Corona virus is now in Colorado and increasingly in other communities in the United States. At this point it’s obvious that we need to be mindful and prepare for the likelihood that this infection may impact your life or the life of those you care about. Efforts to promote hygiene practices that reduce the risk of spreading the virus from person to person are critical. Effective hand washing is very important. Hygiene and “social distancing” can help slow the spread of this highly contagious pathogen, but it will still spread.
There is another form of preparation that is important. Building up your resilience to disease. This virus, more than some others, preys on the weak. The young and strong seem to have fewer symptoms and complications. An unbalanced immune response allows this virus to cause serious harm (Ref 1). If you are infected, building resilience could reduce the impact of the disease.
There are many things we can do build resilience and balance the immune system. Renew your efforts to maintain a whole food diet rich in vegetables. Get serious about getting your restorative sleep each night. Have a consistent morning wake-up time and get to bed early enough to ensure the opportunity for eight hours of sleep. Find time each and every day for exercise. Keep your mind and spirit healthy with mindfulness practice and don’t let fear interfere with maintaining healthy social connections.
While the extent to which we need to constrict our traveling and gathering remains unclear, it is important for those most vulnerable, the old and those compromised by chronic illness, to significantly limit their exposure. For the rest of us, prudent precautions and measures to increase our resilience to infection give hope that we can we can maintain active and productive lives.
There are ways to stimulate your immune system that may help increase your resistance to viral infection. Consider taking Vit C and NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) while the virus is circulating in our communities. Sinus rinse can be helpful. Be sure you are not Vitamin D or Vitamin A deficient. (Vit C 1,000-3,000 mg three time daily, NAC 900 mg twice daily,.)
If you need additional support, consider Designs For Health Immunotone (4 capsules/day) which contains herbs and mushrooms to boost your immune system.
If a fever or cough occurs, get prompt evaluation and treatment for corona virus infection. Remember, your proper diagnosis and treatment can prevent spread of infection to others. If you suspect you are ill or have been exposed, do not place others who may be more vulnerable at risk.
The CDC states that treatment for corona virus is supportive (Ref 2). If you become ill with pneumonia there are investigational antiviral therapies that may reduce the severity of the infection (Ref 3).
It would be best if you could prevent the infection from progressing to the point of pneumonia. At the first sign of problems, seek appropriate medical care. Also consider adding immunoglobin therapy (Ortho Molecular SBI protect), and monolaurin (Med Chem Labs Lauricidin 1,500 daily).
A recipe Dr. Bantock likes to do is tomato juice, like V8, lemon juice, and 4 to 6 cloves of garlic, blend it and drink it. This will help utilize garlic’s anti-viral properties.
There are many ways to support your immune system and these suggestions are, though not all inclusive, are at least a start.
This is a difficult and stressful time for everyone. Let’s stay strong together and look forward to the day that this danger passes.
- Li, G, Fan, Y, Lai, Y, et al. Coronavirus infections and immune responses. J Med Virol. 2020; 92: 424– 432. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25685
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html
- Study begins in US to test possible coronavirus treatment: The first clinical trial in the U.S. of a possible corona virus treatment is underway in Nebraska and is eventually expected to include 400 patients at 50 locations around the world; ABC News
J Thomas Svinarich MD
Chris Bantock DC
Colorado Center for Functional Medicine
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