Can natural remedies help prevent flu?
Published Friday November 20th, 2009
These days, when the topic of conversation veers toward the H1N1 flu virus, most of the scuttlebutt is centred on the latest information released by medical authorities on when and where to line up in order to be inoculated.
Every once in a while, discussions unfold and information regarding alternatives is shared. My friend Marcel and I recently engaged in such a discussion that focused on the benefits of elderberry extract in fighting H1N1 or any flu, for that matter.
Based on information he passed on, and knowing that people overall are absorbing as much flu prevention information as they can get their hands on these days, I decided to research a bit further.
There is an archived article from WebMD.com' dated December 2003 that included comments made by Andrew Weil, MD and director of the program in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona. The findings on the berry extract at that time were considered only preliminary.
He advised people to take prescription drugs if they get the flu, but notes that black elderberry extract may help.
"(The extract) is for treatment, not for prevention," Weil tells WebMD.
"It has an unknown mechanism of action. Research suggests it inactivates the flu virus, but we don't know that for sure."
In folk medicine, flowers from the black elder bush have been used to ease flu symptoms, colds and sinus problems.
In recent years, researchers have begun formal studies of Sambucol -- a formulation of elderberry extract -- to better understand this herbal remedy.
That five-year-old article helps to set the table for more recent research results.
For example, Christine Dreher (CCN, CCH) is a clinical nutritionist, herbalist, author and president and founder of a whole-food nutritional company that specializes in nutritional and health education.
Christine is also a health/nutritional speaker and teacher.
She says, "The most asked question I hear as clinical nutritionist and herbalist right now is 'How can I protect myself and my family from cold and flu viruses, including the human influenza A (H1N1) virus?' My answer is elderberry."
This idea may sound new but, as Deher explains, has been around for centuries.
"Elderberry has long been praised for its strong antiviral activities and has been used for cold and flu symptoms.
"Dating back to the fifth century BC, the writings of Hippocrates describe the use of tonics derived from elderberry.
"In the Middle Ages, elderberry was traditionally used to help support the immune system. Elderberry has been clinically shown to disarm flu viruses and prevent them from replicating in the body," she says.
OK, so how effective is elderberry against the H1N1 flu virus?
Well, a national press release dated Sept. 10 entitled "A recent research study indicated that Herbal Science's proprietary Elderberry Extract prevents H1N1 influenza infection" states the following: "According to this recent research study, new scientific evidence demonstrates that elderberries can block flu viruses. This research involved a specific, reproducible elderberry extract developed by HerbalScience Group LLC, and succeeded in identifying key chemical components of the extract that inhibited in vitro infection and were shown to bind directly to Human Influenza A (H1N1) virus particles.
The binding blocked the ability of the viruses to enter host cells, and thereby effectively preventing H1N1 infection."
At this point, it's important to note the attached disclaimer, "The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The information contained here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Suggestions and ideas presented in this document are for information only and should not be interpreted as medical advice, meant for diagnosing illness, or for prescriptive purposes. The information in this document is not to be used to replace the services or instructions of a physician or qualified health care practitioner."
Meanwhile, a website devoted solely to providing information on the elderberry has posted 'Breaking News' proclaiming: "During an in-vitro study carried out in London by Retroscreen Virology in October 2009, black elderberry extract was found to be at least 68.37% effective against the H1N1 strain otherwise known as Swine Flu Pandemic strain."
The study report with a release date of Nov. 4, shows recent results of a clinical study that once again explores the virtues of the black elderberry plant.
If you're so inclined, the website address is blackelderberry.info
A peek around town suggests elderberry products are normally available in Metro at various stores that carry natural products and at least one home-based marketing network.
* Terry Parker's column appears daily. Terry can be heard on the CKO Drive Home Show at 107.3FM weekdays between 4 and 6 p.m. Want to contribute to Terry Parker's People with your questions and comments? Contact Terry at 859-2356 or terryp62@gmail.com.
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The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The information contained here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
All we needed was to give another quack a podium.
A couple of days ago there was a heated discussion about the vaccine and you talking about negligent parents. Can you clarify my question below. It was never answered.
Thanks.
__________
Rob,
You wrote earlier "A good example: my son got his shot, his best friend didn't. They are inseparable. The best friend got H1N1, my son doesn't. Can it be explained in simpler terms?"
Then you wrote "If I see a parent making a decision that puts a child at risk, it is my duty to report those parents to authorities. No hesitation. So if as a parent you decide to make decisions for your children that are against recommendations of public health authorities, you could be reported."
Did you report the parents of your son's friend? I;m not being confrontational here, I'm just trying to understand how not giving a child a VOLUNTARY vaccine warrants a call to the authorities. Are you saying this is some form of child abuse?
Please be civil, I'm just trying to make sense of the comments here.
You certainly remember the cases where Jehovah Witness parents refused blood transfusion and chemotherapy for their children, it is along those lines. I am not a lawyer.
Here is what Health Canada says: This group captures all pre-school age children who have a higher risk of severe disease than other children. Healthy children between six and 23 months of age are at particular risk of severe disease and hospitalization and are the primary focus of this target group. Healthy children aged two and less than five years of age are at higher risk of severe disease and hospitalization than older children.
So as a parent you are faced with 2 choices: to have your child vaccinated or not. You have the recommnendation of our Public Health Agency saying one thing. If you choose the other without a rational argument then you are responsible for that decision.
Now if something serious happened to your child and if someone knew that you had made that decision with a rational or scientific reason and wanted to launch an investigation, they certainly could. Given the lawsuit society we live in, you would have lawyers interested in this. And no I did not report the parents of my son's friend. Now did i say I would. The vaccine was not available in the schools yet.
The recipient of an AB degree in botany from Harvard University and an MD from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Weil has worked for the National Institute of Mental Health and for fifteen years served as a research associate (ethnopharmacology) at the Harvard Botanical Museum. He is the director of the Program in Integrative Medicine and clinical professor of internal medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He is also the founder of the Foundation for Integrative Medicine and editor-in-chief of the professional journal Integrative Medicine.
Speaking of quacks, why hasn't the paper picked the news that the latest batch of H1N1 vaccine seems to be 5 times more likely to put a person in anaphylactic shock?
It was all over the news yesterday.
I didn't poison your precious vaccine... it comes pre-poisoned from GSK. :D