Preventing Influenza: Part 5 – Green Tea and Echinacea
Green Tea
When building a lifestyle based on maintaining a healthy “terrain” and forbidding disease from gaining a toehold in us, one of our premier agents is simple green tea.
Green tea offers immune support from a number of different angles. It is a powerful antioxidant, and is also anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. All of which serve to protect our bodily terrain against free radical damage from toxins, and attack by invasive bacterial, fungal and/or viral agents.
Antioxidant Properties
Antioxidants protect our immunity by taking burden off of the immune system. In experimental studies Green Tea polyphenols, a unique class of bioflavonoids, have shown greater anti-oxidant activity than either vitamin C or vitamin E. The most important of the polyphenols are the catechins, in particular EGCG (epigallocatechin), which has been shown to have 200 times more antioxidant activity than either vitamin C or E. (Source)
As well as exerting its own antioxidant activity, Green Tea has been shown to elevate the body’s antioxidant protective system by raising levels of the enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. These two internally-generated antioxidants (SOD and glutathione), are far more powerful than any ingested antioxidants, and serve to both fight free radical damage, and to facilitate detoxification functions. And, by detoxifying (removing) toxins from our bodies, we further reduce the burden on our immune system. (Source)
Immunity
The antioxidant polyphenol EGCG also encourages probiotics to colonize in the gut thereby supporting a healthy microbiome. (Source) Probiotics are not only important for digestion and nutrient absorption, but also are an important component of our immune system. Furthermore, probiotics have recently been revealed to help fight both anxiety, and depression. And, anything that helps to maintain a positive mood is important, since mood affects both immunity, and alkalinity in the body (negative emotional states create acidity.) (Therefore, LactoSpore would also be a valuable immune supportive to take during the winter months, as it also works to maintain a healthy microbiome.)
Researchers have found that drinking teas (black and green), which are naturally high in the amino acid L-Theanine, may help strengthen the body’s immune system response when fighting off infection. The findings were first discovered in laboratory cell cultures and then verified in a small human study. Their conclusion was: “Supplementation of subjects with capsules containing L-theanine and catechins has recently been shown to decrease the incidence of cold and flu symptoms, while enhancing gammadeltaT cell functions”. (Source)
In another human-based tea study, scientists compared the immune system strength of men and women before and after they started to drink tea. A control group drank coffee instead. The study showed that those people who drank 5 to 6 small cups of black tea per day, more easily fought off infection. And, green tea is even stronger than black tea, being higher in antioxidants, and in L-Theanine. L-Theanine, available in supplemental form, is also a powerful mood enhancer and anti-anxiety agent. (Source)
Antiviral Properties
Green Tea catechins are known to completely kill many viruses, including the influenza virus. “Antiviral effects of green tea have been demonstrated against the influenza virus, as well as against the Herpes simplex virus, tobacco mosaic virus, enterovirus, rotavirus, Epstein Barr virus, HIV virus.” (Source)
“Influenza viruses…are a major cause of respiratory diseases in humans…The various antiviral drugs used to treat diseases caused by this organism are amantadine and rimantadine etc. However, many viral strains have developed resistance to these drugs and therefore, EGCG has emerged as a potent source of antiviral agent. It was reported for the first time in 1993 that EGCG was able to alter the physical integrity and agglutinate the virus, preventing them from adsorbing on MDCK cells. It also ceased the growth of influenza virus…and inhibited the entry by binding to haemagglutinin.” (Source)
The above scientific studies clearly indicate that Green Tea is one of our best direct defenses against the influenza virus. But, it should be pointed out here that, the antiviral effect of green tea has been shown to be much more effective when the caffeine is present, than when it has been decaffeinated (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, April 21/03). This may be because the process that removes caffeine from Green Tea leaves also removes between 25 and 50% of its antioxidants, including the catechins. Decaffeinated tea is also less effective at inhibiting tumor growth. (Source)
Those sensitive to caffeine should appreciate that Green Tea contains far less caffeine than coffee does, and that the caffeine’s stimulatory effects are in part neutralized by the presence of L-theanine, which is sedating in nature.
Liquid Green Tea
Population studies have shown that to experience the full benefits of green tea it must be consumed from 3 to 5 times daily.
However, those who take Green Tea supplements in capsule form are missing out on some of its most powerful benefits. When we drink Green Tea (and to a lesser extent, black tea), and it has a chance to work in the mouth, it will kill the bacteria that causes bad breath, kill the bacteria that causes cavities and periodontal (gum) disease, and as well, it has been shown to reduce the incidence of oral cancers, even in smokers.
Using Herbs Correctly
A pet peeve of mine has to do with the Western commercial appropriation of Chinese herbs, adopted without a full understanding of the principles of TCM. A case in point is the aforementioned herb Astragalus. As we established, this herb is an excellent immune builder, both strengthening and rebuilding a run-down immune system. It is so effective that some studies have indicated it can prolong the lifespan of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Therefore, it wasn’t long before herb formulators in the West were combining this herb with Echinacea, which is also an immune supportive, and now Astragalus is commonly found in cold and flu formulas.
There is just one problem: Chinese medicine indicates that Astragalus should NOT be used in cases of heat or fever. Thus, it is a good herb to build up your system over the long run, but generally should be avoided when you are actually sick. Echinacea, on the other hand, is best used intensely over the short run, since it both fights infection and strengthens the immune system, but one builds a tolerance to it after about 7 to 10 days. (This last point you will find is a debated issue, but this is the conclusion my research has led me to.)
Echinacea
Now, some people believe Echinacea just doesn’t work, and this is usually because they don’t take enough of it. Clinical studies performed on Echinacea show that it is effective at a minimum of 180 drops per day. That’s 30 drops (almost a full dropper) six times per day.
Two other things to recognize about Echinacea are that capsules are worthless, unless they are made from Echinacea extract and/or root, and for a sore throat one should shoot the tincture straight. This is because very often the cold or flu infection begins in the throat and Echinacea serves as a topical anti-bacterial as well. So we can often abort the illness before it gets into the body, by targeting the site of initial entry.
Another myth about Echinacea is that it doesn’t work once you have already caught the cold; it will still fight infection and enhance the immune system, so it will generally shorten the duration of a cold and its symptoms. I cannot remember the last time I had a cold that lasted longer than 3 days, even though they generally run from 7 – 10 days for most people.
Zinc Lozenges
What I recommend to my clients is the following basic approach: One hour I shoot half a dropper-full of an Echinacea down each side of my throat, targeting the lymph glands on either side; the following hour I take a zinc-lozenge, the next hour back to Echinacea, followed by a zinc-lozenge, and so on. Zinc also will kill bacteria topically, as well as support the immune system internally.
Remember that white spots on the fingernails usually indicate a zinc deficiency in the body, which in turn means the immune system will not function up to par. Also, more than one zinc-lozenge on an empty stomach can cause nausea, and you cannot taste zinc when you are deficient, but when you can taste it, your body has enough. When you start to taste the metallic, acidic or astringent nature of the zinc, you have had enough for the day.
As well as zinc, vitamins A, D, and C are critical to maintain health in the winter months.
Some zinc lozenges are too strong at 12 – 15 mg per lozenge. Since a woman only needs about that much in a day, and a man maybe twice that amount, one or two lozenges will taste bad pretty quickly as your bodily requirement has been fulfilled. Thus, it is better to take a lower dose (about 5 mg) more frequently so we can constantly be bathing the throat in this anti-infectious agent. If you have lozenges that are of a high strength just break them into smaller pieces.
This approach of alternating between killing agents is most effective when \we catch the symptoms as early as possible, and consistently and actively fight the infection both topically and internally from the moment we wake (as the substances we put on the throat will also migrate to the bloodstream and continue to work there.) The capper to this regimen is to eat one raw garlic clove, before bed.
Gargling
When treating a sore throat effectively we can sometimes stop a cold or flu in its tracks. For me, perhaps since like most of my generation I have no tonsils, I find that if I catch the scratchy throat feeling early and knock it out with antibacterial means, the cold never really gets any further.
Along with the above mentioned approach of alternating zinc and Echinacea, I also gargle with salty water, or diluted apple cider vinegar (both should taste quite strong), a few times daily.
And, you know what is really amazing? A Japanese study found that simply gargling with plain water is also highly effective: “Simple water gargling was effective to prevent URTIs (upper respiratory tract infections) among healthy people…Even when a URTI occurred, water gargling tended to attenuate bronchial symptoms.” (Source)
The Flu
Influenza is obviously more difficult to treat and defeat than a simple cold. Symptoms of an approaching flu-bug usually include sore neck and shoulder muscles, chills and weakness. If you catch these symptoms within the first 8 hours the most effective treatment is a homeopathic compound called Oscillococcinum. This is taken under the tongue, preceded and followed by a clean palate for at least 15 minutes on either side.
Treating a flu, and to a lesser degree a cold, also requires that you give your body a break and stay home and in bed if at all possible. It is amazing the healing potential of a little extra sleep and rest at the right time.
Conclusion
Hopefully this material will help some of you get through the winter with less colds and flu. And don’t forget, stress is a big assault on the immune system, so it is important to keep it to a minimum, as much as possible during the Christmas season.
Sorry to say, but Christmas flies in the face of good health, again, based on the systems of Chinese medicine. As any good squirrel knows, fall and winter are times to store up energy and sequester, whereas we have turned the season into one of giving out energy, often to the point of exhaustion.
May your holiday season (non-denominational) be mellow and merry (and at least merry is good for your immune system).
(Author: All newsletters and blogs are written by Ken Peters who has worked as a nutritional consultant for the last 30 years, and as product designer for NutriStart for the last 25 years. He has also authored two books – Health Secrets Vol. 1&2. He may be reached at: kenpetersconsulting@gmail.com)