Coronavirus — Understanding Viral Infections
The purpose of this blog article is to help you understand how viral respiratory infections occur and what you can do to prevent them naturally. You should also know that there are natural treatments that work well if you get a viral infection. Remember early treatments give the best results, but prevention is better.
Of course, right now we all have some concern about the coronavirus that is causing worry regarding a pandemic or epidemic. There are many coronavirus strains. This strain in particular has a higher mortality rate than other strains. The statistics are confusing and at this point should really be ignored. However, if you really want to get good information and statistics you can us this website. Of all the sites that I have looked at, this one is the simplest to understand COVID19. Our focus should not be on the fear, but on a commonsense approach to prevention of viral respiratory infections in our bodies.
Let me help you understand these respiratory viruses. The illustration below represents an influenza virus, but all respiratory viruses enter the body in the same way. Their outer membrane is covered with spikes. One kind of spike acts like a hook or an anchor, Neuraminidase, and it attaches the virus to a cell in the nose, throat, or lungs. The other kind, Hemagglutinin, pierces the cell membrane and injects its viral code (RNA) into the cell. It acts like a drill and an injector pump. The infected cell’s DNA is then used to make more viral code, which is then used to make thousands of new viruses which then are released to invade more cells and reproduce more viruses.
It is our body’s own immune system that creates all the symptoms. The mucus is used to protect cells and prevent hooking up and penetration by the virus. So, do not try to dry up that nasty runny nose; the mucus has a purpose. The coughs and sneezes expel the virus from the body. Do not take cough suppressants unless you are unable to sleep because of the cough. The cough spreads the virus through the air, to others, so learn to cough and sneeze into your sleeve. The fever kills the virus. Most viruses cannot live over 100.5, so do not treat the fever unless it is over 102 degrees (F). Hot Epsom Salt baths when you are ill helps kill viruses. The body aches keep you in bed. That is where you belong if you get a respiratory illness. If you must go out when you are ill, wear a mask to prevent spread to others. Use an N-95 mask which will filter out the virus. These can be found at hardware stores. If you do not have that kind of mask, wear whatever you have or wear a scarf or large handkerchief over your nose and mouth. If you have essential oil Thieves, apply a few drops to the mask or kerchief.
While good hand washing is important, (detergents in soaps help destroy the virus outer coverings which are made from lipids or fats), these viruses are spread through the air, so the fanatic use of hand sanitizers is not necessary and may be detrimental since it kills the good micro-organisms on our skin. Use plain soap and hot water for 20 seconds. Do not become a nut about this. Gargle with hot saltwater twice a day and use saline (salt) nasal spray 2-3 times per day. This helps break down the viral cell membranes if they are in your nose or mouth.
The first symptoms of coronavirus are fever, fatigue, dry cough, and shortness of breath. It is very important to remember this; if you become ill with a viral infection do not use Aspirin or Motrin to combat fever. There is some evidence from bodies frozen in Alaska after the 1918 Spanish Flu that there was a Reyes Syndrome effect occurring. Using Aspirin and Motrin type products to reduce fever might cause many more problems than it solves. Tylenol (Acetaminophen), homeopathic Belladonna 30C, and warm bathes are much better options to treat high fevers over 102 degrees. We do not know for sure that Aspirin and Motrin type medications can cause Reyes Syndrome with coronavirus, but it is possible and it is best not to take a chance.
Most cases of coronavirus do not have a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, or a wet mucous type cough. If you become ill with these symptoms, it is not likely that you have coronavirus infection. If you get shortness of breath, however, get a pulse/ox reading and get into your doctor or ER if oxygen is below 90.
Prevention of viral illnesses requires a healthy immune system. There are many important things to do to help your immune system. In our culture, we want to take some medicine or herb or homeopathic. Those are fine, but other things are actually more important.
Prevention of stress and inflammation in your body are the most important. Physical stress occurs from lack of sleep, eating foods that you are sensitive to, ingesting food with lots of chemicals and sugars in them, lack of exercise, inadequate water intake, constipation, smoking, alcohol consumption and more.
Emotional stress occurs when we have too much going on and become overwhelmed, too much conflict, worry, guilt about past actions, financial issues, lack of work, lack of meaningful daily activity. We need to learn to discharge all the stress generated during the day, so we can have restful restorative sleep at night. If you do not have stress control tools, you might consider using the relaxation exercises that I have used for the last 30 years. Here is a link to one relaxation exercise: Coaching for Perfect Health. There are other CDs on my YouTube channel. You might also read A Shortcut to Success to help reduce stress.
The mainstay homeopathic remedy for prevention is Oscillococcinum. There are many homeopathic remedies that can be used to treat specific symptom if a coronavirus infection occurs. If our local communities are threatened, we will let you know what remedies to use for treatment of the symptoms. The specific symptom information is stated above, but I will keep you informed as time goes on if there are better recommendations.
Oscillococcinum is available in most health food stores, Walgreen, Walmart and some pharmacies. If you cannot find it locally, you can order it from The Healing Center in Lakeview at (989) 352-6500. The usual dosage is one half vial of granules once per week for prevention. To extend that to treat four family members, you may add one half vial of granules to four teaspoons of water, and then give one teaspoon of that mixture to each of the four once per week.
Take lots of Vitamin C, 500 mg three or four times per day. O blood types should take Vitamin C from Rose Hips; other blood types should take Vitamin C from Acerola Cherries. Cheap Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, has benefit, but is usually hard on the digestive tract and often causes diarrhea.
Other preventive remedies include Herbs and Essential Oils. Echinacea/goldenseal taken every day, day 1-25 of each month with 5 days off, seems to work quite well. It is best to take a five-day vacation from the herbal medicine once a month. Nature’s Sunshine Products, Elderberry defense, Immune Stimulator, and VSC all help with viral infections and can be taken daily, but we recommend that you use those only after you have been exposed to documented cases, not for general prevention. These can be use if you are going to travel or are going to be in a crowded high-risk area. The Essential Oil Thieves in lozenges, mouth spray, toothpaste, or direct application to a mask will help kill the virus.
If you do get a cold or flu like illness, there is good treatment available using homeopathic medicines. Pick the one that best fits the symptoms. Oscillococcinum 200 C, one dose 3-4 per day until better, up to 8 doses. Symptoms are body aches, fatigue, fever, cough, runny nose, and headache. Gelsemium 200C one pellet twice per day for 5 days, or 30C one pellet every 2-3 hours until better, is good for flu with fever, chills, body aches, dull feeling, droopy eyelids, and extreme weakness. Drosera 30C is good for barking cough. Spongea 30C is great for a dry cough. Antimonium Tart is for wet mucous cough. Arsenicum 30C is good for flu with vomiting, burning diarrhea, headache, restlessness and anxiety. Byronia 30C is good for slow onset, severe headache, irritable, wants to be left alone. Belladonna 30C is good for rapid onset, very high fever, headache, red face, dilated pupils. Ipecac 30C is good for vomiting or coughing until gagging or vomiting. Podophyllum 30C is good for diarrhea.
So, do not be afraid, you can prevent and treat these viral infections.
Here it is again in outline form. Print this out and save it.
For Prevention of Influenza:
— Oscillococcinum 1/2 vial once per week if flu or coronavirus is in your area
— take lots of Vitamin C, 500 mg three or four times per day
–Echinacea/goldenseal(When using Herbs – take on days 1-25 of each month then 5 days off)
From prevention (if you know you have been exposed or if you are going to be in crowds like events, trains, or airports. Only use one or two of these at a time and stop if no symptoms occur in 2-3 days. If symptoms occur, add the homeopathic treatments)
— Elderberry defense
— Immune Stimulator
— VSC
— Essential Oil Thieves in lozenges, tooth paste, or apply to a mask
For Treatment:
— Oscillococcinum 200 C, one dose 3-4 times per day until better, up to 8 doses.
— Gelsemium 200C twice per day for 5 days or 30C every 2-3 hours until better
— Drosera 30C for barking cough
— Spongea 30C for dry cough (for one of the onset symptoms)
— Antimonium Tart 30C for wet, mucous or wheezing cough
— Arsenicum 30C vomiting, diarrhea, headache, restlessness and anxiety.
— Byronia 30C slow onset, severe headache, irritable, wants to be alone
— Belladonna 30C rapid onset, very high fever, red face every 10 minutes.
— Ipecac 30C is good for vomiting or coughing until gagging or vomiting.
— Podophyllum 30C is good for diarrhea
Remember never use aspirin or aspirin containing products for fever and body aches when you think you have a viral illness. It might cause a serious Reyes Syndrome complication in adults and children.
Visit https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-symptoms/#typical for up to date statistics and symptoms.
Put Your Health in Your Own Hands.
Put Your Health in Your Own Hands 