Swine Flu & Homeopathic Treatment For All Flu

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Swine Flu treatment questions
April 30, 9:12 AM · 3 comments
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Question: I read your article about elderberry to treat Swine flu. Can you provide more detailed data on studies or clinical trials using elderberry extract? Also, what are your feelings on the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum which is popular in treating regular flu to treat swine flu? Any evidence you have on either would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Oscillococcinum is an FDA approved, inexpensive homeopathic treatment for the flu. I have had much success in treating myself and my children just this season when the flu made it’s way through our home. In fact, my pediatrician prescribed Tamiflu which I did not administer to my kids because their symptoms improved dramatically after just 2 doses of Oscillococcinum. With that said, we do not yet know the mechanics of the swine flu and the manner in which it will affect the body, making it difficult to speculate on the best course of natural treatment.

Both elderberry syrup and Oscillococcinum are inexpensive and available at health food stores with the latter even sold in traditional pharmacies. Because they work to stimulate the body’s innate ability to heal from within, it is probable these will be effective in treating the symptoms of the swine flu.
I recommend purchasing these items and having them on hand to treat the swine flu should the need arise. If this pandemic does not come to fruition, these treatments are always good to have in stock to treat any future cold and/or flu outbreaks.

Once again, I can not stress enough the importance of prevention. Start by sticking to the basics: frequent hand washing, increased fruit and vegetable intake, stay hydrated with 8 glasses of water daily, get an adequate amount of sleep each night, exercise a minimum of 5x per week, avoid stress (that includes the stress caused by worrying about the possibility of a swine flu pandemic).

Below is further information on both remedies.

Oscillococcinum

Oscillococcinum is the number one over-the-counter flu medication in France, where it has been used for over 60 years. The medication, a dilute extract of duck liver and heart, comes in granule form. It's believed to indirectly stimulate the body's immune system and other defenses, according to pharmacist Christophe Merville, west coast branch manager of Boiron, a French manufacturer of homeopathic remedies.


A study in the April 1998 issue of the British Homeopathic Journal reported that 17.4 percent of those taking oscillococcinum were symptom-free the day after treatment began, compared to 6.6 percent of those taking placebos. In a similar study published in the March 1989 issue of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 24.6 percent of those with mild to moderate symptoms had recovered by the second day, compared to 11.9 percent of those taking placebos. No significant side effects were found in either study.

Homeopathic remedies work quickly, says Merville, and you should see an improvement in your symptoms within 48 hours. If not, you're taking the wrong extract for your condition. Merville also says you can take oscillococcinum with over-the-counter preparations, prescription medications or other natural remedies without worrying about drug interactions.


Elderberry extract
Elderberry extract contains a high percentage of three flavonoids -- naturally occurring plant substances -- that have been shown to possess antiviral properties. A study published in the winter 1995 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine examined the flu-fighting abilities of Sambucol, a commercial elderberry extract preparation.

In the study, scientists found that Sambucol interfered with the growth of multiple strains of both influenza A and B viruses in cell cultures. In human tests, 35 healthy subjects were given four tablespoons of Sambucol daily for three days, and researchers recorded no side effects. Twenty-seven subjects were then given either Sambucol or a placebo for three days during a flu outbreak at an Israeli kibbutz.

Children took two tablespoons daily and adults took four. None of the study participants had received a flu shot. Fully 90 percent of those taking Sambucol were completely cured within three days, while most of those who took the placebo needed six days to recover.

Email your alternative medicine questions to Delialah at dfalconsch@hotmail.com