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Stop the Cold and Flu this Winter
As the Flu and Cold Season kicks into high gear, remember that Vis Clinic offers many natural therapies to help prevent and treat the cold and flu.
Influenza, commonly known as “the flu”, is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus. Symptoms can be mild to severe. Influenza attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is commonly called the flu, but it's not the same as stomach "flu" viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting. The most common symptoms include: a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing, and feeling tired. These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus and last about a week to 10 days. The cough, however, may last for more than two weeks and recently many patients are developing a lingering “cough for the season” with both influenza and the common cold. Three types of influenza viruses affect people, called Type A, Type B, and Type C. Influenza kills as many as 50,000 to 70,000 people annually in the United States alone. People with the virus are likely contagious from the day or so before symptoms first appear until about five days after symptoms begin. Children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for a slightly longer time.
Common signs and symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever over 100.4 F (38 C)
- Aching muscles
- Chills and sweats
- Headache
- Dry, persistent cough
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nasal congestion
- Sore throat
Complications of the Flu:
- Pneumonia
- Bronchitis
- Asthma flare-ups
- Heart problems
- Ear infections
The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat (upper respiratory tract). It's usually harmless, although it might not feel that way. Many types of viruses can cause a common cold. Children younger than six are at greatest risk of colds, but healthy adults can also expect to have two or three colds annually. Most people recover from a common cold in 7-10 days. Symptoms might last longer in people who smoke. Symptoms of a common cold usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Signs and symptoms, which can vary from person to person, might include: Runny or stuffy nose, Sore throat, Cough, Congestion, Slight body aches or a mild headache, Sneezing, Low-grade fever, generally feeling unwell (malaise).
Colds usually develop slowly, whereas the flu tends to come on suddenly. And although a cold can be a nuisance, you usually feel much worse with the flu.
High Dose Intravenous Vitamin C for the Cold and Flu
Vitamin C in high enough doses has been shown to be very effective at eradicating the influenza virus, along with many other viral syndromes (Klenner, 1949; Vargas-Magne, 1963). In spite of this information, vitamin C is still not routinely utilized against this infectious disease, and none of the various forms of vitamin C are included in the formularies of nearly all US hospitals. To date no generally effective therapeutic measures have been recognized for treating influenza, or viral diseases in general.
We know that infectious disease processes rapidly accelerate vitamin C depletion and greatly increase vitamin C requirements (Pauling, 1971; Levy, 2002). Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for humans, with multiple genetic influencing functions related to its ability to donate electrons. Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting and directly stimulating various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin C has the ability to upregulate the immune system, and the scientific literature has shown the ability of vitamin C to cure a number of viruses (Klenner, 1951; Stone, 1972; Levy, 2002, Gonzalez, 2014, Gonzalez, 2016).
Vitamin C accumulates in phagocytic white blood cells, such as neutrophils, and can enhance chemotaxis, phagocytosis, generation of reactive oxygen species, and ultimately bacterial and viral killing. In monocytes, which are usually the first immune cells mobilized in the immune response to inflammation, vitamin C has been documented to concentrate 80-fold (8,000%) above plasma levels (Evans et al., 1982). Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) possesses anti-viral activity. It has been shown that vitamin C is an essential factor in the production of the anti-viral immune response during the early phase of viral infection through the production of type I interferons (Kim et al. 2013), which up-regulates Natural killer (NK) cell and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity (Madhusudana et al. 2004). Also, studies have indicated that ascorbic acid can be used as an inactivating agent for both RNA and DNA viruses, lessening viral infectivity (Jariwalla and Harakeh, 1996; Byun and Jean,2011). In addition, ascorbic acid can detoxify viral products that produce pain and inflammation (Harakek et al .1990).
High dose IV Vitamin C has been shown to be effective against viral infections such as the common cold rhinovirus (Hemila and Herman,1995); avian virus H1N1 (Ely,2007;) Chikungunya (Gonzalez et al. 2014; Marcial-Vega et al,2015); Zika (Gonzalez et al 2016) and influenza (Zarubaeva et al.2017).
In addition, oral supplementation with vitamin C (doses over 3g per day) appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections (Carr and Maggini, 2017). Vis Clinic generally recommends frequent oral dosing of our vitamin C products (Vitality C Powder, Vitamin C powder, BioC 1:1, and Lypospheric Vitamin C) throughout the day while someone is doing high dose IV vitamin C.
High dose vitamin C works as a pro-oxidant similar to how our own white blood cells fight infections. If the cold or flu is severe, then mega high dose IV vitamin C in the 50-100g range may be needed. To safely give this amount of vitamin C you must have a G6PD test that tells us that your body has the enzyme capacity to tolerate the vitamin C. If you have low G6PD levels on testing, then you are not a candidate for high dose vitamin C. Most of the time, lower dosing from 15-25g of IVC is effective for therapeutic relief but some require the higher dosing. High dose IVC is given over 30 minutes to two hours depending on dosing while the patient rests in a recliner in our IV area.
Take a pro-active approach by getting your G6PD testing before getting sick so that we have it on file and will know well in advance if your body can handle the high dose IVC if needed. Call to make sure you have your G6PD test on file; if not, schedule a lab draw with us now to make sure you are covered in case the cold or flu comes to visit you this season.
Nebulized Glutathione for Respiratory Conditions performed at Vis Clinic:
A great adjunct with high dose IVC for Colds and Flu or Stand-Alone Therapy for Respiratory Conditions
Glutathione (GSH) in the lung epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the lower respiratory tract (lining of the lungs) is thought to be the first line of defense against oxidative stress. The ELF concentration of GSH is 140 times that of serum concentrations. In healthy lungs, the oxidant burden is balanced by local antioxidant defenses. However, in lung diseases cellular damage and injury is mediated by an increased oxidant burden and/or decreased antioxidant defenses.
When Glutathione is delivered through inhalation (nebulized), the baseline Glutathione level in the ELF is increased by 7-fold.
Inhaled GSH is indicated for the following clinical conditions: Acute and chronic upper and lower respiratory infections, cystic fibrosis (CF), acute and chronic ear infections, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic rhinitis. There is experimental and human data demonstrating a link between GSH, oxidant-derived damage and possible protection against the development of emphysema or COPD. Moreover, in a recent review of lung GSH and cigarette smoke-induced airway disease, increased GSH in the ELF of chronic smokers was presumed to be a protective adaptive mechanism against the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Since GSH inhalation would presumably offer both antioxidant protection and GSH replenishment, this method of treatment would potentially benefit emphysema patients.
Mechanism of Action
Inhalation of GSH results in a mechanism of action confined to the upper airways and lungs and will not influence plasma levels to a significant degree. In the studies that measured both lung and plasma levels of GSH, the plasma levels remained essentially unchanged following GSH inhalation. This means you can give nebulized glutathione for its antioxidant effects in the lungs and it will not blunt the pro-oxidant effect of high dose vitamin C used to treat infections. GSH inhalation exerts its effects upon the lower and upper respiratory tract. The predominant mechanism responsible for GSH's therapeutic effects are probably related to its antioxidant properties that offer protection against oxidative injury, and/or assist with the normalization of the oxidant–antioxidant balance within the upper and lower respiratory tract. Additional explanations for GSH's therapeutic effects might include an improvement in host defenses (e.g. increased cytotoxic lymphocytes), and better oxygenation (e.g. an increase in oxygen saturation). GSH inhalation has been shown to improve clinical markers of respiratory function.
How to Give Nebulized Glutathione and Study Based Dosing
With a nebulizer, a solution of GSH is made into an aerosol and is delivered to the upper respiratory tract and the lungs through a mask that covers the nose and mouth or is delivered directly into the lungs via a mouthpiece. It is generally delivered over the course of 3-5 minutes or more. The typical dosages used in GSH studies were 600 mg once daily, 600 mg twice daily, 900 mg daily, and 1350 mg daily. Better results are more likely to be achieved with doses of at least 600 mg or more each day. If a larger dose is needed the patient can breathe in the first dose, take a 5-minute break and repeat a second dosing. Sometimes, it may be recommended to give nebulized GSH 2-3 times daily.
In terms of side effects, GSH inhalation is very safe. Minor side effects such as mild coughing and an unpleasant odor were reported in some of the GSH studies. The only worrisome side effect to note is bronchoconstriction in sulfite sensitive asthmatics. However, if proper precautions such as sulfite testing are done prior to treatment, this serious side effect should be avoidable.
Nebulized Biocidin
Biocidin is a broad-spectrum botanical combination formula with anti-microbial action that helps fight off viral, bacterial, and fungal infections and comes in a liquid form that can be added to a nebulizer. It contains Bilberry extract, Noni, Milk Thistle, Echinacea (purpurea & angustifolia), Goldenseal, Shiitake, White Willow (bark), Garlic, Grapeseed extract, Black Walnut (hull and leaf), Raspberry, Fumitory, Gentian, Tea Tree oil, Galbanum oil, Lavender oil (plant & flower), Oregano oil (plant & flower).
We generally add 5 drops of liquid Biocidin to the Gltuathione mixture for colds, flu, sinus issues, or respiratory conditions. It can be used up to 3x daily for short or long-term use.
Over a 6-year period, 200,000 patient samples demonstrated Biocidin’s high sensitivity to pathogenic yeast and bacteria species. Research on Biocidin has continued over the years, through placebo controlled clinical and university trials, each time proving the formula to be an effective antimicrobial agent. The most recent trial at the University of Louisiana also found Biocidin® to be a promising preventative support to healthy immune response
Ear ozone insufflations
Ozone (O3) is a gas consisting of three oxygen atoms. Ozone therapy has been utilized and heavily studied for more than a century. Its effects are proven, consistent, safe, and with minimal and preventable side effects. Medical O3 is used to disinfect and treat disease. Ozone has bactericidal, viricidal, and fungicidal action; it modulates the immune system, and increases effectiveness of the antioxidant enzyme systems in the body.
During ear insufflations an ozone/oxygen gas mix is slowly introduced into the ears via a modified stethoscope. This ozone readily absorbs into the lymphatic system of the ear drum and saturates the brain and sinus area. It has the ability to penetrate the head, neck, and eyes.
Many patients have reported a wide variety of positive results including relief of allergies, relief of colds, clearing of sore throats, and swollen glands. Ear ozone insufflations are great at treating acute and chronic sinus infections. Since ozone can penetrate the brain it is also helpful in cases of brain fog and even mild cognitive impairment. 4-5 treatments per week may be necessary for acute situations. Otherwise, 2-3 treatments per week are utilized depending on condition. The entire treatment is only 3-8 minutes in duration.
Ozone therapy in patients with chronic purulent frontal sinusitis
Muminov AI, Khushvakova NZh.
Abstract
Inflammatory diseases of the frontal sinuses, rather common now, run often an atypical complicated course. 102 patients with chronic purulent frontal sinusitis received treatment consisting of irrigation of the paranasal sinuses with ozone-oxygen mixture. A total of 5-7 procedures were given (one course). The control group of 30 patients was treated conventionally. 89% of the irrigated patients recovered faster than the controls.
Natural Sinus Relief Therapy
Dr. Krier created this Natural Sinus Therapy by combining Chiropractic Sinus Technique, Acupressure, Diathermy, and Naturopathic Nasosympatico Technique into one unique therapy for sinus drainage.
What you can expect during a treatment?
Treatment starts with a series of manual therapies that include lymph drainage, cranial manipulation, and acupressure over specific sinus points.
Bitter Orange Oil is then painted in the throat and on the tongue as a natural antimicrobial. This is followed by the Nasosympatico Technique that utilizes the diluted essential oils of Thyme, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Lavender. (Note: the blend does contain almond oil so not a treatment for someone with severe nut allergies). The oils work as natural decongestants and antimicrobials to fight off infectious organisms.
Nasal applicators that have been dipped into the essential oils are inserted deeply into each nostril. While the applicators are in place, diathermy (deep penetrating heat) is applied over the sinuses for 15-20 minutes. The patient relaxes lying down while focusing on breathing deeply through their nostrils.
The volatile nature of the oils causes tearing, loosening of mucus, and promotes drainage of the nose and sinuses. The Nasosympatico Technique helps promote nervous system control of mucus production.
Natural Sinus Relief Therapy may be beneficial for those with: Acute Sinusitis, Chronic Sinusitis, Environmental Allergies, Non-Acute Asthma, Frequent Upper Respiratory Infections, and Ear Infections.
How often do I need treatment?
A series of 6-8 treatments is generally recommended to promote significant sinus drainage. Treatments should start at two to three times weekly for two to three weeks followed by weekly visits until the sinus problems are under control. Many patients choose to follow up with the therapy seasonally to keep the sinuses in check.
This treatment works great in conjunction with Nebulized Glutathione or Nebulized Biocidin.
Conclusion
Remember that many of the therapies have both a preventative and therapeutic role in the treatment of colds, flu, and immune enhancement.
If you know you are prone to colds or flu in the Winter, it would be wise to make sure you have a G6PD on file at the clinic. It is also wise to be proactive and utilize preventative therapies before the bug sets in.
If you are infectious, please mask up or call to receive a mask prior to receiving any acute treatment therapies at the clinic. We want to help others stay healthy while getting you on the healing path.
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