I’d almost forgotten about Swine Flu, having been away cycling through the French countryside for the last month (no swine to be seen, only lots of cows!), but on returning to the world of news, internet and work, it has become apparent that many people are feeling very concerned about the virus.
I’ve had a lot of enquiries about ways to boost immunity, prevent and treat the H1N1 virus infection using herbal medicine and nutritional supplements, and the supplement companies and herb suppliers have been sending me some really useful information and protocols.
Of course, the number one way to prevent infection is good hygiene. The virus is transmitted in droplets expelled from the nose or lungs by coughs and sneezes. These settle on surfaces which we come into contact with by touch. If we then eat, drink, rub an eye or pick our nose, the virus has a chance of invading the cells there, replicating and spreading to other cells, at which point the immune system starts to react and bingo! – symptoms appear and you have Swine Flu. So regular handwashing especially before eating or drinking, and washing hands after blowing your nose or coughing is the easiest and cheapest way to prevent getting or spreading infection.
The mucosal linings of the nose, mouth, eyes, digestive tract and lungs are our initial defence against viral attack – they form a physical barrier as well as hosting a large number of immune cells and producing chemicals to destroy viral invaders. If these membranes are robust, then most viruses will be unable to enter the cells and local immune cells will send them packing! However, if the mucous membranes defenses are compromised, for example by stress, smoking, medication, bacterial infection, inflammation, age or other lifestyle factors, viruses are able to enter and begin replication and infection.
Once infected, the virus causes the immune system to react by producing a range of chemicals and immune cells to try to overcome the virus and prevent it’s further replication.