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Your Pets, Flu and COVID-19 ?

Dr. Jeff

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Here's today's info from an MD homeopath:

The CDC has already publicized the main things we can and should do to protect both ourselves and everybody else, namely:

1) avoiding large crowds, postponing unnecessary travel, and keeping a safe distance from those you're in contact with

2) washing hands often with soap and water, and wiping off objects and surfaces in common use that you've touched or grasped

3) remembering not to touch nose, mouth, and face with your hands except when necessary

4) limiting contact with the elderly and those weakened by chronic diseases as much as possible

5) getting tested if you fall sick, covering nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and staying home if you test positive: all good, sensible precautions..

In addition, many physicians are recommending high doses of Vitamin C, say 3000 mg. daily for prophylaxis, and even more for the actual illness, with coughing and shortness of breath, at which point Dr. Brownstein suggests adding Vitamins A, D3, and iodine as well.

Homeopaths have had and continue to have great success treating epidemic diseases like cholera, yellow fever, measles, influenza, and flu, using a simple method that deserves much wider recognition and use.

Once about 20 or 25 cases have been investigated, one remedy will be found to fit around 75% of the cases, and is therefore designated as the basic remedy or genus epidemicus of the outbreak. It can then be given out prophylactically to people who are not yet sick, whether in the vicinity or recently exposed, and also to early cases. More advanced illness may call for other remedies.

In the US, too few cases have been seen and treated homeopathically to identify the main remedy; but colleagues in Hong Kong and Taiwan have had the most success with Gelsemium, followed by Bryonia and Eupatorium perfoliatum in advanced cases with their typical indications. For prophylaxis, they therefore recommend

Gelsemium
30C once a week in towns, rural areas, and neighborhoods far from those most seriously affected; and

in neighborhoods or crowded with many cases in the vicinity, Gelsemium 30C daily for seven days, and twice a week thereafter, until the outbreak is over.
 

Dr. Jeff

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Protection from any infection depends on optimal immune function.

Medicinal mushrooms are known to improve immunity and are being used more and more widely.

Even the department of defense is reported to distribute them widely among troops during pandemics and in parts of the world with poor hygiene.

Here's the product they reported use:


For potent immune boosting mushrooms that dogs and cats seem to enjoy, I use:

 

Dr. Jeff

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Dr. Jeff

Administrator
Moderator
Veterinarian
Joined
Feb 23, 2017
Messages
5,239

Dr. Jeff

Administrator
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Veterinarian
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5,239

Dr. Jeff

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Good morning everyone!

It' s a beautiful crisp day here in CT, but the worldwide COVID news from over the weekend is less than beautiful.

Many new cases around the world have cropped up with mortality rates ranging from 2-3% to almost 10% in Italy with 2,547 new cases and 250 more deaths on 3/13.

It looks like the US will be asking all non-essential business to temporarily close their doors.

This will have a negative impact on many businesses, but new home delivery options are cropping up every day.

For example, you can still get fresh food for your dog from:


Raw diets such as from Steve's and Darwins are also still being delivered.

The closures may complicate life but are an important and needed public safety measures to reduce everyone's risks and to slow the spread of the virus.

In addition, there's a lot you to can do to improve your resistance to active infection while raising your pets (and your) level of health.

I've posted about many of them in this thread and elsewhere on the forum, but here they are all in one post.

These Holistic Actions! are in addition to general recommendation for social distancing, hand-washing, etc.

#1 - Pranayama

Breathe deeply, through your nose whenever out in the fresh air.
Use restricted breathing (in yoga called ujjayi) to slow your breath and allow your nasal immune system to do its job of cleaning the air.

Restricted breathing, as when you fog a mirror or clean glasses, is especially helpful if you are feeling anxious or are in a higher risk (more crowded) area.

Pranayama and ujjayi are also known to activate the vagal reflex and parasympathetic reflex to increase relaxation.

This relaxation also improves immune function.

Ujjayi and restricted breathing are what cats do when they self sooth or are happy and purr.

Here's an article that discuses specific recommendations to apply pranayama for pets that can also help you.


Scroll to the appendix at the end of the article for these strategies. Research verification for pranayama for people can also be found in this article:

Specific pranayama strategies for people:


#2 - Soak up the sun.

The healing rays of the sun, and all energy, help the cells, tissues and organs of the body work optimally.

Pets and people may not have a direct way to use this energy the way plants are able to do through photosynthesis, but new evidence from Dr. Pollack's lab is that this energy can be passively stored then converted for active use as cellular energy.


This is the energy that will keep your body's immune surveillance at its best. It is this ability of the immune system to detect and destroy pathogens like coronavirus.

There is also evidence that the sun can inactivate the virus.

#3 - Play and connect.

Combine 1 and 2 and play with your pets outside in the sun while breathing deeply.

When you're not playing, go for sniff walks, or if you're not able to walk, sit outside in a chair and breathe deeply while tossing a ball or letting your kitty wander around (use a leash and harness if the area is not fenced in).

One 100% safe way to connect with friends and family is by FaceTime, Skype and Zoom which are all free.

There's lots of research that proves that positive emotions and connecting with people or pets improves health and homeostasis (balance) and reduces risk of infection and dis-eases (imbalances).

#4 -Drink plenty of water, eat an immune boosting diet and use immune-enhancing supplements.

Especially fresh food that focuses on eating colorful fruits and vegetables are known to enhance health in many ways.

Dr. Michael Gregor has lots of articles and videos that are all research based like:


My personal favorite immune boosting food for pets is the wild blueberry-kale smoothie that you can read more about here:


Some people also like the taste of this smoothie or can just eat lots of wild blueberries and fresh kale separately.

Regarding immune boosting supplements, medicinal mushroom are mainstays in addition to B complex vitamins + C, D, E, etc.

For a potent human mushroom supplement you can try:


And for pets, use:


Other HA! include things like magnesium oil and homeopathy to activate natural healing mechanisms.

There is also increasing evidence from human homeopaths that, as in past pandemics, homeopathic medicines can help activate the body's natural healing ability to improve abnormal symptoms.

BTW-Did you know that the only monument dedicated to a doctor is for Samuel Hahnemann? It is in commemoration of all of the lives his system of homeopathy saved in past pandemics.

The next post will contain the recent experiences of an MD homeopath in India treating patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
 

Dr. Jeff

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Dr. Jeff

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Here's an excellent summary article from the Wall Street Journal:


My only amendment to the article is to look at the relative statistics of sickness from COVID when the flu shot is used as a "preventive".

I've read and heard that the flu vaccine can decrease immune surveillance and predispose to other dis-eases such as ASIA:

https://www.amazon.com/Vaccines-Autoimmunity-Yehuda-Shoenfeld/dp/1118663438
 

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KellyB

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I am trying to get a pet first aid kit set up for the possibility if I were to become ill and needed someone to take care of my pets or if we had to evacuate or relocate. I’d love to hear others’ ideas regarding the uncertain issues in the face of Covid-19.

I’m single and live alone and don’t really have a backup plan for who would take care of my animals if something should happen to me.

What kind of contingents do you all have in place? Thanks for sharing!

Kelly
 

Dr. Jeff

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Great question Kelly!

Are you in the US? If so, what part?

I'll also give your query further thought and post in this thread with any specific ideas.
 

Dr. Jeff

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KellyB

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Hi Dr. Jeff,

Yes I’m in upstate NY not far from the Albany area.

Kelly
 

beccak

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I recently heard that elderberry syrup can increase cytokine production and should be used intermittently, not daily.
Do you know if this is true?
Thanks.
Becca
 

Dr. Jeff

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Hi Becca-

It can be used daily if needed, but, like many other supplements, it should not be used continuously and is often more effective for acute use. For what reason would you use it?

It has indeed been shown to increase both good and bad cytokines and as with most other things in medicine, the balance is the key.

However elderberry will not usually make a significant negative difference.

It can however be helpful. Especially when used homeopathically.

Sambucus nigra is the homeopathic medicine made from elderberry.

In a small homeopathic dose, you do not need to worry about production of "bad" cytokines.

Here's one MD's opinion about elderberry and cytokines:


And the conclusion of one research article:

...We conclude from this study that, in addition to its antiviral properties, Sambucol Elderberry Extract and its formulations activate the healthy immune system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production. Sambucol might therefore be beneficial to the immune system activation and in the inflammatory process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases. Sambucol could also have an immunoprotective or immunostimulatory effect when administered to cancer or AIDS patients, in conjunction with chemotherapeutic or other treatments. In view of the increasing popularity of botanical supplements, such studies and investigations in vitro, in vivo and in clinical trials need to be developed.We conclude from this study that, in addition to its antiviral properties, Sambucol Elderberry Extract and its formulations activate the healthy immune system by increasing inflammatory cytokine production. Sambucol might therefore be beneficial to the immune system activation and in the inflammatory process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases. Sambucol could also have an immunoprotective or immunostimulatory effect when administered to cancer or AIDS patients, in conjunction with chemotherapeutic or other treatments. In view of the increasing popularity of botanical supplements, such studies and investigations in vitro, in vivo and in clinical trials need to be developed.

Here's the abstract of the full article from the European Cytokine Network:

 

Dr. Jeff

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Hi again Kelly-

A kit is a great idea and most of the remedies indicated, at this point, can be found in this one:


Here are some tips from our friends at Embark:

What if I catch the virus and have to quarantine myself?
See if someone you know would be willing to board your dog during your quarantine as some places allow you to keep your pets with you while others do not. Check your local government site for their specific requirements for quarantine. We suggest coming up with a care plan for your pets proactively—reach out to family members and friends to see in advance who might be able to board your pet in the worst-case scenario.

If you are quarantined, you should limit contact with your pets. Stock up on food and meds for your dog and limit contact for both you and your pets with others.

Here's the full article:

 

Dr. Jeff

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Dr. Jeff

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Here's a few other thoughts about the coronavirus.

Dr. Niels Pederson is a research-oriented veterinarian who has been studying them for 50 years.

His work is voluminous and could be quite helpful.

Here's a sample of some of his peer-reviewed publications:


Unfortunately his knowledge and vast experience is not being used to inform the current pandemic.

This seems similar to the lack of "translation" of the current energy, symptoms and balance research into clinical practice (which is gradually changing).

Here's some more from Dr. Pedersen:


Here's a feline coronavirus (and FIP) update about the new antiviral that is being used to stop viral replication:


Coronavirus also lives in dogs and like cats, over 99% of the cases are asymptomatic or benign.

When Fort Dodge first tried to make a coronavirus vaccine in the 80s it did much more harm than good and was quickly pulled off the market.

IMHO, we need to learn from these experiences.
 

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