At this point there is no cure, vaccine, “antiviral,” or other proven medication that treats COVID-19 Corona Virus. And, like it or not, society will almost certainly be “opening up” prior to the point of widespread effective treatment.

This blog is NOT intended to be medical advice. In fact, it’s based on steps that I am personally taking (and recommendations that I am making to family, friends, and patients) in absence of, or as an adjunct to proper medical care. (more…)

N-acetyl-cysteine, or NAC for short, is the stable supplement form of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine is the most important building block to arguably the most important antioxidant in the body Glutathione.

Can NAC help with COVID-19? The short answer is LIKELY YES. NAC use probably (and there is some preliminary research to back this up) can help reduce the severity and duration of symptoms in many individuals infected with COVID-19. It’s also relatively inexpensive and safe. (more…)

Breathing exercises help clear excess phlegm and sputum and improve lung function. Certain types of breath exercises have been shown to strengthen the immune system and have an inhibitory effect on the replication of viruses (see Nasal Breathing below).

COVID-19 can cause severe lung complications such as pneumonia and even acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). With pneumonia, the lungs become inflamed and fill with fluid and phlegm. ARDS is a more serious progression of pneumonia where the air sacs of the lungs fill with fluid leaking in from the tiny blood vessels in the lungs. This leads to severe shortness of breath and patients often unable to breath on their own. It is considered a form of lung failure. (more…)

Fresh ginger root (Zingiber officinalis) has been documented and used for well over 1500 years in Chinese Medicine to treat the initial onset of the common cold and flu and for both acute and chronic cough (along with many other indications).

Modern research has shown that fresh ginger root (but not dried) is effective in blocking viral attachment and internalization. It may be more effective when used before viral inoculation (being exposed to the virus). (more…)

Preparations of Hibiscus flower have been traditionally used as a diuretic, for fever, and for digestive and kidney disorders. It is also commonly used in a variety of other herbal combinations for chest congestion, phlegm, and cough. There is one hibiscus combination I have used extensively with patients for stubborn chest congestion for many years now with very good effect. (Infusions of Healing: A Treasury of Mexican-American Herbal Remedies)

Recent research has shown that hibiscus can promote healthy blood pressure, support healthy cholesterol levels, may benefit weight management, and supports kidney health. As these are all “risk factors” in the severity of COVID-19 cases, it stands to reason that drinking Hibiscus Tea on a regular basis may be beneficial. (more…)

When we began to receive reports of the corona virus and it’s symptomatology, the VERY FIRST thing I thought of was the Wim Hof method of breathing and that I need to get started again with it right away. I have practiced the Wim Hof method (which is more than just breathwork) on and off for years now.

Wim Hof, nicknamed the Iceman, is a Dutch extreme athlete who originally became famous for setting many Guinness World Records and his incredible feats like: running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle barefoot and wearing only shorts (in the snow), swimming underneath ice for 66 meters holding his breath, climbing Mt. Everest in a pair of shorts, and so much more. See his documentary by Vice: The Superhuman World of Wim Hof: The Iceman.

While these feats are beyond amazing, the training methods he developed to accomplish his goals are what are of importance to us today. Wim’s whole system is absolutely worth exploring, but for the purposes of this post, I’ll be focusing on the breathing method because it’s incredibly easy to practice, can have very profound effects on the immune system and lung function, and is free to learn how to do. (more…)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long, well documented history of treating and preventing common cold and influenza syndromes. During the SARS outbreak of 2003 (a deadlier but less infectious coronavirus), a group of TCM practitioners and researchers in Hong Kong developed an herbal formula (based on two well established TCM herbal formulas) with the idea of helping frontline healthcare workers to prevent contracting the disease.

Of the frontline workers that took the formula, none of them were infected. In contrast, a statistically significant number of frontline workers were infected in the group not taking the herbs.

The formula is called Kwan Du Bu Fei Dang (Fight Toxins and Tonify the Lung Decoction). Unfortunately it is not available in a prepared form like an herbal extract pill or capsule, but the good news is the two base formulas (and one of the additional herbs added) are readily available in prepared form. (more…)

It was touched upon in my post N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) & COVID-19, but let’s revisit blood clotting associated with COVID infection in greater detail, the current hypotheses on how it happens, and why it is likely to be the “real cause” of the serious cases. Most of the varied and seeming strange symptomology can also be explained as a result of this abnormal clotting.

I want to re-emphasise how NAC can likely help mitigate this process to some extent because of its antioxidant and anti clotting properties. And, in my research for the perfect COVID herbal formula based on herbs I can easily procure in Mexico, I found Ginkgo biloba could also hold promise to address the oxidation, the clotting, and there is research to suggest that it interrupts the viral replication process of COVID specifically. (more…)