Magnesium, Vitamin C and Iodine: A Cure for Influenza

Why did the 1918-1919 Influenza pandemic, also called the Spanish Flu, kill so many people? (Somewhere between 25 and 100 million, depending on which report you believe). It had to do with the way the body reacts to irritation or injury. This reaction is called Inflammation, one medical definition of Inflammation is: a response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat.

Another definition: A morbid condition of any part of the body, resulting in congestion of the blood vessels, with obstruction of the blood current, and growth of morbid tissue. It is manifested outwardly by redness and swelling, attended with heat and pain.

Yet another definition: Inflammation is commonly defined as a defensive reaction involving the immune system.

Another characteristic of inflammation is a sudden increase in production of white blood cells. What made that pandemic so dangerous was that it triggered what is called cytokine-mediated lung inflammation, or simply a "Cytokine Storm".

When the immune system kicks in to fight off pathogens, the cytokines signal immune cells called T-cells and macrophages into action, these cells also begin to produce more cytokines. This process is generally controlled and moderated by the body, but sometimes an overreaction occurs producing far too many immune cells which are activated at a single site. This exaggerated response may happen because the immune system encounters a new pathogenic invader.

These cytokine storms have the potential to do considerable harm to body tissues and organs. With a cytokine storm in the lungs, the resulting accumulation of immune cells such as macrophages and excess fluid also generated may accumulate to a point where it can eventually block off the airways resulting in death.

The unusual thing about this particular influenza strain is that unlike most previous recorded influenza pandemics this one struck down mostly young healthy adults, previous strains effected mostly the very young, the elderly or sick and weakened patients.

The reason for this was cited: Young healthy adults in their prime had strong efficient immune systems, strong enough maybe to over react to any pathogenic invasion.

It appears that the influenza isolated in China is a hemorrhagic illness, meaning that it kills its victims by rapidly depleting ascorbate (Vitamin C) in the body. This results in "acute induced scurvy" which further results in a complete collapse of the arterial blood supply causing hemorrhaging of the blood vessels.

But is that hypothesis really true?

Knowing how the immune system works, or we assume we know, leads us to believe that the idea of the immune system over -reacting and actually killing people makes no sense. At the moment it still is simply that: a hypothesis. So what should one do: suppress our own immune system, or go on endeavoring to strengthen it?

Consider this: was the immune systems of those supposedly healthy young adults really strong enough, knowing that the levels of magnesium in the average person today are very low, also the amount of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) the average person takes, or more likely does not take, plus the fact that iodine is hardly ever used today in medicine, makes it more probable that their immune systems were simply not up to scratch. The optimum levels for both magnesium and vitamin C required to combat Influenza or for that matter even the common cold are far above what the average person probably has in their system at any one time. Another factor to consider is this: when we catch a cold or flu, our Vitamin C requirements soar; the virus chews through our reserves in no time at all, soon leaving us with none left to fight on, same thing with magnesium.

Maybe, just maybe, medical science is barking up the wrong tree and this "Cytokine Storm" theory is back the front, maybe it really is simply a fact still of a weakened immune system not up to scratch. Best approach still maybe to carry on with original idea and ramp up drastically our intake of Vitamin C and magnesium along with taking Nascen or Lougils Iodine.

Magnesium

Magnesium plays a central role in the body's ability to develop an immune response in the presence of a disease-causing antigen. Magnesium holds a controlling position in the inflammatory process, when its level is low, this can be a prime cause of an increase in inflammation response. Magnesium readily available to the body's immune system can effectively block that inflammatory response. Magnesium deficiency contributes to an exaggerated response to immune stress and oxidative stress is the consequence of that inflammatory response.

Earlier tests were claimed to prove that reducing magnesium in the system reduced the Cytokine Storm. It simply could be another trick of the Drug Cartels to convince us that their "poisons and potions" really are best. Subsequent follow up tests on that theory failed to match the earlier claims.

Their reasoning: "Specifically, at the onset of a tumoral or of an autoimmune disease, a magnesium depletion takes place throughout the organism, together with a simultaneous transfer of said element from the bone marrow to the newly formed erythrocytes, and with a massive transfer of said element carried out by the erythrocytes to the tumoral areas or to the areas affected by the autoimmune disease. In all cases, a magnesium increase in the blood is detected. In view of that, according to the current medical opinion magnesium is the "fuel" used by the tumor or autoimmune disease to progress.

Up to now the leading medical opinion considers magnesium as a negative element in respect of neoplastic and of autoimmune diseases.

It could just as likely be: "An inappropriate immune response in the absence of Magnesium and Vitamin C in adequate amounts caused the Cytokine Storm."

Best Methods of Administering Magnesium

The best way to take Magnesium is by applying magnesium oil to soft areas of the skin, under arms, the stomach, calves etc. This method is called trans-dermal, the body absorbs much more this way as it by-passes the stomach and goes directly into the bloodstream.

Magnesium oil is simply magnesium chloride flakes dissolved in hot distilled water to saturation point, meaning that the water will absorb no more magnesium chloride flakes. It is not really oil; it just feels oily so they call it oil.

The Role of Vitamin C

Vitamin C - Boosts the immune system and is an antiviral, it blocks the enzyme neuraminadase. Viruses need neuraminadase to reproduce. There are many repots of people who survived the Spanish Flu by taking large amounts of Vitamin C.

Research indicates that it may reduce the production of cytokines. There are innumerable studies attesting to the fact that large doses of Vitamin C do reduce flu symptoms quickly and by a large percentage.

Linus Pauling PhD (twice Nobel Laureate) stated "It is highly probable that most people in the world would receive only 1-2% of the amount of Ascorbate needed to keep them in the best health.

How Much Ascorbic Acid to Take

As everybody is different, so too will their Vitamin C requirements differ. During a Flu or Influenza bout the requirements can be massive. There are many very informative websites that can help you arrive at your requirements, one such site is listed at the end of this article. The most recommended form of Ascorbic Acid seems to be Sodium Ascorbate in power form.

When a patient dies of influenza, maybe it is not so much that the virus is deadly, but the patient's compromised immune system, due to chronic, life - long deficiencies of vitamin C and magnesium, along with the drugs and vaccines that the doctor uses is what sends apparently healthy young people to an early grave.

The drug companies spent a lot time and money instilling fear into the population about the possible dangers of influenza, all with the aim of selling billions of dollars worth of what could very well be dodgy and potentially dangerous drugs. It seems the "Snake Oil Salesman" of old have some very talented modern day associates.

Iodine, Pathogen Killer Extraordinaire

As far back as 1905 Iodine was recognized as a treatment for consumption/tuberculosis. Even though Iodine has been recognized as having the ability to kill most pathogens on the skin within 90 seconds, it has been ignored by modern medicine for all that time, does not that tell you something? Going even further back to the American civil war, Iodine was used extensively for treating battlefield wounds and with much success, in fact, without Iodine many more soldiers from both sides would have died from wound infections, no antibiotics back then!. One interesting story involved Colonel John B. Gordon who held the center of General Lee's army at the battle of Antietam. Gordon suffered multiple wounds to the leg calf, thigh, and left arm and finally a ball struck him squarely in the face. His Doctor had the Colonel removed to a base hospital and prescribed tincture of iodine to be painted on the wounds three or four times a day. The case was unpromising. Gorden's eyelids were greatly swollen; one eye was completely closed, the other almost so; his jaw was immovably clenched, and, to make matters worse, erysipelas (staphylococcus infection of skin) had set in on the left arm.

His wife Fanny, a young girl of 25 - put a liberal interpretation on her instructions and painted the wounds, not three or four times a day, but, as Gordon himself says: "I think three to four hundred time a day." Fanny's diligence and devotion were rewarded. Her husband survived, outlived the war, and became the Governor of Georgia, a General, and Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans. He died in 1904."

"Iodine is by far the best antibiotic, antiviral and antiseptic of all time."

Dr. David Derry

Iodine in Influenza Treatment

A reduced immune response is associated with impaired thyroid function; a deficit in iodine can greatly affect the immune system because low levels of iodine lead to problems with the thyroid gland.

Iodine is able to penetrate quickly through the cell walls of microorganisms.

Drinkable iodine is not easy to get, Nascen iodine or Lugol's are the ones to go for and they are the only forms that can be taken orally. If you can only get the inexpensive iodine at the drug store which is meant for cuts and bruises, you can paint the body with it quite heavily and frequently to get iodine into the body. Just examine the skin for any reactions with small area applications first.

"Iodine has bactericidal activity, e.g. a 1% tincture will kill 90% of bacteria in 90 seconds, a 5% tincture in 60 seconds and a 7% tincture in 15 seconds."

Gershenfeld, 1968

When taking a nascent form of iodine, therapeutic doses needed are much lower. Five drops three or four times a day in pure water or as instructed by your healthcare professional. Frequent small doses are more effective than larger amounts at less frequent intervals.Always take on an empty stomach.

The Effect of WW 1 on the Transmission and Spread of Influenza

One of the reasons that the Influenza spread so quickly was due to a number of synergetic factors: close living in un-sanitary conditions, immune systems weakened by malnourishment, combat stresses and gas attacks all played their part in increasing the soldiers' vulnerability to the influenza. Another important factor that is even more of a factor today is fast travel. The large scale very efficient transport systems of wartime certainly played a large part in helping to spread the Flu worldwide in a very short time span.

Mervyn Penny is a retired Australian living in the southern Philippines. He produces a website called Healthyoldcodger.com which is dedicated to health issues effecting the elderly and those approaching old age. He publishes the website under the "nom de plume" Mervyn Ballinger. To read this article and others like it, click on the following link.
http://www.healthyoldcodger.com
He also produces a website dedicated to his adopted town in the southern Philippines: Dipolog CityTo visit Dipolog City on your computer go to: http://www.cityofdipolog.com