Additional COVID Prevention Options

Hi, Friend,

Does the pandemic ever weigh on you? Today it weighed on me with some tough questions, as maybe it also does you at times. So I'm going to start this letter with sharing about that... then below I'll get into the physical health info sharing. Look for the yellow highlight for that in case you want to skim or skip anything. 😉

Heart share: This pandemic is no easy thing to navigate, and it doesn't help when family members argue over what to do about it. Today I pondered why God allowed this virus to come about because the effects have been so difficult, and for some there are increased risks no matter what they chose to do about "C," whether they get the "V" or choose an alternate path. In praying about it I found some comfort knowing that suffering wasn't God's intention, it is a result humankind's choices. In the Garden of Eden as recorded in Genesis 3, Eve and Adam sinned after being tempted and choosing their own way rather than God's; then life became hard. The first death also occurred as a result, and in God's mercy, He killed an animal to cover Adam and Eve's sins so they could have a restored relationship with Him - this was a picture of what was to come with the death of the coming Messiah, Jesus. And it's because of God's love that He gave Eve and Adam (and us) choices, whether we want to choose His way or ours. Without choices there can be no loving relationship.

Suffering hasn't stopped since the garden, and it won't stop, until those who trust in Jesus go to heaven. One of the verses I cling to when I struggle with the suffering of others or my own is Revelation 21:4, which states, "And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain." There will be an end to suffering one day for them, the Bible says. (If you'd like to discuss the reliability of the Bible I'm having discussions on Wednesdays based on the book Cold Case Christianity, for anyone who is interested. Just reply to this email for more details. 🙏) I also find comfort in Romans 8:28, that "God works all things together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." And He is not distant or apathetic, He knows and cares about every detail, weeping with us in our pain and sorrow: John 11:35 "Jesus wept" (when his friend Lazarus died). He is also always close-by: Psalm 139:7-12 "If I say, 'Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,' Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You." I love those verses. ❤

What can we do about it? Well, we can address our own shortcomings and do our best to make the world a better place for those who come after us, so that they don't suffer more than we do; and we can press into God, who is available to be our comforter, strength and deliverer to help us get through it. This is made possible through coming to Him and saying, "God, I trust You and I want You to help me. Please show me the way." Then follow whatever He tells you to do. He will do it; He will help you, guide you, comfort you and give you strength, as He promises. He does it for me when I ask. Let me know if you decide to do that for the first time. 🙏

I wasn't planning to say all that when I started this newsletter, but I felt it was too relevant and important not to share.

So now, the physical health info... To continue on the subject I brought up last week on Ivermectin, I spoke to a functional medicine doctor friend about my idea of taking it prophylactically so I wouldn't get infected with the "C" virus and pass it on to my sister. She brought up a point that I hadn't yet thought of - that there is a difference between the perspectives of most scientists and doctors who publish studies on PubMed and practitioners like herself who have a more natural, holistic approach and regularly try to get people off of medications when they see how they really affect people. For this reason, she is not comfortable prescribing Ivermectin to anyone for prophylactic purposes, as it is still a drug (with side effects). I thought about it and realized she was right, she had pointed out a blind spot in my thinking. It was a bummer hearing that. But I had to rethink my plan and research another option... The first thing I thought to do was investigate this claim, as all claims, no matter the source, must be investigated. (A funny but thought-provoking quote I've heard is, "If your mother tells you she loves you, check it out.") So, I set out first to find out if the doctor's claim was really true, that studies may under-report adverse effects due to the author's conventional bias. So I took one study that promoted the safety of Ivermectin called Over 25 Years of Clinical Experience With Ivermectin: An Overview of Safety for an Increasing Number of Indications and looked up the primary investigator. It was not much of a surprise, he works in a large conventional hospital setting and his profile made no mention of anything holistic or integrative. Thinking back on other studies and authors of the studies, this rings a bell. There is one doctor's office I was able to get in touch with that told me the doctor would be willing to prescribe IVM prophylactically, but I don't know the doctor or his character, so I'm being cautious and weighing all the evidence. I searched a group on Facebook for practitioners about IMV and side effects. Almost everyone who has been prescribing IVM for their patients or taking it themselves for up to over a year have said that there have been no side effects. However, they've recommended not drinking alcohol or taking Ativan/Valium or benzodiazepines (for anxiety, seizures or alcohol withdrawal) while taking it. One did report side effects: "Headache, blurry vision, occasional diarrhea, disappear within days." Comparing IVM to other life-saving medications, one person stated that he was taking a serious medication for his heart condition, which has a black box label (potentially life-threatening) because it was necessary to help keep him alive. In this case the benefits outweighed the risks. He considers IVM much less risky, and though it may have some side effects we're not aware of yet, the benefits may outweigh the risks. Many of the people in the group and their families are actually taking the paste that is intended for horses. Not something I think I'd be particularly comfortable with (at least not yet). Another person pointed out that billions of doses have been given around the world, but not weekly. I hadn't thought about that either. "At some point we’ll stop this. At some point we’ll see the long term effects. God willing, they will be worth the risk." Everything is experimental right now. What you decide to do is a personal choice. The question is, which experimental group would you prefer to be in? I'm continuing to research and think and pray about it. One more reason I came across even today to not get the V is this testimony. However, my goal is not to act or share in fear but to find and provide the most well-rounded, logical information each week. I'm trying to get more information from people who are more in favor of the V. There is so much information to consider! 😲 As for my prevention methods, I am still considering Ivermectin but I have been exercising, eating raw veggies and fruits and taking supplements including a multivitamin that contains B vitamins, anti-inflammatory fish oil, Vitamin D, zinc and immune modulators - currently I'm taking a mushroom extract and I have beta glucan I will take after that. I will probably also add some supplements listed below soon, such as vitamin C, quercetin and melatonin. I have been continuing to wear a mask, practice physical distancing, not staying long in a confined or poorly ventilated space and keeping windows and doors open as much as possible when in an enclosed area with people I don't live with or aren't in my "bubble" (including my sister and her family). I also wash my hands frequently with a non-antibacterial soap or use an alcohol-based sanitizing spray or gel when I'm out so I don't get possible C germs all over my car, phone, bank card and keys and bring it into the house. I also avoid touching my face when I'm out and of course, don't share utensils or double dip. 🙃 When considering prevention techniques, we need to take into account other possible modes of transmission of "C" including: surfaces (indirect transmission), conjunctiva/eyes/tears, gastrointestinal tract, maybe mother-to-child (birth, though rare) and other bodily fluids which have tested positive in some cases (saliva, urine and semen). (15, 16) To reiterate the evidence for using Ivermectin as a prophylactic treatment, it has been shown, at the frequency of daily or once or twice weekly, to have anti-viral effects in vitro. (1) Multiple in vitro studies have shown that Ivermectin can inhibit the replication of many viruses, including influenza, Zika, Dengue and others. Ivermectin has been shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and binding to host tissue via several observed and proposed mechanisms.) Ivermectin has strong anti-inflammatory properties with evidence showing strong inhibition of both cytokine production and the production of the most potent mediator of inflammation, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Ivermectin was also shown to significantly reduce the number of virus particles and protect against organ damage in multiple animal studies when infected with "C" or similar coronaviruses. Lastly, Ivermectin has prevented transmission and development of "C" symptoms in people exposed to others who have an active infection. (8) Again, to be clear, it does not have a 100% prevention rate (8) and there is a risk of becoming resistant to Ivermectin with long-term use as I mentioned in my previous article. (13) However, there is strong evidence from peer-reviewed data that it can significantly reduce the infection of the pandemic virus. Important to note here as well, the Front Line "C" Critical Care organization does not recommend against the "V," but recommends using everything together for prevention as the "V" does not protect a person 100% from infection. I'm not sold on that, but I am keeping it as a consideration. What are the options for someone who wants to take supplements and take diet and lifestyle measures to support their immune system, whether they get IVM or the "V?"

Mask wearing (4, 12, 16)

Physical distancing (I prefer this term over "social" distancing, which sounds depressing) (16) Exercise (9, 10, 11) Weight management (17, 18, 19)

Proper nutrition (11, 20, 21) Sleep (7)

Vitamin C - appears to protect the lungs and cells against oxidative stress caused by infections; it also may help increase the elimination of harmful substances in cells through phagocytosis, increase T cells and the production of immune signaling molecules (interferons), and decrease the replication of viruses. It has also been shown to shorten the length of stay in the ICU and reduce the amount of time critically ill people spent on a mechanical ventilator. (1)

Vitamin D (22, 23, 24)

Zinc - "Zinc-deficiency can lead to an increased susceptibility to a variety of pathogens [59], and zinc supplementation in healthy human subjects has been shown to lower oxidative stress related byproducts [60], inhibit induction of TNF alpha and interleukin 1 beta [61], protect against TNF-α–induced nuclear factor–κβ activation in isolated mononuclear cells [61] and regulate intracellular killing and cytokine production by macrophages [61]."

Melatonin (25, 26, 27)

B Complex vitamins (28, 29)

Quercetin (5, 14)

Ursolic acid, luteolin, and rutin (2)

Beta glucan - "Double blind, placebo controlled trials have shown benefit in decreasing the severity of upper respiratory tract infections and lowering monocyte chemotactic protein-1 [67], [68]." (1)

Glutathione: "Finally, the ability of GSH to help prevent viral infections needs to be studied, as GSH has been shown to have anti-viral properties and gene mapping for innate immunity and antiviral activity require GSH for their induction [96], [108], [110]." (1)

Propylis: "Identifying methods able to reduce or prevent colonization, viral adhesion, and promote virus shedding on mucous membranes or have the ability to inactivate pathogens and thus reduce virus dose and/or increase immune response would be essential in the management of COVID-19 outbreak and help in flattening the curve. We review the effects of propolis, an old remedy with proven antiviral properties, as a possible low-cost inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 in the oropharyngeal niche, prophylaxis, or adjuvant therapy." (3)

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Including "Jinhua Qinggan Granule, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule, Xuebijing Injection, Qingfei Paidu Decoction, HuaShi BaiDu Formula, and XuanFei BaiDu Granule " (2)

"Yinqiao powder has a certain therapeutic effect on COVID-19, with an intervention score of 20.16. Hesperetin, eriodictyol, luteolin, quercetin, and naringenin were the potentially effective active ingredients against COVID-19. The hub-proteins were interleukin-6 (IL-6), mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and tumor protein P53 (TP53). The potential mechanisms of Yinqiao powder in the treatment of COVID-19 are the TNF signaling pathway, T-cell receptor signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. This study provides a new perspective for discovering potential drugs and mechanisms of COVID-19." (2)

Based on their research, the FLCCC prevention recommendations for people who are at high risk of developing an infection (health care workers, those with compromised immune systems and the elderly) include:

Ivermectin: 0.2 mg/kg per dose — one dose today, 2nd dose in 48 hours, then one dose every 2 weeks

Vitamin D3: 1,000–3,000 IU/day

Vitamin C: 1,000 mg twice daily

Quercetin: 250 mg/day

Melatonin: 6 mg before bedtime (causes drowsiness)

Zinc: 50 mg/day of elemental zinc (8)

Friend, that's it for now. Time to call it a week on this one. 😊🙏

I'll be back with you soon! Let me know what you're doing for prevention, I'm interested to know and I'm praying for the best for you!

Many blessings,

Bailey 🙏🌿

NEEDTOBREATHE "Brother feat. Gavin DeGraw" [Official Video]

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Resources:

(1) Three novel prevention, diagnostic, and treatment options for COVID-19 urgently necessitating controlled randomized trials

"Prevention with ivermectin as well as nutritional therapies that support a healthy immune response; treatment with anti-inflammatory therapies that block NF-κB and activate Nrf2 pathways, as well as novel therapies that address COVID-19 pneumonia and ARDS with DIC including anticoagulation and/or novel respiratory therapies with or without acetazolamide and sildenafil. These three broad-based interventions urgently need to be subjected to randomized, controlled trials." "A randomized trial of ivermectin, and/or nutraceuticals that have been published to support immune function including glutathione, vitamin C, zinc, and immunomodulatory supplements (3,6 Beta glucan) could be beneficial in preventing transmission or lessening symptomatology but requires statistical validation."

(2) Network pharmacology for the identification of phytochemicals in traditional Chinese medicine for COVID-19 that may regulate interleukin-6 Jinhua Qinggan Granule, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule, Xuebijing Injection, Qingfei Paidu Decoction, HuaShi BaiDu Formula, and XuanFei BaiDu Granule, were proven to be effective for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment... These results indicated the positive effect of TCM on the prevention and rehabilitation of COVID-19 in at-risk people. Quercetin, ursolic acid, luteolin, and rutin could inhibit COVID-19 by down-regulating IL-6."

(3) Back to the basics: Propolis and COVID-19

(4) Masks! – Clearing Up the Confusion

(5) Quercetin and Vitamin C: An Experimental, Synergistic Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Related Disease (COVID-19)

(6) Exploring the treatment of COVID-19 with Yinqiao powder based on network pharmacology

(7) FLCCC-Protocols-–-A-Guide-to-the-Management-of-COVID-19

(8) FLCCC-Ivermectin-in-the-prophylaxis-and-treatment-of-COVID-19

(9) Covid-19 and Exercise-Induced Immunomodulation

(10) Physical Exercise as a Multimodal Tool for COVID-19: Could It Be Used as a Preventive Strategy?

(11) Antiviral Functional Foods and Exercise Lifestyle Prevention of Coronavirus

(12) Mask use during COVID-19: A risk adjusted strategy

(13) Current therapeutic applications and pharmacokinetic modulations of ivermectin

(14) Quercetin and Vitamin C: An Experimental, Synergistic Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Related Disease (COVID-19)

(15) COVID-19 and its Modes of Transmission

(16) Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

(17) Obesity and mortality of COVID-19. Meta-analysis

(18) Obesity and diabetes as high-risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)

(19) Obesity ‑ a risk factor for increased COVID‑19 prevalence, severity and lethality (Review)

(20) COVID-19: The Inflammation Link and the Role of Nutrition in Potential Mitigation

(21) Strengthening the Immune System and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress through Diet and Nutrition: Considerations during the COVID-19 Crisis

(22) Evidence that Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infections and Deaths

(23) Role of vitamin D in preventing of COVID-19 infection, progression and severity

(24) Vitamin D high doses supplementation could represent a promising alternative to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection

(25) Can melatonin reduce the severity of COVID-19 pandemic?

(26) Role of melatonin in the treatment of COVID-19; as an adjuvant through cluster differentiation 147 (CD147)

(27) Clinical study of novel coronavirus pneumonia prevention by melatonin

(28) Nutritional status of micronutrients as a possible and modifiable risk factor for COVID-19: a UK perspective

(29) Vitamin B12 may inhibit RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase activity of nsp12 from the SARS-CoV-2 virus