‘Fruit spice’ lands a kung-fu KICK on flu infections
Summer hasn’t even hit yet… and we’re already DREADING the fall.
Because we know how once those temperatures peak in the coming months… and then dip down again towards the end of the year… it marks the return of flu season.
And we’ve had just about enough of viral infections this year, haven’t we?
I mean, gimme a break!
So, while LAST winter’s cold and flu season may be more or less over… and you may be more or less “in the clear” for now…
It’s not too early to start planning for the next wave.
If there were ever a time to FLUSH OUT the flu… and FORTIFY your defenses against it… it’s now!
Fortunately, there’s a way to do just that – and according to research, it can work against influenza even BETTER than the mainstream’s “go-to” flu med!
A stellar spice
Star anise (Illicium verum) is a native of Asian countries like Vietnam and China…
But this star-shaped spice has made its way into cuisines throughout the world.
Not to be confused with anise seed, star anise is actually the dried FRUIT of an evergreen tree.
And thanks to its content of shikimic acid, it can help fight off infections!
Star anise extract has been shown to beat back bacteria, like E. coli – a nasty bug that can actually cause some cases of pneumonia.
These dried fruit “pods” have also shown some effectiveness against fungal infections, like Candida.
Shikimic acid in particular, though, ALSO packs flu-fighting power. That’s why Big Pharma made this substance the “star” ingredient in their antiviral med, oseltamivir (a.k.a. Tamiflu).
Now, those drug companies were RIGHT to focus on shikimic acid in their attempts to medicate the flu…
But Tamiflu specifically has been deemed a “,” with terrifying side effects (like hallucinations and suicidal behavior in minors) being concealed from the public… and the World Health Organization DOWNGRADING it from its list of “essential medicines.”
Something obviously went terribly wrong during this drug’s development. That doesn’t mean shikimic acid doesn’t work.
Oh contraire!
In fact, a 2008 in vitro study out of Italy found that shikimic acid combined with quercetin triggers the flu-fighting power of innate immunity BETTER than Tamiflu.
That may be because star anise contains OTHER key compounds as well – including the anti-inflammatories linalool and anethole.
We’ve seen before how MANY components of natural cures tend to work in concert with one another to help fight disease.
A singular isolated compound may FAIL on its own…
But that’s because it NEEDS the rest of the substances for PEAK performance!
And that appears to be true with shikimic acid as well.
In fact, it appears as though certain flu viruses have learned to resist the effects of shikimic acid-based Tamiflu…
But most bugs don’t develop resistance against ENTIRE herbs that have a whole host of bioactive chemicals at work.
Drug companies consider those OTHER compounds “inactive ingredients”… but they’re just plain WRONG.
Look for star anise teas, tinctures, and essential oils at your local health food store or online.
Don’t mistake the Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) – a.k.a. “true” star anise — with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is TOXIC.
To a flu-fighting star,
Melissa Young
