I had to at least do one post regarding all the hype around the coronavirus. Yes, it’s scary but so are lots of other viruses that go around.

According to the CDC, the human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. Most people get infected with these viruses at some point in their lives. These illnesses usually only last for a short amount of time. Symptoms may include

• runny nose
• headache
• cough
• sore throat
• fever
• a general feeling of being unwell

Human coronaviruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. This is more common in people with cardiopulmonary disease, people with weakened immune systems, infants, and older adults. Two other human coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV have been known to frequently cause severe symptoms. MERS symptoms usually include fever, cough, and shortness of breath which often progress to pneumonia.

The coronavirus of current concern is, for now, named 2019-nCoV. Chinese officials believe the current coronavirus outbreak began in the city of Wuhan, where it was transmitted from an animal source to a human at a Chinese wet market. The disease has quickly moved past its animal-to-human origins and become transmissible between humans. Its animal-to-human transmission and subsequent contagiousness among humans resemble how the SARS outbreak of the 2000s is often said to have originated.

It may be tempting to feel anxious about this coming into contact with the virus. Viruses are all around us.  Most viral infections like the common cold and flu virus come and go without major health issues. That’s because your immune system is healthy enough to protect you, even if you get a little under the weather,  So how does someone die from a virus? usually from a secondary infection like pneumonia or perhaps they already have a weakened immune system.

The Coronavirus can spread through airborne particles (sneezing, coughing, talking loudly) so it’s really hard to completely avoid being exposed when you’re in a public place.  Prevention is the best medicine and having a powerful natural immune system will protect you better than anything else.

Prevention

• Probiotics – improves immune function and protect against hostile bacteria to prevent infection
• Anti-oxidants – antioxidants are powerful compounds in our foods that keep our immune systems working strong
• Astragalus – a very long history as an immune system booster. Its roots are in Traditional Chinese Medicine, in which it’s been used as an adaptogen for thousands of years — meaning it helps the body fight off stress and disease.
• Camu Camu (vitamin C)  – camu is a shrub found in flooded areas of the Amazon rainforest. This shrub bears large berries that can look like cherries, and they turn out to be one of the top vitamin C foods in the world, according to researchers; in fact, camu camu powder has more of this vitamin than any other food on the planet, sometimes as much as 60 times more than an orange
• Vitamin D – This vitamin is a must have for anyone in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Get plenty of sleep – Not getting enough sleep has been linked to a laundry list of mental and physical health problems, including those that stem from an impaired immune system.
• Avoid refined sugars and processed foods

So what do you do should you get the virus or any virus for that matter?

• Don’t force yourself to eat. Light, easy-to-digest foods such as soups, broth, herbal teas and lots of water.
• Echinacea – Published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, 14 studies and determined that Echinacea cuts the chances of catching a common cold by 58 percent and Echinacea reduces the duration of the common cold by almost one-and-a-half days. You can find echinacea in the form of capsules, tinctures, teas and in combination with other herbs such as goldenseal.
• Elderberry – One of the most well-studied elderberry syrup benefits is its powerful immune-boosting properties. The berries contain chemical compounds called anthocyanidins, which are known to have immunostimulant effects.  You can find elderberry in the form of capsules, tinctures, teas and lozenges.
• Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Oil Steam inhalation – Steam inhalation using essential oils take the beneficial components’ effects deep into the lungs and help get relief from congestion. While eucalyptus oil helps relieve congestion and also aid you in coughing up the mucus, tea tree oil fights off microbes. Another way of using these essential oils is to directly rub them onto your chest.
• Grapefruit Seed Extract – works as a general anti-microbial and is my personal go-to when dealing with any kind of infections. Grapefruit seed extract is available in supplement form as a liquid concentrate, capsule or tablet.
• Goldenseal – often found in herbal remedies for allergies, colds, and the flu because of its natural antibiotic and immune-boosting capabilities. It has excellent antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. It contains berberine which is an antimicrobial plant chemical. Goldenseal soothes the irritated muscles of your throat and when taken after identifying the first symptoms of respiratory problems as well as cold and flu, this herb can prevent further development of the disease. You can find goldenseal in the form of capsules, tinctures, teas and in combination with other herbs such as echinacea.
• Mullein –  has been traditionally used for respiratory diseases for its soothing topical effects which is mainly due to its expectorant properties that helps in loosening phlegm and relieving chest congestion. You can find mullein in the form of tinctures or teas.
• Olive leaf extract- A study done in 2003 proved that olive leave extracts have an antimicrobial effect against bacteria and fungi. You can find it n the form of capsules.
• Oregano oil – Oregano oil is a powerful, plant-derived essential oil that may rival antibiotics when it comes to treating or preventing various infections. You can find it in the form of capsules or liquid.
• Salt Inhaler – In Europe, the ancient Greeks used what they called Halotherapy (Halo is the word for salt in Greek), for respiratory ailments.  Salt therapy helps improve sinus conditions by naturally cleaning the air of pollution and making it easier to breathe. It can also reduce the mucus which clogs up your lungs from respiratory disorders, like colds, allergies, bronchitis, and others. Himalayan salt also reduces inflammation in your lungs, which allows your body to heal from these illnesses.
• Vitamin C infusions – China is conducting a clinical trial of 24,000 mg/day of intravenous vitamin C for coronavirus patients.  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04264533
• HOMEOPATHICs – Work with a holistic practitioner who can recommend appropriate homeopathics and other natural remedies.

You should seek medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms:

• your fever gets better, then suddenly worsens
• your symptoms don’t improve within two weeks
• you can’t get rid of your cough or your cough begins producing thick mucus
• pain is concentrated in a single area (like your ear, chest, or sinuses)
• at high risk of flu complications ( chronic medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, you have a compromised immune system or you are pregnant or up to two weeks’ postpartum

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Precaution- Pregnant women and those taking medications should consult their doctors before taking herbal preparations.

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references:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/prevention.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5489195/

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/immune-system-lack-of-sleep#1

https://draxe.com/nutrition/elderberry/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12870202

https://lunginstitute.com/blog/salt-therapy-and-copd/3

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3868303/