Ayurveda - AMERICANS SEEK ALTERNATIVES FOR FLU PROTECTION

Author

AMERICANS SEEK ALTERNATIVES FOR FLU PROTECTION

Dr. Jai Maharaj

2004-11-04, 7:16 pm

AMERICANS SEEK ALTERNATIVES FOR FLU PROTECTION

Forwarded message from fidyl@yahoo.com

[ Subject: Americans seek alternatives for flu protection
[ From: fidyl@yahoo.com
[ Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004

Americans seek alternatives for flu protection

Published on 10/26/2004
by Healthy News Service

http://healthy.net/scr/News.asp?id=10112

Research suggests herbs are promising alternatives

Austin, TX (October 26, 2004). The shortage of flu
vaccine has forced millions of Americans to seek
alternatives. These alternatives include options that
have shown success in clinical studies. The United States
has lost much of its vaccine supply and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention are instructing clinics
and hospitals to vaccinate priority groups. These include
the elderly, the very young, healthcare workers, those
with heart, lung, or metabolic diseases, and those with
weakened immune systems.

The American Botanical Council (ABC), an independent
nonprofit research and education organization providing
information about herbal medicine, points out several
natural options that may help normal, healthy adults
protect against flu, diminish flu symptoms, and/or
shorten flu intensity and duration.

Some herbs have demonstrated benefits when taken at the
first sign of flu symptoms. According to ABC founder and
executive director Mark Blumenthal, there are a handful
of herbs with proven safety that can help improve the
body’s immune functions. These herbs include the popular
herb echinacea, the traditional and increasingly popular
immune booster, elder berry, and the Chinese herb
andrographis.

Clinical studies on echinacea show that it can diminish
the symptoms and duration of colds and flu. Blumenthal
noted that although some recent clinical trials on
echinacea have not confirmed its effectiveness, others
have. One recent Canadian clinical trial on an echinacea
extract (Echinilin®, Natural Factors, Burnaby, British
Columbia), showed that the herbal extract lowered
respiratory tract symptoms in people with colds.

In a recent Norwegian study scientists were able to
demonstrate that patients receiving elder berry extract
(Sambucol®, Razei Bar, Jerusalem, Israel) recovered from
the flu four days earlier than patients in the control
group. The study revealed that the elder berry extract
shortened the duration of flu types A & B by four days,
in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study. Symptoms were also made less severe with no
significant side effects reported.

"Some of the best things about elder berry are its
mildness, its safety, and its great taste," added ABC’s
Blumenthal. "It’s a good remedy for children too." ABC
will soon publish a monograph on elder berry. This
monograph is based on a search of the scientific
literature and includes the clinical and laboratory
research documenting the beneficial immune-stimulating
properties of elder berry preparations.

In addition to echinacea and elder berry, andrographis is
an herb with pronounced benefits for the immune system,
said Blumenthal. A recent published review of 11 clinical
trials shows that andrographis is safe and effective in
treating upper respiratory tract infections associated
with colds and flus. "Unfortunately," added Blumenthal,
"despite its good record of being scientifically
documented for its safety and benefits, it has not yet
become popular in the United States, although it is
available from a few manufacturers."

Andrew Weil, MD, best-selling author and leader in
integrating conventional and alternative medicine, and a
member of the ABC Advisory Board, has been providing
consumers advice on alternatives during the flu vaccine
shortage. According to Weil, "There are other ways of
preventing and treating influenza. My first choice is to
take a standardized extract of astragalus, a well-known
Chinese herb throughout the flu season. It is nontoxic
and has immune-boosting activity. People should be aware
of other herbal treatments such as echinacea and elder
berry extract. (Of course they should also make an effort
to avoid sick people and to wash hands frequently.)"

Extensive information about echinacea, elder berry,
andrographis, astragalus and other herbs is available
from ABC (www.herbalgram.org). The American Botanical
Council is the nation's leading nonprofit organization
addressing research and educational issues regarding
herbs and medicinal plants. The 16-year-old organization
occupies a 2.5 acre site in Austin, Texas where it
publishes HerbalGram, a peer-reviewed journal. ABC is
also the publisher of The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, a
continuing education and reference book, which contains
extensive monographs on the safety and efficacy of
echinacea and 28 other popular herbs. The soon to be
released elder berry monograph will be shipped by ABC
with copies of The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs.

Contact: ABC at P.O. Box 144345, Austin, TX 78714-4345,
ph: 512-926-4900, fax: 512-926-2345. Website:
www.herbalgram.org.

References Coon JT, Ernst E. Andrographis paniculata in
the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections: a
systematic review of safety and efficacy. Planta Medica.
2004;70:293-296. Goel V, Lovlin R, Barton R, et al.
Efficacy of a standardized Echinacea preparation
(EchinilinÔ) for the treatment of the common cold: a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J
Clin Pharm Ther. 2004;29:75-83.

Zakay-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, et al. Randomized study
of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in
the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J
International Med Res. 2004;32:132-140.

End of forwarded message from fidyl@yahoo.com

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Hindu Holocaust Museum
http://www.mantra.com/holocaust

Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org
http://www.hindunet.org

The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate

The terrorist mission of Jesus stated in the Christian bible:

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not so send
peace, but a sword.
"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law.
"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
- Matthew 10:34-36.

o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the educational
purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of this post may not
have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the
poster. The contents are protected by copyright law and the exemption for
fair use of copyrighted works.
o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name, current
e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others are
not necessarily those of the poster.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This article may contain copyrighted material the use of
which may or may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright
owner. This material is being made available in efforts to advance the
understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democratic, scientific, social, and cultural, etc., issues. It is believed
that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title
17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without
profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included
information for research, comment, discussion and educational purposes by
subscribing to USENET newsgroups or visiting web sites. For more information
go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this article for purposes of
your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the
copyright owner.

MilkyWhy

2004-11-04, 10:10 pm

great article on herbs and flu. Thanks!

Dr. Jai Maharaj

2004-11-04, 10:10 pm

In article <20041104221303.06216.00000075@mb-m23.wmconnect.com>,
milkywhy@wmconnect.com (MilkyWhy) posted:
> great article on herbs and flu. Thanks!

You're welcome, but the credit really goes to its author.

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Dr. Jai Maharaj

2004-11-10, 4:09 am

MilkyWhy

2004-11-10, 4:09 am

great article on herbs and flu. Thanks!