Articles on Viruses
Hydrotherapy
In this column I'm going to write about cold socks and gloves - or hydrotherapy, which has been used for centuries to heal various complaints. The old Roman baths, Turkish baths and the spas of Europe have all used contrasting hot and cold water to increase circulation, flush the system and increase natural immunity.
I often use this technique in my practice by recommending the use of either cold socks or cold gloves. Most of my patients raise their eyebrows when I tell them about this treatment but the sceptical looks change to a smiles when they experience the results.
Here's how the treatment works: before you go to bed at night wet a pair of socks or gloves (any material) with cold water. Room temperature will work if you're really averse to the cold. Wring out the socks or gloves well and put them on. Then (and this is important) put wool socks or gloves or mitts on top and hop into bed. The wool top layer will keep your hands or feet warm and prevent the bed from getting wet. If you feel cold, use a hot water bottle.
When you have something wet against your skin, your body will work hard to increase the circulation to dry the gloves or socks. It often takes six or eight hours to completely dry them.
The applications of this simple procedure are many. I've used it for arthritis, morning stiffness, sprains, sores that won't heal and tennis elbow. One pianist who noticed his wife's results started using it to decrease the inflammation in his fingers caused by his craft.
The cold sock treatment has created new pathways of circulation for people who suffer from cold feet so that they warm up permanently. One 95-year-old woman had a sore on her leg that was not responding to drugs. The application of this treatment increased her circulation and the sore started to heal.
I've used this treatment for Plantar Fasciitis (painful hells when first stepping out of bed in the mornings), cold feet, sore knees and sprains and they have all responded wonderfully. Increasing circulation is the healing factor in all these cases.
Another use for cold socks is to relieve headaches. The mechanism at work here is the reflex action - moving the circulation down to the feet seems to bring the blood away from the head thus helping to relieve headaches. I've also used it for colds and flus. It is thought that the increased circulation moves the white blood cells more efficiently through the body thus helping the body to heal.
I know this treatment sounds odd but the proof is in the results.
Flu
It's that time of year again. The rains have come and with them, a whole new strain of viruses. In other words, it's cold and flu season. What I want to tell you in this column is that there are a lot of things you can do to boost your immune system and ward off viruses. And if you do get a virus, there are a lot of things you can do to treat yourself and get well again quickly.
A common misconception is that viruses hang around for a long time. While it's true that viruses seem to hang around for one to three weeks, I want to dispel the idea that that's the way it has to be. If your immune system is healthy it should only take a day or two to heal.
When I started practicing over a decade ago people didn't get viruses very often. Today they have become increasingly stronger and more global. Most people are getting them but a healthy body will heal in a short period of time.
The immune system is the body's front line of defense and it has many different methods of countering the virus once it enters the body.
The first thing to do to treat a virus is to rest. We often forget about that because we're so busy, but the fact is the body rejuvenates and heals only when we are resting. Most of us do too much and don't relax and rest enough. During sleep the immune system is enhanced.
Drink lots of liquids. The mucus membranes of the nose and throat are more susceptible to viruses when they are dry. Water and herbal teas are best. Use juices only if you are not eating. Juice is too high in sugar and all sugars deplete the immune system.
Take vitamin C. Many studies show that vitamin C decreases the severity and length of infections - 1,000 mgs every three hours is a useful therapeutic dose. If that amount of vitamin C causes diarrhea, cut back on the dosage.
If your throat is sore try zinc lozenges. The zinc works by providing direct anti-viral activity. Vitamin A can help to fight the infection if taken in a high dose for a period of two weeks. And then there's our all-time favourite herb - Echinacea. This wonderful herb is a great immune stimulant, thereby helping to fight the virus. It's available in either liquid or pills. Take a high dose for four to five days. Echinacea should not be used continuously for a long time since it might overstimulate the immune system. If that should happen the immune system might not be available when you need it. Discontinue use of Echinacea after 10 days.
If you're prone to recurring colds and viruses it's important to get on an immune strengthening program. Your naturopathic physician can tailor a program to fit your needs.
H1N1: The Vitamin D Connection
The flu: Widespread in winter, less in summer. Just coincidence? Or could vitamins and minerals play a role in contracting H1N1? A recent report in the Globe and Mail suggests there is a direct correlation between influenza rates and the intake of vitamin D.
Starting this year, Canada's Public Health agency has plans to test individuals who contract the H1N1 virus to ascertain their levels of vitamin D. If they determine a link, then a relatively simple, "natural" and inexpensive protocol could be employed to prevent the pandemic and scale back the need for vaccinations.
Vitamin D has in the past been correlated with the flu virus. Researchers have pondered the connection between D and influenza because the flu tends to hit hardest in winter, when the general population is usually subjected to a deficiency of the "sunshine" vitamin. While naked skin exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays can naturally synthesize vitamin D levels, even a sunny day in winter may result in little or no exposure. For many years naturopathic doctors have been encouraging vitamin D supplementation as a preventive regime for a variety of ailments.
In a formal statement, the agency noted, "epidemiological evidence suggests a role for vitamin D in seasonal influenza," adding that the low amounts of the nutrient in the winter "appear to correlate with the occurrence of seasonal influenza."
As reported in the Globe: "In the 1940s, researchers experimenting with mice found that those receiving diets low in vitamin D were more susceptible to an experimental swing-flu infection than those that received adequate amounts of the nutrient, according to the e-mail from the agency."
In a recent issue of Your Health, on the therapeutic use of vitamin D, BCNA member Dr. Jason Hughes of Maple Ridge noted; "Research indicates we need to re-evaluate what the optimal dosages for vitamin D should be. The most current information indicates that people might need up to 10 times the current recommended daily allowance (RDA) to meet the physiologic requirements and promote optimal health. However, vitamin D can also be toxic in dosages that are too high. Therefore it is recommended that one's vitamin D levels be tested before any supplementation is begun...The lab test that gives the most accurate assessment is called 25 Hydroxy-Vitamin D, available from many naturopathic physicians."
Studies show that low vitamin D can have an impact on the incidence of cancer, stroke, sudden cardiac death and death of heart failure.
Adapted from a recent article in the BCNA newsletter Summer/09
Herpes
Herpes, or cold sores, are those pesky little sores on the mouth that cause a lot of pain and discomfort. What's more, they often affect us at vulnerable times when we are under stress.
Herpes is a virus. After the first infection, the herpes either becomes dormant in the nerve cells or is easily reactivated by one of many triggers. What are these triggers? First there's stress - emotional stress, dietary stress, and environmental stress. Other factors are trauma, sun exposure or a lowered immune system.
Herpes is characterized by itchy, burning blisters that are filled with clear fluid and often develop into yellow crusts. Mind you, even though they are painful, they usually don't leave any scars when they heal.
Herpes have a long contagious period - from the first tingling sensation until all the sores have healed completely.
When treating herpes it is important to first strengthen the immune system. Supplements such as Echinacea and thymus extract can help to do this. Zinc can increase the immune response and be effective in decreasing the frequency and duration of herpes symptoms. Vitamin C can shorten the time if takes for the ulcers to heal.
Argenine, an amino acid, can feed the virus so it's important to decrease the foods high in this protein. Those foods are chocolates, peanuts, seeds, and other nuts. Lysine, another amino acid, helps to inhibit the virus. Foods containing lysine are most vegetables, legumes, fish, and poultry. Lysine as a supplement is often added to the regime. Two to three grams a day will help to inhibit the replication of the virus.
Since B vitamins are particularly important for the health of the nervous system, add a B complex to your herpes regime.
There are many topical applications that can also help to heal herpes. All of them work better if they are applied immediately on the first day of an outbreak. Some of these healing topicals are licorice root, vitamin E, tea tree oil, and lysine.
Lower your stress by making spaces in your life for relaxation. Change your attitude toward stressful situations and do at least 15 minutes a day of abdominal breathing.
The treatment for genital herpes is exactly the same.
Cold sores, or herpes, are often a wake-up call. Use this wake-up call wisely to improve your health.
The Common Cold
So many people come into my office and say, "Oh I was sick for a few weeks but that's normal for a cold."
I want everyone to know that is not normal. It is true that colds and viruses are becoming stronger and stronger but your immune system should be strong enough to overcome a cold in a couple of days.
There are many things you can do for the common cold. A cold is often caused by a virus. The common symptoms are nasal discharge, a sore throat, fever and a thick mucus excretion.
A healthy immune system is our body's primary form of protection.
Natural therapies strengthen the immune system so that it can fight the virus. Conventional therapies simply suppress symptoms of the virus.
If you come down with a cold the first thing you need to do is rest. When we rest we are healing and rejuvenating our bodies. In fact we often become sick in the first place because we don’t rest enough and because our lives are too stressful.
When we sleep, the body's immune functions are increased.
Drink lots of fluids - you've probably heard that advice a thousand times and there's a reason for it. The mucus membranes of your upper respiratory tract are more susceptible to viruses when they're dry.
If you don't feel like eating, juice is okay. But if you are eating, stick to water and herbal teas. Juice contains too much sugar. Your diet should be low in sugar because too much sugar decreases the immune system. Even sugar derived from juice and honey may be too much for your system to handle.
Take vitamin C. There are countless well-documented studies that show vitamin C to be effective in decreasing the time and severity of cold symptoms. You can take 1,000 mgs every three hours. An uncommon side effect is diarrhea. If you suffer from it just cut back on the vitamin C.
Zinc lozenges are good - they help relieve sore throats. Zinc works by providing direct anti-viral activity.
Short-term high doses of Vitamin A can help increase the immune function. One cautionary note: don't take high doses if you are pregnant.
Echinacea is the most popular and effective herb you can take. In fact, Echinacea is so popular I plan to devote my entire next column to it. Echinacea increases your immune function. The herb is available either in tincture or pill form. Take high doses for four to five days.
If you are prone to recurring colds it's important to get on an immune-strengthening program. Your naturopath can tailor a program to fit your needs.