Vitamin C for Flu? Does It Work?
Does using vitamin C for flu really prevent you for catching it?
Even today, the use of high doses of vitamin C for curing or treating flu is still highly controversial.
World
renowned experts such as Linus Pauling and Robert F. Cathcart strongly
advocate using megadose of vitamin C to cure many diseases including
cancer, the common cold, the flu and other types of viral infections.
It
is hard to reject using megadose of vitamin C as snake oil. There are
quite a bit of clinical studies done on the effects of vitamin C on the
immuine system. Let's see what the experts have to say about this...
Research Studies on the Health Benefits of Vitamin C for Flu
There
are many clinical studies done on using vitamin C for enhancing the
immune system. Here is just one of the many published studies that
support using high dose of vitamin C for flu prevention and treatment.
The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. Gorton HC, Jarvis K. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999 Oct;22(8):530-3.
In
this study involving 463 volunteers, the results clearly showed that
taking high doses of vitamin C just before or after the appearance of
cold and flu relieved and prevented the symptoms by 85%!
That is a very significant benefit! (The control group only took non-prescription decongestants and pain relievers.)
In
another study, it was discovered that taking vitamin C prevented the
incidence of pneumonia by 80 to 100%. Pneumonia, a bacterial
infection of the lungs, is a common complication of the flu, especially
in the elderly and those who health is compromised.
Enhancing
the immune system and reducing the severity of the flu symptoms allowed
the body to make a quicker recovery so as to avoid pneumonia.
Dr. Robert Cathcart, MD - Vitamin C Expert
Dr.
Cathcart is the leading experts on megadose vitamin C. He believes that
massive doses of vitamin C help the immune system fight off bacteria
and viruses. Unlike antibiotics, where the bacteria can become
resistant to the drug, this does not happen with vitamin C. He advocates
taking the "saturation" dose of vitamin C. This is the highest amount
of vitamin C that a person can take before he or she suffers from loose
bowel movements or intestinal gas. Depending on the type of
disease, the saturation amount of vitamin C varies significantly. For
example, the saturation level of vitamin C is very much higher with flu
than with the common cold. The doses proposed by Dr. Cathcart are 60 grams (60,000 mg) for the common cold to 150 grams (150,000 mg) daily for the flu. For
the Bird (Avian) flu, the dose goes up to 300 grams (300,000 mg) daily. These ultra-high therapeutic doses are always given by intravenous
(i.v.) infusions.
How to use megadose of vitamin C for flu
- For You and Me
Going for intravenous vitamin C
therapy for treating the flu or the common cold is not practical. So
what can a person do as a home remedy with vitamin C? Suggested Dose #1In
the study mentioned above, the volunteers took 1,000 mg every hour for
the first 6 hours and then they took 1,000 mg three times daily. This
is a good starting point for most people.
Suggested Dose #2Other
studies have used much higher doses under the supervision of a
qualified healthcare professional.
At
the first sign of flu or cold, use 8,000 mg (8 grams) every 20 minutes
for 3 or 4 hours until you get loose bowel movement or stomach gas.
Then lower the dose to 2 to 4 grams every 4 to 6 hours for 10 days to prevent the flu.
If you
are planning to take megadoses of vitamin C, first see the full review
Benefits of Vitamin C for suggested dose and side effects to watch
out for. The
safety margin for vitamin C is extremely large and high doses does not
present any health risks for most people. Nevertheless, it is
a wise idea to seek a healthcare professional who specializes in using
these high doses of vitamin C to supervise your treatment.
Looking for
Natural Solutions During the Flu Season?
Below
are two popular remedies that can be used to
help prevent and reduce the severity of the flu symptoms. They can be
safely used with megadose vitamin C for flu prevention and treatment.
They come
highly recommended by those who have used them. The products are backed by a
1-year money back guarantee. That is how confident the company is with their natural remedies.
BaniFlu is
a homeopathic remedy for flu protection. It works by increasing the
body's immune system to help fight against the invading virus. It can
also reduce the time it takes for you to recover from the flu.
FluGo is
a homeopathic remedy designed to give you relief from flu symptoms such
as a cough, sore throat, fatigue, runny nose, fever, chills and
headaches.
It also helps to maintain your appetite and improve recovery time.
What other
herbs are as good as vitamin C for flu prevention and treatment?
There
are quite a few herbs and supplements that can be very helpful for flu
prevention and treatment. Our article Natural Remedies for Flu
provides
extensive details and recommended doses to use.
This
is a must read for anyone looking for a complete guide to natural cures
for the flu.

You
may be
interested in...
Natural Remedies for Flu - The
Complete Guide
Review - Natural Remedies for
Boosting the Immune System
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to Flu Home Page

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