Avian Flu, Mushrooms, and You
October 2005
Ok; it's no secret that people are concerned about the possibility of the so called “bird flu” becoming a “people flu”. Antibiotic influenza medications have all but disappeared from the pharmacy shelves already and even things like generators and batteries are in short supply in many places. There is no telling, even among those in my field, when this disease may strike (if at all) ! It might be overkill to go all out at the present time but a few preparations might be in order.
First of all, there is no vaccine at this time that will “work” satisfactorily on this particular virus simply because the “people” version of the virus doesn't exist yet! Yes, that's correct; the “bug” that exists now is only a “relative” of the one which might infect people at a later date. Many experts believe that the vaccine will have an efficacy rate (success rate) of only about 30% in preventing infection with a symptomatic virus.
Secondly, the antivirals such as Tamiflu will only work by possibly reducing some of the more severe symptoms of the disease. Recent experiments on the current version of the virus have indicated a significant amount of resistance to this medication has developed! The widespread use of this antiviral will only insure that the virus will develop even more resistance as time goes on, rendering it almost useless.
Although things like hand washing, isolation, and face masks are helpful, how practical are they in reality? Are you going to wash your hands every single time you touch anything at all? The flu may reside of any one of the thousands of fomites (contaminated objects) we touch every single day. And, who's going to go around 24 hours with a surgical mask in place. Take my word for it; those things get very hot and sloppy very quickly! There must be something we can do that will increase our odds beyond the 40% survival rate that is currently predicted!
There is one primary thing we can do to turn the odds significantly in our favor. We can attempt to boost our immune systems. Besides keeping an optimistic frame of mind, getting sufficient exercise, and eating a balanced and nutritious diet, we have one more very viable option.
Enter our friend, the mushroom! Yes, I too have been exposed to all the hype about all the various potions or supplements that supposedly help to boost the immune system. The problem is, and has always been, there's been no proof in the pudding. We have recently discovered that such common stalwarts such as Echinacea are useless for the purpose. Where do we go from here?
Fortunately, there are organizations around the world which do scientifically test various herbs and plants such as the German Commission, to name just one. There are also many hospital trials being conducted, as I write, on a number of mushrooms as medications for an array of diseases and disorders. Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , for example, is currently using a number of mushrooms for certain types of cancer. Another bonus is that many mushrooms provide the benefit of boosting our resistance to not only the avian virus but all other viral and bacterial diseases as well!
There are many immunological preparations available for many of the tested fungi. Even better, a majority of these mushrooms grow in our own back yard! It would be a good idea to explore these life saving mushrooms as well as the general nutritive benefits of mushrooms in general. In the next column we will look closer at one of the medicinal mushrooms especially valuable at this time, the Ganoderma, or Reishi mushroom !
George J. Dagis FNP
Comments or questions at: G.J. Dagis