Understanding Viruses
It is important to understand that a virus is very different than a bacteria or fungus. A bacteria, fungus or yeast (like Candida albicans) is a single celled organism. It feeds and grows, then divides to reproduce. However, viruses are not cells! They are pieces of DNA or RNA wrapped in a protein coat, having none of the structures or processes that cells have. So, there is some debate about whether viruses are alive or not. That is because outside of a living cell, a virus is inert.
In order to replicate itself, a virus must enter a living cell and hijack cellular mechanisms that make copies of the DNA or RNA. So, a virus has no "life" outside of another cell. It does not grow or metabolize nutrients or perform other functions that cellular organims do. This means you cannot "kill" viruses in the way one can kill a bacteria or fungal cell.
How the Body Deals with Viruses
Your body combats viruses in several ways. First, the innate immune system, found primarily in the membranes of the digestive and respiratory system is designed to destroy foreign material (like viruses) to prevent them from ever entering the body. So, a healthy intestinal and respiratory system forms a protective barrier against most viral infections. If a virus is able to get past the innate immune system, then the adaptive immune system takes over. It produces substances called antibodies that attach themselves to a virus and render it inert so it cannot enter cells and disrupt their normal functions.
Natural Antiviral Remedies
Because you cannot "kill" viruses, there are no broad spectrum antiviral drugs or herbs. Herbs that have broad acting activity against viral infections are those that support natural immune function. They boost production of white blood cells and antibodies, strengthen mucus membranes and increase white blood cell activity. This helps the body fight infections of all kinds—viral, bacterial and fungal. This is one way herbal remedies have a huge advantage over pharmaceutical drugs.
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Immune Stimulator
A powerful ally in keeping our immune systems healthy.
It contains beta-glucan, a substance 200 times more effective at stimulating the immune system than echinacea.
Beta-glucan increases general immunity and strengthens resistance to infection by activating immune cells.
ElderberryD3fense
Black elderberries can inhibit Viral infections. It appears they may work by inhibiting viral replication. But, whatever the mode of action, elderberries are a time-proven remedy for acute viral infections.
Elderberry D3fense combines elderberry with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 and includes two other major antiviral herbs, echinacea and olive leaf.