Boosting Immunity

[eytonxav]

Is anybody doing anything different to boost their immunity to virus/colds, etc. For example, there are recommendations to take vitamin D and multi-vitamins, which I take daily anyway. I have also heard to take zinc, selenium and to increase vitamin C when feeling ill.

 

[USGrant1962]

Gin and tonic for the quinine and vitamin C.

 

[OldShooter]

I sterilized 4 racks of ribs and a couple of chunks of pastrami in the smoker yesterday.

 

[Rianne]

Can't boost immunity against this. We've never seen anything like it before. Our bodies have no antibodies to fight it. That's why it's nothing like the flu.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/health/coronavirus-young-people.html

"But of the 508 patients known to have been hospitalized, 38 percent were notably younger — between 20 and 54. And nearly half of the 121 patients who were admitted to intensive care units were adults under 65, the C.D.C. reported."

 

[razztazz]

Back in 1979 or 1980 I was living somewhere where there was a hepatitis "A" outbreak. They rounded everybody up and gave us all a shot of gammaglobulin. They told us it wasn't a cure but in case we had already contracted the disease the shot would bolster our immune system to help fight it.

Is this not relevant here? Simply boosting one's immune system should have some positive effect I would think. PS I am not a doctor, chemist, or even a hypochondriac

 

[jollystomper]

Nothing that I have not already been doing. Vitamins. Exercising to stay fit. Watching what I eat. Washing hands and noticing and avoiding unclean situations. Not being a "hugger". Mingling with people only when necessary.

 

[eytonxav]

Can't boost immunity against this. We've never seen anything like it before. Our bodies have no antibodies to fight it. That's why it's nothing like the flu.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/health/coronavirus-young-people.html

"But of the 508 patients known to have been hospitalized, 38 percent were notably younger — between 20 and 54. And nearly half of the 121 patients who were admitted to intensive care units were adults under 65, the C.D.C. reported."

Of course no one has antibodies to fight this, however, if your individual immunity system is strengthened it might help one recover from this or any other things in a faster manner.

Edit: I found this article. There are some suggestions in Dr Hyman's article toward the bottom on what one might do to improve their immune system -https://drhyman.com/blog/2020/03/17/protect-yourself-from-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR18e_-8tJl81gW3jFElWt0gXbf_fBJYwsSTB5_c5JX7jUftN1-k-UqrdPQ

 

[Rianne]

Of course no one has antibodies to fight this, however, if your individual immunity system is strengthened it might help one recover from this or any other things in a faster manner.

Edit: I found this article. There are some suggestions in Dr Hyman's article toward the bottom on what one might do to improve their immune system -https://drhyman.com/blog/2020/03/17/protect-yourself-from-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR18e_-8tJl81gW3jFElWt0gXbf_fBJYwsSTB5_c5JX7jUftN1-k-UqrdPQ

I stand corrected. I'm not sure if people who've successfully fought the virus already had the protective cells or immune system or if you can build the protection on your own.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-51921403

 

[Hopeful]

My DW and I have started taking Elderberry Syrup. Not sure it will be effective against CoVid-19, but figure it can't hurt. Studies seem to show it effective against the flu and H1N1, with efficacy appearing comparable to Tamiflu. Like I said, I don't think it can hurt.

 

[easysurfer]

My biggest strategy is don't stay up later than usual and get enough zzzzz's .

 

[ERD50]

My DW and I have started taking Elderberry Syrup. Not sure it will be effective against CoVid-19, but figure it can't hurt. Studies seem to show it effective against the flu and H1N1, with efficacy appearing comparable to Tamiflu. Like I said, I don't think it can hurt.

link to those studies, please? "seemed to show"?

I actually have a half-liter of elder-flower (maybe different from elderberry?) concentrate from IKEA.

-ERD50

 

[Hopeful]

link to those studies, please? "seemed to show"?

I actually have a half-liter of elder-flower (maybe different from elderberry?) concentrate from IKEA.

-ERD50

Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19682714

 

[ERD50]

Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19682714

Thanks. Interesting.

That looks very preliminary, I think it refers to petri-dish type experiments (but that's how things start I guess)? I did a bit more searching based on that, and I found these two links, which mentions other human double-blind-placebo studies (I think one has the studies listed):

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/contr.../10/elderberries-a-potent-cold-and-flu-remedy

Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Penn State Hershey Medical Center - Elderberry - Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Elderberry may help treat cold and flu symptoms by reducing congestion and possibly making you sweat more. One study suggested that using a standardized elderberry extract, Sambucol, could shorten the duration of flu by about 3 days. Sambucol contains other herbs plus vitamin C, so no one knows whether elderberry by itself would have the same effect.

Another preliminary study found that a lozenge with elderberry extract (ViraBLOC) helped reduce flu symptoms when taken within 24 hours of symptoms starting. In the lab, one study suggested that elderberry could kill the H1N1 virus ("swine flu") in test tubes, but researchers do not know whether it would be effective against H1N1 in people.

Not sure my Elderflower syrup would contain any of the active ingredients anyhow. I actually bought it with the idea of trying to make a cocktail with it. It won't go to waste

-ERD50

 

[ckelly78z]

My DW brought home a bottle of 5000mg Vitamin D gel caps (highest dosage OTC) for her low D level. We are both taking it now due to my reduced immunity, and lack of sunshine in NW Ohio this time of the year.

 

[pacergal]

Taking my usual extra strength Vitamin C and Airborne daily.
I have Zicam, Zicam with elderberry, and sambucol syrup to take if anyone here develops colds or cold symptoms. But I have had those on hand for several years, so nothing new.
This year I did restock on homeopathic Oscillococcinum for flu treatment.

 

[USGrant1962]

My DW brought home a bottle of 5000mg Vitamin D gel caps (highest dosage OTC) for her low D level. We are both taking it now due to my reduced immunity, and lack of sunshine in NW Ohio this time of the year.

I assume you mean 5,000 IU. Note that 4,000 IU is considered the upper safe limit - Vitamin D is toxic in high doses - so don't take two of those. The dose makes the poison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypervitaminosis_D

 

[eytonxav]

Back in 1918, spanish flu suffers were placed outdoors and in the sunshine to recuperate. Not sure if that is where the vitamin D suggestion originated or thru some other studies.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

My DW and I have started taking Elderberry Syrup. Not sure it will be effective against CoVid-19, but figure it can't hurt. Studies seem to show it effective against the flu and H1N1, with efficacy appearing comparable to Tamiflu. Like I said, I don't think it can hurt.

I am skeptical, but if you're already getting enough sleep, managing stress, eating healthy, and exercising, you're right, it can't hurt. And it's tasty! When I visited a friend last year they gave me some, and it reminds me a lot of glögg, basically mulled red wine.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Biggest step: we do not leave the home as much.
Just me: I am doing almost zero-carb diet and intermittent fasting for losing weight--any other benefits will be welcomed. Trying to get 9 hours of sleep or more a night.

For other reasons, I have added K2+D3 supplements (prophylactic for my prostate--a good friend just died of prostate cancer and it spooked me) to my normal vitamin supplements. Taking vitamin C as well, thanks to Linus Pauling.

We normally wash our hands often. DW has razzed me because I have been buying little bottles of hand cleaner which I carry with me. She doesn't like the alcohol desiccating her hands. No flack lately.

 

[tmm99]

My DW and I have started taking Elderberry Syrup. Not sure it will be effective against CoVid-19, but figure it can't hurt. Studies seem to show it effective against the flu and H1N1, with efficacy appearing comparable to Tamiflu. Like I said, I don't think it can hurt.

I stopped taking Sambucol elderberry syrup after reading this.

https://terrywahls.com/coronavirus-...p7ZBImC7ohAqXPcBBaR5bOgakaRLbI8Ppk74_CKMlW2AI

Elderberry syrup has been shown to be helpful against the influenza virus. However, for COVID-19 elderberry syrup may increase the risk of cytokine storm and more severe reaction. For that reason, I would NOT use elderberry syrup at this time.

I'm now taking Zinc lozenges with a small amount of Vit C, Vit E, echinacea and some other miscellaneous ingredients such as ginger, camomille, etc.

 

[msieweke]

I take A, C, D, E, zinc, magnesium, and selenium for immune support (and for other reasons). I think these are all pretty well supported by research.

There are botanical extracts that may boost immune function, but either I haven't tried them or they didn't have a noticeable effect on me.

 

[LOL!]

My DW and I have started taking Elderberry Syrup. Not sure it will be effective against CoVid-19, but figure it can't hurt. Studies seem to show it effective against the flu and H1N1, with efficacy appearing comparable to Tamiflu. Like I said, I don't think it can hurt.

I'm laughing because the Tamiflu package insert shows it has almost no efficacy towards flu. Have you ever read it? It seems like the joke is on patients and doctors in this case. So by extrapolation Elderberry Syrup does nothing as well.

 

[tmm99]

I'm laughing because the Tamiflu package insert shows it has almost no efficacy towards flu. Have you ever read it? It seems like the joke is on patients and doctors in this case. So by extrapolation Elderberry Syrup does nothing as well.

I have no idea about Tamiflu, but Sambucol elderberry syrup has shown efficacy, although, as I said, it could aggravate coronavirus symptoms, so I stopped taking it.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11399518

Production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8) was significantly increased, mostly by the Sambucol Black Elderberry Extract (2-45 fold), as compared to LPS, a known monocyte activator (3.6-10.7 fold). The most striking increase was noted in TNF-alpha production (44.9 fold).

 

[Offgrid Organic Farmer]

Gin and tonic for the quinine and vitamin C.

Quinine is useful for malaria.

I have never heard of it helping for anything else.

 

[RobbieB]

I ate some hot peppers and followed with a shot of tequila.