In an Apocalyptic Influenza Pandemic, the Number 1 killer is pneumonia, which happens when the flu virus attacks and batters the lungs, inadvertently opening an angle of attack to bacterial infection, chiefly pneumonia. But in the very odd groupings of death, involving relatively healthy, young, strong people with the best immune systems, the cause of death seems to be the Cytokine Storm (which science does not fully understand, nor in many cases even believe in the reality of a Cytokine Storm). Cytokine, pronounced "sigh-toe-kigh-n," means "cell movement," from the Greek. In short, what it means to die of a Cytokine Storm is being hacked, attacked, and decimated, not by the flu, but death due to an overreaction to an unknown foe by your own immune system. I reiterate, science does not understand it; the whole medical community is only guessing at how all this works, e.g., the immune system, WHY it works, and how and why it sometimes goes berserk, utterly whacko. And as crazy as it sounds, some experts feel the way to deal with this Cytokine Storm state of emergency, is to turn OFF the immune system (thus it cannot attack you).The cytokines are the immune system cells which carry messages between cells, producing a fatal loop of frenzied activity and armament overload, wherein the warrior cells start blasting everything, not just influenza viruses or pneumonia bacterial infections, but all the surrounding healthy cells. It is like the police hearing that there is a serial killer in the neighborhood and calling in a nuclear strike to ensure that the killer is wiped out for good (unfortunately, there goes the neighborhood, as well). When a Cytokine Storm brews in the lungs, macrophages flash like lightning, an overabundance of immune cells rumble like thunder, and the air to the lungs can literally be choked off entirely, like a flash flood of cold water, and the person who was healthy only hours before, can suddenly drown in the flood of their own immune system.In the 1918-1919 Spanish Flu Pandemic, what troubled doctors the most, and the repeating nightmare that even freaked out the most famous and battle-hardened scientists, was the fact that strong, healthy soldiers, well-fed and completely disease free, suddenly became ill with the flu, and sometimes within HOURS of showing symptoms, the men would be dead. Even while becoming sick in a hospital. Shortly before death, their faces turned black. Their lungs filled with heavy water. Other horrific symptoms (which should really never escape from a Stephen King novel) included air gathering beneath the skin, and when the dying patients moved it made a ghastly crackling sound. Some healthy, strong men actually broke their ribs. Coughing. Fighting to breathe, they coughed to death.The good news is that people do survive Cytokine Storms (although to the best of my knowledge and reading, there is no magic bullet or super pallative to just "make it go away"). But if you can survive three days, then the Cytokine Storm should abate (from my understanding, many strong people either suffer permanently disability after surviving a Cytokine Storm, or must endure a very length rehabilitation process). The bad news is that there is no clear-cut methodology for dealing with the Cytokine Storm, not defeating it, not even sidestepping it like getting out of the way of a runaway elephant.I think Sambucus is a good way to aid the cytokines; however, many experts feel that since Sambucus aids cytokine production, it could literally tee-off the Cytokine Storm for a long drive into a hole in one (metaphorically speaking, which ain't good for us). But I think the natural herb elderberry cushions the immune system, like providing a healthy police force with something extra, that "just something extra," such as bulletproof vests, spring-loaded nightsticks, and steel-toed boots. No, none of this makes for an invincible policeman, but that extra edge just might be enough. In other words, don't withdraw support from the immune system, but give it a helping hand.Also, again, repetitiously so, Ginger and Oregano, which can kind of cushion the immune system, as well as maintaining a constant heavy moisure in the air from vaporizers, which just might impede the flu virus enough to soothe and settle down the cytokines (if they see the flu invaders coming at them tangled as in a three-legged race, they just might not panic and call in a nuclear strike). Stick with the Flu Angle of Attack, and I don't think the Cytokine Storm will prove an issue, for you or your loved ones. And remember, provide as much love as you can, and pray, seriously, even if you are not a spiritual person, or a religious person, it does not matter. Prayer might just prove that small edge you need, because it is proven to work (and you might believe it is an answer from a loving God, or possibly you think it is just mind power, whatever, DO IT).The study, scheduled to be published in the November issue of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, shows anti-oxidants -- the same substances found in plant-based foods such as apples, grapes and strawberries -- might hold the key in preventing the flu virus from wreaking havoc on the lungs."The recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza and the rapid spread of this strain across the world highlights the need to better understand how this virus damages the lungs and to find new treatments," study co-author Sadis Matalon said in a statement. "Additionally, our research shows that anti-oxidants may prove beneficial in the treatment of flu."Matalon and colleagues showed the flu virus damages lungs through its M2 protein, which attacks the cells that line the inner surfaces of the lungs -- epithelial cells. Specifically, the M2 protein disrupts lung epithelial cells' ability to remove liquid from inside the lungs, setting the stage for pneumonia and other lung problems."Although vaccines will remain the first line of intervention against the flu for a long time to come, this study opens the door for entirely new treatments geared toward stopping the virus after you're sick," Dr. Gerald Weissmann, editor in chief of the FASEB Journal said, "and as Thanksgiving approaches, this discovery is another reason to drink red wine to your health."
