Updated 11/7/22

For you healthy people who want to use natural medicine and self care to stay healthy and ready for possible COVID infection.

Q&A: Coronavirus, Immune support and the virus obsession? 

Dr. Ervin answered these following questions presented by her patients.

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We all know about symptoms, social distancing and hand washing.

Now, for getting back to healthy community life.

Updated for life in 2022 and beyond!

Q &A:

What are smart recommendations for community and social events?

Social Responsibility: We are in a time of caution still in how much we expose one another. For many, our immune systems are out-of-practice in fighting exposures. We need to keep this in mind especially in exposing people who have been particularly isolated- which is a large portion of our communities.

Any time we have get togethers with friends, we assess our symptoms, and reschedule if we have symptoms.  We isolate if we have symptoms of sore throat or cough. And, we wear a mask to protect folks from exposure. No matter what symptoms might mean- we can pass them on and cause a domino effect of social frustrations or illness.

In Washington, isolation practices are among the highest in the country- so we are still conservative. With our next bold steps back into community, we each need to have a plan for self-preservation…
What is the preventative self care routine that will be sustainable for me for the long run? 
Do I have a plan for care if I do get COVID?

Should I wear a mask?

In medical settings, I’m guessing these masks are here to stay for quite some time.

Wash your hands regularly, of course.

Most importantly, be mindful. Keep your hands washed.

If you have any symptoms or you’re high risk, wear a mask when you’re away from your healthy cohort. Also, keep it clean. Wash your cloth mask every day.

Who is at risk for having worse outcomes with viral infection, including “Long COVID”? 

The worst outcomes are with people who are low in their antioxidant reserves and high inflammation.  These are often people with immune systems that are already worn down from other conditions- including MAST cell conditions, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. These conditions need to be treated in order to recover from Long COVID. Get treatment for immune dysregulation, hormonal disruption, gut dysfunction and inflammation- your body will be stronger for the fight.

Lifestyle factors are the biggest contributor to inflammation. There is not one diet that has the best results for everyone, but one thing is certain: vegetables offer our body so much support. Including 5 different vegetables in your daily diet is actually really important in providing your body with the nutrients needed for healthy immune function.

What protects healthy people from the virus invading their body? 

The depth in which this coronavirus is invading the body is amazing. So, we need to support our bodies at every layer of protection. From the naturopathic perspective, Radical Self Care as more important than ever. We need to support our families and friends to develop Radical Self Care skills for healthy eating, body care, mind body support with balancing stress and mental health, and supplementation for keeping antioxidant status high. 

The first defense to keeping the virus out of the body is healthy mucous membranes. The mucous membranes need to be moist and healthy. People with inflammation in their mucous membranes are at higher risk of the virus invading deeper into the body.  Water at 70 ounces a day is key.

And- move your water! Sweating is one of the most health-promoting activities our bodies can do. Radical Self Care includes hot baths, saunas, or hot tub time- followed by cool body rinses.

We recommend water drinking and neti pot use for anyone with allergies or sinus issues. We will continue to get information out on the details of these practices. Supplies can be purchased through our online dispensary. Check out the “Mucous Membrane Favorite” In the catalog.

When do the mucous membranes fail as the first line of defense? 

People who have allergies, asthma, or other irritations, need to work with their naturopathic doctor to calm their inflammation. 

We all need to be drinking 60 ounces of water every day to keep your mucous membranes moist. Keep coffee down to 1-2 cups a day.  And again neti pot and salt inhalers for asthma folks is very important. (see the Mucous Membrane Favorites in our dispensary. Add in the Asthma favorites if needed).

What happens once a virus gets through the membrane to the body? 

Viruses use proteins on their surfaces to unlock and invade unsuspecting cells. This particular virus has LOTS of proteins on the surface so that it looks like a crown of jewels, hence “corona.” 

Once through, the virus takes control of the molecular machinery of that cell. Now the virus has the materials needed to construct more viruses.

The Washington Post quoted Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University, who compared viruses to particularly destructive burglars: They break into your home, eat your food, use your furniture and have 10,000 babies. “And then they leave the place trashed,” he said. 

The faster you can start treatments like hot baths (increasing your defense systems) taking nutrients (as recommended in immune protocol) and adding in elderberry (the highest quality of which can be purchased directly from the clinic)- the more you’ll keep your body on top of the infection- allowing for less dramatic response over time.

So, the virus makes a mess in the body? 

Yes, and the body brings in the stormtroopers to clear the debris. This can make a further mess of things. What we know now is that people who barely have symptoms can show signs of scarring in the lungs. For others, this process is exhausting.

How can people protect themselves from the damage? 

The clean up crew depends on the body’s store of antioxidants. This is where healthy lifestyle, diet, and supplementation helps protect you from being overwhelmed by the mess. A healthy diet with lots of vegetables allows the body’s antioxidant reserves to be primed to have a healthy response.

What foods are highest in antioxidants? 

My favorites are elderberry, blueberries, stinging nettles, and yellow peppers. Oh, chocolate and green tea. You’ve got to keep antioxidant rich foods in your daily diet. 

What if someone is low on antioxidants and they have the virus? 

If someone has a lot of inflammation like cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and others, their clean-up reserves are depleted.  We see with this virus that people get sicker than others with the virus if they have inflammatory conditions or age related antioxidant decline. 

Are antioxidants anti-viral? 

It’s not that they are anti-viral, it’s that antioxidants help us clean up the mess that is made in the body by the virus and our body’s response to the virus. 

So antioxidants keep the body fighting by decreasing the burden of the fight. We night have thought- oh it’s getting older folks who are more likely to die because because their immune systems are warn out…. But it’s not that. It’s more about their antioxidants available to fight the full fight.

Are there any antioxidant rich foods that are also antiviral? 

My favorites are elderberry and stinging nettle. 

Is it true that elderberry and other herbs can cause the body to have an exaggerated and dangerous response to the virus… the “cytokine storm.? 

No. That rumor got started on Facebook. The research does not support this idea. 

Elderberry is antioxidant and antiviral.  (Again, contact the clinic for the best quality elderberry).

Also, covid doesn’t have the cytokines storm issue associated with it as past coronaviruses did, but even so, elderberry does not hold the risk of cytokine storm.

What natural treatments do you recommend? 

I truly recommend different treatments for different people. Dr. Sunshine Prevention Protocol can be found here. The treatments used include: 

Nettles or other greens- I eat nettle pesto and nettle tea every day in the spring. Their antioxidant value is unparalleled. They also help serotonin production for mental health. They have good protein, fats, and the best mineral profile of any plant.  You can check out my blog about preparing nettles here. When nettles are out of season and your freezer isn’t full of them, choose parsley, cilantro, kale, spinach and other potent greens.

Elderberry- I take the best Elderberry extract on the market by Dr. Appleseed. ½ teaspoon twice a day.  https://drappleseed.com/

Vitamin D- I live in the PNW, so I use 5000 IU of vitamin D3 every day to balance my body’s. 

Vitamin C: I eat a lemon every day, nettles, yellow peppers, and other seasonal vitamin c rich foods or take 3000mg twice daily. 

Food: Garlic and Onion: I use these in at least one meal a day because of the research showing foods from the onion family make it more difficult for the virus to get into your cells.

Diet: The blood type diet is a great guideline for people who are optimizing immune health. I make sure I’m eating an alkaline diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and low meat. We can get more specific with your dietary needs by scheduling a consult.

Where do you recommend people acquire natural medicine? 

We have an excellent local dispensary here in Bellingham. Request supplies thru messaging Dr. Ervin in your portal or text the clinic.  

You can join Dr. Ervin’s online dispensary if you’re going to buy online. Check out the “Favorites” Section of the catalog to see her current recommendations.

What will it looks like if we get COVID these days?

Majority of the folks who have recently had COVID their symptoms begin with a sore throat. The condition has become less serious with time, but is still quite dramatic.

Plan to cancel your schedule entirely and rest for a week or more. Folks with long-COVID experience a resergence of symptoms after they improve from the initial illness. Prolonged symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, anxiety, low grade fevers and headaches. It’s still true that people can get very sick or not even know they have COVID.

How do we support our bodies to fight coronavirus?

The most important advice for people who are ill is STAY STRONG. Do not let your mind entertain the anxiety and fear that is a part of this illness. STAY POSITIVE! Rest, but get regular movement, walking and moving when you can. Practice deep breathing. Hot baths to increase immune support.

Schedule a telemedicine consult at first sign of symptoms.

Some people experience considerable improvement when prescribed pharmaceutical anti-virals.

Should we continue taking the medicines we had been taking for prevention?

All of the treatments we’ve discussed are for prevention should be increased at first signs of infection. Because of how unique everyone’s individual response is, I recommend that you schedule a consultation for an individualized plan if you have COVID symptoms.

I recommend people have NAC and liposomal glutathione on hand for increased antioxidant support in the lungs.  Also resveratrol. These additions are included on the protocol in my dispensary.

What about people who have had COVID-19? How do they make sure they are totally healed? 

If you’ve had a robust case of COVID-19… with a lot of inflammation and symptoms, you need to consult your naturopathic doctor. You now have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Also, continue with your Radical Self Care techniques to support your body in full recovery.

Feel free to ask more questions in the comments below!

Some other sources: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/03/23/coronavirus-isnt-alive-thats-why-its-so-hard-kill/

https://datapunk.net/covid19/antivirals.pl