Green tea and infections

"This supplement may be the solution to a common fatal illness

A friend's mother was recently hospitalized. Her body was trying to fight a severe infection but was losing the battle. A simple bacterial infection got out of control and became an acute inflammatory response. Her body went into shock and her blood pressure dropped dramatically and she needed prompt medical attention.

This woman had a condition that is more common than you may think. It's the leading cause of death in non-coronary patients in hospitals' Intensive Care Unit, and the tenth most common cause of death overall. The condition is an acute inflammatory response called sepsis.

You need a strong immune system to control this infection, but often a septic person has low immunity. Most doctors treat all stages of sepsis with antibiotics. But if a person has taken too many antibiotics in the past, the bacteria that can lead to sepsis may be resistant to them.

A recent study published in the Public Library of Science may have found the answer. What's more, it's cheap and available in any health food store. Dr. Haichao Wang, PhD, of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, and his team, were studying the effects of Chinese herbs on sepsis. They found that a substance in green tea called EGCG blocked a substance found in the late stages of fatal sepsis. This stopped sepsis in its tracks. In fact, survival increased from 53% (no EGCG) to 82% (400-500 mg EGCG/day). That's an amazing improvement!

If you or anyone you know has a bacterial infection that could lead to sepsis, you may want to take two or three capsules of high-potency EGCG supplements a day. It could do more than conventional treatment, and it won't interfere with antibiotics or other medications.

For added insurance, add a good quality probiotic to your supplement regime for a few months. And boost your immunity with medicinal mushrooms, like MycoPhyto Plus, or other immune-enhancing products. Get plenty of rest, and stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. This combination could save your life.

Your voice of reason in women's health,
Dr. Nan

"Green tea proves powerful medicine against sepsis," Science Daily, November 10, 2007."