Potential of complementary and alternative medicine in preventive management of novel H1N1 flu (Swine flu) pandemic: thwarting potential disasters in the bud
Open accessAbstract
The emergence of novel H1N1 has posed a situation that warrants urgent global attention. Though antiviral drugs are available in mainstream medicine for treating symptoms of swine flu, currently there is no preventive medicine available. Even when available, they would be in short supply and ineffective in a pandemic situation, for treating the masses worldwide. Besides the development of drug resistance, emergence of mutant strains of the virus, emergence of a more virulent strain, prohibitive costs of available drugs, time lag between vaccine developments, and mass casualties would pose difficult problems. In view of this, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offers a plethora of interesting preventive possibilities in patients. Herbs exhibit a diverse array of biological activities and can be effectively harnessed for managing pandemic flu. Potentially active herbs can serve as effective anti influenza agents. The role of CAM for managing novel H1N1 flu and the mode of action of these botanicals is presented here in an evidence‐based approach that can be followed to establish their potential use in the management of influenza pandemics. The complementary and alternative medicine approach deliberated in the paper should also be useful in treating the patients with serious influenza in non pandemic situations.
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Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of viruses with lipid capsules, such as visna virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus.
“Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of viruses with lipid capsules, such as visna virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus (53).”
From Cocos nucifera (L.) (Arecaceae): A phytochemical and pharmacological review (2015) · cites this paper as [53]
The medium chain saturated fatty acids from coconut oil destroy and break the membranes and interfere with viral maturation.
“The medium chain saturated fatty acids from coconut oil destroy and break the membranes and interfere with viral maturation.”
From Cocos nucifera (L.) (Arecaceae): A phytochemical and pharmacological review (2015) · cites this paper as [53]
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References 100 · Cited by 117
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- Authors
- Arora, R., Chawla, R., Marwah, R., Arora, P., Sharma, R. K., Kaushik, V., Goel, R., Kaur, A., Silambarasan, M., Tripathi, R. P., & Bhardwaj, J. R.
- Affiliations
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (IN)
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Arora, Rajesh
- Venue
- Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-10-13
- Volume
- 2011
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 586506-586506
- ISSN
- 1741-427X (ISSN-L)
- 1741-4288
- PMC
- PMC2957173
- OpenAlex
- W2005262345
- Cited by
- 117
- References
- 100
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Defence, Government of India
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Medicinal Plant Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Herbal Medicine Research Studies
- Keywords
- swine influenza, pandemic influenza, complementary and alternative medicine, preventive medicine, herbal medicine, anti-influenza activity, botanicals, antiviral resistance, influenza vaccination
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