Natural Antivirals: Help in Staying Strong and Healthy
Sep 01, 2020 09:30AM ● By Ronica O’Hara
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In these sobering times, we must use every weapon in our arsenal
against invasive viruses, including often-overlooked natural remedies
with antiviral properties. As is also the case with pharmaceutical
agents, natural approaches have not been shown to stop an aggressive
virus in its tracks, but they may ameliorate symptoms. “Nutrition and
supplementation are unlikely to prevent an infection, but they may help
prevent the infection from becoming symptomatic or severe,” explains Leo Galland, M.D., a global leader in functional medicine and author of Power Healing: Use the New Integrated Medicine to Heal Yourself.
Eating
healthy foods, sleeping seven to nine hours a night and exercising at
least 150 minutes a week are also key in fortifying our natural defenses
against viruses. Steps still necessary for COVID-19 protection include
hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing and sterilizing objects
and surfaces.
Baseline Protectors
Scientists
report that some vitamin and mineral deficiencies appear to be linked to
poor COVID-19 outcomes, while adequate levels help combat other
viruses. Consumer Lab,
which provides comprehensive research overviews and information on
nutritional products, lists these natural supplements as potential aids
against COVID-19, although at this early stage, none have been proven to
work:
Vitamin D: According to Galland, vitamin
D “stimulates your immune system to produce factors called defensins
and cathelicidins that kill viruses.” People with levels below 30
nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) were 45 percent more likely to test
positive for the coronavirus and 95 percent more likely to be
hospitalized, Israeli researchers found. Getting three 30-minute
sessions of sun exposure a week and eating D-fortified foods raise
levels, and supplementing with up to 2,000 international units daily is
generally considered safe.
Zinc: “Zinc throws a
wrench in the viral replication machine and helps fight infections by
boosting the production of antibodies,” says Nicole DeMasi,
an integrative dietitian nutritionist in Los Angeles. Zinc lozenges may
ward off the coronavirus in the upper respiratory tract. The
recommended dosage is 15 to 30 milligrams (mg) a day for up to two
weeks.
Vitamin C: A cup of orange juice,
tomato juice or a kiwi supplies most of the minimum recommended intake
of vitamin C, a vital supplement for white blood cells that fight viral
infections. Supplementing with 1,000 mg daily is also safe. Intravenous
megadoses are being studied for critically ill COVID-19 patients, but no
evidence exists so far that higher levels prevent infections, reports Consumer Lab.
Potassium:
A critical antiviral mineral and electrolyte, low levels of potassium
were found in 61 percent of 175 Chinese patients hospitalized with
COVID-19, making them more prone to heart damage, reports the Journal of the American Medical Association. Foods that boost levels include potatoes, squash, lentils, spinach, avocados, bananas and raisins.
Supplemental Supporters
When choosing supplements
proven to be effective, “Much of what we know and can apply is based on
our previous research on viruses of the past,” says Monisha Bhanote, M.D., an integrative physician in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Here are some good choices.
Melatonin:
Known best as the hormone that regulates sleep, melatonin also supports
antiviral immunity and helps control inflammation in viral infections. A
study of 11,672 people tested for COVID-19 found that those taking
supplemental melatonin were less likely to test positive, and a clinical
study is underway to see if 2 mg a day helps protect healthcare
workers. Typical dosages range from 0.3 to 3 mg.
Licorice Root Extract:
This herb contains a substance called glycyrrhizin that makes it hard
for a virus to attach to and invade a cell and hinders its ability to
replicate, slowing the spread from one cell to another. Chinese doctors
used it with other traditional herbs to combat COVID-19, and studies
have shown it effective against an earlier coronavirus, as well as
against HIV, herpes, viral hepatitis and respiratory infections. For
dosage, follow package directions. People with high blood pressure,
congestive heart failure, kidney disease or low potassium levels are
advised against its use.
Astragalus: Known as huang qi,
astragalus “is one of the most powerful herbs used in Chinese medicine
for people with weakened immune systems,” says Tsao-Lin Moy, a New York
City acupuncturist and herbalist. It’s best taken as a hot or cold tea
using tea bags or the root itself.
Andrographis:
This herb has long been used for colds and throat infections in China
and India, and may prevent flu viruses from binding to cells. In a
Swedish study, flu patients that took an andrographis extract along with
Siberian ginseng recovered more quickly with fewer complications than
those given a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved flu medication.
Because of its potency, it’s best to consult a health practitioner to
avoid interactions. The recommended dosage is 400 mg twice a day.
Fightin’ Foods
To
lower the inflammation linked to poor viral outcomes, Bhanote
recommends a predominantly whole foods diet with at least five to seven
servings of vegetables and two to three servings of fruit a day.
Quercetin-rich foods, such as apples, onions, broccoli,
raspberries, parsley and celery are
especially important, she says,
because the bioflavonoid enhances zinc’s antiviral actions: “It
functions as a zinc ionophore, chelating zinc and transporting it into
the cell cytoplasm.” Quercetin can also be taken as a supplement in
doses ranging between 500 and 1,000 mg daily.
Garlic has
potent antiviral and antibacterial properties, and can be cooked into
food, eaten raw in salads and dressings or obtained from capsules of
allicin, the active component.
Green tea has
epigallocatechin gallate, a compound with “a wide range of antiviral
activity, especially in the early stages of infection, by preventing
viral attachment and entry into the cell,” says Bhanote. Aim for three
to five cups a day.
Learn More
Coronavirus Handbook by Leo Galland, M.D.: A comprehensive look from an integrative physician at coronavirus mechanisms, nutritional strategies and supplements.