In October last year, drug maker Eli Lilly, issued a statement to The European Medicines Agency, that it will withdraw its drug Xigris — a medicine which used to treat sepsis. Sepsis, where blood borne bacteria overwhelm a vulnerable immune system, can lead to septic shock, organ failure, and death... and if you're an elderly patient or an infant the danger that hangs over your head with every hospital stay is even bigger. For nearly 10 YEARS, many patients and their families pinned their survival hopes on Xigris... only to find out that Xigris had no beneficial effect at all. To put it plainly, the results of a clinical study that started in 2008 showed that 26.4 per cent of patients who took Xigris died compared with 24.2 per cent taking a placebo.

Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria. And low levels of good bacteria provide a perfect environment for C. diff to thrive. This is where a good probiotic supplement can help enormously. It's also a good idea to continue probiotic use for a full week after the antibiotic is finished. This isn't overkill — it's insurance. Two recent studies found hospital curtains to be infested with all variety of germs, including Clostridium difficile (more commonly known as C. diff). And one of those studies estimated that as many as 7,000 patients are infected with C. diff EVERY DAY, in the US alone. That's just astounding. C. diff causes diarrhoea, colitis, and other intestinal problems that are sometimes severe enough to require surgery. And because C. diff infections are most common in older patients, many of whom are already sick, C. diff can be deadly.

What is selenium and what can it do for your immune system? The metallic trace element called selenium boosts the antioxidant power of vitamin E. And if that were all selenium did, that would be reason enough to make sure you're getting plenty of it in your diet. But there's much more to selenium than just being one of E's best friends.

With so many airborne diseases doing the round and constant reminders that we need to strengthen our immune systems against superbugs infections, one would think that public places (like hotels) would maintain a certain standard of hygiene...

Manuka honey is derived from the manuka bush a shrub in the tea tree family, which is indigenous to New Zealand (with a close relative in some parts of Australia), and which only blooms for three weeks out of the year. This is not your typical honey, although all types of honey demonstrate antiseptic ability to some extent... and now it shows massive potential agianst super infections like MRSA. We receive many letters from readers who are due to go into hospital, or know a loved one who is, and are worried about the threat that deadly super bugs like MRSA pose.

Olive Leaf Extract is making waves in the alternative health industry and it is proving to be one of the most potent antixodants! The numerous health benefits linked to extra virgin olive oil a vital ingredient in the Mediterranean diet are well known, especially in relation to its heart-protective properties... Olive Leaf Extract has twice the potent properties of regular olive oil...

Super-germs mutate so quickly that antibiotics are virtually useless against them: As soon as an effective one is created, the germ mutates, and the antibiotic becomes obsolete. But theres no need to feel defenceless because these mutating germs have finally met their match. And it's been right under our noses all along. It's colloidal silver.

It’s impossible to predict when another more virulent flu-strain will strike... But considering we’re in the grip of the harshest winter in 30 years, it’s essential we take steps to keep our immune systems strong.

Mounting research is revealing the extraordinary immune- boosting benefits of natural compounds called beta glucans – particularly 1-3, 1-6 beta-glucans, which are present in brewer’s yeast and are able to activate the innate immune system. They put your immune system on full alert and in a state of readiness, by harmlessly mimicking potential threats.

Tulsi, Queen of Herbs, the legendary ‘Incomparable One’ of India has an impressive array of health promoting, disease preventing and life prolonging properties. In the past few decades, many of these benefits have been investigated and confirmed by modern scientific research.

Its no secret that the key to good health is a strong and fully functioning immune system.