Immune Defense Against Colds
and Flu
By
Mitchell A. Fleisher, M.D.,
D.Ht., D.A.B.F.M.
As a busy homeopathic
family physician I see a large
number of patients of all ages
who have been exposed to and sickened
by the many variations of viral
influenza. In the past my patients
have usually responded very nicely
to a series of specific, acute
homeopathic remedies uniquely suited
to the individualizing characteristics
of their flu symptoms, supported
along with additional buffered
Vitamin C, tinctures of Echinacea,
Astragalus, Lomatium, Olive Leaf
extract, Colloidal Silver, hot
lemon ginger tea and chicken soup.
Recently I’ve noticed that
often much more is required to
support the healing process, especially
when the cold or flu virus is particularly
aggressive and the patient’s
immune system is unprepared.
Last flu season
my nurse and I were infected with
a particularly virulent strain
of influenza brought to the U.S.
by a group of infected doctors
visiting from Belgium. Fortunately,
I spoke with a physician colleague
in California who had already seen
and treated this nasty, new flu
strain. He strongly recommended
the following regimen to help us
recover more quickly: ImmunoPhase
(3 capsules every 3 to 4 hours);
BronchoPhase (4 capsules every
3 to 4) hours; and AllerPhase (2
capsules every 3 to 4 hours). I
had several bottles of these herbal
formulas overnighted to begin treating
my nurse, myself and my poor ailing
wife, who’d also been struck
down by this belligerent bug.
After the formulas
arrived we began following the
prescribed regimen and within 24
to 36 hours we all noticed a significant
improvement and recovered in short
order, as opposed to many others
who struggled to recuperate from
this “Belgian flu” for
weeks on end. Thankfully, I was
physically able to tend to my scheduled
patients that week without mishap.
“Three
Phases” of Healing
I felt fortunate to discover these
herbal formulas when I did because
soon many of my patients were coming
in suffering from a similar, malevolent,
viral influenzal illness for which
the usual remedies weren’t
working. Consequently, I had ample
opportunity to prescribe quite
a lot of the “Three Phases” protocol
as we now call it, and was pleased
to observe rapid recoveries in
my afflicted patients. Many of
these patients reported that their
neighbors, friends, relatives and
co-workers had been sick for several
weeks with this virus, before it
was passed onto them. Naturally
they were very grateful to heal
so much more quickly and be able
to get on with their lives.
To speed
up the recovery process, I augment
the therapeutic Three Phases
protocol with additional supplements,
including 2,000 mg of a special
form of immune-boosting, buffered
mineral ascorbates (vitamin C),
designed by the famous Swiss
holistic physician, Dr. Hans
Nieper, called C Aspa Scorb,
every 3 to 4 hours, as well as
ProBoost Thymic Protein A, Bee
Propolis Standardized Extract
and Silver Liquid 400 PPM.
Though
the current cold and flu season
is just beginning we are already
receiving a large number of patients
suffering from both classic and
atypical presentations of acute
viral mononucleosis (due to acute
Epstein-Barr Virus or EBV infection).
These patients come to our clinic
after coming down with what at
first appears to be a really
horrible case of influenza. What
makes these cases unique is that
they seemingly never resolve,
but tend to stretch on for weeks
without improvement until we
provide them the appropriate
homeopathic and nutraceutical
supportive care.
Preparing
for new Viral Threats
Every year physicians are confronted
with new, ever more virulent varieties
of influenza that arise as a result
of ongoing genetic mutations among
existing variations of influenza,
parainfluenza and other viruses.
This naturally occurring problem
is now being compounded by the
epidemiological influence of returning
U.S. military personnel. These
courageous, overworked, overstressed
and over-immunized service personnel
are returning home in a state of
exhaustion after completing their
tours. To protect our troops from
the unhealthy environmental conditions
they face in war zones they are
treated with excessive, multiple
doses of synthetic, pharmaceutical
vaccinations (many of which contain
aluminum and mercury preservatives
that are directly and indirectly
toxic to the immune and nervous
systems). Additionally, our troops
are exposed to raw filth, questionable
quality food rations and deleterious
levels of physical and psychological
stress that weaken the immune system
and create the perfect breeding
conditions for speeding up development
of newer, nastier viruses.
I became
aware of this problem when JR,
a 32-year-old U.S. Army Reserve
officer, came to our clinic.
JR returned from Iraq after two
prolonged and particularly trying
tours of duty that virtually
overwhelmed his immune system.
He suffered from recurrent, bad
colds that gradually developed
into an unremitting, miserable
state of flu-like symptoms that
left him unable to function.
JR received multiple courses
of strong, prescription, oral
antibiotics from the military
health system (essentially useless
for viral infections). These
treatments provided no tangible
relief to JR, though they did
give him stomach aches, poor
appetite and annoying bouts of
diarrhea. It was only after beginning
and very strictly adhering to
his therapeutic regimen, including
ImmunoPhase, BronchoPhase and
AllerPhase, as well as C Aspa
Scorb, ProBoost Thymic Protein
A and Bee Propolis Standardized
Extract, along with his constitutional
homeopathic remedy, that he was
finally able to overcome his ‘chronic’ flu
syndrome and return to good health.
Mononucleosis
Another
patient, TD, was a typically vivacious
teenager involved in team sports
until she came down with a terrible
flu that wouldn’t quit. Her
mom’s prescription of bed
rest and vitamin C didn’t
work and TD was going downhill
fast. TD’s recurrent, severe
sore throats and deep, relentless
cough began to cause increasing
upper abdominal aching pains in
her left side that prompted further
examination. Upon palpation I discovered
that TD had an enlarged spleen
(splenomegaly). Subsequent laboratory
testing confirmed my suspicion
that she was actually suffering
from acute viral mononucleosis.
The initial regimen of C Aspa Scorb,
ProBoost Thymic Protein A, Bee
Propolis Standardized Extract and
Silver Liquid 400 PPM took the
edge off of her flu-like symptoms
and she felt better, but it was
not until we added the “Three
Phases” (our special protocol
of ImmunoPhase, BronchoPhase and
AllerPhase) that she really began
to mend rapidly and was restored
to her usual, vibrant health. I
was impressed with how quickly
the splenomegaly resolved on this
regimen. Soon she was able to return
to her high school soccer team
activities in time for the season’s
games.
Preventing
Colds and Flu
I have also found a modification
of the “Three Phases” protocol
to be very effective in the prevention
of colds and flu that is particularly
important for those people with
chronic diseases, such as diabetes,
asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema,
as well as tobacco abusers and
the elderly, especially older family
members in nursing home settings
where nosocomial (‘hospital-like’ medical
institution-caused) infections
are prevalent.
For preventive
care in adults and adolescents,
I recommend the following regimen:
ImmunoPhase (2 to 3 capsules
daily); BronchoPhase (3 to 4
capsules daily); C Aspa Scorb
(1/2 teaspoon daily in water
or diluted juice); Silver Liquid
400 PPM (1/2 teaspoon daily in
water); and ProBoost Thymic Protein
A (1 packet daily dissolved on
the tongue). If there is some
degree of chronic head congestion
as a result of allergies, which
predisposes to colds and flu,
I add AllerPhase (2 capsules
daily) to the prevention protocol.
For children under 12 years old,
I prescribe half of the aforementioned
dosages for prevention.
Summary
To summarize, the antiviral, ‘bad
cold & flu’ self-care
therapeutic regimen that really
works the best: ImmunoPhase 3 capsules
every 3 to 4 hours; BronchoPhase
4 capsules every 3 to 4 hours;
AllerPhase 2 capsules every 3 to
4 hours; C Aspa Scorb (1/2 teaspoon
in warm water or diluted juice
every 3 to 4 hours); ProBoost Thymic
Protein A 1 packet dissolved on
the tongue every eight hours; Bee
Propolis Standardized Extract 2
capsules every 3 to 4 hours (these
last three agents are from Progressive
Labs, 800-527-9512, use #7876 to
order); and, Silver Liquid 400
PPM (1/2 teaspoon in water) (from
VRP, 800-877-2447, use #235277
to order).
Finally,
in addition to the above mentioned
preventive self-care measures,
I recommend that you eat a diet
healthy for the immune system,
i.e., plenty of fresh, organic
vegetables and fruits, some organic,
free range, grass-fed meat and
poultry (especially home-made
chicken soup, a.k.a. ‘Kosher
Penicillin’), some sprouted
whole grains, a daily dose of
a high quality cod liver oil
for the omega-3 fatty acids with
vitamins A and D, as well as
seeking to drastically limit
or avoid all sugar and refined
carbohydrate products (candy, ‘unsprouted
grain’ breads, pasta, pastries,
etc.), processed and/or fried
foods and pasteurized, commercial
dairy products. To survive the
inevitable ‘cheating’ during
the holidays, make sure that
you and your family take your
daily dosage of the antiviral, ‘bad
cold & flu’ self-care
therapeutic regimen as delineated
above.
Best of
luck, be prepared and stay healthy
this cold & flu (and ‘mono’)
season and ‘may the Force
be with you.’
About the Author: Dr.
Mitch Fleisher is a principal
medical consultant for
Tango Advanced Nutrition
and the physician-author
of the very soon-to-be-released,
Integrative CAM e-portal
informational website
series entitled “Alternative
DrMCare Natural Medical
Self-Care Protocols”,
which will be accessible
via www.alternativedrmcare.com
in November-December
2007.
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