Coronavirus COVID-19

The sky is falling, once again. The financial markets took a plunge because of concerns over the virus du jour.

Not that it’s not to be taken seriously. Viruses have been around long before us, are far more numerous than us, are way more adaptable than us, and this one has not yet run its course. It has also resulted in deaths (though so do many other infections). It has been found to be less lethal than either SARS or MERS, but it has spread faster than either, so we should get to know something about it and how we can protect ourselves.

But before we (especially those of us in Canada) panic, let’s make sure we get our facts straight.

The myths

Yes, each of these bullet points are myths that have circulated, largely online. 

• You will not get the coronavirus from receiving mail or packages from China. This virus doesn’t live long outside of our bodies.
• No race is more susceptible to the virus. Some people are using this idea to foster racism.
• You can’t catch this virus from your cat or dog. This virus is thought to have animal origin and some viruses have crossed the species boundaries to human, but COVID-19 doesn’t come from or affect our domestic animal pets (cat, dog, pig, rodent, fish, bird).
• There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19, and other vaccines will not protect you from this virus. The pneumococcoal vaccine will help protect you from pneumonia. Co-infections–where someone gets another virus (or bacteria) because of being weakened by an initial virus–is not uncommon, especially for the very young, the elderly, or others with weakened immune systems.
• There is nothing that we know of that you can apply to your skin to protect you from COVID-19, including sesame oil, chlorine, or rubbing alcohol. It is transmissible through openings/entry points to your body: mouth, nose, eyes mostly, so don’t touch your face and remember to wash your hands often.
• Antibiotics do not work against the novel coronavirus, or any virus, for that matter.

To mask or not to mask

Generally, no, there is no need to mask. In fact, most masks that you’ll find in your local pharmacy (or pay a ridiculous amount for online; early on I saw a person had posted on Facebook Marketplace $100 per mask) are not sufficiently sealed to prevent the virus from passing through. They do not seal to the face enough. Plus, people don’t wear them properly. If you wear the mask over your mouth, but not your nose, you’re wasting it altogether. If you wear a mask, but because it annoys you, you keep touching your face more, you’re increasing your risk. If you wear the same disposable mask day in and day out, gross. They are good for up to about 8 hours.

If you are sick, wear a mask so you’ll decrease how much you spread infection. If you are not sick and not a healthcare worker in a high risk setting, there is not need for this. The N-95 mask has a respirator and seals fully to the face. However, the touching face, moving mask, wearing it wrong rules still apply. Plus, if you are in the vast majority of the population who does not need these masks, you may be contributing to a shortage for those who really do need it–those who are working close up to control the spread of this virus.

The basic solutions are not new

Wash your hands. Wash them well. Wash them often. You don’t need antibacterial soap, but you do need to spend more than a couple of seconds to wash them effectively. Sing the “Happy Birthday” song (out loud or in your head) twice as you wash your hands and you’ll get the timing about right.

Don’t touch your face–especially your eyes, nose, mouth, ears–when you are out. If you need to touch your face, wash your hands first. 

If you get sick, stay home. Rest and recover. Others around you will appreciate it and you’ll likely get better faster. If you do need to go out, then consider wearing a mask or covering your nose and mouth with a scarf. If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue, handkerchief, or the inside of your elbow (or, like this fave video of mine, the back of someone else’s knee; hey, laughter is helpful too).

 

TCM for immune support

Though general consensus in the medical community is that there is no treatment for COVID-19 or many other viral infections, Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history of managing and treating viral infections. In fact, long, long ago (about 2300 years ago), one of TCM’s most valuable texts, the Huang Di Nei Jing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) recorded information about a plague that was transmitted via human-to-human contact with symptoms similar to the the novel coronavirus.

While each virus is different, it’s worth looking at how Chinese herbs helped during the SARS outbreak, as 40-60% of infected patients received Chinese herbal medicine in addition to standard modern medical treatment.  Consensus from the studies showed that adding TCM treatment to SARS protocols resulted in better management of fever, lessening of symptoms like shortness of breath, faster elimination of chest infections, lesser need for steroid drugs, and improved oxygen saturation in very ill patients.

As you can imagine, long ago, people had to fight infections, but didn’t have ventilators, steroids, IVs, and all the modern medical tools we have today. They discovered instead a wide array of herbs and foods that have antiviral (and antibiotic, antifungal, antiparasitic) properties. 

They also discovered that keeping the body strong and dealing with current health conditions renders us more resilient and less likely to succumb to the latest viral scare. Keep in mind that a large majority of those who have died from the new coronavirus have poor health or are generally weakened to start. But just because you are young, you work out, or you hardly need any sleep, that doesn’t mean your immune system is strong. Are you optimally well?

When patients ask me, “How can I avoid getting sick?”, I work on foundational health, addressing any digestive issues, pain challenges, sleep dysfunctions, stress management, mental wellness, hormone imbalances, and any other condition that can draw away from the body’s natural ability to deal with infection. It’s all customized because I am not the same as you. You are not the same as your sibling or neighbour or coworker or person you stand in line behind at the store.

Some general supplements for immune support

Oh boy, that’s a long list. That’s because plants also need to defend themselves against attack, so they too produce natural chemicals to kill viruses and bacteria. But, here are some of my favourite ones to consider. Ask me if you want any of these or want info on them:

• For those who tend to have weak immune systems, suffer from recurrent colds, take a long time to recover from colds, and perhaps struggle with fatigue, the TCM formula Yu Ping Feng San may be suitable. This formula has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects for the respiratory system, stimulate phagocytic (“eat” harmful foreign particles like viruses in the body) activity, and improve immune response. I have Yu Ping Feng San in tablet form in clinic or you can order an effervescent, flavoured version online at Dao Labs (in the U.S.) to ship to you direct. Use my code “ACTIVE” for a discount, if you want. 
• I always keep a bottle of Botanica’s Throat Spray on hand to use for myself if I treat someone who’s sick, take a plane ride, have spent time around sick family or friends, feel run down and vulnerable to infection, or have the start of a tickle in my throat. It’s a mix of herbals in tincture form, sprayed to the back of the mouth to help the body mount a quick get-outta-here response to viruses and bacteria.
• Mikei’s Japanese red reishi mushrooms (ling zhi is the Chinese name) is also known as “the great protector.” It sits in the classification of herbs that “calm the spirit,” thus helping to manage stress and anxiety. But, as an adaptogen–a substance that helps the body return to balance–it has a wide array of health benefits, including supporting a healthy immune system. It tastes very bitter, so I recommend capsule format.
• Other mushrooms also have immunosupportive and immune modulating (so, it’s also effective to calm an overactive immune system, as is the case for allergies, for example) effects. I just started carrying Mycommunity capsules, which is a blend of a variety of mushrooms.
• Ask me about biopuncture and acupuncture options.

What if you think you have COVID-19?

Unfortunately, I cannot treat you if you think you have this virus. The clinic is asking anyone who suspects this not to come in. In fact, the public health recommendation is to see your medical doctor, but call and notify them first that you believe you have the novel coronavirus so that they can reduce the chances of you infecting their healthcare providers and others in the clinic.

Instead, come in to see me soon to bolster your immune response and strengthen your body overall so you won’t have to be quarantined for 14 days or more. If you have a regular cold, I’m fine to treat you, but of course practice the usual precautions like washing your hands often, not touching your face, covering your mouth with your sleeve if you cough or sneeze, and leaving space between you and others.

Oh, and here’s a basic video about COVID-19 (as of February 1, 2020)