Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo wrote: From: "JoAnn Guest" Wed, 22 Sep 2004 18:43:52 -0000 Licorice May Prevent Viral IllnessLicorice May Prevent Viral Illness JoAnn Guest Sep 22, 2004 11:41 PDT -- Licorice May Prevent Viral Illnesshttp://www.nowfoods.com/?action=itemdetail & item_id=14680From the "Alternative Approach" column in The Daily Herald, June 30,2003, by Patrick B. Massey M.D., Ph.D, Medical Director, AlexianBrothers Hospital Network; President, ALT-MED Medical and PhysicalTherapy Program, Elk Grove Village, ILIt seems that every month we are confronted with another viraloutbreak. Some of the viruses cause life-threatening illness, likeSudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Others, like monkey pox,seem to be less deadly.We just do not have many good anti-viral drugs. Viruses developresistance quickly, and the drugs seem to have a number of seriousside effects. Our alternatives appear to be limited, but help may befound in plants.You see, viruses also attack plants, but plants are very clever.Over millions of years, they have developed powerful anti-viralcompounds. Some of these compounds may also be beneficial to us. Onevery robust anti-viral compound, glycyrrhizin, is found inGlycyrrhiza glabra, or licorice. In Oriental medicine, licorice isused in combination with other herbs to balance their side effects.Licorice was once a common sweetener for candy (it's 40 timessweeter than sugar). Now licorice flavor is used. Licorice flavordoes not contain glycyrrhizin.Licorice grows wild across Europe and Asia and it is the root thatis used medicinally. Licorice (glycyrrhizin) is used in Orientalmedicine to treat colds and the associated symptoms of cough andmuscle aches. Glycyrrhizin also stimulates the production ofcortisol in the adrenal gland, ultimately benefiting the immunesystem. Intriguingly, it may be the best treatment for the virusassociated with SARS.SARS is a member of the coronavirus family. In humans, coronavirusinfections tend to be mild and self-limited. The SARS virus,however, may have come from a species of wild cat in China.There are no anti-viral drugs that have an impact on SARS, butlicorice may be the solution. A recent study, in the medical journalLancet compared the ability of several anti-viral drugs and licoriceto prevent the growth of the SARS virus in the test tube.Licorice was by far the most effective at preventing SARS growth.Two of the drugs tested, ribavarin and mycophenolic acid, had noeffect. Two other drugs, 6-azaurdine and pyrazofurin. modestlyinhibited the SARS virus. Glycyrrhizin however, was 9 times morepotent. In addition, it also prevented the binding and penetrationof the virus into cells, something that the other anti-viralmedications cannot do.Licorice has successfully been used to treat (not cure) hepatitis Cas well as HIV-1 infections. It also has been shown to inhibitreplication of a number of other viruses. Licorice is found ascapsules, creams and as a tea. I like the flavor of the tea and haveseveral cups per week.Licorice, however, is not without side effects. Increases in bloodpressure as well as serious reductions in serum potassium arepossible. For long-term use - more than two to three weeks - and forthose on medications, close physician monitoring is necessary.Since glycyrrhizin can prevent the binding of viruses to cells, itis interesting to speculate that seasonal consumption of modestamounts of licorice may prevent or minimize viral infections likeinfluenza and the West Nile virus. This is certainly deserving offurther research.JoAnn Guestmrsjo-DietaryTi- www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes.html Please pass this message or article on to someone else so that they may learn also.Community Newsletters.http://www.alternative-medicine-newsletter.infoCommunity Message Boards.http://www.alternative-medicine-message-boards.info"Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you. Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live a happy life and how to work for a better world." - Linus PaulingGetting well is done one step at a time, day by day, building health and well being..list or archives: :........ - post:............. alternative_Medicine_Forum digest form:...... -digest individual emails: -normal no email:......... -nomail moderator:........ -owner unsubscribe:...... - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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