Sambucol helps fight Scottish Flu epidemic

Added: (Tue Nov 11 2003)

Pressbox (Press Release) - PRESS INFORMATION FROM:

Roz Hubley
Telephone: 020 8767 7352
e-mail: hubleypr@dircon.co.uk





SAMBUCOL HELPS FIGHT SCOTTISH FLU EPIDEMIC



Scotland is in the throes of a flu epidemic with scores of children being sent home from school. Tragically several youngsters have died from this particular strain, known as Fujian flu.

As the strain had not been identified in time for full protection to have been included in the present vaccination, the most vulnerable, including the elderly, have developed very little resistance to this new Fujian flu.

Help may be at hand from an Israeli company, Razel Bar Industries, who have developed a range of elderberry based flu and cold preventative products under the Sambucol label.

Extensive research has shown Sambucol to be effective against all strains of the flu virus tested and the company believes they can offer additional protection even to those who have had the flu vaccination.

According to researchers at the University of Oslo School of Medicine, Norway, flu symptoms disappeared four days faster in patients given Sambucol. On average, patients taking it recovered in 3.1 days compared to 7.1 days for those given placebo. Patients aged 18-54 years with verified influenza were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. (Patients were randomly assigned to two groups, with one given Sambucol and the other placebo four times a day for 5 days. )

Sambucol works in a very clever way. The virus is covered in tiny spikes, which it uses to pierce the wall of a healthy cell to reproduce. Sambucol acts on the virus by flattening the spikes thus making it unable to replicate itself.

For three years running Sambucol has been voted the number one flu preventative product in United States. As well as dealing with colds and flu, Sambucol can be used as a preventative if taken daily throughout the winter. It is particularly recommended for those who travel by public transport to work or school where infections are passed around in a crowded environment.

Sambucol can be obtained nationally from health food stores and in case of difficulty please contact 01782 567100


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EDITORS NOTE:

1. The flu virus is a particular problem for humans because it is unstable, so it presents a moving target for medical science. Not only are there two types - A and B - but they mutate easily into new substrains. Each year the World Health Organisation selects three strains to be combined into a vaccine to protect against infection. Normally they select two from the more virulent A type and one from the B type.

This year's vaccine composition was announced on March 14, before the new Fujian strain took off in Australia. It had been considered for the vaccine, but was difficult to grow in the laboratory, so its cousin the Panama strain was preferred. The two A types are New Caledonia and Panama, while the B type is Hong Kong flu.

2. Copies of Research material available on request

3. Telephone interviews can be arranged with world renowned virologist Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu whose work first identified the health properties of black elderberry.

3. Sambucol is sold in five formulations through healthfood stores including a special formulation for children, Sambucol for Kids . Other formulations include Sambucol R, Sambucol D, Sambucol Pro-Zin-C, all of which are available in 120ml bottles. Sambucol C lozenges are also available in tubs of 30. All products retail at £8.25.


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For further information please contact

Roz Hubley
Telephone: 020 8767 7352
e-mail: hubleypr@dircon.co.uk