*** This message from Dr. Larrow was originally posted on her most recent newsletter. To sign up scroll down to the bottom of any page on this site. Thanks! ***
To you, my patients and family,
In this time of unknown due to the SARS-CoV-2 "Corona" virus, shelter in place, and change in our normal routine I want to let you know I am here to listen and help. If you have specific concerns about your own immune system or need help with anything health wise then please reach out. I have enjoyed still seeing patients via telemedicine video calls. I am thinking about all of you and hoping that you are staying safe.
I know last week we sent out a newsletter where I listed things you can do to boost your immune system, but I just wanted to email a few more items. Again, I want to state that COVID-19 is a novel disease and we don’t have research as to what can treat or cure this disease or stop the virus in its tracks yet. I ask that you please follow the CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and family. As much as you can, please stay at home and limit your time out-and-about picking up items that you need. If you are older or have underlying medical conditions then please ask for help rather than going out.
That said, here are a few more things to consider to help support your immune system:
- Garlic Oxymel Drink
There are many different recipes out there, but most of them contain garlic and honey. Garlic is antimicrobial, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral as is honey. Cayenne pepper is a diaphoretic herb, which helps to induce a fever in the body. This fever helps to support immune function. Sometimes cayenne pepper is not used where apple cider vinegar is used instead. Here are two blogs that I wrote many years ago:
- Wet Socks
This is one of my go to immune support treatments. I know most of you hate when I tell you to do this, but you all tell me you feel better after doing it. I would ask that you consider doing wet socks if you are not feeling 100% or even consider doing them for several days after you have been out in public as right now we don’t really know who all has COVID-19 and who does not as many carriers appear asymptomatic, at least from current information available:
- Sinus Rinses / Neti Pot
We are able to shower and rinse our bodies off, but most of us are not considering the importance of rinsing out our sinuses or mucous membranes. A quick nasal rinse can help to flush out things that should not be in our sinuses whether these things be allergens or bacterial/viral. It’s important to make sure we stay healthy.
Please also continue to support your mental health with meditation, exercise, stress reduction, and planning. I know for us at home, our routine has been thrown off and thus I spent time making Joshua a graphical, printed out schedule so that he can see what this new routine is going to be and we can ask him to look at it if he needs a reminder. I have also added in a 30-day yoga challenge for myself, currently into my second week, as I was reminded how important taking care of myself is in the middle of all that is going on.
Sending you positive thoughts. Please stay safe out there.
- Dr. Anita M. Larrow, ND
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