The immune system of all mammals works about the same way. If something invades the body, a series of chemical triggers takes place. First the body must recognize the problem and mark it. Then specific cells are released to either destroy or encapsulate the problem area. Parts of the invading forces are broken off and incorporated into cell memory to prevent future invasions from causing any damage.
In the late 1980s, Dr. Stan Gross was seeking a strong anti-oxidation therapy to help patients recovering from chemo and radiation damage. In his quest, Dr. Gross came upon Dr. John Baer who had conducted research into polysaccharides called beta glucans, studying their effectiveness in enhancing immune function.
By the mid 1990s, a horse named King came along who had several sarcoids. After all
King's Sarcoids
known conventional veterinary therapies were exhausted, no improvement occurred. Seeking an alternative approach, Dr. Gross was called upon to develop a formula that would enhance King’s immune system. Dr. Gross developed an empirical formula consisting of natural ingredients. King was fed the formula twice a day; in six months his sarcoids were gone. Motivated by King’s success and with the desire to make this formula available to the equine community, Dr. Gross and Carol Valine established EquiTek Industries and the equine supplement Altamune was born.
THE POWER OF BETA GLUCANS
When it comes to naturally boosting the immune system by optimizing its response to diseases and infections, beta glucans are crucial weapons in the fight to stay healthy. But because the body doesn’t produce beta glucans naturally, the only way to get the compound is through outside sources—namely, baker’s yeast, shiitake mushrooms, and cereal grains like barley, oats, rye, and wheat.
Beta glucans act as immunomodulator agents, meaning they trigger a cascade of events that help regulate the immune system, making it more efficient. Specifically, beta glucans stimulate the activity of macrophages, which are versatile immune cells that ingest and demolish invading pathogens and stimulate other immune cells to attack. Macrophages also release cytokines, chemicals that, when secreted, enable the immune cells to communicate with one another. In addition, beta glucans stimulate lethal white blood cells that bind to tumors or viruses, and release chemicals to destroy them.
ALTAMUNE THERAPY
In short, beta glucans act to increase the immune system when invaded by bacteria, viruses, fungus, mold or parasites. Even superficial wounds trigger an immune response which is enhanced by the use of beta glucans. Along with the other supportive ingredients, Altamune does exactly what it was intended to do…increase the efficiency of the immune system no matter the diagnosis or pathology.
Altamune can help horses with thrush, lymphedema, sarcoids, skin fungus, Cushings, arthritis, skin allergies, sensitivity to flies, and chronic viral infections. It is not intended to cure or treat disease but to address the effectiveness of the immune system internally.
By modifying histamine and cortisol levels, inflammatory issues like arthritis, tendonitis or any condition associated with an inflammatory element respond quickly to Altamune therapy. The philosophy of the product is very simple…give the body exactly what it needs to defend itself and nature will do the rest.