by Dr. Oler, ND | Apr 7, 2020 | Health and Wellness, Immune System, Inflammation, Insomnia |
Melatonin has well known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects; it has also been shown to be protective against the acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by viral and other pathogens. There is significant data showing that melatonin limits virus-related diseases and would also likely be beneficial in COVID-19 patients.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Mar 26, 2020 | Health and Wellness, Men's Health, Women's Health |
It seems like the two fit hand-in-glove – dry, itchy skin and winter that is. Most people slave on handfuls of lotion to try and make the itching tolerable; while this may work for a short while, it doesn’t help long term. Luckily, there are several natural therapies that can help.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Mar 19, 2020 | Health and Wellness, Immune System, Naturopathic Health |
We had a tremendous response to the recommendations we sent
out last week regarding how
to protect yourself for COVID-19 and many people requested more specific
information as well as protocols they could use, so we offer this update as an
addendum.
First things first, here is a great summary of some of the
most effective natural strategies to boost immunity and protect yourself
against infection: https://www.ifm.org/news-insights/boosting-immunity-functional-medicine-tips-prevention-immunity-boosting-covid-19-coronavirus-outbreak/.
Keep in mind that most of these recommendations are designed to help improve
overall immune function, which will reduce your chances of getting sick, as
well as improving your immune system’s ability to identify and effectively
eliminate foreign invaders (i.e., viruses and bacteria) as quickly as possible.
In addition to the suggestions offered above, here are some
points of emphasis and recommendations you can use:
- Minimize/eliminate sugar. Sugar is known
to reduce immune function for up to 5 hours after ingestion, so avoid as much
as possible to reduce your risk of infection.
- Follow a Mediterranean-type diet. The
Mediterranean diet has been associated with improved overall life expectancy in
the general population. Large studies in individuals aged ≥ 65 years have shown
that close adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with prolonged
survival, supporting its utility amongst people in this age group.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation
reduces immune function. Get to bed 1-2 hours after it gets dark and sleep as
long as possible – most studies indicate 8-10 hours is ideal for supporting
immunity. Reduce screen time before bed, keep your bedroom ~68F (or lower) and try
and get to bed around the same time every night.
- Do whatever you can to manage stress.
This is certainly easier said than done, but it can help a lot. Something as
simple as breathing deeply throughout the day, going for walks outside and
meditation can go a long way to calming down the stress response and improving
immunity. Also, helping others in need, volunteering and staying connected as
best you can with loved ones and friends via the phone/internet can help you
feel less isolated, more hopeful and safe.
- Exercise. Regular moderate exercise is
known to improve immunity and improve health. It’s also a great stress
reliever. Aim for 20-30 minutes or more daily. Get outside when possible; walk,
run, bike, paddle, lift weights, do body weight exercises and/or yoga (check
out youtube for ideas, routines and workouts) – mix it up and use the time to
let go of/’work out’ stress while you are improving your physical health.
- Stay hydrated. In order for a virus to
cause infection, it must be able to adhere to and cross the respiratory
membrane. That is easier to do if you are dehydrated, so make sure and drink
about ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day, consuming about 2-4 ounces
of water every 20-30 minutes while awake. Also, use a vaporizer, humidifier
and/or facial steamer to keep the mucus membranes lubricated.
- Eat anti-microbial foods daily, including
garlic, onion, ginger and plenty of deep colored vegetables and fruit.
- Take supplements to boost and support optimal
immune function. You can find general recommendations in the link above;
here is a protocol that we recommend. NOTE: we have set up a new shopping cart
that sends orders directly to the manufacturer to minimize delays in shipping;
you will be asked to set up an account in order to order the products below –
it will take about 30 seconds.
- Foundational Support for adults (continue
taking these products until the risk of infection declines):
- Immune Support (3-4
caps/day in divided doses) OR Biocidin – you have multiple options to choose from to
support your immune system; all will help, so choose the product that fits best
for you and/or is available.
- Biocidin – 3-5
drops three times daily (or 1 capsule 3 times daily.
Do not use Biocidin during pregnancy. Biocidin is a potent broad-spectrum
botanical compound designed to support the entire immune system.
- D3-5000 with K2 –
1-2 softgels daily with food (based on blood work – aim for a 25-hydroxy
vitamin D blood level of ~60 ng/ml).
- C
Aspa Scorb – ½-1 tsp 2x/day. This formula contains therapeutic amounts
of buffered ascorbate (Vitamin C) as well as zinc and selenium, all of which
improve immune function.
- Immunity
Pro – 1 capsule 1-2 times daily on an empty stomach. Immunity Pro (Wellmune WGP® Beta Glucan) primes macrophages,
neutrophils and NK cells to defend the body against a broad range of foreign
challenges.
- Foundational Support for children (continue
until risk of infection declines):
- Suppys Immunity Children’s
Chewable – Children ages 2-3: chew one tablet daily. Ages 4 and older:
chew 2 tablets daily on an empty stomach. This product contains Wellmune WGP®
which is a natural ingredient that human clinical research shows can safely
enhance immune system function.
- Vitamin D3 – children under 50 lbs: 1000
IU/day; children 50-120 lbs: 2000 IU/day. Over 120 lbs: 3000-4000 IU/day.
- C
Aspa Scorb – ¼-1/2 tsp 1-2x/day.
- Support for those with compromised immunity
and/or that would like additional support:
- NAC-600
– 2-6 capsules daily. N-acetyl cysteine has been shown to inhibit replication
of seasonal human influenza A viruses, upper respiratory viruses (coronavirus)
and respiratory bacterial infections. It can also help lessen cough severity.
- Vitamin A (25,000
IU) – especially useful for those most susceptible to respiratory
illness; 1 softgel daily with food
- Ultra
Biotic Daily Multi-StrainorUltra Biotic Defense– 1 capsule daily; for children that cannot swallow capsules, open capsule
and mix in anything the child will eat or drink. Since about 70% of the body’s
immune defenses are found in the GI tract, to build resistance to viral
infections, it makes sense to support the gut microbiome, promoting a healthy
immune response, and helping the body eliminate toxins.
- Support for those that feel ill/have symptoms
(ideally start at first sign of symptoms and continue until you are
symptom-free for 2 weeks):
- Biocidin– 3-5 drops three times daily (or 1 capsule 3
times daily); can be increased up to 10 drops 3 times daily (or 2 capsules 3
times daily) if needed. Children under 12: 1 drop for every 10 lbs of body
weight per day, in 2 doses – for example, a 40 lbs child could take 2 drops AM
and 2 drops PM, for a total of 4 drops per day. Do not use Biocidin during
pregnancy. Biocidin is a potent broad-spectrum botanical compound designed to
support the entire immune system.
- Biocidin Throat Spray
– 3 sprays to the back of the mouth/throat as needed for throat soreness.
Do not use during pregnancy.
- C
Aspa Scorb – ½-1 tsp 2-3x/day (if ill, can increase dosing to bowel
tolerance). This formula contains therapeutic amounts of buffered ascorbate
(Vitamin C) as well as zinc and selenium, all of which improve immune function.
If you are currently taking any medications, be sure and
check with your health care provider before taking the supplements listed
above.
A Couple of Other Thoughts
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the changes that are
occurring at this time. Keep in mind that the number of reported cases
(especially in the US) is likely much lower than the actual number of
infected persons due to lack of testing. This should be viewed as a good thing,
as it means that the reported fatality rate is likely much higher than
the actual fatality rate (i.e., an increased actual number of infected people
with a known number of fatalities equals a lower rate of fatality). That means
that even if you or someone you love has symptoms and/or tests positive for
COVID-19, chances are, their immune systems will fight it off with no long-term
harm. So, if you or someone you love has symptoms, think back to how you would
have handled this two or three months ago (before you had heard about COVID-19):
stay home, rest, drink lots of fluids and let your body fight off whatever you
have. If your symptoms progress (i.e., fever climbs above 103-104F or you have
difficulty breathing) or you are immunocompromised, follow up with your health
care provider (call first) for further direction and support.
Lastly, if you are off work or now have more non-work time,
use it to get those projects completed that you didn’t make time for in the
past. You know, those things on the ‘to do list’ that just never seem to get
done. This is a unique situation – make it an opportunity to check things off
your list and take extra time for you and your loved ones.
You are amazing; give your body, mind and spirit what it
needs, take care of yourself and your loved ones and help others however you
can. We will get through this, and be stronger for it.
*This document is only intended to identify modalities
that may boost your immune system. It is not meant to recommend any treatments,
nor have any of these modalities been proven effective against coronavirus.
Always consult your physician or healthcare provider prior to using any of
these modalities. For up-to-date information on COVID-19, please consult the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.
References
- Viral
Immunol. 2016 Sep;29(7):398-400. doi: 10.1089/vim.2016.0038. Epub 2016 Aug 9. –
Association Between Acute Infectious Mononucleosis and Vitamin D Deficiency.
- ORTHOMOLECULAR
PSYCHIATRY, VOLUME 10, NUMBER 2, 1981, Pp. 125-132 – The Method of Determining
Proper Doses of Vitamin C for the Treatment of Disease by Titrating to Bowel
Tolerance – Robert F. Cathcart, III, M.D.
- Gorton
HC, Jarvis KJ Manipulative Physiol Ther.
1999 Oct;22(8):530-3.
- Banerjee
D1, Kaul D. Nutrition. 2010
Jan;26(1):128-32. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.09.015.
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Flora S, Grassi C, Carati L. Attenuation of influenza-like symptomatology and
improvement of cell-mediated immunity with long-term N-acetylcysteine
treatment. Eur Respir J. 1997 Jul;10(7):1535-41.
- Dröge
W, Breitkreutz R. Proc Nutr Soc. 2000 Nov;59(4):595-600. Glutathione and immune
function.
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J, Michaelis M, Naczk P, Leutz A, Langer K, Doerr HW, Cinatl J Jr. Biochem
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Sep 2 N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) inhibits virus replication and expression of
pro-inflammatory molecules in A549 cells infected with highly pathogenic H5N1
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2008 Apr;28(2):146-8, 145. Lessons learned from the 2007-2008 cold and flu
season: what worked and what was worthless.
- Urashima M, et al. Randomized trial of
vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. Am
J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(5):1255–60.
- Cynthia Aranow J Investig Med. 2011 Aug; 59(6): 881–886.
doi: 10.231/JIM.0b013e31821b8755 PMCID: PMC3166406 Vitamin D and the Immune
System.
- Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Aug;68(2
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biological basis of altered resistance to infection.
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by Dr. Oler, ND | Oct 10, 2019 | Health and Wellness, Immune System |
With all the hysteria and media coverage this past year in regards to the measles cases in the US, it’s hard to remember that not so long ago, kids and parents alike often welcomed the appearance of those little red dots. (more…)
by Dr. Oler, ND | Feb 7, 2019 | Health and Wellness, Men's Health, Women's Health |
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. In fact, more than 1 person dies every 38 seconds in the US from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The conventional approach to assessing and treating CVD is to measure and treat high cholesterol. However, research has shown that while cholesterol certainly plays a role in CVD, it likely does not cause it. So what is this approach missing? (more…)
by Dr. Oler, ND | Jan 3, 2019 | Areas of Weight Loss Resistance, Blood Sugar, Health and Wellness, Natural Remedies, Natural Weight Loss |
As we all set out to establish our New Year’s resolutions, here’s one to consider – drink more tea. It’s easy, it’s inexpensive, and as we’ll show you, it could transform your health. (more…)