EBOLA Protection with Medicinal Mushrooms?

EBOLA Protection with Medicinal Mushrooms? AUTHOR SHARON CORNET medicinal mushroom protection against ebola The Ebola virus, which kills up to 90% of those who are infected with it, has now entered the United States of America. The Ebola pandemic, which has been followed and quarantined since 1976 in Central Africa, and a more recent outbreak in Western Africa, has caused some American and Canadian doctors to have isolated themselves after returning from countries from the African continent. But is there a cure for Ebola? Could medicinal mushrooms help protect against ebola or even treat it? Most people say there is not possibly a cure, but to fully understand the dilemma, and how the human immune system is attacked in the presence of deadly viruses, is exactly what is needed at a time when our nation is experiencing fear from the unknown factors regarding this kind of hemorrhagic fever. Two Americans are infected with Ebola presently. One of them, Kent Brantly, a 33-year old doctor from Texas, was working at an Ebola treatment center (run by two faith-based organizations: Samaritan’s Purse, and Reuters) in Liberia when he began showing symptoms of having the virus. He was flown to Atlanta in a protective suit so he could be monitored at the Emory University Hospital. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told Fox News that Dr. Brantly “appears to be improving, and that’s encouraging.” Nancy Writebol, the second aid worker for another charity, SIM USA, would be expecting treatment soon. Both patients’ progress will be known over the next few days. Improve immunity to treat symptoms of Ebola virus Ebola virus disease is very deadly to the majority of its hosts. How viruses work is still a mysterious process. Those who overcome them typically have a super charged immune system, as well as other factors of health and medical care in place. Currently there is no treatment, vaccine, or cure for Ebola, which is a viral hemorrhagic fever. The symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and external and internal bleeding. Fluid replacement is crucial as well as fever-reducing medication, and antibiotics that help the immune system fight the virus could also improve chances of survival for the patient. The key to those who survive the Ebola virus depends on the strength of their immune system along with getting proper supportive care at a medical facility. Early treatment is also extremely important, and may have helped keep the death rate lower, says Stephan Monroe, an expert of emerging infectious diseases at the CDC. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that out of 1,323 cases, the deaths have been 729 (death rate of 55%). However, the mortality rate of Ebola depends upon the strain that patients catch, where some are at 50%, and others are up to a 90% death rate. Immune-boosting anti-viral medicinal mushrooms a near-cure for Ebola? The Ebola virus is often a fatal disease, but medicinal mushrooms may help fight off the effects of this, or any other virus in general. These are just regular edible mushrooms (dried or cooked, never raw) such as white mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake, reishi, maitake, cordyceps, crimini, turkey tail, or a host of other excellent mushrooms that are well documented for their anti-viral, antioxidant, immune-boosting, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and even anti-tumor constituents. Medicinal mushrooms also boost the production of macrophages that attract viruses. They recruit natural killer cells that fight viruses and other foreign attackers as well. The anti-viral and immune system enhancing qualities of mushrooms like reishi (Ganoderma species, also called Lingzhi) and other mushrooms may help since people who take or eat mushrooms regularly tend to get sick less. This means less colds, flu, and possibly even viruses that cause the Avian flu (aka “bird flu”), or possibly even Ebola virus disease. Paul Stamets, a mycologist (mushroom/fungi expert) whose mother cured her cancer using medicinal mushrooms, has said regarding viral flu sicknesses, “In my work with the U.S. Defense Department’s BioShield BioDefense program, ethanol and water extracts of the living mycelium of Ganoderma resinaceum inhibited virus replication as measured by the viral yield reduction (VYR) assay of Flu A (H5N1) aka “bird flu,” and Flu B viruses. Notably, a ‘traditional’ hot water extract of the fruitbodies arising from the same mycelium demonstrated no notable antiviral activity.” (Stamets, 2008). Remember that there is currently no known cure for Ebola, even though the current experimental serum seems to be working well. Ebola has a death rate ranging from 50-90% according to experts. Infowars says the threat of this Ebola virus is played down since you have to exchange bodily fluids with someone, but that if avoiding fluids from the human body (sweat, feces, secretions, organs, blood, etc.), or even quarantining Ebola patients, then “how in the world have more than 100 health workers contracted the virus so far?” Since 1976 here is how many people have gotten sick and/or died from the Ebola virus, which according to Zero Hedge includes: 1976 DRCongo: 318 cases/280 deaths 1976 Sudan: 284 cases/151 deaths 1994 Gabon: 52 cases/31 deaths 1995 DRCongo: 315 cases/254 deaths 1996 Gabon 60 cases/45 deaths 2000 Uganda: 425 cases/224 deaths 2001-02 Gabon: 65 cases/53 deaths 2001-02 Congo: 59 cases/44 deaths 2003 Congo: 59 caess/44 deaths 2007 DRCongo 264 cases/187 deaths 2007 Uganda: 149 cases/37 deaths 2012 DRCongo: 57 cases/29 deaths According to the Washington Post the current Ebola outbreak is not in Central Africa this time, but West Africa. The statistics they show are as follows: Guinea: 460 cases/339 deaths (74% death rate) Sierra Leone: 533 cases/233 deaths (44% death rate) Liberia: 329 cases/156 deaths (47% death rate) This means the virus has moved to other countries on the same continent, and now with patients on flights, it has moved (purposefully) within hours to inside the boundaries of the United States. Still, medical professionals believe it is safe if quarantined. ABC News reported that the White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, told reporters, “There is a screening process that individuals have to go through when they board aircraft departing the countries where this outbreak has been reported. There is additional screening that occurs when individuals who started in that region of the world arrive in this country.” Barbara Reynolds, CDC spokeswoman said, “There is always the possibility that someone with an infectious disease can enter the United States. The public health concern is whether it would spread, and, if so, how quickly.’” It also appears that either the specific strain of Ebola virus out of Liberia is now below the (lowest) 50% mortality rate, or else the medical care has improved, although other factors could be involved. However, this means nearly one person out of every two will still die if they catch Ebola. It begs the question… would it hurt to strengthen one’s immune system with a natural, inexpensive, edible food or supplement like medicinal mushrooms? Studies abound on the beta-glucan / polysaccharides in mushrooms and how taking medicinal mushroom supplements enhances immunity. Based on the medical evidence in human clinical trials, taking medicinal mushrooms boosts our immune system. Could they make the difference in tipping the scales as to whether certain Ebola virus patients survive or not, has not yet been researched. Eating healthy foods and getting plenty of exercise also help improve health and keep our immune systems strong. Please go to this site to order Ganolife Gourmet Coffee enriched with Ganoderma, www.ganolifevo.com/wwammcafe.