Colds and Flu Update
Colds and Flu
As the world’s medical organisations recognise that modern pharmaceuticals are becoming ineffective at combating illness causing viruses and bacteria such as colds and flu, they began to look for alternative treatments and remedies.
One such alternative natural research began in the 1960’s in Denmark and France with studies by Dr.Remy Chauvin and Aagard Lund. Lund was the one of the first in the West to recognise the properties of Propolis a resinous compound produced by bees as an immune stimulant, with antibacterial properties. Chemical analysis reveals that it is a complex amalgam of plant resins, beeswax, aromatic oils and bee pollen.
Lund was the first to develop a process for preserving propolis. His process is still used by many producers today to ensure the integrity of propolis’s healing and antiviral properties.
Chauvin, who conducts his research at the Sorbonne in Paris, now considered as the world’s foremost authority on propolis. He states,” Scientists believe that nature has a cure for every disease it’s just a matter of finding it.” He also points out that propolis bestows a significant amounts of vitamins and minerals when taken internally, while antibiotics do the opposite causing deficiencies in the important nutrients.
We might use this analogy in describing propolis use for colds and flu: If our bodies were a castle and in danger of being invaded by an army of marauders, it would make more sense to reinforce the walls surrounding the castle, rather than setting off a bomb which would indiscriminately destroy the wall and marauders alike.
Studies in Brazil, Australia and Bulgaria have shown that propolis does work in conjunction with synthetic antibiotics by boosting the efficacy of penicillin and other antibiotics by one hundred percent.
So, what are the chemical compounds of this miracle healer? Forty to fifty percent of propolis is made up of resins, which are rich in flavonoids. Flavoniods exist in all blossoming plants, but they have different properties when found in propolis. Experts believe that the enzymes excreted in bee saliva when the bees process propolis produce a chemical change in the flavanoids.
There are many different types of flavanoids, but the most important ones are Pinocembrin and Galanin, which have significant therapeutic properties. They are shown to strengthen the protein shell surrounding cold and flu viruses, which renders the virus and bacteria harmless. It also stimulates interferon which stimulates the immune system.
Flavanoids comprise as much as twenty percent of the biochemical properties of propolis, which might explain why it’s such a powerful natural healing agent
Consumer research shows that a high proportion of users, as I do, take propolis on a regular basis to stay well, to maintain a strong immune system to ward off coughs, colds and flu. I always take 2 x 2 gram capsules; double my dose prior to a long haul flight for several days before departure, just to boost my immune system. Bye the way, propolis is readily available in all good health food stores.
Propolis can cause an allergic reaction in some people (about 1 in 2000). So, if you are allergic to bee stings or honey then take care, and only start with small doses. Some beekeepers develop a rash when attending their hives in summer, but their rashes soon disappear in the winter when there is no hive activity.
Pregnant women are advised to check with their physician before taking this supplement.
Immune System Strengthened Naturally
Filed under: Immune System Strengthened Naturally, Uncategorized
Immune System Strengthened Naturally
Scientists have come to the conclusion that nature has a cure for every disease; it’s just a matter of finding it. Also remember that keeping the body free from diseases through natural healing can actually slow down the aging process and add years to the lifespan.
Dr. Remy Chauvin who conducts his research at the Sorbonne in Paris, and is considered the world authority of the natural product from the bees namely PROPOLIS actually states” The antibacterial, and antiviral propolis work to raise the body’s natural resistance to disease by internally stimulating one’s own immune system”.
Since Chauvin began to spread the word about PROPOLIS the immune system strengthener, scientific studies on the bee substance have risen dramatically, with over 350 studies between 1980m and 2006.
Continuing studies from reliable scientific sources verify what the ancients learned centuries ago: PROPOLIS is truly a miracle healer, found capable of eradicating both viruses and bacterial infections, something that no other natural substance is known to accomplish.
So what is this miracle of propolis and what is its value to the bees? The bees collect this substance much in the way they collect pollen and nectar to bring back to the hive for food, so they collect plant resins to make propolis to make the hives a sterile environment. In Northern regions, the resins are collected primarily from poplar, pine and balsam trees. In Southern climes, the bees gather resins from certain flowers as well as trees. After mixing it with a combination of saliva and beeswax they stash the mixture in their storage sacks for the journey back to the hive.
The philosopher and scholar Aristotle (around 350 BC) was the first to undertake detailed research into the antiseptic and healing properties of PROPOLIS. He built a glass hive to better observe the workings of the honeybee, but the bees, preferring to conduct their business in darkness, promptly coated the glass in propolis. Despite the bees desire to live in obscurity, Aristotle gleaned significant insight into their realm and made noteworthy advances in the knowledge of their industry. He chronicled the antiseptic and antiviral and immune system strengthener of propolis and recommended its use for a variety of ailments, including wound healing, bruises and sprains.
Hippocrates, holder of the illustrious title of, “father of modern medicine”, also prescribed propolis for wounds, sores and ulcers. References found in the Koran to the medicinal properties of honey and PROPOLIS,confirming that the ancient Arabic world was also in tune with apiarian remedies.
PROPOLIS contains essential minerals and trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, copper, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, cobalt silica and zinc. Perhaps most importantly it can be taken regularly as a preventative, health boosting measure, ensuring good health and vitality and keeping illnesses at bay, by strengthening the immune system, no matter what the circumstance.
A piece of propolis slowly dissolved in the mouth is an age old sore throat remedy recommended by beekeepers. Propolis lozenges are sold worldwide to heal and soothe a sore throat. A tincture is regularly used by dentists to heal mouth ulcers and cure gum diseases.
Propolis may cause an allergic reaction, so experiment with small amounts before daily use. You may have an allergic reaction if you have a severe allergy to honey and or bee stings.
You should avoid using PROPOLIS if you are pregnant or nursing, just as you would take precaution when using any form of medication
The Immune System Food
The Immune System Food from the World of Bees
As you learned from an earlier post, I want to tell you more about this remarkable immune system food substance made naturally by the bees to protect their hive from invaders.
What other alternative therapy brings together such a phenomenal array of curative properties to be found in propolis, including anti-fungal antibacterial, anti-inflammatory antibiotic, antacid and anti-tumour.
The Russians have probably carried out most of the research at the Kazan Vetinery Institute in 1947 to discover the amazing properties that this substance embodies. So much so that propolis came to be known as ‘Russian Penicillin’ prior to this date it was applied to slow healing wounds during the Boer War and again during the Second World War in Russia.
Reports in the use of this incredible substance have become legendary. Dr. Bernard Jenson Ph.D. visited the Caucasus people in Russia he found that in his own words” All the oldest men in the area were and had been beekeepers and used raw honey AND hive scrapings which contained propolis as a regular part of their diet.” He interviewed one of the beekeepers Shirali Mislimov who was reported to be 157 years old. It is a known fact that the incidence of Cancer in beekeepers is reported to be ONLY one in a thousand.
Unlike antibiotics, we can take propolis daily as an immune system food to strengthen our immunity to a vast array of illnesses without the destructive side effects.
With a fortified immune system we can keep ourselves healthy in even the most virus and germ infected environments. There are testimonials from people who used to come down with colds and flu every year. Since taking propolis they’ve breezed through the colds and flu system without sneeze, ache, sore throat or sniffle. Medical researchers, for whom modern synthetic drugs were once a Holy Grail, have tried to determine why propolis is able to treat not only immune disorders but also a vast array of other medical conditions.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland have attempted to isolate the various chemical properties of propolis in the hopes of finding one active component that is responsible for its effects.
Because it has more than 150 chemical properties and because these components also depend on the botanical source, propolis is difficult to analyze. Nevertheless, researchers have found that no one component is responsible for its curative effects. In fact, when the chemical structures of propolis are isolated, they do not work effectively. Rather, propolis combines all of its properties to create a synergistic effect.
Colds and Coughs
In 1989 Polish researchers gauged the effect of propolis on groups with the common cold. The group treated with propolis had the infection for a shorter period with complete recovery within 3 days. The untreated group took 5 days to recover. Researchers into its use showed that it is more effective as a prophylactic i.e. as an immune system food to prevent rather than cure. The old adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ rings true.
Many people, including myself take propolis regularly for general health maintenance, thus decreasing the incidence of colds, bronchial infections and flu.
It is important to note that propolis may cause an allergic reaction in some people. Take small quantities at first to gauge any reaction. You are more likely to have an allergic reaction if you havea severe allergy to bee stings or you are allergic to bee pollen or honey. You should avoid using propolis if you are pregnant or nursing.
Do not stop using prescribed medication without consulting your physician
How to Improve the Immune System
How to Improve the Immune System
The human immune system is a unique. Its purpose is to recognise the body’s invasion of viral enemies and bacteria and destroy them. It can recognise viral strains which it has encountered before and beat them off, but If the viral strain has mutated – changed, even the smallest variance can trick it into thinking that it is a different species for which it has no defence, consequently we become ill and suffer.
With the prediction that the swine flu pandemic is likely to return with a vengeance in the fall and winter months it is vital that we improve the immune system to withstand a sustained attack, particularly in small children and pregnant women. Those over 65 seem to have developed some natural immunity against the current pandemic; maybe it’s the case of their immune system recognising this particular H1N1 strain.
Vitamin C is without doubt the super master immune boosting nutrient. This water soluble nutrient is unable to be stored by the human body; therefore we need a constant daily supply. If we have too much, then it just passed out of the body as a normal function.
Scurvy was once the scourge of the old sailing ships, where crews could be decimated on longer voyages without fresh fruit and vegetables in their diet. We can thank the Englishman Captain James Cook who realised the importance of vitamin C in the crews diet particularly limes, as a result, most British sailors became known as ‘Limeys’ in foreign climes.
It is a vital vitamin in creating healthy connective tissue such as the skin and walls of blood vessels and is an essential antioxidant.
Boost the Immune System
So, fresh fruit, green and red vegetables are the order of the day. Some fruit in particular has a high proportion of Vitamin C. To name a few: Strawberries, oranges, lemon and limes, avocados, kiwi fruit, blackcurrants, gogo berries. Berries contain phytonutrients which boost the immune system. It would do no harm to snack on these berries!
It is not a bad idea to take a daily supplement in the winter months, available from all health stores. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C is 60 mg and 85 for pregnant women. Medical trials conclude that 1000mg roughly twenty times the RDA has a protective effect against colds and flu.
Vitamin B6 boosts the production of antibodies to fight infection. Recommended foods include bananas, carrots, fish, eggs, wholegrain cereals, and vegetables.
ZINC is an essential mineral to maintain a healthy immune system and resistance to colds and flu. The body stores only small amounts so a daily intake is required to maintain a healthy diet. The best sources are: Oysters, which contain more zinc per serving than any other natural food, also widely available in red meat, chicken, yeast and eggs, all seeds, nuts and wholegrain cereals. Pumpkin seeds and nuts provide an essential source of this mineral for vegetarians as the ‘veggie’ diet is known to contain less zinc than a meat based diet.
Over the counter lozenges which are available to help cold and flu symptoms contain zinc which can reduce the severity of the cold and reduce the time span of colds and flu.
Prevent Swine Flu
PREVENT SWINE FLU
The A (H1N1) virus Swine flu virus infection has now climbed steadily over the week-end to 21,940 cases according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), who are monitoring the situation, with Mexico, USA, and Canada as the worst affected countries. Saudi Arabia having their first case of Swine flu, bringing the total number of Countries to 69.
The WHO scale of infection through 1-6, has reached 5, one short of a full scale pandemic.
What are the effects of this particular flu and how does it manifest itself, and how do we prevent swine flu?
This strain of flu is the same strain as the Spanish Flu in 1918 which killed between 50-100 million people with mortality rates up to 90%. With the significant increase in worldwide population since this time, and global interaction, this would equate to over 300 million at today’s figures!
Strangely, it infected young children, men and women aged between 25 and 35 in the prime of their life and those with a pre-existing medical condition, the old and infirm.
So, why is it so deadly, and what can we learn from past events. This strain of flu, similar to the Spanish Flu has the ability to turn a person’s immune system inside-out. Breathing becomes impossible as it eats up the victims lungs, causing acute respiratory distress syndrome known as Cytokine Storm.
Normally most of the population has some immunity to flu strains and recognise them as such. But, with a new strain, the body has no idea how to cope with it, and goes into overdrive to try to shut it down as
quickly as possible, hence the storm, an overreaction really.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
The ‘Storm’ really is reference to the severity of the condition as in chaotic weather events, where the fury of nature is released uncontrollably, so the word ‘storm’ has no medical connotation. The Cytokine does…. and it’s alarming. So what does Cytokine mean, in layman’s terms, and simply, what effect does it have in our bodies?
They are important let’s say elements of the immune system that act as messengers or couriers if you like between cells. The immune system latches on to a virus that it has not seen before or does not recognise is in the case of H1N1 and all hell breaks loose releasing a cascade of biochemical’s, such as interferon, and interleukin, really overacting, causing respiratory distress similar to Asthma but much worse. Consequently, the lungs self ingest, suffocating the victim as a result of the body’s reaction.
I have seen some references to it as the Purple Death which signals the lack of oxygen in the body.
So how we can help ourselves to prevent swine flu?
What we have to remember is that viruses can survive for up to three days, so they can hang about where you least expect them.
As we all know now coughs and sneezes spreads diseases, so my mother used to drill into me, and how true today with a pandemic imminent. There are some basic hygiene rules to follow to prevent swine flu.
• Cover each Cough and Sneeze with a tissue, bin it then wash ones hands as soon as possible. The virus can linger on door handles, elevator buttons, toilet flush handles,
• The virus can linger on door handles, elevator buttons, toilet flush handles, store trolley handles, even on your car steering wheel. Computer keyboards and TV remote control stations.
• In our Gym there are antiseptic wipe dispensers for first aid and personal use, mainly though to wipe down a machine after use. So why not keep a box in your car to wipe down your steering wheel (recommended), and all items of equipment manually controlled. Researchers have found that it is more beneficial to wipe one small area at a time and then throw the wipe away, used on multi surfaces can spread viruses very effectively.
For more information on how to prevent swine flu and optimise your immune system, follow me in my next blog.
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