Mountain Herbalism and COVID-19

Classes:

A lot is still unknown about how the global pandemic will impact our 2021 class schedule, weekend workshops, and botany program, and we won’t really know what the regulations will be when when classes start in the spring.  In the meantime, we are moving forward with our class schedule assuming that our outdoor classes will run.

  • All scheduled classes take place outside.
  • All class “non-refundable” deposits are now refundable, and we support you in doing whatever feels safe for yourself and your family.

Consultations:

All consultations are currently taking place over jitsi meet, a video platform similar to zoom.

Free/low-cost herbal consults are available to anyone with the following symptoms:

    • Fever
    • Respiratory Symptoms
    • Anxiety, Depression, or Insomnia
    • People with Health Conditions Indicating Increased Risk of COVID-19 Infection or Severity of Infection
    • Contact Adrian at 530.304.1626 or info@mountianherbalism.com for more details.

Mountain Herbalism COVID-19 Resources

You can download a free pdf of COVID compiled resources here.

Resources for Self-Study

I’ve found Paul Bergner’s stuff to be the most helpful of all.  I think his info on the progression of a fever is very useful in acute cases, and his info on why you should take vitamin D an why you should avoid antipyretics/NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc)  is compelling: https://www.naimh.com/coronavirus

Paul Bernger is also offering his recordings on the influenza virus and pneumonia available for free download (usually they are about $40), and they are useful.

A more comprehensive list of resources from herbalists around the country is available on the American Herbalists Guild’s website; some of them good: https://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/covid-19-resources#AHG

I’m very excited to dive deeper into Sam Coffman’s stuff: https://herbalmedics.academy/covid-19-and-respiratory-health-herbal-resources/

I’ve also read these simple writings from well-known herb teachers, and I’ve found them somewhat useful:

John Slattery: http://www.johnjslattery.com/blog/2020/3/15/herbalism-a-new-era-coronavirus-an-invitation and 7song: http://7song.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/An-Herbalist%E2%80%99s-Notes-the-on-COVID-19-Virus.pdf

Medscap’s writings about how COVID is more like HAPE than ARDS: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/928236?fbclid=IwAR3IrZAzJWouEWjagolYze1kuKBFC4zkNjpBabaYiTqH4IaZnyW0N85AcFY

Here is a facebook group devoted to case studies from herbalists who are seeing COVID cases:https://www.facebook.com/groups/906866506398594 (please only post here if you are personally seeing COVID clients…but its a great read!)

Webinars:

Western Herbalists

This lecture by Guido Mase

This interview with Paul Bergner

Herbalists in China

One through the AHG:

https://vimeo.com/403372823

And another one to look at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGcsFzKLdTI&fbclid=IwAR0mI-p0QoU4BHgOqfhNYMaiiFWm9CSMHQAFV5ktqOrBBwTpcj118GSrpoM

General Recommendations For Prevention

Sleep: 9hr/night

Manage stress 

  • Get outside!  Go on walks or exercise, call friends, plug into local mutual aid efforts. Cook food.  Take breaks from reading/watching the news.

Optimize Vitamin D levels

  • 4,000-7,000 IUs/day preventative
  • If exposed (assume everyone is potentially exposed during the pandemic): a short-term large dose of up to 300,000IUs over about a week.
    • 150,000IUs/day for 2 days or 50,000 IUs/day for 6 days
    • After this large dose, return to normal preventative dosing of 4,000-7,000 IUs

Avoid foods that aggravate inflammation

  • Avoid sugar, alcohol, and processed foods (when possible…)
  • Avoid any known sensitivities or allergies.
  • Focus on eating whole foods wherever possible.

Body Temperature: 

  • Include physical exercise to elevate body temperature (discontinue and rest if you do start to get sick).
  • Sauna, sweat, hot tubs if available

Correct any deficiencies in the following nutrients: 

  • Zinc, 25mG/day
  • Vitamin E 100-200 IUs/day
  • Vitamin C 500-1000mg/day
  • Selenium 200mcg/day
  • Essential Fatty Acids: 1-3g combined EPA and DHA

(A good multivitamin plus fish oil should do the trick.)

Garlic Cocktail (from Paul Bergner’s writings www.naimh.com/coronoavirus):

  • Three cloves of garlic
  • 1 Tbls of red wine
  • 1 Tbls of vinegar
  • 1 Tbls of olive oil

Blend well in a blender. Add 1/4 cup hot water. Let stand for 3 hours. Do not strain. Add one-third of this to a cup of hot water. Take another dose every 3-6 hours until it is all gone.