Herbs for the flu virus

[northernlights]

I'm posting this in response to Celebration's thread, but decided to keep it separate so as many people as possible will see it. Swine flu was my first in a line of writing assignments. I'm not quite ready to post everything, but have am putting detailed info on my blog asap -- hopefully on Sunday.

Nothing is proven as a preventive (clinical tests with echinacea demonstrated no preventive value). My best bet, based on the way the immune system functions (I've just posted a brief overview) would be to take some of the herbs that alleviate symptoms. If you can keep your innate immune system functioning well (i.e. thin mucous, healthy membrane tissues, anti-inflammatories and expectorants) you can keep infection from getting established.

Once established, ELDERBERRY EXTRACT is proven against numerous strains of flu. SAMBUCOL is a commercial preparation (elderberry is messy to extract) that was approved a few years back in the US. I've just posted info on elderberry extract and an overview of the immune system on my blog.

Elderberry extract
Elderberry (sambucus nigra)
European elderberry has been used medicinally for thousands of years, for everything from colds and the flu to sprains and rheumatism. It turns out there is good reason for this: the chemicals that give elderberries their purple color contain a class of compounds called anthocyanins. They are more potent antioxidants than vitamin C and other common sources. (1) (3) And studies have shown them to be more bio-available than many other berry extracts, including blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc. (2)(4)(5)

Research studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of elderberry against various strains of flu (1)(6), significantly shortening the duration of the flu with as many as 90% of victims cured within 3 days. It also has demonstrated effectiveness against the H5N1 avian flu virus in laboratory testing. (1)

http://magicalthyme.blogspot.com/


Other herbs I haven't posted about yet (will try to over the next week) include:


Echinacea and Licorice (I find Yogi teas "Egyptian Licorice" blend to be excellent when taken as a decoction at the first onset of symptoms) are also good, proven antivirals and immune system boosters.

For the innate immune system and symptom relief, look at marshmallow root extract, ginger, anise, slippery elm, watercress, horehound,
horseradish, hyssop hyssopus officinales, chamomile, comfrey / knitbone, gumweed, and plantain.

Elderberry extract
Elderberry (sambucus nigra)
European elderberry has been used medicinally for thousands of years, for everything from colds and the flu to sprains and rheumatism. It turns out there is good reason for this: the chemicals that give elderberries their purple color contain a class of compounds called anthocyanins. They are more potent antioxidants than vitamin C and other common sources. (1) (3) And studies have shown them to be more bio-available than many other berry extracts, including blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc. (2)(4)(5)

Research studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of elderberry against various strains of flu (1)(6), significantly shortening the duration of the flu with as many as 90% of victims cured within 3 days. It also has demonstrated effectiveness against the H5N1 avian flu virus in laboratory testing. (1)

http://magicalthyme.blogspot.com/

[Celebration]

1. Elderberry and Sambucol are great BUT

Is is possible that they could ramp up the immune system too much? As an example, the 1918 flu did cause a lot of deaths in the people with very healthy immune systems, because those immune systems reacted so strongly to the particular virus they produced "cytokine storms". I have no idea if that is the case with this swine flu.

In any case, please anyone with flu symptoms, keep heart chakra balanced and heart chakra strong!!! You can keep the heart meridian strong by tracing the heart meridian with your little finger, from under the armpit to the fingers (that direction only please!!) See acuxo.com to see the picture/location of the heart meridian.

[northernlights]

4. cytokine cascade not a concern for a number of reasons

Guess I'll have to add more to the blog ;)

In a nutshell,

1. the stories circulating that the 1918 flu triggered cytokine cascade and high mortality are not true. It was secondary bacterial infections that caused the high death rate. The 1918 flu infected the lungs directly, causing lesions and pneumonia. The current flu has the same ability to directly infect the lungs, which is what has been happening to the victims who end up hospitalized.

2. Swine flu is not generally associated with cytokine cascade, and this flu has not shown any signs of cytokine cascade. The deadly form of avian flu, which has generated so much concern in the last few years (and has a 33% mortality rate!), is associated with cytokine cascade.

3. Although there is a high correlation between cytokine cascade and virulence, correlation does not equal causation and it has not been proven that the cytokine cascade causes the high death rate in avian flu. Also, the exact cause of cytokine cascade is not proven, but there appears to be something else triggering the sequence.

[Shallah Kali]

2. I and my family use Yogi's Breathe tea very useful for congestion

I think it tastes awful but gag it down because it really works. My grandmother actually LIKES the taste & Mother thinks it is OK. When I can't stand the taste I go to capsules of fenugreek and thyme both of which loosen congestion. When Yogi tea is not enough or she needs something more convenient than tea for my Mom she uses Oil of Oregano capsules. They aggravate the GERD so this might best be avoided by those with that issue.

I have a homeopathic flu remedy that has Influenzium in it that I hope will be useful if I do get exposed. I tried it once when I thought I might be starting a regular flu. I went though the usual flu symptoms fever fatigue chills in about a half hour and woke up the next day feeling normal. Wish I knew enough about homeopathy to know if that was supposed to happen if I really had a flu or if it was a sign I didn't have one.

Some herbal and complimentary medicinal resources:
http://www.herbs2000.com/h_menu/1_wisdom.htm
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/bookshelf/index.cfm
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
http://altmedicine.about.com/
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/March06/wisewoman.htm
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/November04/healingwise.htm

http://books.google.com/books?q= - google search engine for books to find more info about herbs and other complimentary treatments. use quotes around exact phrases such as "olive leaf" and use a plus sign to find words near each other on the same page instead of in possibly unrelated paragraphs. ex. "olive leaf" +flu or yarrow +fever

[Delphinus]

3. Here are some Homeopathic remedies:

Here is some fresher info on the Homeopathic treatment of H1N1.

Prophylaxis-Preventative Remedies

Influenzium (the most recent years), can be gotten from some health food stores. If they are not carrying it, ASK for it to be ordered, it will be a great service to their customers to have this years Influenzium on hand: H1N1, as of yet, has Not been made into a remedy.

Oscillococcinum (at any health food store even some drug stores, pronounced “the fan Oscillates”).

The Favored preventative protocol, that is being recommended by homeopathic sources is as follows:

If you have been exposed or at the very first signs of the flu, most Homeopaths suggest the same protocol we’ve suggested for all flu seasons: take Oscillococcinum once every 6 hours for 2 days, (or called Anas Barbariae from Boiron; a homeopathic medicine that is manufactured from a wild duck heart and liver, which are said to be reservoirs for influensium viruses) at the potency provided from the store bought packages. If you are buying it direct from the pharmacy, buy both a 30c and a 200c of Oscillo and use the lower for preventative and the higher potency once you feel symptoms.

If you already have contracted the flu, and after 24-36 hours of this protocol you are still ill or worsening, it is best you contact a trained homeopath in order to find the remedy more specific to your flu.

Buy extra of the Oscillococcinum, in order to have plenty of it to share, with friends and co workers!


Standard Homeopathic Pharmacy 1-800-234-8879

Boiron 1-800-258-8823 packages and “dissolving strips” for children available here

Hylands

Please follow this link to a great article about Mexican homeopaths treating the H1N1 flu. There are other great links off of this page! Here is the excerpt suggesting remedies

http://www.naturalnews.com/026839_homeopathy_homeopathic_doctors.html

The Experience of Mexican Homeopaths in Treating People with Swine Flu...

To read a first-hand report by MD/homeopaths in Mexico City who have treating people with swine flu, click here. As yet, there is no one medicine that homeopathic physicians have determined to be the "remedy epidemicus." Instead, so far, they have found various medicines to be effective. They also noted that some of the most common homeopathic medicines that are known to have severe bleeding with flu symptoms are: Arnica montana, Arsenicum album, Baptisia, Belladonna, Bryonia alba, Camphora, Carbo vegetabilis, Chamomilla, Cinchona officinalis, Ferrum phosphoricum, Influenzinum (corresponding to the epidemic), Ipecacuanha, Lachesis, Mercurius vivus, Phosphorus, Sepia officinalis, Sulphur, Pyrogenium.

[Why Syzygy]

5. You want to make sure you're getting supplemental Vitamin D3

too. Flu season shows up during the winter when sunlight is at its lowest and people spend more time indoors.

[northernlights]

11. in my anatomy and physiology class

we learned that it doesn't take a whole lot of sun to get sufficient vitamin D -- as I recall about 15 minutes on your face, maybe 30 minutes in the winter when the sun is less intense. Of course, sufficient to prevent disease and enough to boost health are not necessarily the same.

I also suspect one mistake people make is thinking they're getting the sun they need sitting in front of a window, such as while driving. However, the UV wavelength necessary for vit D production doesn't penetrate glass, so if people rely on indoor sunshine through windows, they won't get the vit. D they need.

[Why Syzygy]

12. That isn't what the latest research is showing.

Check the Health forum for details.

[Why Syzygy]

6. One DUer's experience (good tips)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6568423#6569138

[PuraVidaDreamin]

7. We have so many elderberry bushes here

I should make my own extract!
Got a good recipe you are willing to share?

[northernlights]

9. I'll be adding instructions for extracting tinctures,

decoctions and infusions to my blog when I'm next able. Pretty behind right now since training at work is more hours than anticipated. Elderberries are supposed to be pretty messy to work with (I've never tried and have only limited experience in extracting)

Also note that the clinical studies cited were all on European elderberry, not American, so the medicinal quality could be very different. Also that it's important to use fully ripened blue or black elderberries, not red (which are toxic) or immature berries.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

13. we grabbed nearly 15 lbs yesterday. Very ripe-blue

J is doing a mix with glycerine- sober 14 yrs
Mine will be with 80 proof vodka.

Wish yours was up now, will bring you some from a recipe off the internets!

Elderberry jelly is on the agenda too!

Looking forward to Sunday- quite excited
off to the flea market

[winyanstaz]

8. There are a lot of plants in the wilds or in your cupboard that work well for a lot of symptoms...

Vine Maple roots are for when you are sick as a dog and like garlic are antibiotic. Clean and chop them into small bits while still fresh as they are harder than rocks to cut when dried.
For coughs you would want Colts-foot, mullen, and plantain. A tea made for any of these or a combination and drank several times a day will help the body get rid of deep coughs and chronic coughs. Be sure to use local honey too and especially use it (local) if you suffer from allergies.
Green tea is also good for cleansing the body.
Dandelion root tea will also help to clean out the body..drink tons of water and it will make you urinate a LOT...;)
For sinuses a nice tincture with either distilled water or 100 proof vodka can be made with about 6-8 cinnamon sticks..covered with vodka in a bottle with a lid, put the bottle of vodka and cinnamon into a brown paper bag and set it by your sink to shake twice a day for around 7-9 days. Strain the cinnamon sticks out and use with a eye dropper...10-12 drops morning and night on the back of the tongue at the first sign of a runny nose. Cinnamon is a natural sinus medication and will dry up runny noses and ward off colds.
A recipe for ear drops a Doctor told me...1/2 rubbing alcohol, 1/2 white vinager..three or four drops morning and night in the infected ear. Again...please see a Dr before trying this to make sure it is safe for you.
Keep all your herbs in a cool dark place.
Don't use too much vitamin D without a Doctor's testing.
Also people should do a small test first to see if they are allergic to anything before trying it.
You can rub a leaf on the inside of your arm and cover it for a day and see if it breaks out first. Then try a small amount for a day or two before moving on to larger amounts.
As far as I know, none of these things are harmful to the body.
I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice, just some interesting information I am sharing. If you are sick..please see your doctor.

[northernlights]

10. there is a difference between symptom relief, immune boosting,

anti-viral activity and anti-biotic activity. That's why I've separated the herbs into groups, based on what clinical research has demonstrated.

Anti-virals actively prevent the virus from reproducing, which prevents or slows the infection process.

Immune boosting compounds increase the activity of various parts of your immune system so it's response is quicker and/or stronger and therefore more effective.

Symptom relief, such as marshmallow or plantain, often involves giving your body the ingredients it needs to thin the mucous or produce more of it, which soothes mucous membranes and makes it easier to cough or sneeze the virus out of you.

Antibiotics interfere with bacteria reproduction, but have no impact on viruses at all, which is why I didn't go into them in my blog post on fighting the flu virus.