October 2004

Natural options available to protect against flu

A number of natural options are available to help your patients protect themselves against flu, says the American Botanical Council (ABC), an independent nonprofit research and education organization that provides information about herbal medicine.

According to ABC, several natural options that may help normal, healthy adults protect against flu, diminish flu symptoms, and/or shorten flu intensity and duration.

Some herbs have demonstrated benefits when taken at the first sign of flu symptoms, said ABC founder and executive director Mark Blumenthal. These herbs include the herb Echinacea; the traditional and increasingly popular immune booster, elder berry; and the Chinese herb andrographis.

Clinical studies on echinacea show that it can diminish the symptoms and duration of colds and flu. Blumenthal noted that although some recent clinical trials on echinacea have not confirmed its effectiveness, others have. One recent Canadian clinical trial on an echinacea extract showed that the herbal extract lowered respiratory tract symptoms in people with colds.

In a recent Norwegian study scientists were able to demonstrate that patients receiving elder berry extract recovered from the flu four days earlier than patients in the control group. The study revealed that the elder berry extract shortened the duration of flu types A & B by four days, in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Symptoms were also made less severe with no significant side effects reported.

In addition to echinacea and elder berry, andrographis is an herb with pronounced benefits for the immune system, said Blumenthal. A recent published review of 11 clinical trials shows that andrographis is safe and effective in treating upper respiratory tract infections associated with colds and flus.

Andrew Weil, MD, best-selling author and leader in integrating conventional and alternative medicine, and a member of the ABC Advisory Board, suggests: “There are other ways of preventing and treating influenza. My first choice is to take a standardized extract of astragalus, a well-known Chinese herb, throughout the flu season. It is nontoxic and has immune-boosting activity. People should be aware of other herbal treatments such as echinacea and elder berry extract. Of course they should also make an effort to avoid sick people and to wash hands frequently.”

Source: American Botanical Council, www.herbalgram.org

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