The Pope exorcises the flu with black elderberries

The Pope exorcises the flu with black elderberry extract Vatican triples order of natural cold fighting remedy

The Vatican has ordered triple the amount of the immune boosting elderberry extract than they did last year. This year the International Pharmacy of Vatican City has ordered 600 bottles of the black elderberry extract compared to 200 bottles last year, showing that divine intervention may work miracles, but when it comes to combating flu, even the Pope needs a helping hand. Therefore we need to act like a Saint and do everything we can to boost our immune system and beat
bugs fast.  

Black elderberries are the natural way to help protect your family during an outbreak of an unholy influenza – the black elderberry extract is available from your local pharmacy or health food store, or you can collect them yourselves and make them in to the syrup.

In a recent randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study, black elderberry extract was shown to reduce the duration of influenza by around four days(1). This study adds weight to earlier research which found that within three days, the symptoms of influenza were relieved in nearly 90 per cent of cases treated with black elderberry extract, compared to six days in the placebo group(2).  

Black elderberries are thought to contain a unique compound, which coats viruses and prevents them from penetrating and infecting healthy cells.  As a result viruses, such as flu, are unable to replicate. The body’s white blood cells are then able to ingest the infected cells, effectively removing the virus from the body. Black elderberries also contain high levels of natural antioxidants known as flavonoids which help strengthen the immune system against attack; indeed the black elderberry has twice the antioxidant capacity of blueberries and significantly higher antioxidant capability of cranberries(3).

Expert immunologist and registered medical herbalist Dr Serene Foster says: “Black elderberries have been traditionally used to help protect against a range of viral ailments, including flu, because of their natural immune health properties.  Recent research has confirmed that these dark purple fruits contain a unique compound which helps the immune system to fight back against various strains of flu.”

Today the flu-fighting properties of black elderberries can be found on the high street as Sambucol - available in liquid format and suitable for all the family - or make yourself!!

For more information and research on clinical trials on black elderberry visit the website www.blackelderberry.info.

References

1 Rones Z et al. 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
2 Zakay-Rones et al Inhibition of Several Strains of Influenza in vitro and Reduction of Symptoms by an Elderberry Extract (Sambucus nigra L) during an Outbreak of Influenza B Panama. J Altern Complement Med. 1995
Winter;1(4):361-9
3 As measured by Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) – the method of measuring antioxidant capacities of different foods.

The values given for total ORAC are as follows:

Elderberries - Total-ORAC (umol TE/100 g)    14,697
Cranberries - Total-ORAC (umol TE/100 g)    9,584
Blueberries - Total-ORAC (umol TE/100 g)    6,552

Claire is an experienced health and medical editor and has worked on best selling health titles, such as 'Pregnancy, Conception and Birth' with Dr Miriam Stoppard for Dorling Kindersley, as well as for medical specialist publlsher, Gower Medical, and health website and broadcaster, World Health Network.

Claire is also a qualified nlp life coach and she wrote 'The Funky Angel Guide to Being Happy' based on nlp best practice and her health knowledge and experience, as well as writing a children's book for slow readers and dyslexic sufferers, called 'Lumpy Loves Chocolate'. Claire also edits and writes books, magazines and web content.

Contact Claire on claire[at]funkyangel.co.uk, or see her expert profile for more details.