Nutraceuticals & Botanicals for COVID-19

[CG]

The Institute for Functional Medicine has this on their website: https://www.ifm.org/news-insights/the-functional-medicine-approach-to-covid-19-virus-specific-nutraceutical-and-botanical-agents/

One of the things I'm specifically noting is that they're saying there's minimal risk with elderberry and address the cytokine storm question.

[Crosscut]

I thought both of the Sambucol studies showed elevated TNF-a levels (#17 and #18 in the references), but I can only find the abstract for the second but it does seem to confirm that.

I did find this specific to elderberry and Covid-19 (https://europepmc.org/article/MED/32864330):

No studies investigated the use of S. nigra berry in the treatment, prevention, or relief of symptoms of COVID-19. While there is some evidence to suggest S.nigra berry increases inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 [13], there is no strong evidence to date to support that S.nigra berry can contribute to a cytokine storm. Both efficacy and safety studies are warranted to answer these important clinical questions.

Also recall reading something last year suggesting elderberry extract for the prevention of Covid, but recommending to stop taking it at the first sign of symptoms for the cytokine storm reason. 

[woodsghost]

I've never heard of a cytokine storm. I'll have to look that up.

Right now I have elderberry for any issues which come up. And I harvested mullen to try this year.

[Crosscut]

Right now I have elderberry for any issues which come up. And I harvested mullen to try this year.

I harvested and dried a few local plants that were listed in Peterson's Medicinal Plants and Herbs some years back, including mullein flowers and young leaves.  Most of them were drinkable as teas but the mullein not so much, so I decided to try it as a tincture made with cheap 80-proof vodka instead.



No idea if the medicinal effect is amplified, but the flavor sure is.  That stuff could be the most godawful thing I've ever tasted.

[woodsghost]

Right now I have elderberry for any issues which come up. And I harvested mullen to try this year.

I harvested and dried a few local plants that were listed in Peterson's Medicinal Plants and Herbs some years back, including mullein flowers and young leaves.  Most of them were drinkable as teas but the mullein not so much, so I decided to try it as a tincture made with cheap 80-proof vodka instead.



No idea if the medicinal effect is amplified, but the flavor sure is.  That stuff could be the most godawful thing I've ever tasted.

0.0

Just what I've heard from others, the musinogenic effect is dropped when used as a tincture but the other effects seem to get amplified. So it depends on what effect one is going for.

Just parroting what I've heard from people on the intertubes who seem to know a lot more than I do.

[Crosscut]

Preprint clinical trial results that just came out a few days ago, Honey and Nigella sativa against COVID-19 in Pakistan (HNS-COVID-PK): A multi-center placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial

CONCLUSION:
HNS significantly improved symptoms, viral clearance and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Thus, HNS represents an affordable over the counter therapy and can either be used alone or in combination with other treatments to achieve potentiating effects against COVID-19.

Implications of all the available evidence

Considering the economic crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of honey and Nigella sativa will particularly be beneficial for impoverished populations in resource limited settings. The inexpensive over the counter treatment regimen would be a valuable source to lower the burden on healthcare system while significantly dampening impact of the disease.  Addition of these two nutraceuticals will add great value to lower the morbidity/mortality against COVID-19. The study will affect clinical practice and direct future research in the field of emerging infectious diseases. Nevertheless,  these  findings  should  be  tested  and  replicated  in  further  multi-national, larger clinical trials.

[MPMalloy]

Right now I have elderberry for any issues which come up. And I harvested mullen to try this year.

I harvested and dried a few local plants that were listed in Peterson's Medicinal Plants and Herbs some years back, including mullein flowers and young leaves.  Most of them were drinkable as teas but the mullein not so much, so I decided to try it as a tincture made with cheap 80-proof vodka instead.



No idea if the medicinal effect is amplified, but the flavor sure is.  That stuff could be the most godawful thing I've ever tasted.

Where's the Jamesons?

[Crosscut]

Where's the Jamesons?

Can't keep it stocked, my cousin and I polish it off every time he visits.  Ditto on JD with the wives.