Swine flu and Avian flu alternatives and suggestions
All three viruses (see below) are influenza A viruses but they are distinct from each other.
H7N9 and H5N1 viruses are considered animal influenza viruses that sometimes infect people.
H1N1 viruses can be divided into those that normally infect people and those that normally infect
animals.
Swine Flu (H1N1)
Symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to
those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in
general, namely chills, fever, sore throat,
muscle pains, severe headache, coughing,
weakness and general discomfort.
H1N1 swine flu isn't always severe, but when
it's bad, it's really bad. Patients hospitalized
with pandemic flu have an 11% fatality rate,
data from California suggest.
The pandemic flu bug is far more likely to strike
younger people. But when people aged 50 and
older get hospitalized with H1N1 swine flu,
their case-fatality rate is the highest of any
group: 18% to 20%.
I believe that this virus uses health immune
systems to kill patients by producing a stronger
immune response (cytokines), overwhelming
the detoxifying organs.
In the 2009 flu pandemic, the virus isolated
from patients in the United States was found to
be made up of genetic elements from four
different flu viruses – North American swine
influenza, North American avian influenza,
human influenza, and swine influenza virus
typically found in Asia and Europe – "an
unusually mongrelised mix of genetic
sequences." This new strain appears to be a
result of re-assortment of human influenza and
swine influenza viruses, in all four different
strains of subtype H1N1.
Vitamin C – 1000mg every 4 hours.
Avian (Bird) Flu A(H7N9) and A(H5N1)
Most patients with H7N9 infection have had
severe pneumonia. Common symptoms include
fever, cough and shortness of breath. In
current human infections with (H7N9), a typical
influenza-like illness (e.g., fever and cough)
appeared in the early course of the disease.
Blood biochemistry tests identified that
aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK)
levels significantly increased, while white blood
cell counts were normal or slightly decreased.
Some patients progressed to severe pneumonia
followed by acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS), and finally died from multiorgan failure4. Interstitial infiltration, lobar
infiltration, and collapse/consolidation could be
observed in chest radiographs 7 to 13 d after
the onset of illness.
In H5N1 infection, the onset of disease
occurred at a median of 3 to 4 d after exposure.
The initial symptoms of disease were also
influenza-like. Dyspnoea could be observed in
42%–72% of patients, and extra-pulmonary
symptoms such as conjunctivitis and
gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., abdominal
pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting) occasionally
occurred. Other complications included Reye's
syndrome and pulmonary haemorrhaging.
Many patients progressed to severe
pneumonia, rapidly developed ARDS 4–13 d
after disease onset, and finally died from multiorgan failure. Comparing with survivors of
H5N1 infection, fatal cases were more likely to
present with leukopenia, lymphopenia,
thrombocytopenia, and elevated levels of AST,
LDH, and CK. Abnormal chest radiographic
findings were the same as those for H7N9
Vitamin D - Vitamin D, selenium, and
elderberry syrup remain among the most
critical immune-supporting supplements
because all three have been clinically shown to
be effective in combating the H5N1 avian flu
virus, a close relative of the current swine flu
Asafoetida was used in 1918 to fight the
Spanish influenza pandemic. In 2009,
researchers reported that the roots of
Asafoetida produce natural antiviral drug
compounds that demonstrated potency against
the H1N1 virus in vitro and concluded that
"sesquiterpene coumarins from F. assa-foetida
may serve as promising lead compounds for
new drug development against influenza A
(H1N1) viral infection"
Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant, which
some researchers consider to be critical in the
fight against flu. At least one study of the H5N1
avian flu (one of the genetic components of
H1N1 swine flu) confirmed that resveratrol and
other antioxidants support the body's immune
response without causing a potentially deadly
increase in cytokine production.
Quercetin is able to reduce the inflammation
and swelling of bronchial tissue, so it is a
popular medicinal supplement for people with
asthma and respiratory infections including flu.
Take in small divided doses regularly.
Oregano oil is as effective as most drugs and is
becoming an increasingly popular herbal
supplement for natural immune support, since
it has fewer side effects than other popular
immune-boosters like Echinacea and
goldenseal. Echinacea, goldenseal, and other
immune-stimulants may increase cytokine
production, thereby causing a fatal
overreaction of the immune system during a flu
pandemic. I am much more enthusiastic about
recommending safer anti-viral, antiinflammatory and antioxidant herbs like
oregano and elderberry.
Baptisia tinctoria, B. australis - Wild Indigo is a
favourite of mine for throat infections
especially in combination with Myrrh (see
below)
Wild indigo activates macrophages and
increases interleukin-1 production. It assists the
body's natural resistance to micro-organisms
and toxins. It is used for septic conditions with
pandemic. Laboratory trials have confirmed
that elderberry extract effectively defeats H5N1
avian flu with up to 99% efficacy.
Colloidal Silver
Olive Leaf Extract - Both antibacterial and antiviral, olive leaf extract is a strong immune
system enhancer, supporting the blood and
lymphatic systems to fight bird flu.
The compound curcumin, from turmeric, is
anti-inflammatory and relieves fever while
reducing some of the lethal effects of the bird
flu cytokine storm. This is a biological event
expressed by an out-of-balance immune
system. It involves certain inflammatory agents
that become heightened during the bird flu,
and persist in stimulating additional increases
in similar immune-agents
Astragulus is an immune-enhancing herb that
strengthens the body. It supports the bone
marrow by increasing the production of
interferon and building disease-fighting blood
cells enabling an individual to resist and fight
the bird flu virus.
Echinacea used by herbalists for centuries as a
blood purifier and immune system stimulant,
echinacea is an herbal star for strengthening
the system. Echinacea is most effective when
taken in liquid extract form.
ulceration and tissue degeneration. It is
indicated for asthenic symptoms, low fevers,
and septic conditions of the blood, poisoning,
extreme prostration, ulcerative colitis, amoebic
dysentery, tonsillitis, cellulitis and local cervical
erosion.
Commiphora myrrha - myrrh is used as an
antiseptic in mouthwashes, gargles, and
toothpastes for prevention and treatment of
gum disease. Myrrh is currently used in some
liniments and healing salves that may be
applied to abrasions and other minor skin
ailments.
Liquorice – A great anti-inflammatory. In the
respiratory system it has a similarly soothing
and healing action, reducing irritation and
inflammation and has an expectorant effect,
useful in irritating coughs, asthma and chest
infections.
Paeony – Anti-oxidant and immune regulating
Because of its ability to rebalance a
malfunctioning immune system due to its
unique dual-acting mechanisms, peony
glucosides are now recognized as a drug by the
Chinese State Food and Drug Administration for
treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, one of the
leading autoimmune diseases.
Garlic is a potent natural medicine with
outstanding ability to protect against and fight
the flu. Garlic is most potent when crushed
first and then eaten raw or made into tea.
Forsythia and honeysuckle, two herbs
frequently used in Chinese medicine, are often
mixed with lemon balm, to make a soothing tea
that helps ward off avian flu. All the above
three herbs possess strong antiviral properties,
and combining them into a tea increases their
efficacy.
Herbal medicines that contain Isatis tinctoria L,
Lonicera japonica Thunb, Saposhnikovia
divaricata (Turcz) Schischk, Bupleurum chinense
DC, Forsythia suspensa (Thunb) Vahl, Citrus
reticulata Blanco, and Perilla frutescens (L) are
commonly taken in a formula used for the
prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of
influenza infection.