Coronavirus-19 • Best Practices for Natural Protection • UPDATED March 13, 2020
© 2020 Dr Ed Bauman
Founder and President, Bauman College and Bauman Wellness
My focus is to share time-tested natural health solutions for virus protection from enhanced self-care to initiate an integrative response to managing risk to and infection from Coronavirus-19, and subsequent variations. This viral threat can be the wake-up call our global family needs to pivot from feeling personally endangered to becoming collectively empowered.
Background
Coronavirus is in the family of viruses that frequently cause the common cold, which we all have had and lived through with rest, hydration, and immune support from a variety of whole, natural, colorful natural foods, herbs, spices and dietary supplements. COVID-19 is a novel member of the Coronavirus family that was discovered in December of 2019 in China and appears to be more severe than the common cold for some members of the global human family.
Like influenza (the Flu), COVID-19 seems to affect the chronically ill and the elderly most severely – especially those with cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Fortunately, young children and pregnant women seem to be spared from death and more severe illness (unlike with the flu).
How can you catch COVID-19?
Like influenza and the common cold virus, COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets from sneezing, coughing and mucus production. These droplets may be directly spread from person to person from as far as 6 feet away or may be picked up from contaminated surfaces. The incubation (how long it takes to get sick from the time you are infected) ranges from 2-21 days. People seem to be most contagious while they are actively sick with symptoms, although there are concerns that the virus may be spreadable even before or after the illness has resolved. How long the virus can survive on surfaces is currently unknown.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The large majority of people who get infected with COVID-19 have mild cold-like symptoms (cough, congestion, runny/stuffy nose and fever). Some people even have no symptoms at all. In severe cases, it is possible to develop pneumonia, respiratory distress, sepsis (blood infection), septic shock and even death. The mortality rate under age 50 is very low.
Is there a test for COVID-19?
There is currently a test for COVID-19 but it is only available through the C DC. This means that regular doctors’ offices are unable to order it. If you have symptoms, you most likely have the common cold or flu. You can go to your doctor or to an urgent care or emergency room to be tested for flu.
Is there a treatment or vaccine for COVID-19?
There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19, but the CDC is working on it. There is currently no specific treatment for the COVID-19. Like most viral illness the treatment is supportive: proper hydration, respiratory support, oxygen, pain management, and hospitalization or intensive care support for severe cases. Lifestyle and natural remedies you can use to strengthen your immune system and protect your body against viral infections are listed below.
PREVENTION
Hand washing for more than 20 seconds with soap and water. This has been proven to prevent influenza and many other infections. I recommend doing this before every meal and more often for children who still put their hands in their mouths.
Hand sanitizer – needs to have more than 60% alcohol to be effective. This is sometimes even more effective than hand washing. I like EO essential oil (lavender) hand and face wipes.
Clean surfaces. Viruses can cling to door handles and furniture for up to 2 weeks. Some recommendations would be Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner, Cavicide, Clorox Wipes, or Rubbing Alcohol.
Minimize travel and high-risk activities. The CDC only recommends avoiding travel to high risk areas. You may want to consider postponing leisurely travel that you have planned – both within and outside the United States. Airports are clearly “higher risk” locations due to the volume of people from all around the world who pass through.
Stay home if you are not well. This is a major reason why we have epidemics and pandemics. In addition to infecting others, you or your family are more likely to get something else while their system is challenged an
Eat for Health™. Eat a well-rounded, nutrient-dense, chemical free, whole food diet. Decrease sugar and processed foods. When under stress, stay home more and take the time to make nourishing spicy chicken or Miso soup, smoothies, fruit and vegetable salads, and healthy ethnic comfort food to connect you with your roots. Cooking for yourself and your loved ones is a great way to pivot from anxiety to self-empowerment.
Spice for Life™. Adding herbs and spices to your meals, snacks and beverages will give you extra protections. A Spice
Warrior blend consists of garlic, ginger, turmeric, ashwagandha, pepper, and oregano to boost humoral (circulating) and cellular immunity.
Rest to Recover. Fatigue lowers our immunity and makes us more vulnerable to infection, injury and chronic illness. It slows our recovery. A personal or small group self-healing retreat in a low risk area is a great way to create viral protection and recovery rather than being the subject of a forced quarantine. Both are a withdrawal from the outside world, but with a different mindset.
Health Products to Consider:
Below is a long list of recommendations. Dose ranges are provided as people always ask ‘how much’ and for ‘how long’. This will vary given your age, health status, exposures and environment. Taking too many or too much of these, singly or in combination can lead to an adverse reaction. I suggest you consult with a qualified natural health provider to help you find and monitor an appropriate program of health building, which is the basis of immune and whole-person health.
FOUNDATIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
Research is abundant that the following supplements, herbs, spices, essential oils and remedies significantly decrease the frequency and severity of viral illness. Your diet should be checked first to see which of the following are most needed.
Vitamin D: The large majority of adults and children have insufficient levels of vitamin D.
Recommendation: 2000 -5000 IU/day based upon health status and body weight.
Probiotics: These friendly bacteria, vital for good health. In addition to improving digestion, they have been shown to decrease the number of upper respiratory infections significantly.
Recommendation: 50 -100 billion units of a mixed flora product.
Essential Fatty Acids: EPA/DHA from fish or algae are essential for our brain, nerves and immune system to work efficiently. Under stress, systems become inflamed.
Recommendation: 2-3 grams EPA/DHA per day.
Multivitamin: A multi vitamin and mineral, preferably with herbs and enzymes provides a full spectrum of micro-nutrients, trace elements and phytonutrients (from the herbs) to complement the diet. This is especially important for someone who has not been eating well, has lost their appetite, of fallen off the health food wagon due to stress or feeling unwell.
Recommendation: 1-2 caps, 2-3 x day.
FOR GREATER PROTECTION
- Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids: 500 mg. 3-5 x day of Amla (natural vitamin C with bioflavonoids from gooseberry) or 2-4 times that amount of buffered vitamin C from ascorbic acid.
- Quercetin: a cell protective bioflavonoid. 500 -1000 mg/day
- Zinc: 30-125 mg/day based upon weight and health status
- Vitamin A: 10,000 -25,000 iu/day
On Managing Virophobia
Abdu Sharkawy, MD, University of Toronto
I’m a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I’ve been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria…there is little I haven’t been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.
I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.
What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others.
I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they “…probably don’t have it, but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know…” and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.
I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games…that could be kyboshed too. Can you even imagine?
I’m scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.
But mostly, I’m scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, open mindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.
Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and “fight for yourself above all else” attitude could prove disastrous.
Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let’s meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.
Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts. Our children will thank us for it.
Conclusion
A virus or other pathogen gains a foothold into our cells via a chronically weak or compromised body system. As such, being a health warrior is far better than being a disease worrier. Co-VID 19 is in our biome, our world. So, too are trillions of healthy micro-defenders within our gut, cellular and humoral (circulating) immune system. Our best defense is staying away from crowds and toxic environments, and improving out Wellness Practices, which include (1) Eating for Health, (2) Healthy Lifestyle, (3) Mindfulness, (4) Collaboration, and (5) Spiritual Practice. Our health is in our hands. It is ours to protect and improve. Let’s not lose control of our health freedom or abdicate our responsibility to stay well. Panic feeds pandemics. It weakens our individual and collective body. Listen and follow guidance from sane and reliable sources, including your own inner knowing. To stay abreast of evidence based natural health viral protection, follow blogs and social media posting on BaumanWellness.com and BaumanCollege.org.
Sources and Resources
Bauman College: Affordable Nutrition Workbook and Program. Bauman College Press (2019)
Bauman, E and Marx L, Flavors of Health Cookbook, Bauman College Press (2012)
Bauman, E and Moorthy, S. Spice for Life: Self-Healing Recipes, Remedies and Research, self-published (2020)
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Sharkawy, A, On Managing Virphobia. Facebook post, 3.5.20 https://www.facebook.com/abdu.sharkawy/posts/2809958409125474
Spector, M: https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-new-coronavirus-and-preparing-for-the-next-viral-pandemic
Steinblock, R: https://mindfulfamilymedicine.com/coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know-how-to-stay-safe/
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen