THE NATURAL "ANTIBIOTIC" IN GRAPEFRUIT SEEDS

In the last century, our society has become increasingly conscious of the germs that live with us, sometimes in harmony but more often making us ill. More diseases, including heart disease, are being traced back to some kind of bacteriological trigger, and billions of dollars are now spent to develop drugs to combat these germs. Yet, paradoxically, we're increasingly sick, sometimes to death.

One of the reasons for this strange turn of events is that germs appear to be evolving into ever-more drug resistant strains. Drugs get stronger, and so do germs. The antibiotic that cured us last year may not work at all this year.

We're exposed to pathogens--bacteria, viruses, parasites--in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and in our contact with each other. So how do we escape the endless cycle of sickness and stronger, more frequently prescribed drugs? In this special report I'll tell you about natural alternatives that will let you fear no germ.

DEFEND YOURSELF FROM THE NEW MUTANT BACTERIA

Whenever I travel, whether its abroad or just close to home, I always take with me a bottle of grapefruit seed extract called "Traveler's Friend." Grapefruit seed extract is a powerful all-around antimicrobial product that is effective at killing dozens of varieties of bacteria, fungi, yeast, and other harmful organisms. I find more and more uses for it every day. I'm telling you about this germ-fighter because under certain circumstances, it may be the only thing that will save your life.

I've discussed how the overuse and misuse of antibiotics are causing more strains of bacteria to mutate and become antibiotic resistant. The situation continues to worsen and is far more serious than the general public has been told. The head of the Central Public Health Laboratory in London recently reported on a new drug-resistant strain of Salmonella typhrimurium (DT104) which infected 4,000 people last year in Great Britain. It is resistant to 98.8% of all antibiotics.

There's been an upsurge in the discovery of new viruses that cause hepatitis. Hepatitis A now occurs 100 times more frequently than typhoid fever and 1,000 times more frequently than cholera. Hepatitis B is also on the rise. Malaria is on the rise again--around the world between 300 and 500 million people develop the disease each year; of those almost three million almost die.

Closer to home, what's truly disturbing is that there isn't a totally safe hospital in the United States, There are antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that are using hospitals as fertile breeding grounds and new viruses are on the news every evening, Given the slightest opportunities, these bacteria can quickly spread to the bloodstream (bacteremia) and spread throughout your body. Over 50,000 cases of bacteremia are occurring each year in just the U.S. alone. In more and more cases, contracting bacteremia is a death sentence.

Plus, one of the biggest killers among the elderly and the hospitalized is pneumonia. The CDC released figures confirming that more than 500,000 cases of what they call "community-acquired" pneumonia are occurring each year--and increasing numbers of these cases are caused by strains of bacteria that are completely resistant to traditional forms of treatment.

Unfortunately, I don't expect to see any major changes in the way these problems are addressed in this country. The current mindset in medicine today is to develop new, more powerful medications rather than emphasize the more prudent use of the drugs we already have. The odds are overwhelming that more dangerous, drug resistant strains of microbes will continue to emerge. And just how serious the situation will ultimately get is anybody's guess.

Fortunately, there are some precautions you can take, and grapefruit seed extract is just one of the tools you'll find to be helpful. Grapefruit seed extract is a totally natural, effective antimicrobial product. It has a wide variety of uses of which most people are totally unaware. As time goes by, you'll find it can be extremely valuable in protecting your health and the health of those around you.

The grapefruit seed extract I have used and recommend is made by a company called Bio/Chem Research. The company makes two extracts: one for consumers and a more concentrated version that's only available to health professionals. Obviously, the latter won't do you any good (unless you're a health practitioner), so for our purposes I'll focus on the consumer product. R's sold in health food stores under the brand name NutriBiotic Liquid Concentrate, and contains just two ingredients: grapefruit seed extract and deionized water. It's also commonly called "Traveler's Friend" due to its ability to prevent traveler's diarrhea. For the sake of convenience, I'll refer to it simply as NutriBiotic. (Professionals can contact Bio/Chem Research at 865 Parallel Drive, Lakeport, iCA 95453, for information on the more concentrated extract.)

In the chart, I've listed the recommended range of concentration in parts per million (ppm). In other words, I've given how many parts of NutriBiotic liquid concentrate mixed with a million parts of water it takes to do the job. However, since it would be somewhat time-consuming to count out a million drops of water and several hundred drops of grapefruit seed extract, I've also shown you how you can get approximately the same concentrations by adding a certain number of drops of NutriBiotic (Traveler's Friend) to a known quantity of water.

Besides the liquid concentrate, numerous other grapefruit seed products are available. These include skin cleanser, bubble bath, shower gel, nasal spray, ear drops, foot powder, and deodorant. You can also get the extract in tablet and capsule form. Most of these products can be found in health food stores. You can also visit the website www.nutribiotic.com for a list of internet retailers.

Of all the extract products, I find the liquid concentrate the most useful. It is compact and easy to carry, it's inexpensive, and when diluted and applied correctly it has a multitude of external and internal uses. (The only time it is used full strength is to treat warts.) Keep in mind, though, that although it has been tested extensively for safety in both humans and animals, no medical claims can be made for the product. Bio/Chem Research hasn't spent the obligatory millions of dollars required by our FDA to receive their sacred blessing. As such, Alternatives is probably the only place in which you'll learn how to use this product.

Please don't put Bio/Chem Research or anyone who carries grapefruit seed extract in jeopardy by asking them for advice on diagnosing or treating any health problems. They're aiiowed to seii the extract strictly as a disinfectant, not at a drug and cannot tell you anything about it. Therefore, I'd highly recommend that you hang onto this article as a "how to use" guide.

The list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pathogens seems to be growing every day. The problem will undoubtedly get much worse before it gets better. Grapefruit seed extract is a great natural tool you can use immediately to help remedy the problem.

A SUGAR EVERYONE-CAN APPRECIATE

D-mannose is a naturally occurring, simple sugar found in fruits like cranberries and pineapples that stops bacteria from sticking to body tissues. When you ingest. D-mannose, it is quickly absorbed in the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract, but very little of the sugar is actually metabolized. Because of this, D-mannose doesn't affect blood sugar levels--which makes it safe for everyone, including diabetics.

Once D-mannose is absorbed, it is quickly filtered out of your system by the kidneys and then flushed out of the body in the urine. In the process, the sugar dislodges bacteria present in the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. A dose of one-half teaspoon (2 grams) taken every two to three hours usually resolves problems such as vaginal and bladder infections caused by E. coli, in a few days, without the complications of antibiotics that can kill the body's beneficial bacterial flora.

D-mannose is available as a powder. Being a sugar, it has a mild, sweet, inoffensive taste. It is available through the mail from Bio-Tech Pharmacal at 800-345-1199 or Progressive Laboratories at 800-527-9512. D-mannose has also just come out in capsule form.

(By the way, if you are searching for an effective, nontoxic douche for vaginal infections, combine 1 tablespoons of pure tea tree oil to one cup of warm water. You can find tea tree oil in your health food store.)

"XLEAR" UP RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS

Another exciting sugar solution fights all types of upper respiratory infections. Researchers have discovered that the simple sugar xylitol can actually treat and prevent many common respiratory problems so you won't need antibiotics.

Xylitol was discovered in the 1800s by French and German researchers. One of the first commercial sources for the sugar was birch trees in Finland. As a result, Finland is the world's largest producer of xylitol, as well as the location of most of the research,

You may have already heard of xylitol; its most notable use has been as a sweetener in chewing gum. This type of gum actually helps prevent tooth decay and cavities. With further study, researchers discovered that xylitol acts much the same way as D-mannose. Instead of killing bacteria, this sugar impairs the adhesion ability of bacteria. Germs will then be washed away by the normal action of your nose, your body's natural filtration system.

When allergens, pollutants, or bacteria invade your nose, your immune system tries to flush out the irritants, causing the increase in mucus. Drugs like antihistamines and decongestants inhibit this natural process of elimination, and they may do more harm than good. Fortunately, Dr. Lon Jones, a researcher with Hale Center, Hi Plains Hospital (near my home in the Texas panhandle) has developed a xylitol/saline spray that helps the nose and immune system do what they naturally should do on their own. The xylitol/saline solution goes directly to the nasal passages and flushes out nasty germs such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Moraxella catarrhalis. These three bacteria live only in the nose and are responsible for practically all upper-respiratory infections.

Dr. Jones' nasal spray has also been used to clear up chronic sinus infections, allergic reactions, prevent bronchitis, and eliminate asthma. Practically everyone I've talked to who has used it reports fantastic results. Even childhood middle-ear infections stop completely. The only problems I've found with Xlear is that it doesn't treat flu, and some people report that it stings. The dose is two sprays in each nostril, three or four times a day.

Xlear (pronounced clear) is available from Xlear, Inc., P.O. Box 970911, Orem, Utah 840970911, or call toll-free, 877-599-5327. There are about 1,000 sprays in each 1.5-ounce bottle (about $13); it will last from two to four months.

VIRUS-KILLING BERRY

Probably the only people in the world Who don't mind viruses are Hollywood producers-and that's because they've found they can make millions off of chilling films about virus outbreaks. Viruses cause everything from colds and flu to herpes and AIDS. But all the money in Hollywood won't buy these producers a cure, because there is none. Or at least there wasn't--until now.

I have had the privilege of conversations with an Israeli researcher, Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu (pronounced mum-shu-glu). She has told me about a remarkable elderberry extract she developed called Sambucol. (Sambucol comes from the Latin name for elderberry, Sambucus nigra.) I've been investigating Sambucol for some time, and it is definitely something you need to be aware of.

Sambucol has been shown to be effective at inactivating viruses, which is no small feat. Proven antiviral preparations are few and far between, especially natural ones. With the exception of the expensive and limited use of interferon, even the pharmaceutical companies haven't been able to come up with an effective antiviral. Surprisingly, the person who discovered interferon also played a part in the development of Sambucol.

In 1980, Dr. Mumcuoglu looked for a research topic to complete her doctorate in virology (the study of viruses). Her supervisor, Dr. Jean Linderman, the discoverer of interferon, suggested elderberries. Dr. Mumcuoglu acted on the: suggestion and completed her thesis on elderberries in the early 1980s. But she didn't pursue the topic again for the next 10 years. It was in 1992 that she resumed her research on the antiviral effects of elderberries. Shortly thereafter, she developed and patented a procedure to isolate certain active compounds from the berries.

Her extract proved to be just as effective in human tests as it did in the laboratory. Since elderberries had been used extensively in folk medicine to treat influenza, Dr. Mumcuoglu told me she decided to channel her first research efforts in that direction. And since elderberries are known to be nontoxic, Dr. Mumcuoglu was able to test her product on actual patients in the Southern Israeli flu epidemic of 1992-93. The results were very encouraging. Within 24 hours, 20 percent of those patients taking Sambucol had dramatic improvements in symptoms like fever, muscle aches and pains, and coughing. By the second day, 73 percent were improved and by day three, 90 percent. In the untreated group, only 16 percent felt better after two days. It took the majority of that group almost a week to begin feeling better. (Infect Dis April 26-30, 1994; Prague, Abstract #1271,392)

I've talked to numerous doctors and patients using the product, and everyone I've interviewed so far had nothing but praise for it. Everyone agreed that if the product is taken at the first sign of flu, the problem will disappear within 24 to 48 hours. Some report that it is just as effective for treating colds and even the herpes-like Epstein-Barr virus. In our discussions, Dr. Mumcuoglu didn't seem surprised that the extract worked on other viral conditions as well as the flu.

Dr. Mumcuoglu also told me that Researchers at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Israel have shown that in laboratory tests, Sambucol stimulates the body's immune system by increasing production of disease-fighting lymphocytes. It also acts as a powerful antioxidant.

WHY CONVENTIONAL MEDICINES HAVEN'T BEEN EFFECTIVE

Today, most research efforts are now concentrating on creating drugs that inactivate viruses and make them incapable of penetrating healthy cells, instead of killing the viruses outright. However, these drugs have been difficult to create since viruses can mutate into hundreds, if not thousands, of different forms.

Dr. Mumcuoglu's extract seems to work based on this premise. The active ingredients in elderberries apparently bind with viruses before they have a chance to penetrate the wall of a normal cell. This is another case where a natural substance has far greater capabilities than anything man can create synthetically.

She told me the extract has been lab tested on seven different strains of influenza viruses--Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, Ann Arbor, Yamagata, Texas and Panama. It was effective on every single one. As far as its effectiveness on Epstein-Barr, colds, and other viral-related diseases, it is still being tested. Based on its mode of action though, it should prove to be effective on a wide range of "envelope" viruses such as influenza viruses, the hundreds of rhinoviruses responsible for colds, the Epstein-Barr virus, HIV, and the herpes virus.

HOW TO USE SAMBUCOL

While Sambucol has been sold in Israel over the counter for some time, only recently has it become available in the United States and France.

It comes in two forms, as liquid syrup or as a lozenge. Each package contains enough for four days (for adults), more than enough to knock out a cold or flu.

Normal recommended dosages are:

• Children under one year, two teaspoons daily.
• Children 1-6 years old, one or two table- spoons or two lozenges daily.
• Children 6-12 years old, two to three tablespoons or lozenges daily.
• Children over 12 and adults, four table- spoons or lozenges.

Since Sambucol is slightly acidic, it should be taken following meals to avoid stomach upset. The standard product has been sweetened with honey and glucose. If you are counting calories or are diabetic, you might consider the product sweetened with aspartame.

If you can't find it locally, you can order through the mail from a discount distributor: Sullivan Creek Distributing, 955 73rd Avenue NE, Carrington, ND 58421 (888-406-4066), www.sullivancreek.com. I recommend keeping a couple packages in your medicine cabinet. (It has a shelf life of about two years from the date of manufacture.)

At the first sign of flu, cold, herpes, or any other viral disease, take the recommended four-day dosage. You'll be surprised how quickly this stuff works. It may keep you out of the doctor's office and away from the complications of taking too many antibiotics.

PURIFY YOUR DRINKING WATER

If you want to fight germs, you have to start right in your own home at the kitchen sink. That's right. Organisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia, which can be life threatening to infants or adults with compromised immune systems, could be coming right out of your tap. And it doesn't matter whether you live in a city or in rural areas. I've devoted entire issues to the subject of dirty water and the failure of our government-federal, state and local--to adequately regulate and monitor quality. The situation isn't getting any better. Here are three ways to approach this problem:

1. Findout what's in your water. Your local water company can provide a list of contaminants they are required to measure at the plant, but that won't include what is picked up in pipes in your home. Also, even when these reports indicate that a contaminant is present, but below EPA guidelines, that doesn't mean the water is safe to drink. Use an independent lab. Your state or local health department or the EP~s hotline (800-426-4791) can give you the names of labs in your area. National Testing Laboratories, Ltd. is very reputable. They offer a comprehensive Watercheck for around $150. You can order the test by calling 800-458-3330, Ext. 213.
2. Drink and cook only with bottled distilled water.
3. 3. Purify your water. I know that buying bottled water can get expensive after a while, and most of what you see in bottles is nothing more than fancy tap water. That's why I recommend a good quality purifier as the ultimate solution to clean water.

A filter is a good first step, but it can't get rid of the countless bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins, pesticides, and chemicals that flow into homes every day along with "clean" water. Pitchers won't usually do the trick; they're good at removing disagreeable tastes and chlorine odor, but they do little or nothing about the arsenic, nitrates, and other contaminants. More expensive filters are better, but they have the same limitations: eventually the filter gets used up and becomes less effective, allowing potentially harmful invaders into your body.

The only method I use is distillation. Distillation removes all impurities from water, leaving only the healthful H20 behind, just the way nature intended it. Distillers used to be large, slow, and expensive, but developments in technology have brought us countertop units that can easily provide enough water for a family of four. More information about the model I use, the Waterwise Model 9000, is available from Mountain Home Solutions, 800-211-8562.

CASTOR OIL

Castor oil, once given by mothers to their children at the first sign of illness, increases immune system efficiency. It also tastes awful.

The ricinoleic acid in castor oil has been shown to be effective in preventing the growth of numerous species of viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and molds. (J Am Oil Chem $oc 61, 37:323-325) It's been used to treat ringworm, toenail fungus, acne, and chronic itching, as well as constipation, dysentery, bladder infections, and even breast inflammation during nursing.

You don't have to swallow castor oil to get its benefits. For skin conditions, simply rub castor oil directly onto your skin. Castor oil packs, usually applied to the abdomen, improve the function of the thymus gland and other parts of the immune system by increasing the production of lymphocytes, the disease-fighting cells in your immune system. When the lymphocyte count of the blood increases, removal of toxins surrounding the cells speeds up. Your whole body becomes less acidic, organ function improves, and fatigue and depression lessen.

Use castor oil packs to treat the following conditions:

• Chronic fluid retention
• Arthritis
• Upper respiratory infections
• Colon problems like Crohn's disease or colitis
• Gallbladder disease
• Liver disease
• Nerve inflammations
• Parkinson's disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Migraine headaches
• Cerebral palsy

HOW TO MAKE A CASTOR-OIL PACK

Place a heating pad on a flat surface and turn the setting to high. Lay a plastic garbage bag on top of the pad. Next, soak two or three one-foot squares of flannel in one-half cup cold-pressed castor oil, and place them on top of the garbage bag and heating pad. The entire pack can now be placed against the body with the oil-soaked flannel next to the skin. Wrap yourself in a large bath towel to keep oil from getting on your bedding.

Relax for an hour with the heating pad at the highest temperature you can tolerate. When you remove the pad, you can massage the remaining oil into the skin or clean it off with soda water--one quart of warm water mixed with two tablespoons of baking soda. To reuse the flannel, keep it in a Zip-Loc bag or plastic container in the refrigerator. Let it warm up before you use it again and refresh it with 1-2 tablespoons of fresh castor oil.

Your local health food store should have cold-pressed castor oil. If not, it can be ordered from Heritage Store, P.O. Box 444, Virginia Beach, VA 23458, or 800-862-2923.

CONCLUSION

As we learn more about diseases and how to prevent and treat them, what becomes obvious is that we can maintain or restore our health by realigning ourselves with nature.