Research Finds Antioxidants May Be the Flu’s Achilles Heel

In a study published in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, researchers found that antioxidants may hold the key to preventing the flu from wreaking havoc on our lungs. It is generally recognized that antioxidants are powerful nutrients that protect your health by fighting against free radicals in the body, preventing damage from oxidation. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons. These unpaired electrons cause them to be highly available for bonding and can damage important tissues.

In this study, the researchers found that the flu virus damages the lungs through a protein called M2, which attacks the cells that line the inner surface of the lungs (epithelial cells). They discovered that the M2 protein disrupts the epithelial cells’ ability to remove liquid from inside the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia and other lung problems. However, antioxidants were able to prevent the M2 protein from damaging the epithelial cells.

In this study, antioxidant-like drugs were used to stop the destruction of the epithelial cells, however, it offers an intriguing glimpse into how dietary antioxidants probably work naturally.

Dr. Victor Bachinsky, a forensic pathologist and head of the Chernivtsi Regional Forensic Bureau, who has studied the lethal outbreak of influenza in the Ukraine, states that antibiotics are useless and that only those with a strong immune system will survive.

Antioxidants are the natural builders of the immune system. Enrich you diet with food sources that are high in antioxidants:

• Fruits: All berries, but especially cranberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, Acai berry juice, and red grapes
• Vegetables: Beans, artichokes, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, carrots, peppers, snow peas, chard, mustard and turnip greens, alfalfa sprouts, and whole grains
• Nuts: All nuts especially walnuts and hazelnuts (best if soaked to deactivate the enzymes that interfere with digestion and then dried)
• Spices: Ground cloves, ground cinnamon, oregano, and garlic
• Other: Tea (both green or black), bee pollen (best if local)
• Vitamins: The antioxidant vitamins are C (be careful-taking too much C in megadoses can deplete your Copper concentrations, however over short periods of time the body can tolerate megadoses), D (get tested to see how much you should be taking) and E (400IU/day – again be careful – too much E, which is stored in the tissues, can be toxic)

Another Tool for Your Health Arsenal

Here is a “home remedy” that you may not have encountered. It was passed along to us by a friend who is incredibly knowledgeable about natural and homeopathic remedies. She hasn’t taken a pharmaceutical in 40 years! She swears by this remedy and that’s good enough for us! The remedy comes from an Ecuadorian Medicine Woman.

“Magic” Syrup For Colds, Coughs, Sore Throats, Flu, Bronchitis, and Sinusitis

Ingredients:

• 3 large onions
• 1 bunch of radishes
• 10-12 large garlic cloves
• one 2-inch piece of fresh peeled horseradish
• 3-5 lemons
• 3-5 limes
• honey

(Organic ingredients are best, especially the lemon peel, but this is not essential.)

Grate the onions, radishes, garlic, and horseradish, on the medium side of a grater (if you don’t have a grater, chop the ingredients very finely). If the garlic is chopped rather than graded, mash the small pieces as well to release some of the juice.

Add finely grated peel (outside yellow and inner white layers) of one large lemon. Put all ingredients (including the juices) in a large bowl or jar. Completely cover all ingredients with equal amounts of fresh lime juice and lemon juice (the number of limes and lemons needed will depend on how juicy they are – probably 3-5 of each).

Cover bowl or jar tightly and leave on counter over night (at least 8 to 10 hours).

After 8-10 hours press mixture through a medium screen sieve, so that a little of the finer texture goes through with the liquid. Discard the remaining solids.

Heat, but don’t boil, about 1/8 cup of the above liquid to dissolve 3 level tablespoons of honey in it. (Preferably local honey where you live.)

When dissolved, add honey mixture to rest of liquid in a large covered jar and shake well. Put in the refrigerator.

Take two tablespoons of this liquid 5-6 times a day and if you awaken at night.

This amount should last 4-6 days.

Note: it is a good idea to make this up ahead of time (it stores up to 4 months in the fridge) so you can take it at the first sign of illness, instead of waiting 8 -10 hours for it to be ready.

More Herbal Immunity Boosters for Colds and Flu

Some herbs you may not have heard about:

Andrographis – This herb is just showing up in the US. Research in Thailand has shown that it reduces cold symptoms more effectively than placebos. Available in a formula called Kan Jang which also includes eleuthero (formerly known as Siberian ginseng). Take immediately after first symptoms appear.

Astragalus – This herb has long been used in Chinese medicine as an immunity booster. It contains polysaccharides which some studies show stimulates virus fighting cells in the immune system.

Elderberry – Hippocrates called this herb a “medicine chest.” A new study by Israeli researches showed that a commercially available elderberry extract called Sambucoi can suppress the growth of influenza viruses in lab dishes. The same researchers also reported that patients given the extract recovered faster. You’ll find elderberry alone in capsules or tinctures. Take 2-3 times a day between meals.

Honeysuckle and Forsythia – Long used in Chinese medicine to ward off respiratory infections, a variety of studies show both contain substances that act against viruses.

Pelargonium sidoides – Used in South African traditional medicine to treat coughs and respiratory infections, this herb is beginning to show up in the US as a product called Ulmcka. Tests in Europe show it may be especially useful against sore throats and bronchitis. Recent findings suggest it may speed up the motion of cilia which eject invading organisms in the nose and lungs.

Keep up with the local outbreaks through the online version of the newpaper or health department or check out websites like Flu Tracker or the CDC Weekly Flu Update

If you decide to get the vaccine, you might also want to go by Dr. Steven Coward’s office to get his homeopathic remedy to ameliorate the negative effects of contaminants in the vaccines. You can also visit his website at AshevilleNaturalHealth.com

Important Training on SCENAR Protocols for Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Infections and Flu

It is upon us. Now is the time to be using the SCENAR to boost your immune system and keep your body in a balanced, well functioning state. If you do get sick, using the SCENAR will assist your body in recovering more quickly from the illness and help reduce the discomfort of the symptoms.

In an effort to support health in our community, Healing Innovations will be providing training on SCENAR protocols for prevention and treatment of respiratory infections and flu for anyone who owns a SCENAR and wants this information. The training will be held Thursday, October 22 at 65 Hill Street, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The cost per person is $25. Demonstration of techniques and opportunities to practice will be provided. Handouts for all of the protocols will be available. Basic skill with the device is required.

We will also provide some basic information about using herbs and essesential oils to boost the immune system for protection against infection as well as treatment if you get a respiratory infection.

In order to secure the appropriate space, we will need you to RSVP if you plan to attend. Email us as soon as possible at info@BioHealingWeb.com to let us know that you will be coming. The number of participants will be limited so there will be ample opportunity for individualized attention by the trainers during the practice times. This will be the only time this training will be offered.

We look forward to providing this important training so those that own this amazing device can use it to its best effect during this time. Let us hear from you soon!

More Advice on Staying Healthy and Treating the Flu Naturally

Just posted new information from a Naturopath in San Francisco. Go to the “Healing Tips” page and scroll to the bottom. More tools to give you the edge in staying healthy.

Quick SCENAR Treatment for Respiratory Infection and Flu

For those of you who own SCENARs for your personal use and get a respiratory infection or the flu, a quick treatment that we have found helpful over the years is the Six Points protocol (for those of you who have bought SCENARs from Healing Innovations, go to the “SCENAR Owners” page for complete instructions) coupled with holding the device for five minutes on the suprasternal notch (the dip between the collar bones where the Thymus gland is located). We have found that using the Six Points can reduce or eliminate congestion and improve your sense of well being for one to three hours depending on the severity of symptoms. We repeat the protocol whenever the congestion comes back. Stoking the sides of the neck where the lymph glands are located is also helpful, keeping them open and flowing. If the infection moves into your chest and you are coughing, hold the SCENAR in continuous mode at a high frequency over the spot that feels like it is causing your cough. Usually in one to five minutes the area will calm down and the cough will stop. I sleep with my SCENAR if an infection has moved to my lungs, so that if I wake up coughing, I can easily treat the spot that is causing the cough without getting up.

In conjunction with using the SCENAR we also drink lots and lots of medicinal teas. We combine teas for immunity, respiratory health, and throat health and drink them all day. This helps hydrate the body as well as provide the body the support it needs to combat the infection. Camomile tea also helps the body relax and rest.

Natural Hand Sanitizer

Used to be you only saw hand sanitizer in the doctor’a office, but anymore, you see it sitting out everywhere. If you are concerned about using the harsh chemical sanitizers, there is a natural one made of essential oils. It is commonly called Thieves Oil and is made of  the anti-viral and anti- bacterial clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils. It can be purchased from Young Living Oil for $41.78 for a 15ml bottle. Or you can make it yourself by mixing equal parts of the oils and adding the mixture to a carrier oil such as jojoba or olive oil. One tablespoon of the mixture to 1.5 ounces of carrier oil is recommended. These essential oils are potent, so test a small amount on sensitive skin areas. If the skin feels hot, add more carrier oil to the mixture.

The name comes from the Middle Ages when Europe was being ravaged by the Black Plague. The story goes that four perfumers (or spice traders) would douse themselves with a mixture of the above oils and then rob the dead of their valuables. They never got the Plague.

Thieves Oil has many applications. It can be diffused in your office or home. The aroma will remind you of Christmas. The amount of diffusion time recommended is twenty minutes. As a hand sanitizer, place one drop in your palm and rub your hands together. Or before you leave home, put one to three drops into one palm and rub your palms together. Cup your hands close to your face and inhale the aroma of the oil deeply. Rub some at the hair line on the back of the neck. Rub the rest on the bottom of each foot. This will boost the immune system as well as provide protection. You can find more information on Thieves Oil at www.thieves-oil.com

Swine Flu and Vitamin D3

In researching what can be done to naturally protect against swine flu, the role of Vitamin D3 in maintaining respiratory health has emerged. The BBC reported that in a study of 14,091 people by the Universtiy of Auckland, those with higher levels of Vitamin D in their blood had significantly better lung function.

Because of the concern about skin cancer and the use of sun screens, Vitamin D deficiency is becoming more and more prevelant. This deficiency has been linked to many conditions including heart attack, stroke, and cancer. The recommended daily allowance is 200 IU which cannot even begin to deal with deficiency. The skin produces approximately 10,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure—50 times more than the US government’s recommendation of 200 IU per day!

It is suggested that if you are interested in finding out whether or not you are deficient, ask your doctor for a test of your blood serum for 1,25-dihyroxy D3 levels to determine the proper level of supplementation required. Healthy blood serum levels are between 50–80 ng/mL (or 125–200 nM/L). If you are deficient, your doctor can recommend a therapeutic dosage. Due to Vitamin D3’s high safety profile in doses up to 10,000 IU per day and because of the wide role it plays in our health, consuming 2,000 to 4,000 IU per day of this nutrient at times of the year when sunlight is scarce is a prudent way to improve overall health.

You can also eat more foods rich in Vitamin D, including cold-water fish (particularly fatty fish such as wild salmon, halibut and cod), eggs and fortified foods like milk, which has 100 IU of Vitamin D per cup (however, milk has its own issues).

There is a plethora of information on the web about Vitamin D deficiency. The ones used for this post are:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?ProdID=2130

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2009/jan2009_Millions-of-Needless-Deaths_01.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4521060.stm

Swine Flu Prevention/Treatment with Essential Oils

In continuing to research alternative ways to prevent/treat swine flu we found numerous sites with information regarding the efficacy of herbs and essential oils. If you are interested in this alternative we would recommend you attend the Southeast Wise Women: Southeast Wise Women’s Herbal Conference to be held October 2-4 in Black Mountain. We will be there to provide demonstrations of the SCENAR, so if you would like a direct experience of SCENAR visit our booth. To learn more go to www.sewisewomen.com

Make sure you read our Healing Tips page which gives you ways to keep your neuropeptide levels high and stress low so that your body’s immune system can be at its most effective.

If you have symptoms of flu, it is essential you see your doctor for a diagnosis.

The most common essential oils recommended for antiseptic and antiviral effects are Eucalyptus (also good for decongesting), Rosemary, Clove (you can also hold clove buds in the mouth frequently during the day), Oregano (also found to be effective against the superbug MRSA), Garlic (chewing cloves), tea tree, peppermint, Thyme and Elderberry (which interrupts the virus’s ability to penetrate cell walls). You can also put antiseptic oils on a handkerchief or mask when in crowed areas. A caution: some of the antiseptic/antiviral oils can be too intense to put on sensitive skin. Be sure to research which ones can be applied directly to the skin.

Basil or Tulsi oil can relieve congestion in the lymphatic system which supports the ability of the body to eliminate the virus. Having regular lymphatic massage can also increase your body’s ability to fight off illness in general. The lymphatic massage therapist we use is Marilyn Mathews of Weaverville, NC. She has years of experience and is an excellent pratitioner.

Taking a mixture of 1/2 Tbs of honey and 1/2 Tbs of cinnamon 5-6 times a day is another home remedy that is useful. Putting 2-3 drops of Juniper Berry oil in a hot bath or diffuser boosts immunity.

You can also combine oils. For example, putting 2-4 drops of Eucalyptus/Basil/Rosemary/Juniper oils in boiling water or a steamer and taking hot facial or nasal steams 2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes can decongest nasal and ear zones.

The most recent statistics on the incidence of swine flu can be found at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

We also found an interesting guide book on natural prevention of swine flu at http://scribd.com/doc/14847284/Swine-Flu-Prevention-Guide

If you also know of prevention and remedies for swine flu, please feel free to comment below. The more information on possible natural ways to protect and assist our bodies resisting this disease, the better.