Cold Flu Treatment, Antibiotics, and Herbs by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

Antibiotic overuse (especially for the common cold) has led to antibiotic resistance. Natural antibiotics and anti viral herbs that may boost immune system are discussed, plus the types of cold and flu, and cough and cold in a weak immune system.

Most people don't realize that western biomedical understanding didn't include the immune system until very recently. The first vaccine was developed in the late 1800's, and most of the immune system was not understood until the 1960's. Oriental Medicine has been diagnosing and treating immune system diseases with herbs since as early as 150

A.D. when the first systematic book on externally contracted illnesses, the "Cold Damage Classic" was written.

Superbacteria

Medical professionals are now concerned about antibiotic-resistant 'superbacteria.' These superbacteria have evolved because of inappropriate medical prescriptions. Antibiotics are effective only against bacteria, not against viruses. MD's and DO's often prescribed antibiotics to pacify patients who refused to leave the doctor's office without them - even when the doctor knew the antibiotic would not help. The problem is that we are running out of antibiotic drugs; there is a finite number of them. It is thought that, in the future, the more complex treatment agents such as natural herbs may be our only defense.

Chinese herbs have successfully treated and caused remission of viral hepatitis and AIDS. In clinical research studies on human beings, at least 15 herbs have been shown to stimulate the immune system and destroy viruses and bacteria (see next table). Chinese herbs appear to have an effect against bacteria and viruses directly, and they stimulate and strengthen the immune system (wei qi) in doing its job of ridding the body of pathogens.

15 Anti-Viral Chinese Herbs Proven Effective in Human Studies

1. Andrographis (Chuan xin lian): Viral hepatitis, encephalitis B, herpes zoster, viral influenza

2. Astragalus (Huang qi): Restores immune function in immune suppression from chemotherapy, increases IgA, IgG, and interferon production

3. Deer antler (Lu rong): Promotes lymphocyte transformation and treats leukopenia due to chronic benzene poisoning, promotes bone marrow function

4. Ganoderma (Ling zhi): Treats hepatitis, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease, altitude sickness, cancer (especially leukemia)

5. Ginseng Ren shen: Increases resistance by stimulating adrenal gland via pituitary

6. Isatis (Da qing ye, Ban lan gen): Encephalitis B, measles, mumps, infectious hepatitis, URTI

7. Licorice (Gan cao): In pulmonary TB, it increased ESR - arthritis and hepatomegaly from hepatitis - acute and chronic hepatitis

8. Lonicera (Jin yin hua): Severe acute pneumonia, bacillary dysntery

9. Oldenlandia (Bai hua she she cao): Peritonitis, UTI, hepatitis, chronic bronchitis

10. Phellodendron (Huang bai): Meningitis, dysentery, GI infection, conjunctivitis, UTI, candidal/trichomonal vaginitis

11. Polygonum (He shou wu): Malaria

Polygonum cuspidatum (Hu zhang): Lung infections, tonsillitis, hepatitis, RA, osteoarthritis

12. Salvia (Dan shen): Hepatitis, SLE

13. Siberian ginseng (Wu jia pi): Xue and qi xu - improves leukocyte count in 70% of leukopenic patients - caution when there is heat

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BIO:

Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical professor Brian B. Carter founded the alternative health megasite The Pulse of Oriental Medicine (http://www.PulseMed.org/). He is the author of the book "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (November, 2004). Brian speaks on radio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed by Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.

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