| A couple of thousand years ago, makers of | | | | and Korean cuisine, I welcome and listen to the |
| Kimchi (a Korean pickled cabbage side dish), long | | | | suggestions, and hope for further scientific |
| before the appearance of SARS and the Swine | | | | investigation validating such claims. Imagine being |
| Flu, would never have imagined their diet staple | | | | obsessed with a food that is suddenly found to |
| might prevent and possibly cure these viral | | | | save lives in the face of a new and deadly health |
| infections. | | | | threat. |
| In April '09, The World Health Organization (WHO) | | | | Scientists at Seoul National University fed a kimchi |
| raised the influenza pandemic status to phase four | | | | extract to thirteen chickens infected with avian |
| warning. | | | | flu. A week later, eleven of the thirteen chickens |
| What's the difference between the yearly flu | | | | apparently recovered. To date, such studies |
| season and being infected by the A (H1N1) flu? | | | | remain unpublished and certainly not recognized by |
| According to the World Health Organization: | | | | any medical or scientific community. Professor |
| "Influenza A (H1N1) is a new virus and one to | | | | Kang of the Seoul National University who |
| which most people have no or little immunity and, | | | | observed the thirteen chickens stated |
| therefore, this virus could cause more infections | | | | Leuconostoc (lactic acid bacteria) found in Kimchi |
| than are seen with seasonal flu. The new influenza | | | | had a positive effect on the bird flu. |
| A (H1N1) appears to be as contagious as seasonal | | | | Hong Jong Hoon, a technical consultant with the |
| influenza, and is spreading fast particularly among | | | | Korea Agriculture Development Institute, |
| young people (from ages 10 to 45). The severity | | | | suggested another possible and connecting factor |
| of the disease ranges from very mild symptoms | | | | is the ways Koreans eat most of their garlic! |
| to severe illnesses that can result in death. The | | | | Hong began his researching studies at the Center |
| majorities of people who contract the virus | | | | for Disease Control and Prevention's website |
| experience the milder disease and recover | | | | where he found a connection between SARS and |
| without antiviral treatment or medical care. Of the | | | | the corona virus. He then made his way to |
| more serious cases, more than half of hospitalized | | | | Stanford University's site, which lists - along with |
| people had underlying health conditions or weak | | | | reducing stress, getting more sleep and frequently |
| immune systems". [1] | | | | washing your hands - putting drops of garlic juice |
| "If there is anywhere in the world that took a | | | | on the nostrils as a way to fight infection. Put it all |
| beating by SARS, it was Hong Kong," says Peter | | | | together, he says, and you see why South Korea |
| Cordingley, spokesman for the World Health | | | | has had only a handful of suspected cases of |
| Organization (WHO) in Manila. "The lesson was | | | | SARS and no fatalities, despite its close proximity |
| learned." Drawing on the past, Hong Kong has | | | | to China, where the virus originated, and to |
| already issued travel advisories and stepped up | | | | hard-hit Hong Kong and Taiwan. Hong concedes |
| controls at airports, including the use of infrared | | | | that many other countries make ample use of |
| temperature scans and the detainment of | | | | garlic in their diets, including Italy and China. But |
| travelers arriving with flu-like symptoms. [2] | | | | they cook their garlic; Koreans eat theirs raw in |
| The countries and overseas territories | | | | kimchi. His theory may be tough to prove, but |
| communities that reported their first pandemic | | | | that doesn't mean it isn't true, he says. [4] |
| (H1N1) 2009 confirmed case(s) since the last web | | | | Park Yong Woo, a doctor of family medicine at |
| update (6 July 2009) as of 22 July 2009: | | | | Seoul's Samsung Hospital, welcoming needed |
| Afghanistan, Andorra, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, | | | | clinical testing, says, he's convinced of its healing |
| La Réunion (French Overseas | | | | properties. |
| Community), Haiti, the Marshall Islands, the | | | | "I'd like to compare it with an orchestra," Park |
| Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, Sint | | | | says. "It's made of cabbage. But within that are a |
| Eustatius (Netherlands Antilles), Saint Kitts and | | | | lot of healthy constituents, including garlic, ginger |
| Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, | | | | and chile peppers. It's very harmonious food." |
| Seychelles, Solomon Islands, the Sudan, Tonga, | | | | Kim Man Jo, a food industry consultant and author |
| Turks and Caicos Islands (UK Overseas | | | | of several books, including Kimchi, Kimchi, believes |
| Territory), the United Republic of Tanzania, | | | | Kimchi's curing or managing properties against |
| American Samoa (US), Guam (US) | | | | some infectious disease is created and found in |
| As of July 22, 2009, the Grand Total of deaths | | | | the fermentation process - "They haven't done |
| attributed to swine flu is 1,154. For updated | | | | experiments yet, but harmful diseases can be |
| information of reported cases visit the WHO | | | | dominated by the lactobacilli." she says. |
| Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 site listed at the bottom of | | | | Depending on the variety, I know the most |
| this article. The below listed link to a Google Map | | | | common nappa cabbage kimchi variety has a |
| depicts areas of the swine flu outbreak providing | | | | strong combination of cabbage, red chili pepper |
| an accurate geographical image of infection | | | | powder, fish sauce, lots of garlic, salt, green |
| outbreaks. | | | | onions, daikon radish, sugar, and yes, even more |
| How is it treated? | | | | garlic - all fermented to perfection to deliver the |
| For suspected cases of the virus, a five-day | | | | heavenly flavor and strongest anti-microbial punch. |
| treatment of zanamivir alone or combination of | | | | Withstanding the lack of research in swine flu and |
| oseltamivir and either amantadine or rimantadine is | | | | kimchi as a preventative or cure, research has |
| initiated. For confirmed cases of swine influenza A | | | | found that these friendly bacteria to boost the |
| (H1N1) virus infection, either oseltamivir (Tamiflu) | | | | immune system. Further research has shown live |
| or zanamivir (Relenza) may be administered. [3] | | | | indigenous bacteria and chemicals they produce |
| Will a facemask protect me from being infected? | | | | can penetrate the intestinal wall and stimulate |
| We have very limited information of the | | | | growth and maintenance of immune cells. Strains |
| effectiveness of facemasks and respirators in | | | | of Lactobacillus can also stimulate defense cells |
| combating and control of influenza. If used | | | | and increase anti-viral chemicals like interferon. |
| correctly, facemasks and respirators may help | | | | To date we do have specified medical treatment |
| reduce the risk of getting influenza, but they | | | | and course of action despite no vaccine. While it |
| should be used along with other preventive | | | | excites me to find kimchi may possess |
| measures, such as avoiding close contact and | | | | combative properties against certain viral strains, |
| maintaining good hand hygiene. | | | | until the claims are subjected to the "scientific |
| "Unless otherwise specified, "respirator" refers to | | | | method", it shall remain a folkloric home remedy |
| an N95 or higher filtering face piece respirator | | | | alongside chicken soup. Despite the lack of |
| certified by the U.S. National Institute for | | | | evidence, If a pandemic condition swept the area |
| Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Three | | | | I live in, I would certainly heed Western medical |
| feet has often been used by infection control | | | | approaches and most importantly, double up on |
| professionals to define close contact and is based | | | | my kimchi consumption. Shall we say to each his |
| on studies of respiratory infections; however, for | | | | own? |
| practical purposes, this distance may range up to | | | | With the unfortunate number of those who've |
| 6 feet. The World Health Organization uses | | | | died from SARS or Swine Flu (Swine flu killing |
| "approximately 1 meter"; the U.S. Occupational | | | | over 1100 victims worldwide as of July '09 and |
| Safety and Health Administration uses "within 6 | | | | over 700 claimed by SARS) perhaps it will take a |
| feet." [3] | | | | pandemic and desperate condition to even |
| Any prognosis for the future? | | | | consider researching these currently unfounded |
| Approximately 90-95% of infected people | | | | beliefs and claims. Today, at least 168 countries |
| recover despite harsh symptoms to include 100+ | | | | and territories have reported confirmed swine flu |
| degree temp. headaches, extreme fatigue, chills, | | | | cases. |
| diarrhea, sore throat, aching muscles, basically all | | | | Since I first ate kimchi in 1990, it remains a |
| the common flu symptoms. | | | | favorite daily side dish that I always look forward |
| To date, caution must be taken as swine flu | | | | to. Whether it cures anything or not, it certainly |
| (H1N1) is still spreading and may become a | | | | makes my taste buds and overall system feel |
| pandemic affecting entire regions or countries. | | | | great. I just can't sit to dine at home or a Korean |
| Annual Flu outbreaks are expected and | | | | restaurant without it. |
| predictable. However this outbreak has not | | | | While these flu strains come and go or stay, |
| followed usual flu patterns. The future speculated | | | | those who enjoy eating kimchi (touted as one of |
| prognosis is split among those who believe swine | | | | the five healthiest foods in the world by Health |
| flu (H1N1) will diminish and die out this summer '09 | | | | Magazine) continue to get more than their share |
| and those who believe it will return to claim more | | | | of nature's probiotic which some day may add |
| cases similar to the influenza pandemic of 1918. | | | | new flu strains to it's long list of combated |
| So, what's this potential wonder drug at the | | | | enemies. |
| Korean dinner table? | | | | In the meantime, for various flu strains we have |
| Since 2003 when SARS (Severe Acute | | | | existing vaccines and for those we don't or other |
| Respiratory Syndrome) rolled across Asia, | | | | still standing bugs such as the common cold, we |
| Koreans remained unaffected for the most part. | | | | have Gatorade, chicken soup, and old-fashioned |
| Being the daily and national side dish that it is, | | | | but very effective rest. |
| Kimchi was promoted to status of natural | | | | [1] TIME - The Lessons from SARS - By Kayla |
| preventative and cure for SARS with virtually no | | | | Webley/Hong Kong - Monday, Apr. 27, 2009 |
| scientific evidence to support the claim. Believe | | | | [2] What is the new influenza A(H1N1)? From the |
| me, as someone who eats kimchi daily and loves | | | | World Health Organization |
| it so much I operate a site dedicated to kimchi | | | | [3] Swine Flu - Medicine. |