Patients often ask me for my “hit list” of my top natural immune supports.
Whether you have COVID-19, a cold, flu or you’re feeling under the weather, the following research-backed natural immune supports are a great way to “turn up” the volume for your body’s natural immune army.
In no order of importance, I present to you my top 16 natural, research backed COVID-19 immune boosters. These worked to help me kick COVID-19 when I got sick with the virus early on in the pandemic (when ZERO known pharmaceutical treatments were available)! Since March 2020, we have learned a ton about “what helps” and what doesn’t.
Enter: these 16 natural immune supports boosting remedies for COVID-19! Discuss options with your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment strategies for you.
Note: Supplements with an (*)=find on Fullscript store HERE.
Preventative Natural Immune Supports COVID-19
Keep illness at bay with these staples in your medicine cabinet.
#1. Vitamin D (study; study; study)
Studies overwhelmingly show that Vitamin D deficiency is correlated with more severe outcomes of COVID-19 and sufficiency is correlated with “protection.” All the more reason to get more sunshine!
Recommendation: Ultra D 5000* (by Apex Energetics)
Dose: 1 tsp day
#2. Glutathione* (study; study; study; study)
Your body’s “master antioxidant” for kicking free radicals to the curb. COVID-19 leads to glutathione depletion, as well as tissue damage, and acute respiratory distress syndrome—all of which are effected by glutathione status.
Recommendation: Trizomal Glutathione (by Apex Energetics) and/OR NAC* (Designs for Health) and/OR nebulized glutathione (talk to your doctor)
Dose: 1 dose, 1-2 day
#3. Liposomal Curcumin (study)
A natural anti-inflammatory that calms down the cytokine storm, as well as supports your liver and detoxification pathways for eliminating pathogens. Curcumin has been called a “wonder drug” for COVID 19 prevention and management.
Recommendation: Turmero Active* (by Apex Energetics)
Dose: 1 tsp, 1-2x day
#4. Colostrum Spray (study, study, study)
Colostrum mimics the immune boosting effects of the “perfect food” —breast milk, chalk full with immunoglobulins that strengthen your gut microbiome and intestinal gut lining where 70% of your immune system lies.
Recommendation: Immune PRP* (by Numedica)
Dose: 1x day
#5. Liposomal Vitamin C
While Vitamin C is often best known as an immune boosting “staple” for preventative immune support, its actual “superpowers” come down to its HPA Axis modulating and supportive effects for helping you stay on top of the “stress response.” In the face of danger and stress, your body zaps up Vitamin C stores. Hence, supplemental Vitamin C attenuates the increases in circulating cortisol, adrenaline and anti-inflammatory polypeptides.
Recommendation: Liposomal Vitamin C Numedica*)
Dose: 1 tsp day—1000-2000 mg (study, study, study)
#6. Monolaurin (study; report)
A derivative of coconut oil with strong antimicrobial, anti-viral activity that helps modulate the host immune response and strengthen your immune defenses. Combine it with lauric acid—another compound in coconut oil—and together, monolaurin and lauric acid have the physicochemical property of being able to destroy the membrane of lipid-coated viruses. The antiviral activities of lauric acid and monolaurin were first noted in a 1979 study and later in 1982. Because the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is a lipid-coated virus, monolaurin combined with lauric acid, like in Lauricidin, seems promising.
Recommendation: Lauricidin
Dose: 1 scoop, 1-3x day with food
#7. Quality Probiotic (study, study, study)
Strengthen your gut bug “army” by flooding your body with quality probiotics. Basically, the healthier and stronger your gut, the more resilient your immune system. This is why many cases of COVID-19 result in digestive distress (IBD, IBS, diarrhea, nausea)—your gut bug army is disrupted.
Recommendation: Lactic Acid Bacteria (Bifido Maximus or Seed Probiotic), Spore forming (Megaspore*), Saccharomyces boulardii (RestorFlora*)
Dose: 1 dose/daily
#8. Cistus Tea (study)
Also known as “rock rose”, this natural anti-viral (Cistus incanus) has been shown to prevent human immunodeficiency viruses and other viral infections from infecting cells. Cistus has been shown to be particularly useful in treating and healing from lung infections.
Recommendation: Cistus tea (Biopure)
Dose: 1-2 cups daily
#9. Propolis drops (study, study)
Propolis is a cool word for “honey” and it has potent antibacterial and antiviral powers. Propolis also has inhibitory effects on the ACE2, TMPRSS2 and PAK1 signaling pathways—a.k.a. “inflammation” and is a great-go-to for lung support.
Recommendation: BioPure Propolis
Dose: 1 dropper, 2x day
#10. HOCL (study, study)
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a substance naturally created by our white blood cells that acts as the body’s first line of defense against bacteria, irritation, and injury. It’s commonly used as a disinfectant because of its powerful action against bacteria, fungi, and viruses and is one of the only cleaning agents available that’s non-toxic to humans while still being lethal to most dangerous bacteria and viruses that threaten our health. In the form of spray, this is the hand sanitizer you want to be using—not Purell (which actually promotes sickness by destroying healthy bacteria too!).
Recommendation: HOCL spray (Ki Science)
#11. Nasal & throat sprays
Keep your nasal and throat passageways viral free. One of the #1 ways COVID-19 is transmitted is via inhalation and secretions. Regular passageway maintenance keeps things at bay.
Recommendations:
Biocidin throat spray*
Argentyn23*
Sickness Support for COVID-19
If you feel under the weather or like something is coming on, add some of these guys to the mix. Note: You can continue your previous supports with a moderate to higher does. The key is to take something—one thing—during every waking hour to keep your immune system on its toes.
#12. Nebulized hydrogen peroxide (in pharmaceutical grade nebulizer) (study)
Helpful for preventing and treating respiratory viral infections. The antiseptic action of HP oxidizes free radicals and promotes innate antiviral inflammatory response by overexpression of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) to reduce the overall progression of the infection from the upper to the lower respiratory tract.
Recommendation: Saline solution + pharmaceutical grade 3% hydrogen peroxide; keep in fridge Note: hydrogen peroxide can be purchased at the drugstore and is used for cleaning wounds and as a general household disinfectant. You can also rinse, nasal wash and gargle with it to decrease any new microbes as you go about your daily life.
Dose: Use for 10 minutes during each waking hour
Directions:
- To make the nebulizing mixture dilute 5 mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide in 100 mL saline <OR> 1 ounce of 3% hydrogen peroxide to about 16 ounces of saline.
- Use 3 cc of the diluted mixture for each nebulization treatment.
- Place the mask over your mouth and nose and breathe normally until the solution is gone, which is usually 10-15 minutes.
- Repeat the 3 cc nebulization treatment hourly the first day, and 4-6 times a day until the infection is resolved.
#13. Colloidal Silver (study, study)
A clean and simple anti-viral, bio-film disruptor, antimicrobial and anti-fungal that is well tolerated by most people.
Recommendation: Silvercillin* (colloidal silver by Designs for Health)
Dose: 1 tsp 2-3x per day
#14. Emulsified Oregano (study, study)
One of my absolute favorite herbs for clean sweeping pathogens away.
Recommendation: ADP* (by Biotics Research)
Dose: 1 capsule, 3x per day OR Biociden LSF* pumps, 3-4 pumps, 2x day
#15. Lung Supports (study)
My weak lungs were thankful for all of these supports to aid in fighting inflammation in the lung microbiome.
Andographis Plus* (lung support by Metagenics), OGN-RESP (Beyond Balance), and/or Astragalus drops
Dose: 1 dose, 2-3 x per day
#16. Special Formulas
Homeopathy and advanced herbal supports that promote an extra one-two lunch for the immune system when you need it most.
Recommendations: Cocktail (Biopure , and/or ViruChord + FluTone (Energetix)
Dose: (1 dropper, 2x per day)
Summary
When given the right tools, the body innately wants to heal itself.
Although COVID-19 is no fun, it has a HIGH survivability rate. As we learn to live with the virus in the world (instead of afraid of it), if we can learn to support the inside with natural immune boosters on a daily basis, the more it will reflect on the outside.
Above all: health is an inside job.
Note: Supplements with an (*)=find on Fullscript store HERE.