FROM INDIA TODAY: A combination of an anti-parasite drug with an antibiotic produced "astounding" results when used to treat the coronavirus, helping dozens of patients recover within four days without side effects, medical experts in Bangladesh say.

A medical team lead by Dr Md Tarek Alam, head of the Bangladesh Medical College Hospital's medicine department, reported the findings, according to PTI.

The team combined Ivermectin -- generally used for de-worming and as a treatment against head lice and scabies -- with the antibiotic Doxycycline.

All 60 patients who received the treatment recovered, Dr Alam said.

In early April, a study reported that Ivermectin stopped the coronavirus from growing in cell culture within two days, according to the news agency.

No widely approved treatments exist yet for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

But a U.S. trial showed that Gilead Sciences Inc's remdesivir cut hospital stays by 31 per cent compared with a placebo, although it didn't significantly improve survival. The U.S. granted the drug authorisation for emergency use on May 1.

LINK: "Vitamin D Insufficiency is Prevalent in Severe COVID-19"

Results: Twenty COVID-19 patients with serum 25OHD levels were identified; 65.0% required ICU admission.The VDI prevalence in ICU patients was 84.6%, vs. 57.1% in floor patients. Strikingly, 100% of ICU patients less than 75 years old had VDI. Coagulopathy was present in 62.5% of ICU COVID-19 patients, and 92.3% were lymphocytopenic. Conclusions: VDI is highly prevalent in severe COVID-19 patients. VDI and severe COVID-19 share numerous associations including hypertension, obesity, male sex, advanced age, concentration in northern climates, coagulopathy, and immune dysfunction.

IN PLAIN ENGLISH: Every single patient in the ICU that was 75yrs or younger had a Vitamin D deficiency.  These ICU patients also had clotting problems and low white blood cell counts.  Their cases were more severe.  This is a strong correlation. 

VITAMIN D: We make our own Vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight by converting cholesterol.  We can only make Vitamin D if the sun is strong enough (during spring/summer/fall, but not winter).  We make more Vitamin D if there are oils in our skin (so don't use harsh soaps, eat healthy oils).  We can last longer in the sun without burning if we have antioxidants in our system like Vitamin A, C, and E, so eat your sunscreen.  We last longer in the sun without burning if our skin is also hydrated, so drink more fluids and avoid drinking alcohol.  We make less Vitamin D when we wear UVB sunblock.  We make less Vitamin D if our diet is deficient in oils, if we take statins for lowering cholesterol.  One hour, completely naked, at noontime, will yield an average (caucasian) person upwards of 20,000IU of Vitamin D.  A whole day in the sun could yield 100,000IU!  The average adult will "burn through" 5000-6000IU of Vitamin D on an active day, and perhaps more if under stress (like an infection).  Food sources of Vitamin D include liver, eggs, and edible mushrooms.  Supplements are often made from lanolin (sheeps' wool extract), and do help, but don't help as much as making your own.   

Occular Tropism is a phenomenon the occurs in respiratory viral infections commonly enough to warrant this study. 

IN PLAIN ENGLISH: Before the fever, in the first few days of infection, you might notice redness and irritation of the eyes.  It might feel like bad allergies, if you've ever felt that before.  They might feel dry or itchy.  They could likely produce copious tears.  The study found that this is due to the virus, and suggests that it is actually a common first symptom.  What they didn't mention was that this irritation and infection in the eye could continue and worsen before it resolves.  You should expect this symptom to resolve as your body cures itself of the infection. 

"Nurse Chelsey Earnest told CNN that as she worked with coronavirus patients at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., she began to notice that the sickest ones had a single thing in common.

Yesterday's blog post was about Kawasaki disease, typically a childhood disease that manifests late-stage.  The study I linked above, and here again, not only lists Coronavirus as a one that exhibits occular tropism (infects the eye), they also mentioned this bit:

"An association between HCoV-NL63 infection and Kawasaki disease (a systemic vasculitis of childhood for which presentation with bilateral conjunctivitis is one criterion for diagnosis) has been reported; however, a definitive link of HCoV-NL63 as the etiologic agent of this disease has not been established (166, 168).

The direct link to the virus and vasculitis can't be established.  Perhaps we're into co-infection territory.  I've always suspected Streptococcus. 

The image of the clot-grenade comes from this article about clot-busting therapies.  Namely, tPA, tissue plasminogen activator. (something you can't find at home.)  

• ACTIONS WE NEED:
• TESTS: that could elucidate: in inflammatory reactions leading to clotting we might check ESR (sed rate), CBC (complete blood count, to include platelet counts), Ferritin, and D-dimer.  In a clotting cascade we expect to see D-dimer elevated, especially.    
• FIRST: protect the lining of the vessels: clots occur because damage to the lining happens first
• antioxidants and antiinflammatories
• remove the causes of oxidative stress: heavy metals, mycotoxins, environmental toxins and radiation, inadequate sleep and light
  
• MEANWHILE: manage healthy platelet aggregation (clot formation) and dissolution
  
• anticoagulant therapies
• lifestyle therapies
  
• pH balance
• adjunctive therapies
  
• Specific Herbs that I'm comfortable and familiar with:
  
• White Willow Bark (Salicyn) - the basis of aspirin, modulates immune system, inhibits platelet formation.  In this category we could also add Harpagophytum (Devil's Claw)
  
• Cayenne - capsacin acts on nervous system to dilate small vessels, inhibits platelet formation
  
• Rosemary - essential oils in this herb help improve blood viscosity and bloodflow/oxygenation of small capillaries
  
• Camphor / Pine - essential oils of these trees open airways, act on the nervous system to relax small capillaries and airways
  
• Ginger - synergist with enzymes
  
• Hawthorne - protects lining of vessels
  
• Peppermint - antioxidant, antispasmodic
  
• Feverfew - almost specific for the kinds of headaches this condition causes.
  
• Butterbur - also pretty specific for the headaches caused by platelets. (and wouldn't you know, the author also lists Feverfew in the title)
  
• Adjunctive ENERGY therapies:
  
• ENERGY MEDICINE: Clots form by static cling.  Energy modalities deliver usable energy to the system to quench the static.  Very effective. Very safe.  I would swear my life to energy medicines, and do.  I'll keep the list short and list only two devices right now that I can help anyone get for themselves, that I have a lot of experience with, and trust completely. 
  
• PEMF (I use SEQEX): opens gated ion channels, replenishes molecular/cellular energy stores, improves microcirculation. Requires vitruall no expertise to use effectively.
  
• SCENAR: this device can deliver usable energy to the body and can be used with a high degree of skill but also with no skill right out of the box. 
  
• Homeopathy: in essence, homeopathy is a kind of resonant therapy, and resonance is what adds energy to a system. 
  
• Not herbs, but natural
  
• Bicarbonates, Alkaline Minerals, Cell Salts - to balance pH. 
  
• ENZYMES: lumbrokinase, serrapeptidase, nattokinase, and other systemic and digestive enzymes including pepsin, trypsin and pancreatin.
  
• EDTA: I prefer K-Mg-EDTA, but Na-EDTA has been long studied to be very safe too.
  
• Polyunsaturated Fats: like Omega 3,6,7,7,8...
  
• Polyphenols: like those from berries, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. 
  
• Fat-soluble vitamins in whole, mixed, food form: Vitamins A (carotenoids), Vitamin D (calciferol), Vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), Vitamin K (quinones)
• Hydration
• Rest
• Gentle exercise
• Last but not least: H2 - hydrogen is a kind of "rescue remedy" for stroke.  I keep a bottle of H2 tablets around next to a bottle of my buddy Ron Buffone's Cayenne Tincture. 
  

• Vitamin C - stabilizes heme, ensures oxygenation. 
  
• Ferrum Phos cell salts
  
• Lysine - (While I wouldn't suggest the aspirin added to this study, because there are safer and equally effective alternatives, you should consider that the researchers were trying to inhibit platelet aggregation.)
  
• Potassium - My gut tells me I should list this here.  
  
• Zinc, Potassium, Magnesium - There's synergy with multi-mineral balance.
• Homeopathic CHINA (Cinchona bark) - best to take with minerals, especially Zinc, Magnesium, and Potassium.  Cinchona is a competitive inhibitor to COV2 for heme binding, and will also bind-up non-cell heme.   
  
• Enzymes - Stabilize clotting factors
• Mg/K-EDTA - I prefer to use these as suppositories but it is safe as IV or oral use.  Stabilizes clotting factors, normalizes blood gasses, corrects calcium utilization.
• Foods that increase Nitric Oxide (NO), including Hawthorne berries.  John Brisson reminded me that Lysine reduces arginine, and arginine is kinda critical for NO production.  NO is antiviral, painkilling, platelet normalizing, and a vasodilator.  Our NO stores and availability in the bloodstream are a baseline measure of oxidative stress, aerobic capacity, and cellular vitality.  It should be mentioned that use of this gas as an inhalation can be helpful but should be done carefully.  So, if using Lysine to combat Coronavirus, consider also NO-synergists. 
  
• H2 - stabilizes clotting factors
  

You might be surprised to hear this: when doctors go on strike (and refuse to work), death rates fall by as much as 50%, even in a few short weeks.  The results are immediate and obvious: Funeral parlors empty out. 

Please, before you get angry at me if you think I'm bashing the very front-line people we are depending on for acute COV2 illness, take this with a grain of salt.  I'm a physician and am acutely aware of the risk I take when I intervene in someone's health.  Even the natural therapeutics I use could lead to harm.  A mere misunderstanding between me and a patient could do harm.  This is why I chose to be a Naturopathic Physician, because I'm too risk averse in this way and believe that I have a better chance of helping with a lower chance of harm when I use homeopathic and herbal medicines and energy therapeutics, and take extra time with each person if needed. 

Now ten years old, this well-referenced blog post does a better job than I can of illustrating this point: Doctors were the Third Leading Cause Of Death in the Developed World, and avoiding them results in less deaths.   In other words: less intervention led to better outcomes.  This amounts to about 250,000 deaths per year in the US alone. 

This is not because proper medicine is irrelevant and harmful, it's because much of what we receive as medicine is over-medication and unnecessary surgeries.  The drop in fatalities during a medical strike is evidence to me that most of the medical interventions forgone were unnecessary, and should have been avoided anyway.  This is usually where people point their fingers at a cynical profit motive.  I'll say just this: it's complicated. 

Doctors were the third leading cause.  Now COV2 is. 

COV2 is, right now, killing Americans at a rate of 250,000 people per year. 

As a collective, we are partnering with the first responders to find the most appropriate medical interventions for those folks who are most stricken with this illness.  We are all trying to understand the nature of this illness, and the most high-yield and safe ways to intervene.  Nobody deserves to die, or to be maimed, and I truly believe that solutions exist.  I would add that it is up to each individual, absent of medicine even, to do their best to prevent illness with common sense and positivity: maintain cleanliness, get fresh air and sunshine, get gentle exercise and restorative sleep, eat real food, smile and laugh a lot, dance, and play.   

How does this relate to the pandemic situation?  A large portion of healthcare workers and doctors are furloughed, clinics closed, and medical interventions of all sorts are being cancelled / postponed / reconsidered.  We should expect to see a decrease in "iatrogenic (medically-caused) deaths," which will add-up to a whole lot!   I propose we will also see a decrease in deaths we wouldn't have otherwise attributed to medicine, which would figure into "all-cause mortality."  

Emergency medicine IS necessary medicine, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Start now, start early: this message is for the physicians and the folks.  If we are seeing reports of natural therapeutics (which require no prescription) working, we should begin to incorporate them at the start (unless they're indicated for late-stage only, or if they're potentially toxic).  I would also like to picture a world where our hospitals begin to take more pragmatic and rational approaches to everything.  Rational medicine looks to you and me like common sense and doing what's safe first and effective second: vitamins, minerals, fresh air (you'd be disgusted to know how many hospitals and nursing homes have zero air purification), natural therapeutics, and cutting edge natural therapies.  If you've ever been to a hospital in Germany, to give a really good example, you'd be amazed how many natural therapies are used.  Adopting these therapeutics would not require any new inventions, except it would require a new "convention" and redefinition of "conventional medicine."   Solutions are out there already. 

I'll give you another example of how I see medicine in USA evolving: the Italian made SEQEX device that I use and endorse is not new in Europe, is classified as the highest tier medical device, what we call Class-1, and used in hospitals.  Right now there are hospitals in Europe using the Seqex in conjunction with other medical therapies to treat COV2, although it isn't publicized and I don't have a link for you.  (sorry. - if I do I'll come back and add it here.)  Here's the kicker: the Italian manufacturer has not been eager to try and get it FDA approved here because of the enormous cost involved.  Health Canada has approved it as a Class I device, and we can legally import it to the United States.   You can rest assured that you'll have the same device as is used in the hospitals in Europe (and in a very small way in Canada now).  If there's enough demand for it here in USA, perhaps Seqex Italy will bring it to us directly.  When our hospital system begins to adopt these effective and safe, sometimes non-specific and adjunctive / supportive therapies, expect to see SEQEX in the mix -it's that effective. 

There will be other environmental impacts that will reduce our medical burden: a reduction in diseases caused by pollution from burning petrochemicals.  This can't be discounted.  Air pollution from incineration and combustion contributes not only to acute and chronic respiratory illness (including a risk to COV2), but it also contributes to nearly every other degenerative condition we've looked at, like top-two killers heart disease and cancer, also affected are diabetes, childhood diseases, and also reproductive difficulties.  I would propose that less environmental activity will lead to less consumption in general, less "negative externalities" on the natural environment and life of all forms.   At the very least, our landfills will pile up slower. 

H2 gas is what you'd get in a tank from medical supply. 

HHO Gas is produced by electrolysis. 

When you read reports of Hydrogen Gas inhalation being used as an adjunct to Oxygen inhalation in many Asian countries, what you are reading about is HHO Gas, aka Ionized-Electrolysed Water.   Electrolysed means: split by electricity.  As simply as I can explain it:  using a power transformer to increase voltage, we the electricity it to oppositely charged metal plates in water which begin to bubble-out Hydrogen and Oxygen Gas.  It looks as if the metal plates are boiling, and they do get hot, but the gasses that escape are not just water vapor...the water has been split apart.  

I think we call it Hydrogen inhalation so as not to offend "any powers that be."  I believe one reason HHO Gas is such a touchy subject is because it can be used for a number of very "disruptive" applications that could possibly upend the worldwide balance of economic power and energy generation.  I believe the other reason there is such caution using molecular hydrogen is because it can be harmful if misused used in very high concentrations.  The electrolysis devices they're using in Asia are separating the "O" from the "HH," but the process is very similar to the "water for fuel" torches you might have seen.

For historical context of the ionizer market, there is a Japanese "ENAGIC" brand that has produced water ionizers to create drinking water for the past 20 or so years.  The effect of switching from tap water to "Kangen Water" is so positive and safe that there are countless knock-off devices sold around the world.  One term for this drinking water is ERW: electrolysed-reduced-water.    Knock-offs are some of the best evidence that something works really well, yet on a principle that is easily comprehensible.   I still believe that ENAGIC machines are superior for a few reasons, including their use of solid platinum-coated metal plates and utilizing continuous high-power to ionize the water. 

More recently the ionizer market has matured and progressed to include using this technology for inhalation and insufflation (to blow the gas on, or fill a bag around an area).  Some provide mixed HHO gas and others separate the H and O, providing as much 99% pure Hydrogen gas (which is not necessarily an advantage).  I know of only a few companies in the United States that are selling legitimate and licensed devices for this use, one of which is in Colorado, called Vital-Reaction.  I would caution you against thinking "more is better" when it comes to molecular hydrogen, and would direct you to their "Safety" page in the menu. 

There is another way to create free hydrogen gas in drinking water using magnesium as a catalyst.  I know of one company that makes a drinking water device for the counter or home that utilizes a mineral catalyst after the filtration process, when I'm comfortable with their business I'll share the name.  I also am very familiar with a mineral tablet-H2 product that is commonly white-labeled, but for the most part made by one company, called H2-Elite.  I have links at the bottom where you an get these products.  This tablet should create about 10% H2 gas dissolved in a cup of water that you can then apply/drink.  It's not as potent as an inhalation but it does come with studies behind it showing rapid and complete absorption of what H2 gas is in it.  (and, I'm not opposed to getting a little supplemental magnesium salt).  The one other company that makes H2 tablets is Vital Reaction, and there's a letter from their medical director below. 

I burned out my (cheap) device by leaving it on for too long.  The very corrosive alkaline salt solution escaped the chamber.   I was using a device that I had repurposed.   It gave me a serious scare, and I told myself I should pause on HHO therapy in the clinic until I could learn some more, study some more, overcome my fear again, and then invest in a more reliable device.  Thankfully, nobody was exposed, no harm was done, and I had a good learning experience.  I regret that I had to stop using HHO for a while because in the short time I was using it I saw some uncanny, yet very positive, results.  Probably most remarkable were bagging limbs with it: one patient with hives all over her leg from a bee-sting, and another with persistent tendinitis of the ITB (lateral tendon that stretches from knee-hip).   Suffice to say the effect was complete and rapid resolution, without recurrence, of signs and symptoms.   I would not dare repeat the method I was using, or even hint at it - lest you get ideas about trying it yourself -  but would instead defer to some of the more sophisticated medical devices that are coming to market.  It's a looong discussion for another day.

It's a wild world of natural therapeutics, and some of the things we encounter weren't covered (specifically) in med school.  We have to go out on a limb sometimes, do our homework, and - I strongly believe - we gain firsthand personal experience about it before we "try" it on anyone else.   From what I understand, molecular hydrogen is safe and can be beneficial when used properly.  Along the course of my COV2 recovery I have used Hydrogen Tablets sparingly, but from this day forward, after the email I've been waiting for (below) I'll be more forthcoming about H2.  I'm not opposed to someone using alkalized ENAGIC-style hydrogen water, tablets, or certified inhalation devices. 

Molecular Hydrogren [sic] and Coronavirus- A Perspective

Hi there-

I hope this email finds you well during these difficult times.

With a respiratory pandemic sweeping the globe, I am frequently asked, what role (if any?) could molecular hydrogen therapy play in the prevention or treatment of COVID19?

The honest truth is that no one knows. The majority of clinical trials looking at the effects of molecular hydrogen have focused on stroke, neurodegenerative disease, kidney function and exercise physiology, and even these are still early stages, with much more research to be done to determine safety and efficacy.

While many animal and in vitro studies have assessed molecular hydrogen’s role in immunity, the inflammatory process and lung function, it is impossible to make any sort of claims in the absence of large scale trials in humans.

That being said, we can certainly make inferences based on what is known and has been demonstrated, and those inferences should serve as a basis for future clinical research.

In China, where hydrogen therapy has been more widely incorporated into mainstream medicine, hydrogen inhalation therapy is actually being tested as part of a coronavirus protocol, as an adjunctive experimental treatment in critical cases. It is still too early to say whether or not it is showing any promise as an effective therapy.

So what do we know?

Multiple studies in animals and in cell cultures have demonstrated that molecular hydrogen may have wide ranging effects on inflammation and the immune response. In these models molecular hydrogen has been shown to modulate signal transduction across a variety of metabolic pathways, though in many cases the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Broadly speaking it appears that molecular hydrogen may have the capacity to downregulate pro-inflammatory pathways and to up-regulate anti-inflammatory pathways through a variety of mechanisms including activation of the NRF2 pathway.

In regards to immune function, similar models have shown that molecular hydrogen may help to promote a healthy immune response, by modulating the cytokines (cell signalling molecules) that can cause harmful immune responses, and inhibiting unwanted apoptosis (cell death).

It is important to note that just because an experiment shows promise for a new drug or supplement in animal models does not necessarily mean that it will have the same results in humans. Nonetheless, these trials do indicate which directions future clinical research should take.

Next, molecular hydrogen has been shown to function as a selective antioxidant, as well as to upregulate endogenous antioxidant status, including in at least one human trial. Much of the damage done by infections and our immune response is directly due to oxidative stress- damage caused by an excess of free radicals. Antioxidants are molecules that neutralize free radicals, and in theory can ameliorate the extent of this damage. Because molecular hydrogen is selective, it targets only the harmful free radicals, further helping to modulate the immune response.

As the word implies, “oxidative stress” is often caused by exposure to oxygen. While we need oxygen to survive, it’s actually highly toxic to our tissues, so tissues with high exposure to oxygen, like our lungs for example, are susceptible to higher levels of oxidative stress. Animal models suggest that molecular hydrogen may be especially efficacious in protecting lung tissue.  

Various animal models have shown that, in mice at least, molecular hydrogen can protect lung tissues from radiation induced damage by preventing oxidative stress. One mouse model even found that hydrogen may protect against cigarette smoke induced COPD. It’s important to note that these are animal models only, and don’t say anything about similar effects in humans, but these results definitely suggest that more research should be done on these fronts.

In the past few weeks you’ve probably read more about ventilators that you had ever imagined you might. These critical life saving devices work by forcing high pressure oxygen into lungs that are no longer able to breathe for themselves. While necessary, intubation and ventilation is not without risk. Forcing high levels of oxygen under high pressure into delicate airways- while life-saving- can cause short and long-term lung damage due to oxidative
stress.

One mouse study demonstrated that molecular hydrogen can actually protect lung tissue from damage due to hyperoxia (excess oxygen). And
another study looking specifically at the problem of mechanical ventilation found that molecular hydrogen ameliorated damage directly due to ventilators in mice.

A recent nationwide study from Harvard showed that there is a direct correlation between exposure to air pollution and the likelihood of developing a severe case of COVID19. This is not surprising, as air pollution can be extremely harmful to lung tissue via the generative of high levels of free radicals. Again, this is a case where the antioxidant activity of molecular hydrogen could be theoretically beneficial. Definitely an area deserving of more study.

In severe and critical cases of COVID19, much of the damage is actually done by the patient's own immune system. In response to the viral threat, the immune system releases a host of cytotoxic measures (including free radicals) in an all out attempt to wipe out the virus. Unfortunately these measures are equally damaging to our own cells, and this can lead to the failure of multiple organs, and even death. This can also occur with an overwhelming bacterial infection, called sepsis. This inflammatory storm, whether due to a viral or bacterial cause is actually a leading cause of death in hospitals. Multiple researchers theorize that due to its potential for immune modulation, molecular hydrogen may be a safe and effective therapy for this immune storm, and may even help to prevent mass organ failure. This theory has yet to be tested, however, but it definitely deserves to be researched.

So in conclusion, we don’t yet know what role molecular hydrogen could play in the treatment of respiratory diseases, but a large number of animal and in vitro studies show promising results, and suggest that larger human trials are warranted to determine safety and efficacy. Hydrogen is a safe and inexpensive therapy that may have the potential to help many people, and is absolutely deserving of further study.   


Talk soon,
Dr. Trainor

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The assumption we make when we decide to introduce the ventilator is that there's fluid in the lungs and adding more oxygen at pressure will be helpful.  But folks are losing the ability to breathe not merely because the lungs are inflamed.  But in the case of COV2, the distress because their blood can't carry nearly as much: COV2 unbinds heme from hemoglobin, the molecule we need to carry gasses (especially Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide) in the blood.   They're in distress because the cardio-medullary center isn't giving their lungs the signal to breathe.  This is a far more concerning condition.  Another term for this is Neurological Hypoventilation.  We should also be concerned about clotting factors (platelets) in the blood, and "microthrombi" (mini-platelets).    

We can take a natural approach in addition to molecular hydrogen (which protects against microthrombi)

I consider: Homeopathic Camphor, Ferrum-phos (hemolysis) Cell Salt, Magnesium and Potassium Cell Salts, Systemic/Digestive/Cardio Enzymes ("Vascuzyme" and "Arteriozyme " and "Bitters Extra" are formulations available on Wellevate that I reach for), Magnesium/Potassium EDTA suppositories (which stabilizes platelets and binds heavy metals), and Glutathione inhalations and suppositories, although there are a number more approaches that would be synergistic. 

In the case of this pandemic, homeopathic CAMPHOR covers this kind of respiratory arrest that is neurological in origin.  CAMPHOR also has an effect on bronchial and alveolar dilation, but it is important to note that in overdose cases of CAMPHOR, we see neurological and cardiac distress.