Herbs, Supplements May Fight Swine Flu Pandemic

Associated Content ^ | April 25, 2009

[2ndDivisionVet]

In 2019, we may look a decade into our past and laugh about today's panic regarding the recent outbreak of swine flu-bird flu hybrid. While I earnestly hope that fears of a flu pandemic are overreactions, it seems to be more likely than not that the swine flu will spread to epidemic proportions. Amid confessions from the Centers for Disease Control that containment of the virus is "highly unlikely", many families are scrambling to do whatever possible to prevent the infection from spreading to them and their loved ones.

I am an herbalist and nutritionist, and my pantry is stockpiled with antiviral herbs and vitamin compounds. Many of the same people who made fun of me three years ago are now calling me, frantically asking for advice about which herbs and supplements they can buy to keep the swine flu pandemic from striking their families. While I can offer no guarantees, I hope--and have reason to believe--that the following nutritional supplements may help to stop, slow, or weaken the swine flu/avian flu virus.

Vitamin D

Many Americans, especially young children, are alarmingly deficient in vitamin D. In addition to being absolutely essential for the proper function of the bones and central nervous system, vitamin D plays a critical role in enabling the immune system to successfully defeat viruses of all kinds. One 2006 study hit headlines when it concluded that vitamin D is extremely effective in fighting standard influenza strains.

During 2006, I noticed an extreme spike in the sales of vitamin D supplements in the store I was managing, but I was not surprised when health trends shifted and my clients instead switched to "trendier" supplements.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I read something here a day or two ago about Vitamin D being very good for this.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes, I read the Vitamin D thing in the Japanese press. Also, vast amounts of ZINC, not to mention, lots of KIMCHEE will help, (at least ward of SARS...it remains to be seen if that works against MSI [mexican swine influenza].)

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

I have taken 50mg of Zinc almost everyday for 12 years and only have been sick once.

Used to get sick twice a year, every year!

[dennisw]

MMS look it up on you tube and elsewhere

[cmj328]

So how do these supplements affect a cytokine storm?

[RegulatorCountry]

The herbals and supplements mentioned enhance immune response. If “cytokine storm” is the concern, you’d not want enhanced immune response, you’d want anti-inflammatories. Curcumin (as found in turmeric and to a lesser degree in curry) is one of the best researched herbal anti-inflammatories, but there are many others, run a web search on “herbal anti-inflammatory” to learn more. Watch out for interactions with prescription meds with curcumin, though.

[paulycy]

[kimmie7]

I’m concerned because I have extremely weak lungs on the best of days. Any suggestions?

[mkjessup]

I'd like to put in a plug for my supplement of choice, which is Olive Leaf Extract, available OTC in capsule form (usually 500 mg per capsulte) it is exactly what the name states, extract from the leaves of the Olive Tree and it acts as a powerful anti-toxin, flushes all kinds of bad stuff out of your body, in my case I had (at one time) severe sinus issues, infections, congestion, nothing seemed to help short of sinus irrigation (another scary topic), but I started taking (2) Olive Leaf Extract capsules along with (2) capsules of Lysine (500 mg each) 4 times a day, and within about a month, I was breathing absolutely clear.

Now when you first start taking OLE, you may notice that you actually feel *worse* at first, but that is due to what's called the 'dieoff' effect, as the toxins and waste are flushed from your body, you may experience some discomfort but that means that the stuff is working, and you'll be feeling MUCH better soon.

I pinged my great FRiend Diehard, as he started taking OLE last year (?) and had some good results, but he'll be the first to tell you that it is "vile", lol - but when you're sick, you want to get better, you don't care about what the cure tastes or smells like, or what it makes YOU taste or smell like, lol

Of course in Diehard's case, he was already pretty damn unsavory, alligators and snakes cross to the other side of the street when they see him approaching, they won't bite him, that's how bad a meal he is to them!! LOL

[dangerdoc]

Kimchee and similar pickled vegitables is believed to be the cause of elevated rates of stomach cancer in some asian subgroups. Not proven but highly associated. Just a warning.

Zinc has not been shown to prevent viral infections. It has been shown to decrease the length and severity of the common cold in some studies, but other studies to confirm the link have shown negative results.

I haven’t seen any studies on Vitamin D.

There is an herbal suppliment produced in Isreal that has been shown be protective against both type A and B influenza but I can’t remember the name right now.

At this point, soap and water for frequent hand washing and avoiding touching your mouth and eyes with unwashed hand is probably your best bet at avoiding this particular strain at this time. I don’t know if they can get a serotype vaccine in production quickly enough to make a difference.

[antisocial]

“I’d like to put in a plug for my supplement of choice, which is Olive Leaf Extract”

I can attest to that, it helped me recover from a nasty sinus problem also.

[DvdMom]

bump

[antisocial]

I have found this site to be very useful and informative.

http://www.supplementinfo.org/index.php?src=news&srctype=detail&category=Supplements%20In%20The%20News&refno=173

[lonestar]

There was a report on Vit D on FR several months ago that said patients in a mental hospital who were on D didn't get a flu that went thru the wards. Only men on one ward didn't get it and they were on vit D. The theory is that the others were lacking because they had not gotten enough D from the Sun.

[Tahoe3002]

ping

[dangerdoc]

I think I found the original author of the paper and read some of his background work.

Very interesting. I’ll have to watch for follow up studies.

[Toidylop]

I’ve heard Vietnamese beef noodle soup (aka Pho) is also good for flu :)

[khnyny]

bump for later read.

[Scythian]

I wonder if this outbreak is in anyway connected to Porkulus, the big bailout package?

[rwfromkansas]

any luck on the Israel supp?