Guest guest Posted December 13, 2003 Report Share Posted December 13, 2003 Thu, 11 Dec 2003 08:29:19 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson The Big 3 The Big 3 Health Sciences Institute e-Alert December 11, 2003 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, Amid all the dire reports about flu vaccines running low, you'll rarely see a TV reporter point out (I assume because it wasn't in the drug company press release) that your defense against the flu is only as strong as the state of your immune system. Get all the flu shots you like (if only they had them); if your immune system isn't prepared, you'll still be vulnerable to the flu. But what if you take every step necessary to strengthen your immune system, and then still come down with a nasty bug? Fortunately, some of the treatments that can help you stay well can also help you bounce back when you're laid low. ---------------------------- First response ---------------------------- During this season that puts us in contact with so many people while socializing or shopping, it's inevitable that many are going to come down with the flu or one of those other viruses that cause colds and digestive " bugs " that are so easily passed around. With that in mind, I called on HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., to ask him about three natural antibiotics that he told us about in the e-Alert " Be Afraid... Be Very Afraid - Part II " (10/17/02). I wondered if these three natural agents (vitamin C, grapefruit seed extract, and olive leaf extract) might also help provide protection against the flu or be useful as treatments once the flu has set in. His response: " In my opinion, absolutely! Since I don't take the flu shot myself, these are my main armamentarium. " When I asked about recommended dosages for anyone who feels like they may be coming down with something, Dr. Spreen told me that at the fist sign of aches, sore throat, cough or any other symptoms of flu (or cold, or other infections), he starts with a " hit " of several thousand milligrams of vitamin C, and then follows that with 1000 mg (one gram) every hour until symptoms recede. Sometimes the vitamin C alone will do the trick, but when more is needed, olive leaf extract (OLE) and/or grapefruit seed extract (GSE) may be added or used alone. Dr. Spreen explained, " OLE is the simplest to work with, as its concentration is not a problem. 500-1000 milligrams every few hours is what I do, with or without the C, depending on the situation (I'm usually a 'shotgunner' when getting well fast is an issue). Normally, for straight oral use, the C and OLE are a great pair by themselves (the OLE lowers the needed amount of vitamin C, which can get into very high amounts for a serious flu attack). " ---------------------------- Calling in the reserves ---------------------------- As for grapefruit seed extract, Dr. Spreen recommends taking it in capsule form, using the suggested dosage on the label. He adds, " The full-strength liquid GSE is bitter beyond comprehension, and must be diluted. The advantage of GSE is that there are different forms available, such as throat spray, ear drops, topical, etc. Bio/chem Research in California, has done extensive research on the antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties of this amazing substance. " I asked Dr. Spreen if he would add any other natural therapies to what he calls " my big three, " and he said there is one, but it's not a preventive agent against the flu. He said, " I'd add some acidophilus culture (also called probiotics) to the mix, during and for a few days after the use of OLE. The situation here is that OLE is such a good antibacterial that it can also kill the 'good guy' bacteria that we need in our gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. A capsule or so of acidophilus before meals should be adequate insurance for keeping these beneficial organisms established. " ---------------------------- When enzymes attack ---------------------------- The essentials ---------------------------- Needless to say, with all the rush and deadline pressure that comes with the holidays, it's often difficult to do the four key things necessary to maintain optimum immune system health: * Exercise regularly * Eat nutritious foods (preferably fresh, whole foods) * Manage stress levels (See the e-Alert " Easy Does It " 11/26/03) * Get the right amount of sleep For more tips on strengthening your immune system, see the e-Alert " Debugging Kit " (9/24/03), because it's never too late to take a few simple steps to give your immune system the advantage against viruses. ************************************************************** To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopy.html Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert. ************************************************************** ... and another thing FDA officials are apparently not content to have jurisdiction over the regulation of drugs in the U.S. Now they're trying to tell Canada what to do. FDA commissioner Mark McClellan made a trip to Canada last month to persuade officials to lift prescription drug price controls and put an end to cross-border sales. His reasoning: The U.S. foots the bill for quite a bit of drug research, which has lead to the development of many of the most popular drugs. This argument would hold water, of course, if in addition to funding research, the U.S. government also manufactured and distributed drugs. Add to that, Canada's Patent Act already gives extra patent protection as well as financial incentives to drug companies that develop new drugs. The situation was put into perspective by a spokesman for the Canadian International Pharmacy Association who told Canada's National Post " What's the job of the FDA? The FDA's responsibility is patient safety. They should not be commenting on profit margins or research costs. " And he added, " They're heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical industry and I think they're stepping outside their bounds. " So it appears that Commissioner McLellan's " suggestions " weren't exactly greeted with open arms. But he didn't leave Canada empty-handed. Something called a " memorandum of understanding " was agreed upon, which is intended to improve information exchange between the U.S. and Canada. In other words, Canada sent the commish packing with an invitation to call and say hello anytime. If only we could get the same amount of input from them here. To Your Good Health, and... Go Ravens! Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Sources: " Big Shot " Robert Bazell, MSN, 12/1/03, slate.msn.com " Flu Season Starting Early and Strong " Associated Press, 11/17/03, msnbc.com " Health Officials Warn of Severe Flu Strain " NBC11, 12/3/03, nbc11.com " Therapeutic Use of Enzymes " Jennifer Hammer, M.S., CCN, and Stan Bynum, Ph.D., Infinity2 Nutrition, 2001, infinity2.com " FDA Warns Canada: Halt Drug Sales " Tom Blackwell, National Post, 11/19/03, nationalpost.com Copyright ©1997-2003 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. ************************************************************** If you want to end your HSI e-Alert subscription or you need to change your e-mail address, please follow the instructions below. Your changes will be effective immediately. However, if you do not follow the instructions below and simply hit reply instead, we may not receive your request and cannot assure you that it will be completed. ******* To manage your e-mail subscription, use our web interface at: http://www.agoramail.net/Home.cfm?List=hsiweb Or to end your e-mail subscription, send a blank e-mail to: hsiweb_unsub To cancel or for any other subscription issues, write us at: Order Processing Center Attn: Customer Service P.O. Box 925 Frederick, MD 21705 NEW WEB MESSAGE BOARDS - JOIN HERE. Alternative Medicine Message Boards.Info http://alternative-medicine-message-boards.info New Photos - easier uploading and sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.