Beating the Bird Flu

Health Integrity vs Influenza

With daily news reports warning of a lethal flu pandemic, questions arise, what should we do to protect ourselves against the H5N1 (avian flu) virus. The good news is that a considerable amount of immune support is available via supplements, which many individuals already take to maintain good health.

An important question, however, is what should one do if they develop symptoms of a viral infection? Each year, flu virus infections kill around 36,000 Americans (and cause miseries for millions).1,2 An outbreak of avian flu, scientists predict, tens of millions could perish throughout the world.

While certain supplements (and drugs) purport to shorten the duration of a viral infection, most fail to provide significant relief. Over the past 25 years, we have researched various nutrients, hormones, and drugs to minimize the impact of the common cold and typical flu viruses. Reports from scientific literature identifies aggressive supplemental protocols and prescription drug strategies to consider in the event avian flu pandemic becomes a reality. Recommendations for drugs should only be taken under physician supervision.

Don't Wait for Full-Blown Illness to Manifest

"People often wait until they are very sick before seeking treatment. This delay can preclude rapid eradication of the infectious agent. In some cases, treatment delay can be lethal." - William Falloon, LEF

Taking aggressive actions at the onset of symptoms, prevents the virus from gaining a foothold in cells. Immediately address the first symptoms of a cold-flu viral infection, don't wait until full-blown viral symptoms manifest. It is especially critical to immediately initiate anti-viral therapies, contrary to what the media is reporting, anti-viral therapies can be effective, but only when they are initiated within 48 hours of the manifestation of symptoms. Avian flu is causing excruciating deaths in primitive cultures that often lack immediate access to anti-viral medications, leading to a premature assumption that avian flu is untreatable.

Benefits of Aggressive Protocols

Scientific studies substantiate the benefits of an aggressive protocol to combat viral infections, although no clinical trials presently support the use of the following protocol, research does support the rationale. The followin drugs, nutrients, and hormones taken at the very onset of symptoms has proven most beneficial:

Cimetidine (Tagamet®) in the dose of 800 mg (and higher) each day. This drug is sold over-the-counter in pharmacies to combat heartburn, but its beneficial side effect is to boost immune function by reducing T-suppressor cells, thereby keeping the immune system in a hyperactive state. While sold over-the-counter, it would still be wise to read the package insert in case this drug is contraindicated for you. For most people, cimetidine provides a powerful immune system stimulation that is particularly effective against certain viruses.
Garlic in the dose of 9000 mg once or twice a day, this potent form of garlic will cause painful stomach-esophageal burning if you don't eat food right afterward. The intake of 9000 mg of garlic will cause you to reek of a strong sulfur odor, but saturating the body with this pungent garlic is the objective. Garlic has shown direct viral-killing effects in a number of published studies.
DHEA in the dose of 200-400 mg early in the day. This is much higher than normal, but DHEA has shown some unique benefits in boosting one's ability to mount a stronger immune response and also protecting against dangerous inflammatory cytokine responses that sometimes occur in response to viral infections.
Lactoferrin in the dose of 1200 mg a day. This natural constituent of mothers' milk boosts natural killer cell activity and can kill certain viruses
Zinc lozenges in the dose of two 24 mg lozenges every two waking hours. Please be aware that this is a very high dose of zinc and is considered toxic if taken over the long term. You should only do this for a few days. Zinc has shown a direct effect of inhibiting the ability of cold viruses from latching on to your cells. Importantly, if you are taking any other zinc-containing supplements (such as a multivitamin), modify this as necessary to avoid zinc toxicity.
Melatonin at bedtime in the high dose of 10-50 mg. Melatonin induces a powerful immune response and this high dose can facilitate the deep sleep one often needs to fend off an infection. This dose of melatonin will make you extremely sleepy, so please only take this before bedtime and do not operate any machinery or vehicles after ingestion.
Aged garlic extract in the dose of 3600 mg a day. There are unique immune-boosting compounds in aged garlic extract that work differently than those found in the other types.

Important Note: The above doses are recommended in addition to daily supplementation. For more information on these important nutrients, and a good daily supplement, contact us directly, we will be happy to provide you with needed information to maintain health integrity.

Garlic's Unsung Benefits

With all the high-tech advances occurring in medicine, garlic would appear to be a relic of the past. Yet the scientific literature documents that garlic has powerful effects against certain viruses. For instance, one recent study tested one capsule daily of an allicin-containing garlic supplement from November through February on a group of 146 volunteers.4 Half the group received the garlic while the unfortunate other half got a placebo. The placebo group suffered 63% more common cold infections compared to the garlic group. Even more significant, those in the garlic group who did catch a cold suffered symptoms for an average of only 1.52 days compared to 5.01 days for the placebo group. This placebo-controlled study corroborates the benefits derived by taking much higher doses as soon as cold symptoms present.

The conclusion of the doctors who conducted this garlic study was, “An allicin-containing supplement can prevent attack by the common cold virus.” Considering the number of people afflicted with a common cold each year, you would think this would have been the lead news story of the day. Up until now, the study has remained buried in a scientific journal, while the medical establishment still states ”there is no cure for the common cold .”

Ribavirin is a prescription drug that has potent anti-viral effects.5-18 Yet a Chinese study showed that at least in the test tube, garlic is more effective than ribavirin in inhibiting viruses that attack the intestinal track.19 Life Extension has recommended ribavirin to treat various viral infections since year 1983, but in this particular study, garlic was shown to be superior.

A number of published studies indicate that both high-allicin garlic and aged-garlic support healthy immune function while exerting anti-viral effects.20-26 Low-cost garlic may be nature's most powerful weapon against certain viruses.

Tagamet's Life-Saving Side Effect

Tagamet® is the brand name of what used to be the most popular drug to treat heartburn. Now that it is off patent, we refer to Tagamet® by its generic name “ cimetidine.” A little-known side effect of cimetidine is that it inhibits the production of T-suppressor cells.27 In doing so, it boosts immune function by preventing the immune system from turning itself down.

Cimetidine has shown other immune modulating effects such as increasing natural killer cell activity and boosting levels of natural immune stimulants interleukin-2 and gamma interferon.28-30 Human studies demonstrate cimetidine's efficacy against herpes and viral warts.27,31-34

Since cimetidine is safe for most people, taking 800-1000 mg at night (or 200 mg three times a day and then 400 mg at night) seems like an effective therapy to temporarily turn up the immune system. Cimetidine in 200 mg tablets can be purchased over-the-counter at pharmacies. The directions in the over-the-counter package insert say that up to 800 mg a day is safe, but some published studies where cimetidine is used as an anti-viral agent have used up to 1000 mg a day.35

Mothers' Milk

It is well known that infants obtain protection against certain infections from components contained in mothers' milk. One such component is lactoferrin, which has well documented immune potentiating effects.36-38

Lactoferrin may stimulate macrophages, which in turn may help to induce cell-mediated immunity.39 Although many of the studies are on animals, lactoferrin is naturally present in many mucous membrane secretions in the human, suggesting an innate human anti-microbial function.40,41

A study published this year showed that lactoferrin inhibits viral infection by interfering with the ability of certain viruses to bind to cell receptor sites.37

Immune-Boosting Hormones

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its metabolites have demonstrated powerful immune enhancing and anti-viral effects.42-49 The administration of 50 mg a day of DHEA to elderly men resulted in the following immune enhancements compared to placebo:50

Increase of 35% in the number of monocyte immune cells
Increase of 29% in the number of B immune cells
Increase of 62% in B-cell activity
Increase of 40% in T-cell activity
Increase of 50% in interleukin-2
Increase of 22 to 37% in natural killer cell number an d an increase of 45% in natural killer cell activity

One reason that influenza can be so lethal to aging people is that their immune systems are weakened. A deficiency in DHEA appears to be partially responsible for the age-related decline in immune function.51,52 One study showed that a metabolite of DHEA augmented activation of T-helper cells and protected mice from a lethal influenza virus infection.49

Melatonin has broad-spectrum immune-enhancing effects and has been specifically shown to decrease viral load and prevent death in mice infected with certain viruses. The conclusion of one melatonin study was:

“The immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects of melatonin suggest that this indole must be considered as an additional therapeutic alternative to fight viral diseases.”53

Another study examined the immune function benefits of melatonin and found that melatonin activated interleukin-2 and gamma interferon, the body's natural hormone-like agents that facilitate T-helper cell production.54

Taking higher-dose DHEA in the morning (200-400 mg) and higher-dose melatonin (10-50 mg) before bedtime would appear to be logical approaches to follow when battling a viral infection.

Preventing Cold Viruses from Lodging in Your Body

A number of published studies show that if zinc lozenges are taken within 24 hours of the onset of common cold symptoms, the severity and duration of cold miseries are significantly diminished.55-58

Rhinoviruses are the medical term to define viruses that cause the common cold. Rhinoviruses attach to cell receptor sites in sinus and throat tissues, become lodged in nose-throat cells, and then replicate out of control.59 By binding to the same cell receptor sites as do cold viruses, zinc inhibits the ability of rhinoviruses to take hold in the body.

A meta-analysis of all the published literature on zinc lozenges was conducted last year and the conclusion of the report was:

“Clinical trial data support the value of zinc in reducing the duration and severity of symptoms of the common cold when administered within 24 hours of the onset of common cold symptoms. Additional clinical and laboratory evaluations are warranted to further define the role of ionic zinc for the prevention and treatment of the common cold and to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms through which zinc exerts its symptom-relieving effects.”55

The key here is to suck on two 24 mg zinc lozenges at the very first symptom of a cold and continue doing this every two waking hours. Once rhinoviruses bind to their receptor sites in the nasal tissues and begin replicating, zinc lozenges lose their efficacy. Considering how inexpensive zinc lozenges are, it makes sense to keep them in the medicine cabinet so that they are immediately available if cold symptoms manifest.

One caveat to remember is that chronic use of zinc in doses over 100 mg a day may suppress immune function.60 If one were to suck on two zinc lozenges every two hours over the course of a day, the amount of total zinc intake can easily exceed 300 mg/day. This does not appear to be a problem in the short-term, but if you start taking zinc lozenges and your cold miseries do not subside, you would be better off ceasing it after a few days. Remember that less than 100 mg a day of zinc can improve immune function whereas long-term use above 100 mg/day concerns some doctors.

Why the Avian Flu is Different than Typical Influenza

There is a peculiarity to the avian flu virus (H5N1), unlike certain other viruses, avian influenza is characterized by a hyper-response of the immune system. People afflicted with avian flu die from pulmonary edema and multi-organ system failure in response to acute inflammation caused by what some doctors describe as a pro-inflammatory “cytokine storm.”

How to Know If You Have Avian Flu

Avian flu is a very severe disease, progressing much more rapidly than typical flu. Pneumonia appears to develop quite rapidly in avian flu in contrast to the common influenza. Diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain also appear to be much more common in avian flu than in cases of common influenza.125-127

Symptoms seen with common influenza typically do not usually start out as pneumonia and/or diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Initial classic symptoms of common flu include:

Fever (often high; 100-106 degrees F)
Body aches (often muscle pain in the arms, legs, and back)
Fatigue and malaise (often profound)
Headache

After the initial symptoms, sore throat and a dry, hacking cough often develops in typical (common) influenza. Whereas, avian flu patients often present with severe pneumonia (lower respiratory tract infection) that rapidly worsens, along with diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

The lungs of avian flu victims are racked by infections, clogged with pus and surrounded by fluid. The severity of the symptoms often predicts whether the patients will survive.

In a recent study, chest X-rays were performed on 14 Vietnamese avian flu patients, nine of whom died. Researchers at the University of Oxford in England discovered abnormalities in the lungs that were predictors of whether the disease would be fatal.

The researchers found that avian flu infection caused multiple lung infections, presenting clinically as pus and infection in patients with fever and a cough. The severity of these lung pathologies turned out to be an accurate predictor of patient mortality.129

Much of the pathology caused by the avian flu virus appears to be caused by the over-production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 , tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8, interleukin 1 beta, etc. This immune system dysregulation seems to also be associated with the multi-organ system failure seen with avian flu. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that avian flu victims with the highest levels of inflammatory cytokines are the most likely to die.127

A novel cytokine-suppressing strategy might be to take a statin drug (such as 40 mg of Zocor®) as soon as flu symptoms manifest. A very limited amount of data indicates that statin drugs can block excess production of influenza-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Another cytokine-suppressing drug to consider is pentoxifylline in the dose of 400 mg three to four times a day.130-141

Obtaining Physician Cooperation

If avian flu manifests as a pandemic, millions of people will needlessly die because of physician ignorance. I know that persuading your physician to prescribe quadruple anti-viral drug therapy, along with cytokine inhibitors will be a challenge. Most doctors don't even know about pro-inflammatory cytokines, and virtually none of them understand that there are proven ways to suppress them.

Amantadine is considered worthless by most doctors because they have seen it fail most of the time. As I stated earlier, anti-viral drug therapy has to be initiated within 48 hours of the symptoms manifesting. Doctors are used to seeing patients only after they have suffered with flu symptoms for many days after the onset of symptoms. When doctors prescribed amantadine to these advanced influenza patients, it would usually fail, just like Tamiflu will fail if it is not immediately prescribed. Few doctors have any experience with either oral or inhaled ribavirin and will therefore be reluctant to prescribe it.

If you intend to follow this regimen, you should only do so under physician supervision.

What to Do If You Develop Avian Flu

Doctors, virologists, and immunologists from around the world have yet to report of any effective therapies in scientific literature. Due to the lack of carefully-documented human clinical data, expert virologists and infectious disease experts reported that they simply did not know, ultimately, how effective drugs with immune-modulating properties (such as corticosteroids) would be against avian flu. Since the world's experts have no confidence on how best to treat avian flu, research is still being conducted

Keeping You Informed

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention indicate that anywhere from 5% to 20% of the U.S. population get influenza each year, an average of about 36,000 people per year in the United States die from influenza, and more than 200,000 will be admitted to the hospital as a result of influenza.142

The fact that these recommendations have worked for others, does not mean they will work for you. There is a scientific rationale, however, to using cimetidine, garlic, and other readily available and inexpensive agents when confronted with a typical viral illness. The FDA, of course, does not approve any of these approaches.

If one contracts avian flu, the immediate initiation of aggressive anti-viral (and anti-cytokine) drug therapies is paramount. Whether or not you actually contract avian flu, it makes sense to initiate aggressive actions if you contract flu-like symptoms. Early treatment of common cold or typical flu viruses can result in rapid eradication of the virus from your body. Immediate treatment of the avian flu may save your life!

If you are taking any medications or have serious health problems, you must first consult with your own healthcare professional before following any health strategy. Those with hormone sensitive cancers, for example, may not want to take DHEA. I also want to stress that this is for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. There are side effects to all of the drugs discussed in this letter, making it crucial that you have a knowledgeable healthcare professional overseeing your treatment.

If we are lucky, avian flu may never become a pandemic.