In the spirit of caring for you and your health, I thought to share the most recent scientific studies about the use of herbs and supplements in the prevention & treatment of Covid. We all have to care for one another more than ever—from a distance—and so when I read these studies, I thought they deserved to be shared far and wide.
Glutathione
According to a study published by Alexey Polonikov of Kursk State Medical University, the amino acid Glutathione, found in every cell of the body, may help your body fight off the worst manifestations of Covid should you be exposed.
Glutathione supports the immune system by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Polonikov notes that there is evidence that glutathione “inhibits replication of various viruses at different stages of the viral life cycle (See Figure 1), and this antiviral property of GSH seems to prevent increased viral loads and the subsequent massive release of inflammatory cells into the lung.”
Sublingual glutathione supplements work well–and this powerful antioxidant is found in certain foods such as garlic, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, avocados and green tea.
The highest level of polyphenols occur in matcha, a specific preparation of green tea. Organic Ceremonial Matcha is prepared from grinding the tea leaves into a powder; so when you drink a cup, you’re ingesting the pure chlorophyll of the plant, along with its antioxidant benefits.
Glutathione is primarily synthesized in the liver and two teas known to support healthy liver function are oolong (Ti Quan Yin & Renewal Oolong Teas) and puerh (Bohemian Breakfast, Sin Eraser and Rise & Shine Teas), which cut fat from the liver, assisting in the processing of important nutrients, like glutathione. Various studies also note that glutathione deficiency occurs more often in people suffering from obesity, diabetes and cancer. Moreover, people who smoke or over the age of 60, and men in general, are at risk: “men have lower plasma levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) than women, making men more susceptible to oxidative stress and inflammation.” (Polonikov, May 28, 2020)
A deficiency in glutathione is also connected to the insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables.
A deficiency in Vitamin D has been found to be connected to cases of Covid. Glutathione aids the body’s absorption of vitamins D, C and E.
Master Herbs: Chaga, Turmeric, Tulsi & Ashwagandha
The Chaga mushroom, found in Rise & Shine Puerh Tea, is wild-crafted and wild harvested from birch trees in Canada and has been utilized for centuries by Siberian shaman to help relieve pain and treat digestive disorders. But that’s just the beginning. Chaga is also known as an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant, aptly named “King of Adaptogens.”
Turmeric, as well as its supplementation form curcumin, is known as another powerful anti-inflammatory agent that aids in the detoxification of the liver.
Lucid Dreams (which incorporates turmeric), Child’s Pose and Bliss herbal teas contain Tulsi, a master, adaptogenic herb that soothes the nervous system, protects the lungs by decreasing inflammation in the airways, as well as guards the entire body from oxidative stress and viral attacks.
Ashwagandha (found in Mantra Mint herbal tea), a widely used and researched ayurvedic herb, has shown to be effective in the fight against Covid in a study released in May 2020 by IIT-Delhi in collaboration with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). According to the study, ashwagandha is therapeutic against COVID-19 through its ability to halt replication of the virus.
"The researchers targeted the main SARS-CoV-2's enzyme for splitting proteins, known as the main protease (Mpro), that plays a key role in mediating viral replication. This is an attractive drug target for this virus, and as humans don't naturally have this enzyme, compounds that target Mpro are likely to have low toxicity," said D Sundar, head of the Delhi Indian Institute of Technology's Biotechnology department. (Same study cited in an article from Healthworld.com)
The same study found that propolis, a product made by bees, can also help prevent and treat patients with Covid.
Sending you all so much love and please share this post with those you know as we go into the next wave of this pandemic.
With love & care,
Zhena
