The Answer

Since I hope to have a chapter about the immune system in my book someday, (and considering our current circumstances!) I decided it was not a waste of time for me to spend 2 whole hours looking on the internet for an answer to my question: When it comes to natural treatments that aid in the body's immune response to a virus, why is it so absolutely necessary to take them at the very first signs of an illness (and why are they inneffective later on)? I wanted to know because of the extreme difference between Ben's and my responses to the same supplements.

The search was frustrating, because at first it seemed to only turn up the same question. Over and over again I came across various products that stated "take at first signs of illness" "take at onset of symptoms" "take as soon as you feel yourself coming down with something" etc etc.

On the plus side I got to learn more options that are available, and a few other random things about the immune system and health. I got to learn how some of the immune herbs work (like increasing white blood cells and T-cells, or antibacterial or antivral properties, or inhibiting enzymes that allow invaders to enter cells). I also learned that excess levels of vitamin C will cause a B vitamin depletion, so it's important to take extra B vits following a C regimen during an illness.

The reason I wanted to know the answer to my question so badly is because I did it again. I didn't think I could this time considering the severity of Ben's illness.

I used to be skeptical of immune supplements because I thought "well how do you know you would have gotten sick." That was until the last year of my life, where I actually have felt myself coming down with something several times, knowing I would be very sick by the next day. But then I wasn't. Once again I've had the same success fighting off this flu. For the past two days I have had all the same symptoms as Ben still, but to a MUCH lesser degree. If I didn't know what he has, I wouldn't know it's the flu and I'd be going on about life as normal, but since I do know what it is, I'm trying to stay away from others as best as I can to protect them.

When I was about to give up on my search I found the answer: Because the virus multiplies so quickly at first. You are probably thinking "duh!" I guess I was expecting something more profound.

The virus multiplies rapidly and once it's at its peak there's little that can be done and you just have to ride it out. The mechanisms by which the various supplements work are in this stage of preventing the virus from taking over, but once it has...

Even Tamiflu, the wonderdrug the govt. wants to stockpile in case of outbreaks, only works if taken in the first 48 hours according to the packaging. Ben decided not to take it since he was on his 3rd day. We looked online to double check and sure enough every description we found said the drug will only work if started within the first 2 days, and even then it only decreases the duration by a day. Hardly worth the numerous potential side effects.

I'd better go take my oregano, silver, echinacea, oscillococcinum and vitamin C and get to bed early tonight. Good night!