Swine Flu Treatments

When will the vaccine be available?

The US Government has ordered 195 million doses of vaccine, 45 million of which will be delivered by mid-October. But because most people lack prior immunity to the new H1N1 virus, officials expect that two injections will probably be necessary, spaced three weeks apart. (If two injections are required, that's only 97.5 million people - or 32.5% of the population that will get vaccines!!)

Clinical trials are currently underway to confirm whether two shots are actually needed and to determine the optimal dose. Results from those trials will be available in late September or early October. But even after receiving the vaccine, a person will take at least five weeks to develop full immunity. (Preliminary reports from some drugmakers suggest that there may be swine-flu vaccines that work with just a single shot. But it's unclear how that would affect the global vaccine supply. The World Health Organization has yet to review the data.)

So even if you get the shots right away, you won't have proper immunity until December. Isn't the swine-flu season supposed to peak in October? Officials don't know how the swine flu will behave this year. "The only thing that's certain is uncertainty," says Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC. Officials suspect that the flu season will strike early this year because—in contrast to seasonal flu—H1N1 continued circulating in the United States during the summer. The fact that school is coming back into session will likely fuel the spread. But it's common for flu to continue infecting people through March or April.

Check with your local doctor or hospital if the vaccine is available.

Natural Remedies

There are a number of herbs and other natural substances that inhibit viruses and help to prevent or treat colds, flu and any other viral infections.

Elderberry (Sambacus nigra)

Reduces hemagglutination and inhibits the replication of human influenza viruses.
Induces improvement of symptoms and resolution of infection much faster than placebo in clinical trials.
Used historically as a diaphoretic agent in the treatment of colds and influenza.
Improves non-specific resistance to colds and influenza.

Scullcap (Scutellaria balcalensis)

Contains flavonoid compounds which inhibit replication of human influenza viruses A and B at least partly by inhibiting fusion of viral envelopes with endosomal and lysosomal membranes.
Demonstrates inhibition of viral proliferation in lab animals and in vitro replication of HIV (Li)
Inhibits in vivo replication of influenza viruses.
Inhibits in vivo replication of Epstein-Barr virus and associated tumor development.
Exhibits in vitro inhibitory activity against a broad range of bacteria, including: Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitides.
Traditional Chinese medical indications:
- Dissipates heat and drains fire, especially from the Upper Burner.
- Clears heat and dries dampness.

Propolis

Temperate zone propolis contains flavonoids (galangin, kaempferol, and quercetin) and esters of phenolic acids.
Its effects result from the synergistic interaction of all constituents.
Demonstrates in vitro activity against fungi, Gram-positive bacteria, and some viruses.
Inhibits in vitro the activity of HIV-1 and human influenza virus type A (h1N2).

Astragalus membranaceus

Major constituents: coumarin, flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides, betaine, rhamnocitrin.
Enhances OKT3, OKT4, and OKT4/OKT8 ratio in patients with viral myocarditis.
Polysaccharides have anti-rhinoviral activity.
Induces production and anti-viral activity of interferon.
Inhibits the replication of cocksackie virus in lab animals.
Traditional Chinese medical indications
- Treatment of colds and influenza
- Tonifies Spleen and enhances the Chi
- Augments protective Chi and stabilizes the exterior energy.

Isatis tinctoria

Exhibits broad-range anti-bacterial effects against: Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., and hemolytic Streptococcus.
Polysaccharide constituents increase spleen weight and numbers of peripheral WBCs, as well as enhance other cellular and humoral immune parameters in lab animals.
Used successfully to treat encephalitis B, to forestall epidemic mumps outbreak, and to accelerate restoration of normal liver function during acute infectious hepatitis.
Traditional Chinese medical indications:
- Dissipates heat, alleviates fire toxicity, and cools the blood.

Goldthread (Coptis chinensis)

Principle constituent: isoquinoline alkaloids--- berberine, coptisine, urbenine, worenine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine. Contraindicated during pregnancy.
Antibacterial agent:
- Berberine inhibits carbohydrate metabolism and protein synthesis of bacteria.
- Complexes with bacterial nucleic acids, inhibiting proliferation.
- Effective in controlling a broad range of microbes, including Vibrio cholerae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Candida albicans, Mycobacterium intracellulaceae.
Has demonstrated anti-protozoal and anti-viral properties.
Berberine alkaloids inhibit the enzyme reverse transcriptase in RNA tumor viruses.
Improves phagocytic activity of cells of the immune system.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Constituents: hypericin, pseudohypericin, hyperforin.
Hypericin and pseudohypericin act as potent inhibitors of retroviral activity with low toxicity.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Inhibits encephalitis virus in vitro.
Reduces morbidity and mortality in lab animals infected with lethal doses of influenza virus.
Inhibits growth and cytopathology of several unrelated DNA and RNA viruses and irreversibly inactivates herpes simplex viral particles.

Zinc

Involved in all aspects of cellular & humoral immunity.
Particularly important: young children & elderly.
Assists in the restoration of reduced levels of thymic hormones.
Inhibits viral replication (rhino, picorna, Herpes simplex, vaccinia).
Inhibits inflammation of respiratory mucosa and infection by human rhinovirus.

Dosage

Sambacus nigra Extract (30% anthocyanidins), 125mg
Scutellaria balcalensis Extract (8:1), 125mg
Propolis (70%), 100mg
Astragalus membranaceus Extract (15:1), 100mg
Isatis tinctoria Extract (15:1), 100mg
Coptis chinensis Extract (10:1), 50mg
Hypericum perforatum Extract (0.3% hypericin), 50mg
Glycyrrhiza glabra Extract (16-18% Glycyrrhizin), 50mg
Zinc (citrate), 5mg

Recommended dosage: 2 or 3 capsules 3 to 4 times a day.

Information herein is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you have about a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health program.