"Antiviral" refers to an agent that experimentally inhibits the proliferation and viability of infectious viruses. In our domain of herbal medicines, some plants can slow or inhibit the adsorption or random initial attachment of viruses, extend the lifespan of infected target cells, or speed up several aspects of immunity, including complement, antibody, and phagocytosis responses. Herbal antivirals work best on respiratory viruses such as influenza, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, and enteric echoviruses. Although they are touted as useful in the alphabet group of slow viruses (HIV, EBV, CMV, etc.), they really help limit secondary concurrent respiratory infections that often accompany immunosuppression.
A virus is a small infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of other organisms. They are found in almost every ecosystem on Earth and are the most abundant type of biological entity.
Viruses have been described as “organisms at the edge of life” because they carry genetic material, reproduce, and evolve through natural selection, but they lack cell structure, which is generally needed to be considered living.
There are many ways that a virus spreads. In animals, a virus is carried by blood-sucking insects. Some viruses, like influenza, are spread by coughing and sneezing. Viruses like viral gastroenteritis (infectious diarrhea) are transmitted by the fecal–oral route (which is a result of poor sanitation) and are passed from person to person by contact or enter the body through food and water. HIV and herpes are two of several viruses that are transmitted through sexual contact and by exposure to infected blood.
The thing about contracting a virus is that antibiotics do not work. Vaccines are also unpredictable and can worsen the virus, including those that cause AIDS and viral hepatitis. These viruses evade vaccine-induced immune responses and result in chronic infections.
So what does the body need? It needs an antiviral herbal compound to rid the body of the virus while regenerating healthy cells.
