Your Natural Defenses

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OK, everyone I am listening to my resources giving data and fact-based information around this new version of the Coronavirus. I want to give a synopsis of what I have come across to help assuage some confusion and undue stress. Some info that I have found most helpful to direct/guide my research has been the technical aspects of what make this virus so powerful and fast acting. Remember to check the source of your information! Take charge of your natural defenses, give yourself what you need during this time of stress and balance that with what you know is healthy for you.

I’ll put a link to some helpful websites at the end and give a few helpful tips to preventing illness and promoting wellness!

High Risk

People currently and/or previously dealing with a disease or condition. This increases general inflammation thus reducing your body’s ability to fight against anything as well as reduce the inflammation caused by fighting off diseases. Your body has, generally, one way of fighting disease that causes damage to good tissue like blood cells, gut lining, heart and lungs, and arteries.
People with hypertension (high blood pressure). This is stressful to the body, but also because certain medications may increase the chances for this virus to infect. Those on ACE-inhibitors and NSAID’s are at greater risk in this category.
Those not getting enough and/or restful sleep. Sleep is one of our best inherent inflammatory modulators that we have going for us. The hormones involved and the way our body shifts it’s focus neurologically, allows the immune system and repair systems to act.
Immune compromised and more specifically those on medication for their conditions. Immune dampening medications like methotrexate and prednisone do just that, which decreases the body’s ability to fight off disease.
High stress: when you are sick, cortisol and other stress-related hormones and proteins are flowing. This causes damage to the important barrier tissues and reduces the immune system’s ability to react quickly and profoundly. You may not know you are stressed because it feels differently for everyone and may change as you age. Remember, stress is not simply broken down into mind or body symptoms.

Stimulate YOUR Natural Defenses

Daily stress reduction. This is really important for a lot of reasons and will increasingly be shown in research as we are constantly correlating stress to all-cause mortality. Most importantly, in relation to what is going on now, limit your exposure to stressors and increase your daily practice to allow the stress to pass.
- Enjoy the benefits of nature while making sure to adhere to our current ‘social distancing’ courtesies. Hike, bike, run or whatever you do to connect with the natural environment.
- Deep breathing exercises will help detoxify your blood while connecting yourself with the healing power of your breath.
- Hydrotherapy at home.
Healthy diet. Most of us have lots of control here and this is a very powerful tool.
- Whole foods
- Limiting sugar and alcohol – these may be your coping mechanisms, know what works for you and adjust your habits to decrease these things. Remember it is important to create self-care space and sometimes that is a factor of balancing healthy vs. not-so-healthy coping mechanisms.
- Lots of clean water
- Dark green leafy veggies will help clean your body and digestive tract of harmful byproducts of stress hormones as well as give you nutrients you might not be getting in your regular diet.
Vitamins
- D – this is correlated to reducing many diseases and helps your cells stay healthy and resilient
- C – a great antioxidant and will help your cells to protect themselves against the immune response.
Botanical Medicines
- General antivirals
  - Astragalus
  - Echinacea
  - Goldenseal
  - Oregon grape
  - Elderberry
- Adaptogenic herbs to modulate the immune system
  - Glycyrrhiza Glabra
  - Ashwaghanda
  - Ginseng (panax or eleuthro)

Helpful Resources

CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

County specific regulations/up to date information

California – https://www.counties.org/

Epidemiological Studies from Dr.’s Paul Herscu ND, and Amy Rothenberg ND – https://paulherscuepidemics.blogspot.com/2020/01/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov.html

Be responsible with your supplement purchases, I use a great source that uses third party testing and has a great selection of quality, sustainably sourced ingredients. Online Dispensary

*Please Note This is not to be used in place of treatment from your doctor, nor is it intended to be used as a way to direct your treatment without the help of a doctor/physician. This is a general guideline to be used, in conjunction with and not limited to, consultation with a doctor/physician and/or treatment plan created by your doctor/physician. These treatments are of the opinion of Dr. Ryan Olson, ND and may or may not be specifically for you. Please, if using any recommendations from anyone (herbal or not), consult your Medical Doctor and/or a Naturopathic Doctor before using for your natural defenses.

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