Treating West Nile Virus with High Quality St. Johns Wort

West Nile Virus, although new to the U.S., is well-documented. The Centers for Disease Control identifies it as a flavivirus, a member of the Togavirus family. It is closely related to yellow fever and dengue fever. This is important because the Togavirus family are encapsulated viruses, i.e., they are covered with a lipid (fatty) coating.

This is exciting, because it means the virus is accessible to treatment utilizing high quality St. John's Wort (SJW). Several studies have been done on a variety of encapsulated viruses, including herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, parainfluenza virus, vaccinia virus, cytomegalovirus and several retroviruses including HIV1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10.

Non-encapsulated viruses or "naked" viruses were also studied for comparison purposes10,13.

SJW was a potent anti-viral agent across a variety of encapsulated virus families, but showed no activity against naked viruses.

Unlike a vaccine that is specific to each organism, SJW is active against encapsulated viruses by a variety of mechanisms, including light activation, interference with DNA transcription, impairing the assembly of intact viral particles and the lipophilic (fat-loving) nature of the ring structures (the quinone and phenolic groups)4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. These ring structures are critical to the biologic activity of SJW.

From these results, it is reasonable to use high quality, pharmaceutical grade SJW in combating West Nile Virus, since there are no effective pharmaceutical agents.

Quality is critical since the level of hypericin and pseudohypericin are key. I can only recommend the SJW product produced by Medi-Herb, which is a pharmaceutical house in Australia, adhering to pharmaceutical manufacturing standards. The product is distributed by Standard Process through alternative health care practitioners, including doctors of chiropractic, acupuncturists and veterinarians. SJW is quite unstable and the active ingredients degrade on store shelves. An independent analysis of 3 products (all of which were certified to contain 0.3% hypericin) were shown to be widely variant, with one product 25% below label claims. It is critically important that the phytochemical integrity of the whole plant be preserved for maximum efficacy.16

References: 1Andersen DO, Weber ND, Wood SG et al. Antiviral Res 1991; 16(2): 185-196. 2Lopez-Bazzocchi I, Hudson JB, Towers GHN. Photochem.Photopbiol. 1991; 54(1): 95-98. 3Moraleda G, Wu TT, Jilbert AR et al. Antiviral Res 1993; 20: 235-247. 4Tang J, Colacino JM, Larsen SH et al. Antiviral Res 1990; 13 (6): 313-325. 5Hudson JB, Harris L, Towers GHN. Antiviral Res 1993; 20 (2):173-178. 6Lenard J, Rabson A, Vanderoef R. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1993; 90 (1): 158-162. 7Degar S, Prince AM, Pascual D et al. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 1992; 8 (11): 1929-1936. 8Carpenter S, Kraus GA. Photochem Photobiol 1991; 53 (2): 169-174. 9Lavie G, Valentine F, Levin B et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1989; 86 (15): 5963-5967. 10Meruelo D, Lavie G, Lavie D et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1988; 85 (14): 5230-5234. 11Kraus GA, Pratt D, Tossberg J et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1990; 172 (1): 149-153. 12Takahashi I, Nakanishi S, Kobayashi E et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1989; 165 (3): 1207-1212. 13De Witte P, Agostinis P, Van Lint J et al. Biochem Pharmacol 1993; 46 (11): 1929-1936. 14Panossian AG, Gabrielian E, Manvelian V et al. Phytomed 1996; 3 (1): 19-28. 15Lavie G, Mazur Y, Lavie D et al. Transfusion 1995; 35 (5): 392-400. 16Constantine GH, Karchesy J. Variations in Hypericin concentrations in Hypericum perforatum L. and commercial products. Pharmaceutical Biology 1998; 36 (5): 365-367.

Dr. N. Rowan Richards was recently awarded the distinction of being one of the top five chiropractors in the state of California. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists, a certified herbalist, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Clinical Acupuncture. Dr. Richards has been in practice for over seventeen years providing caring, individualized complete alternative health care in the Los Angeles area. Her web site is www.richardsfamilyhealth.com

---

Medieval Remedies That Still Work Today

Home Remedies - Facts or Quacks?In a previous article we... Read More

That Popeye Knew a Thing or Two!

For a few weeks the lumps in my throat were... Read More

Understanding Massage Therapy

We've all heard of massage and many of us have... Read More

Healing the Body & Mind ? The Karma of Health

Within each one of us resides the divine healer. All... Read More

A Natural Remedy for Gingivitis, Toothaches, and Mouth Sores

Everyone has a variety of bacteria in their mouth. Some... Read More

Aromatherapy Candles

Nothing turns a commonplace, ho-hum room into a radiant, inviting... Read More

Using the Subconscious for Pain Relief - What?s In It For You?

If you're in chronic pain, you probably want 7 things.... Read More

Herbal Products

HERBAL PRODUCTS are comprised of herbal care remedies, such as... Read More

Discover The Missing Key to Improving Your Health

Do you know the top ten causes for death? You... Read More

Glutamate ? A Pain Transmitter Your Subconscious May Be Able To Limit

Glutamate is one of the most important transmitters of chronic... Read More

3 Quick Herbal Remedies

In recent years the issue of Alternative Healing has skyrocketed... Read More

Using Psyllium For Relieving Constipation

If you have asthma, do not take or use psyllium.... Read More

Anti Aging Tips & Techniques

Aging occurs due to the growth of the tissues and... Read More

The Natural Way To Whiten Teeth

No patience for bleaching? There may be another way to... Read More

Gallbladder Disorders And How To Treat Them Using Natural Remedies

The gallbladder is a 3 to 4 inch-long pear-shaped organ... Read More

Aromatherapy for the Mind, Body, and Spirit - Sandalwood Essential Oil

For over 4000 years, the Sandalwood tree has played a... Read More

Healing Heartburn Holistically

Everyone at some point in time has experienced some form... Read More

Hypnosis Cures For Nail Biting

One little-thought-of application for hypnosis is to help people stop... Read More

Treat Cold Sores, Sore Throats, and Warts Naturally

Tired of costly medications, prescriptions and time lost for doctor's... Read More

Top 10 Trends in Healthcare

America is undergoing a dramatic shift in healthcare. Actually, ten... Read More

Herbs For Protection

If you have never used plant matter in magic before,... Read More

Why Most People Dont Really Want to Heal (Part 2)

The story so far...At a metaphysical lecture facilitated by Guy... Read More

Full Spectrum Daylight Bulbs ? Simply Light Years Ahead!

Sunlight is a vital nutrient, which regulates the activity of... Read More

Complementary Therapy The Route To Better Back Health

Find Out How to Reduce and Eliminate Chronic Back Pain... Read More

Understanding Hypnosis

If you want to use hypnosis for therapeutic reasons, there... Read More

3 Natural Cures For A Migraine Headache

Only a migraine sufferer understands the pain. Regardless of how... Read More

Six Smoothie Recipes for Constipation and Acne Relief

I recommend drinking a morning smoothie if you have constipation... Read More

What Is A Home Remedy?

Home Remedies - Facts or Quacks?Myths and legends often have... Read More

Getting Rid Of Gallstones Naturally

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that sits on... Read More

Hinoki: Natural Essences in Abundance

Living in a hectic urban landscape, do you look forward... Read More

Use Digestive Enzymes to Reduce Hemorrhoid Inflammation

Using digestive enzymes when you have hemorrhoids is a good... Read More

Magnetic Therapy, How And Why Magnets Effect The Body

Have you ever read or have been told that "it... Read More

Cleansing Your Elimination Organs to Achieve Good Health

Benefits of Cleansing Your Elimination Organs Colon cleansing, kidney cleansing,... Read More