Viral Illness Support
I’ve been carefully weighing how to handle COVID-19 and flu recommendations this year. We are in a time where medical providers are afraid to speak out, especially on social media.
Many are fearful of saying or doing the ‘wrong’ thing in practice. I’ve been there this year.
I started boldly giving supplement recommendations early on (for immune and anti-viral support) talking about mask vs no masks and then I retreated a bit not wanting to be censored or give the incorrect advice.
Protocols and recommendations were changing quickly and it seemed everyone had an opinion.
It’s not my point today to review statistics which you can look up on your own but instead to give each of you options in supporting your immune system, and reducing likelihood or severity of illness. It’s indisputable that people have lost loved ones. Most of the people that have passed away with COVID-19 have had multiple comorbidities.
Again, Most…. Not every case. Obesity, other health comorbidities, lack of proper nutrition, and supplements are connected to severity of illness with not just COVID-19 but nearly any viral illness.
One of the challenges with this virus (COVID-19) is that the symptoms can mimic seasonal allergies, the common cold, and flu like illnesses in many people, especially in the first few days.
Your big differentiators that your illness or symptoms could be COVID-19 are loss of taste and smell. But then again, not everyone has this either. Comparing it to the flu- there’s usually a low grade fever with COVID-19 compared to a fever over 101(F) with the flu.
So I’ve done my digging to find regimens that work, that are safe and provide flexibility for pivoting when someone goes from a mild to moderate illness or have comorbidities like asthma or other lung disease that put the patient in potential harm's way. I’ve used these protocols and want to share them here with you.
These are not recommendations for each individual reading this, but are intended to be general protocols for reduction of severity of illness and prevention purposes. As always, you should be in contact with your medical provider about specific recommendations.
Understand that the big medical concerns with COVID-19 are lung involvement leading to pneumonia and worse case, microthrombosis aka small blood clots that get into the lungs and could migrate elsewhere in the body.
Symptoms of progressing lung issues are difficulty breathing or feeling shortness of breath, desaturation or a lowering SpO2 level (pulse oximetry...you know the little thing they put on your finger when you go to the doctor, testing your blood oxygen levels), and pain with breathing or heaviness in the chest. While I tell you about them for education purposes, these complications are rare.
One would be more likely to have these complications or a severe illness if they had one or more of the following comorbidities- BMI over 30kg/m2, Pulmonary disease, Cardiovascular disease, Chronic kidney disease, Diabetes, Cancer.
Ok so now that we got this out of the way….
Let’s talk about preventative or what I would say is preventing or reducing severity of a viral illness. Chances are if you have not had COVID-19 then you likely will.
Which is actually not necessarily a bad thing!
(This article isn’t a fear tactic… I want you to be prepared!)
With data on antibody aka immunity rates being so positive we can accomplish herd immunity…. And if people will take a few supplements - I firmly believe we can get through this with an even lower mortality rate than what we’ve experienced in months past.
**Below Protocols are Modified from https://www.americasfrontlinedoctors.com/hcq-protocols/#clark
Prevention protocol-
**THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. Every situation is unique and every person must check with his or her own physician, especially if you are taking any other medication.
Age >15
Zinc 30- 50 mg daily** cycle on and off or pair with copper if taking zinc more than 2 weeks
Vitamin D 2000 Iu daily
Melatonin 3-6 mg. nightly (exclude if <25 y/o)
Vit C 500mg twice per day**
Probiotic**
Age < 15
Elderberry and Zinc gummies
Multi-vitamin**
Probiotic**
Support in reduction of an active illness
*Vit C 1,000 to 3,000mg total per day divided into 2 or 3 doses
Vit D3 - could consider increasing under your medical provider’s direction
Zinc 50-100mg per day x 1 week.
Quercetin 500mg twice per day
*Magnesium Oxide (the Oxide is key!) 250mg-400mg 1 time per day at bedtime for headache and sleep support
*Melatonin 3-6 mg per night (Exclude if < 25 y/o)
For most people the at home support like the supplements I listed above and symptom-based cold care products over the counter are sufficient.
In regards to my recommendation on rotating on and off zinc- understand that zinc depletes copper- an important mineral for the body. It’s recommended to cycle on and off zinc or take it alongside copper in a 2 (Zinc): 1(copper) ratio.
There’s other medications that appear to be helpful in case dependent situations including prednisone, dexamethasone or an inhaled corticosteroid like Budesonide. Azithromycin is being used in patients that have comorbidities and are at risk or there’s concern for pneumonia.
Hydroxychloroquine is a consideration in some cases. This drug got some bad press but it’s been around for many many years and is commonly used in prevention and treatment of malaria, Rheumatoid arthritis, and Lupus.
While it’s not approved by the FDA for COVID-19 it can be used off -label. It does come with possible side effects but is generally well tolerated. It should be only taken under direction and supervision of your medical provider. To learn more about it - you can go here https://www.americasfrontlinedoctors.com/references/science-of-hcq
Another consideration in early treatment of COVID-19, is Ivermectin which is historically an anti-parasitic drug. When used in the first 24 to 48hrs of symptoms, viral load of COVID-19 are reduced significantly as well as mortality. https://rebelem.com/covid-19-update-ivermectin/. Again, Ivermectin for prophylaxis or treatment of COVID-19 is off-label with the FDA, however, it is a promising option.
Again, this isn’t intended to give medical advise but to instead to give general considerations for support. Visit with your personal medical doctor regarding your specific needs.
Stay well!
