With all the crazyness going on about swine flu, I figured I'd take a different approach. Yes, swine flu is bad, and it has killed many people but it's STILL just a flu, and the best way to PREVENT a flu (or a cold) is by having a strong immune system... Not by having the right drugs to cure yourself in case you get it. Prevent this from the beginning and you're better off, catch my drift?
An average person gets anywhere from 2-3 serious colds every year, while the average child has anywhere from 4-8. That's staggering! And the worst part is that some people have been getting colds for so long they think it's NORMAL... It's not! There is nothing normal about getting sick, it means you have a weak immune system and you could catch any virus with ease. Instead, you should have a strong immune system that prevents you from EVER getting sick... THAT'S normal in my opinion.
So how do we go about doing that? Well I have a list of some of the top herbal remedies that are known to help boost your immune system and help keep it strong year-round. These immune system boosters are pretty inexpensive and can be taken as a preventative measure. Also note that if you DO manage to get sick, these remedies will help you recover a lot faster. On with the list...
Elderberry
Also known as Sambucus, is a species of shrubs or small trees. Mainly found in the Northern Hemisphere, the elderberry has been used to treat influenza, sinusitis and colds for hundreds of years in folk medicine. There was a study done in Norway where researchers took 60 patients who were suffering from flu-like symptoms and did a randomized, double blind placebo test. 93% of the patients who were treated with elderberry were symptom free within 2 days, and those that were given the placebo took up to 6 days to recover.
How does it work? It contains antioxidants called flavonoids which have shown to stimulate the immune system along with anthocyanins - which has anti-inflammatory properties. Throw in the fact that elderberry is proven safe for adults and children alike with no known side effects and you have a WINNER! Just remember that not ALL forms of elderberry have shown to work, only true elderberry extract has proven effective... So if a company comes out with something like "Elderberry toast spread" to help treat your flu symptoms, send some hate mail action their way, cuz they're just ripping you off.
Licorice
You either love, or hate this stuff... This includes licorice flavours and candies. But when you're sick, I think you should just suck it up, buttercup. Licorice is a known anti-inflammatory, antipasmodic, expectorant (expels mucus) & demulcent (helps soothe your sore throat). Quite the performer then, is it not? You can take licorice in powdered form (the root) or as an extract. As you would expect, this stuff is POTENT... So don't take it for more than 5 weeks because it can cause your kidneys to retain water & sodium and lose potassium. Moderation is KEY here.
Echinacea
A species of plants that are commonly known as the coneflower. These plants are native to eastern and central part of North America. Echinacea is HOT right now, there are a boat load of products out there with this stuff promising to help you rid of your cold and flu like symptoms in days. After some personal use, I've found that ecchinacea by itself is moderately effective, but taken in conjunction with say... Elderberry or Licorice has a much more dramatic effect. If you ARE planning on combining this stuff with anything else... You do so at your OWN risk.
So, how does this stuff work? It has three bioactive ingredients that stimulate the immune system: alkylamides, polysaccharides and cichoric acid. Again, this is best taken in standardized extract from .
The good thing about echinacea is that it is good for both preventative and therapeutic treatment. A study published in the Clinical Therapeutics found that people who were taking Echinacea lowered their chances of catching a cold by 55%. I'll take that!
Astragalus
Another species of about 2000 types of herbs and small shrubs, and also known by the following names: Huang Qi, Bei Qi, Hwanggi, Milk Vetch. The yellow root of this plant is where the medicinal properties lie, therefore some root extract is what you're after.
This herb's antiviral properties works against certain types of infections such as: the common cold, herpes simplex, coxsackie virus and parainfluenza. It is also used for impaired immunity and as an adjunctive cancer treatment.
There have been studies done, and they show that astragalus increases the number of stem cells in bone marrow and lymph tissue; enhances production of immunoglobulin; stimulates macrophages; and activates T-cells and natural fighter cells. I can just SEE the supplement companies trying to isolate the key ingredient that is shown to boost T-cells. Sometimes being able to see the future is quite entertaining.
Active Lifestyle
Before we get to our last natural immune system booster, let it be known that the most important immune boosting technique is - AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. I harp on this over and over again, and it's something I hammer into everyone. Regular exercise and proper eating habits has NO substitute. A strong body has a strong immune system, and combining that with these herbal immune boosters will make you unstoppable.
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Reishi Mushroom
Finally we have shrooms! OK maybe this isn't the same type of stuff, but it is used a lot in traditional Chinese Medicine (for over 2000 years to be exact!). Composed of complex carbs such as polysaccharides, triterpeniods & different amino acids, it is supposed to calm the mind, restore emotional balance, improve your immune function and can be used for preventative treatment. The water-soluble polysaccharides is the main ingredient that is known to have anti-tumor, immune boosting and blood pressure lowering effects. You get this stuff in powder form and can be taken as directed.
So there you have it, your personal army to defend off any type of flu; whether it be swine, wine, dine... Whatever. Prevention is always better than finding a "cure". Cheers!
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