Promoting Health " NOT" Managing Disease

References

Introduction September 11 changed millions of lives worldwide. In the wake of the horrific terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon fears about the possibility of biological or chemical attacks were on the rise. Then a man in Florida was diagnosed with inhalation anthrax. Since the first case there have been four fatalities from inhalation anthrax and 16 total cases of anthrax discovered in the U.S. at the time of this article. Government and media have been targeted specifically, and public worry continues to spread. On October 31, 2001 a hospital worker in New York City died – she was the first victim with no apparent link to political or media establishments.1 The threat of anthrax is becoming a reality to Americans. Further threats of small pox, plague, botulism and more are on the minds of many who worry for the health and safety of themselves and their loved ones.

Dan Rather, the well-known and respected CBS anchorman, said recently, “Our biggest problem today is not anthrax. Our biggest problem is fear.”2 While the psychological effect of anthrax is affecting the nation more than actual cases, there is wisdom in understanding the possibility of biowarfare attacks and what should be done to protect health.

Details About the Various Threats
The CDC provides information about various recognized threats for biological attack. The following content is based on information from the CDC unless otherwise noted.

Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)3
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by spores of the Bacillus anthracis bacterium. The bacteria is common among livestock and spores can remain in the ground unaffected by time, heat or cold. There are three types of anthrax: Inhaled, Cutaneous and Intestinal. Inhalation anthrax is the most deadly form killing a high percentage of infected individuals unless treated early. Early symptoms involve cold or flu-like aspects but quickly causing severe respiratory difficulty. Incubation of the spores can be as little as seven days and as many as about eight weeks. Cutaneous anthrax enters cuts or abrasions resulting in a rash and eventually becoming sores or ulcers. The ulcers have a black center and can kill up to 20% of those that catch it. Intestinal anthrax is usually the result of consumption of infected food and involves nausea, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting of blood and severe diarrhea. Anthrax is generally not contagious from one infected individual to an uninfected individual

Smallpox4
Smallpox is caused by the variola virus and there hasn’t been a case since 1977 and regular vaccination stopped in 1972. Initial symptoms would include high fever, fatigue and head or back aches. Smallpox carries a rash on the face, arms and legs about 2-3 days after initial symptoms. Lesions develop later and fill with pus. Smallpox is especially infectious during the first week of illness passing in the smallest vapor particles. The virus can continue to spread through saliva, pus and scabs of the infected individual later during the infection. Interestingly, vaccination against the disease evolved from the 18th century when Dr. Edward Jenner documented the link between milkmaids and their exposure to cowpox as an inoculation against smallpox. Jenner followed up his work by successfully inoculating many children.5

Yersinia pestis (Plague)6
Plague is an infectious disease caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium. It is spread by the fleas of rodents all over the world. When the bacteria infects the lungs, pneumonic plague results. Early symptoms of this form of plague include fever, headache, weakness and a cough with bloody or watery sputum. Without prompt treatment the disease can cause septic shock and death within 2-4 days. Transmission of plague can occur through face-to-face contact with an infected patient.

Cloristridium botulinum (Botulism)7
Botulism is caused by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. Botulism paralyzes muscles through toxins from the bacteria. There are three common forms of botulism: Foodborn, Infant and Wound. When botulism contaminates food with its pre-formed toxin, sickness can occur with hours or days. If contaminated food is suspected then an emergency results due to the possible effect on large numbers of the public. Infant botulism can occur in the intestinal tract of babies and wound botulism can enter open wounds. Symptoms of botulism can include blurred vision, double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty in swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness. Muscle weakness will always descend through the body starting at the shoulders and moving to the arms and legs. The paralyzing effect can affect breathing muscles, which would necessitate breathing assistance. If breathing assistance is not given death may result. Most recover from botulism, but it can take weeks or even months of close care.

Inherent Danger in the Safety of Antibiotic Treatment
Viruses and bacteria are mutating and becoming resistant to antibiotics. Consider a recent report from the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Drugs that once guaranteed eradication of bacterial diseases are suddenly up against strains that don’t respond as predictably. These bacteria have developed resistance in part because of overuse and misuse of the drugs. . . As a result, patients are getting sicker, and death rates for some communicable diseases . . are on the rise where such diseases had been under control.8

Further, the CDC notes, “New products are not being developed rapidly enough to address increasing microbial resistance.”9 There are emerging warnings against use of Cipro and other antibiotics as prophylaxis against Anthrax because of the fear of resistance, but also due to side-effects such as upset stomach, damage to bone marrow, fatigue, diarrhea, headache and rashes. 10, 11

Conventional western medicine utilizes a military mentality when a bacterial, viral or other immune threat is detected and antibiotic weapons are brought in to fight with the invaders. The antibiotic fights a battle against an invading pathogen, sometimes winning, sometimes losing and sometimes ending in a stalemate. The human body acts as the battlefield and, as is the case with many battlefields, in the end the battlefield is left in ruins. The militaristic analogy of pathogens versus antibiotic treatments is not comforting to be sure since too often the immune system is forced to stand by and watch the battle take place and then try its inexperienced best to fight when the next immune threat comes along. There is a time and place for antibiotic use – as a last resort in order to help the immune system similarly to reinforcements. Too often, antibiotics are used as a first resort and the resistance and mutation of immune threats will continue from the first antibiotic use on.

The body has an immune system capable of mounting its own attack against bacteria and viruses. The innate immune system can recognize new threats to the body and will act as quickly as possible to them, often it is so effective that people never know they have been exposed.12 There is also memory system, called the acquired immune system, which will act against these threats based on any information gained from past immune experiences.13 When antibiotics are used as a first defense then the immune system is weakened by virtue of inexperience. Further, when antibiotics are used as a first defense, the last defense has been already been squandered.

Support Immune Function Against Various Threats Accepting the immune system’s ability to fight viruses and bacteria of all kinds will provide for enduring health. In addition to the immune system weakening with repeated, needless antibiotic use against pathogens, other factors can weaken the efficiency and efficacy of the immune system. Excessive stress, poor nutrition and environmental factors can cause the immune system to become weakened and vulnerable against viruses and bacteria. With the added psychological stress and worry relating to biological terror attacks it is imperative to provide support to the immune system. Following are known natural ingredients available that could prove beneficial, maybe critical, in the months and years to come.

Transfer Factors
Discovered in 1949 as a component of the immune system, transfer factors can transfer immunity against various immune threats from one individual to another. Since 1949 transfer factors have been verified to be trans-species. An immune experience of livestock (i.e. cow, goat, horse, etc.) could be shared with a human through transfer factors. These tiny molecules can be extracted from two sources, blood and colostrum (the first milk from a mother to her offspring). Blood preparations are expensive and are difficult to derive while extraction from colostrum is currently available as detailed under U.S. Patent #4,816,563. Transfer factors are the most promising continual support for the immune system against past, present and future viruses and bacteria.

Thymic Factors
Aging after adulthood involves a gradual, yet continual shrinking of the thymus gland. The thymus is instrumental in supporting and stimulating T-cell response.14 T-cells are extremely important for the immune system to carry on a fight with any invading pathogens.

Zinc
This mineral has been studied extensively and is known to improve immune function.15 When zinc is used with thymic factors the effects on immune response improve.16

Maitake and Shiitake Mushrooms
These mushrooms are a reliable source of beta-glucan.17, 18 Beta-glucan can be extremely beneficial to the immune system for tumor rejection and antibacterial strength. The Natural Killer cells of the immune system work more efficiently when beta-glucan is available.19 Bacterial-caused toxic death in animals has been prevented by using beta-glucan.20

Mannans
Obtained from the Aloe vera leaf, mannans are believed to be the immunologically beneficial part of the plant. Increases in the ability of two types of immune cells that kill invading pathogens have been noted with the use of mannans.21, 22 Mannans have been shown to inhibit adherence of certain bacteria to lung cells.23 Many illnesses can become critical when the bacteria or virus reaches the lung tissues (e.g. pneumonia).

Without going into great detail it should be noted that other natural ingredients will also provide immune support. IP6 (phytic acid) is present in cereals, grains, etc. and is used in regulation of cellular function at the same time possessing anti-tumor properties.24 Cordyceps are fungi used in Chinese medicine for many years to fight tumors and other immune threats.25

Conclusion
Consider that history is on the side of immune function. In the early 20th century millions died of the Spanish Flu but millions more survived though exposed to the same viruses as everyone else.26,27 During the Middle Ages, in Europe and parts of Asia, the plague killed as much as _ of the population in less than 20 years.28 Why were there survivors? During epidemics or pandemics those who survive are the ones who immune systems are strong and adaptable.

The future seems uncertain where Bioterrorism is concerned. The hope is that nothing catastrophic will occur anytime in the future, but while the threat of severe consequences exists it is prudent to provide information and education about the immune threats in the world. Supporting the immune system empowers individuals against the unknown or unavoidable threats which exist in life today.

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