Moving from Helpless to Empowered – Supportive Integrative Medicine for COVID-19

These are uncharted times we are in as a global community. While there have certainly been pandemics in the past (even ones with higher mortality rates), never before have we had such a large response or reaction. The frenzy and fear is palpable even though we in Montana have so far been lucky in regards to COVID-19. As an integrative health clinic, we at Enso hope to have the discussion beyond hand-washing, social distancing, and stockpiling. Given the lack of testing, the novelty of this strain of coronavirus, and how rapidly transmission is occurring, how can we best support ourselves during the unknown? Is it possible to minimize the severity of the disease as currently there is no conventional treatment or vaccine available? Are there options out there for prevention and treatment?

When I was in medical school, one of my mentors would continually tell us “it is not just the bug but also the terrain”. What a good reminder in situations such as this where we can feel helpless in the face of a new virus. Certainly as modern microbiology shows, there are highly potent bugs out there, but as we know, and as COVID is demonstrating with its proclivity towards the elderly, the overall health of the organism also plays a role. In all of this recent chaos of buying hand sanitizer and being told to wash hands, I have been confused as to why we are not talking on a national scale about all of the OTHER ways to stay well. How is your sleep? What are you eating? Sugar intake? Stress levels? Smoking? Alcohol consumption? Focus on joy and gratitude or fear and lack? Sense of support and community? Health of your environment/surroundings? My hope after all is said-and-done is that we learn from COVID how cultivate foundational wellness not just on an individual level but on a communal, national and even global scale.

Enough philosophy! As part of our offering at Enso to the community, we are all taking personal time to research, contemplate and disseminate information that is free and hopefully helpful for you. This initial blog post is a compilation of some of the lesser-known ways we can support our immune system beyond Vitamin C, Zinc and other common-place supplements. While none of these suggestions have been studied with COVID-19, they were shown to be helpful with other viral infections, pneumonia, or other lung diseases. Please see referenced studies and links to further reading for more information (below). I am eternally grateful for those minds that are forward-thinking and inspiring. Thank you Ben Lynch, ND, Heather Zwickey, PhD, Paul Herscu, ND and all of the other un-named people who research medicinal plants, nutrition, and other forms of integrative medicine.

The information below is in no way intended to treat, diagnose, or be a substitute for medical care. Also, while we are trying to stock the highest quality of these at Enso, this is an offering to our community, not a sales pitch. That said, we are offering 10% off of supplements through Fullscript as an antidote to the hoarding and scarcity that is showing up.

Nutrition/Vitamins/Supplements

Vitamin A – Retinol and its other fat-soluble forms (Not beta-carotene which is a building block for Vitamin A). This fat soluble vitamin is involved in many functions in the body including immune function and cellular communication. It helps in the production of both lymph cells and antibodies. Studies show deficiency in Vitamin A increases complications and death from pneumonia, upper respiratory viral infections and even measles. There are many protocols involving this vitamin – as it is toxic at high doses please consult a trained professional for your unique dosing.

Glutathione – taken orally, injected, or neublized, this anti-oxidant plays a crucial role in the body when under certain forms of stress. Shown to decrease severity of lung-involvement by decreasing inflammation and injury, it is a major consideration for respiratory infection. From an article in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – “GSH works to modulate behavior of many cells including the cells of the immune system, augmenting the innate and the adaptive immunity as well as conferring protection against microbial, viral, and parasitic infections…in enhancing the functional activity of various immune cells such as natural killer (NK) and T cells…”. Deficiency of glutathione is also associated with more inflammatory cytokines in the lungs and poorer outcome with infections such as tuberculosis and other pneumonias.

NAC – N-acetylcysteine – actually a building block for glutathione, but also well studied as its own compound. NAC attenuates damage to the lungs as an “antioxidant”. This compound also thins secretions (mucous) and reduces phlegm. Also, NAC helps increase the function of structures in the lungs and sinuses called the cilia which help increase clearance of mucous and infections.

PQQ - Pyrroloquinoline quinone – Thank you Ben Lynch, ND for this one! This compound (which must be ingested from food as the body cannot synthesize it) plays a role in maintaining our mitochondrial health – think cellular energy production – and is a very potent antioxidant hence decreasing the inflammation caused by a strong immune response. It also helps increase blood flow to and from the lungs and a deficiency of PQQ is associated with decreased immune function in multiple aspects.

Botanical Medicine

There are SO many plants that are shown to be antiviral, protective of physical structures in the body, or that upregulate and modulate immune responses in very specific manners. The ones listed have a lot of research with similar viruses and pathology (and are less well known that plants such as Echinacea sp). Also, I must put in a bit about ethics here - please make sure the herbal medicine you take is ethically sourced, guaranteed pure, and not from endangered or stressed plants. Also, if possible local is the best medicine!

Andrographis paniculata- traditionally used in Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine. This plant helps decrease the over-active inflammatory response in the lungs that happens with severe infection, helps improve cellular function, and even decreased radiation-induced lung damage in those with lung cancer. Often in compounds with other supportive herbs, this is a great plant to consider.

Astragalus membranceus – also used extensively in Chinese medicine. While Andrographis helps with some of the symptoms after infection, astragalus can help prevent actual respiratory infections and hospital acquired infections. This plant also helped modulate the immune system of the lungs (via the Th1/Th2 balance) and decreases inflammation.

Ligusticum Porteri – Osha – a lovely plant native to the Rocky Mountains and used traditionally by the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Historically this plant was used to treat bronchitis, influenza and other respiratory diseases. Studies show it modulates the immune system and also decreases inflammation. Interestingly, Osha also increased glutathione, and other anti-oxidants in a study on its efficacy with cancer cells.

Verbascum Thapsus - Mullein - this one grows all over Bozeman! When I was at the California School of Herbal Studies one of my teachers noted that in years of high forest fires the mullein plant seemed to grow in abundance. Traditionally used as an expectorant and to treat congestion- in particular with dry coughs - this plant also has research showing it is antiviral and that the saponins (think soap) do assist with clearing mucous.

Ok, overwhelmed yet? I could go on forever but part of what we are seeing right now is information overload. My suggestions are get a few simple things on board to help decrease chance of infection, support the systems that COVID is challenging, and be wise about the advice you are heeding. If you get diagnosed please reach out to trusted providers. Also, remember the terrain. Have you laughed today? Taken a deep breath? Paused to find your feet under you? These simple, inexpensive, and non-time consuming actions can have a profound effect on our immune systems.

P.S. The information above is beyond what we normally discuss for ways to support your system/prevent viral infections. Here is a basic list if you are unfamiliar: Vitamin D3, Zinc, Vitamin C, Elderberry (sambucus), Echinacea. And I don’t just throw these or any of the above references out there casually. All of these substances have documented effect with the intricate dance of our immunity.

Written by - Dr. Holcomb Johnston

As a support to our community we are offering 10% off supplements ordered from Fullscript.

Local and State Information

Gallatin Health Department

Montana Department of Health

Montana State University

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE INFORMATION

References

I am continuing to compile references and information regarding various plants, vitamins, and neutraceuticals that could be helpful with COVID-19. Above is just the beginning! The list is below.

Vitamin A

https://www.who.int/elena/titles/bbc/vitamina_pneumonia_children/en/

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/

https://cmr.asm.org/content/18/3/446

Glutathione

https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/50/suppl_61/PA988

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11028671

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/fxna/15minutematrix/resources/15MM-011-Matrix-Mapping-Glutathione-with-Ben-Lynch.pdf

http://15minutematrix.com/11-mapping-glutathione-dr-ben-lynch/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304416512002929

NAC

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15000873/