not sure where this came from, but i think it's true:
Sip water / fluids frequently. If your throat is moist much of the virus will be washed into your stomach where acids kill them. If your throat is dry it is more likely the virus will stay in the throat and get into the windpipe and lungs.
This was floated around on social media, reportedly from an oncologist. It's not true. Viruses love moist mucosa, and as soon as they hit the interior tissues of the nose, eyes, mouth or throat, they start boring their way to the bloodstream to infect more cells. I mean, think about it, if this was true, stomach viruses wouldn't exist. That being said, hydration is never a bad thing.
i don't think it is 100% effective, but dehydration would expose more tiny blood vessels, while still being *somewhat* moist. Dehydrated people are more prone to all kinds of things. Like if the skin in the ear gets dry and cracked, it becomes susceptible to infection (which i recently found out). But i am not a Dr., and YMMV
@jeanne-mayell thank you for your welcome and great information. I am in Australia so the Timezone difference might be a challenge I work during the day. That said I am hoping to be able to participate. Today was a better day.
@michele-b thank you ? you are most kind and welcoming. I am in Australia so the time difference might be a challenge, even so I am eager to participate.
I read that too. It was very upsetting. I don't know whether it's because Italy has such a high number of people over 60, or because they have a high percentage of smokers, or what.
I do know Americans are very complacent. But we are not a generally healthy population, either. Lots of people with diabetes and hypertension. Lots of smokers (or people who used to smoke). I myself am an ex-smoker, so that worries me. I worry about my mom, my grandmother. My younger brother has T1D.
My cousin is pregnant and they are having her baby shower this weekend. My 94-year-old grandmother plans to attend. Either I'm the only sane one, or I'm the only nutjob.
I do think that as the number of cases increases daily, the situation will become harder and harder to ignore. I wouldn't be surprised if, by Friday, most things have been canceled.
Regarding liquids/humidity - this 2019 study indicates that low humidity lowers one's resistance to influenza.
Obviously influenza isn't coronavirus and of course a humidifier isn't going to be a magic bullet against any sickness, but I do think it's a good extra layer of protection, and it stands to reason drinking lots of water can also help in that department. I don't think it is going to "wash" a virus away, though.
There is also some indication -- I don't have a link for this right now, sorry -- that Vitamin D can help one fight off severe respiratory infections. I take Vitamin D drops anyway (I am so pale I might as well be transparent, and sunlight has never been my friend), but I'm being extra vigilant about remembering them.
It's ALL very interesting! wink wink
I just love it all. Knowing we're being helped the darkest times with lots of little messengers and messages of way too often and way too cool to be co-incidences in so many otherwise little things!
Very very interesting Twitter feed you linked too. Even all the comments!.
Dr. John Campbell of the U.K. who does the daily podcast on Covid19 on YouTube mentioned vitamin D a few days ago. There is some evidence that vitamin D strengthens the immune system and lessons the severity of flu symptoms, so he is taking a daily dose. You can google Dr. Campbell and also vitamin d and immune system. Someone on this thread mentioned that elderberries have antiviral properties and I’ve researched that online. It’s available as capsules or chewables.
Love Dr. Campbell's videos! Great knowledge base, so articulate and provides both basic and as yet not readily known explanations-- so much great information!
My daughter has taken a lot of herbalism courses and makes some wonderful black elderberry syrup. She and her friends swear by it so much that she can barely make enough to give as gifts for the holidays for them!
However she always saves a bottles for her little nieces and nephews during cold and flu season. And while I don't know her exact recipe, this online site at "Wellness Mama" uses her basic approach and has great back up information on other interesting things such as this on the elderberry:
"Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, of Hadassah-Hebrew University in Israel found that elderberry disarms the enzyme viruses use to penetrate healthy cells in the lining of the nose and throat.
Taken before infection, it prevents infection. Taken after infection, it prevents spread of the virus through the respiratory tract.
In a clinical trial, 20% of study subjects reported significant improvement within 24 hours, 70% by 48 hours, and 90% claimed complete cure in three days.
In contrast, subjects receiving the placebo required 6 days to recover.
https://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/
That’s fascinating, Michelle. Why are we up this early in the morning? (It’s before 6 a.m. pacific)
I've also been watching Dr. Campbell’s daily podcast on YouTube and passed the links to family. As one of my sons commented, “it’s fascinating and deeply disturbing.” Dr. Campbell has certainly been sounding the alarm about Covid19 and the need for governments to take stronger proactive measures. Italy is certainly doing that. I expect we will see more proactive measures here in the northwest, too.
Much love to you, Michelle and many thanks for your positive, uplifting presence here. You make a difference.
Wow! Thank for the most recent information. Boo to Louie for not sel-!isolating and kudos to the others.
We're at the threshold of so many possibilities right now. We might go over the brink with so many lemmings or end up with the hard working squirrels totally preparing for the cold winters ahead with common sense instincts and the need to care and provide security for our family.
But the larger range planning...seeing and feeling so very much of that going on now.
One of Oregon's schools was in the news recently for having already provided chromebooks for each of their students to use during cold and flu season and now available if this more complex form of the coronavirus should reach their school in Estacada Oregon with online lesson planning already being set up.
Some run and hide.Some bury their heads in the sand and others just say I'm fine, everything's fine. I just want to do and live the way I want to.
And then there are those who look at the now and work together to make it better and still prepare and be ready should things change for the worse!
Estacada schools to close Monday for virus prep | KOIN.com
https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/estacada-schools-to-close-monday-for-virus-prep/
Thyme tea : steep 4-5 springs of thyme in 2 cups of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain and add the juice of half a lemon and sweeten to taste with raw honey. Drink 3-4 cups daily during illness.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5206475/
also... curcumin .. the derivative of tumeric : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25600522
as well as Vitamin D and Vitamin C
We are up to 11 cases in my area - I am self-isolating as much as possible except to go to work when scheduled. I am off for the next 3 days and am staying at home. I use thyme tea anytime I get ill with a virus and find it effectively shortens the duration. You can make the tea with dried thyme too if you do not have any fresh in your herb garden. The thyme and raw honey have anti-viral properties and the lemon juice vitamin C ... very soothing and pleasant tasting. Thyme has been used since ancient times for it's efficacy in helping . The curcumin inhibits cytokine storm - which is a feature in many viral infections..including Covid-19 : https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/here-is-what-coronavirus-does-to-the-body/
Has anyone tried to do a reading as to how severe this COVID-19 outbreak will be in the US? When will pass-- be over?
I also have interest in the experience in Canada, Mexico and Central and South Americas.
Of course, my assumption is that places where there is overcrowding, increased poverty and poor medical infrastructure, it will be worse. The US has some weaknesses in it's society that can make it a perfect storm. I expect Canada will weather it best in the Americas.
@rowsella If my long term market predictions for 2020 are correct, then the US will end up with the same situation as the the other afflicted places -- needing to close schools and lock down cities and towns. The markets plunge in 2020 and hit bottom in 2021.
Thanks to @thelovingdiet's post where she pointed out a blogger who has been studying the China response, it seems that China has had a remarkable turnaround due to their lockdowns. I doubt the US will ever do what China has done, so we may take longer to turn it around. China's authoritarian culture is able to control its millions. Here is a run down on what they have done there. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1237020518781460480.html
People in China are carefully controlled. Families stay home and passes are issued for going to the store. They put tape in elevators for only four persons per elevator ride. There are signs everywhere to help stop the epidemic.
The blogger is a Yale Professor with an impressive public health background.
Again, hydration is always a good idea, but that particular quote promotes a false sense of security with bad information. No harm in humidifying either.
Vitamin D3 IS clinically proven to boost immunity across the board. Elderberry is effective for flu (if you're not allergic to it, which I am), time will tell if it helps with coronaviruses, but again these both are harmless, so worth a try.
And before anyone says it: yes I know vitamin D toxicity exists, but I take 10,000 units a day (with vitamin K2 to aid absorption) and have never had toxicity-your mileage may vary. Yet and still I have been sick on and off since Dec. 9. I have also heard echinacea and golden seal can be helpful, but I'm also allergic to both of those too, so I avoid.
From Bergamo, the frontlines of the pandemic in Italy:
And if you can read Italian, the original:
I also want to add one of the doctor's paragraphs not translated, original first, I'll translate below:
"Ora, spiegatemi quale virus influenzale causa un dramma così rapido. Perché quella è la differenza (ora scendo un po’ nel tecnico): nell’influenza classica, a parte contagiare molta meno popolazione nell’arco di più mesi, i casi si possono complicare meno frequentemente, solo quando il VIRUS distruggendo le barriere protettive delle nostre vie respiratorie permette ai BATTERI normalmente residenti nelle alte vie di invadere bronchi e polmoni provocando casi più gravi. Il Covid 19 causa una banale influenza in molte persone giovani, ma in tanti anziani (e non solo) una vera e propria SARS perché arriva direttamente negli alveoli dei polmoni e li infetta rendendoli incapaci di svolgere la loro funzione. L’insufficienza respiratoria che ne deriva è spesso grave e dopo pochi giorni di ricovero il semplice ossigeno che si può somministrare in un reparto può non bastare."
"Now, please explain to me which flu virus causes such drama so quickly. Because that is the difference (now I get a little technical): in classic flu, aside from affecting fewer people over a longer period of months, cases are less frequently complicated, only when the VIRUS destroys the protective barriers of our respiratory system and allows the BACTERIA that are normally present to invade the bronchi and lungs are more serious cases provoked. COVID-19 causes a run-of-the-mill flu in many of the young, but in so many older people (and not only them) a true SARS occurs because it goes directly to the alveoli of the lungs and infects them, rendering them incapable of performing their usual functions. The respiratory distress that occurs is frequently very serious and after a few days of recovery the simple use of oxygen that can be administered on the ward may not be enough."
Are YOU there? If so, OMG
New Rochelle is outside the city limits, in Westchester County, just north of the Bronx.
It seems I've done everything wrong - forget the masks, forget the gloves. Now they say just wash hands and just do not touch your face! Perhaps this squirrel can epitomize the feeling. Okay, not exactly, it's not like the squirrel, but he's so cute and funny and he is trying so hard that I wanted an excuse to show him to you:
https://twistedsifter.com/videos/squirrel-slides-slowly-down-greased-bird-feeder/