In an effort to help those who are interested in addressing the coronavirus, COVID-19, in a more natural and organic approach, FAIM would like to share options that could be helpful to you, your family, and friends. There is much information in the news on a daily basis reporting on the situation, the spread and approaches being used to slow the spread of the virus.

Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Nancy Messonnier, an internist for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said older adults and people with underlying health conditions — such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes — were “about twice as likely to develop serious outcomes” from COVID-19, compared to “younger, healthier people.” This information comes as the long-term care facility in Washington battles an outbreak of the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, coupled with new research out of China that shows “We are particularly concerned about these people, given the growing number of cases in the United States, as well as those with suspected community spread,” Messonnier added. “What is happening now in the United States may be the beginning of what is happening abroad.”

Avoiding sick people and washing your hands often are two preventive strategies public health experts have been pushing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Older Americans living in areas that are experiencing spikes in coronavirus cases may also need to “think about what actions” they can take to reduce exposure to the virus, Messonnier said. This may include social distancing strategies, such as teleworking and avoiding large public gatherings.

Older Americans and adults who take routine medications to manage chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, should make sure they have “adequate supplies” on hand as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to climb in the U.S., health officials said on Tuesday.

There are some very basic things one can do to avoid getting sick.

1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
2. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.
3. Stay home when you are ill.
4. Cover your sneeze or cough with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using an antibacterial household cleaning spray or wipe (see recipe below).
6. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

Homemade hand sanitizer

One of the FAIM Guest Writers shares the following recipe for making homemade hand sanitizer:

Mix 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol (no lower than 70%) with ½ cup of aloe vera gel (natural or store-bought) and add in a few drops of tea tree oil or any other essential oil for scent (optional).

Supplements and a healthy body terrain

Supplements thought to be useful in the prevention of coronavirus infection include NAC, elderberry, spirulina, beta-glucan, glucosamine, selenium, zinc, lipoic acid, sulforaphane, resveratrol, vitamin D, Bifidobacterium bifidum strain probiotics, and sporebiotics.

There are additional more natural approaches to staying healthy that can be implemented before the numbers of cases grow. It is important to remember that there are two sides to every communicable illness. The first is the pathogen and the second is the host. Simply put, it is important to have a healthy body terrain to avoid illness. This means having a gut that is loaded with the right bacteria which work to keep you healthy. A strong terrain means a strong immune system.

So how do you support a strong terrain? Experts agree that people with higher levels of vitamin D in their bodies resist infections more successfully. Gut health is extremely important. If you have taken antibiotics recently it is paramount to reestablish the good bacteria in the gut through the use of pre and probiotics. Liposomal vitamin C can be extremely effective in protecting against and addressing viral infections. Adequate sleep is vital to maintaining health. Acupuncture has been shown to boost the immune system and prevent infection.

In addition, there are a number of herbs, including Chinese herbs, to reduce the impact of virus and bacteria. Supplements thought to be useful in the prevention of the virus include elderberry, spirulina, resveratrol, vitamin D, vitamin C, beta-plucan, selenium, lipoic acid, zinc, suforaphane, glucosamine, and the Bifidobacterium bifidum strain probiotics and sporebiotic strains. Ozone, UBI, silver products, MMS, to name a few, can also be considered due to their antiviral and antibacterial properties. Many of these approaches can address the secondary viral and bacterial infections that impact patients struggling with the initial COVID-19 virus. Often times, as in past epidemics, it is the secondary opportunistic infections that cause the mortality.

Living a healthy lifestyle can help prevent illness, but can also lessen the impact if one gets infected. The standard practice of washing hands for at least 20 seconds regularly is the easiest and most effective way to protect against the COVID-19 virus.

Emotions and the immune system

One aspect that is not discussed to a great degree is the impact that emotions have on the immune system. With COVID-19 dominating the news it is easy to fall into a state of fear. This will only depress the immune system more and create a more susceptible environment in the body. Try to keep the news in perspective. Each year many more people die from influenza, pneumonia, or the flu than have died from COVID-19. Currently statistics state that only 1-2% of the people infected die from the virus. The other 98-99% of the people recover. As stated above, it is the elderly and others who already suffer from compromised immune systems, preexisting lung conditions, diabetes, and other health issues who are at higher risk.

According to the Washington Post, as of early March, the coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 90,000 people and killed more than 3,000 people globally, the majority of whom live in China, where the illness was first detected in December 2019. More than 1,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed, including at least 31 people who have died. By comparison, influenza — known as the common flu — has infected as many as 45 million Americans since October and killed as many as 46,000, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It could be helpful to keep the outbreak in perspective.

Intravenous vitamin C

To quote Andrew Saul on the Greenmedinfo.com website, the government of Shanghai, China has announced its official recommendation that COVID-19 should be treated with high amounts of intravenous vitamin C. Dosage recommendations vary with severity of illness, from 50 to 200 milligrams per kilogram body weight per day to as much as 200 mg/kg/day.

These dosages are approximately 4,000 to 16,000 mg for an adult, administered by IV. This specific method of administration is important, says intravenous therapy expert Atsuo Yanagisawa, MD, PhD, because vitamin C's effect is at least ten times more powerful by IV than if taken orally. Dr. Yanagisawa is president of the Tokyo-based Japanese College of Intravenous Therapy. He says, “Intravenous vitamin C is a safe, effective, and broad-spectrum antiviral.”

Richard Z. Cheng, MD, PhD, a Chinese-American specialist physician, has been working closely with medical and governmental authorities throughout China. He has been instrumental in facilitating at least three Chinese clinical IV vitamin C studies now underway. Dr. Cheng is presently in Shanghai continuing his efforts to encourage still more Chinese hospitals to implement vitamin C therapy incorporating high oral doses as well as C by IV.

Dr. Cheng and Dr. Yanagisawa both recommend oral vitamin C for prevention of COVID-19 infection.

There are currently 3 clinical trials in China using IV vitamin C to treat COVID-19 and our colleagues in the integrative medical community, Dr Tom Levy MD and Dr Jeanne Drisko MD, are involved in the protocol. See China Treating Coronavirus COVID-19 with Intravenous Vitamin C by Andrew W. Saul on the Global Research website for more information.

These three research studies in China are showing a remarkable impact by using IV vitamin C for patients in the ICU with the COVID-10 virus. The following two videos share additional information on these studies and their success. Doctors are working to share this information with hospitals and care facilities in an effort to offer care that has shown success. Research shows that oral administration of vitamin C is also effective.

With so much information available in the news and online about the spread of the COVID-19 virus we must keep in mind the many precautions and therapies that can prevent and address the virus moving forward.