Illness Is Optional » Cold and Flu

Swine Flu…What is the Deal and What to Do About it

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:36:10 +0000

In 1918 a horrible pandemic swept the globe and supposedly claimed the lives of 500,000 Americans and 20,000,000 people worldwide. Even though many experts feel that these numbers are likely wildly exaggerated due to poor record keeping of this time period, we will continue as though they are accurate.

This would represent worst case scenario. It is also worthwhile to note that at that time, it was common practice to bathe once a week. Now, it appears that a similar strain of this virus is sweeping the globe again. The CDC has already issued a pre-pandemic alert, readying the government for the possibility of widespread infection to rival the pandemic Spanish flu of 1918.

The reasons for concern include:

The virus of today seems to be quite similar to the Spanish flu of 1918.
Like the virus of 1918, the current strain appears to use the host’s own immune system against itself which results in young people suffering a good number of the casualties.
The global connectivity of today could significantly increase the rate at which this virus could be transmitted to the population.
There is no natural immunity to this virus because the population has never been exposed to it.
There is currently no vaccine to protect us.

All this sounds disturbing and the 24/7 media coverage has sent many people into a state of anxiety over the possibility of mass infection. Although I believe that there is cause for concern, you will not yet see me breaking a sweat. We are taking the position of calm preparation for a possibility that may never materialize into a pandemic.

Aren’t people dying from the swine flu?

The deaths that have occurred to date are localized in Mexico and are likely attributed to the fact that many of the people came from very poor areas where nutritional deficiencies and poor hygiene contributed to a weak immune system and uncontrolled inflammation. It is also believed that people refused to get help due to fear around losing work should they take time to go to the doctor. What is the proof of this? Well, the proof is that there have been no reported deaths among Americans where hygiene and nutrition are better than areas of poverty in Mexico. The press calls the American version of the swine flu more “mild” but it is unlikely that the swine flu virus itself is any different than the virus that is infecting the people of Mexico. What makes it mild is the fact that the immune system of Americans is better able to handle this virus.

Why so calm?

Swine flu is not a pandemic right now. Despite 24-hour coverage, it is not a pandemic and may never become one.
The cases in the United States have been fairly mild with no American deaths being reported from swine flu infection. The press reported on the death of an 18 month old child, however, it has been noted that this appears to be a child who was shipped across the border for treatment, possibly due to an already dire health circumstance. Calling this an American death is nothing more than spinning a more severe situation in order to get people to watch more news and buy more newspapers. No Americans have died.
Worldwide awareness may help with the containment process. In 1918 news did not fly at the speed of light like it does today and containment was therefore ineffective.
We know more about the impact of hygiene on the spread of such infections.
If you are reading this article, then you will have many more tools to fight infection than the average person.

The government is making a big deal out of antiviral medications such as Tamiflu, releasing stockpiles and calling up the National Guard to defend the warehouses where the medications are stored. This pretty much concludes the paragraph on government readiness…in a nutshell, one class of medication that may help to shorten the duration of flu infection by one-half to one day if taken at the very first sign of infection. Not to mention, completely unproven against the swine flu. In our recent interview with vaccine expert, Dr. Tenpenny, she makes note that the anti-viral medications that have been stockpiled (at a cost of $2 billion) are nearing their expiration date and are unlikely to actually help due to widespread viral resistance to the medication. Keep in mind that these medications have caused reactions of delusion and even led to suicide in young people. They are not without possible side effects!

No wonder people are so anxious, there does not appear to be any great advances in viral treatment since the 1918 epidemic.

So, what would a “Holistic Readiness Package” look like?

First, let me say that the following recommendations are as unproven as the conventional approach to prevention and treatment. This represents an educated hypothesis and will be the program that I will follow myself and recommend to my family.

Let’s talk about immune system health. The press is making it sound as if a healthy immune system is a death sentence in the case of infection with swine flu. Let me put things a bit into perspective. The immune system was developed through millions of years of evolution to be able to handle infections just like the swine flu. Is it perfect? No, but I think it is as close to perfect as we could hope for at this stage in our evolution. What is happening in young people that is causing such a problem when infected is what is known as a “cytokine storm”. When the body is exposed to a virus, antibodies are produced in order to fight the infection. In certain susceptible people the antibody response overshoots its mark which causes a shock to the system that can cause organ failure and ultimately death. Is a healthy immune system the cause of such a reaction? Would it be better for these people if their immune systems were compromised? Well, we can’t say for sure but I can tell you that if I am rolling the dice I will take the odds in favor of a healthy immune system. What I would like to avoid is a inflammatory reaction that is exaggerated! So how would we achieve that?

Omega-3 fatty acids. Your body produces compounds called prostaglandins which are responsible for managing inflammation. Some prostaglandins turn on the inflammatory switch while some turn the switch off. Omega-6 fats, which are abundant in our diet, turn the inflammatory switch on while omega-3 fats, which are extremely deficient, turn the switch off. If the body has plenty of inflammatory fats and few anti-inflammatory fats then it will be prone to an exaggerated response. You need to have these healthy fats on board BEFORE you are infected because they take some time to buildup and be incorporated in the cells. If you are just starting to supplement with fish oil, I would recommend dosing with 1 tablespoon (or 6 capsules) twice daily for the next two weeks followed by 1 tablespoon (6 capsules) daily.
Keep Zyflamend on hand. Zyflamend is an herbal anti-inflammatory product that helps to control the inflammatory response. This formula can be used continuously without side effect and can be used as a means of preventing or treating inflammation. The standard dose is 2 capsules twice daily and in severe situations we can dose 2 capsules three times daily.

Now to setting up our defenses against the virus; you may have heard us discuss a product called Immunity Take Care by New Chapter. This formula is a unique extract of Black Elderberry which works by a different mechanism than other herbal formulas such as Echinacea. A virus is an interesting looking biological machine with little legs that are used to attach to the cell. After the virus is attached to the cell, it then injects genetic material into the cell which is then used to take over the brain of the cell in order to turn it into a manufacturing plant for other viruses. Elderberry contains unique compounds that appear coat the virus which prevents the legs from being able to grab hold of a cell. This potentially stops the virus from being able to commandeer the cell and thus stops the viral replication at the first step in its nasty cycle. This product is thus going to be one of the primary natural defenses against infection from these types of viruses. Take one tablet twice daily as a defense. If infection is suspected, increase the dose to 1-2 tablets three to four times daily.

Vitamin D is a crucial defense against infection by helping to shore up defenses. Although I can’t say if vitamin D plays an active role in defense against flu infection, it appears that deficiency of vitamin D can significantly increase the risk of many infections including influenza. The good news is we are entering into the sunny season, this should offer some protection to the population. We recommend that most people take at least 2,000 iu of vitamin D daily as a preventative. Some practitioners are recommending that at the first sign of swine flu infection that adults saturate the body with vitamin D at doses up to 50,000 iu for two to three days.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine – This nutrient helps to shore up the defenses in the respiratory tract by helping to enhance the mucous membranes that act as the first defense against infection. In one study on elderly subjects, daily administration of NAC significantly decreased the risk of standard influenza infection. Take 500 mg daily as a preventative.

In other articles I have spoken at length in favor of natural, whole-food vitamin C. Vitamin C is a nutrient that plays a very important role in allowing the immune system to react to viral and bacterial infections. By taking whole-food vitamin C, such as Pure Radiance C by Synergy Company, you can help to assure that the immune cells have sufficient vitamin C to mount an appropriate immune response. I recommend taking 2 capsules twice daily of Pure Radiance C for general health and prevention.

What about the vaccine?

In three words, “Forget About It”. You can be sure that the drug companies are salivating over this one. They will come out with a vaccine and the government may even mandate vaccination. You must keep in mind that this vaccine will be COMPLETELY unproven and probably unsafe! Remember, in the 70’s they released a swine flu vaccine in preparation for a swine flu pandemic that never came. Many poor patients who took the unproven vaccine ended up with severe neurological side effects that left many people paralyzed. This could happen again and if mass immunization does come to pass it is a certainty that some people will be very unlucky and end up suffering from this neurological side effect.

Summary & Conclusion:

The swine flu scare may turn out to be nothing but for now, calm preparation appears to be the appropriate course of action. It is up to you to be as healthy as possible in order to be able to withstand such an assault to the system. In the unlikely situation that a widespread pandemic does occur and the infection begins to show high mortality rates in the population, you will want to make use of all of the tools available, including some conventional medical care. For now, do what you can to keep the environment within your body unwelcoming to unwanted organisms by staying healthy and keeping your immune system well supported. As for the vaccine, that is sure to be produced in response to this infection, think twice and then think a third time before you consider injecting such an unproven and potentially harmful substance into your body. We will continue to keep you abreast of new information as it comes to light!

One Supplement Everyone Needs During This Flu Season

Dr Ray Hinish — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:15:30 +0000

When we discuss the flu, we are really talking about a series of symptoms that follow the infection with a virus called influenza. In addition to the standard influenza virus, we now have to worry about another batch of viruses that are called H1N1, or swine flu. Both can be very uncomfortable and both viruses can lead to potentially mortal complications.

Many people believe that the virus is directly responsible for the symptoms we feel; however, in fact, it is the body’s response to the virus that makes us so miserable. When an unwanted organism finds its way into our body, our immune system sends signals to all tissues that prepare the defenses to deal with the infection. The nose begins to produce mucous which helps to trap offending organisms before they can enter the body while also delivering important antibodies and immune cells to ground zero. Simultaneously the sinus cavity swells to limit the number of offending organisms that can drain into the lungs. The body then turns up the thermostat in order to make the internal environment inhospitable to the offending organism; this fever is a vital part of the body’s defense against offending bacteria and viruses. Many people are too quick to treat this fever with medications, doing so has been shown to prolong the time it takes to clear the virus and thus the symptoms. Fatigue settles in as the body attempts to dedicate precious resources to the defense of the body. We call these symptoms “systemic symptoms” and they usually occur for the first 1-3 days.

Have you ever noticed how many viral infections start out as systemic symptoms and then as these symptoms are subsiding, you start to notice that you are developing a cough and difficulty breathing? At this point most people say “it has moved from my sinuses into my chest.” This respiratory involvement can become quite severe and ultimately turn into pneumonia. It is the pneumonia that ultimately is responsible for the majority of deaths during the flu season, not the influenza virus itself. So why does this happen and what can we do about it?

Inflammation in the lungs is a normal process after infection. Inflammation is designed to sequester the bugs that cause disease and bring immune cells to the area of infection to gobble them up. Unfortunately, this process gets a little out of hand and the immune system spills too many chemicals that cause inflammation in the lungs. After a few days of this inflammation, the lungs have accumulated enough damage to lead to cough and difficulty breathing. This uncontrolled inflammation also appears to achieve the opposite of its purpose by making the lung environment hospitable to the growth of the very organisms it was trying to protect us from. This can ultimately lead to severe respiratory symptoms and ultimately pneumonia.

One supplement has proven itself to be an indispensable tool in the defense against excessive lung inflammation. The supplement is called N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) . Studies have been impressive showing a number of benefits to the lungs and immune system:

1. NAC has been shown to decrease the risk of influenza infection in the elderly.

2. Decreased death rates in mice which had been infected with influenza. (Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2000 Sep-Dec; 13(3):123-8)

3. Decreased the formation of free-radicals that may damage the delicate lung tissues.

4. Increases the production of immune cells which protect us from these infections. (J Immunol. 2005 Dec 15;175(12):7965-72)

5. Enhances the production of glutathione which has been shown to be antiviral.

6. Helps to thin out and clear mucous from the lungs. This can improve the clearance of the organisms that cause the inflammation in the first place.

NAC is widely available and easy to take. As a preventative, take 500 mg daily. If you feel a cold or flu coming on, you can increase the dose to 500 mg three times daily. Although not the topic of this article, NAC offers other benefits to the body such as liver support and protection for unwanted toxins.

Coenzyme Q10 is Important for Proper Immune Support

Dr Ray Hinish — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:12:10 +0000

Background Info on CoQ10

Many years ago scientists noticed that practically every cell of the body contained an unknown compound that seemed to be essential in the cell’s energy production system. The scientists named this compound “ubiquinone” because it was so ubiquitous in the body. Later, ubiquinone came to be known as Coenzyme Q10. It was also noted that the organs which require the most energy seemed to contain much higher concentrations of this vital nutrient. These organs included: heart, kidneys, liver and the immune system.

CoQ10 is Not a Vitamin

Because CoQ10 is produced by the body, it is not considered a vitamin. This production seems to wane as we age, it is also negatively impacted by many medications such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and osteoporosis medications. As the body’s CoQ10 levels reach a 25% deficiency, disease begins to settle in; when a 75% deficiency occurs, you die.

CoQ10 and the Immune System

As we age, the thymus gland, which is charged with the task of managing immune function, begins to decrease in size. This decrease in size has been linked to immune dysfunction and has been closely correlated to a decline in CoQ10 production. When CoQ10 is returned to optimal levels, the thymus appears to become more youthful in appearance and function.

In one study on elderly subjects, a deficiency of coenzyme Q10 was linked to a decrease in the function of natural killer cells; these cells are critical in the fight against viral infection and cancer. Other studies demonstrated that coenzyme Q10 was important in the function of both T-cells and macrophages—two important classes of immune cell.

As you can see, coenzyme Q10 plays a very important role in a healthy immune response; a deficiency in this vital nutrient can have catastrophic effects on health and vitality.

Prepare Your Body for Vaccinations with Coenzyme Q10

Those who listen to our radio program and read our newsletter know that we are not fans of vaccinations; however, if you are convinced that vaccines are beneficial then you may want to start taking Coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 offers two benefits: First, coenzyme Q10 appears to enhance the body’s ability to build an antibody response to vaccinations. Second, CoQ10 appears to decrease the likelihood of having an exaggerated inflammatory response to something like a vaccine by normalizing a gene signal for inflammation.

Coenzyme Q10 is available as a nutritional supplement. For general health, 100 mg daily is likely sufficient to maintain healthy CoQ10 levels. Some people, such as those who take numerous medications, may require more supplementation to achieve optimal levels. For a discussion on CoQ10 supplementation, see our “Guide to Supplementing with CoQ10” .