Natural Treatments for Coronavirus 

Naturopathic doctors and Chinese medicine practitioners have natural treatments for coronavirus. These remedies have been tremendously successful. But when doctors share their COVID-19 treatment protocols with their patients, via private email lists or in articles posted on the web, they’re being shut down by government censors.

YouTube has actively deleted videos about natural treatments for coronavirus. Facebook and other sites de-platform practitioners and researchers who suggest alternative or unconventional treatments. Many MDs, NDs, and DOs have received cease and desist letters from the FTC. The FTC is accusing doctors of making “unsubstantiated claims” about how to “treat or prevent coronavirus.”

The Federal Trade Commission believes it is protecting consumers: 

It’s shameful to take advantage of people by claiming that a product prevents, treats, or cures COVID-19,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a press release. “We’re seeing these false claims for all sorts of products, but anyone who makes them simply has no proof and is likely just after your money.”

But medical doctors from a wide variety of backgrounds, like this one, this one, this one, this one, and this one, argue the FTC is promoting censorship, wrongly labeling missing information as “misinformation.”

When did we get so afraid of vitamin C?

Of course there are snake oil salesmen everywhere. And, yes, I’m as annoyed by false promises and unsubstantiated claims as FTC Director Andrew Smith. But the FTC’s litmus test for what constitutes “proof,” when it comes to treating COVID-19 or anything else, is baffling at best and totally hypocritical at worst. 

If it’s a pharmaceutical drug, by all means, use it! Off-label from FDA approval? No problem. 

If it’s a status quo medical intervention, by all means use it! Ample proof that it’s causing harm? Use it anyway!

If it’s a yet non-existent vaccine rushed through safety testing that has so far shown a 100 percent failure rate in primate trials, by all means, use it {in the future}! In fact, figure out now how to FORCE everyone to get it, because a mandated vaccine is “the next step,” since the majority of Americans plan to say, “no, thank you,” to this vaccine. Ample proof that we don’t have the capacity to develop a vaccine against a cold virus? Ample proof that a vaccine (like the one against Dengue fever) can prime the immune system and make what is a benign virus for most deadly, grossly increasing the risk of severe illness for some people? Use it anyway!

But if it’s something as innocuous as organic liposomal vitamin C? Send a cease and desist letter. Expunge it from the internet, chop chop!

Natural treatments for coronavirus that actually work

I’ve been interviewing doctors who are using natural treatments for coronavirus that actually work. Taken collectively, integrative physicians like  this one have cumulatively treated hundreds of patients sick with COVID-19. 

These medical practitioners now have solid evidence from treating thousands of patients. 

Yet this is the evidence that the FTC dismisses as “unsubstantiated.” 

Instead of dismissing their clinical data, our government, academics, and independent scientists should be scientifically evaluating each of these natural treatments for coronavirus. Doctors have found that with some very simple interventions, their patients have recovered rapidly and without sequelae.

Recommendations vary from practitioner to practitioner. But the list includes nutrients that are well documented to support the immune system to better fight viral infections.  

Up your antioxidants

Most of their recommendations fall into the category of antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent or slow damage to cells. This damage is caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that the body produces. Some plant-based foods are especially rich in antioxidants and beneficial to human health. The doctors who I spoke with, are using a combination of antioxidants, with Chinese remedies and herbal supplements. 

The following is a list of what to take if you suspect you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or you know you have it and you want to use natural treatments for coronavirus. 

Integrative doctors recommend continuing a regime like this for 10-14 days after all symptoms have resolved.  

These are general guidelines and will not be appropriate for everyone. The dosages given below are intended for adults. 

If you’re sick, make a telehealth or in-person appointment post haste with a naturopathic physician or functional medicine practitioner to figure out the dosing that will be best for your particular case.

Natural treatments for coronavirus 

• Vitamin C liposomal (this is the most highly absorbable form): 1000 mg a day preventatively or 3000 mg daily if exposed or infected. Option: Ascorbic acid in powder or capsule form, 2000-3000 mg daily preventatively and to bowel tolerance* if you are infected you may be taking as much as 10,000mg a day.*bowel tolerance refers to the appearance of diarrhea with an increase in dosage–it simply indicates that the body is taking in more than it can use. Back down by 1000mg until your bowel movements are back to normal.In this meta-analysis researchers found that “Vitamin C Can Shorten the Length of Stay in the ICU.”

• Vitamin A: 25,000iu a day is a common dosage. According to this article, “Vitamin A Deficiency and the Lung,” Vitamin A deficiency can compromise lung health.
  
  According to the Lung Health Institute: “Vitamin A is a second vitamin that may be helpful for chronic lung disease patients. This vitamin is critical to the functioning of your immune system. It’s also a vital player in the ability of your cells to grow and differentiate, which means to become different types of cells as they grow. Thanks to these properties, getting enough vitamin A in your diet through foods or supplements may help your body initiate its natural repair process in the lungs.Of note: You need to be careful while taking it though: “While vitamin A can be helpful, it’s also fat-soluble, which means it can build up in your body and become toxic. Prolonged overdosing on vitamin A can even lead to liver and bone issues. Therefore, it’s critical that you speak to your doctor or dietitian before beginning a vitamin A supplement.”

• Vitamin D: 5,000iu a day preventatively or 10,000iu if infected. It’s best to get a blood test to see if you are vitamin D deficient, as most Americans are. If you are in the 60-80ng/mL range, there is no need to take vitamin D unless you become sick. Most Americans, especially if you are a person of color, will benefit from 10 to 20 minutes of direct sun exposure on your body a day. Nude sunbathing on the roof!There has been a tremendous amount of peer-reviewed research showing the benefits of vitamin D. Here’s a good article about Vitamin D and the immune system to get you started.

• Zinc: 15-30 mg daily preventatively or 60 mg a day if infected. A common symptom of COVID-19 is loss of sense of smell and taste. These are also symptoms of zinc deficiency. This article asks Could zinc protect against COVID-19? Naturopathic doctors and alternative practitioners say that it absolutely can. In an N = 1 experiment, a family member included zinc supplementation in her regime to fight coronavirus. She had a very mild case that cleared up quickly.

• NAC (N-acetyl cysteine): 600 mg daily preventatively or 600 mg 3 times a day if infected. N-acetyl cysteine is a very helpful antioxidant. It is a precursor to glutathione and it breaks up mucus in lung infections, a good antidote to the potentially devastating problem of  “cytokine storm syndrome.” This article, and this one, will help you understand the benefits of NAC.

• Glutathione: liposomal 200 mg daily preventatively or 200 mg 2 to 3 times a day if infected. Glutathione is a master antioxidant in the body and very helpful in fighting breathing difficulties and combatting “cytokine storm syndrome.” Two case studies have shown that it can be one of the helpful alternative treatments for coronavirus: Efficacy of glutathione therapy in relieving dyspnea associated with COVID-19 pneumonia: A report of 2 cases.

Stopping blood clots

One of the sequelae showing up in some people with Covid-19 is a tendency to blood clotting. This is dangerous. The last thing you want is blood clots that create blockages of blood flow to your organs or tissues. Which is why hospitals use those annoying wraps that intermittently squeeze your legs all night when you are bed bound.

Movement is the best way to prevent blood clots. Go for a slow walk once every hour or two, stand up and stretch when you can, and do some light exercises when you feel up for it. Massage can also help.

In addition, fish oil, pycnogenol (pine bark extract), Vitamin E, turmeric, a Chinese herb called Dan Shen, and Gingko all support blood circulation and work as natural blood thinners. 

But you don’t want to take them all at once or they could thin your blood by inhibiting platelet aggregation. Instead, just choose one or two.

Please note: You must consult with your physician if you’re taking blood thinners, or are being treated for stroke prevention or cardiovascular issues.

Do not take blood thinners if you’re using NSAIDs.

Choose 1 or 2 from the following list to prevent blood clots:

Fish oil: 2000 to 3000 mg daily
Pycnogenol: 50 mg 2 times a day for a week and then 50 mg 1 time per day
Vitamin E: 400iu daily
Turmeric: In the form of curcumin, take 500 mg daily or use organic powdered turmeric or the fresh root liberally in your food (which you should be doing anyway), or as a tea!
Gingko biloba: 120 mg 2 times a day
Dan Shen: 1-2 capsules 2 times a day

Adding anti-coagulants to your diet

Ginger, garlic, dark chocolate, cinnamon, dark green leafy vegetables, fish, cayenne, beets, grapes, and organic red wine in moderation (a glass a day) all have anticoagulant properties. These foods make a great addition to your diet.

Help from herbs

Herbs can play an important part in any treatment protocol, especially when you are looking for natural treatments for coronavirus. Stephen Harrod Buhner is an accomplished herbalist. He was very successful in working with patients through the SARS epidemic. He uses a similar protocol with SARS-Cov-2 (Covid-19) patients. This paper includes protocols and dosages for herbal treatments.

I recommend you print it out or save it as a PDF to your desktop in case it gets censored. One doctor I interviewed has been using Buhner’s protocols with excellent results.

A note about herbs: there was originally some concern about the induction of a cytokine storm by using certain antivirals, particularly elderberry. But despite the headlines and the social media frenzy, there has been no quality evidence that elderberry induces cytokine storm. In this article, Donnie Yance details the benefits of elderberry (Sambucus nigra). In fact, antiviral herbs and mushrooms have proven to be very useful in case of infection. Helpful antiviral herbs and mushrooms include: echinacea, andrographis, reishi, elderberry, astragalus root, turkey tail, cordyceps, olive leaf, shiitake, chaga, oregano, and licorice. 

Chinese herbal protocols

In addition, some Chinese herbal protocols have been successfully used as natural treatments for coronavirus. One traditional Chinese formula is Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San (玉屏風散). It is available at many health food stores. Chinese medical practitioners use Jade Windscreen as an effective preventative specifically for colds and flus that affect the lungs.  

Yin Chiao San is another remedy that is readily available. It is a component of Source Naturals’ “Wellness Formula” or “Herbal Resistance Tincture”. If you’re feeling sick, especially if you have a fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing, or body aches, Yin Chiao San can be taken up to 4 or 5 times a day.

Supporting the immune system

All of the recommendations above are based on supporting the immune system. Responsible doctors make no claim to be able to prevent or cure Covid-19 but strive, instead, to offer our immune systems the best support possible.

For an individualized protocol that will keep you safe and healthy during these trying coronavirus times, contact your naturopath, homeopath, integrative physician, or Chinese medicine practitioner for more information.

What about budesonide?

Richard Bartlett, M.D., has been prescribing budesonide in a nebulizer to COVID-19 patients with great success. He believes this inexpensive pharmaceutical treatment is a silver bullet for the disease. He argues that Taiwan, a country of nearly 24 million people, has only had 7 COVID-19 deaths total party because of their use of budesonide. How long before YouTube videos discussing this treatment are also scrubbed from the internet?

Readers, have you had coronavirus or do you know anyone who has? What treatments were the most helpful? Please share your experiences in the comment section below.

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of coronavirus or any other disease or medical condition. Seek the advice of your trusted and qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding natural treatments for coronavirus.

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About Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D.

Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D., is an investigative journalist, book author, and Fulbright awardee. She is the author of Your Baby, Your Way: Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenting Decisions for a Happier, Healthier Family, co-author (with Paul Thomas, M.D.) of The Vaccine-Friendly Plan, and The Addiction Spectrum: A Compassionate, Holistic Approach to Recovery. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.