Pandemic Response Part 1

Anti-Viral Preparedness and Pandemic Crisis Response
Part 1
 
During these times of Pandemic, I wanted to make a quick bullet point list for what each of us can do to prepare and respond to the Corvid-19 virus now moving through our community.  I will follow this bullet point list with several articles covering detailed recommendations for the public and natural medicine practitioners. Remember to prepare rationally and calmly for immune system support, quarantine risks, and financial hardship in the upcoming weeks. I am answering emails and phone calls on these subjects daily so this is a QUICK down and dirty list of the basics. I will post more regularly and with greater detail.  For the public, always check with your doctors first before changing diets or taking supplements. For the practitioners, these are just a few ideas to consider.
 
Here is a quick list:

• Avoid Shaking Hands
• Use nitrile or latex gloves when shopping, filling gas tanks, or doing other public activities requiring you to touch high traffic surfaces. You can carry them in your car or in a purse or backpack and dispose of them after use.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after being in public settings. Dry your hands completely after washing.
• After washing your hands, use paper towels to open public bathroom doors
• Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or paper or cloth when you cough or sneeze –then wash your hands.
• Consider wearing facemasks with an N95 rating when traveling in public places. But remember that any facemask will remind you to not touch your mouth, nose, and face with your hands when in public and will limit your hand to face contact.
• Use disinfecting wipes when provided at grocery stores or other public venues.
• Get enough sleep and rest to support your general health and immune system
• Avoid added sugar in your foods and snacks, processed sugar is known to negatively effect the immune system.
• Make sure all your prescription medications are up to date and you have a 30 day supply or more… I am recommending 90 days to all my friends, family, students, and patients.
• Have food, water, and needed supplies to support you and your family at home for at least 30 days.  I have planned for 90 days for my family.

 
 
Immune System Support for Preventative Medicine Only
These are very general recommendations
Specific people may need more exact recommendations to better meet their unique needs

• Get Enough High Quality Sleep
• Stay Hydrated
• Manage stress and find ways to rest and take care of yourself
• Avoid all added sugar, processed sugar, corn syrup
• Increase Vitamin A containing foods (not if you are pregnant without checking with your doctor)
• Increase Vitamin C containing foods
• Increase Vitamin D containing foods
• Vitamin A appropriate supplementation at first sign of viral illness: a reasonable adult dosage is 800 -1200 mcg per day for 4-7 days. Pregnant women should check with their doctor first as this may be too high for their unborn child. Certain liver conditions and medications may not be compatible with this dosage, so check with your physicians.
• Vitamin C supplementation of 200-500mg per day with meals as an immune system support if under general stress, increase to 400-500mg 2-4x per day at first sign of illness. This gives general immune support. Higher doses may be useful, but this is unknown at this time.
• Vitamin D3 supplementation at 400 I.U. to 800 I.U. if you know your Vitamin D3 levels are already in a healthy range.  If you suspect deficiency or have a confirmed deficiency then increase to 1000 to 2000 I.U. per day for 4-8 weeks before reducing. Do not use high doses of Vitamin D if you have Liver or Kidney disease without consulting with your doctor.
• Zinc lozenges prophylactically when in public, 1-2 per day or at first sign of viral symptoms may have some benefit, so might elderberry and zinc combination lozenges.
• Increase Green Leafy Vegetables in the diet where and if appropriate. 
• Eat a healthy, non-inflammatory diet, avoiding food allergens and food intolerances
• Eat fermented foods and take probiotics for immune support.
• Have mucolytic and aromatic compounds available to treat the very thick mucus and "toxic damp condition" being reported by Chinese doctors treating the Corvid-19 virus in Wuhan China:

Consider the following home remedies to have on hand:

• Fresh Ginger Tea
• Raw Honey
• Cinnamon (Simply Organic brand)
• Licorice Tea (avoid if you have hypertension)
• Mullein Tea
• Clove (Simply Organic brand)
• Cardamom (Simply Organic Brand)
• Garlic (freshly crushed)
• Quercetin as supplement or in raw onions and other foods

 
Consider Immune Supportive Medicinal Mushrooms such as:

• Reishi
• Turkey Tail
• Lion’s Mane
• Shiitake
• Chaga

I am stocking up on tinctures of Mullein, Licorice, Goldenseal, Oregon Grape Root, Ginger, Osha, and Elderberry based on reports of symptoms and pathogenesis. Umka supplementations might be considered.

Essential Oils I am stocking up on to use in rooms, showers, steam inhalations and massage oils are:

• Eucalyptus
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Spearmint
• Grapefruit
• Thyme
• Ginger
• Frankincense

I am also preparing for hot compresses over the chest and back with epsom salts and vapor rubs. Soak the towel in hot epsom salt water, apply vapor rub to the chest, then apply the hot towel and cover with wool blankets for 5-10 minutes. Repeat with a second round of hot compress if the patient is cool.  You can do this on the front and back to relieve chest congestion. Never let the patient get chilled. You may then follow the hot compress phase with a heating compress (This is applied by using a very thin and small cotton towel or cut up sheet that just covers the chest and abdomen. Soak the material in cool water and wring it out very well so it is not dripping. It is then applied cool to the chest and covered with wool to allow the body to heat it up in 10-15 minutes).