10 Natural Treatments for COVID Long Haulers (November 2022)
- Subacute or ongoing COVID-19 (post-acute COVID-19 syndrome): symptoms continuing beyond four weeks from acute infection, up to 12 weeks.
- Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): symptoms persisting beyond the four weeks after acute infection.
- Post-COVID-19 syndrome (long COVID, long-hauler’s syndrome): chronic ongoing COVID-19 symptoms beyond 12 weeks from acute infection.
- Long Haulers Symptoms
- Natural Treatments
- Vitamin D
- Probiotics
- Melatonin
- Vitamin C
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Quercetin, EGCG and Curcumin
- N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC)
- Zinc
- Resveratrol
- Lumbrokinase and Serrapeptase
- FLCCC I-Recover Protocol
Long Haulers Symptoms
Among those who were hospitalized, only 26% fully recovered after five months (R), and nearly half still had symptoms one year later (R). Those who needed mechanical ventilation were 58% less likely to heal fully; obese people were half as likely to recover fully (R). At the two-year mark, 55% of hospitalized patients had at least one COVID-19 symptom, compared to 68% six months after infection. Patients generally had poorer health two years later and still experienced pain, fatigue, problems with sleeping and mental health issues. They went to a doctor more often, had ongoing difficulty exercising, and experienced poor quality of life (R).
A study published in May 2022, using U.S. health insurance records suggests that over 75% of people with long-hauler’s syndrome were never hospitalized for COVID. After the acute illness was over, nearly 25% of these patients had ongoing respiratory symptoms, chiefly shortness of breath and cough; 17% had fatigue, brain fog, and exhaustion that got worse with physical or mental activity. Abnormal heartbeats and sleep disorders were also common.
An international study showed that fatigue is the most common long-hauler’s syndrome, affecting 80% of all patients. Post-exertional malaise affects 73%, cognitive dysfunction affects 58%, sensorimotor symptoms such as loss of smell affect 56%, headache affects 54%, and memory issues affect 51% (R). A year after infection, common persistent symptoms include fatigue (reported by 82% of patients), brain fog (written by 67%), and headache (reported by 60%) (R).
Natural Treatments for Long Haulers
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D3 is essential for supporting healthy immune system function. It works hand in hand with your body to modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses which regulate everything from reactivity to antigens and pathogens.2. Probiotics
COVID can wreak havoc on the gut microbiome, but research on specific probiotic strains that can best restore balance following the syndrome’s particular damage is in its infancy. Leo Galland, MD, a functional-medicine internist in New York City, is looking into soil-derived bacteria of the genus Bacillus because it may have natural antibiotic properties, though there’s not yet enough data to make specific recommendations.Eating fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, and kimchi, can help fortify and support the gut’s microbiome. And in the event of ongoing gut disturbances, working with a functional-medicine provider to design a well-rounded prebiotic and probiotic protocol can help bring the microbiome back into balance.
3. Melatonin
Supplementing with 1 - 2 mg of melatonin at bedtime might benefit those whose sleep–wake cycles have become dysregulated with long COVID.
4. Vitamin C
5. Omega-3 fatty acids
6. Quercetin, EGCG and Curcumin
Quercetin appears to bind to the spike protein of the coronavirus, inhibit inflammatory pathways, and block replication of infected cells. It is also antiviral and completely safe. In addition to getting sources of quercetin from diet, long-COVID patients can supplement with 250 - 500 mg a day.
7. N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC)
NAC is an amino acid that the body uses to create glutathione, the body’s master detoxifier. Glutathione is your master detoxifier and the most powerful free radical scavenger produced by your body.Many COVID-19 patients experience serious blood clots, and NAC counteracts hypercoagulation, as it has both anticoagulant and platelet-inhibiting properties.
Aaron Hartman, MD, founder of the Richmond Integrative and Functional Medicine clinic in Richmond, Va., describes one patient, a 26-year-old woman, whose symptoms — persistent low oxygen and shortness of breath — following a bout of COVID resolved after treatment that included NAC as well as omega-3 fish oil.
“NAC is one of the more important nutrients for people who get shortness of breath with COVID, because of its ability to break down those really, really small blood clots called micro-emboli,” explains Hartman.
8. Zinc
Zinc is essential for healthy immune function. A 2020 review published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases has found that zinc deficiency can increase the risk of poor outcomes in viral infections, including COVID-19.Foods that are rich in zinc include meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, dairy, seeds, nuts, legumes, sweet potatoes, quinoa, and green leafy vegetables.
9. Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a polyphenol with antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory effects that’s found in red grapes, red wine,
peanuts, and some berries. It’s also available as a
supplement.
Leo Galland, MD, a functional-medicine
internist in New York City, has found it to be particularly
helpful in restoring his COVID patients to health. “Resveratrol
has a number of beneficial effects on coronavirus infection,” he
notes. “It supports ACE-2 function, it inhibits the growth of
the deadly MERS coronavirus through multiple mechanisms, and it
diminishes the kind of inflammation associated with coronavirus
infection.”
He recommends long-COVID patients supplement with 200 mg of resveratrol twice a day.
10. Lumbrokinase and Serrapeptase
If you’ve had COVID-19, especially if it was a severe case, be aware that blood clots and heart problems, including heart attack, can occur for 90 days or more. It’s believed that remnants of the virus remain in the nervous system, the lungs, the heart and other organs.If the symptoms include major shortness of breath, cough with blood in it or pain on one side when you take a deep breath, it could be due to a late pulmonary embolism or a blood clot going to the lungs.
A safer and likely equally effective alternative to aspirin is digestive fibrinolytic enzymes like lumbrokinase and serrapeptase. You can alternate between the two enzymes — one day take lumbrokinase and the next take serrapeptase — because you’ll need to be on it for about three months and you can develop a sensitivity to them over time.
Anyone who had COVID-19, especially with significant symptoms, should consider taking digestive fibrinolytic enzymes to be sure you don’t have any clotting. An alternative to determine if clotting is occurring is a test called D-dimer, although it can be pricey. D-dimer is a protein fragment produced by the body when a blood clot dissolves.
It’s typically undetectable or present only at very low levels, buts its level may significantly rise when the body is forming and breaking down blood clots (R). If your d-dimer test is low, then you don’t need to take the enzymes. Likewise, if you had a very mild, cold-like case, of COVID-19, you probably don’t need them.
FLCCC I-Recover Protocol
This protocol has also been used to treat post-vaccine
inflammatory syndromes with similar success. As with all
FLCCC Alliance protocols, the components, doses, and
durations will evolve as more clinical data
accumulates.
The I-Recover protocol for long haulers has been updated and below is their latest version (version 3: Sep 6, 2022). Do not confuse this I-Recover protocol for long COVID with another I-Recover protocol for post-vaccine syndrome that was launched in May 2022, by FLCCC. One is for post covid long haulers and the other, for post vaccine syndrome.
Treatment must be individualized according to each patient’s presenting symptoms and disease syndromes. It is likely that not all patients will respond equally to the same intervention; a particular intervention may be life-saving for one patient and totally ineffective for another. Early treatment is essential; it is likely that the response to treatment will be attenuated when treatment is delayed.
First-line treatments (In order of priority; not all required):- Prednisone: 10–15mg daily for 3 weeks. Taper to 10mg for three days, then 5mg for three days and then stop.
- Ivermectin: 0.2 - 0.3 mg/kg body weight. (Find a Doctor)
- Low dose naltrexone (LDN): Begin with 1 mg daily and increase to 4.5mg as required. May take 2–3 months for full effect.
- Intermittent daily fasting and/or periodic daily fasts: Fasting promotes autophagy, the body’s protective mechanism to remove misfolded, foreign and damaged proteins. It also promotes mitophagy and the release of stem cells. It is likely that promoting autophagy will aid in the removal of the spike protein. NOTE: Hydroxychloroquine inhibits autophagy and should be avoided in patients undergoing intermittent fasting.
- Spermidine and/or Resveratrol: These compounds have been demonstrated to augment autophagy. Wheatgerm, mushrooms, grapefruit, apples and mango are high natural sources of spermidine. A bio-enhanced formulation containing trans-resveratrol from Japanese Knotwood Root appears to have good bio-availability.
- Melatonin: 8mg at night (slow release/extended release preferred) with attention to sleep hygiene. Increase dose from 1mg as tolerated (may cause severe nightmares at high dosages).
- Vitamin D: The majority of those with post-COVID-19 syndrome continue to have hypovitaminosis D. See tables 1 or 2 for vitamin D supplementation.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Vascepa, Lovaza or DHA/EPA 4g per day. Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in the resolution of inflammation by inducing resolvin production. [Ref, Ref]
- Curcumin (turmeric): 500 mg twice daily. Has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties and has been demonstrated to repolarize macrophages.
- Aspirin — 81 milligrams a day.
2nd Line TherapiesIf symptoms do not improve after 1-2 weeks continue steroids, Omega-3 fatty acids and LDN and add second line therapies as below.- Fluvoxamine (low dose): 25mg once daily. Stop if the symptoms increase. Caution with the use of other antidepressants and psychiatric drugs. Taper and discontinue once symptoms improve.
- Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ): 200 mg twice daily for 1-2 weeks, then reduce as tolerated to 200 mg daily. HCQ is the preferred second line agent. With long term usage, the dose should be reduced (100 mg or 150 mg daily) in patients weighing less than 61 kg (135 lbs).
- Intravenous Vitamin C: 25 g/week, together with oral Vitamin C 1000 mg (1 gram) 2-3 times daily. Oral Vitamin C is important to provide nutrients for the microbiome. Total daily doses of 8-12 g have been well-tolerated, however chronic high doses have been associated with the development of kidney stones, so the duration of therapy should be limited. Wean IV Vitamin C as tolerated.
- Mitochondrial energy optimizer with pyrroloquinoline quinone (e.g., Life Extension Energy Optimizer or ATP 360®).
- N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): 600-1500 mg/day.
3rd Line Therapies- Maraviroc (Pfizer’s CCR5 antagonist): 300mg PO twice a day If 6–8 weeks have elapsed and significant symptoms persist, consider either getting an InCellDx test to assess long hauler index profile prior to initiating or can consider initiating empirically. Note maraviroc can be expensive and it has risk for significant side effects and drug interactions.
- Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS): using transcranial direct current stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation. NIBS is painless, extremely safe, and easy to administer. NIBS is offered by many Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Centers. Patients may also purchase an FDA-approved device for home use.
The options below are from the I-Recover protocol for long haulers version 2: Jan 20, 2022. We have included here for your reference.
Optional adjunctive therapies (in order of priority)- Nigella Sativa: which like curcumin has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties.
- Atorvastatin: 20–40mg once daily. Caution in patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS); may exacerbate symptoms.
- Kefir, probiotic yogurt and/or Bifidobacterium Probiotics (e.g., Daily Body Restore) together with Prebiotics (e.g. XOS Prebiotic, Bio Nutrition Pre-Biotic) to normalize the microbiome. Prolonged dysbiosis has been reported following COVID-19 infection.
- Behavioral modification, mindfulness therapy and psychological support may help improve survivors’ overall well-being and mental health.
- Luteolin 100–200mg day or Quercetin 250mg day (or mixed flavonoids). Luteolin and quercetin have broad spectrum anti-inflammatory properties. These natural flavonoids inhibit mast cells, and have been demonstrated to reduce neuroinflammation. [R]
- H1 receptor blockers (for mast cell activation syndrome): Loratadine 10mg daily, or Cetirizine 5–10mg daily, or Fexofenadine 180mg — daily.
- H2 receptor blockers (for mast cell activation syndrome): Famotidine 20–40mg, or Nizatidine 150mg — twice daily as tolerated.
- Montelukast: 10mg/day (for mast cell activation syndrome). Caution as may cause depression in some patients.
- Anti-androgen therapy: Spironolactone 50–100mg twice a day, and Dutasteride 1mg daily.
Mast cell stabilisers: rupadatadine, quercetin or luteolin.
- Prednisone: 10–15mg daily for 3 weeks. Taper to 10mg for three days, then 5mg for three days and then stop.
- Ivermectin: 0.2 - 0.3 mg/kg body weight. (Find a Doctor)
- Low dose naltrexone (LDN): Begin with 1 mg daily and increase to 4.5mg as required. May take 2–3 months for full effect.
- Intermittent daily fasting and/or periodic daily fasts: Fasting promotes autophagy, the body’s protective mechanism to remove misfolded, foreign and damaged proteins. It also promotes mitophagy and the release of stem cells. It is likely that promoting autophagy will aid in the removal of the spike protein. NOTE: Hydroxychloroquine inhibits autophagy and should be avoided in patients undergoing intermittent fasting.
- Spermidine and/or Resveratrol: These compounds have been demonstrated to augment autophagy. Wheatgerm, mushrooms, grapefruit, apples and mango are high natural sources of spermidine. A bio-enhanced formulation containing trans-resveratrol from Japanese Knotwood Root appears to have good bio-availability.
- Melatonin: 8mg at night (slow release/extended release preferred) with attention to sleep hygiene. Increase dose from 1mg as tolerated (may cause severe nightmares at high dosages).
- Vitamin D: The majority of those with post-COVID-19 syndrome continue to have hypovitaminosis D. See tables 1 or 2 for vitamin D supplementation.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Vascepa, Lovaza or DHA/EPA 4g per day. Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in the resolution of inflammation by inducing resolvin production. [Ref, Ref]
- Curcumin (turmeric): 500 mg twice daily. Has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties and has been demonstrated to repolarize macrophages.
- Aspirin — 81 milligrams a day.
- Fluvoxamine (low dose): 25mg once daily. Stop if the symptoms increase. Caution with the use of other antidepressants and psychiatric drugs. Taper and discontinue once symptoms improve.
- Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ): 200 mg twice daily for 1-2 weeks, then reduce as tolerated to 200 mg daily. HCQ is the preferred second line agent. With long term usage, the dose should be reduced (100 mg or 150 mg daily) in patients weighing less than 61 kg (135 lbs).
- Intravenous Vitamin C: 25 g/week, together with oral Vitamin C 1000 mg (1 gram) 2-3 times daily. Oral Vitamin C is important to provide nutrients for the microbiome. Total daily doses of 8-12 g have been well-tolerated, however chronic high doses have been associated with the development of kidney stones, so the duration of therapy should be limited. Wean IV Vitamin C as tolerated.
- Mitochondrial energy optimizer with pyrroloquinoline quinone (e.g., Life Extension Energy Optimizer or ATP 360®).
- N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): 600-1500 mg/day.
- Maraviroc (Pfizer’s CCR5 antagonist): 300mg PO twice a day If 6–8 weeks have elapsed and significant symptoms persist, consider either getting an InCellDx test to assess long hauler index profile prior to initiating or can consider initiating empirically. Note maraviroc can be expensive and it has risk for significant side effects and drug interactions.
- Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS): using transcranial direct current stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation. NIBS is painless, extremely safe, and easy to administer. NIBS is offered by many Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Centers. Patients may also purchase an FDA-approved device for home use.
- Nigella Sativa: which like curcumin has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties.
- Atorvastatin: 20–40mg once daily. Caution in patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS); may exacerbate symptoms.
- Kefir, probiotic yogurt and/or Bifidobacterium Probiotics (e.g., Daily Body Restore) together with Prebiotics (e.g. XOS Prebiotic, Bio Nutrition Pre-Biotic) to normalize the microbiome. Prolonged dysbiosis has been reported following COVID-19 infection.
- Behavioral modification, mindfulness therapy and psychological support may help improve survivors’ overall well-being and mental health.
- Luteolin 100–200mg day or Quercetin 250mg day (or mixed flavonoids). Luteolin and quercetin have broad spectrum anti-inflammatory properties. These natural flavonoids inhibit mast cells, and have been demonstrated to reduce neuroinflammation. [R]
- H1 receptor blockers (for mast cell activation syndrome): Loratadine 10mg daily, or Cetirizine 5–10mg daily, or Fexofenadine 180mg — daily.
- H2 receptor blockers (for mast cell activation syndrome): Famotidine 20–40mg, or Nizatidine 150mg — twice daily as tolerated.
- Montelukast: 10mg/day (for mast cell activation syndrome). Caution as may cause depression in some patients.
- Anti-androgen therapy: Spironolactone 50–100mg twice a day, and Dutasteride 1mg daily.
Post-Vaccination Long Haulers?
- Make certain you measure your blood vitamin D level and take enough vitamin D orally (typically about 8,000 units/day for most adults) to make sure your level is 60 to 80 ng/ml (100 to 150 nmol/l).
- Eliminate all vegetable (seed) oils in your diet, which involves eliminating nearly all processed foods and most meals in restaurants unless you convince the chef to only cook with butter. Avoid any sauces or salad dressings in restaurants as they are loaded with seed oils. Also avoid chicken and pork as they are very high in linoleic acid, the omega-6 fat that is far too high in nearly everyone and contributes to oxidative stress that causes heart disease.
- Consider taking around 500 mg/day of NAC, as it helps prevent blood clots and is a precursor for your body to produce the important antioxidant glutathione.
- Consider fibrinolytic enzymes that digest the fibrin that leads to blood clots, strokes and pulmonary embolisms. The dose is typically two, twice a day, but must be taken on an empty stomach, either an hour before or two hours after a meal. Otherwise, the enzymes will digest your food and not the fibrin in the blood clot.
- For treatment of post-vaccine syndrome, check out i-Recover Post Vaccine Treatment Protocol.
- Find health care providers: FIND A DOCTOR WHO WILL PRESCRIBE IVERMECTIN, HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE AND EARLY OUTPATIENT TREATMENTS FOR COVID-19 (USA)
- For comprehensive reviews on topics and research regarding long COVID, check out this long COVID video series by Dr Been.
- Post-COVID recovery clinics are being launched nationwide to address this still-growing need.
Z-Dtox Supplement
Your immune system can be weakened by over 300 different primary immunodeficiency disorders, poor diet, lack of sleep, and adverse reactions to various vaccines.
That’s where Z-DTOX comes in! Z-Dtox is Dr. Zelenko’s proprietary combination of ECGC, NAC, Zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D.
Ingredients:
- Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is an extract of green tea and is a powerful zinc Ionophore (zinc delivery system).
- N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a supplement form of cysteine. It may prevent blood clots and is an antioxidant.
- Zinc is critical for immune cell development. Dozens of different enzymes in the body rely on zinc.
- Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue and the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters.
- Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and many other biological effects.
Notes:
- To get 5% OFF, please use this coupon code: DRFRANCIS
- Cyber Monday Deal - Use code Monday20 for a 20% discount on your whole cart
Comments
Post a Comment