Elderberry To Fight Flu...

I have always had an interest in natural medicine. When I lived in California and worked for a Chiropractor, an Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Physician, I was very heavily involved in these forms of healthcare. Since moving here, working full time for "Western M.D.s" and recently, not having the resources to access alternative healthcare, I became frustrated and became less and less concerned about this side of things. With all of the H1N1 hype, and being a mom of a preschooler who is also 7 months pregnant during cold and flu season, I am a nervous wreck! I know that the foods we eat are directly responsible for how we feel and have an effect on our ability to fight disease. I have to remember this and try to guide myself and my family in this direction. Does it happen overnight? No way. It starts with the awareness and then small choices we make each day. Earlier this week, the H1N1 vaccine became available to pregnant women. My OB doctor shares my concern for the preservative thimerozol (mercury) that is used in multidose flu vaccines. She recommended I get the vaccine only if it comes in thimerozol free form. As of a few days ago, Coconino County doesn't have these available. So....what's a pregnant girl to do??? I wouldn't give Olivia a vaccine that contained mercury, why would I give

it to my unborn baby without a fully developed immune system? Scary. I got on the computer and started to google the H1N1 vaccine...yikes! Don't do it? You'll be up all night worrying about it! There are a lot of crazy opinions out there. Basically, it comes down to common sense, risk vs benefit (as do a lot of things in pregnancy) and educating yourself as best you can. This week, I felt powerless over the swine flu because I couldn't get the vaccine (actually CHOSE not to) I drove to my Chiroprator's office, whom I respect for his knowledge on nutrition and staying healthy. I told him I was on a tight budget, and wanted to get the most bang for my buck as far as keeping myself and my family healthy during this scary flu season. He gave me tons of great information and obviously talked about eating healthy, resting, hand washing, avoiding others who are sick, etc. He mentioned a few different foods and talked a lot about vitamin D to help the immune system. One of the things he mentioned that seemed really easy for me get was Elderberry juice (syrup.) It's at New Frontier's in the juice section and it costs $20 (ouch, but since it's concentrated, lasts a while) Like I said, it's just one of the things he mentioned and he explained how it fights viruses from reproducing in your body...he said he has several patients with small children that make popcicles out of it for them to eat once a day and they seem to avoid colds and flu even when others are sick. He said he just takes a spoonful of concentrate each day himself. It can be added to other juice or smoothies. I googled it myself and came across several supporting articles. Here are some interesting parts that I copied if you're interested...I don't mean to sound wacko about any of this, but I just want to increase awareness about this and remind people that we haven't lost all control over what goes into our bodies. (About the picture above: The past few days I put a spoonful into our o.j. and added some water. It tastes good. Tonite, I put a spoonful in some sparkling mineral water with ice, yummy!!)

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ELDERBERRY: Nature's Flu Fighter In 1992, a team of Israeli scientists headed by Madeleine Mumcuoglu (pronounced Mum-shoe-glue) set out to study the effect of elderberry on flu patients. During a flu epidemic at an Israeli Kibbutz, half of the flu patients were given an elderberry syrup, the other half a placebo. The results: within 24 hours, 20% of the patients receiving elderberry had gotten significantly better. Within two days, 75% of the elderberry group were much improved; within 3 days 90% were completely cured.
Among the placebo group, only 8% of patients improved within 24 hours and it was a full 6 days before 90% of the patients were cured.

ELDERBERRY WORKS -- Here's How Viruses are primitive organisms which cannot replicate themselves. They must use DNA from living cells in order to reproduce. Flu viruses invade cells by puncturing the cell walls with little spikes called hemagglutinin. These spikes are coated with an enzyme called neuraminidase, which helps break down the cell walls. Elderberry appears to actually disarm these spikes and inhibit the action of this enzyme -- thus preventing flu viruses from invading cells.

While today we may have a healthy scientific skepticism toward some of the legends surrounding the elder tree, the medicinal value of elderberries has never been more evident. Continuing research suggests that elderberry may be the first line of flu defense.
Flu outbreaks are characterized by their epidemic nature. As many as 40% of a population may be victims of the flu during a 5-6 week period. Although vaccinations offer some protection, they are often ineffective. As many as half of those vaccinated may suffer complications, and the wily flu viruses can have varied structures which are not affected by the antibodies produced in response to the vaccine.
Elderberry, on the other hand, is safe, natural, and appears to work against a wide variety of flu viruses. In addition to clinical studies, laboratory experiments show that elderberry neutralizes flu viruses in petri dishes and cures the flu in mice. Best results are obtained when elderberry is taken at the onset of flu symptoms. So don't delay. Stock your medicine cabinet, and be prepared to fight the flu.