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Prevention and Early Treatment of Coνid

Doctors around the world have found that treating coνid patients quickly at home, as soon as symptoms develop, leads to better outcomes and significantly lower death rates. The current practice is for doctors to send people home to wait until they are so sick that they need hospitalisation.

Hospital care for critical patients has a much higher death rate, and a far higher risk of long-term lung, heart, neurological, and other complications for those who survive.

According to the Association of American Physicians & surgeons, America’s Frontline Doctors and the Frontline Coνid-19 Critical Care Alliance, a combination of prescription medicines and over the counter preparations can be used in the prevention and treatment of coνid infections.

Prescription Medicines

These medicines stop the virus from entering the cells and also stop it from multiplying once inside the cells. Information on the medicines and protocols used can be found on the above organisations΄’ websites. In this article, we will mainly focus on the over-the-counter preparations.

For the purposes of completeness, we will briefly talk about hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and ivermectin which are used in the above protocols.

Hydroxychloroquine

This is an anti-malarial drug which has been on the market since the 1950s. As well as being used to prevent malaria it is also used for other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Many clinical trials have been conducted since the 1970s showing that it is an effective anti-viral treatment.

Clinical trials showing the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the prevention and early treatment of coνid can be found here.

Zinc prevents the virus from multiplying. Hydroxychloroquine must be taken together with zinc (as sulfate or gluconate) as it is the carrier which takes the zinc INTO the cells to do its job.

The protocols used can be found here.

Ivermectin

Ivermectin is a medication which is used to treat parasitic infestations. It is a very important medicine and is actually in the WHO’s list of 30 most essential medicines for developing countries. It is widely used around the world for the prevention and early treatment of coνid.

The protocols used can be found here and here.

Clinical trials showing the effectiveness of ivermectin for the prevention and early treatment of coνid can be found here.

Over-the-Counter Treatments

The protocols for the prevention and early outpatient treatment, as recommended by America’s Frontline Doctors and the Frontline Coνid-19 Critical Care Alliance, can be found here.

Various protocols are available which depend on whether it is prophylactic or for treatment, and whether the patient is a high or low risk patient. The selection of the appropriate protocol must be determined by the doctor.

Examples of protocols include:

The Wellness Protocol by Dr. Teryn Clark which includes the following:

Age >15

Age < 15

The Zelenko Protocol by Dr. Vladamir Zelenko states that treatment must be started as soon as symptoms appear. The protocol for low-risk patients includes the following:

  1. Rest, oral fluids, paracetamol as needed
  2. Vitamin C 1 gm once a day for 7 days
  3. Vitamin D3 5000IU once a day for 7 days
  4. Quercetin 500 mg twice a day for 7 days
  5. Elemental Zinc 50 mg once a day for 7 days
  6. Close follow up with a doctor

Remember, this is not medical advice. Every situation is unique, and every person must check with his or her own physician, especially if you are taking any other medication.

Over the Counter Preparations

Over-the-counter preparations used in the prevention of Coνid include:

Vitamin D

Vitamin D, whose forms are vitamin D2 and vitamin D3, is an essential nutrient which is present in foods such as fish (including salmon and tuna), fish liver oils, beef liver, cheese and egg yolks. The body can also synthesise vitamin D from sun exposure.

Vitamin D is vital for calcium absorption and bone health but it is also very important for immunity. It reduces viral replication rates, suppresses inflammation and increases the levels of T-regulatory cells and their activity. In addition, vitamin D may affect both innate and adaptive immune responses.1,2,3a,3b,3c,3d,4

A review of 39 studies from around the world found that participants with vitamin D deficiency had a higher risk of SΑRS-CοV-2 infection, and more severe coνid-19 symptoms, than those with adequate vitamin D levels.5

Other systematic reviews found that patients with coνid-19 who have low vitamin D levels, or who do not take vitamin D supplements, have more severe disease and higher mortality rates than others.6,7,8

Clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of vitamin D in the prevention and early treatment of Coνid can be found here.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral which is found in a wide variety of foods, including oysters, beef, pork, poultry, nuts, wholegrains, and dairy products. It is necessary for the activity of approximately 100 enzymes, plays a role in many body processes, has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, and helps maintain the integrity of the respiratory epithelia.9,10,11

Zinc is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system. Deficiency of zinc impairs the formation, activation and maturation of lymphocytes. Furthermore, zinc deficiency reduces the activity of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T cells12,13,14,15,16 and leads to increased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators.17 These effects on immune response increase the susceptibility to infections18 and inflammatory diseases, especially those affecting the lungs.19 Zinc may be useful in Coνid as it also inhibits viral replication

Studies have found that there is an increased risk of viral infections and respiratory diseases in people who have low levels of zinc.20,21

Vitamin C

Vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin found in many fruits and vegetables. It has antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral properties, and is important for immunity. 22,23,24,25 Vitamin C enhances the differentiation and proliferation of B cells and T cells, enhances phagocytosis, normalises cytokine production, and decreases histamine levels.26 In addition, it may inhibit viral replication.27

Studies have shown that supplementing with at least 200mg of vitamin C daily helps reduce the risk of developing a cold, and also reduces the duration of the common cold and the severity of its symptoms.28,29

Clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of vitamin C in the prevention and early treatment of Coνid can be found here.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, mainly during the night, that helps regulate circadian rhythms.30,31

Studies suggest that melatonin enhances immune response by increasing the proliferation and maturation of natural killer cells, T and B lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes.32,33,34 Melatonin also appears to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.35,36,37,38,39,40

A study involving 26,779 people tested for Coνid found that those who used melatonin supplements were less likely to have the disease.41 In addition, studies show that melatonin may help reduce cytokine levels in people with diabetes and other health conditions.42 Therefore, melatonin supplements may help modify the cytokine storm that can develop in Coνid.42

Several clinical trials are underway looking at the effects of melatonin supplementation in people with Coνid.43,44,45

Studies have not evaluated melatonin supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but some research suggests that these supplements might inhibit ovarian function.46

Clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of melatonin in the prevention and early treatment of Coνid can be found here.

Quercetin

Quertecin is a powerful antioxidant found in fruits, vegetables and wholegrains. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties and boosts the immune system. Some doctors recommend this supplement to reduce viral illnesses because it acts as a zinc ionophore to improve zinc uptake into cells. It is much less potent than hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a zinc transporter, and it does not reach high concentrations in lung cells compared to HCQ.

Quercetin may help reduce the risk of viral illness if you are basically healthy, but it is not potent enough to replace HCQ for treatment of Coνid once you have symptoms. It does not adequately get into lung tissue unless you take massive doses (3-5 grams a day), which may cause significant gastrointestinal side-effects such as diarrhoea.

N-acetylcysteine

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a derivative of the amino acid cysteine. It is an antioxidant which increases glutathione levels in the body.47,48 It is a mucolytic and so helps reduce respiratory mucus.47,49 NAC may also boost the immune system and suppress viral replication,49 while also reducing levels of interleukin-6.47,48

Studies evaluating the use of oral NAC to treat bronchopulmonary diseases, such as bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have shown that it reduces symptom severity.50,51 Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects; and its mucolytic activity, NAC can be used to improve outcomes in patients with Coνid. 52,47,48,49

Elderberry

Elderberry extract (sambucus nigra) contains many phytonutrients including anthocyanins, flavonols, and phenolic acids. These have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and immune-stimulating effects.53,54,55,56,57,58

Studies show that the phytochemicals found in elderberry may help prevent upper respiratory tract infections by inhibiting viruses from binding to host cells and by stimulating the immune system.54 Elderberry’s effects on the common cold and influenza have been examined in some small clinical trials with promising results.55

Many doctors recommend the elderberry and zinc gummies for protection against Coνid in children under the age of 15 years.59

Andrographis

Andrographis paniculata, also known as Chuān Xīn Lián, is a herb which is native to Southeast Asia.60 It is used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for relieving the symptoms of the common cold, influenza, and other respiratory tract infections.60,61,63,64 It contains phytonutrients which have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune-stimulating effects.65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73

Several studies show that andrographis supplementation may reduce the severity of respiratory tract infections.74,75,76,77 Because of these findings, it is thought that andrographis could help treat the symptoms of Coνid-19.78,79,80,81

The phytonutrient andrographolide, isolated from andrographis, may bind the main protease of SΑRS-CοV-2 , thereby inhibiting its replication, transcription, and host cell recognition.82,82,84 In a small clinical trial in Thailand, researchers examined the effects of 60mg of andrographis extract when given 3 times daily to people with mild to moderate Coνid symptoms.85,86 It was found that Coνid symptoms, especially cough, improved within a few days and all patients recovered after 3 weeks.87

It is vital that coνid treatment be started as soon as symptoms appear. There are many treatments available that help prevent or treat coνid. Speak to your health care professional and be prepared in case you develop symptoms.