Star Anise: The Secret Ingredient in Tamiflu
With the onslaught of swine flu throughout the global community, there is a new push towards acquiring and stockpiling drugs that can be used to treat potentially lethal strains of influenza.
According to medical science there is a pharmaceutical treatment option available called Tamiflu, that they say will treat swine flu.
But little do consumers know that there is a natural component within this mass-produced pharmaceutical. And what is this powerful ingredient? None other than the common herb star anise.
In fact, most people are unaware that over 40% of all pharmaceutical medications come from plant botanicals, including everything from common aspirin to powerful cancer-fighting medications such as tamoxifen [1].
The Origins of Star Anise
Star anise, or Illicium verum, is a native plant of Asia, commonly used in traditional societies to spice food, reduce intestinal gas, aid in digestion and act as a powerful dehydrator.
It is also known to promote vitality and vigor in the human system, and is a common ingredient in the French liqueur Pernod. This fragrant, licorice-spiced plant is now playing a starring role in one of the most sought-after drugs on the planet: Tamiflu.
Tamiflu: Our Only Hope During A Pandemic?
The manufacturer of the drug Tamiflu is Roche, based in Switzerland. Through a highly secretive process, the company uses large amounts of common Asian star anise to obtain shikimic acid, one of the principle active ingredients in Tamiflu. In fact, without star anise, there is no Tamiflu, as these eight-pointed seed pods gleaned from the Chinese evergreen, are used for massive production of the drug.
In 2005, in response to the SARS avian flu, there was a temporary shortage of star anise due to its extensive use in creating Tamiflu [2]. During the 2005 scare, the drug company began to make shikimic acid artificially via a process of using fermented and bioengineered E. coli bacteria.
Currently, the US government has about 12 million boxes of Tamiflu on hand. In the event of a global pandemic, this would only serve a small percentage of the American population; certainly not enough to cover nation-wide health needs in the event of an emergency. And as Tamiflu is, so far, the so-called planet's only defense in the event of a swine or avian flu pandemic, and even though millions of courses are available, one single manufacturer holding a tightly-sealed patent simply cannot create enough of the drug quickly enough to serve global needs in the even of a true pandemic.
For this reason, some governments are demanding that the company release their sealed patent, enabling other companies to make their own version of the star-anise infused remedy. What is more, Tamiflu can't prevent you from getting swine flu or even kill swine flu; it is a toxic product and can create a grocery list of symptoms. And, according to the manufacturer it only reduces the symptoms of flu for the first 36 hours.
I am highly against the use of this drug and believe that most of these flu pandemics are actually created by man to reduce the population and create fat pockets for big pharma. This has been verified by Dr. Len Horowitz and many others [3].
References (3)
- Alves RR, Rosa IL. "Why study the use of animal products in traditional medicines?" J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2005 Aug 30;1:5. Review.
- Peter S. Goodman. "Star Rises in Fight Against Bird Flu." The Washington Post. 2005 November 18.
- Dr. Horowitz. "In Lies We Trust: The CIA, Hollywood & Bioterrorism."
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
Dr. Edward Group, DC
FOUNDER | HEALER | ADVOCATEDr. Group, DC is a healer and alternative health advocate, and an industry leader and innovator in the field of natural health who is dedicated to helping others. He is a registered doctor of chiropractic (DC), a naturopathic practitioner (NP), and proud alum of Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Dr. Group, DC is the founder of Global Healing – a mission and vision he has shared through best-selling books and frequent media appearances. He aims to spread his message of positivity, hope, and wellness throughout the world.
