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January/February 2002 Alternative Health
Anthrax, Flu, Immunity and You

by Jim Martin

As I prepare my morning herbal immune building juice drink I recall two news items that caught my attention over the past year. Both deal with threats to the American public from disease producing germs-viruses and bacteria - and the inability of modern western medicine to adequately protect us from them.

The first article is entitled “Scientists Say New Virus Can Cause a Pandemic,” from the January 17th issue of USA Today. “Pandemic” is bigger than “epidemic,” referring to a disease prevalent throughout entire countries. The influenza pandemic of World War 1 killed tens of millions of people worldwide, including many Americans.

The article stated that “The death rate grew 50% from 1980 to 1992 from infectious diseases once thought to be nearly vanquished by modern medicine in the USA.” One major factor is the emergence of the MDRBs, “multiple drug resistant bacteria,” which cannot be treated with any known medications. Ironically, these supergerms are actually being created by our medical system through overuse of antibiotics for treatment of infections and for stimulating weight gain in cattle. Bacterial strains evolve in an environment of diluted antibiotics and, through mutations, become immune to them. The strongest, most virulent germs survive and proliferate. The other irony is that the best place to contract an untreatable bug seems to be in the hospital.

The article continues: “A flu virus that no one has ever been exposed to - one that can move swiftly causing illness and death, social chaos and disaster around the globe - could be incubating in a remote area of China. The prospect of pandemic influenza has scientists stocking up the public health equivalent of sandbags in anticipation of the coming flood.” I recall a noted immunologist stating that in such a disaster, “There is not a damn thing we can do about it,” and that millions of Americans would perish.

A more recent report concerns an October 20, 2001 interview on Fox Network with Dr. Ken Alibek, whose company currently contracts to the US Army, developing medical defenses for anthrax. It’s ironic again to note that anthrax strains which killed five Americans appear to have originated not from overseas but from the US military itself.

Dr. Alibek, formerly Kanatjan Alibekov, was a Russian scientist who developed biological weapons for nearly twenty years, responsible for 32,000 employees in forty facilities. He defected to America in 1992 with the goal of making the greatest possible contribution to eliminating the danger of biological weapons.

Dr. Alibek says that when dealing with anthrax used in biological weapons, which has a 90% fatality rate, the usual form of antibiotic treatment is largely ineffective. So much, then, for hoarding Cipro. When asked what he then recommended to the American people, he replied that the best defense against the threat of anthrax or other biological pathogens is to build the immune system using antioxidant herbs and vitamins, including vitamins A and E and selenium. It is quite remarkable, I feel, that one of the top experts in the world in the field of biological weapons dismisses the value of drugs and, instead, recommends the use of natural medicine to build immunity against disease. This is, after all, what holistic practitioners have been recommending to patients for years, only to see them gobbling up bottles of antibiotics instead in so many cases, eventually experiencing the inevitable side effects such as digestive system dysfunction resulting from elimination of healthy and helpful intestinal bacteria.

To summarize, then, we have a top virologist saying that when a major viral or bacterial pandemic strikes us millions of people will die; and a top expert agreeing that current medications will be largely ineffective, and recommending that we protect ourselves with immune system building supplements. So, which ones to choose from among the hundreds of products on the shelves?

One of the most popular herbs for this purpose is Echinacea, which stimulates immune components including antibodies, macrophages, NK cells, promotes phagocytosis (eating germs), and lymphatic circulation. Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa), St John’s Wort, and Chinese herbs such as astralgus and Korean ginseng enhance immunity by tonifying the ‘wei chi’ defensive energy, increasing white blood cell count, and countering immune suppressive effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Recently, many products composed of medicinal Chinese mushrooms including coriolus, cordyceps, ganoderma and maitake have gained popularity for their ability to boost immunity, inhibit bacteria and viruses and destroy tumors.

In addition, foods such as garlic and nutrients including beta carotene, vitamins B-6, C and E, and minerals zinc, selenium, copper and germanium are known to be helpful. Bovine colostrum has many benefits, as do friendly bacteria (probiotics). Your natural health care practitioner can help you select a product most suited to your specific immune system needs. Have a healthy and happy winter!!

Jim Martin, Lic. Ac, Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM) is an acupuncturist with offices in Hillsboro (503-640-3668) and Scappoose (503-543-7266). He presents slide and lecture programs about travels in search of strange and wonderful people and places around the world. Email: jmartin214@aol.com.