Swine Flu and Your Building Your Body’s Resilience to All Infection

The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of the Clinical Directors, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of the Clinical Directors and their community. The Directors encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Swine Flu and Your Building Your Body’s Resilience to All Infection

Conventional Prevention ApproachReasonable Hygiene Procedures and Avoiding Contact with infected peopleThe swine flu virus is spread from the respiratory tract by runny noses, coughing and sneezing, the droplets stick onto furniture and fittings and are picked up by touch. Hygiene precautions including hand-washing are unlikely to completely prevent exposure, but they may reduce the initial viral load, allowing the immune system to respond more effectively; so these hygiene measures are worth following. Avoiding contact with infectious people is also promoted as the key prevention strategy and makes common sense.Vaccinations?If you have a diagnosed case of CFS/ME or FM we are generally recommending that patients avoid having the flu vaccination (for normal flu and swine flu) as this can cause a downturn in symptoms or the development of complications which would not otherwise have been there. It is true that in some patient cases, vaccinations have been found to be the orginal trigger for the outbreak of CFS/ME in the first place, so generally we recommend focusing on measures for prevention detailed below as opposed to taking the vaccine.Conventional Approach if you contact swine flu - TamifluIf you do contract swine flu, in severe cases we do recommend you take into account recommendations from your GP or other conventional recommendations being made including the use of Tamiflu which is an anti-viral drug. Each diagnosed case should be treated on a case by case basis, there is defintely an appropriate time and place for conventional treatment in the severest of cases. However we believe that if you take good preventative measures described below – we hope to this would eradicate the need for anit-viral drugs in any case.Some of the supplements recommended below have been found to be three times more effective in preventing flu than conventional vaccinations.Also note that even in the flu epidemics at the beginning of the last century, at least some 50% of the population did not contract the flu. Along streets in London there would be people who caught it, and literally next door neighbours who did not.Why would this be?It is because illness is not just about the bug or the exposure to the bug, it is also about a person’s internal resistance levels, their core vitality or RESILIENCE - and this is something that is in your control.

Preventative Measures to Build Your Body’s Resilience against Infection

Stress State/Healing StateIf you are a current patient with the clinic or have read much material from our website you may know by now about the mind-body connection, and that chronic states of stress can eventually deplete the body leading to weakened immunity. Stress means the body is stuck in “flight and flight” mode – energy and blood flows to the muscles ready to run from the “sabre tooth tiger”. This is at the expense of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is part of the rest, digest and detoxify mode. Stressed people won’t be digesting nutrients from food so well, nor detoxifying natural toxins in the environment so effectively, and the body may not be getting the time and rest it needs to fully rejuvenate; in turn leading to lowered resilience to infection.Stomach Acid Swine flu is an enterovirus, meaning that it infects the gut. The virus attaches itself in the mucous layer which lines the respiratory tract, which gets coughed up and swallowed, in turn entering the gut. The very first line of defence against this bug therefore – is having good stomach acid levels. Acid in the gut will kill most bugs, and those patients with good stomach acid will prevent infection completely, or vastly reduce the exposure.We believe that some 80-90% of CFS/ME patients have deficient stomach acid levels, based on testing and treatment on the nutrition side of the clinic. We now also this may the underlying cause of many other imbalances found in the majority of CFS/ME/FM patients, including other enteroviruses (1), chronic Candida and vitamin and mineral deficiencies and as well as methylation cycle crashes.You are in the high risk group for low stomach acid in addition if you are vegetarian or vegan, due to the low protein levels in the these diets, and protein is required for stomach acid productions.The other high risk group are those taking drugs (e.g. Omeprazole) or supplements for reflux or heart burn. These drugs and supplements literally switch off stomach acid production or neutralize it.We have found that in many cases of reflux or heart burn, often these symptoms are experienced because of LOW, not high, stomach acid levels. This is not well understood in conventional circles. But essentially low stomach acid, as we have said, allows viable microbes to be swallowed and enter the intestines. This in turn promotes gut dysbiosis – overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut. Low stomach acid also means protein is not as well digested, leading to slow transit time through the gut. This can lead to putrification in the gut – again leading to promotion of gut dysbiosis. Bad gut bacteria produce toxins which can form gas, and slow transit times causes indigestion – all of this can force what stomach acid there is in the stomach to get into the wrong places – i.e. into the oesophagus – where it burns.In such cases, actually increasing stomach acid at meals times, and treating the gut with probiotics will clear the reflux or heart burn symptoms. Transit times increase, protein is more quickly digested and there is less indigestion and toxins causing gas and bloating.There are other causes for reflux/heart burn symptoms that are treatable within the clinic including:• Protective mucous layer in stomach lining has become deficient, in turn causing burning in response to stomach acid, this is treatable with essential oils, vitamin C and other stomach lining healers• Stress and poor breathing habits as well as poor posture can all lead to changes in the diaphragm leading to complications such as hiatal hernia• Infections of Helicobacter pylori – this is the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, which in turn can lead to symptoms of heart burn. Again this can be tested and treated within the clinic.So we recommend that patients test and treat their stomach acid levels as part of supporting immune defences. This involves taking betaine HCL at meal times. Details are found in the table at the bottom of this article. If your case is complicated, i.e. you find you react to the HCL, or you have any of the conditions above, we recommend you speak to a practitioner at the clinic about some specialized help with treatment.Vitamin D and SunlightThe updates on research regarding vitamin D in the last 10 years are fairly huge and very important for all people with chronic illnesses. Vitamin D deficiency has now been linked to people with CFS/ME, major depression, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancers and many more chronic illnesses. Vitamin D is now a major factor in any illness involving immune deficiency – and it is especially antiviral.Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin – meaning we are meant to get most of it from sunlight, which triggers the chemical production of the vitamin in our bodies. It is not surprising therefore that vitamin D is at epidemically low levels in areas and at times where there is a lack of sunlight. There is less sunshine in the northern hemisphere and many chronic illnesses found in this part of the world are now being linked to the lack of sunlight. In addition flu epidemics tend to take off in the autumn and winter time – this is partly due to the drop in temperature (which allows viruses to proliferate) but it is also due to the reduction in the level of sunlight, and in turn, vitamin D.The Vitamin D Council has found that we need approximately 20,000ius per day of vitamin D. (www.vitamindcouncil.org). One hour of full body exposure to Mediterranean sunlight would provide 10,000ius. As you can see many of us don’t get that in the UK – not even in the summer time! Most vitamin pills contain 400ius per capsule – and usually in the inactive/less accessible form of vitamin D2. Ideally healthy people are recommended to take 2000iu-5000ius per day, along side plenty of sunshine. For patients with chronic diseases, or particular susceptibility to infection we recommend 10,000ius per day from supplementation and plenty of sunshine. The vitamin D council has found NO toxicity levels in people taking 10,000ius per day.The recommendation to get sunshine daily is a far cry from the warnings given in the 1980s, and 1990s - until now to avoid sunshine due to skin cancer risk. The update here is that sunshine is recommended – but burning is definitely not. Burning IS linked with increased risk of skin cancer.For more information on supplementation see details in the table below.ColostrumColostrum is the fluid produced from the mother’s breasts during the first few days after birth. It is the reason breast milk is recommended as the best source of nutrients for babies before bottle feeding. Colostrum is a powerful immune booster. In an experiment over a 2 month period, oral colostrum was given to a group of people, while a second group were given the anti-influenza vaccination, and the efficacy of both were compared in the prevention of flu outbreaks in the two groups of people. It was found that colostrum was three times more effective that the flu vaccine in preventing flu outbreaks!(2)We recommend Lactoferrin with Colostrum below, see handouts attached for further information on each supplement.Secretory IgA – Saccharomyces Boulardii (probiotic)As mentioned swine flu is an enterovirus which enters the gut via sticking to the mucosal lining in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. The first line of defence in this is mucosal lining is known as secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). These antibodies are part of the immune system and work to prevent the adhesion of viruses to the mucosal lining. They neutralise the virus by preventing replication, infection and dissemination, thus providing better protection that vaccinations which work via stimulating serum antibodies. (3,4,5,6,7,8)Saccharomyces boulardii and probiotics have been found to increase the body’s levels of sIgA. (9,10,11) See more information below for these supplements and details on each supplement attached in the handouts.Other NutrientsA range of vitamin and minerals play an important part in the body’s immune system defences, particularly Vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin B6 and also probiotics for gut health (see above). We therefore recommend a multivitamin and mineral for general support in addition to the other supplements recommended here. If you are a patient in treatment with our clinic, this side of things is often already covered. See the table below for more details.For CFS/ME/FM patients at high risk of infectionsIf you are a patient who is prone to constant infections and seems to “catch everything going” we recommend you speak to a practitioner at the clinic who will systematically run through and treat all possible underlying problems, which in the addition to the above would include:1/ Measures to treat and treat the body’s detox systems – if these are “on strike” it is effectively like the body’s dustbin men are sitting around doing nothing! This leads to a build up of rubbish or toxicity in the body, which in turn overwhelms the immune system, making the body prone to infections. This would include looking at liver detox systems, the lymph flow, methylation cycles and glutathione, and cell membrane health which includes the body’s abilities to clear out fat soluble toxins. It would also cover looking at current exposures to toxins in your environment from water, food, personal hygiene products and amalgam fillings. Treatments can include:• Home enemas• Castor oil packs• Niacin flushing• Dry skin brushing• Epsom salts baths• Fat flushing with phos chol• Mini-trampolining• Oral bowel cleansing• Far infra red sauna• Mini juice fasting2/ Further testing and in-depth treatment for gut problems. 80% of the immune system is found in the gut. If there are parasites, bad bacteria, poor enzymes and stomach acid and general lack of health, the immune system will be overwhelmed.3/ Food allergies and intolerances – can lead to chronic infections and dysbiosis which weakens immunity, in turn leading to an increased risk of getting other infections.4/ Endocrine imbalances including thyroid and adrenal crashes – both can increase the chances of infection due to a drop in body temperature and blood pressure, and causes the immune system to function more slowly. This involves ensuring good iodine levels for thyroid support and glandulars for adrenals5/ Testing and treatment for any other micronutrient deficiencies that may have come about through various means including genetic polymorphisms such as Krytopyrroluria (KPU). KPU is an imbalance that greatly increases the individual’s external supplement need for zinc and vitamin B6. If such a patient is not supplementing they will be very deficient in these nutrients which in turn leads to the immune system effectively becoming “disarmed.”6/When all of the above has been treated, powerful natural antimicrobrial treatment can be given which is known as Dr Klinghardt’s Le Cocktail which includes freeze dried garlic, chlorella, cilantro and oils. Speak to your practitioner for more information.

Natural Support if you do catch Swine Flu

Allow fever and inflammation, get rest and warmthDon’t get caught in the “pill for every ill” or a supplement to treat every single symptom during an acute infection. The body does in fact know how to heal itself. Symptoms can be nature’s way of the body expelling toxins. Running a fever or high temperature is part of the body’s natural method of ridding the body of any infections. Low body temperatures allow the proliferation of microbes, higher temperatures can kill them. Note inflammation is directly toxic to viruses and helps to expel them.It may sound like common sense, but rest and keep warm!If you or a loved one is having a particularly rough time and you are worried about the severity of symptoms in the event of an infection, do not hesitate to contact your local NHS practitioner or GP.Extra nutrients in addition to the prevention programme in the face of infection10mg zinc four times per day and up to 10grams of vitamin C at the first sign of infection can speed up clearance of the virus. Adjust the dosage thereafter according to symptoms. Note the vitamin C will/can produce loose stools or diarrhoea – which is helping to clear out the virus from the gut. Drink plenty of fluid and ensure you are taking probiotics as part of the general prevention supplement programme below to replace any lost gut bacteria.

Supplement Recommendations

CAUTION – if you are taking any kind of medication aside from antibiotics, sleep medication and antidepressants prescribed by your GP or any medical qualified doctor, you must seek advice from a licensed nutritional health practitioner before following these recommendations.Note if you are a patient who is already getting treatment from a practitioner in the nutrition division, you will already be taking many of the below and should NOT need to take the multi vitamins and minerals.

Preventative Supplement Programme

Supplement nameDosage for adolescents aged 8 andabove and adultsChildren aged 2-7Betain HCL by Lamberts from Natural DispensarySee separate hydrochloric acid dosage instructions.Cannot take this if you have a history or current case of gastritis,heartburn, gastro-intestinal symptoms, stomach ulcer or if you are takingNSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) cortisone-like drugs orany other drugs that can cause a peptic ulcerNot recommendedSaccharomyces boulardii by Allergy Researchfrom Nutri Link1-2 daily with food½-1 daily with foodBio D Emulsion Forte by Biotics Researchfrom Nutri Link3-5 drops daily with sunlight exposure1-2 drops per day with sunlight exposureLacktoferrin with Colostrum2 caps daily at night1-2 caps daily at nightCytolog:Colostrum Spray for lactose and dairyintolerant by Allergy Research from Nutri Link2 x 4 sprays daily under the tongue1x 4 sprays daily under the tongueProbiotics: Lactobacillus:Plantarum, Phamnosus,Salivarus by Allergy Research from Nutri Link1-2 daily with food1 daily with foodProMulti Plus by Biotics Research from NutriLinkNot required if youare in treatment with the nutrition division already. 2-3 tabs per dayNot applicableChildren’s Multi-Vi-Min by AllergyResearch from Nutri LinkNot applicableNot required if youare already in treatment with the nutrition division already. 1-3 per dayOrdering DetailsNutri Link: Tel 08450 760402 – register your name and address and quote your practitioner as Optimum Health Reference 457Natural Dispensary: Tel 01453 757792 register and quote Alex Howard, or when ordering online with Natural Dispensary, input the promotional code “OHC”Accompanying Handouts (right click and select 'save as' to download)

References1. Chia JKS., Chia AY. Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with chronic enterovirus infection of the stomach. J Clin Pathol 2007;0:1–6. doi: 10.11362. Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Di Renzo A, Dugall M, Cacchio M, Ruffini I, Pellegrini L, Del Boccio G, Fano F, Ledda A, Bottari A, Ricci A, Stuard S, Vinciguerra G. Prevention of influenza episodes with colostrum compared with vaccination in healthy and high-risk cardiovascular subjects: the epidemiologic study in San Valentino. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2007 Apr;13(2):130-6. [Medline]3. Nagler-Anderson, C.. 2001. Man the barrier! Strategic defences in the intestinal mucosa. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 1: 59-67. [Medline]4. Yan H, Lamm ME, Björling E, Huang YT. Multiple functions of immunoglobulin A in mucosal defense against viruses: an in vitro measles virus model. J Virol. 2002 Nov;76(21):10972-9. [Medline]5. Childers, N. K., M. G. Bruce, and J. R. McGhee. 1989. Molecular mechanisms of immunoglobulin A defense. Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 43:503-53 [Medline]6. Mazanec MB, Nedrud JG, Kaetzel CS, Lamm ME. A three-tiered view of the role of IgA in mucosal defence. Immunol Today 1993;14:430–435 [Medline]7. Fernandez, M. I., T. Pedron, R. Tournebize, J. C. Olivo-Marin, P. J. Sansonetti, A. Phalipon. 2003. Anti-inflammatory role for intracellular dimeric immunoglobulin A by neutralization of lipopolysaccharide in epithelial cells. Immunity 18: 739-749. [Medline]8. Taylor, H. P., and N. J. Dimmock. 1985. Mechanism of neutralization of influenza virus by secretory IgA is different from that of monomeric IgA or IgG. J. Exp. Med. 161:198-209 [Medline]9. Buts JP, Bernasconi P, Vaerman JP, et al. Stimulation of secretory IgA and secretory component of immunoglobulins in small intestine of rats treated with Saccharomyces boulardii. Dig Dis Sci 1990;35:251-256[Medline].10. Buts JP, De Keyser N.. Effects of Saccharomyces boulardii on intestinal mucosa. Dig Dis Sci. 2006 Aug; 51(8):1485-92. Epub 2006 Jul 13. [Medline]11. Liaskovs’kyĭ TM, Rybalko SL, Pidhors’kyĭ VS, Kovalenko NK, Oleshchenko LT Effect of probiotic lactic acid bacteria strains on virus infection.Mikrobiol Z. 2007 Mar-Apr;69(2):55-63. [Medline]

Swine Flu and Your Building Your Body’s Resilience to All Infection