Immune Supplement Reviews Expert Reviews on Immunity Products
Each winter the influenza virus wreaks havoc on our ability to work and play. Symptoms of the flu include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, runny nose, cough and stomach symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Sometimes a flu virus can come on slowly or it can hit suddenly without much notice. Each year this leads people to wonder how they can prevent themselves and their family from getting the flu. Naturopathic prevention and treatment of the flu virus includes vitamins and minerals, botanical medicine and lifestyle recommendations.
Research demonstrates that elderberry extract has particular immune-modulating and antioxidant properties that neutralize the activity of viruses so they can no longer enter the cell and replicate. The berries also contain vitamins A and C, and the flavonoids quercetin, anthocyanin and rutin, all of which boost immune function.
One small study found an elderberry extract called Sambucol could shorten the duration of flu symptoms after a person gets sick by about 3 days. That would be similar to prescription antiviral medications like Tamiflu or Relenza, which have been proven effective in much larger studies and approved by the FDA to shorten the duration of the flu.
Even though elderberry has been used in traditional medicine for centuries especially to treat wounds, studies into its medicinal effects have only recently begun. Scientists have determined that elderberry is useful for managing allergies, for improving respiratory health and for treating the flu.
Elderberry also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. While most species of the elderberry plant family contain toxic cyanide-based compounds, S. nigra is considered non-toxic. Even then it is recommended that the plant be cooked before it is used in food preparation.
