This blog was inspired by recent personal events. When COVID19 knocks and bashes down the door, how will you respond?
I would like to share a supplement protocol especially for those in the moderate and high-risk categories for developing COVID19 complications. This is for all the elderly dads, grandads, uncles and brothers out there, but of course not limited to them.
My 77 yr old father has been battling a COVID19 infection for the past two weeks. The hospitals along the garden route of South Africa are overburdened and when assessed he was not sick enough to be admitted. But not well enough to remain in quarantine at home (in my opinion) with oxygen saturation ranging between 80-90% and only my mom to nurse him. Nevertheless, I am actually very grateful that he wasn't admitted and has been able to recuperate in a familiar, loving environment. The hospital staff dispatched him home with an aspirin and a Ventolin pump.
Prior to this illness, my father was remarkably strong which made the severity of his current illness an unexpected shock to all of us. He has no comorbidities and does not take any chronic medications. We attribute his good health to our team of family specialists. My mother's healthy lifestyle and cooking comprising of organic produce, juicing and having been a compliant patient to myself, my sister who is a physiotherapist, my brother who is an osteopath, my husband who is a chiropractor and the functional medicine doctors who have looked after him over the last 20 years.
It all started to unravel after an innocent phone call home to check in with my parents after hearing my dad had the flu'. What a shock to find that my usually robust father was unable to sit up in bed or talk to me on the phone and barely able to walk a few meters. At that point, fearing I would lose my dad, our family sprang into action. It was a terrifying and humbling experiencing for me. For those of you who are similarly affected, this is our experience and what you can do.
We have been using the main elements of this Orthomolecular protocol By Dr Michael Gonzalez plus a series of individualised Homoeopathic remedies, nebulising with diluted hydrogen peroxide and a Ventolin pump when his oxygen saturation goes below 90%. There are a number of immune-optimizing supplements you can take that will improve your immunity to disease.
We also purchased a pulse oximeter so we could monitor his oxygen saturation at home. I highly recommend this piece of technology so you can respond timeously with meaningful care.
Here is my dad's reading of 97% on Day 7 after confirmed COVID diagnosis.
I hope this information helps others out there as it has helped my father who is thankfully improving day by day.
Orthomolecular Covid-19 protocol By Dr Michael Gonzalez
He recommends this supplementation protocol especially for those in the moderate and high-risk categories.
Multivitamin and mineral, one daily
Vitamin C 1,000 mg, three times daily, reduce if it causes a laxative effect.
Vitamin D 2,000 - 5,000 IU daily depending on body weight, 10,000 IU daily for the first 2 weeks
Zinc gluconate 30 mg daily
Magnesium 500 mg daily (in malate, citrate, or chloride form)
Selenium Methionine 200 mcg daily (also contained in many multivitamin supplements)
Probiotics >30 billion CFU daily
Quercetin 500 mg daily
NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) 500 mg daily
Melatonin 1-5 mg (up to 10mg) daily, depending on individual tolerance and need
Other suggested supplements: Echinacea, astragalus, rhodiola, maitake, shitake, ginger, garlic, elderberry, vitamin A, lipoic acid, CoQ10, vitamin E (mixed tocopherols with all four tocotrienols).
Further to this protocol, the following information was shared by Dr Bernard Brom in his Creating Health Newsletter. Although it is meant for professionals, there are not enough out there who are informed or know of these nutriceutical care options. I believe that the demand for something like supervision of nutriceutical megadosing and Intravenous (IV) therapies needs to come from an informed public. Should you find yourself or your loved ones with a positive COVID infection, this is what you can try or request from your Intergrative Health provider.
With suspected infection the vitamin C should be increased to 1000mg every hour while awake, vitamin D to 25000 IU daily, Quercetin 500mg twice daily and vitamin A 10 000IU/day. Intravenous (IV) vitamin C 25g for three days is also a good idea if available.
If symptoms are present then the vitamin C should be moved upwards to bowel tolerance, taking 3-5 g every hour until one develops loose stool, then decrease the last dose by 5g and continue for three more days. Vitamin C IV 25g daily should be added for one week daily.
So what is the moral of this blog? The power of Prevention and Teamwork!
Over the past 20 years, I believe that my father's health has benefitted from a number of synergistic health inputs. They have kept him free of the chronic diseases that are considered by many as part of the normal ageing process and although not immune to COVID19, resilient enough to bounce back with the right support.
Synergistic health inputs
A mostly plant-based diet, clean living and plenty of sunshine.
My mother's commitment to sourcing organic produce (including growing her own), cooking meals from scratch and a regular juicing habit.
Me, my husband and my siblings' health supervision both in person and from afar.
His Functional medical doctor who has administered nutriceuticals where others would have pharmaceuticals.
We were meant to visit SA this Christmas but sadly decided against it in the face of the rising number of COVID cases. The family photo was taken almost 2 years ago when I last gathered with my siblings and parents.
If you would like more information about the above-mentioned protocol or any other elements, please send an email to nicole@wellnessplaceint.com and I will endeavour to help you.
The above information is intended as a self-help protocol but you should always be tested and assessed by a medical professional if you have the symptoms of COVID19 and are worried about your condition.
About the Author:
Nicole is a Personalised Health & Lifestyle Educator using Classical Homoeopathy and Functional Medicine. For more information visit www.wellnessplaceint.com