Survival Kit for 'Man Flu'

How to survive 'Man Flu'

The cooler months are setting in and coughs and colds are on the horizon but should women empathise with men when they claim to have the dreaded ‘man flu’? Are women the stronger sex?

Interestingly, research by Cambridge University has suggested that there may be some truth to their suffering.

The statistics have shown that females live longer than males and tend to produce less virus particles during a case of the flu or a common cold.

Whether ‘man flu’ is related to the battle of the sexes or a myth, the main key is for everyone to keep their immune system strong and healthy so it sends out its own defences when coughs and colds are on the prowl.

Top immune survival tips

1. Elderberry is one to keep in your emergency box to be used at the first signs of a sniffle. This powerful berry has been used for centuries in fighting the common cold and flu with good reason. Using elderberry has been shown to improve the rapid recovery of the flu. A recent study showed that 93% of the treated group improved over 2 days compared to 91% of people not treated, who improved over 6 days (1,2,3).

2. Vitamin C is a powerful guardsman to the immune system that is quick to scavenge any invaders. High doses (1-3g/day) of vitamin C (in buffered form so that it is sensitive on the tummy) orally has been shown to decrease the duration of cold symptoms by 1-1.5 days (4,5,6,7,8).

3. Zinc has been shown to step up the immune response and reduce the replication of the virus therefore shortening or possibly even preventing the signs of the virus. This is especially useful to be used alongside a flu jab to reduce possible symptoms. Dosages of 30mg elemental zinc should be taken, this can also be gargled with to soothe a sore throat (9,10,11,12,13). 

4. Horseradish, papaya and berries aid digestion when the appetite is low. The berries will help with rehydrating and repair damaged tissue. Whereas papaya and horseradish help with a stuffy nose and a congested head by breaking down the mucus.

References 

1. Fan‐kun Kong (2009) Pilot Clinical Study on a Proprietary Elderberry Extract: Efficacy in Addressing Influenza Symptoms, J Pharmacol Pharmacokin 5: 32‐43

2. Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections’. J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40

3. Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza’ by B Panama.Zakay-Rones Z., Varsano N., Zlotnik M., Manor O., Regev L., Schlesinger M., Mumcuoglu M. - J Altern Complement Med. 1995 Winter;1(4):361-9

4. Pitt HA, Costrini AM. Vitamin C prophylaxis in marine recruits. JAMA 1979;241:908-11.

5. Anderson TW. Vitamin C and the common cold. J Med Soc N J 1979;76:765-6.

6. Hemila H. Does vitamin C alleviate the symptoms of the common cold?- a review of current evidence. Scand J Infect Dis 1994;26:1-6

7. Douglas RM, Chalker EB, Treacy B. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000;(2):CD000980.

8. Gorton HC, Jarvis K. The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1999;22:530-3.

9 Takkouche B, Regueira-Mendez C, Garcia-Closas R, et al. Intake of vitamin C and zinc and risk of common cold: a cohort study. Epidemiology 2002;13:38-44.

10 Turner RB. The treatment of rhinovirus infections: progress and potential. Antiviral Res 2001;49:1-14.

11 Turner RB, Cetnarowski WE. Effect of treatment with zinc gluconate or zinc acetate on experimental and natural colds.Clin Infect Dis 2000;31:1202-8.

12 (G A Eby, D R Davis, and W W Halcomb (1984) Reduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind study, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 25:20-24 [Abstract] http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/25/1/20 )  

13 Girodon F, Galan P, Monget AL, et al. Impact of trace elements and vitamin supplementation on immunity and infections in institutionalized elderly patients: a randomized, controlled trial. MIN. VIT. AOX. geriatric network. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:748-54.