When I got tested positive for Corona virus I was scared. The main reason is a fact I have rare and hard to pronounce lung disease Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) for more than eight years and due to this diagnosis, I’m taking daily dose of medication Sirolimus what weakens immune system. Despite of those risk factors I had quite mild version of Covid-19. I’m afraid no one will be able to tell why – maybe virus I got was “light version”, maybe immunosuppressant drugs are somehow helping in case of Covid or maybe something I did or took was making impact. I don’t know. But so many people were sharing thoughts and ideas what can be done to improve situation of a Covid patient, so I wanted to pass on this knowledge and share my experience – maybe something from this list helps others as well.
Before I start, I want to emphasize – I’m not a doctor, so this is just a personal experience. Each person’s situation, including health problems, is different, just as covid symptoms tend to vary, so the treatment will be different for everyone. Therefore, I encourage you to first discuss the ideas below with your doctor, who will assess whether they are suitable for you or not. For example, my symptoms included head and muscle pain, fatigue, loss of taste / smell, dry cough, a little bit running nose, but, for example, there was no fever at all. Accordingly, it would be foolish for me to use medication to reduce the temperature, but for someone else it would be necessary.
Try not to get sick! Although most covid patients recover, we know very little about the long-term consequences. People who got ill in the spring still complain of fatigue and perceptual difficulties. I also still feel quite strong fatigue. And of course, you never know if you and your loved ones will lose in this covid roulette. Healthy eating, fresh air and exercise – these well-known, but not so well-followed practices, will be great for covid prevention, as well as useful for those who are already sick. If you already have covid, be careful with exercising at the peak of disease, but re-start as soon as your body is ready. And, of course, follow the mantras of epidemiologists about keeping distance, wearing masks, washing hands etc.
Do no harm to yourself! Before I get to the idea of what to do, I want to emphasize that in the case of covid, it is important not to put extra strain on the body, especially the lungs. No alcohol, no cigarettes or other harmful substances. It is an additional load on the body, which is already struggling a lot.
Bromhexine. This is the only chemical medication I took for Covid-19 therapy. It is a long-known and relatively inexpensive medication. Studies of the effect of this drug on covid are still ongoing, but there is a version that it does not treat disease but it does not allow covid viruses to attach to the receptors in the lungs that allow the virus to multiply, thus preventing resuscitation and death.
Berries. It is one of the richest sources of vitamins, organic acids, pectin and color pigments, which are powerful antioxidants. I eat a lot of blackcurrant, cranberries and sea buckthorn, and raspberries, which, among other things, have antiviral activity. In turn, sea buckthorn is also evaluated in the covid context: Korean scientists believe that the organic acids in sea buckthorn block the formation of purine, which is the main source of energy for the virus.
Healing plants. The range of medical plants is very wide, so it is worth choosing them according to your geographical location and individual symptoms. I used mainly herbs what grows in North Europe to fight cough, to strengthen immunity and with antiviral effects. Here I will only give examples for each of these groups, so that everyone can choose the one they like best and the most accessible ones. Of course, herbs have a complex effect and the mentioned benefit is not their only contribution to our health. So. The root of Elecampane (Inula helenium), Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica), leaves and flowers of Colt’s-foot (Tussilago farfara), herbs of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and buds of Scot’s pine (Pinus sylvestris) are good to calm down coughing and has expectorant effect. Immune system can be strengthened by European/Black elder (Sambucus nigra) berries and flowers, root of ginger, flowers and leaves of Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus), herbs and roots of Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), herbs of Rosebay willowherb or Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium). Anti-virus (it’s not particularly about Covid but viruses in general) effect has some well known spice herb as Common oregano (Origanum vulgare) and Garden sage (Salvia officinalis), berries and leaves of Common juniper (Juniperus communis), buds of Silver birch (Betula pendula/verrucosa) or Downy birch (Betula pubescens). Effects both on strengthening immune system and antiviral effects has onions and garlic, raspberry, root of Sweet-flag (Acorus calamus) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).
Artemisia annua tincture. This plant (Sweet wormwood) also belongs to the medicinal plants, but I will highlight it separately, because it does not grow with in the wild in my part of the world (but is a native of Asia) and must be ordered online. I started using this product to help the body recover better from Lyme disease, but information from Wikipedia shows that some sources also recommend it against covid, although the WHO draws attention to the fact that its effectiveness has not been proven.
Serrapeptase. Serrapeptase is an enzyme isolated from bacteria found in silkworms. Opinions are divided about enzyme therapy – some traditional medicine specialists shake their heads thoughtfully about it, while others are convinced of the effectiveness of the therapy. It is mainly used to reduce pain and inflammation, but there may be other positive effects on the body, including in cases of chronic respiratory diseases, so I also mention this preparation in the context of covid.
Polypores or bracket fungi. As polypores has been used in some traditions to heal cancer and LAM lung desease has some similarities with cancer, I decided to use them. A person who wrote a book about healing effect of them expressed idea that polypores could be good also in case of covid (there is no any reasearch or proof, just an idea). I’m usually making a decoction from Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), Birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina), Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius), Stem decay fungus (Fomitopsis pinicola) and Coriolus versicolor (Trametes versicolor). There ane many polypores with a healing effect I just use previously mentioned because they grow in the forest next to my house.
Measure oxygen level in the blood. The is a small device called finger pulse oximeter and it measures oxygen level in the blood and pulse. Why you should take care of this measurement – a covid patient may not notice a significant drop in oxygen levels that may be dangerous to the health.
Vitamine D. I was taking it also before covid because many people in our part of the world have deficiency of this vitamine. And, there might be some links detected between lack of vitamine D and covid patients.
Mental hygiene. I believe that our well-being is also affected by our thoughts, our desire to heal, so take care of what you think and wish for.
Peer support. It is important to have someone who takes care of you: from a very practical point – the supply medicine, food and other things, to moral encouragement. As covid patient brain sometimes works slowly (as I felt it in my case) there can be a situation that a patient doesn’t seek help of professionals when it’s needed. So, it’s very important to have someone who is in a reach and can make decisions with a clear head.
My deepest thanks to everyone who helped me to go through my Covid-19 disease and I wish you to stay healthy and take care of your loved ones. And if you get covid – don’t panic, help your body and I truly hope for a quick and full recovery!
