This is a continuation of my blog Prayers for Healing the World of a Viral Crisis. Please revisit that for some ideas for body, mind, and soul on What to Do about Coronavirus (Holistic medicine appraoch for viruses) Now is the time to buy any helpful items you would like to have on hand (such as vitamins and minerals). Preliminary new studies coming in from China and South Korea are hopeful regarding high dose Vitamin C; see the comment field for a quote and reference.
Nothing I write here is intended to be medical advice. It is simply helpful knowledge that I have acquired over time as a mom, grandmother, and lifelong natural health enthusiast. Modern medicine has much to offer in many areas, of course, but very little to offer for healing a virus. Mother Nature, thankfully, supplies a number of possible remedies, many of which have performed well in laboratory tests.
UPDATE – Chloroquine plus zinc is looking very promising, and was used successfully in South Korea and in China, later on in their crisis.
My personal preference since hearing about Covid19 is to treat even minor cold symptoms with some of the remedies, below. Nip it in the bud. Many studies show their effectiveness against some viruses in vitro. Because Covid19 is so new, there are few studies specific to it, outside of High Dose IV vitamin C, and Hydroxychloroquine and Zinc.
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- Good for kids: Sambucol is based on a standardized black elderberry extract. They are natural remedies with antiviral properties, especially against different strains of influenza virus. Sambucol was shown to be effective in vitro against 10 strains of the influenza virus. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, Sambucol reduced the duration of flu symptoms to 3-4 days – Study Fresh, raw ginger – studies here
- Note – Sambucol is most useful in the early stages of this illness – but not recommended if/when the lungs are already reacting. If you are very sick and possibly needing the ER – you need something else… High dose IV C. or Chloroquine (see comments), etc. High dose oral C is helpful – start early.
- Turmeric – Curcumin – antiviral and healing for the lungs. There are many studies about turmeric and curcumin being helpful for many conditions. I include it here because I have asthma and I personally find turmeric tea to be very helpful and soothing to the lungs.
- Oregano Oil – (too HOT for young kids) Research conducted in 2011 found that oregano essential oil can inhibit both human and animal viruses in vitro. More here
- I like Biotics Research ADP oregano oil. Some people double or triple the doses (spreading them out) for a day or two when fighting a viral infection. This method was very helpful to me in fighting a cold. It knocked it way back. I then used a normal dose for a few more days. The researchers advise that it is not a daily supplement, it can be used for up to 3 weeks, then a break is to be taken.
- Raw Virgin Coconut oil is antiviral and kids love it. “…The remarkable cognitive benefits of coconut oil sometimes overshadow its other amazing attribute: the ability to fight viruses. Several research studies have documented how coconut oil actually eradicates viruses such as herpes, AIDS and the flu…” All we know is that it is antiviral in some instances, but Covid19 is new, so there are no specific studies.
- Vitamin C and COVID-19 Coronavirus Some Time-release Vitamin C 2-3 times a day as a preventative. If you do catch a virus much more vitamin C is needed. One study
- “A lack of vitamin C has been long known to increase susceptibility to viruses, and a few studies have shown that vitamin C deficiency is related to the increased risk and severity of influenza infections.”
- IV High Dose Vitamin C – “…China is conducting a clinical trial of 24,000 mg/day of intravenous vitamin C to treat patients with coronavirus and severe respiratory complications….” This is a promising and potentially life-saving protocol for treating viruses.
- Update – (3/26) Some New York City Hospitals are now using IV vitamin C in their covd19 ICUs; hopefully, this will add to the available data and understanding.
- Curing the Incurable – Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins, by Dr. Thomas Levy, MD. Many studies are listed, and also discusses liposomal Vitamin C studies which approach some of the phenomenal results of IV high dose Vitamin C.
- Three Intravenous Vitamin C Research Studies Approved for Treating COVID-19
- Good results are coming in from China and South Korea – see the comments, below.
Masks Last but not least, wear a mask. When I go out, which isn’t often right now, I wear a mask and put a few drops of clear iodine on it for good measure* (see comments). There is a youtube showing how to make a washable mask with a cotton handkerchief and 2 hairbands, which is nice to know if you are on a budget or supplies are low. Long story short, our first line of defense should be to avoid getting a virus, and secondarily, to heal it if we do get one.
Let me know your thoughts and healing ideas in the comments! May you stay healthy and well.
Blessings,
Mary Kretzmann-White
Ananda Healing Prayer Ministry
PS – And keep your energy Positive, Energetic and Enthusiastic with the Ananda Superconscious Living Exercises. Enjoy!
11 Comments
Dear Mary, thank you so much for your post/letter and much needed advice and also for the reminder about Swamiji’s amazing Superconscious Living Exercises!
Love and blessings to you and all our Ananda Worldwide family,
Vivi
Sharon R, a member of our prayer team emailed me:
“Thank you, Mary, for these good reminders and ideas. I would only add black garlic, echinacea, and quercetin.
Many Blessings,
Sharon”
Yes, these are very helpful ideas, Mary. One forgets about using ginger, oil of Oregano, Vitamin C, etc, etc–things that are so common to us! And thank yo so very much for all of the wonderful links you’ve made so handy for us to become aware of and to educate ourselves. I just love what I have read so far from Dr. Brownstein’s blogs. Aums and blessings to us all…and much gratitude to you, Mary.
Thank you so much for sharing this very helpful information.
Here in Europe is spreading the virus faster because of the cold weather.
We have an effective prevention of spreading the disease in my country now, that all people that are suspected to have the disease is strictly prohibited to go to the hospitals, they have to stay in there houses, but they have to call the emergency code tel. Nr. so the health team will come and test for the virus! If positive and the severely affected they will be brought to quarantine hospital!
Love & Many Blessings,
granita
Oh dear! Sorry to hear it is spreading faster.. – Here is an update from South Korea – Vitamin C is working well – “At my hospital in Daegu, South Korea, all inpatients and all staff members have been using vitamin C orally since last week. Some people this week had a mild fever, headaches and coughs, and those who had symptoms got 30,000 mg intravenous vitamin C. Some people got better after about two days, and most had symptoms go away after one injection.” (Hyoungjoo Shin, M.D.)” http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n15.shtml
CHINA – results are going well with Vitamin C Studies–
Here is a verified official statement from China’s Xi’an Jiaotong University Second Hospital:
“On the afternoon of February 20, 2020, another 4 patients with severe coronavirus pneumonia recovered from the C10 West Ward of Tongji Hospital. In the past 8 patients have been discharged from hospital. . . [H]igh-dose vitamin C achieved good results in clinical applications. We believe that for patients with severe neonatal pneumonia, and for critically ill patients, vitamin C treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after admission. Numerous studies have shown that the dose of vitamin C has a lot to do with the effect of treatment. High-dose vitamin C can not only improve antiviral levels but more importantly, can prevent and treat acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress (ARDS).” http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n15.shtml
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And the “Shanghai Government Officially Recommends Vitamin C for COVID-19 -” http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n16.shtml
Hi Granita. Is this in Italy? The new protocol sounds very sensible.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts as it allows me to clarify my own. Dr Brownstien’s remarks about the flu shot (at the closing of his article) are based on medical studies comparing the flu shot versus taking a Vitamin D3 supplement. The flu shot increased the likelihood of other respiratory illnesses, while vitamin D3 was protective all around. And neither was perfect, at least at the dose given: 2000IU. It is worth mentioning now in light of the fact that the CDC now recommends the flu shot as a way to prevent Coronavirus. That doesn’t even make sense. But, of course, it can help to prevent the flu itself, when they get the strains right. There are several studies comparing vitamin D3 and the flu shot http://www.imedpub.com/articles/vitamin-d-or-flu-vaccinebenefits-over-adverse-effects.php?aid=22080 and https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6583 – There was another study in Japan. All in all – we all have probably decreased our natural vitamin D from the sun over the years due to sunscreen and working indoors.
You are absolutely right: medical decisions are a private matter. I am a big fan of allopathic when it is helpful. Sometimes people just need to have more information to pick and choose their best options right now. This helps people weather the storm of so much fear in the news about the novel coronavirus. Dr. Brownstein is a medical doctor using medically tested remedies. Our Guru did offer suggestions on important health matters of his day. Swami Kriyananda embraced allopathic medicine, but he also encouraged us to explore alternative healing. It comes down to what is our best bet to be well, right now.
Paramhansa Yogananda said if you have a broken arm but haven’t yet proven you have the spiritual healing power, you would end up with a crooked arm if you attempted to use spiritual power alone. And he said we should do everything in our power to remain well. Likewise, if allopathic science is your best bet for your ailment or illness, it is wise to use it. But with viruses, nature has a solution where allopathic medicine comes up wanting. Oddly enough, IV Vitamin C is kind of “allopathic” in nature (it must be administered by a medical professional) but it hasn’t been embraced by most medical doctors in the USA, yet. Who knows? This coronavirus adventure could change that.
Thanks for your points about bacterial pneumonia because for that allopathic medicine does indeed have an answer: antibiotics. And, IV Vitamin C works like a charm, too. Some of the other remedies, such as oregano oil, also work against bacterial infections. All of this information is critical, in the big picture, in light of some bugs becoming resistant to antibiotics.
This post is intended as food for thought for how to avoid landing in the hospital with this virus. The first case in the USA didn’t show pneumonia on Xrays until about day 9 or 10. That is a good amount of time to apply the enclosed ideas. Of course, the USA experience may be milder than the catastrophe they had in China as their air pollution had already been creating a lot of lung problems and pneumonia.
All the best.
I forgot to mention Olive leaf extract, too, as an anitviral – – It may be most useful when used beforehand, as a form of protection
– to help you stay well – or get a milder case https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15869811
South Korea has a high degree of testing yet low # of serious cases/death. Some hospitals are giving daily oral vitamin C to all staff and patients, and High Dose IV Vitamin C – 30,000 mg as needed. Patients get better faster = more ICU beds available for those who need it.
http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n15.shtml
Keep up the prayers …
In 1945, Burnet and Stone found that putting iodine on mice snouts prevented the mice from being infected with live influenza virus in mists. They suggested that impregnating masks with iodine would help stop viral spread. They also recommended that medical personnel have iodine-aerosol-treated rooms for examination and treatment of highly infected patients.” https://www.theartofhealing.com.au/iodine-rich-foods.html?fbclid=IwAR0U-UcCsXM-Wh6YAX1AJGXoNhbpjr40Vq4PobgJdl2skwj2NFrGwgsS7UY