These past couple months have been a time that none of us could have imagined. As we look ahead to the coming weeks and months, where our governments are looking into easing quarantine restrictions, we can feel uncertain. Dealing with a virus like this is something none of us have dealt with in our lifetimes, and it can be very frightening.
Recommendations on how to stay healthy remain the same: take care to wash hands regularly, don’t touch your face, and keep distance between other people. Something else that I believe can be beneficial are immune boosting supplements. Let me be clear, there are no natural products that are a miracle “cure” for coronavirus, but there are several supplements that have been scientifically researched to help with boosting immune system functioning, as well as supplements that can be helpful against viruses.
One of our favorites continues to be elderberry, also known as sambucus. Elderberry syrup has shown in scientific research to help with fighting off viruses. Much of the early research on elderberry was done on the flu virus, with positive results, though new studies have found it to be effective on a wide variety of viral illnesses (though as of yet there have been no studies on elderberry and coronavirus). It works in part by helping to prevent viral replication so we can fight off viruses easier. Research has found it to be helpful preventatively, but also in reducing the duration and severity of a variety of viral illnesses. Elderberry is nice since it’s safe for both children and adults.
I also wanted to mention another, lesser known supplement that may be helpful against viruses, a supplement derived from coconut oil known as monolaurin. ABC News recently recommended monolaurin in an article titled, Coronavirus: Experts say these supplements, foods may help keep immune system humming.
Another article was published by two physician researchers at the end of January recommending monolaurin as a possible antiviral treatment against the novel coronavirus (you can read the abstract here). The doctors wrote about the potent antiviral properties of monolaurin, as well as its mechanism that appeared to help to break down a virus’s outside “envelope” which then prevented the virus from being able to replicate. Another study the article cited mentioned research on a virus similar in structure to the coronavirus, and how monolaurin was able to inhibit that virus’s maturation and replication.
Monolaurin was also mentioned as a potent antiviral in yet another scientific article published in the journal Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine, which mentioned its antiviral activity. Like the scientific article mentioned above, it also attributed monolaurin’s antiviral action to its ability to help with disintegrating the outside membrane of a virus, and by doing so, stopping that virus from replicating.
Again, I want to say that as of now, there is no cure for coronavirus, either natural or pharmaceutical. In the absence of a vaccine, the only thing we can do to stay healthy is to reduce our exposure and to do everything we can to make sure our bodies and immune systems are functioning properly. I would also say that preventative use of supplements like monolaurin or elderberry, that have shown benefit against viruses, are also a good idea.
Quarantine and social distancing are only meant to “flatten the curve”, to help our medical providers across the country to be able to keep cases at a manageable level for hospitals. It is likely that many of us will come in contact with the virus before a vaccine is readily available, so I’d say that supplements like monolaurin are worth using in this uncertain time, with the hopes that they might help us to fight off any infections easier or with less severe symptoms.
I hope everyone reading this is staying healthy. At this time, our store, Pass Health Foods in Palos Heights is still open for phone orders and advice Monday through Saturday from 10-2. We take orders over the phone and then will bring them out to your car when you get there. You can call the store at 708-448-9114. This is a scary time, but I know we’ll get through it.
