… for cold and flu prevention
No one lives with the results of taking a particular preventive but the person who takes it, so the most important thing is that each adult makes their own informed decision because there is much controversy on this subject.
If you have not been taking power foods or supplements for some months to strength your metabolism, once flu season arrives, it’s time to make a choice on a preventive. An excerpt from Randall Neustaedter’s book regarding the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum, which was widely used for 2009-2010’s flu season, is included below regarding a study conducted in France where homeopathic use is still common. Changes from one year to another can be checked with a homeopathic pharmacy or practitioner but this information will help point to natural methods you may consider.
Homeopathic remedies do not carry the risk of side-effects or of causing you to acquire the virus because they are not made from large molecules of the actual diseases, like vaccines are. The successful use of homeopathic remedies is a historical fact recorded with epidemics of scarlet fever, typhoid and flu, despite conventional western medicine today still claiming that only the western perspective is effective. The success rate in epidemics was far from 100% in either conventional or homeopathic choices, but homeopathy’s success rate was sometimes higher than conventional medical treatment at that time. Until homeopathy encountered adversity with the American Medical Association, there were various homeopathic hospitals throughout North America.
Today, homeopathic remedies are still available from Homeopaths and from some pharmacies or health store locations. In the Toronto GTA, both Hooper’s Pharmacy locations in Mississauga’s Port Credit area and the Brampton location, as well as the Village Health Store on Erin Mills Parkway, carry each year’s current flu preventive. In 2010, for example, Influenzinum, and Oscillococcinum were suggested for those already experiencing flu symptoms. Influenzinum was taken before flu season arrived, or as soon as possible before onset of symptoms.
When you already are experiencing flu symptoms, homeopathic remedies can lessen symptoms and shorten duration. They are inexpensive, under $20 for a package of multiple vials. Informative websites worth reading are listed at the end of this article.
If choosing any particular supplement for enhanced immune function, Bee Propolis is one option to consider if you don’t have allergies to bees, because of its broad antimicrobial activity that includes antiviral properties. There are a number of natural food substances that have antiviral properties, including aloe vera, bee pollen and propolis, and various herbs. Vitamin D blood analysis still does not appear to be a routine part of blood analysis, but is a must to request. Adequate levels of Vitamin D are vital for proper immune function as discovered in the late 1990’s when it was realized that the liver converts it into a hormone. Cod liver oil is still one of the most common and readily available supplement source, with 1000 units daily as the more common intake now suggested since late 90’s research into the vital function vitamin-hormone D plays in human health. A strong immune system, coupled with frequent hand and regular nasal cleansing are additional important preventives during flu season and when facing any major health issue.
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FLU: Alternative Treatments and Prevention (North Atlantic Books, 2005)
Oscillococcinum Clinical Study in France
“Begin taking the homeopathic preparation, then switch to the appropriate homeopathic medicine once your symptoms begin to develop clear characteristics.
Oscillococcinum was first studied in France during the 1987 flu epidemic caused by an H1N1 virus. This multi-center study examined the effect of Oscillococcinum (200C) on the early symptoms of flu. Results were published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. More patients in the treatment group recovered completely in the first 48 hours than the control group (17 percent of patients with active treatment compared to 10 percent of controls). More patients in the treatment group also judged the treatment as favorable compared to the placebo, 61 percent vs 49 percent (Ferley, 1989).
In 1990 German physicians replicated the French study of Oscillococcinum. They used the same criteria as the previous study and enrolled 372 patients. After 48 hours of treatment with Oscillococcinum the treatment group had significantly milder symptoms than the control group, and the number of patients with no symptoms from day two onward was significantly greater in the treatment group (17.4 percent) compared to the control group (6.6 percent) (Papp, 1998).
Both of these studies show a significant curative effect of a homeopathic medicine in the treatment of flu in carefully conducted, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Conventional antiviral drugs reduce the duration of flu by about one day if taken within the first 48 hours of illness (Cooper, 2003). Comparing the results of these studies with the meager effect of conventional treatment shows that homeopathy carries the potential to make a dramatic difference in any flu epidemic without the risk of drug side effects. “
An effective herb source for relieving flu symptoms is black elderberry extract (Sambucol). Elderberry proved to cut short the flu symptoms by four days in a double-blind controlled study. Nearly 90 percent of patients given elderberry extract were completely cured with 2-3 days. In the control group, it took six days for 90 percent of patients to recover (Zakay-Rones, 2004). A second clinical study showed similar results. Among the group receiving elderberry, 75 percent were much improved within two days, and 90 percent were completely cured by day three. The control group took six days before 90 percent were cured (Zakay-Rones, 1995). In that study elderberry was also found to inhibit the replication of both type A and type B flu viruses.
Those researchers also investigated the mode of action of elderberry on viruses. They found that elderberry inhibited the enzyme that attaches the virus to human cells and also inhibited the enzyme that breaks down the human cell wall allowing the virus to enter and kill the cell. Another group of researchers also showed that elderberry activates the immune system by increasing inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine production (Barak, 2002).
Often the initial treatment protocol will stop the illness and the symptoms will go away. If you have access to an acupuncturist, herbalist, or homeopathic practitioner, seeking professional guidance is advisable.
In a pinch, you can also choose a homeopathic medicine yourself that is indicated for the particular symptoms of your flu. Once specific characteristic symptoms have established themselves, it is possible to find the correct homeopathic medicine and a homeopathic practitioner is very helpful for guidance wherever you purchase the remedies. The two most frequently indicated homeopathic flu medicines over the past 100 years have been Gelsemium and Bryonia. Significant differences in the symptom pictures of these two medicines make it easy to decide which is the better fit. They are not the only medicines used to treat the flu, but between them they will probably fit the majority of cases.
Bryonia and Gelsemium type flus both come on slowly over a six- to twelve-hour period. You begin to feel gradually worse over that time. By the second day you have aching muscles, feel pretty bad, and usually have a headache. A Bryonia patient has more pain in the front of the head, which is definitely made worse by moving the head or moving the eyes, and feels better from pressing the hand on the head. A Gelsemium patient has pain in the back of the head with stiffness and aching in the neck and across the shoulders. With a Gelsemium flu you will not want to move much either, and you may feel worse from moving around, but you avoid movement primarily because you are so tired. The characteristic state of Gelsemium is lethargy and fatigue. By contrast, those sufferers who need Bryonia will be tired but also restless. Bryonia discomfort is worse from motion, but at the same time you feel the urge to move about restlessly in the bed. No position seems comfortable. Bryonia patients are thirsty, Gelsemium are not. In fact, those who need Bryonia are generally warmer and drier, with a desire for air and cool temperatures to calm the heat. Gelsemium patients are chilly and sensitive to cold; cold shivers go down their spine. At the same time those who need Gelsemium are clammy with the fever, and feelings of heat and cold may alternate. Bryonia patients have more coughing and chest symptoms, with a painful cough that aggravates the sore throat. The Bryonia cough will also cause chest pains, with the inevitable reaction of pressing the palm to the chest to minimize the movement caused by coughing.
Gelsemium patients do not have the energy to be emotional. Bryonia patients are irritable, worried, and fretful. They want to be left alone. Gelsemium cases are too exhausted to complain.
For More Information
National Vaccine Information Center www.nvic.org
Australian Vacation Network,
Empowering People to Make Informed Choices www.avn.org.au
Think Twice www.thinktwice.com