The 2 Shields

To combat the COVID-19 outbreak, the media has focused almost exclusively on the outer shield. That is, minimizing spread. This includes physical distancing. Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Alcohol sanitizers. Disinfecting tabletops and door knobs. Wearing disposable masks and gloves. This is the first line of defense. And it is vital. But there’s a second, equally important and often overlooked line of defense: the inner shield. That is, your immune system.

The primary difference between a mild illness with COVID-19 and a severe one requiring hospitalization is the strength of this shield.

The immune system is the microscopic army that stands guard just under the surface of your mouth, nose, lungs, skin, and gut. In addition, there’s an intricate network of stations throughout the body where more troops are keeping the peace, and awaiting orders to mobilize against an invasion.

A strong inner shield translates to resilience—the capacity to bounce back, to restore balance and wellbeing whether you’re faced with an acute infection or not. This shield can always be strengthened, no matter your current health status. And when you do strengthen it, you’re potentially treating an infection more effectively—if you already have one—and also preventing or reducing the chances of future ones. Strengthening the immune system is primarily done by giving your immune system what it needs to function optimally, and regulating the stress response.

Everybody Wins

When you employ both shields, you’re helping everyone – yourself, your family, community, nation and – in this period of a pandemic – the world. You’re freeing up scarce health care resources for those in need, and maintaining good health to serve those around you. Everybody wins.  

So take note. Take heart. And please share widely.

In times like these, we need a brave new medicine. 

Click to download your free ebook:

 

Click to learn more about the memoir:

 

Noteworthy Updates 

Below, I will be adding studies and links that are pertinent to the content in the above e-booklet and Covid-19. While information on the pandemic changes daily, information on how to strengthen the immune system is steadier and more time-tested.

Vitamin C

In the e-book, I recommend 1-2,000 mg daily of vitamin C, or increasing it to 2-4,000 mg daily during an acute infection (titrated to bowel tolerance, as higher doses can cause loose stools or digestive discomfort–a buffered form can reduce this). Amory Lovins, chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute, wrote an article citing studies on vitamin C for treatment and prevention of upper respiratory infections, as well as vitamin C reducing ventilator time for patients in the ICU. He also called out cultural biases against the use of this widely available and affordable vitamin. Most of the studies analyzed didn’t require high doses of IV vitamin C, but orally administered in the dosages recommended in my e-booklet.