I’m hearing from clients that they or family members are getting colds and viruses – myself included. Welcome to cold and flu season! Because I recently had COVID I thought I would share what I did while having the virus, in the hopes that it may be beneficial for others.
Since the pandemic, I have researched and kept notes on various supplements, their benefits and mechanisms of action in relation to COVID. I knew it was likely we would all be exposed to it at some point, and I wanted to be prepared. When I first presented with symptoms (e.g., headache and chills), I suspected it was COVID and started adding in a few supplements. COVID or not, I knew I had a virus. I didn’t test positive until day four, and by then I was feeling pretty good. I only retested because I had plans to meet up with a friend. Below is a list of the supplements I incorporated and the reasoning behind taking each one.
- MegaIgG2000* – Immunoglobulins inhibit the binding of the virus’s spike protein to the AE2 receptor on cells, which serves as the entry point for the virus.
- ViraCon* – An herbal antiviral formula including Hypericum Perforatum, also known as St. John’s Wort, which unmasks envelope viruses like COVID so the body can attack it. It also contains zinc to boost immune response and help kill the virus.
- Quercetin – Taken with zinc, moves zinc inside cells to kill the virus.
- Vitamin C with Lysine – Enhances both immune system response and antioxidant support.
- Curcumin – Provides antioxidant support and reduces inflammation.
- Melatonin – Decreases cellular inflammasomes, which can cause inflammation and damage in the lungs.
If you are interested in specific dosing of the above supplements, please login to your Fullscript account and view my Virus Support Protocol. If you don’t have account, please reach out to set one up. In addition to adding the above supplements, some of my ‘routine’ supplements that I suspect may have also been beneficial include: vitamin D/K combo, calcium, fish oil and a probiotic. Vitamin D and probiotics also support the immune system, while fish oil helps to reduce inflammation. Calcium is used by white blood cells to fight pathogens. If the amount of available calcium is insufficient, the body pulls calcium from the bones, which may be part of the reason why we experience body aches and fevers when sick. Vitamin C, in addition to benefits listed above, also enhances calcium absorption.
Beyond supplements, I stayed hydrated, walked to keep my lymphatic fluid moving, slept when I was tired and avoided sugar. Sugar hinders our immune system. Stress also affects our ability to produce white blood cells, making us more vulnerable to both viral and bacterial infections.
*Due to immune stimulating properties, if you have an autoimmune condition please first discuss these ingredients with a member of your healthcare team before taking them. Source citations can be found here.