By now, the school year is in full swing—and if you’ve been paying attention to the news, then you know that this year’s flu season is already shaping up to be a tough one. Parents and grandparents across the country are preparing for the worst… but whether you have kids or not, there’s no question you’ll want to start the season armed with the thickest shield of immunity you can possibly find.
Fortunately, the secret is simple: A smart strategy—and a few well-chosen supplements—can provide all the natural armor you need to strengthen the immune system of both you and your child this winter.
For starters, stock up on medicinal mushrooms. Species like Agaricus blazei, Cordyceps sinensis, Grifola frondosa (Maitake), Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), Coriolus versicolor, and Lentinula edodes (Shitake) are all rich in immune-enhancing polysaccharides called 1-3 beta glucans, and they are clinically proven to improve the secretion of IgA (a critical pathogen barrier in mucous and saliva) while optimizing T cell ratios and boosting the activity of your body’s monocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells.1-9
You’ll find special hybridized versions of all six of these powerful mushrooms—cultivated to maximize their immune-modulating properties—in a formula called ImmuneAssist® 24/7, which combines them with a purified form of the polyphenol EGCG. Derived from green tea, EGCG has been shown in cell culture studies to be a potent inhibitor of both influenza and adenovirus (a leading cause of upper respiratory infection in children and adults).10-11
For additional protection, consider taking silver (yes, silver), which has been used safely and successfully for centuries in hundreds of bacterial and viral illnesses—from pneumonia, TB, HIV, and meningitis, to tonsillitis, eczema, gonorrhea, and syphilis.12-13 You’ll find Silver Liquid here at VRP.
Finally, EpiCor® (and EpiCor Junior for children) are also available through VRP—both products are versions of a groundbreaking yeast fermentate that is proven to activate your body’s natural killer cell activity. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials reveal that subjects vaccinated against the flu and taking 500 mg of EpiCor daily experience significantly fewer cold and flu symptoms and significantly shorter duration of symptoms, compared to subjects taking the placebo. In these subjects, EpiCor reduced the incidence and duration of cold and flu symptoms by as much as 21 percent.14
All three of the solutions above are excellent options for ongoing immune support… but what if you’re already sick?
When your defenses are already down, Chinese medicine offers a long list of natural botanicals. For example, Glycyrrhizae uralensis increases antibody production, while Platycodon grandiflorum activates your body’s pathogen-eating macrophages.15 Animal studies show that Phragmites communis supports the thymus and spleen—both of which are critical to immunity—while Forsythia suspense was shown to inhibit the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Arctigenin prolonged the survival time of mice infected with flu virus and Mentha arvensis inhibits histamine release from mast cells in vitro.16-18
You’ll find all of these herbs—along with immune-boosting vitamin A and zinc—in a single rescue formula called Fast Response®, also available through Vitamin Research Products, which should be kept on-hand for use at the first sign of a fever or a sore throat, indicators that your immunological defenses are being challenged.
References:
1. Ruwei W, Yiyuan X, Peijun J, Xing W, Holliday JC. Immune-Assist brand Dietary Supplement as an Adjunct for Chemo and Radiation Therapy in Cancer Treatment. Unpublished Study.
2. Obi N, Hayashi K, Miyahara T, Shimada Y, Terasawa K, Watanabe M, Takeyama M, Obi R, Ochiai H. Inhibitory Effect of TNF-alpha Produced by Macrophages Stimulated with Grifola frondosa Extract (ME) on the Growth of Influenza A/Aichi/2/68 Virus in MDCK Cells. Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(6):1171-83.
3. Deng G, Lin H, Seidman A, Fornier M, D’Andrea G, Wesa K, Yeung S, Cunningham-Rundles S, Vickers AJ, Cassileth B. A phase I/II trial of a polysaccharide extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in breast cancer patients: immunological effects. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2009 Mar 1. Published Online Ahead of Print.
4. Gong HY, Wang KQ, Tang SG. [Effects of cordyceps sinensis on T lymphocyte subsets and hepatofibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B]. [Article in Chinese] Hunan Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2000 Jun 28;25(3):248-50.
5. Cheng Q. [Effect of cordyceps sinensis on cellular immunity in rats with chronic renal insufficiency]. [Article in Chinese] Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1992 Jan;72(1):27-9, 63.
6. Gao Y, Zhou S, Jiang W, Huang M, Dai X. Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients. Immunol Invest. 2003 Aug;32(3):201-15.
7. Tsukagoshi S, Hashimoto Y, Fujii G, Kobayashi H, Nomoto K, Orita K. Krestin (PSK). Krestin (PSK). Cancer Treat Rev. 1984 Jun;11(2):131-55.
8. Liu M, Li J, Kong F, Lin J, Gao Y. Induction of immunomodulating cytokines by a new polysaccharide-peptide complex from culture mycelia of Lentinus edodes. Immunopharmacology. 1998 Nov;40(3):187-98.
9. Zheng R, Jie S, Hanchuan D, Moucheng W. Characterization and immunomodulating activities of polysaccharide from Lentinus edodes. Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 May;5(5):811-20.
10. Song JM, Lee KH, Seong BL. Antiviral effect of catechins in green tea on influenza virus. Antiviral Res. 2005 Nov;68(2):66-74.
11. Weber JM, Ruzindana-Umunyana A, Imbeault L, Sircar S. Inhibition of adenovirus infection and adenain by green tea catechins. Antiviral Res. 2003 Apr;58(2):167-73.
12. Duhamel B Electric Metal Colloids and Their Therapeutical Applications Lancet 1912; 29-30.
13. Searle A. The Use of Colloids in Health and Disease, London: Constable & Co., 1920, pp 67-111.
14. Moyad MA, Robinson LE, Zawada ET, Jr, Kittelsrud JM, Chen DG, Reeves SG, Weaver SE. Effects of a Modified Yeast Supplement on Cold/Flu Symptoms. Urologic Nursing. February 2008;28(1): 50-55.
15. Sun HX, Pan HJ. Immunological adjuvant effect of Glycyrrhiza uralensis saponins on the immune responses to ovalbumin in mice. Vaccine. 2006 Mar 10;24(11):1914-20.
16. Zhang GG, Song SJ, Ren J, Xu SX. A new compound from Forsythia (Thunb.) Vahl with antiviral effect on RSV. J Herb Pharmacother. 2002;2(3):35-40.
17. Yang Z, Liu N, Huang B, Wang Y, Hu Y, Zhu Y. [Effect of anti-influenza virus of Arctigenin in vivo] [Article in Chinese]. Zhong Yao Cai. 2005 Nov;28(11):1012-4.
18. Shin TY. Inhibition of immunologic and nonimmunologic stimulation-mediated anaphylactic reactions by the aqueous extract of Mentha arvensis. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2003 May;25(2):273-83.