The Stealthy Behavior of Coronavirus and Home Therapy

I am now supporting about 30 patients with symptoms of what appears to be the SARS-CoV-2 virus.  Symptoms include:  runny nose, loss of sense of smell and taste, headache, pink eye, eyeball ache, fatigue, fever, mild sore throat, mild cough.  All of these cases in my small cohort are exactly what I have been working for: a mild illness that confers permanent immunity. None of them have been tested because testing is limited to those with fever and severe symptoms.  We need to expand testing…we need to know who is immune so these people can get back to work and be in the community to help others.  The main test with the swab is only 60-70% accurate and frequently shows negative for those with mild symptoms.  It will be better to get the blood test to confirm the presence of antibodies specific to the SARS-2 virus.

Please beware: the virus initially suppresses the immune system and while you, the host, are not paying attention, it is working its way into the lungs (where it can do severe damage) while you mostly feel fine. In addition to the specific functional medicine protocol I have shared with you in previous newsletters (which I recommend you re-read as they answer many of the repeat questions I have been receiving--you can find all four here), there is a highly useful home therapy you can use to bolster your immune system to shorten the virus’ overextended and unwelcome sojourn in your body.  More on this to follow.

In Iceland, where they are testing 100% of their residents, the results show that up to 50% of the people who test positive are asymptomatic.  Now, our understanding is that when the Coronavirus suppresses, the innate immune system does not get signals to effectively fight it in early stages.  Observation of the virus’ behavior is showing that it suppresses the immune system by decreasing Type I Interferon.  Fortunately, Los Angeles and New York City have ordered universal mask-wearing to help stop asymptomatic spread.  There are many DIY Mask videos on YouTube.

In my last newsletter, I mentioned the practice of not suppressing a viral fever unless there is lethargy.  In my practice of 30+ years, what I observe in the field is that when we let the fever safely run its course, the patient emerges with a stronger, “rebooted” immune system and in children, usually a growth surge follows, both physically and mentally.  There is a critical window between exposure and/or the first onset of symptoms AND most miss this window because the symptoms are mild and go undetected. It is during this period where doing home hydrothermal therapy and resting in bed can really make a difference in supporting your immune system.  Monocytes, a white blood cell, need to be activated.  These cells are often deficient in elderly and otherwise immune-compromised folks. Through fever, monocytes and the innate immune system are activated, but due to suppression by SARS-CoV-2, often the fever does not occur early enough or at all.  In Finland, where saunas followed by cold plunge are a way of life, the Finns have the lowest death rate per capita of all countries due to COVID-19.  None of this has been studied in direct relation to SARS-CoV-2, and we are having to extrapolate from other studies on RNA/coronaviruses and empirical evidence based on outcomes in the Spanish Flu.  Since there has not been time to do a proper clinical study on home hydrothermal therapy, I am now supporting some of my patients through the process and gathering data to share with you soon.  Very early feedback indicates that it does bolster your immune system to fight the virus off rather than allowing the illness to become serious.

One of my main sources of scientific information to help keep you all healthy and safe is Dr. Seheult of MedCram.  I am very grateful for his clear organization and presentation of emerging data and evidence on the pandemic.

I am proud of all of you for doing your part in staying home to slow the spread.  It’s not easy.  It’s lonely.  It’s scary, and it’s working.  Due to early action by our effective leadership, California’s curve is the best in the nation.  To spread the love, I’d like to share with you some excellent strategies for staying mentally well while home, written by a psychologist, Dr. Eileen Feliciano.  Thank you for doing your part!  We shall endure and emerge stronger.

3D rendering of healthy monocyte image credit: Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436.

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‍Copyright © 2020 Dr. Jeanette Ryan, DC, IFMCP, All rights reserved.
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