'Little point taking antibiotics for coughs'

Wednesday December 19 2012

‘The winter may be peak season for coughs and colds but there is no point in taking antibiotics to shift them’, The Independent reports. Its story comes from a large trial looking at whether a commonly used antibiotic, amoxicillin, can relieve symptoms of acute lower respiratory tract infections such as coughs and bronchitis.

The study found that antibiotics didn’t shorten the time people had symptoms for, nor did they reduce the severity of respiratory symptoms. This is unsurprising as the majority of coughs and cases of bronchitis are thought to be caused by viral, not bacterial, infection – and antibiotics are useless against viral infections.

If anything, as the Daily Mail points out, antibiotics may be doing more harm than good in these types of infection, as they carry a small risk of side effects such as nausea and rash.

This large, well-designed trial provides firm evidence that taking antibiotics for self-limiting conditions, such as the cough or bronchitis, has little benefit, even for older people.

Antibiotic resistance

Both the NHS and health organisations across the world are trying to reduce the use of antibiotics, especially for conditions that are not serious. This is to try to combat the problem of antibiotic resistance, which is when a strain of bacteria evolves that can no longer be eliminated by one or more types of antibiotic medication.

The best known examples are the ‘hospital superbugs’, such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis.
 

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from a number of institutions in Europe including the University of Southampton and Cardiff University in the UK. It was funded by the European Commission, UK National Institute for Health Research, Barcelona Ciber de Enfermadades Respiratorias, and Research Foundation Flanders.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The media reported the story accurately, though The Independent’s use of the term “coughs and colds” was a little misleading. The study looked at the use of antibiotics for all lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), commonly known as chest infections. A cold usually only affects the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat), although some viruses can affect both the upper and lower airways.

What kind of research was this?

This was an international randomised placebo controlled trial (RCT) that aimed to look at both the benefits and harms of giving people amoxicillin for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), one of the most common acute (short-term) illnesses seen by GPs.

LRTIs are those that affect the windpipe and the lungs (upper infections affect the nose and throat). Symptoms may include cough, fever, fatigue and general sense of feeling unwell. LRTIs may be caused by viruses (such as those known to be associated with the cold, including rhinoviruses) or bacteria.

The researchers point out that most patients with LRTIs receive antibiotics, partly because they worry about the symptoms and also because some doctors may give antibiotics as a precaution to try to prevent complications, such as pneumonia (a more severe type of lung infection), even if there is uncertainty of a bacterial infection being present.The researchers argue that prescribing antibiotics in this way is costly and is one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance.

In 2009, a systematic review of the use of antibiotics for acute bronchitis showed moderate benefits and no significant short-term harm, so the debate about their use for LRTIs has continued, with little data from placebo controlled trials, say the researchers.

Most doctors tend to prescribe antibiotics for older patients who also have other illnesses (as they are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of infection), but their role for healthier older people with coughs is unclear.

What did the research involve?

Between 2007 and 2010, researchers recruited patients attached to primary care practices in 12 countries; Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Wales.

Eligible patients were aged 18 or over and had seen their doctor for the first time with either an acute cough (one which had lasted 28 days or less) or an illness in which cough was the main symptom but which the doctor thought due to an LRTI.

Patients who had been diagnosed with pneumonia were excluded, as were patients whose cough was found to be caused by conditions other than infection (such as a clot on the lung or allergy), or who had been prescribed antibiotics in the previous month. Patients were also excluded if they couldn’t provide informed consent, were pregnant, allergic to penicillin, or had immune system deficiencies.

Using computer-generated random numbers, the researchers randomly assigned participants to one of two groups. The first group were given amoxicillin (dosage 1g three times a day for seven days) and the second a placebo drug (dummy treatment), identical to amoxicillin in appearance, taste and texture, for the same period. Neither patients nor the doctors involved knew which participants were allocated to which group (double-blinded).

The researchers wanted to see whether taking antibiotics affected the duration of symptoms that were described as “moderately bad” or worse (see description of symptom scale below). They also looked at whether antibiotics had any effect on the severity of symptoms in days two to four, or on the development of new or worsening symptoms, such as:

• a return visit to the doctor with worsening symptoms
• new symptoms or signs
• illness requiring hospital admission

The patients’ doctors recorded the severity of symptoms at baseline and rated them as:

• no problem
• mild problem
• moderate problem
• severe problem

The patients were asked to complete a daily symptom diary for the duration of the illness, recording the severity of cough, phlegm, shortness of breath, wheeze, blocked or runny nose, chest pain, muscle aches, headaches, disturbed sleep, general feeling of being unwell, fever and interference with normal activities. Symptoms were scored on a scale of 0 to 6, with 0 being “no problem” and 6 “as bad as it could be”.

Patients also recorded non-respiratory symptoms such as diarrhoea, skin rash and vomiting. The symptom diary used in the research is considered reliable.

Researchers telephoned participants after three days to offer support and answer any questions about completion of the diary. If the diary was not returned after four weeks, they collected information about symptom duration and severity with either a short questionnaire or a telephone call.

The patients’ doctors registered all contacts with patients for four weeks after the initial consultation including referral to hospital and out-of-hours contacts.

Using patients’ diaries, the researchers analysed the results using standard statistical methods. They also completed a separate analysis of patients aged 60 or over and for patients aged 70 or older.

What were the basic results?

The study had 3,108 patients agree to take part, though 1,047 were ineligible, mostly because they refused to be randomly assigned to an antibiotic or placebo. After exclusions, 2,061 patients were randomly assigned to one of the two groups:

• 1,038 to the amoxicillin group
• 1,023 to the placebo group

The researchers found:

• There was no significant difference between the amoxicillin and placebo groups in how long “moderately bad” or worse symptoms lasted (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96 to 1.18).
• There was no significant difference between the two groups in the average severity of symptoms (1.69 with placebo versus 1.62 with amoxicillin, difference –0.07 [95% CI 0.15 to 0.007]).
• New or worsening symptoms were significantly less common in the amoxicillin group than in the placebo group (162 [15.9%] of 1,021 patients versus 194 [19.3%] of 1,006, p=0.043, number needed to treat 30).
• Cases of nausea, rash, or diarrhoea were significantly more common in the amoxicillin group than in the placebo group (28.7% versus 24%, number needed to harm 21, 95% CI 11 to 174), and one case of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) was noted with amoxicillin.
• Two patients in the placebo group and one in the amoxicillin group needed to be admitted to hospital.
• No-one died.
• There was no evidence of any benefit for amoxicillin in patients aged 60 years or older (n=595) or in those aged 70 or over (n=266).

How did the researchers interpret the results?

If pneumonia and other complications are not suspected, amoxicillin has little benefit for acute lower respiratory tract infections overall or for patients aged 60 or over, and has a slight risk of side effects, they say.

Any mild short-term benefits of antibiotic treatment should be balanced against the risk of side effects and in the long term of fostering antibiotic resistance.

Conclusion

This large international trial provides convincing evidence that for most patients with an uncomplicated, acute cough where pneumonia is not suspected, antibiotics do not shorten how long symptoms last or their severity.

Antibiotics did reduce the risk of new or worsening symptoms. However, as the researchers point out, 30 people needed to be treated with amoxicillin to prevent just one case of new or worsening symptoms. This is called the ‘number needed to treat’ and is a useful way for researchers to compare the effectiveness of treatments.

This ‘number needed to treat’ of 30 has to be balanced against the increased rate of side effects. In this study, the ‘number needed to harm’ was 21. The fact that the number need to harm is lower than the number needed to treat means that more people would get side effects from the treatment than might be helped by it. However, the severity and duration of these side effects has to be weighed up against the symptoms that are being eased.

Even if there was a more favourable trade-off between number needed to treat and the number needed to harm, doctors, health policymakers, and even us ordinary punters, have to consider the wider (and growing) problem of antibiotic resistance. Every time we use an antibiotic to treat a trivial, self-limiting condition, such as a bacterial chest infection, we increase the risk of that antibiotic subsequently failing to treat a life-threatening condition such as bacterial meningitis. However, as the authors point out, the results may not apply to older people with other serious illnesses or weakened immune systems, where antibiotic treatment could be warranted.

There are a few limitations in this study that are worth noting, including :

• About a third of patients recruited chose not to be randomly assigned, so did not take part in the study. This could lead to “recruitment bias”, although the researchers say there is no evidence of this.
• Only one type of antibiotic was used in the trial. It is possible that other types might be more effective, although this is unlikely and some others may also have more side-effects.
• The small number of patients aged 70 or over (266) may mean the study did not have the power to detect any benefit for antibiotics in this group.
• Poor adherence may have affected the results, although more than 90% of patients in both groups reported taking the study drugs by day five.

In conclusion, this study shows that for most patients with uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infections, antibiotics offer little relief from symptoms. As the researchers point out, there is a major challenge for doctors and researchers in finding ways to identify the few patients with bacterial infections who would benefit from antibiotics.

Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter.

Links to the headlines

Antibiotics 'ineffective for coughs'. BBC News, December 19 2012
Widely prescribed antibiotic amoxicillin is useless at treating coughs and may be harmful. Daily Mail, December 18 2012

Links to the science

Little P, Stuart B, Moore M, et al. Amoxicillin for acute lower-respiratory-tract infection in primary care when pneumonia is not suspected: a 12-country, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Published online December 19 2012

Source: 'Little point taking antibiotics for coughs'

Chicken soup really CAN fight a cold

Souper broth! An old wives' tale? No, chicken soup really CAN fight a cold, say scientists

• A compound found in chicken soup – carnosine – helps the body’s immune system to fight the early stages of flu, research has found

 

By Ian Marber

PUBLISHED:22:11 GMT, 22 December 2012| UPDATED:14:24 GMT, 24 December 2012


Chicken soup is good for the soul, they say. And as a homespun remedy for everything that might ail you during winter, there are few things as deliciously soothing.

But could such a broth be more than just a cold comfort? According to the latest scientific study, the answer is yes.

Research in the American Journal of Therapeutics showed that a compound found in chicken soup – carnosine – helped the body’s immune system to fight the early stages of flu.

But the authors warned this benefit ended as soon as the soup was excreted by the body, so that means you may need to have a fairly constant supply.

The study wasn’t the first to look at this. More than a decade ago, Dr Stephen Rennard, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, wanted to find out why his wife’s recipe for chicken soup, handed down through generations, was so healing.

Using blood samples from volunteers, he showed that the soup inhibited the movement of the most common type of white blood cell, neutrophils, which defend against infection.

Dr Rennard theorised that by inhibiting the migration of these infection-fighting cells in the body, chicken soup helps reduce upper respiratory cold symptoms.

What he couldn’t do was identify the exact ingredients in the soup that made it effective against colds.

The tested soup contained chicken, onions, sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, carrots, celery stems, parsley, salt and pepper.

The researchers also found many commercial soups had a similar inhibitory effect. It is probable that the combination of nutrients worked in synergy to provide the beneficial effect.

Another study, from Miami, also suggests chicken soup has more than a placebo effect.

 It looked at how consuming it affected air flow and mucus in the noses of 15 volunteers who drank cold water, hot water or chicken soup.

 

But the benefits of chicken soup to those suffering from a cold
ends as soon as the broth is excreted from the body (stock image)

It proved what ENT surgeons (experts in the upper airways, including the larynx) have long known: hot fluids help increase the movement of nasal mucus.

This in turn clears the airways, easing congestion.

But soup did a better job than the hot water as it also improves the function of protective cilia, the tiny hairlike projections in the nose that prevent contagions from entering the body.

Also, researchers at the University of Nebraska found the combination of vegetables and poultry in soup could help alleviate respiratory tract inflammation that results in feeling bunged-up.

All nutrients have some involvement in the complex workings of the immune system. But we know certain things about some of the common ingredients of broth.

Evidence suggests that organosulfides (naturally occurring chemicals found in garlic and onions), together with Vitamin D, stimulate production of immune cells called macrophage, while Vitamin C has an influence on both levels of neutrophils, and another type of immune chemical, interferon.

Vitamin A and carotenoids, found in carrots (a common ingredient of bouillon, the base of any good stock), help antibody production, while Vitamin E and zinc can influence the concentration of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

The other reason soups are recommended is because the nutrients are more easily absorbed than with solid versions. Remember to add a little fat – a drizzle of olive oil – to ensure the absorption of fat soluble vitamins (D, A, K and E).

You don’t have to live on chicken soup alone when you’re under the weather: the foods that offer a concentration of the nutrients mentioned include a wide range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean proteins.

Hot liquids, herbal teas and hot toddies (without the alcohol and added sugar, as they can suppress the immune response) are effective, too.

While Vitamin C won’t stop you getting a cold, it might reduce the severity, so including sweet potato, peppers, kiwi and citrus fruits in the diet is advisable.

There is no evidence to confirm that dairy food increases mucus, but we mistakenly think it does as the lactose can add a white colour to what’s already there, making it seem more obvious.

Therefore, having plain yogurt with berries topped with flaked almonds is ideal as it offers probiotics as well as carotenoids, vitamins A, C and E, together with omega 6 fats.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey found probiotics helped reduce the duration of a cold as well as the severity of symptoms.

The study gave 200 students either a placebo or a combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis.

Students taking the probiotics took less than half the time off due to illness and reported a 34 per cent reduction in symptoms as well as colds lasting 48 hours less.

Source: Souper broth! An old wives' tale?

Baking Soda or Sodium Bicarbonate: A Natural Remedy

Use This to Remove Splinters -- and to Address Many Other Health Needs

August 27, 2012 |94,100views

 

 

Story at-a-glance

• Baking soda is one of the safest and most versatile substances around; it’s useful not only for baking but for countless medicinal and household purposes
• Taken internally, baking soda helps maintain the pH balance in your bloodstream; this is likely the basic premise behind its recommended uses against both colds and influenza symptoms
• Baking soda is useful for treating minor ailments like sunburn and insect bites, it works as a natural deodorant and toothpaste, and it can be used for cleaning virtually every room in your home

By Dr. Mercola

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a staple in many homes for baking and cleaning purposes – but there’s a good chance you’re not taking full advantage of all that baking soda has to offer.

For instance, did you know there’s a whole gamut of medicinal uses for baking soda, such as safely removing splinters from your fingers, or just brushing your teeth?

It rates right up there with hydrogen peroxide as one of the most inexpensive and safe health tools around (you can buy an entire box of baking soda for about $1), so it makes sense to learn all you can about the many, many uses of baking soda.
 

A Brief Baking Soda History

In its natural form, baking soda is known as nahcolite, which is part of the natural mineral natron. Natron, which contains large amounts of sodium bicarbonate, has been used since ancient times. For instance, the Egyptians used natron as a soap for cleansing purposes. Later, anecdotal reports throughout history suggest that many civilizations used forms of baking soda when making bread and other foods that required rising.

However, it wasn’t until 1846 when Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight began to manufacture and sell the compound we know as baking soda today. By the 1860s, baking soda was featured in published cookbooks, and in the 1930s was widely advertised as a “proven medical agent.”¹ Come 1972, the idea to keep a box of baking soda in your fridge to keep food fresh was born, and it really caught on … raise your hand if you have a box in your fridge right now!

Baking soda was popularized by Arm & Hammer more than 150 years ago, and while many are aware of its versatile qualities for cooking and household use, few people realize that baking soda also has potent medicinal properties.
 

Baking Soda May Help Fight Colds and the Flu

Some people believe that when taken internally, baking soda can help maintain the pH balance in your bloodstream. This is likely the basic premise behind its recommended uses against both colds and influenza symptoms. In their booklet “Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Medical Uses,” published in 1924, Dr. Volney S. Cheney recounts his clinical successes with sodium bicarbonate in treating cold and flu:²

“In 1918 and 1919 while fighting the ‘flu’ with the U. S. Public Health Service it was brought to my attention that rarely anyone who had been thoroughly alkalinized with bicarbonate of soda contracted the disease, and those who did contract it, if alkalinized early, would invariably have mild attacks.

I have since that time treated all cases of ‘cold,’ influenza and LaGripe by first giving generous doses of bicarbonate of soda, and in many, many instances within 36 hours the symptoms would have entirely abated.
Further, within my own household, before Woman’s Clubs and Parent-Teachers’ Associations, I have advocated the use of bicarbonate of soda as a preventive for 'colds,' with the result that now many reports are coming in stating that those who took 'soda' were not affected, while nearly everyone around them had the 'flu.'

Not too certain though about how valid the pH optimizing is as to baking soda’s mechanism of action, as clinically I have frequently used diluted hydrochloric acid intravenously to also help people nearly instantly recover from acute infections. Obviously this is pushing the pH in the opposite direction, yet both appear to work, suggesting that the mode of action may be other than pH mediated.

The administration is easy enough, and is relatively harmless even if you should not experience relief from your cold symptoms. Simply dissolve the recommended amount of baking soda in a glass of cold water and drink it. Recommended dosages from the Arm & Hammer Company for colds and influenza back in 1925 were:

• Day 1 -- Take six doses of ½ teaspoon of baking soda in glass of cool water, at about two-hour intervals
• Day 2 -- Take four doses of ½ teaspoon of baking soda in glass of cool water, at the same intervals
• Day 3 -- Take two doses of ½ teaspoon of baking soda in glass of cool water morning and evening, and thereafter ½ teaspoon in glass of cool water each morning until cold symptoms are gone

 

11 More Medicinal Uses for Baking Soda

You’ll be amazed at the myriad of remedies you can whip up if you have a box of baking soda handy. Among them:

• Ulcer Pain: I have personally recommended this to many including family members and have been surprised how remarkably effective it is. This would make sense, as the baking soda would immediately neutralize stomach acid. Dosing is typically 1-2 teaspoons in a full glass of water.
• Splinter removal: Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a small glass of water, then soak the affected area twice a day. Many splinters will come out on their own after a couple of days using this treatment.
• Sunburn remedy: Add ½ cup of baking soda to lukewarm bathwater, then soak in the tub for natural relief. When you get out, let your skin air dry, rather than toweling off the excess baking soda, for extra relief. You can also add a mixture of baking soda and water to a cool compress and apply it to the sunburn directly.
• Deodorant: If you want to avoid the parabens and aluminum found in many deodorants and antiperspirants, try a pinch of baking soda mixed with water instead. This simple paste makes an effective and simple natural deodorant.
• Enhanced sports performance: Distance runners have long engaged in a practice known as “soda doping” – or taking baking soda capsules -- before races to enhance performance,³ a measure that’s thought to work similarly to carbohydrate loading. While I don’t suggest you try this at home, it’s another example of baking soda benefits.
• Plaque-busting tooth and gum paste: For an incredibly effective tooth and gum paste, use a mixture of six parts of baking soda to one part of sea salt. Place them in a blender and mix for 30 seconds, then place in a container to use. Wet the tip of your index finger and place a small amount of the salt and soda mixture on your gums. Starting with the upper outside gums and then the inside of the upper, followed by the lower outside of the gums then the lower inside, rub the mixture onto your teeth and gums. Spit out the excess. After 15 minutes rinse your mouth. This mixture is incredibly effective at killing bacteria.
• Insect bites: Apply a paste made of baking soda and water to insect bites to help relieve itching. You can also try rubbing the dry powder onto your skin. This is also effective for itchy rashes and poison ivy.
• Teeth whitener: For a natural way to whiten your teeth, crush one ripe strawberry and mix it with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Spread the mixture onto your teeth and leave on for five minutes. Then brush your teeth and rinse. This method should be used no more than once a week, as excessive use could potentially damage your tooth enamel.
• Foot soak: Add three tablespoons of baking soda to a tub of warm water for an invigorating foot soak.
• Exfoliator: A paste made from three parts of baking soda combined with 1 part water can be used as an exfoliator for your face and body. It’s natural, inexpensive and gentle enough to use every day.
• Detox bath: Baking soda and apple cider make a wonderful spa-like bath for soaking away aches and pains and detoxing. It also cleans the tub and the drain, as a bonus!

 

Baking Soda is an Excellent Household Cleaner, Too

After you’ve stashed a box of baking soda in your medicine cabinet, put one under your kitchen sink, in your bathroom and with your cleaning supplies too …

• Baking soda is great to scrub your bath and kitchen with. Put it in a glass grated cheese container with a stainless steel top that has holes in it, and just sprinkle the baking soda on the surfaces and scrub. You may add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to this. Lavender and tea tree oil have potent anti-bacterial qualities.
• Baking soda mixed with apple cider vinegar is a bubbly combination that has many uses. As a drain cleaner, sprinkle baking soda down the drain, then add apple cider vinegar and let it bubble for 15 minutes, then rinse with hot water. This is a safer alternative to dangerous drain cleaners.
• Soak pots and pans in hot water and baking soda for 15 minutes to easily wipe away baked-on food.
• Use baking soda to scrub your barbecue grill.
• Clean baby toys in a mixture of 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart of water.
• Baking soda can also be used as a fabric softener in your laundry, or to get your clothes whither and brighter (add one cup to your laundry load).
• Baking soda is a natural carpet cleaner. Sprinkle it onto carpets, let it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum it up.
• To polish silver without using toxic silver polish, fill your kitchen sink with hot water, add a sheet of aluminum foil and baking soda, and let the silver pieces soak until clean. It is an easy and fun way to clean silver.
• Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes for a natural deodorizer.
• In the event of a minor grease fire in your kitchen, use baking soda to help smother out the flames.

Not bad for around $1 a box, right?

[+] Sources and References

• Pakalert Press June 5, 2012
• emedicinehealth.com August 14, 2012

• ¹ Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Milestones
• ² Sodium Bicarbonate November 30, 2009
• ³ ABC News June 12, 2008

 

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Combating Cancer With Baking Soda

Combating Cancer With An Everyday Pantry Item

 

Danica Collins | 0 CommentsMore

 

 

Did you know…that baking soda has been shown to fight cancer, stave off colds and flu, and even treat radiation poisoning…all for just pennies a day?

Vernon Johnston has a very important question for you: “do you want to live?” That was the question he asked himself when he was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer in 2008.

His answer was a resounding “yes!” Despite the fact that the doctor who diagnosed his cancer told him there were no treatment options, Johnston is still alive today, thanks to sodium bicarbonate, more commonly known as baking soda.

One Man’s “Dance with Cancer”

By the time Johnston’s cancer was diagnosed, it had already spread to his bones. When his doctor delivered the news, Johnston remembers thinking, Stage IV? There is no stage V. But his online research led him to a website promoting the Baking Soda And Cancer Cure.

This became the cornerstone of Johnston’s self-applied treatment program.

After 10 days of daily dosing with a special baking soda solution, Johnston went in for a second bone scan. After a few days of frantic waiting, the results finally arrived: “No convincing evidence of an osseous metastatic process.” In other words, the baking soda had stopped his cancer.

Stopping Fungus Might Stop Cancer

Two medical pioneers–Mark Sircus, Ac., OMD and Dr. Simonchini, an oncologist in Rome–have conducted compelling research on the potential of baking soda and cancer treatment.

Their groundbreaking work is based the hypothesis that fungal infections and cancer proliferation are connected, and that stopping the fungus can stop the cancer.

According to health writer Mike Adams of Natural News, “Dr. Simonchini “originally made the connection between fungal infections and cancer proliferation. He realized that when a tumor was flushed with baking soda (which is anti-fungal), it shrank and completely disappeared within days.”

Dr. Sircus expanded on this research further, exploring the effects of ingesting baking soda to halt cancer.

Baking Soda for Colds and Flu

Research has shown that baking soda can also be helpful in combating contagious illnesses like colds and flus. With cold weather arriving fast, many are seeking natural alternatives to harsh and ineffective antibiotics and vaccines.

For those who wish to use baking soda for that purpose, experts recommend the following dosage:

Day 1: Consume a total of 6 doses of half a teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of water. Take at 2-hour intervals.
Day 2: Continue the same protocol, but reduce to 4 doses.
Day 3: Consume only 2 doses, 1 in the morning and another at night.
Day 4: Continue on day 4 and thereafter with 1 dose in the morning until illness is cured.

The broad spectrum of uses for baking soda serves as a powerful reminder of a commonly overlooked truth about medicine: the simplest solution is often the best one.

Time-tested remedies, like baking soda and cancer, may not be breaking news, but they’re worthy of our attention. After all, the reason they’ve been around for so long is that they work!

Further Related Reading:

• Why Is Diet Soda Bad For You?
• Fact or Myth: Does Diet Soda Help You Lose Weight or Gain Weight?
• Natural Disinfectants Win Over Toxic Chemical Disinfectants in Studies

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/baking-soda-and-cancer#axzz2CvBF2wol

Note: Baking Soda is also known as Sodium Bicarbonate.

Zinc ... to Help Fight Cold and Flu

Zinc—One of the Best Supplements to Help Fight Cold and Flu

December 13, 2012                   

Story at-a-glance

• Zinc is important to your body in many ways, including immunity, cell growth and division, sleep, mood, your senses of taste and smell, eye and skin health, insulin regulation, and male sexual function
• Many are deficient in zinc due to mineral-depleted soils, drug effects, plant-based diets, and other diets high in grain
• Zinc deficiency is associated with increased colds and flu, chronic fatigue, depression, acne, low birth weight babies, learning problems and poor school performance in children, among others
• Foods highest in zinc are oysters, meat, poultry, nuts and seeds, and unsweetened chocolate (cacao)
• A zinc supplement is a simple, inexpensive way to augment your dietary intake of this important mineral, but make sure you choose a chelated form to ensure absorbability

Visit the Mercola Video Library

 

By Dr. Mercola

Now that daylight is waning, cold and flu bugs are ready to jump on any warm body not armed with a strong immune system. With so many novel herbs and supplements on the market, it's easy to lose sight of the basics for robust immune defenses.

One of those is the trace element zinc. Your body needs zinc every day in just the right amount, because too much can be as harmful as too little. Your body has no way to store zinc, so it depends on a daily supply through diet. Zinc is important for a number of life-sustaining functions, including:

• Strong immunity
• Important component of the enzymes involved in tissue remodeling and prevention of cancer
• Maintenance of your mood, mental clarity and restorative sleep
• Prostate and intestinal health
• Senses of taste and smell

Zinc is a constituent of at least 3,000 different proteins in your body and a component of more than 200 different enzymes. In fact, zinc is involved in more enzymatic reactions in your body than any other mineral. Zinc increases your production of white blood cells and helps them fight infection more effectively. It also increases killer cells that combat cancer, helps your immune system release more antibodies, and supports wound healing.
 

Could You Be Deficient in Zinc?

Mild zinc deficiency is relatively common, especially in infants and children, pregnant or breast-feeding women, elderly, people with poor gastrointestinal absorption or bowel disease like Crohn's disease, and for those eating vegetarian or vegan diets. A number of factors contribute to the overall problem of zinc deficiency:

1. Years of commercial farming practices, such as monocropping (planting large expanses of land with the same crop year after year), have left our soils deficient in natural minerals, like zinc.
2. Certain drugs deplete your body of zinc, such as ACE inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, and acid-reducing drugs like Prliosec and Pepcid.
3. Certain diets, such as vegetarian/vegan diets and high-grain diets, are low in bioavailable zinc and high in phytic acids, which further impair zinc absorption.

Mild zinc deficiency can lead to frequent colds and flu, chronic fatigue, and poor general health. In your child, when growth and development are vitally dependent on good nutrition, inadequate zinc can result in mood disturbances, poor memory, impaired learning and poor school performance. Zinc deficiency can also contribute to acne and poor eyesight. Chronic zinc deficiency can affect eyesight, taste, smell, and memory. White spots on your fingernails can indicate you're not getting enough zinc.
 

Zinc is a Key Mineral for Your Immune Health

If your body has inadequate zinc stores, you will experience increased susceptibility to a variety of infectious agents. Your white blood cells simply can't function without zinc. Zinc affects multiple aspects of your immune system, including neutrophils, natural killer cells, phagocytosis, cytokine production, antibody production, and even gene regulation within your lymphocytes. Zinc is involved in many basic cellular functions including DNA replication, RNA transcription, cell division and activation, and stabilization of cell membranes.

The research on zinc's effect on pathogens is a bit inconsistent, but many studies show a strong protective effect. Some studies show that zinc may reduce the duration of your cold by 50 percent.

The Cochrane Review found that zinc reduced both the duration and severity of symptoms of the common cold. And using zinc preventatively helped prevent colds, leading to fewer school absences and less antibiotic use by children. Zinc is the hallmark molecule for thymic proteins, which are immune substances made by your thymus gland. Without zinc, you lack this immune defense. Zinc salts are deadly to many pathogens.  

Viral gastroenteritis is slowed down by the ingestion of zinc due to direct antimicrobial action of the zinc ions in your gastrointestinal tract.

If You're Pregnant, Zinc is Even MORE Important

There is rarely a more nutritionally demanding time during a woman's life than pregnancy (and later breastfeeding), when the intake of nutrients from foods and supplements are needed not only to keep her body running but also to nourish and support her rapidly growing baby. Because zinc is required for proper cell division, it is vitally important to get adequate zinc during this time. Low zinc levels have been associated with the following:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight babies
• Growth retardation
• Preeclampsia

One study found that zinc supplementation in pregnancy resulted in babies with significantly larger head circumference and higher birth weight. Zinc has many other important functions in your body, summarized in the following table:

Zinc is required for your body to utilize vitamin B6	Proper Sleep: Zinc, vitamin B6, and tryptophan are all needed to produce melatonin; zinc deficiency leads to insomnia
Mood: As with sleep, B6 is needed to produce serotonin, which is crucial for your mood	Senses of taste and smell: Zinc is required to produce an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase (CA) VI, critical to taste and smell; deficiency can lead to anorexia.
Apoptosis, or "programmed cell death": Excessive apoptosis can occur from too much or too little zinc (this is why many viruses die in a zinc-rich environment)	Eye health: Helps prevent ARMD (macular degeneration), night blindness and cataracts
Helps diabetics regulate insulin levels	Skin health: Helps prevent and treat psoriasis, eczema, and acne (with results similar to tetracycline)
Treatment of Alzheimer's disease: Vast improvements in memory, understanding, communication, and social contact	Improved outcomes for patients with HIV
Male sexual function: Treatment of male infertility, BPH, and erectile dysfunction; zinc may govern testosterone metabolism	Reducing diarrhea in children with zinc deficiency
Antioxidant: Zinc retards oxidative processes in your body, although exact mechanisms remain unknown	Anti-inflammatory: Zinc may reduce chronic inflammation and risk of atherosclerosis

High Grain Diets Directly Linked to Zinc Deficiency

High grain diets can lead to a number of health problems, including severe zinc deficiency, which in turn can lead to rickets and dwarfism. According to nutrition expert Dr. Loren Cordain:

"It is thought that the high levels of phytate in unleavened whole grain breads cause a zinc deficiency, which in turn is responsible for hypogonadal dwarfism, along with other health problems associated with zinc deficiencies. In Europe, where immigrant Pakistanis consume high levels of unleavened whole grain breads, rickets among their children remains a problem."

Why is this? Grains are high in phytic acids (as are legumes, seeds, and soy) and phytic acids are known to impair your absorption of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. People in Western populations most at risk are those with diets high in unrefined grains, legumes, soy protein, and calcium, and low in animal protein.

Protein assists with zinc absorption. Animal proteins increase zinc absorption in general. Vegetarian and vegan diets, often high in grains and legumes, contain more phytic acid and may increase your risk for zinc deficiency. This is just one of many reasons I don't recommend eating a lot of grains.

How to Optimize Your Zinc Levels

As always, it's best to optimize your nutrition by implementing a diet rich in whole foods to receive your zinc requirements. Animal products are by far the richest in dietary zinc, as you can see in the table below. Oysters tip the scales at up to 182mg per serving!

Food	Serving Size	Zinc (mg)
Oysters	100 grams	16-182
Veal liver	100 grams	12
Pumpkin seeds (roasted)	100 grams	10
Roast beef	100 grams	10
Tahini (ground sesame seeds)	100 grams	10
Unsweetened chocolate	100 grams	9.6
Alaska King Crab	100 grams	7.6
Lamb	3 ounces	7.4
Peanuts (oil roasted)	100 grams	6.6
Cashews (dry roasted)	100 grams	5.6
Pork Shoulder	100 grams	5.0
Almonds	100 grams	3.5
Cheddar Cheese	100 grams	3.1
Chicken Leg	100 grams	2.9
Chicken Breast	100 grams	1.0

If, for whatever reason, you are not getting enough zinc, or are a vegetarian or have one of the conditions listed in the table above, you may want to add a zinc supplement. But what kind of supplement should you take?
 

Chelated Forms of Zinc are Better Absorbed

There are a number of forms of zinc available on the market, some better than others. Your body does not easily absorb zinc, unless the zinc is first attached to another substance. Chelation is a process sometimes used to attach zinc to other substances to make it more absorbable and bioavailable. In chelation, the organic molecules have been electrically charged, which allows them to attract the zinc. One advantage of chelated forms is you won't get antagonism with calcium, which can be an issue for zinc salts, such as zinc sulfate.

Zinc sulfate is one of the inorganic forms of zinc, or zinc salts. These are not as biologically effective as chelated forms. Zinc sulfate can cause stomach irritation. Another inorganic variety is zinc oxide, which is the form of zinc used in many sunscreens.

Other good forms of zinc include zinc gluconate, which is made essentially by fermenting glucose; zinc acetate, made by combining the zinc with acetic acid; and zinc citrate, made by combining the zinc with citric acid. It's advantageous to take a supplement with a variety of forms, if possible. The current RDAs for zinc are listed in the following table:

Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
0-6 months	2 mg	2 mg
7 months to 3 years	3 mg	3 mg
4-8 years	5 mg	5 mg
9-13 years	8 mg	8 mg
14-18 years	11 mg	9 mg	12 mg	13 mg
19 + years	11 mg	8 mg	11 mg	12 mg

These recommended doses are for ELEMENTAL zinc, and each form of zinc (zinc sulfate, zinc citrate, zinc gluconate, etc.) contains a different amount of elemental zinc. The amount of elemental zinc a supplement contains will be listed in the Supplemental Facts panel on the supplement container.

For example, approximately 23 percent of zinc sulfate consists of elemental zinc. Therefore, 220 mg of zinc sulfate would give you about 50 mg of elemental zinc. You must take this into consideration if you're going to use a supplement, as well as the fact that the average person gets about 10 to 15 mg of zinc per day from the foods you consume. You will have to use your best judgment in determining if you are at the upper or lower end of that range, based on your dietary habits, and supplement accordingly.

Too Much of a Good Thing…

Foods and medications can interfere with absorption, so the timing of your supplement is important. For example, caffeine can interfere with zinc absorption of zinc by as much as 50 percent—so you will want to avoid chasing down your supplement with a cup of coffee. By contrast, the amino acids cysteine and methionine improve zinc absorption, which means taking your zinc supplement with a high-quality whey protein would be a dynamite immune-boosting duo.

Although it is important to get adequate zinc, balance is key. Taking TOO MUCH can also cause problems, although it generally takes fairly high doses over time to reach toxic levels. Chronically excessive zinc intake can suppress copper and iron absorption leading to deficiencies in those minerals.

In conclusion, zinc is an often forgotten nutritional staple to add to your flu-busting arsenal. It's inexpensive insurance that can stop those viruses dead in their tracks. In addition to making sure you're getting enough zinc, don't forget how important your vitamin D levels are for keeping you healthy this winter.

[+] Sources and References

• Renegade Health
• Am J Clin Nutr August 1998
• Cochrane Review
• JAMA 1995
• Hypoglycemia
• Taste and Smell Clinic February 2005
• MedlinePlus
• J Am Coll Nutr April 1998
• Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease by Zinc Compounds October 2004
• The Doctors Channel
• University of Washington 1997
• J Nutr. May 2000
• Am J Clin Nutr. April 2010
• PhyticAcid.org
• HealthAliciousNess
• Office of Dietary Supplements Zinc

[+] Comments (222)

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/13/zinc-for-colds-and-flu.aspx

Astragalus Benefits: An Alternative to Flu Vaccine

Danica Collins | More

 

Did you know…Flu vaccines could make you sicker—and there’s a great alternative the FDA doesn’t want you to know about?

Last week, Dr. Mercola shared a story from the Vancouver Sun on a frightening new research study about the flu vaccine. Initial findings show that the flu vaccine actually increases the odds of infection with H1N1. In addition, the vaccine can cause more severe bouts of illness for those who do get sick.

As upsetting as these findings are, they are not as surprising as you may think.

Back in 2007, CNN—which is a very mainstream news source—announced, “The truth is, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and most mainstream docs are pushing the flu vaccine, the latest science suggests it just doesn’t work very well.”


But the flu vaccine represents big money for pharmaceutical companies, who hold incredible influence over government agencies. That’s why government agencies are now so desperate to uphold claims that the flu vaccine is the only way to prevent the flu. They are quick to attack any reports on alternate prevention strategies.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) went so far as to send a cease and desist letter to Dr. Andrew Weil demanding he remove from his website any references to astragalus—an especially impressive preventative herb that can protect against flu.

From Colds to Flu to Cancer…Astragalus Benefits Boosts Immunity and Fights Illness

Although the FDA falsely claims that astragalus has no antiviral or antibacterial properties whatsoever and is of absolutely no use in the human body, the truth is that astragalus benefits offer an incredible variety of health benefits. The herb has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is currently drawing attention from Western medical professionals for its remarkable ability to balance and boost immune function.

Astragalus  Astragalus ( Huang Qi ) 黃耆 is an adaptogen, meaning it fights diseases by fortifying the body’s natural defenses, rather than directly targeting infectious invaders. Studies show that the herb enhances immunity and can be used to treat illnesses ranging from the common cold to cancer.

Beat Back ANY Strain of Flu Naturally and Safely

For those who want to protect themselves from flu without the risks of vaccination, astralgus does indeed offer protection against influenza. Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, MD, CNS, author of Smart Medicine for Healthier Living: Practical A-Z Reference to Natural and Conventional Treatments for Adults, explains why astragalus is so protective against flu.

She writes, “because astragalus benefits is a multifaceted, complex plant-based medicine, it’s not outsmarted by one particular viral configuration.” That means it can effectively prevent any strain of flu, including H1N1.

While astragalus is especially exciting option for those looking for an alternative to the flu vaccine, the herb has the potential to bring a broad range of health benefits to everyone.

Instead of looking for treatments for specific ailments, as is the norm in Western medical traditions, it’s sometimes better to steal a page from the handbook of Eastern medicine.

“They believe your body is a balance of many functions,” writes Al Sears, M.D., “and to stay healthy, you need to maintain that balance.”

Add A Dash of Astragalus…

Astragalus benefits can be found in the form of capsules, teas, powders or extracts at health food stores. Dr. Sears recommends taking 2 to 3 tablespoons (30-45 grams) of astragalus root powder daily. You can take the powder plain if you wish, as it has a pleasant, mildly sweet taste. Or, as Dr. Sears notes, you can mix it into various dishes as a health-boosting seasoning option.

http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/astragalus-benefits-flu

Vitamin C is not just for Colds

 

Vitamin C is NOT just for Colds! 

 

Vitamin C, also known nutritionally as Ascorbic Acid, is a water-soluble nutrient and powerful anti-oxidant. A primary function of Vitamin C is maintaining collagen, a protein necessary for the formation of connective tissue in skin, ligaments and bones.

 

It is essential in healing wounds, fractures and burns since it facilitates the formation of connective tissue and in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Vitamin C also aids in forming red blood cells, strengthens blood vessels and prevents hemorrhaging.

In his book “Nutrition Against Disease”, Dr. Roger Williams observed, “Collagen is not only the most abundant protein in our bodies, it also occurs in larger amounts than all other proteins put together. It cannot be built without vitamin C. No heart or blood vessel or other organ could possibly perform its functions without collagen. No heart or blood vessel can be maintained in healthy condition without Vitamin C.”

 

How much Vitamin C do we need?

 

Vitamin C is most well-known for its use as a preventative for the common cold and flu. Thousands can attest to the fact that taking several grams of Vitamin C throughout the day for the next couple of days after the onset of a cold or flu minimizes the symptoms and speeds up recovery. The reason is that Vitamin C enhances immunity. High blood levels of ascorbic acid have been shown to protect against a myriad of infections, free radicals, the harmful effects of pollution and even cancer.

Vitamin C is also called an “anti-stress” vitamin since it is essential in the formation of adrenaline. Large concentrations of ascorbic acid are found in the adrenal glands. During times of high stress, the level of adrenal ascorbic acid is rapidly used up.

Signs of deficiency

 

Scurvy, the disease caused by severe Vitamin C deficiency, is marked by a failure of strength, general restlessness and rapid exhaustion. The final stages of scurvy are marked by profound exhaustion, diarrhea, and lung and kidney ailments.

Most people today suffer from what is known as “sub-clinical” scurvy. Bleeding gums, swollen or painful joints, slow-healing wounds and fractures, bruising, nosebleeds and impaired digestion are a few of the obvious signs of Vitamin C deficiency. Less obvious signs include susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, various autoimmune diseases and cancer.

In the early 1900s, a disease known as Barlow’s disease occurred in bottle-fed infants and was characterized by broken bones, bruises, and sores that wouldn’t heal. Pasteurization (and heating of any kind) destroys the Vitamin C in milk and mothers did not know the importance of supplementing their babies’ diet with fresh orange juice as a source of Vitamin C.

Today we have many cases of Barlow’s disease among formula-fed infants whose meager Vitamin C reserves are depleted with each vaccine administered. Only today Barlow’s disease has been renamed Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Note: At this time we have relatively unfettered access to Vitamin C and other vitamins, supplements, and herbs. But organized medicine is pushing global governments, including the U.S., to regulate these products like DRUGS

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