FLU AND ITS TREATMENT BY MEDICINAL PLANTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS
INTRODUCTION AND GENERALITIES
Influenza or rather influenza virus infections are highly contagious, responsible each year for epidemics or even a pandemic that are accompanied by a significant number of deaths and that can slow down or even hinder the economic life of countries affected by these seasonal infections.
There is no specific treatment to cure or prevent influenza. However, the number of cases of influenza can be limited by using a vaccine (never completely effective), and the development of infection by the influenza virus and therefore the intensity of the disease can be slowed by using synthetic antivirals.
Medicinal plants and their extracts, such as essential oils, are also very useful for strengthening the immune system and therefore preventing the flu, reducing the intensity of the flu infection or treating the complications of the flu.
THE PARTICULARITIES OF INFLUENZA VIRUSES
Human influenza virus specialists differentiate between three types of influenza viruses: A, B and C. Types B and C viruses are specifically adapted to humans, causing influenza infections that do not have the epidemic nature of type A virus infections. The latter are of avian origin and are responsible for all major influenza epidemics.
These type A viruses of avian origin are originally the hosts of many species of seabirds (laridae) and freshwater birds (such as wild ducks). In these birds, the infection, generally well tolerated, develops in the digestive tract; the viruses are excreted in the birds’ feces. At this stage, human contagion is possible but rare, on the other hand, pigs are more sensitive than we are to these viruses originating from birds.
Infection of pigs by bird droppings causes a disease in them very similar to human flu: no digestive signs at all, but signs of respiratory infection.
By passing through the pig, the virus becomes capable of infecting the cells of the respiratory mucosa of mammals and therefore humans.
In addition, the relatively simple RNA genome of the influenza virus is capable of modifying itself, of reassorting, with that of very close influenza viruses. This is what sometimes happens in pigs, giving rise to new type A viruses at the antigenic level, a mixture of bird, pig and sometimes human viruses (because pigs are sensitive to human influenza).
These new « varieties » of influenza A viruses are sometimes very contagious to humans and very virulent, capable of causing pandemics because humans have no (or too weak) protection against these newcomers.
This genetic « cooking » often takes place in tropical Asia, where ducks, pigs, humans and avian, porcine and human influenza viruses coexist, see the « Asian flus » of 1957 and 1968. But it can happen elsewhere as we saw with the new Mexican H1N1 flu in 2009.
These « mosaic » viruses, unknown to our immune defense systems, can also unfortunately « escape » from the civilian or military laboratories where they are studied.
Influenza viruses (H1N1, H1N2, H2N2…H5N1) need to reproduce by adhering to the cells they are going to infect using a glycoprotein (haemagglutinin = H1, H2, H3..) and it is another protein (neuraminidase = N1, N2, N3 ..) that will allow the release of the newly created viral particles.
Synthetic antivirals act on the metabolism of these proteins to stop infection by influenza viruses.
HOW DOES THE FLU DEVELOP?
Influenza viruses enter the body through the mucous membranes (mainly respiratory but also ocular or oral), the influenza infection remains silent during an incubation period of 2 to 3 days and then begins quite suddenly, most often with a general malaise accompanied by fever (up to 40°), chills, muscle and joint pain and signs of irritation of the respiratory tract (runny nose, sore throat, dry cough).
In the vast majority of cases, recovery is achieved in 4 to 7 days, sometimes after a final fever (the V flu). Convalescence is short and is accompanied by a little fatigue and sometimes signs of bacterial infection of the respiratory tract (sinusitis, otitis, bronchitis).
But be careful, the flu can in some cases be formidable and complicated: in children, the elderly, pregnant women (risk of abortion and pulmonary complications), generally in patients who have a weakened immune system (or who are geographically isolated) and those who are susceptible to respiratory tract infections; this risk is increased by smoking or air pollution.
At worst, vital organs are affected: pneumonia, pericarditis, meningitis, renal and hepatic failure.
The mortality rate of the common flu is not very high (around 0.5 per thousand), but with the number of infected people in the millions, the death toll becomes impressive (e.g. between 20,000 and 50,000 deaths officially due to the flu per year in the USA (this variation being a function of the virulence of the viral strain).
In some people the infection is benign (slight passing fever and some respiratory signs) or even completely « silent », we then speak of « healthy carriers » who can be responsible for the spread of the flu throughout the world.
CLASSIC TREATMENT OF FLU
The classic treatment of « normal » flu is above all symptomatic: bed rest in isolation to avoid contaminating those around you, especially at the beginning of the illness, drink plenty of fluids, and possibly take an antipyretic-analgesic (paracetamol) and a cough suppressant.
Antibiotics are useless as long as there is no bacterial superinfection (most often Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae).
Specific treatment involves the latest antivirals that block neuraminidase from acting: Zanamivir or « RELENZA » and Oseltamivir or « TAMIFLU »; these drugs delay or attenuate the development of influenza infection when taken at the very beginning of infection. They are expensive to produce, not always effective and can cause adverse reactions.
FLU AND ITS TREATMENT BY MEDICINAL PLANTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS
To prevent flu or reduce the intensity of the disease: extracts of fruits and flowers of black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) .
To strengthen the immune system against viral infection: echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida), labiatae of the genera Thymus , Rosmarinus , Lavandula , and also Andrographis paniculata , goji (wolfberry)and the fruit of sea buckthorn.
To combat viral infection and bacterial superinfections, essential oils:
From myrtaceae containig eucalyptol: globose eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus with 1.8 cineole), radiated eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiatus with 1.8 cineole), niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia with 1.8 cineole).
From myrtaceae wih terpinene: Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia with terpinene-4-ol and gamma terpinene).
From cinnamon: Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum (verum)) and Chinese cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) with cinnalmaldehyde.
ravintsara: Cinnamomum camphora with 1.8 cineole and terpineol.
From labiatae: spike lavender (Lavandula spica with 1.8 cineole and linalool), savory-leaf thyme (Thymus satureioides with borneol and thymol-carvacrol) and common thyme (Thymus vulgaris with thymol-carvacrol), mountain savory (Satureja montana to thymol-carvacrol ).
Many other medicinal plants are useful for reducing fever or the consequences of influenza infection.
In temperate countries, we can mention: borage (Borrago officinalis).
In tropical or subtropical countries: lantana (Lantana camara, L. involucrata) and other related verbenas such as Lippia alba , basil (Ocimum sp.) , blessed thistle (Eryngium foetidum) and also the bark and leaves of Guazuma ulmifolia (« elm wood » in Creole) in South America and the West Indies.
We should also not overlook the beneficial effect of vitamin C in citrus fruits (lemons, oranges ) or West Indian cherries (acerola).
BLACK ELDERBERRY SAMBUCUS NIGRA
Elderberry is a plant with many medicinal properties; its ability to combat viral infections of the respiratory tract has long been known. It would seem, according to the work of an Israeli team, that extracts of elderberry fruit and flowers are capable of reducing the duration of the flu by half when taken before infection or at the very beginning of it. These extracts, marketed under the name « sambucol », would act a little like certain synthetic antivirals.
Dosage
Sambucol: comply with the documentation of the drug containing 38% extracts of Sambucus nigra
Elderberry fruits: in the form of juice, syrup or jam: a teaspoon several times a day as a preventative and curative, laxative effect at too high a dose
Elderflowers with or without dried elderberry fruits: 20 to 25 g in a liter of boiling water, infused for 10 minutes to be consumed during the day. Do not forget that this herbal tea has a diuretic effect.
ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA, ECHINACEA PURPUREA, ECHINACEA PALLIDA,
These plants from the great North American plains but which are cultivated very well in Europe (most often as decorative plants) have been used for a long time, at the instigation of German researchers, to strengthen immunity and better fight against both viral and bacterial infections.
Many clinical studies and meta-analyses seem to support this idea, although with a few caveats: Echinacea extracts (roots or aerial parts depending on the species) strengthen the immunity of people who are moderately immunocompromised but do not significantly increase that of healthy people, and the treatment must be relatively short (a few weeks) otherwise an opposite effect may be observed.
Dosage
It is recommended to take the equivalent of one gram of dry plant 2 to 3 times a day for a few days (loading dose) then only 1g per day
in the form of herbal tea
in the form of powdered plant (in capsules)
in the form of a pharmacy preparation sometimes associated with other immunostimulant plants
in the form of alcoholic tincture, concentrated to 1/5, of whole dried plant (E. angustifolia) or root: 30 to 100 drops per day
Some people may be allergic to echinacea.
LABIAE OF THE GENERA THYMUS SP, ROSMARINUS SP, OCIMUM SP.
These « Mediterranean » plants, but now found all over the world, are useful for preventing viral and bacterial infections.
Their content of phenol acids, phenols and flavonoids seems to be at the origin of this immunostimulant power more than the presence of essential oils.
Dosage
Regular herbal tea once or twice a day of a labiatae or a mixture of the flowering aerial parts of several species.
Regular addition of these plants in food
Alcoholic tincture of these plants in equal mixture 40 drops two to three times a day (one can also add the tincture of lavender aspic or officinal)
ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA
This plant originating from Asia (and now cultivated) is very commonly used in India, South East Asia and China.
Often considered a panacea, it is especially interesting for preventing respiratory infections of viral origin and as an adjuvant treatment for viral and bacterial respiratory infections as well as urinary tract infections, it is a very bitter plant!!
Dosage
Dry plant powder 1 to 2 g per day.
Standardized extract in andrographolide (30 to 40%) 150-200 mg per day.
There are also ready-made preparations of Andrographis with other plants for antibacterial-antiviral purposes.
You can also use herbal tea from fresh or dried plants.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Their mode of action in the evolution of influenza infection is not very well known but it seems:
that they act directly through their antibacterial and antiviral power,
by increasing the cellular immune response (lymphocytes, monocytes)
by « exciting » the cells of the bronchial mucosa which accelerate the movements of their cilia responsible for evacuating mucus and everything it contains (dust, dead cells) thus cleaning the respiratory tract and facilitating expectoration.
They must be used with great caution in children under 6 years old whose neurological system is immature because of the risk of convulsion especially when the fever is high and in pregnant women.
Dosage
(see also the page on the use of essential oils in respiratory conditions in children)
We will combine several essential oils (one essential oil with cineole and another with thymol-carvacrol or cinnamaldehyde or terpineol):
eucalyptus + thyme
or niouli + ravintsara (this essential oil may be adulterated or mislabeled)
or eucalyptus + cinnamon
2 drops of the mixture two to three times a day (in condensed milk, on bread, in honey or in a little vegetable oil).
For those with sensitive stomachs: apply the drops to the upper chest, first testing with one drop to test skin sensitivity.
In the event of an epidemic, one can try to prevent viral infection by starting treatment with essential oils and one of the medicinal plants already mentioned before the flu breaks out.
IN TROPICAL COUNTRIES
In countries with warm climates, influenza rarely develops into a major epidemic except when it is an infection whose virus, of avian or porcine origin, is very contagious or virulent (Spanish flu of 1918).
However, infections with influenza A and B viruses are not rare.
We can recommend the use of the essential oils already mentioned or directly short infusions of fresh plants from which these essential oils are extracted when they are found locally (eucalyptus, niaouli, tea tree, ravintsara, cinnamon).
Infusions of leaves of Lantana sp, Lippia sp and Ocimum sp are also interesting for reducing fever and reducing the duration of the illness. When the plant is abundant we can recommend an aromatic bath especially for children (pour a liter of infusion into the bath, or directly one or two handfuls of fresh plant into very hot bath water which is then left to cool).
Copyright 2024: Dr Jean-Michel Hurtel
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PHYTOTHERAPY, MEDICINAL PLANTS, AROMATHERAPY, ESSENTIAL OILS