Antioxidants and Macular Degeneration

Antioxidant-Rich Foods May Reduce the Risk of Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries. Age is the most significant risk factor. The cause of AMD is not well understood, but some researchers believe that a diet rich in antioxidants may help reduce the risk of AMD.

A new study in the December 28, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association studied a large group of older adults, and found that those who consumed above-average intakes of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vtamin E, and zinc were less likely to develop AMD.

About the Study
Researchers in the Netherlands followed 4,170 people age 55 years or older for an average of eight years. The participants did not have AMD when the study began. At the start of the study, the participants completed a food frequency questionnaire to determine intake of the following antioxidants/antioxidant cofactors: alpha and beta carotene; beta cryptoxanthin; lutein; lycopene; vitamins A, C, and E; iron; and zinc. During the study, the participants underwent 1-2 eye examinations designed to diagnose AMD. The researchers adjusted their analyses for age, sex, body mass index (a measure of weight in relation to height), smoking status, blood pressure, cholesterol level, atherosclerosis score (a measure of fatty buildup in the arteries), and alcohol intake.

During the study, 560 (13.4%) of the participants were diagnosed with AMD. Higher Vitamin E and zinc intakes were associated with a reduced risk of AMD. Having an above-average intake of the combination of Vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc was associated with a 35% reduced risk of AMD.

These findings are limited because nutrient intake was based on a food frequency questionnaire, which is subject to error.

How Does This Affect You?
This study suggests that diet affects vision, at least in the long-term. Increasing your intake of beta carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and zinc while your vision is good may help prevent AMD later. Beta carotene is found in carrots, kale, and spinach; vitamin C-rich foods include citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, broccoli, and potatoes; Vitamin E can be obtained from whole grains, vegetable oil, eggs, and nuts; and high concentrations of zinc are found in meat, poultry, fish, whole grains, and dairy products.

Symptoms of AMD include seeing blurred words on a page, a dark or empty area in the center of vision and distorted straight lines. If you have any of these symptoms, you should consult with an ophthalmologist, who can diagnose and treat AMD if necessary.

RESOURCES:

American Academy of Ophthalmology
http://www.aao.org/

Macular Degeneration Partnership
http://www.amd.org/

REFERENCES:

Macular degeneration. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Available at: http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZJ4YZNH4C&sub_cat=2013.
Accessed December 28, 2005.

van Leeuwen R, Boekhoorn S, Vingerling JR, et al. Dietary intake of antioxidants and risk of age-related macular degeneration. JAMA . 2005;294(24):3101-3107.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Healthy Fruits and Vegetables

Getting to the Heart of a Healthful Diet: Fruits and Vegetables

Here's Why Fruits and Veggies Are Good for You:
Produce has certainly earned its healthful reputation. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber, while being low in calories and fat. All of these factors help make your heart healthier. Specifically:

* Soluble fiber helps lower blood cholesterol levels.
* Antioxidant nutrients—beta-carotene and Vitamins A and C—are believed to help prevent atherosclerosis and lower the risk for coronary artery disease.
* Phytochemicals, which are plant chemicals found in fruits and vegetables, are believed to decrease the risk for many diseases, including heart disease.
* A diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps lower blood pressure.

Here's How to Eat Your Fruits and Veggies:
A total of nine fruits and vegetables each day may sound like a lot, but a serving is probably smaller than you think.

One Serving of Fruit Equals...

* 1 medium piece of fruit, such as an apple, banana, orange, pear, or peach
* ½ grapefruit
* ¼ avocado (Note: there's more fat here than in your average fruit; about 30 grams for a whole avocado, but the majority of this fat is the healthful, monounsaturated kind)
* ½ cup chopped, cooked, or canned fruit, including berries and grapes
* ¼ cup dried fruit
* ¾ cup 100% fruit juice

One Serving of Vegetable Equals...

* 1 cup raw, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, romaine lettuce, and broccoli
* ½ cup of other vegetables, cooked or chopped raw
* ¾ cup 100% vegetable juice

Within your nine daily servings, try for a serving rich in Vitamin A or beta-carotene (which is converted into Vitamin A in the body) and another rich in Vitamin C.

Produce Rich in Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene Include:

* Pumpkin
* Sweet potatoes
* Carrots
* Mangoes
* Spinach
* Cantaloupe
* Kale
* Apricots
* Tomato juice
* Nectarines
* Papayas
* Peaches

Produce Rich in Vitamin C Include:

* Bell pepper
* Papayas
* Oranges and orange juice
* Broccoli
* Strawberries
* Grapefruit
* Cantaloupe
* Tomatoes and tomato juice
* Potatoes
* Cabbage
* Spinach
* Collard greens

To Reach Nine a Day, Eat Some at Each Meal

For Breakfast:

* Fresh or dried fruit mixed with cereal or oatmeal
* Bagel or English muffin topped with avocado and tomato or cucumber and cream cheese
* Glass of tomato juice with a spear of celery

For Lunch and Snacks:

* Bake a sweet potato (microwave on high for 5-8 minutes) and top with black beans
* Stir fresh fruit into yogurt
* Pop open a can of water-packed mandarin oranges
* Dip carrot, celery, red pepper, and zucchini sticks into hummus, yogurt, or low-fat dip

For Dinner:

* Roast vegetables—onion, squash, peppers, and eggplant—and spread on a pizza crust with tomato sauce and cheese
* Top baked potatoes with steamed broccoli, beans, and salsa
* Add dried fruit to rice and stuffing
* Grate carrots and zucchini into pasta sauce

For Dessert:

* Top frozen yogurt with sautéed apples, fresh peaches, or canned pineapple
* Choose a fruity dessert, such as a cobbler, over a heavier treat, such as cheesecake



This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Keeping Your Memory Sharp!

OK, I will admit it if you will – I have forgotten the names of people while talking to them! I have lost my car keys, misplaced my glasses and turned the wrong way on my drive home.

How about you? Does it seem like your memory is playing tricks on you as you age? Well, there are reasons for that and very few of the reasons are related to diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

How to make a memory
Your memory is an amazing miracle. Each second, your brain processes billions of bits of information from your five senses. You may consciously perceive only a very small percentage of this information because one function of your brain is to filter out unimportant information. The things you remember will usually be advantageous to you, such as remembering your wedding anniversary date as well as where the speed trap is on your drive home.

Memory is divided into two basic groups:

1. Short-term memory
2. Long-term memory

Short-term memories are quickly forgotten when they are no longer important. Practicing or rehearsing can improve your memory by moving more information into the long-term category. For instance, when I am distracted by stress I may not be able to remember where I left my car keys. That information was deleted from my short-term memory. However, if I consciously say, “I am hanging my car keys on the hook,” I am far more likely to remember where they are.

How to keep a memory

Reduce stress
Stress kills your memory. The stress system is designed to ensure survival. It helps us fight off a snarling dog or flee from a menacing bear. As important as that is, humans do more every day than merely survive. If you want to have a good, healthy memory, do all you can to reduce the need for fight or flight stress responses.

Learn something new
As I mentioned earlier, practicing or rehearsing something enhances memory. So does learning something new. You see, memory is facilitated through the billions of neurons and synapses in your brain by patterns: retracing old patterns as well as creating new patterns. The more new things we master, the more connections we create and the better our overall memory will be.

If you want to remember your anniversary, start learning a foreign language. If you want to remember important names, learn how to play a musical instrument. The more you learn – and the more you connect the old with the new – the better your overall memory will be.

How to nourish a memory
Certain nutrients help the memory remain sharp. These nutrients fall into two basic categories: those that create brain structure and those that nourish brain function.

Your brain is made mostly of fat. And the majority of that fat is an Omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. So, to have a healthy brain we need healthy fats like OmegaPrime. Your nerve cells convert some fats into functional nerve proteins called myelin. Formation of myelin requires dietary protein and Vitamin B-12. So, for healthy brain structure and function we need Omega-3 fats, healthy dietary protein and Vitamin B-12.

When the memory is activated it creates heat in the brain. To fuel the memory, quench the heat, and repair the daily wear and tear on your brain, you need antioxidants. Certain antioxidants specifically target brain function. A recent study at Arizona State University demonstrated that the antioxidants found in Optima4 not only helped golfers perform better on the course, but they also significantly improved their memory.

What do you remember?
To recap: Occasional memory lapses usually indicate you are distracted by stress. Rehearsing things you want to remember will help and practicing new things that you have learned will help as well. Because new behaviors create new pathways in your brain, learning something new such as a foreign language or musical instrument can improve your overall memory.

Stress kills your memory. Nutrients such as Omega-3, Vitamin B-12 and brain-specific antioxidants help rebuild and restore your ability to remember. With all of these tools at your disposal you have access to the power of a healthy memory.

Change Your Water and Change Your Life

Water is the single most important resource for the human body. Water is the most
essential nutrient involved in every function of the body. Water accounts for
approximately 70% of an individual’s complete fat free body mass. In order to function
properly, water must be consumed in set quantities in consistent intervals (average of
2.5 liters per day). When not enough water is consumed, people can begin to develop
certain illnesses and even accelerate their aging processes.

Now after establishing the importance of water, one must then think what kind of water
is good to drink? Many people believe that the water concentrations in coffee, sodas,
and energy drinks will be sufficient for the human body to function on optimal levels;
but that is incorrect. Simply stated, the water from these beverages is nothing but
poor quality distilled water.

Your Answer to Hydration and Better Health Lies in Kangen
Water!

What is Kangen Water?



Kangen water is being recognized by more and more people around the world as the purest and healthiest water for the human body. As more and more people have been seeing the benefits of this water, Kangen has gained a vast amount of ground in the
health world to become one of Japan's newest and most popular household names. This delicious water is rich in minerals, purged of free radicals by way of ionization, and can be used in countless ways outside of everyday water drinking.

Kangen Water - "return to origin"

Dating back to its roots in Japan, Kangen Water essentially means “return to origin”. Because this beautiful world of ours has been polluted and soiled with human waste, the human body has not been able to reach optimal growth potential.
Medical studies have long recognized the devastating effects of high levels of acidity in our bodies. Kangen Water has a pH of 8.5 -11.0 which would then make this water basic or an alkaline. In addition to Kangen waters pH level, tests have
also shown a negative ORP (oxidizing reduction potential) rating. Kangen water is perhaps the most effective anti-oxidant and its negative ORP rating further proves that hypothesis. Anti-oxidants can help balance out some of these acids and restore the body to equilibrium or its “original state” as it should be, where we can all grow and flourish.

Free Radicals


Conditions such as exposure to electromagnetic or ultra-violet radiation,alcohol, tobacco, and the stresses that arise in each individual’s daily life can all contribute to the build up of free radicals in one’s body. Free radicals are an
atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons on an open shell configuration. The unpaired electrons in these free radicals make it very easy to partake in chemical reactions within the body as it searches to fill its outer most
shells with electrons inside of our bodies. Studies have shown that these free
radicals account for 70% of all diseases including some forms of cancer,
diabetes, and speeding up the aging process. A healthier lifestyle can be
achieved immediately as these free radicals are eliminated from our bodies.
Kangen Water simply rids these free radicals from our drinking water and
bodies through the process of ionization.

Recognizing Alkaline Water

As medical studies have recognized for years, the average human body contains acidity levels that can be harmful to the human body. Alkaline and acidic treatment has been widely used in medical treatments in Japan since the 1960s
with success stories of many various illnesses. When patients began requesting medical facilities to continue their treatment in the convenience of their own homes, Enagic Inc. started doing research on how to bring these wondrous machines to the people. After much valuable research, Enagic Inc. of Japan made
medical breakthroughs by bringing fortunate people machines that could dispense pure
alkaline and acidic water to continue their healthy lifestyles in the comfort of their own homes. To say that this company has been successful in the distribution of these devices would be an understatement in Japan as Enagic Inc. has truly
become the top premier water company.

Kangen water - an antioxidant

It is safe to say that Kangen water is an incredible antioxidant. Some may go as
far as to say that Kangen water is more powerful that any single food or vitamin
supplement in the world. Simply stated, Kangen water contains active hydrogen
which supplies vast amounts of free electrons to our body. This process of
electrolysis immediately neutralizes the free radicals in the water and renders it
non-poisonous. Most water electrolysis equipment will not create active
hydrogen in the water; therefore, the equipment merely produces ionized
alkaline water. Because our bodies fluid concentration is roughly two-thirds
water, the antioxidant potential of a single glass of Kangen water would be
much easier for the body to absorb than expensive vitamin supplements.


In fact, instead of breaking down calcium to supply the electrons to neutralize
free radicals, Kangen water supplies the active hydrogen to do the job for you.
When your body retains the extra calcium that is no longer used to break down
free radicals, these calcium minerals can be used to aid in weight loss.

Miracle Healing Water

“Magical miracle healing water” has been found in nature at only a few specific
locations throughout the world. These so called “miracle” water sources have
been discovered in Mexico, Germany, India, China, Australia, and Japan. Large
numbers of people from all over the world wait in line almost every hour of every
day to obtain some of this “magical water” at all of these locations. For many
years, the healing power of this “magical water” was a mystery, but according,
Dr. Sanetaka Shirahata, Graduate School of Genetic Resources Technology,
Kyushu University, these so called “miracle waters” all contain active hydrogen
in the water. Because active hydrogen has an evaporation rate of 0.3-0.7
seconds after generating it, people had to visit these sources to improve on
their chronic illnesses. Kangen water has the same active hydrogen properties
and actually improves on this miracle water. With all said and done, Kangen
Water can now be produced in the comfort of your own home straight from your
tap.


Types of Water

We often call the earth "The Planet of Water"

Roughly 70% of its surface is covered with water. All living things on the
planet rely on water for survival. We need to drink lots of water, but
unfortunately most of the drinking water available to us is simply not
healthy anymore. In some cases, our drinking water is dangerous to our
health.



Tap Water


How do you feel about drinking 8 glasses of tap water each day?
Chlorination makes tap water safe to drink but it can also react with
organic compounds inside your body to produce toxic substances,
especially in your colon. Small amounts of chlorine are added to our
public drinking water supply to kill bacteria and other microorganisms.
This amount of chlorine is small enough for us to drink but it can still kill
bacteria and enzymes in our body essential to digestion.

During a shower, our bodies absorb roughly 2 glasses of this
chlorinated water through our skin. We also inhale the mist and steam
of this water while we shower. Nearly all tap water supplies contain large
amounts of active oxygen (oxidants) and high positive ORP (Oxidation
Reduction Potential) values. Having a high POSITIVE ORP means that
tap water can be very oxidizing, or destructive to your body.



Purified Water Distilled Water and Reverse Osmosis


Distilled water and water purified by reverse osmosis may not have most
pollutants and additives found in tap water, but it also lacks any
minerals naturally found earth's water that are essential to our well
being. These processes remove EVERYTHING from the water, including
helpful minerals.

Since this water contains no minerals or life whatsoever, it leaches vital
minerals and alkaline buffers from our bodies. Distilled water and
reverse osmosis water have no energy or vitality at all and can
contribute to an acidic state in our bodies.



Bottled Water (Including "Mineral Water")


You might think that bottled water is healthier than tap water. But in a
four-year scientific study, The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense
Council) tested more than 1,000 bottles of 103 brands, a third of them
were found to contain contaminants such as arsenic and carcinogens.

Recently, another shocking study showed that over time cancer-causing
toxins such as dioxin leach into the water from the plastic bottle.
Actually, a lot of the bottled "spring" waters are just filtered tap water put
in a plastic bottle. These bottles often remain on store and factory
shelves, unopened for months or even years.

Bottled water is essentially dead water. If you choose your water based
on the package or the brand, you should know that some 95% of the
price you are paying for that bottled water is covering other costs, such
as packaging, advertising, distribution costs, rather than the water itself.

Yet, bottled water is so popular and available almost everywhere. As a
result, the bottled water industry enjoys annual sales of more than $3.5
billion worldwide. 15 years ago people wouldn't spend $3-$5 per day on
bottled water; these days they do.



Alkaline Ionized Water


Alkaline ionized water is by far the healthiest water available today.
Decades of scientific and medical research have gone into its
developement. It is produced by an in-home machine that first filters and
then ionizes tap water. This process splits the water into its alkaline and
acidic parts. The alkaline water is used for drinking. It has tremendous
hydrating and antioxidant qualities, due in part to its smaller water
clusters and abundance of extra electrons created by the ionization
process.



Kangen™ Water - The Highest Grade of Alkaline Ionized
Water


Kangen™ water has the strongest antioxidant power of any alkaline
ionized water. The Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) of Kangen™
water can reach up to -500mV, where most average ionized water
reaches only around -150mV.

The difference is significant. As a matter of fact, regular Alkaline Ionized
Water units are classified as "home health appliance," while Kangen™
Water units are in the "medical device" classification by the Ministry of
Health and Welfare in Japan, which is equivalent to the FDA in the U.S.
Currently, out of 44 companies manufacturing ionized water generators,
Only 6 of them make units certified as Kangen™ Water grade.

Enagic ONLY manufactures certified Kangen™ Water units. And its
quality is considered by many as the best of the best in the industry.

The word "Kangen™" "return to origin" in Japanese. A more general
meanings would be "renewing" or "restoring". Drinking Kangen™ Water
can help "renew" and "restore" a healthy balance in your life.


© Kangen Water USA. All Rights Reserved

The Facts on Oscillococcinum

Intro

Oscillococcinum is an anomaly in the homeopathic materia medica because it is one of the relatively few proprietary preparations. The name is registered by Boiron.

Scarcely known to the English-speaking world, it is one of the most widely used and popular homeopathic medicines in France. But even in France it is anomalous. It is the only homeopathic medicine authorized for routine production in France in a dilution above the 30c, and by the Korsakovian method.

All other homeopathic medicines in France are prepared by the Hahnemannian method, in potencies not exceeding 30c, although higher dilutions may be prepared on a named patient basis. The Korsakovian dilution method involves repeated incomplete emptying and refilling of a single piece of glassware, whereas the Hahnemannian demands fresh glassware for each dilution.

One medical review has only been able to say that the results look promising without giving a recommendation to use it.
History

Oscillococcinum is a 200c potency of an autolysate of Barbary duck heart and liver. It was introduced in the 1930's by Dr Joseph Roy, who believed that it contained a bacterium, Oscillococcus, which caused influenza. We now know that this rationale was spurious, although it is not the first or last instance of an effective medicine being introduced on the basis of a theory subsequently shown to be incorrect. In a further twist, Roy's theory has been shown to be much closer to the mark than once supposed. Wild fowl have been shown to be a major reservoir of human influenza viruses.

Certainly Oscillococcinum is popular with the French public, and it was this popularity which made the legislature feel constrained to make it a special case when regulating the production of homoeopathic medicines.
Study

The popular reputation of Oscillococcinum has now been vindicated by a large scale, double-blind, placebo controlled trial published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 487 patients were recruited by 149 general practitioners (mostly non-homoeopaths) in the Rhone-Alpes region of France during the influenza epidemic of January-February 1987.

Entry criteria were: rectal temperature of 38oC or above, and at least two of the following symptoms: headache, stiffness, lumbar or articular pain and shivers. The first manifestations had to have occurred less than 24 hours before entry. Patients with immune deficiency, local infection, or who had been immunized against influenza were excluded.

Diagnosis was purely clinical, although the A H1N1 influenza virus was subsequently identified as being responsible for the epidemic. Patients were randomly assigned to active Oscillococcinum (237 patients) or identical placebo (241 patients), 5 doses at 12 hour intervals. Recovery was defined as temperature less than 37.5oC, with complete resolution of the 5 cardinal symptoms.
Results

After 48 hours, 17% of the active treatment group had fully recovered, compared to 10% of the placebo group. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.03, X2 test). Further analysis showed that the effect of Oscillococcinum peaked at 36 hours, when 40% of recoveries were attributable to the treatment. It was most effective in younger patients - 68% of recoveries within 48 hours in the under-30's were due to treatment; and when the illness was relatively mild - 52% of the recoveries from illnesses classified mild or moderate were due to treatment. Patients on active treatment used significantly less other treatment for pain and fever (50% v 41%, p=0.04), they also judged the active treatment more efficacious than placebo (61% v 49% p=0.02).

The Lancet commented favorably on the trial, remarking that the authors were restrained in their discussion, and describing the difference between placebo and active treatment as 'respectable'. The Lancet's report was "quadruple-blind" mentioning only at the very end that the treatment was homoeopathic.
References

Ferley JP, Zmirou D, D'Adhemar D, Balducci F. A controlled evaluation of a homoeopathic preparation in influenza-like syndromes. Br J Clin Pharmac (1989) 27, 329-335.

Get Ready for the Flu Season with Oscillococcinum!

Good Things to Do if You Get Flu.

1. Keep Oscillococcinum® readily available.
Oscillococcinum (Oscillo®), one of the world's most popular natural flu medicines, can reduce the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms when taken at the onset of symptoms. Oscillo is regulated as a drug by the FDA1 and its use is supported by published clinical studies as well as more than 65 years of worldwide use. Plus, unlike other flu medicines, Oscillo works without causing side effects, does not interfere with other medications, and is safe for both children (older than 2 years of age) and adults.

2. Stay hydrated.
When you are feeling under the weather, drinking extra fluids prevents dehydration caused by fever, loosens mucus and keeps your throat moist. Warm liquids are preferable, and there is some evidence that inhaling steam early in the course of a cold or flu may reduce the spread of viruses in your upper respiratory tract.

3. Listen to your body.
If you do come down with a cold or flu, take it easy. Spending excessive energy steals valuable resources from your immune system. Even attempting to perform normal activities at work or school may be too much. Besides, if you believe you're coming down with flu, probably the best thing you can do for friends and family is to not expose them unnecessarily to the virus.

4. Be careful with medicines.
Children should not take any medicines containing aspirin while they have flu. If you take over-the-counter (OTC) cold or flu preparations, make certain that you're not overdosing. For example, many decongestant OTC medicines offer "all-in-one" relief; that is, they may contain fever and pain reducers. If you are also taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen separately, you may inadvertently be ingesting too much of these compounds.

5. Seek help if you get worse.
If your symptoms become significantly worse after the first 3 days of illness, especially if your fever subsides and then returns, be sure to seek medical attention right away. The reason that flu is considered a potentially dangerous infection is that it leaves the body vulnerable to other infections like pneumonia.

"Basically, your grandmother was right: when you have flu, stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and have some chicken soup - after inhaling the steam while it's cooking. I would add that you can gain an advantage in shortening the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms by taking Oscillococcinum as soon as they appear."

Clinical Studies on Oscillococcinum

Oscillococcinum has been shown in clinical trials to help reduce the severity and shorten the duration of flu symptoms.1,2

Oscillococcinum works rapidly, with 63 percent of patients showing “complete resolution" or "clear improvement” at 48 hours.*1 In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the recovery rate within 48 hours of treatment was significantly greater in the group that received the active drug than in the placebo group.†2

Unlike other flu medicines, Oscillococcinum does not cause side effects, such as drowsiness, and has no known or reported drug interactions. Oscillococcinum is regulated as a drug by the FDA3 and can be purchased at pharmacies, natural food stores and supermarkets.

Make sure patients have Oscillococcinum on hand because it works best when taken early. Recommend Oscillococcinum at the first signs of flu.

Summary of Studies

Download a PDF summary of four double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies on Oscillococcinum. Included in this PDF is a chart comparing Oscillococcinum with antivirals, herbs, vitamins, and symptomatic medicines for aches and fever.
Read More Research

Read an independent review of research studies on Oscillococcinum conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration (Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 3: CD001957, 2006.)


“Taking Oscillococcinum at the first sign of flu symptoms reduced the average bout by about 6 hours in the two studies that provided enough data to analyze.”

-Andrew Vickers, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, who reviewed the evidence on Oscillococcinum for the Cochrane Collaboration (quote published in Nutrition Action Healthletter, January/February 2007)

“The research is somewhat promising. Two separate authors reviewed seven well-controlled studies that showed that it was able to reduce flu-like symptoms by about 7 hours. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you feel miserable, 7 hours can make a difference.”

-Joy Bauer, Joy Bauer Nutrition Center, New York, N.Y., and Today Show contributor (quote heard on the Today Show, Feb. 13, 2007)