would surely prove far too late to stop the spread of the
disease). Given the woeful response to the destruction of New
Orleans, and the shortage of flu shots caused by the loss of a
single facility only last year, perhaps one can more easily understand
the estimates of many authorities and scientific figures that
forecast staggering death tolls, some as high as 300 million or
more worldwide.
The world has largely forgotten the
horrible death tolls of the Spanish Flu, as well as the plague-like
conditions that led to quarantines, death wagons, corpses lying
abandoned in public streets, and breakdowns of social order and
lawlessness that broke out in many places around the world. For
those of us who would like a reminder, I suggest a trip to an
old cemetery and take a look at the tombstones and grave markers
for the years 1918-19, see how many there are compared to other
years and how many times you will find multiple deaths in the
same family for those years. It was a horrible time, now largely
forgotten and to a great deal overshadowed by the end of World
War I, but it is a lesson for us all if only we will open our
eyes and see.
Perhaps the nightmare scenario I
have painted is merely the stuff of dreams, and I certainly hope
that proves to be the case. But I strongly suggest that we all
take steps to prepare for the worst, just in case. Better that
than be like the old fellow on the side of Mount Saint Helens
who ignored all the warning signs, disbelieved all the scientists
and scoffed at the idea of a deadly eruption right up to the point
that he was incinerated.
While there may be little the world's
governments may be able to do to stop the spread of a truly horrible
influenza pandemic, there are things that we all can do to help
avoid catching such a flu and to fight it off if we do catch it.
Common sense tells us to practice very good hygiene and to avoid
exposure to those who are infected. If a vaccine is available,
it is probably a better idea to take it than not - even though
vaccines are likely to be in short supply, will likely be mere
guesswork since the virus has yet to mutate to a form that can
be spread by humans and is likely to continue to mutate once it
does, and is likely to contain mercury due to the probable use
of an agent called thimerosal that is used to sterilize flu vaccines.
Beyond those obvious measures, I
have also compiled the following information for anyone who wishes
to avoid and combat influenza:
Flu
The good news is that you can take
steps to help you avoid the Bird Flu or any other flu when it
comes, and to survive it if you happen to catch it. Included in
these steps would be the things that you should do to protect
yourself from virtually all diseases and illnesses: get plenty
of rest, exercise, quit smoking, eat a nutritious diet, avoid
stress and, above all, to make your body's natural first line
of defense, your immune system, strong and robust.
Some of the very best immune boosters
are:
• Echinacea (Despite the latest study)
• Pau d’arco
• Suma
• Astragalus
• Medicinal mushrooms
• Beta glucans
• Aloe vera
• Alkygycerol
• Lactoferrin
• Bovine colostrums
• Glutathione
• Mangosteen
The next thing you should do is to
also take one or more good natural anti-viral agents, ESPECIALLY
if the Bird Flu does mutate and begin to spread from human to
human, because unlike other illnesses or flues, the Bird Flu will
use your own immune system to attack you. This is because we have
never been exposed to a strain of flu like the Bird Flu and it
is likely that biochemical cascade of immune cells and immune
system bio-chemicals such as interferon, interleukin, monokines
and cytokines will literally pour into the lungs and eat your
lungs up. With the Bird Flu, it is essential to also include good
natural anti-viral supplements along with immune boosters - and
it is a good idea to do that anyway.
The best natural pathogen destroyers
are:
• Garlic
• Olive leaf extract
• Oil of wild mountain oregano
• Grapefruit seed extract
The third thing you should do, in
my opinion, is to take regular preventative doses of a natural
remedy very familiar to readers of my books and newsletters and
members of my forum group: Oleander Soup!
Oleander extract has been proven
in clinical trials, decades of medical practice and literally
centuries of use as a folk remedy to be a very strong immune booster
and preventer of disease and illness. It has also demonstrated
strong anti-viral abilities in the way that it attacks and kills
cancer cells, as well as it’s effectiveness against hepatitis-C
and HIV.
The fourth thing you should do is
endeavor to stop the spread of airborne viruses during the flu
season:
• Protect yourself from others
by gargling daily with 1 drop each of the essential oils of tea
tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and lemon in a glass of warm water;
stir well before each mouthful. Do not swallow.
• Mix a blend of essential oils to use in your diffuser
or for use in steam inhalation.
Blend together:
o ravensare - 3 parts
o naiouli or eucalyptus - 1 part
o lemon - 1 part
o rosewood - 1 part
o lavender - 1 part
Ravensare and naiouli have antiviral properties, while the other
essential oils in the blend act as antiseptics while at the same
time providing a wonderful aroma.
• Diffuser Application - Add about 50 drops of the above
blend to your diffuser at a time.
• Fumigate the house with oils to help prevent the spread
of flu. Put 2-3 drops on a radiator to evaporate or add 10 drops
of essential oils to a small plant spray filled with water. Spray
the room frequently.
Other Anti-Flu Measures and Information
to Consider:
Hydrotherapy for Flu:
• Promote sweating by taking
hot baths, hot foot-baths and other heat therapies. Keep the feet
warm at all times during sickness and as a preventive measure.
Low body temperature decreases resistance to viruses and bacteria,
while heat burns up and destroys the virus.
• To warm feet, soak them for five to ten minutes in a hot
mustard bath. Dissolve I tbsp. mustard powder in 4 cups of hot
water.
• A hot bath followed by a cold mitten friction rub, two
to four times a day, loosens congestion, improves circulation
and strengthens the immune system, speeding healing from the flu.
• To do a cold mitten friction rub, proceed as follows:
Dip a small towel or washcloth into cold (50° to 60°F)
water. Curl one hand into a fist and wrap the cloth around it.
Use your fist to rub your other arm in a vigorous circular motion,
beginning with the fingers and finishing at the shoulder. Dip
the cloth in the cold water again and repeat. Your skin should
be pink. Dry your arm with a towel using the same vigorous circular
movement.
• Repeat the process on your other arm and on your legs,
feet, chest and abdomen.
Juice Therapy for Flu:
• Apple and dark grape juices
are often recommended for those fighting the flu. They have properties
that work against congestion and runny nose. Dark grape juice
is rich in tannins, substances that have been shown to kill viruses
under laboratory conditions.
• Dilute the juices if they are too sweet. Drink them at
room temperature. Pear, cranberry and, especially, pomegranate
juices are also helpful for combating flu.
Naturopathy for Flu:
• Hot Bath
• Add 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp) of Epsom Salts to hot water and
take a hot bath. After the bath go straight to bed.
• Vitamins - As soon as the symptoms of flu start, take
high levels of Vitamin C to boost the immune system, around 3,000-4,000
mg to start with, reducing over 3 -4 days to 500 mg until you
feel completely better.
• Diet - Drink fruit juices until the fever has passed.
• Now eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
• Cold Compress -
• If very hot and sweaty, try applying a cool compress to
the chest and trunk.
Aromatherapy for Flu/Colds:
• Steam Inhalation - Mix a
blend of essential oils to use in your diffuser or for use in
steam inhalation.
Blend together:
o ravensare - 3 parts
o naiouli or eucalyptus - 1 part
o lemon - 1 part
o rosewood - 1 part
o lavender - 1 part
Add six to eight drops of the above blend to a bowl of just-boiled
water. Place a towel over your head and inhale. Repeat this treatment
two or three times a day, if necessary.
• Several oils have considerable anti- viral activity, and
help to boost the immune system. For maximum effectiveness, it
is important that you use them at the earliest sign of influenza
or in some cases before contracting cold/flu to boost your immune
system as a preventative.
• Essential oils of basil, eucalyptus, peppermint, and pine
help to ease nasal congestion. Choose one to three of these oils
and use them as inhalants or in steam inhalation treatments.
• For chest congestion, a steam inhalation treatment made
with basil, pine, and/ or tea tree oil can help to clear mucus
and ease breathing. Rubbing a massage oil prepared with these
oils over the chest may also be helpful.
• An aromatherapy bath prepared with elemi, myrrh, pine,
and/ or tea tree oil can help to soothe achy feeling all over
your body that accompanies flu. Use a lukewarm bath for fever,
a hot bath for chills.
• For chills:
o Add 3 drops of rosemary and 3 drops of ginger or black pepper
essential oils to your bath.
o Mix 5 drops of ravensare and 15 drops of rosewood in ½
ounce of carrier oil such as olive or almond. This makes an energizing
massage oil blend.
• Other Essential Oils Useful for Flu:
o Tea Tree oil
o Eucalyptus oil
o Lemon oil
o Lavender oil
• If you come down with the flu, add 10 to 20 drops of tea
tree to hot water and take a hot bath. This may help your immune
system fight the viral infection and ease your symptoms. Use a
pure, unadulterated form of tea tree oil; adulterated forms can
be irritating to the skin.
• To help alleviate and disinfect dry air passages, add
10 drops of tea tree oil to a bowl of hot water or vaporizer and
leave in bedroom overnight. A small handkerchief sprinkled with
a few drops of the oil and left under the pillow may help as well.
Caution: Do Not Overd!. Prolonged inhalation of essential oils
can cause an enlarged liver.
• If you have a congested nose or chest, add a few drops
of essential oils of eucalyptus globulus (E. globulus) or peppermint
(Mentha piperita) to a steam vaporizer.
• Caution: If you are asthmatic, be cautious the first time
you try this; if you have not been exposed to essential oils before,
inhaling the vapor may actually precipitate an attack.
Ayurvedic Remedies for Flu:
Ayurvedic practitioners recommend
the following strategies to combat flu:
• At the first sign of the flu, switch to a bland diet.
Eat soft-cooked rice (rice that has a very soft, moist texture
created by a longer cooking time with more water) with a pinch
of cumin, ginger powder and turmeric for seasoning. In India,
broken rice is used for this purpose with generous amount of water
so that we will get a soup in the end. The ginger and cumin heat
up your body, so you can sweat out toxins. Turmeric has antibiotic
and antiseptic qualities. You can also add few cloves of garlic
cut into small pieces to the mixture as garlic is very good for
flu.
• To ease the congestion that can accompany the flu:
o ½ teaspoon sitopaladi powder
o ½ teaspoon sudarshan
o ½ teaspoon of honey
Mix the ingredients well. Take a teaspoonful of this mixture every
few hours. Your symptoms will disappear quickly.
• For Severe Flu Symptoms - Take one tablespoon lukewarm
honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process
will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses. A scientist
in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient,
which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.
• Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the
immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.
Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron
in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white
blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.
Herbal Remedies:
Herbal remedies cannot cure a cold
or flu. But they can bring relief of symptoms, stimulate the immune
system and speed recovery. We will describe several herbal remedies
useful for colds and flu. Later we will describe important herbs
for treating flu.
• Corn starch, water and lemon.
Mix together in a cup. One cup should be enough.
• Water, lemons, cinnamon sticks and honey. Put a gallon
of water in a large pot on the stove. Add four lemons cut in quarters
and two sticks of cinnamon. Bring water to a full boil and then
let steep for five or more minutes. Drink one cup several times
a day if you are able to stay home and rest and one or two cups
at night, otherwise just drink at night. Best taken at the beginning
of flu symptoms. This remedy should help you sweat out the flu,
help ease any sore throat you may have and also keep you hydrated.
• Tea, lemon, orange juice and brandy. Works like a charm.
Just make a cup of tea, squeeze half a lemon and half an orange
into the tea and put two teaspoons of brandy and you should feel
much better soon.
• One garlic clove and a sharp knife. Cut raw garlic as
thin as possible and put the garlic slices on your tongue. Do
not chew, just place on the tongue and then swallow. Best when
taken at the first signs of flu symptoms
• Eucalyptus, burnt sugar, lemon and water. Boil the water
and add eucalyptus, burnt sugar, lemon juice and/or lemon rind,
and continue to boil for five minutes. Drink the tea hot, preferably
just before going to bed.
• Colloidal silver. A half teaspoon of colloidal silver
for children and a teaspoon for adults can be swallowed to ease
or eliminate flu symptoms. If you take colloidal silver regularly,
you may never get the flu.
• At the first sign of a flu, put a few drops of 3% hydrogen
peroxide into each ear, one ear at a time. Keep the solution in
for 10 minutes or until the bubbling stops. Your temperature should
start dropping within minutes, and your flu should be gone within
12 to 14 hours.
• Goldenseal tea. Use goldenseal tea bags (not pills or
capsules) to make tea. Drink a cup before bed (sweeten with honey
or Stevia if desired).
• Herbal Fever Remedy
o 1 ounce dried Elder Flowers
o 1 ounce dried Peppermint Leaves
o ½ pint distilled water
Mix the herbs. Place in a quart saucepan. Pour 1/2 pints of distilled
boiling water over it. Cover and allow to steep in a hot place
for 10 to 15 minutes (do not boil). When ready, strain into another
saucepan. Sweeten with honey if desired. This remedy drops high
temperature associated with flu quite effectively. In some cases,
the temperature has been reduced from 104 to 99 degrees within
two hours!! According to Dr. Dr. Edward E. Shook, well known herbalist,
"there is no remedy for colds and fevers of any description
equal to this simple life-saving formula." More Information.
• Psyllium - Boneset Flu Remedy: This remedy is useful for
flu as well as for backaches and headaches.
• Peppermint-Rosemary-Elder Flu Remedy: This remedy is good
for colds with flu Symptoms.
• Echinacea and goldenseal stimulate the immune sys tem.
Goldenseal also helps to soothe mucous membranes. Add 10-15 drops
of a combination of echinacea and goldenseal to herbal teas at
the first sign of a sniffle to boost the immune system. Take one
dose of an echinacea and goldenseal combination remedy supplying
250 to 500 milligrams of echinacea and 150 to 300 milligrams of
goldenseal three times daily for five days.
• An infusion of boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) may relieve
aches and fever and clear congestion: Simmer 1 cup boiling water
with 2 tsp of the herb for 10 to 15 minutes; drink a cupful every
hour, as hot as you can stand it.
• A comforting herbal tea may be made from an infusion of
equal measures of elderflowers, peppermint and hyssop. Caution:
Take only small doses of hyssop (no more than 1-2g three times
daily).
• To combat chills, try taking 30 drops of yarrow (Achillea
millefolium) or elder (Sambucus nigra) flower tincture every four
hours until your chills are gone.
• Use a warming tea made of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum),
Cayenne (Capsicum minimum) and ground Ginger (Zingiber officinalis).
• To help yourself rest and relax, take a cup of chamomile
tea twice a day.
• Use inhalations of chamomile, eucalyptus or thyme. These
help loosen mucus and heal the throat, nasal passages and bronchial
tubes.
• Horsetail inhalations reduce swelling of mucous membranes.
• At the first sign of the flu, begin taking the Chinese
botanical formula Yin Qiao. (This remedy usually is not helpful
after the third day of symptoms.) Take two or three tablets three
times a day, up to twelve tablets in a twenty- four-hour period,
during the acute phase of the flu. After the symptoms start to
ease, reduce the dosage to one tablet three times daily for one
week.
• In a 1995 Israeli study, elderberry extract was found
to reduce both the severity of symptoms and the duration of flu
(two to three days in the treated group versus six days in the
placebo group). Choose an extract standardized to contain 5 percent
total flavonoids and take 500 milligrams twice daily.
• Garlic helps to detoxify the body. Take 500 milligrams
(or one clove) three times a day for up to five days.
• Take ginger tea. Ginger tea is antiviral and helps break
up the mucus and congestion. Ginger tea is excellent if the stomach
is affected. To make the tea, boil 2 tablespoons of grated fresh
ginger in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes, then remove from the
heat and steep for 10 minutes. Take a cup as needed.
• Onion or nasturtium inhalations disinfect.
• Ginkgo biloba leaf inhalations kill bacteria and heal
the cells of the damaged mucous membranes almost immediately.
• Inhale steam for fifteen minutes three times daily in
acute stage. When the condition is improving, inhale steam in
the evening before retiring for a week or so to help heat the
bronchial passages.
• When feeling more feverish, induce sweating by taking
infusions of Catmint (Nepeta cataria) and/or Elderflower (Sambucus
nigra).
• To help alleviate and disinfect dry air passages, add
10 drops of tea tree oil to a bowl of hot water or vaporizer and
leave in bedroom overnight. A small handkerchief sprinkled with
a few drops of the oil and left under the pillow may help as well.
• At the onset of a flu, drink lindenflower tea with 2 drops
of lemon balm oil, thyme tea with honey, rose hip tea or acerola
juice. When you start to sweat, quickly go to bed and continue
sweating for one hour. Change clothes, rub body dry and try to
steep. This therapy often stops the flu before it becomes full
blown.
• Gargle regularly with sage tea to disinfect mouth, and
use sage inhalations to reduce inflammation.
• Wash body with an infusion of thyme or juniper needles.
• If you are suffering from muscular aching, use an infusion
of Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) alone, or in combination with
Catmint (Nepeta cataria) and/or Elderflower (Sambucus nigra).
• Chinese Herbal Formula for Flu - Gan Mao Dan (Common Cold
and Flu Pills)
This remedy expels Wind-Heat, reduces fever, relieves chest congestion,
and stops cough.
Symptoms:
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Fever with slight chills
• Headache
• Nausea
• Red eyes
• Runny nose
• Skin rash
• Sore throat
Ingredients: Lonicera Flower (Flos Lonicerae), Forsythia Fruit
(Fructus Forsythiae), Gardenia Fruit (Fructus Gardeniae), Phragmites
Rhizome (Rhi- zoma Phragmites), Red Peony Root (Radix Paeonia
Rubra), Wooly Grass Rhizome (Rhizoma Imperatae Cylindricae), Soja
Seed (Semen Sojae Praeparatum), Mentha Herb (Herba Menthae), Morus
Leaf (Herba Mori), Schizonepeta Herb (Herba Schizonepetae), Aster
Root (Radix Asteris Tatarici), Platycodon Root (Radix Platycodi),
Citrus Peel (pericarpium Citri Reticulatae)
Dosage: 20 pills twice a day.
Important Herbs for Flu
• Echinacea - Echinacea has
been a traditional favorite for colds and flu. Double blind studies
in Germany have shown that infections with flu-like symptoms clear
more rapidly when taking echinacea.1 Echinacea appears to work
by stimulating the immune system. Taking 3–5 ml of tincture
or 300 mg of dried root powder three times per day is usually
recommended.
• Elderberry:
• Elderberry is another herb that has been used in treating
flu. This herb contains two compounds that are active against
flu viruses. It also prevents the virus from invading respiratory
tract cells.
• A patented Israeli drug (Sambucol) that contains elderberry
is active against various
• strains of viruses. In a clinical trial testing Sambucol,
twenty percent of flu sufferers who used it showed significant
relief of fever, muscle aches and other symptoms within 24 hours,
and another 73 percent felt better after the second day. In three
days, 90 percent were reported completely cured. In a similar
group that received an inactive treatment (a placebo), only 26
percent were improved in two days, and it took most of them six
days to feel well again.
• Sambucol also stimulates the immune system and has shown
some activity in preliminary trials against other viruses, such
as Epstein-Barr, herpes and even HIV.
• In a small double blind trial, patients with influenza2
were found to recover three times faster when they took one capsule
of elderberry extract four times daily compared to patients taking
placebo.
• You can take the medication or take the herb by making
a tea from the herb.
• Make elderberry-flower tea by steeping 3 to 5 g of dried
flowers in one cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Take
1 cup of this tea 3 times daily.
• Elderberry flower is generally regarded as safe. Side
effects are rare and consist primarily of occasional mild gastrointestinal
distress or allergic reactions. Its safety in young children,
pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney
disease is not established.
• Astragalus - Astragalus root has been used to enhance
immunity for thousands of years in China. This herb is considered
by herbal practitioners to be a tonic that strengthens the body’s
resistance to disease. Astragalus can stimulate practically all
of the processes of your immune system. It increases the number
of stem cells in bone marrow and speeds their growth into active
immune cells. Astragalus also may help boost levels of interferon,
one of your body’s potent fighters against viruses. This,
in turn, can help prevent or shorten the duration of colds and
flu. Astragalus alson boosts the production of white blood cells
called macrophages, whose function is to destroy invading viruses
and bacteria. As soon as you discover the flu, take one 500- milligram
capsule of astragalus four times a day until symptoms disappear.
Then take one capsule twice a day for seven days to prevent a
relapse.
• Garlic - Garlic is known to kill influenza virus in test
tubes.3 It also stimulates the immune system and wards off complications
such as bronchitis. Garlic contains several helpful compounds,
including allicin, one of the plant kingdom's most potent, broad-spectrum
antibiotics. This herb's aromatic compounds are readily released
from the lungs and respiratory tract, putting garlic's active
ingredients right where they can be most effective against cold
viruses. Holistic practitioners often recommend taking several
cloves of raw garlic per day during an infection. You can also
take aged garlic extract, or consume products such as hot garlic
bread or toast.
• Asian ginseng (eleuthero) - Asian ginseng have immune-enhancing
properties, which play a potential role in preventing infection
with influenza. Boneset has been shown in test tube and other
studies to stimulate immune cell function. This may explain boneset’s
traditional use to help fight off minor viral infections, such
as the flu.
• Wild Indigo - Wild indigo contains polysaccharides and
proteins that are believed to stimulate the immune system. It
is used traditionally to fight the flu5 in combination with herbs
such as echinacea, goldenseal, or thuja.
• Forsythia and honeysuckle - These herbs are used by Oriental
Medicine practitioners to treat colds, flu and other viruses.
They have real antiviral benefits. At the inception of cold or
flu, mix honeysuckle and forsythia with lemon balm tea (lemon
balm also has antiviral properties.) Take this tea before going
to bed.
• Mullein - A tea made with mullein flowers provides throat-soothing
mucilage and also has an expectorant effect. Herbalists think
that this plant contains compounds that inhibit flu viruses. You
can also make a tea with mullein leaf.
• Other Herbs:
o Bayberry
o Boneset
o Calendula
o Ginger
o Goldenseal
o Lemon balm
o Oregon grape
o Thyme
Nutrition for Flu:
• If you don't feel like eating, do not force yourself.
For a day or two, consume only liquids-water, juices, teas, and
soups. Digesting liquids requires a lot less energy than digesting
foods. This means that your body has more energy to fight the
flu.
• Consume easily digested foods such as juices, lemonade
(hot or cold), herbal teas, applesauce, and lots of nourishing
broth and homemade soups. Miso and chicken soup are good choices.
• Take mushrooms soup. Mushrooms of choice includes shiitake,
maitake, and reishi mushrooms. They are shown in studies to boost
the body's immune response.
• Getting plenty of fluids, including soups, is particularly
important. Drink at least six to eight glasses of liquid daily.
Fluids help to thin secretions, making it easier for the body
to clear them, and also help to prevent constipation and flush
toxins from the body.
• Sick People Soup - Here is a great soup to take when you
are down with cold and flu. It comes from Rosita Arvigo, author
of "Rainforest Home Remedies."
o 1/2 head cabbage, chopped
o 1 onion, chopped
o 1 head garlic, chopped
o 3 carrots, sliced
o 3 pieces celery, diced
o 6 Tbsp ginger, grated
o ¼ c miso (soybean paste)
o 2 qts water
o juice of 1 lemon or lime
Boil the vegetables in the water until tender (about thirty minutes),
then add ginger and garlic and allow to boil another five minutes.
Remove from heat. Take a bit of the hot soup from the pot and
mix with the miso to form a thick liquid. Add to the soup and
serve. Squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice into the bowl. For added
health boosts, add sliced agaricus, reishi, shitake or maitake
mushrooms to the boiling vegetables and sprinkle crushed garlic
on the soup before serving.
• When there is fever, take liquids only.
• Recommended liquids: Warm broth, vegetable juices and
herb teas.
• Avoid dairy products and sugar. They increase and thicken
mucus. Avoid a milky drink at night if you have chest problems,
since this can contribute to congestion of the chest by morning.
• Red beet juice makes the flu virus inactive.
• Condensed grape juice strengthens the heart muscles.
• Parsley, celery, watercress, garlic, lemon, carrot and
coconut juices are nourishing and help to cleanse and promote
healing.
• Drink fruit juices after diluting. Limit the intake of
sugars.
• Increase the proportion of vitamin C-rich foods in the
diet, such as tomatoes, raw green peppers, carrots, strawberries
and citrus fruit. This vitamin is easily destroyed by the process
of oxidation, so do not leave peeled, chopped fruit or vegetables
to stand for a long time before eating. Overcooking also leads
to loss of vitamin C, especially if fruit or vegetables are boiled.
Vegetables and fruit are best eaten raw, and if vegetables must
be cooked, steam them, which preserves essential nutrients.
• Eat fresh, raw fruit and vegetables, whole grains, garlic,
pulses, beans, small helpings of fish, nuts and seeds. These foods
appear to increase resistance to infection and improve vitality.
• Use unrefined, cold-pressed flax seed oil as a salad dressing.
Flax seed oil is an excellent source of the omega-3 essential
fatty acid and also contains the omega-6 essential fatty acid.
These fats help strengthen cell membranes, thereby speeding healing
and strengthening resistance to infection. In the body.
• Eat sea plants or algae. These can re-mineralize the body
after overexposure to processed foods. Spirulina, alfalfa, chlorella
or seaweeds can be added to soups or juices in powder or capsule
form.
• Garlic can also help ward off a cold by inhibiting the
growth of staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria.
• Avoid food and drinks that put extra strain on the liver.
The liver is responsible for efficient detoxification of the body.
The foods to avoid include convenience foods containing substantial
amounts of chemicals such as colorings and preservatives, and
alcohol, which also depletes the body of vitamin C.
Nutritional Supplements:
• Vitamin C, Vitamin A and
Bioflavonoids - Vitamin C is well-known for treating and preventing
colds. Studies show that vitamin C can shorten the duration of
common colds and flu and even prevent them. Taken in large enough
doses, vitamin C can boost your immune system by pumping enough
fuel into white blood cells to destroy invading viruses and bacteria.
Vitamin C increases interferon levels and has interferon-like
properties itself. It acts as a natural antihistamine that helps
dry up watery eyes and reduce nasal and chest congestion. It is
also a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent the damage that
your body endures when viruses or bacteria attack your immune
system. Dockworkers given 100 mg of vitamin C each day for ten
months caught influenza 28% less than their coworkers not taking
vitamins. Moreover, the average infection was 10% shorter in those
taking vitamin C.1 Other studies have reported that vitamin C
in high doses (2 grams every hour for twelve hours) can lead to
rapid improvement of influenza infections.2, 3
• At the first sign of cold or flu symptoms, take 500 milligrams
of vitamin C with bioflavonoids or rose hips four to six times
a day. The bioflavonoids and rose hips strengthen the vitamin
C’s infection-fighting power by 35 percent, according to
experts. Start taking Vitamin C as soon as you can. There are
no adverse effects from taking high dosages of vitamin C. If you
experience diarrhea, reduce the dosage of Vitamin C. Use bioflavonoids
along with vitamin C for their synergistic effect.
• Vitamin A is a nutrient vital to the mucous membranes
throughout the respiratory system during a cold or flu. It is
known as the anti-infection vitamin. It battles viruses and bacteria
in two ways. By keeping the cells healthy all along your respiratory
tract, it provides a barrier that resists microorganisms. If some
invading microorganisms manage to breach the barrier, you want
to have antibodies and lymphocytes ready to destroy them. Vitamin
A helps your body provide those reinforcements.
• As soon as you notice cold or flu symptoms, take 100,000
international units (IU) of vitamin A daily for three days, then
reduce the dosage to 25,000 IU for one week or until symptoms
disappear.
Caution: These are very high doses, please check with your doctor
before taking this much.
• Beta-carotene, Vitamin A’s precursor, is rich in
antioxidant power and antiviral properties. It bolsters immunity
and protects the thymus gland. It also protects you from viruses
by enhancing mucous membrane secretions. By producing the secretions,
the beta-carotene prevents the virus from invading your body.
If you feel a cold or flu coming on, take 100,000 IU of beta-carotene
for 10 to 14 days, then cut the dosage to 50,000 IU a day to prevent
future respiratory infections.
• Zinc - Zinc supplementation is recommended for immune
system support. Zinc lozenges soothe a sore throat and help fend
off a cold before it takes hold. Zinc stimulates the immune system
by generating new white blood cells and whipping them into shape
to battle viruses. If you have too little zinc, your production
of white blood cells may drop, and that can increase your risk
of catching a cold, flu, or other upper respiratory infection.
In one study, children who got 10 milligrams of zinc daily for
60 days were much less likely to get respiratory infections than
children getting less. In fact, the children who got enough zinc
were 70 percent less likely to have fevers, 48 percent less likely
to have coughs, and 28 percent less likely to have mucus buildup.
• Take 5 to 10 milligrams of zinc five times daily for five
days to one week. Take zinc with food to prevent stomach upset.
Be careful not to consume too much zinc. Doctors recommend taking
no more than 15 milligrams of zinc a day. Zinc gluconate in lozenge
form has been found to shorten the duration of cold symptoms.
In a study, participants who sucked on one zinc gluconate lozenge
(containing about 13 milligrams of zinc) every two hours while
awake got rid of their coughs, nasal congestion, sore throat,
and headaches three to four days sooner than those who didn’t
get any supplementation. Don’t take them for longer than
one week, because they can weaken your immune system.
• Garlic - Garlic is very beneficial especially at the beginning
of a cold of flu. It warms the body and acts as an antiviral and
antibacterial.
• Thymus glandular extract boosts immune function by increasing
the number and activity of infection-fighting white blood cells.
Take 250 to 500 milligrams twice a day. This is especially important
for people over forty, as thymus function declines with age.
• Recommended dosages:
o Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids, 1,000 mg every few hours throughout
the day, up to bowel tolerance
o Zinc lozenges, with 3 mg copper, every few hours, up to 70 mg
daily during a cold and 30 mg daily as a preventive.
o Garlic, 2 capsules three times daily
o Vitamin A, 25,000 IU daily (avoid during pregnancy)
Tony M. Isaacs is the author of
“Cancer’s Natural Enemy”, “Collected
Remedies”, and numerous health articles and is a regular
contributor to this newsletter.
