Elderberry

[omega minimo]

I am putting together a basic toolkit for prevention/survival of possible flu this season. I am asking for anecdotal recommendations regarding Elderberry, including forms and brands, but not medical advice. I am also providing this disclaimer: for the Haters, fuck off, go find someone else to attack.


If anyone would like to comment on forms, brands and applications of Elderberry extract for flu, preventatively and during infection, that information would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

:thumbsup: May all be well and stay well during the upcoming season.

[DesertFlower]

1. i don't know much albout elderberry,

but dr. andrew weil recommends taking astragalus as a preventative.

[omega minimo]

2. Thank you DesertFlower, I'll look into that. Not familiar with it.

:hi:

[DesertFlower]

4. don't know if you're interested in

homeopathy, but i got this link from a homeopath on treating the flu.

http://www.naturalnews.com/026839_homeopathy_homeopathic_doctors.html

it's nice to find another open minded person.

[grasswire]

3. all I know about elderberry

Several years ago I took an herbal tea that contained echinacea and elderberry several times, and I had a lot of palpitations. Now, I know it was not the echinacea because I routinely take that without any trouble. I've always wondered if it was the elderberry. When I stopped the tea, the palpitations were at a normal level.

[omega minimo]

6. Thanks grasswire, for your input.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nosmokes]

7. is there anything specific about elderberry as opposed to blueberry or

huckleberry or anything with a super high anti-oxidant content?

being someone w/ lung disease i'll take most any reasonable precaution to avoid the flu.

thanks and good luck

[omega minimo]

8. Good question. There's something.

[nofurylike]

9. it is elderberry, specifically, though it is of the blueberry family.

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:d9E7rT6dttIJ:lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-65052264226661/cf066.pdf+method+of+action+elderberry&hl=en&gl=us

Elderberry - Learn why this fabled berry is a flu virus's worst nightmare

In the laboratory, Dr. Madeleine Mumcuouglu, Ph.D., a virologist based in Israel, discovered that the active ingredients in elderberries "disarm" the hermagglutinin by binding to them, which effectively prevents the piercing of the cellular membrane. That means, if you can prevent the virus from entering the cell you've defeated the disease.

-snip-

***

note added by the person who sent this information:

"The extraction method used for the elderberry syrup used in Israel has perhaps 400 to 500 compounds. The product I have my mom using is a good tasting elderberry lozenge that contains nearly 1100 compounds from elderberry due to a proprietary extraction method. Is it safe? Notwithstanding that I am giving this to my 88 year old mom, the elderberry is in the blueberry family. I would say it is as safe as blueberry pie."


stay well, all.

[omega minimo]

11. Thank you nofurylike

[nofurylike]

13. y'welcome. poster below pointed out liquid is the only one that

works.

i've never tried the lozengers, and i use the liquid extract, myself, but the health advisor who sent the info says the lozengers do work the same.
so, probably best to find that out before deciding.

keep well!

*edit to add ref to below post.

[nosmokes]

12. thanks n/t

[nofurylike]

14. y'welcome. adding on edit:

poster below pointed out liquid is the only one that works.

i've never tried the lozengers, and i use the liquid extract, myself, but the health advisor who sent the info says the lozengers do work the same.
so, probably best to find that out before deciding.

keep well!

[TheWraith]

10. Liquid elderberry extract taken orally is the only usage that's been proven effective.

Four tablespoons a day for an adult.

[nofurylike]

15. thanks for the added info. eom

[HysteryDiagnosis]

16. I'm trying the D3 approach along with the usual suspects.

Woke up, got out of bed, saw this post which I soon read, da da da da....


http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/newsletter/h1n1-flu-and-vitamin-d.shtml

http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/courses/biochem901/secure/materials/readings/09_Cannell.pdf&images=yes
(Accepted 5 August 2006, first published online 7 September 2006)
S U M M A R Y
In 1981, R. Edgar Hope-Simpson proposed that a ` seasonal stimulus ' intimately associated with
solar radiation explained the remarkable seasonality of epidemic influenza. Solar radiation triggers
robust seasonal vitamin D production in the skin ; vitamin D deficiency is common in the winter,
and activated vitamin D, 1,25(OH)
2
D, a steroid hormone, has profound effects on human
immunity. 1,25(OH)
2
D acts as an immune system modulator, preventing excessive expression
of inflammatory cytokines and increasing the ` oxidative burst ' potential of macrophages. Perhaps
most importantly, it dramatically stimulates the expression of potent anti-microbial peptides,
which exist in neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and in epithelial cells lining the
respiratory tract where they play a major role in protecting the lung from infection. Volunteers
inoculated with live attenuated influenza virus are more likely to develop fever and serological
evidence of an immune response in the winter. Vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to
respiratory infections. Ultraviolet radiation (either from artificial sources or from sunlight) reduces
the incidence of viral respiratory infections, as does cod liver oil (which contains vitamin D). An
interventional study showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in
children. We conclude that vitamin D, or lack of it, may be Hope-Simpson's ` seasonal stimulus '


http://www.virologyj.com/content/5/1/29

[tabatha]

18. Yes, I have not had flu in the last 6 or so year (no flu shots)

I wondered why.

Possibly, because I started going out in the sun a lot more (hobby).

I also introduced more "green" into my diet, via a drink such as the one sold by Trader Joes - restricted my consumption of milk and cheese to almost nothing, and gave up cereal.

Possibly a combination of all three - certainly there is more mucus in dairy.

[omega minimo]

21. Cereal?

Why? A particular grain?

[tabatha]

24. I limited grains (carbohydrates) in general.

It was a diet issue, but have since learned that many advocate giving up grains:

http://michellestype1diabetes.blogspot.com/

[SidDithers]

17. Why not post in Astrology, Spirituality & Alternative Healing Group...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=245

Sid

[BuddhaGirl]

19. cross post, sure

but it belongs here too.

[omega minimo]

20. Why not mind your own business?

It's a Health question.

[trotsky]

22. CENSOR!

How dare you!!

[omega minimo]

23. NONSENSE!