This is a recorded presentation by Chanchal at the Plant Medicine for Modern Epidemics Summit 2020.
A healthy functioning immune system requires that it be:
- Detective and defensive – proactive and preventative
Internally regulated – switch on and switch off
Restorative – healing and rejuvenating
Tolerant of non pathogens e.g. food, pollen
immune system has 4 primary levels or layers
- barrier immunity – mucus, sweat, the skin itself and the linings of the gut, lung and urogenital tract, the vomiting reflex and cough reflex, the microbiome of the skin and the gut
barrier immunity works as a preventative in the moment of threat from a pathogen- Building resilience increasing the integrity of the barrier
- Stomach acid, mucus, epithelial integrity of gut or respiratory passages – pictures, digestive enzymes, mucilage, connective tissue repair (gotu kola, calendula, liquorice)
- mast cell stabilization (chamomile, nettle leaf, ephedra, baical root, albizzia bark, quercitin, luteolin, forskolin)
- innate immunity – chemotaxic agents, neutrophils, MALT, GALT (antigen presenting cells that give bits of pathogen to T cells for initiating response). takes around 4 hour’s to effect a response at this level and may last days or weeks
- Enhancing innate immunity –
- quick fix with immune stimulants e.g. echinacea, baptisia, Ligustrum lucidum (privet)
- anti-microbials – garlic, Oregon grape, goldenseal, pau d’arco, lomatium
- deeper repair with tonics – mushrooms, astragalus, codonopsis (used after acute infection resolved)
- Enhancing innate immunity –
- inflammation and fever – involves monocytes and macrophages. takes around 6 hours to three days to activate. Necessary and useful but must be controlled and stopped before tissue damage occurs
- Diaphoretics – Yarrow flower, elderflower, boneset, ginger, peppermint
- Mediators of inflammation through regulating COX and LOX – willow, meadowsweet, turmeric, omega 3 fish oils, evening primrose oil, capsaicin, baical, feverfew, green tea catechins, resveratrol, melatonin, carnosol a diterpene from Rosemary, carvacrol a monoterpene from oregano
- Proteolytic enzymes – bromelain, serrapeptase, nattokinase, lumbrokinase
- acquired immunity / specific immunity – presentation of an antigen to lymphocytes what will generate either Th1 (cell mediated) immunity using the T cells and the cytokines they produced, or Th2 (humoral) immunity involving B cells and antibodies.
- move lymph to induce acquired immunity – cleavers,
- stimulate and activate lymphocytes – poke root, mistletoe
- spleen tonic – ceonothus
Researchers have found many other types of acquired immune lymphocyte strains including Th17 which specifically produces an interleukin 17 cytokine. This mediates the gut mucosal immunity and promotes chronic inflammatory responses including autoimmune diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
To downregulate Th17 – Retinoic acid, statins, triptolide a diterpene from Thunder God Vine Tripterygium wilfordii
Another driver of chronic inflammation is the transcription factor called nuclear factor Kappa beta. It is upregulated by sugar, tobacco and obesity and is a key driver of metabolic syndrome and cancer. To downregulate and inhibit this transcription factor
- calorie restriction
- Omega-3 fats and fish oils
- Lipoic acid
- N acetyl cysteine
- Vitamins C&E
- Pomegranate, echinacea turmeric green tea feverfew, baical, boswellia
- Quercetin
Covid pathology
ACE2 receptors in many tissues – involved in regulating blood pressure and vasoconstriction/ dilation
Target for docking of Corona virus, hence widespread or systemic tissue effects
Cytokine storm – over reactivity of immune system and tissue damage as a result
Vascular endotheliitis
higher risk
hypertension
diabetes
heart disease
consequences of infection (acute emergency situation)
acute respiratory distress syndrome (lie prone)
vasculitis, blood clots and coagulopathy
kidney failure (avoid NSAIDs)
children – rash, high fever – Kawasaki like syndrome (multi system organ failure)
Postviral fatigue syndrome
Fighting off a strong infection can leave you run down, debilitated and depleted, and no amount of sleep seems to fix it. Long after the virus is gone you can be left struggling to recuperate and at risk of relapse. People who have suffered a severe infectious disease will often report fatigue, low stamina or endurance, Slow recovery or recuperation, possibly sensory overload from noises or bright lights or hectic activities. In the case of COVID-19 this may be quite extreme and exacerbated by polymyalgia, extreme lung damage and by a strange array of peripheral vascular damage.
Hospitalized patients in Wuhan, China – survivors had a range of complications: 42% had sepsis, 36% had respiratory failure, 12% had heart failure, and 7% had blood clotting problems.
Digestive system, heart, kidneys, liver, brain, nerves, skin, and blood vessels can all be involved. Over 60% of patients recovering after hospitalization for Covid19 have heart muscle damage and myocarditis.
possible long term consequences
- kidney damage may require long-term dialysis
- strokes and blood clots may lead to disability
- scarred lungs may lead to permanently decreased lung function
- liver damage from drug therapies
A strange metallic taste, tingling in the arms and legs, muscle weakness, nerve pain, agonising headaches, severe fatigue, numbness, heart palpitations, back pain, chronic shortness of breath, gastrointestinal disorders, a sore throat, brain fog, conjunctivitis, blurred vision and more.
Possible natural treatments
- Immune tonics – deep repair with mushrooms, astragalus, codonopsis
- Lymphogogues- ceanothus, cleavers, calendula, violet
- Adaptogens – liquorice, eleuthero, luzea. Reserve the stimulating adaptogens like rhodiola and ginseng for occasional use if an extra push is needed
- Brain tonics that are not sympathomimetic – gotu kola, rhodiola, ginkgo, periwinkle, oat seed, holy basil, bacopa, lions mane,
- Cardio-vascular restoratives – hawthorn berry, bilberry leaf, horse chestnut, yarrow leaf and flower, linden, butcher’s broom, ginkgo, prickly ash
- Psychospiritual approach to raise the spirits and prevent depression – verbena, damiana, rose, holy basil, chamomile, lavender, Albizia julibrissin
- vitamin D 5000 – 10,000 iu
- vitamin A 5000 – 20,000 iu
- vitamin K2 100 mcg,
- zinc 50 mg
- omega 3 fats for prostaglandins
- probiotics, bone broths
deep, deep, restorative and rejuvenating sleep
quiet time in nature, sunshine
walking barefoot on the dewy grass or on the beach
toning and crystal bowls
spending time with pets and animals
gentle stretching and exercise
nutrient dense, high protein foods and good fats
probiotics, prebiotics
cacao – blood pressure regulator, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory
mushrooms (reishi, lions mane, maitake and many others)
This interview is part of the 2020 Plant Medicine for Modern Epidemics Summit, a free online event.
For more information, please visit https://plantmedicinesummit.com/.
This recording is a copyright of The Shift Network. All rights reserved.