Wow flash back 3 years ago!

In all the chaos this never got posted as my website support person had a major (non-covid) infection and ended up in the hospital. We never got back to this as just keeping sane took over.  BUT even today, as Covid-19 has morphed and changed and the distancing protocols have lightened up for most folks, this is great advice. Un-masked everyone is again dealing with colds and flu and RSV and pneumonia.  So with a caveat that most of this is always appropriate during winter illness just be sure to check with your primary care providers as to what is best for you!

As are many, I am trying to get a balanced picture of how to effectively respond to the disease of the year vs hype and partial information which causes fear. The more knowledge we have the more power we have to help ourselves.

I took an hour again today to look up medical research related to viruses in general. I want to know if the preventative care I’ve used before and stayed healthier than most will be enough for me and my close contacts I have been and will be with until this season runs it’s course.

The 2019 virus is now considered to be a similar strain to the SARS coronavirus that caused much illness in 2003. There is a trial going on for a few very ill patients for the antiviral remdesivir.  It seems to help some patients from what is known in Chinese usage.

Some of the things I learned according to several controlled studies found through Pubmed are:

It infects the coolest mucus membranes most quickly. Your nose and mouth. So no iced drinks unless a fever gets too high for too long.

The virus lingers about a day on paper but several days on plastic or stainless steel.

Ultraviolet light kills about 75% of the virus.

Heat of 122 to 140 Degrees kills it.

*NOW*

What we can do additionally to minimize it’s effects:

Choose any of these that make sense to you.

• Use humidifiers to keep your nasal passages working well.

• Warm your nasal passages as much as possible like a fever does naturally!

• Exercise until you sweat in fresh air and sunshine.

• Dance Anywhere…

• Laughter also heats you up!

• Drink hot green or herbal teas like ginger and peppermint with eucalyptus throughout the day.

“Breathe Easy” is nice from Traditional Medicinals.

• Hot homemade lemonade with honey and a sprinkle of cayenne is also tasty and helps alkalize the body.

• Eat warmed (soups) & spicy foods that promote a sweat. Wasabi anyone?!

• Gargle warm salt water or a mouth wash recommended by your dentist.

• Simmer a pot of water with whole cloves, cinnamon and or bay leaves. Their antiseptic antiviral oils will be released in the air and moisten your mucus membranes.

• Be outside as much as possible!

• Have access to a dry sauna? Go in for 15-20 min  a couple of times with an hour in between  everyday if you are otherwise in good health.

• Use essential oils in a diffuser or spray bottle.  Tea tree oil also known as melaleuca has evidence based research to show it is effective in killing viral pathogens. Many other essential oils do as well.