COVID-19
Recommendations for Immune System Health & Wellness


    Initially, with no symptoms of infection, focus should be on immune system defense

     Supplements -
     Vitamin D is an important part of optimal immune system function.  Many people are deficient in Vitamin D and should
     consider supplementing.  You can get your levels checked and dosage for Vitamin D will depend on that.  If you do not know what your
     Vit D level is, a safe therapeutic dose is 5000 IU per day.  However, when the body is experiencing significant inflammation, such as can
     occur in some people who become severely sick from COVID-19 infection, vitamin D should be temporarily discontinued. This is because
     vitamin D can activate the specific inflammation pathway and inflammatory molecule, IL-1B, which characterizes and contributes to
     symptomatic COVID-19 infection.  Once health returns, it is safe to resume taking Vitamin D.
    
    Zinc - Zinc may help inhibit entry of coronavirus into cells.  Daily dosage recommendations are 15-30 mg per day.

    Vitamin C - Vit C ascorbic acid inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Clinical trials have found that vitamin C shortens the frequency,
    duration and severity of the common cold and the incidence of pneumonia.  Recommendations for daily dosing of vitamin C ranges from 500mg to
    3000mg daily with even higher doses utilized during times of acute infection.

    Herbal Medicine - Herbal Formulas are specifically designed to boost the bodies system for targeting viruses.  For example, herbal
    extracts such as Astragalus and Andrographis downregulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation while also maintaining the reduction of viral
    replication. Prescription formulas are available.
 
    Moderate Exercise- too much can actually weaken your immune system by increasing the production of stress hormones.
 
    Microbiome support including probiotics - 60% of our immune system is in our gut and supported by maintaining
     a healthy balance of good bacteria.  Fermented foods like sauerkraut are a great natural source of probiotics.
 
    Sleep - Sufficient, restorative sleep is essential, if you are having trouble sleeping, seek supplemental therapies and treatments. 
     Increasing physical activity during the day has been shown to decrease stress and improve sleep quality.  Exposure to sunlight especially
     during the morning 8am-12n can improve sleep quality and mood.
 
     Regular Self Care/Stress Management - Activities like Yoga, walking, deep 'belly' breathing, meditation are all
     calming to the nervous system and help reduce levels of Cortisol.  Spend time on non-cerebral hobbies. Our minds are flooded with
     information, find or engage in a hobby like gardening that allows the mind to wander.

    Safe recommendations for non-symptomatic and symptomatic individuals

     Reducing Cytokine Inflammation -
     Boswellia serrata, commonly known as Frankincense, is an herb with significant anti-inflammatory effects. The resin from the trunk and   
     bark of this tree has compounds in it which inhibit an inflammatory pathway driven by an enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase, or 5-LOX.    
     Inflammation which is driven by 5-LOX can result in painful joints in arthritis and inflammation in various inflammatory bowel diseases. It
     is also true that Boswellia extracts have been studied for asthma and found to improve pulmonary function, reduce asthma attack
     frequency and decrease inhaler usage. This would suggest that Boswellia may, in fact, be helpful especially for someone with asthma as
     a way to reduce lung inflammation during prevention of Covid-19. Pre-clinical studies have shown that Boswellia extracts inhibit a broad
     range of inflammatory cytokines which suggests that this herb is unlikely to be harmful, and may in fact, be helpful in someone with
     mild symptoms of Covid-19 infection.
 
    Medicinal Mushrooms - Mushroom and mycelium extracts (not the isolated polysaccharides) contain a broad array of compounds which
    generate an immunoregulatory response that both increases and decreases various cytokines. The end result appears to be a reduction of
    inflammation, a benefit during covid-19 infection.

    Anti-inflammatories -
    Quercetin, a bioflavonoid, found in onions and apples downregulate NLRP3 inflammasome
    activation while also maintaining the reduction of viral replication.

    Curcumin - a flavonoid found in turmeric root may help reduce viral attachment, entry, replication and activation.  Curcumin also suppresses key
    cytokines involved in the cytokine storm of Covid-19 and may help reduce cytokine storm associated with severe viral infections.  

   * The information provided here comes from the University of Arizona's Andrew Weil's Center for Integrative Health.  
Resources
​
I highly recommend the University of Arizona's webinar titled 'Integrative Approach to Covid-19'.  You can find this and more on their website -
    
​     The Institute for Functional Medicine also has more specific nutraceutical and dosaging recommendations, link below.
  
    * Recommendations are not a substitute for a medical consultation or exam.  If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please monitor your symptoms
      closely and seek medical care if symptoms worsen.