Humanitarians came to realized that we were bound as in each century to encountered a new pandemic. So some of us got together and made a compilation of our researches on emerging diseases, past pandemics, treatments, etc..
In all those years my Motto was to do my best to contribute in reducing morbidity and mortality. Because we knew that regular medicine would become scarce in a pandemic many of us concentrated their efforts in researches on natural and old traditional medicine and we encountered many surprises in this Path.
In this pandemic unfolding in our midst, although a mild one for now and sharing with you the virtues of Curcumin and Herbs today I will share results of researches on a mineral salt called Selenium. You might be surprise too.
Selenium (Greek σελήνη selene meaning "Moon")
As a Medicine Man I always recommend to take 100mcg of Selenium daily until this pandemic fades away, wich is not the case for now.
cf: Preparing for the Second Wave of this World pandemic
On Selenium
From Wikipedia
Selenium is a chemical element with the atomic number 34, represented by the chemical symbol Se, an atomic mass of 78.96. It is a nonmetal, chemically related to sulfur and tellurium, and rarely occurs in its elemental state in nature.
Selenium salts are toxic in large amounts, but trace amounts of the element are necessary for cellular function in most, if not all, animals, forming the active center of the enzymes glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase (which indirectly reduce certain oxidized molecules in animals and some plants) and three known deiodinase enzymes (which convert one thyroid hormone to another). Selenium requirements in plants differ by species, with some plants apparently requiring none
Selenium and Cancer
Dietary selenium prevents chemically induced carcinogenesis in many rodent studies.[38] It has been proposed that selenium may help prevent cancer by acting as an antioxidant or by enhancing immune activity.
Not all studies agree on the cancer-fighting effects of selenium. One study of naturally occurring levels of selenium in over 60,000 participants did not show a significant correlation between those levels and cancer.[39] The SU.VI.MAX study[40] concluded that low-dose supplementation (with 120 mg of ascorbic acid, 30 mg of vitamin E, 6 mg of beta carotene, 100 µg of selenium, and 20 mg of zinc) resulted in a 30% reduction in the incidence of cancer and a 37% reduction in all-cause mortality in males, but did not get a significant result for females.[41] However, there is evidence that selenium can help chemotherapy treatment by enhancing the efficacy of the treatment, reducing the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs, and preventing the body's resistance to the drugs.[42] Studies of cancer cells in vitro showed that chemotherapeutic drugs, such as Taxol and Adriamycin, were more toxic to strains of cancer cells grown in culture when selenium was added.[43][44]
In March 2009, a study from the Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reports that Vitamin E (400 IU) and selenium (200 micrograms) supplements affect gene expression and can act as a tumor suppressor.[45] Eric Klein, MD from the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute in Ohio said the new study “lend credence to the previous evidence that selenium and vitamin E might be active as cancer preventatives”.[46] In an attempt to rationalise the differences between epidemiological and in vitro studies and randomised trials like SELECT, Klein said that randomized controlled trials “do not always validate what we believe biology indicates and that our model systems are imperfect measures of clinical outcomes in the real world”.[46]
Selenium and other diseases
HIV/AIDS
Some research has indicated a geographical link between regions of selenium-deficient soils and peak incidences of HIV/AIDS infection. For example, much of sub-Saharan Africa is low in selenium. However, Senegal is not, and also has a significantly lower level of AIDS infection than the rest of the continent. AIDS appears to involve a slow and progressive decline in levels of selenium in the body. Whether this decline in selenium levels is a direct result of the replication of HIV[47] or related more generally to the overall malabsorption of nutrients by AIDS patients remains debated.
Low selenium levels in AIDS patients have been directly correlated with decreased immune cell count and increased disease progression and risk of death.[48] Selenium normally acts as an antioxidant, so low levels of it may increase oxidative stress on the immune system leading to more rapid decline of the immune system. Others have argued that HIV encodes for the human selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase, which depletes the victim's selenium levels. Depleted selenium levels in turn lead to a decline in CD4 helper T-cells, further weakening the immune system.[49]
Regardless of the cause of depleted selenium levels in AIDS patients, studies have shown that selenium deficiency does strongly correlate with the progression of the disease and the risk of death.[50][51][52]
Tuberculosis
Some research has suggested that selenium supplementation, along with other nutrients, can help prevent the recurrence of tuberculosis.[53]
Diabetes
A well-controlled study showed that selenium intake is positively correlated with the risk of developing type II diabetes. Because high serum selenium levels are positively associated with the prevalence of diabetes, and because selenium deficiency is rare, supplementation is not recommended in well-nourished populations such as the U.S.[54]
Mercury
Experimental findings have demonstrated a protective effect of selenium on methylmercury toxicity, but epidemiological studies have been inconclusive in linking selenium to protection against the adverse effects of methylmercury.
In this influenza pandemic intake of selenium supplement might be a very important step that individuals can take to make sure that the levels of Selenium in your body is adequate. By doing so the furious effects of this bug might be avoided to a certain extent.
Host nutritional selenium status
as a driving force for influenza virus mutations are conclusions from many research institutes.
Host nutritional selenium status as a driving force for influenza virus mutations.
U.S. National Library of Medicine
NIH - National Institute of Health
http://www.fasebj.org/...
Poor nutritional status in the host may contribute to the emergence of new viral strains.
CNRS France
Poor nutritional status in the host may contribute to the emergence of new viral strains.
Can selenium supplementation reduce the severity of the flu?
The answer from many Research Institution is yes.
Since Selenium as in most natural products cannot be patented it as been ignored by big Pharma and its good effects have not been communicate to GP's.
Nevertheless, its preventive capacity in reducing the effects of an influenza infection is well demonstrated.
Disclaimer
As request you should communicate your Health Care Professional if you take more than 100 micro gram = 100mcg of Selenium daily.
Up to now no counter indication as been reported for this daily supplement.
Some First Nations and Gold Mines regions knows the benifits of Selenium in its capacity to eliminate the arsenic present in our body coming from water, vegetation and animal intakes.
As a Medicine Man I always recommend to take 100mcg of Selenium daily until this pandemic fades away, wich is not the case for now.
cf: Preparing for the Second Wave of this World pandemic
Prevent Illness - Wash Hands Video
How to Sneeze in Public - Video
Guidance for Swine influenza A (H1N1): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home
Manual for Treating Influenza at Home pdf
Oral Rehydration fluid Recipe
Basic 30 Day Prep list