The word influenza originates from the Latin root influentia ("influx") from a verb meaning "to flow in." Similarly, the English word, influence is also derived from the same Latin root. Perhaps this explains how the media has been influencing the public opinion by feeding us at alarmingly regular intervals with buzzwords such as pandemic, vaccine, face mask, emergency and the panacea drug, Tamiflu.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) website describes a government plan that sounds more like a military strategy ; "........scheduled to complete deployment of 25 percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS*)".

We now know that this virus is perhaps not as virulent as we originally anticipated, but history tells us that the real test will be this fall when it returns.

What we do know is that we may never get the true facts of the disease, and in the meantime we may as well be prepared. ....and then forget about it since worrying is harmful to health and may decrease immunity!

Here are some preventative measures you can take:

• Wash your hands thoroughly for a minimum of 20 seconds each time
• Keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth and nose
• Drink lots of water
• Avoid sugar, which decreases your immune system response
• Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily
• Exercise
• Get enough sleep
• Find a healthy way to cope with stress

Supplementation

The flu is a very serious disease and we do not advocate self treatment without the consultation of a qualified health care professional for complete therapeutic treatment. However, there are numerous dietary supplements that have much to offer in terms of enhancing general immune functionLifestyle practices (including supplementation) may play a role in the severity of a person's disease, and they definitely are worth considering as adjunct therapies.

Fortunately, the natural world contains thousands of edible herbs and foods that have demonstrated anti-viral properties. Ironically, the drug recommended for treatment of this virus, Tamiflu comes from a spice. This drug is made from a natural compound; shikimic acid- which is extracted from the pods of Chinese star anise.

* The SNS supplies antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-support medications, IV administration, airway maintenance supplies, and medical/surgical items during a number of national emergencies.

These pandemic viruses affect healthy young people as well as the young and older populations that are normally (or typically) most vulnerable to seasonal influenza. The reason this virus is a threat to healthy young people is that in an active immune system, there is a danger of an overproduction of certain proteins called cytokines when infected with this strain of virus. Many of these cytokines are beneficial, but certain ones (namely, TNF-a and IL-6) cause inflammation which is particularly dangerous in lung tissue. This reaction, known as a cytokine storm, can be fatal.

Compared to previous pandemics, we are fortunate to have accumulated a bank of knowledge regarding a vast array of foods and herbs which suppress the production of cytokines; TNF-a and IL-6 and also an array of substances that enhance the production of beneficial cytokines (as shown by preliminary studies).

Below is a list of natural substances that have antiviral properties, act as immune modulators, inflammation modulators, or more specifically, they decrease cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. Keeping inflammation to a healthy norm is important since many of the symptoms of the flu are exacerbated by inflammation.

Food Sources

Many of the herbs and spices we eat are antiviral. Especially notable are garlic, thyme, rosemary and ginger. Many fruits and vegetables share these properties, especially onions, berries, peanuts and grapes. Citrus is obviously important because it contains vitamin C and furthermore, it contains important flavonoids- which maintain a normal inflammation response.

Vitamin C: This water-soluble vitamin boosts the immune system, and is an antiviral which works by blocking the enzyme neuraminadase. Viruses need neuraminadase to reproduce. Research shows that it may reduce the production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. A study on 470 people involved giving the test group 1000 mg hourly for 6 hours and then 1000 mg 3 times daily after reporting flu symptoms. Symptoms decreased by 85%.

Green Tea: This tea is a very effective antiviral which also inhibits the enzyme, neuraminidase (see Vitamin C). Green Tea also decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a.

St. John's Wort: This herb has antiviral properties that have been shown to decrease the production of the cytokine IL-6. There have been some very successful field trials in commercial flocks infected with H5N1 in Vietnam.

Vitamin E: An immune booster which decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a.

Curcumin (found in Turmeric): Decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a. Research shows that this herb has inflammation-modulating properties which may be very good for preventing a cytokine storm, although this is not proven.

Astragalus: Modulates the immune system, and decreases IL-6. A study of both Astragalus and Goldenseal shows that these herbs reduce IL-6.

Holy Basil: Has traditionally been used in respiratory disease. It has shown antiviral effects in preliminary studies.

Quercetin: A small study that compared natural substances to Tamiflu observed that quercetin in combination with shikimic acid modulates the immune system in a favorable way.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC): NAC has mucolytic properties which means that it breaks down mucous to support normal lung function. Researchers have demonstrated that NAC reduces flu symptoms in people with flu, although this has not been studied in swine flu.

References

Gorton HC, Jarvis K. The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999 Oct;22(8):530-3.

Rotman D. Sialoresponsin and an antiviral action of ascorbic acid. Med Hypotheses. 1978 Jan-Feb;4(1):40-3.

Saeed RW, Peng T, Metz CN. E Ascorbic acid blocks the growth inhibitory effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on endothelial cells. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Jul;228(7):855-65.

Song JM, Lee KH, Seong BL. Antiviral effect of catechins in green tea on influenza virus. Antiviral Res. 2005 Nov;68(2):66-74. Epub 2005 Aug 9.

Thiele B, Brink I, Ploch M . Modulation of cytokine expression by hypericum extract. J.Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 1994 Oct;7 Suppl 1:S60-2.

Han SN, Wu D, Ha WK, Beharka A, Smith DE, Bender BS, Meydani SN. Vitamin E supplementation increases T helper 1 cytokine production in old mice infected with influenza virus. Immunology. 2000 Aug;100(4):487-93.

Rafiee P, Nelson VM, Manley S, Wellner M, Floer M, Binion DG, Shaker R. Effect of curcumin on acidic pH-induced expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in human esophageal epithelial cells (HET-1A): role of PKC, MAPKs, and NF-kappaB. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2009 Feb;296(2):G388-98. Epub 2008 Dec 12.

Aggarwal BB, Harikumar KB Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009 Jan;41(1):40-59. Epub 2008 Jul 9.

Yesilada E, Bedir E, Cali? I, Takaishi Y, Ohmoto Y. Effects of triterpene saponins from Astragalus species on in vitro cytokine release. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 4;96(1-2):71-7.

Stacia Clement-Kruzel, Shen-An Hwang, Mark C. Kruzel, Amitava Dasgupta, Jeffrey K. Actor. Immune Modulation of Macrophage Pro-Inflammatory Response by Goldenseal and Astragalus Extracts. Journal of Medicinal Food. September 2008, 11(3): 493-498

Kevin Spelman, MS; JJ Burns, ND; Douglas Nichols, ND; Nasha Winters, ND; Steve Ottersberg, MS; Mark Tenborg, ND. Modulation of Cytokine Expression by Traditional Medicines: A Review of Herbal Immunomodulators. Alternative Medicine Review • Volume 11, Number 2 • 2006

Lien-Chai Chiang,* Lean-Teik Ng, Pei-Win Cheng,* Win Chiang and Chun-Ching Lin. Antiviral Activities Of Extracts And Selected Pure Constituents Of Ocimum Basilicum. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology (2005) 32 811-816

Bertelli AA, Mannari C, Santi S, Filippi C, Migliori M, Giovannini L.. J Med Virol. 2008 Apr;80(4):741-5. Immunomodulatory activity of shikimic acid and quercitin in comparison with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in an in vitro model.

Friel H, Lederman H. A nutritional supplement formula for influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans. Med Hypotheses. 2006;67(3):578-87. Epub 2006 Apr 18.

De Flora S, Grassi C, Carati L. Attenuation of influenza-like symptomatology and improvement of cell-mediated immunity with long-term N-acetylcysteine treatment. Eur Respir J. 1997 Jul;10(7):1535-41.

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The Contraindications and Potential Drug Interactions information provided on this website is not intended to be all-inclusive. A health care professional should be consulted regarding the use of herbal products. Always keep your Doctor or other healthcare professional informed about the herbal and other dietary supplement products that you are taking.