Tips to keep you well anywhere you go!
by David J Friedman MD.
Prophylaxis
- Bob’s potato starch 1-2 x day. 2 heaping tablespoons dissolved in water. Do not heat as it will turn into sugar. There are no calories to the human body, as it is resistant to digestion, acts like prebiotic fiber, and gives your probiotics a big boost. Can use an alternative fiber like psyllium, inulin, or wheat dextrin (Benefiber). Regular usage of 20 extra grams of supplemental fiber is best. COM for more info.
- Melatonin every night. 10-100 mg is very safe.
- Probiotics 1-2 x daily when travelling or you get sick.
- Vitamin D 1000-5000 daily. Sun yourself a little as well.
- Zinc 50 mg
- Vitamin C and Quercetin 1000 mg daily
- Nasal oil (mct, coconut, olive). Must be completely edible. Place in nostrils every day in the morning and before leaving for the airport.
- Nasal Saline. Xlear is best because xylitol may help kill viruses. Don’t get dry mucus membranes. If cracked, you get attacked!!
- Chew or Hold gum in your mouth to create more saliva which protects you from pathogens either bacterial, fungal, or viral through antimicrobial lipids, peptides, and IgA.
If you get sick
- All the above still plus:
- Get going on electrolyte fluids but keep calories on the lower side. Take in only ketogenic, when possible, as raising blood sugar when ill promotes illness and worsens intensity and duration. Chicken soup is good but reduce the noodles
- Bigger doses of melatonin 50-100 mg have been used to treat viruses with some success
- Warm tea. Honey is ok as it calms cough and is a good prebiotic
- Probiotics 2 x daily. TAURINE (an amino acid) 3-6 grams per day
- Ibuprofen 400 mg plus acetaminophen 1000 mg every 6 hours
- Antihistamines may benefit viral infections as histamines are elevated with tissue injury. Famotidine (PEPCID) and Zyrtec are currently being studied for COVID-19 illness. Antihistamines help allergies, viral infections, and cancer.
- Gargling with 10% hydrogen peroxide salt-water solution as gargling with an anti-septic can reduce viral replication. 1-part H2o2 9-parts water. This has been proven to reduce respiratory viruses in dental literature
- End your shower cold as cooling the body prevents oxidation
- Wear a mask and treat it like a biohazard when not wearing it as it likely contains infectious agents on it. Wash your hands after touching it. Don’t touch your mask much while wearing it.
- If you start to get nasal congestion, sinus pressure, less sense of smell, then start an intranasal steroid like Flonase, Nasacort, Rhinocort at 2 sprays each nostril 2x daily for a total of 8 pumps followed by nasal oil (coconut/olive oil) to avoid dry membranes. Sniffing Vicks or fragrant natural essential oils may help with return of sense of smell known as olfactory training.
- If wheezing or bronchitis-like symptoms like a “chest cold”, then start inhaled-corticosteroids like Flovent, Symbicort, Budesonide by nebulizer. 2 sprays 2-4x daily rinsing and spitting after use.
- If very sick, you can consider dexamethasone or prednisone, but this is only if you have severe immune responses (cytokine storm). Try topical steroids first before oral/injectable steroids.
- Azithromycin has shown anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties and could be considered as well. There is a rare risk of cardiac arrhythmia.
- SSRI antidepressants like Fluvoxamine, Fluoxetine, and Sertraline have anti-viral properties. Evidence to support this notion that SSRIs are anti-viral goes back about 20 years just like melatonin research.