Coronavirus...What can we do?

The age old adage goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".  That's never been more true than now.  Let's go over some ways you can get your ounce.

Here are some tips from the WHO and CDC:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and use alcohol based hand sanitizers.
• Keep your distance (6’). Avoid close contact to anyone.
• Sanitize frequently touched surfaces such as handles, door knobs, counter tops, etc.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or elbow if you cough or sneeze.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• UPDATE 4/3/2020: It is now recommended that all persons outside their homes wear a face mask or other covering over their nose and mouth.

As a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine, I suggest boosting your immunity.  To date, more than 98% of those infected have survived.  Why?  Because they were generally healthy.  In Chinese medicine we refer to the our defense mechanism as Wei Qi.  Build your Wei Qi using these suggestions:

First, follow the 6 Essentials (see my blog, “Rockin’ the 6 Essentials!”). To re-cap:

• Drink plenty of pure water (half your body weight in ounces, ex: 150 lbs. = 75 ounces) and avoid beverages that deplete your body.
• Eat vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds (80% of your diet) and avoid foods that tax the digestive system and are void of nutrition. Add vitamin C and a good probiotic to your daily regime.
• Sleep 7-9 hours, preferably at night.  
• Exercise 30 minutes daily.  Take a walk, bounce on a rebounder, do some yoga!
• Breathe. Get outside to walk, breathing deeply as you go, or meditate using deep breath.
• Think positive thoughts.  Worry and fear create stress in the body using up valuable Wei Qi in the process.  

Next, take adaptogens that help build and support your Wei Qi. Choose 1-3 and monitor your response. You can always visit your practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine for help.

• Huang Qi (Astragalus)
• Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng)
• Ling Zhi (Ganoderma)
• Jiao Gu Lan (Gynostemma)
• Hei Ma Yi (Polyrachis Black Ant)
• Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps)

Also, take anti-inflammatory supplements. I recommend using Do Terra essential oils.  Take 2 drops of each of the following in either a veggie capsule or drop them in a small glass of water.

• Turmeric
• Black Pepper
• Green Mandarin
• Cellular Complex (DDR Prime)

If you experience the onset of cold or flu-like symptoms, a practitioner or Chinese herbal medicine can help.  If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, dyspnea, fever) call your doctor to see if you need testing and where to get it. Then call to set up a phone or online consultation with your practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine. Chinese herbal medicine integrated with allopathic treatmens, is being used, successfully, to fight the COVID-19 in the hospitals in China.  After getting a differential diagnosis based on Chinese medical theory, the appropriate herbs can be sent to you.

Note, if you are in repiratory distress and cannot breathe, call 911. While allopathic medicine does not have a treatment for COVID-19, they can manage symptoms to give your body a chance to build it’s own immune response.  I recommend that you do not take antibiotics as they will not address the virus and will weaken your immune system.  Antibiotics are only necessary if you have a secondary bacterial infection.  As soon as you’re able, call your practitioner of Chinese Herbal Medicine.  We can help!