Three Top Supplements that Fight the Flu

I get a lot of questions about natural alternative flu fighters. As is the case with most medications, Mother Nature has also addressed the very same problems that the Big Pharmaceutical Industry Leaders have as well. There are three main supplements that have been shown to fight the flu.

1. Elderberry Extract - Several small studies, including a human study in Israel, showed that elderberry extract was effective at shortening the course of illness in human subjects with the flu. This included influenza A (the typical seasonal flu and swine flu are both influenza A's), influenza B, and parainfluenza. This includes all major flu types, however, bird flu has not yet been tested.

2. Black Currant - In laboratory studies, black currant contains five separate non-competitive (this means they don't interfere with each other) neuraminidase inhibitors. Neuraminidase inhibitors are the very same class of compounds that the pharmaceutical industry markets as anti-flu medicines.

3. Rhodiola Rosea - This has also been shown to have neuraminidase inhibitors.

I recommend these supplements in capsule form, rather than elixers or extracts in order to avoid any chemical extraction processes, alcohol or sugar additives.

Stay Healthy!
Dr. Dave Woynarowski, MD