Protect Yourself from Cold & Flu
Viruses Naturally with Elderberry Extract
By Christine Dreher, CCN, CCH
 The
most asked question I hear as Clinical Nutritionist & Herbalist right
now is “How can I protect myself and my family from cold and flu
viruses, including the Human Influenza A (H1N1) virus?” My answer is
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra). Elderberry has long been praised
for its strong antiviral activities and has been used for centuries
for cold and flu symptoms. Dating back to the fifth century BC, the
writings of Hippocrates describe the use of tonics derived from
Elderberry. In the Middle Ages, Elderberry was traditionally used to
help support the immune system. Elderberry has been clinically shown
to disarm flu viruses and prevent them from replicating in the body.
Elderberry contains powerful flavonoids including
anthocyanins that are located in the pigment of the fruit. These
flavonoids (antioxidants) help your body's immune system to fight
unwelcome invaders. In placebo-controlled, double-blind studies,
Elderberry has been found to effectively treat influenza. Elderberry
inhibits neuraminidase, the enzyme used by the virus to spread
infection to host cells. Elderberry constituents literally “coat” the
virus, preventing it from attaching to receptor sites. The virus ends
up bouncing off. Once coated, the virus can be more easily detected by
the immune system, which then can dispatch it.
How effective is Elderberry against the H1N1 flu
virus? A national press release dated September 10, 2009, entitled “A
recent research study indicated that Herbal Science’s proprietary
Elderberry Extract prevents H1N1 influenza infection” states the
following: “According to this recent research study, new scientific
evidence demonstrates that elderberries can block flu viruses. This
research involved a specific, reproducible elderberry extract
developed by HerbalScience Group LLC, (called
Immunity Take
Care by New Chapter) and succeeded in identifying key chemical
components of the extract that inhibited in vitro infection and were
shown to bind directly to Human Influenza A (H1N1) virus particles.
The binding blocked the ability of the viruses to enter host cells,
and thereby effectively preventing H1N1 infection in vitro.1
“These research results are notable not only because
they identified and characterized two specific flavonoids (plant
nutrients that are beneficial to health) that are the major
contributors to the anti-influenza activity of the elderberry extract,
but also verified how the flavonoids provide that benefit, via direct
binding to H1N1 virus particles and blocking the virus from infecting
host cells.” “Using methods, technologies, and procedures that are
standard in the pharmaceutical industry and new technologies developed
by us, we were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of the elderberry
extract in inhibiting viral entry into target cells and effectively
blocking its ability to reproduce." 1 An article detailing the study,
titled "Elderberry Flavonoids Bind To and Prevent H1N1 Infection In
Vitro," has been published in the peer-review scientific journal
Phytochemistry.” 2
The elderberry extract used in this study is the
result of the
DARTvision
technology developed by HerbalScience that enables the company
to standardize the chemical profile of any selected botanical in order
to deliver a compositionally and functionally consistent product that
is effective and safe. The DART (Direct Analysis in Real Time)
Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer is one of the most advanced mass
spectrometric technologies available and is able to detect, identify
with high accuracy, and quantify the hundreds or thousands of
individual chemicals present in botanical extracts.
This Elderberry extract created from HerbalScience’s
research and technology is called
Immunity Take
Care, which is manufactured and distributed solely by
New
Chapter. Immunity Take Care is a fast dissolving, great
tasting, all natural lozenge that you hold under your tongue. It
enters and starts working in your bloodstream in minutes - not hours,
unlike anti-virals whose primary delivery mechanism has to work
through the GI tract (stomach lining). While many conventional
extracts of Elderberry are available, none consistently provide the
broad spectrum of herbal chemistries and key bioactives available in
Immunity Take Care.
By utilizing this DARTvision technology, Immunity
Take Care is able to provide a dosage assured potency. This means that
Immunity Take
Care herbal extract is fingerprinted and guaranteed to have
the same full-spectrum potency from capsule to capsule without the
variation common in natural herbal therapeutics. This ensures that the
whole intelligence of the herb is consistently delivered.
HerbalScience scientists also developed a process
that enables the beneficial chemical compounds in botanicals to be
enhanced while removing any harmful compounds like heavy metals and
pesticides. With the application of this technology to the elderberry
in Immunity Take Care, the company achieves a consistent chemical
profile in its extract with batch-to-batch and dose-to-dose
reliability, and maintains the natural synergy of the chemical make-up
while optimizing the efficacy of its health benefits.
Because Elderberry is an immune modulator rather
than an immune stimulator, is safe to take daily as a preventative
against cold and flu viruses, as well as used to treat symptoms of
cold and flu. Immune modulators balance and strengthen immune function
in the body, whereas immune stimulators can create a hyperactive
immune system. So when it comes to cold and flu season, I believe that
an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure and that an
Immunity Take
Care elderberry lozenge a day can help keep the cold and flu
viruses away.
Footnotes:
1. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS119205+10-Sep-2009+PRN20090910
2. July 2009 issue of the peer-reviewed scientific journal
Phytochemistry (Volume 70, Issue 10)
Resources:
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS119205+10-Sep-2009+PRN20090910
http://sciencestage.com/resources/elderberry-extract-prevents-h1n1-infection-vitro
http://www.lifehealthchoices.com/swine-flu-alert-
http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=633
http://mountainfolkherbalist.tribe.net/thread/bc035d12-6ea0-4f2f-b63e-6038f21f4a04
http://diseases-viruses.suite101.com/article.cfm/is_there_a_herbal_cure_for_swine_flu
Additional Reading:
Immunity Take
Care by New Chapter – Product Information
A New Generation Herbal Therapeutic for Blocking Viruses by
Taryn Forrelli, ND
Elderberry Primer: An Answer to Support the Body’s Healthy Viral
Defenses by Doctor’s Prescription for Healthy Living
Prior Planning & Prevention to Side-Step the Cold & Flu Season
by Christine Dreher, CCN, CCH
The statements in this article have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information
contained here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent
any disease. Suggestions and ideas presented in this document are for
information only and should not be interpreted as medical advice,
meant for diagnosing illness, or for prescriptive purposes. The
information in this document is not to be used to replace the services
or instructions of a physician or qualified health care practitioner. |
