The best defense

We now have a new acronym to add to these troubled times: SARS – or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

I’m sure you’ve heard about this mysterious pneumonia that is responsible for nine deaths out of 167 known cases since mid-February. As of this past Monday virtually all of the cases had been isolated in Asia, except for one Canadian family who had just returned from China. But it now appears that cases have been reported in Australia and Ireland as well.

Yesterday the World Health Organization announced that preliminary evidence shows that a virus may cause SARS. But until this disease is better understood, we won’t have a specific defense against it – other than doing everything possible to strengthen our immune systems.

Mushroom combo

As you’re probably well aware, the optimum functioning of your immune system can’t simply be switched on when needed. As strong as your immune system might be, it doesn’t have the reserves it needs to fight disease if you’re not getting enough sleep, exercising infrequently, or eating foods that are highly processed and low in nutrients. Stress can also compromise your immune system, and I think it’s safe to say that in addition to all the typical sources of stress, most of us these days are feeling higher levels of stress in reaction to volatile international situations.

But beyond sleeping enough, eating right, exercising, and finding ways to reduce stress, there are other resources that can help the immune system function at top efficiency.

In previous e-Alerts I’ve told you about AHCC (activated hexose correlate compound), a powerful extract of several varieties of medicinal mushrooms known for their immune-enhancing abilities. Dozens of studies have established AHCC to be one of the most powerful and safe immune stimulators.

AHCC triggers the activity of natural killer (NK) cells that seek out and destroy viruses, bacteria and toxins. AHCC also increases Interferon levels (inhibiting the replication of viruses), and cytokine production (an important trigger for immune function). AHCC has also been shown to be very effective in controlling certain cancers – particularly liver cancer.

AHCC is the active ingredient in a product called ImmPower, available from Harmony Co.: theharmonyco.com.

Mother’s Milk

In the July 2000 Members Alert we told you about a highly effective antioxidant called jiaogulan that also increases NK cell activity. This Chinese herb is a powerful adaptogen – meaning that it helps the body adapt and deal efficiently with the various stresses put upon it. When stress arises, the adaptogen equips your body to meet the challenge.

Used throughout Asia for more than a century, jiaogulan has been shown to improve sleep patterns, regulate cholesterol levels, make the heart pump more efficiently, normalize both high and low blood-pressure disorders and inhibit tumor growth. Previously available only as a tea, jiaogulan can now be ordered in capsule form through Jagulana Herbal Products: jiaogulan.net.

And for years, we’ve told you about the benefits of lactoferrin, an iron-building protein found in mother’s milk (colostrum). Lactoferrin was your first shield against infection and disease and your primary source of immune-system chemicals. Studies show that lactoferrin binds iron in your blood, keeping it away from cancerous cells, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that require iron to grow. Research also suggests that the lactoferrin protein activates specific strands of DNA that turn on the genes that launch your immune response.

ImmunoGuard, a lactoferrin supplement, is available from Advanced Nutritional Products: anpdirect.com.

The new threat

As for the SARS pneumonia, I’ll keep watch for further reports from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, anyone with flu-like symptoms accompanied by shortness of breath, coughing, and other respiratory distress should seek medical attention immediately. Apparently this disease is highly contagious for those who have close face-to-face contact with SARS patients, so if you’re caring for a loved-one with these symptoms, be extremely cautious. And of course, do whatever you can to help strengthen your own immune system.

The supplements mentioned above are just three of many tools you can use to stimulate immune response. For more information about immune systems boosters, you can use the search feature on the HSI web site: www.hsionline.com.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

Sources:
“WHO Coordinates International Effort to Identify and Treat SARS” Science Blog, scienceblog.com, 3/17/03