Still Waiting for the Vaccine? Promising Immune Support from Natural Therapies

Photo: Thanks to Discover Serbia on Unsplash.

by Connie Hernandez, ND

The Moderna and Pfizer anti-COVID vaccines currently available have demonstrated high short-term safety and efficacy, but only time will tell about their long-term efficacy and safety.

A number of vaccines based on different mechanisms are coming to the U.S. and are already in widespread use in other countries.

Due to vaccine shortages and distribution issues, you may have to wait patiently for your vaccine.

Or you may have chosen to wait until further data are available in order to compare the various vaccines for their safety and effectiveness.

Dr. Connie Hernandez, ND

The decision is up to you. You’ll doubtless want to weigh variables such as your age, health, potential exposure, occupation, desire (or need) to work and travel freely, and even your level of anxiety.

If your life is now severely limited by a fear of COVID, the vaccine may be your best answer. 

In any case, while you wait, you can help protect yourself by supporting your immune status naturally – while continuing to observe hand-washing, masking, and social distancing.

We’ve spoken about immune-supportive nutrients often in the past, so most of our readers will be aware of the benefits of maximizing vitamin C, D, and zinc status, as well as enabling zinc with quercetin and taking NAC.

As the pandemic rages, research findings from around the world are revealing the potential for additional immune support from the natural world.

Vitamin K2 may be one of the big players. A December 2020 preprint study in Denmark found that vitamin K2 status is lower in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, compared to healthy control subjects. In addition, mortality among COVID-19 patients appears strongly dependent on vitamin K2 status.

This makes sense, when we remember that vitamin K and vitamin D operate synergistically and are provided together in the D3/K2 capsules we recommend. (A 5000 IU D3 with a higher amount of K2 is also available.)

In addition, researchers are looking at how vitamins A, D, and K may bind to the COVID-spike protein and inhibit infectivity.

Researchers at the Fatty Acid Research Institute and Cedars-Sinai Medical Centers of Los Angeles and Orange County found that adequate levels of omega-3 fatty acids could help keep patients from developing severe COVID.

The findings are under peer review, and there are no published studies so far. However, it’s well known that the omega oils have potent anti-inflammatory activity, and it is speculated that they could dampen the cytokine storms that threaten COVID patients.

The Special Infectious Agent Unit in King Fahd Medical Research Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is looking at the antiviral effects of medicinal plants in human infectious disease. Due to positive findings with Gaia Herbs’ Hypericum perforatum and Echinacea species, they are setting up clinical trials that will test their efficacy.

Here in the U.S., a yet to be peer-reviewed study from Northwestern University and Utah State University tested Xlear Sinus Care nasal spray (11% xylitol, 0.2% grapefruit seed extract, and 85% saline) against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and showed the virus to be reduced in number and neutralized.

The speculation is that this combination therapy may prevent the spread of similar viral infections.  Note that this was in vitro testing (outside the human body), but many patients are already finding this spray helpful for sinus and respiratory issues. A healthy nasal mucosa is the innate immune system’s first line of defense, so it makes sense to try the spray, in addition to other protective measures.

Immune enhancement by natural means isn’t limited to ingesting nutrients and botanicals. Heat treatments were successfully used in the flu pandemic of the early 20th century; they increase anti-inflammatory interferon levels (see hydrotherapyathome.com and hydro4covid.com)

A walk in the forest has been scientifically proven to support immunity.

So, whether you’ve already been vaccinated or you’re still waiting, it might be a good idea to support your body’s innate capacity to respond to microbial assaults.

For information about the services we offer at Pacific Naturopathic, please give us a call at 650-961-1660, use the convenient Contact Form to get in touch, or follow the link to: Consultations – Pacific Naturopathic. Thank you!