Prevention: Identify Inflammation and Protect Immunity
In human memory, there have been multiple pathogens that infect large groups of people because they mutate more quickly than what the human immune system can handle. Examples include the flu epidemics of 1919 and 1958, as well as the explosion of HIV, SARS, Ebola and Zika.
The most recent of these widespread contagion chains is attributed to COVID-19, which is part of the Coronaviridae family of viruses. It preys on the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems of mammals who present with inflammatory such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.
It is no surprise and feels sad to me that the majority of people who are most susceptible to experiencing fatal complications from this virus are the ones who have a diet-related disease. We are at a crossroads in human health. We have a choice: strengthen our immunity and reduce inflammation by changing our diets or let similar viral epidemics prey on us.
There are many doctors and herbalists putting out excellent information about COVID-19.
Here are some resources I appreciate:
Stephen Buhner’s article on Coronavirus
Dr. Aviva Romm’s resource page
Journal of Complementary Medicine’s antiviral herb assessment and protocol
A Chinese Medicine perspective from Giovanni Maciocia
I encourage you to stay calm and trust that what’s happening right now will change. Pay attention to signs of inflammation in your own body:
Lymphatic: puffy eyes / dark circles, fatigue
Nervous system: difficulty staying asleep, occasional anxiety / depression, confusion, headache
Gastrointestinal: drowsiness after meals / gas, bloating, nausea / belching / constipation, diarrhea
Musculoskeletal: joint pain, stiffness, swelling, heart palpitations
Respiratory: scratchy throat, itchy ears, shortness of breath, runny nose, chest congestion
Skin: rash, edema, eczema
I am most concerned for my 55 family members and many friends in Italy. Schools have been closed for over 3 weeks and some can only go food shopping two days a week due to rationing and safety precautions.
I am making medicinal herbal extracts to send to them such as tinctures of Baikal skullcap, cordyceps, reishi, knotweed, lobelia, and licorice. I encourage you to do the same so that you have healing strategies available to you should you need them. Whether it’s a cold, the flu, or another more pernicious virus, these herbs will help you reduce inflammation, support immunity, and counter-act the effects of the virus.
For prevention, here are some strategies that I have found helpful.
Daily Decoction
Heat a pot with 4 cups of water. Add 3 tablespoons dried ginger root, 3 tablespoons dried licorice root, and 2 cinnamon sticks that are at least 2 inches long each. Simmer on medium low heat for 20 minutes. Sip throughout the day.
Fire Cider
Here is my recipe! It’s delicious on its own or as a base for salad dressing.
Elderberry Syrup
Take this as a daily tonic. I suggest 2 tablespoons daily. Here’s a link to a recipe from Tierona Lowdog, MD.
Immune Soup
Here is my recipe for creating a soup that you can sip every day for a snack or as part of a meal. It’s delicious and healing.
Hand Sanitizer
It’s great to be able to wash hands as a means of staying healthy. When hand washing facilities aren’t available, this home-made sanitizer is a great option. It works well with children who don’t always want to comply with my requests for hand washing.
Thanks to Herbalista,org for this recipe!
This topical preparation is based on hand sanitizer formulas recommended by the World Health Organization. Their version calls for the following proportions: Isopropyl (75%); 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (4%); Glycerin (1%); and Water (20%). We have respected this ratio with a couple additions-- Rosemary Hydrosol in place of plain water and we’ve also added Lavender and Tea Tree essential oils for their added anti-microbial potential. The addition of the essential oils brings the total recipe to 253 mL.
RECIPE for 8 oz of hand sanitizer (240 mL)
Isopropyl Alcohol (99.8%): 180 mL (If alcohol is only 60% or 70%, skip the water portion)
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%): 10 mL (It says 3% on the bottle)
Glycerine USP: 3 mL
Water Portion: 26 mL (Distilled Water, Rosemary Hydrosol, Aloe Juice, etc.)
Essential Oil (Optional) : 5 - 12 mL (Tea Tree + Lavender; 5 - 12 mL = 2 % - 5% dilution)
After blending ingredients and pouring into bottles, quarantine them for 72 hours, to give time to destroy any spores that might be present in the bottles.
Apply a dime sized amount of hand sanitizer and rub thoroughly over all surfaces until dry.
For external use only! And please, as always, use your common sense
Be well and stay in touch with questions!
