Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding COVID-19 on 30 January 2020, and later declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 24 April 2021, more than 145 million cases have confirmed, with more than 3.08 million deaths attributed to COVID-19, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history.[3]

The name “coronavirus” derived from the Latin corona & the Greek κορώνη (korṓnē, “garland, wreath”), meaning crown or halo.

This refers to the characteristic appearance of virions (the infective form of the virus) by electron microscopy.

Strains

There seven known strains of human Coronavirus (COVID-19) i.e.:

1.Firstly, Human Coronavirus (COVID-19) 229E (HCoV-229E)

2.Secondly, Human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43)

3. Thirdly, SARS-CoV

4.Fourthly, Human coronavirus NL63 (in other words, HCoV-NL63, New Haven coronavirus)

5.After that, Human Coronavirus (COVID-19) (COVID-19) HKU1

6. Then, Middle East respiratory syndrome #coronavirus (MERS-CoV), previously known as novel       coronavirus #2012 and HCoV-EMC.

7.Lastly, Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), also known as Wuhan pneumonia or Wuhan coronavirus.

(‘Novel’ in this case means newly discovered, or newly originated, & is a placeholder name.)[1]

Other important key points

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.  Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. The virus that caused the outbreak is known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a newly discovered virus closely related to bat coronaviruses, pangolin coronaviruses, and SARS-CoV.  Scientific consensus is that COVID-19 is a zoonotic virus that arose from bats in a natural setting.[3]

Risk Factor

It can get COVID-19, and most infections are mild. The older you are, the higher your risk of severe illness.

You also a have higher chance of serious illness if you have one of these health conditions i.e.:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (in other words, COPD)
• A weakened immune system because of an organ transplant
• Obesity
• Serious heart conditions such as heart failure or coronary artery disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes [2]

Conditions that could lead to severe Coronavirus (COVID-19) illness include i.e.:

• Moderate to severe asthma
• Diseases that affect your blood vessels and blood flow to your brain
• Cystic fibrosis
• High blood pressure
• A weakened immune system because of a blood or bone marrow transplant, HIV, or medications like corticosteroids
• Dementia
• Liver disease
• Pregnancy
• Damaged or scarred lung tissue (i.e. pulmonary fibrosis)
• Smoking
• Thalassemia
• Type 1 diabetes

Some children and teens who are in the hospital with Coronavirus (COVID-19) have an inflammatory condition that doctors are calling multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Doctors think it may be linked to the virus. It causes symptoms similar to those of toxic shock and of Kawasaki disease, a condition that causes inflammation in kids’ blood vessels. [2]

Investigations

1. If the rapid test is positive, RT-PCR test should be done on the same day.
2. RT-PCR

The test will find out how active the corona is

• RT-PCR If it occurs between 15 to 20, get the following report in two days.

CBC, CRP,

ESR

LFT

D-Dimmer

SGPT

HRCT required if needed

Treatment

There is no specific, effective treatment or cure for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Thus, the cornerstone of management of COVID-19 is supportive care, which includes treatment to relieve symptoms, fluid therapy, oxygen support and prone positioning as needed, and medications or devices to support other affected vital organs.[3]

In mild cases:

• Rest
• Plenty of fluids.

Isolate at home and wear a face mask.

• Paracetamol/ NSAID

Aspirin to be avoided in children because it can cause Reye’s syndrome.

Use Ibuprofen instead.

In severe cases

May need treatment in hospital.

In those with low oxygen levels, use of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone is strongly recommended, as it can reduce the risk of death.

Non-invasive ventilation and, ultimately, admission to an intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation may be required to support breathing.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to address the issue of respiratory failure, but its benefits are still under consideration.

Others were thought to be promising early in the pandemic, such as hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir, but later research found them to be ineffective or even harmful.

Remdesivir i.e.

-Emergency use approval
-Can not stop Death

When to give
– RT- PCR confirm positive patient
– oxygen level below 94%( patient on ventilator, on oxygen)
– Chest infection in CT scan
– In first 9 days to take injection is beneficial, can not stop death but make recovery fast.

Favipiravir i.e.

Emergency use approval
Can decrease viral load

When to give
-Fever, expectoration, difficulty in breathing
-RT PCR positive
-For patients age between 18 to 75 year
-According to National guidelines not beneficial.
-To reduce infection if give within 72 hours it would be beneficial.

Plasma therapy

Emergency use approval is still on an experimental scale
When is it given?
– RT-PCR positive , About Paint 18 & Above
– Fever Cough Shortness of breath respiratory rate more than 30 per minutes or oxygen level below 94%
– Can improve the corona of the primary stage, Therapy needs to be started early, more data is still needed to check the results.

Using Homeopathy for Epidemics

Homeopathy has had a long and successful history of treating and/or preventing epidemics such as smallpox, cholera, diphtheria, malaria, yellow fever, and leptospirosis. Homeopathy had a 98% cure rate of the deadly Spanish flu of 1918, compared to the 30% mortality rate of patients treated with Western allopathic medications.

Prevention Novel coronavirus infections

• The AYUSH ministry has issued a health advisory and recommended that homeopathic medicines could help in prevention of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infections.
• The advisory issued following a meeting on Tuesday(28th Jan 2020) of the scientific advisory board of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (in other words, CCRH) under the Ministry of AYUSH to discuss ways and means for prevention of the nCoV infection through homoeopathy
• It has recommended that homoeopathic medicine Arsenicum album 30 could take empty stomach daily for three days as a prophylactic medicine against the infection. The dose should repeat after one month by following the same schedule in case the nCoV infection prevails in the community

Note:

Note that it is important to select one protocol and to not use all of the following remedies at once for prophylaxis. The remedy or protocol should select in consultation with a professional homeopath.

In January 2020, the AYUSH Ministry in India issued a recommendation for prevention of coronavirus transmission. The Ministry recommended that homeopathic Arsenicum album 30C was to take once per day for 3 days as a preventative measure.

Banerji Protocols

Under ‘The Banerji Protocols’ of Treatment, with Homeopathic medicines: For Prevention of COVID-19 the best medicine is ‘Thuja 30‘. The suggested dose for this medicine will, once daily for 7 days, then once a week for 3 weeks.

Dr. Bhatia

Dr. Bhatia recommends Bryonia alba 6CH or 30CH, as a prophylactic. It can give (only to affected population) once a day, till days become warmer and the epidemic subsides (hopefully).

Amma Resonance Foundation

The Amma Resonance Foundation recommends Gelsemium based on the experience of around 30 homeopaths in treating confirmed cases of coronavirus in China (Source: Hong Kong Association of Homeopathy and Macau Association of Homeopathy). Advice: use Gelsemium C30 once a week as long as the outbreak is not near to where you live, and change to once daily for one week once it gets near and then change to twice per week. Justica adhatoda 3X (or D3) (Malabar nut, India) is also recommended, taken once daily 10 drops in a teaspoonful of water (increases your IgE levels to fight the virus).

Dr. Rajan Sankaran

Dr. Rajan Sankaran’s recommendation for prophylaxis: Camphor 1m 4 pills twice daily 2 days..keep under tongue until melt..nothing but water 30mins before after.

Jeremy Sherr

For prevention, Jeremy Sherr recommends taking Aconite twice daily for two days, then take Ant tart 200C alternating with Phos Ac twice daily each.

Dr. Andre Saine

According to Dr. Andre Saine, in Hong Kong they were able to give 4-5% (about 300,000 out of 7 million people!) prevention with Gels 30: the first week once a day, then once a week. 4-5% took at least one dose. No sick people recorded. In Hong Kong the Corona incidence was relatively low. Now new people are coming to Hong Kong, and the incidence is rising. They now give Gels and Bry as a prevention. Macao (600.000 people) 50% got Gels. No sick people recorded.

Homeopathic nosodes (homeoprophylaxis) have been used successfully during disease epidemics for hundreds of years. This is another possible viable option instead of or along with using the above remedies.

Prognosis

The severity of COVID-19 varies.

The disease may take a mild course with few or no symptoms, resembling other common upper respiratory diseases such as the common cold.

In 3–4% of cases (7.4% for those over age 65) symptoms are severe enough to cause hospitalization.

Mild cases typically recover within two weeks, while those with severe or critical diseases may take three to six weeks to recover. [3]

Among those who have died, the time from symptom onset to death has ranged from two to eight weeks.

The Italian Istituto Superior di Sanità reported that the median time between the onset of symptoms and death was twelve days, with seven being hospitalized.

However, people transferred to an ICU had a median time of ten days between hospitalization and death.

Prolonged prothrombin time and elevated C-reactive protein levels on admission to the hospital associate with severe course of COVID-19 and with a transfer to ICU.[3]

Infection of humans with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) results in substantial morbidity & mortality, with death resulting primarily from respiratory failure.

While the lungs are the major site of infection, the brain also infect in some patients.

Brain infection may result in long-term neurological sequelae, but little known about the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV in this organ.

Cardiac complications are also recognized

Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This the only way through which a state of complete health can regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several well-proved medicines are available in treatment for cold that can select on the basis of cause, condition, sensation and modalities of the complaints. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. Some important remedies give below in treatment for covid 19:Aconite, Bryonia, Belladonna, Hepar sulph, Arsenic album, Ipecac, Ammonium carb, Aurum triph, Kali carb, Kali bichromicum, Phosphorous, Merc solubilis, Gelsemium, Rhus tox, Natrum mur, Calcarea carb, Ocillococcinum, Influenzinum, and many other medicines.[4] 

Arsenic Album

This remedy corresponds to the trial form of influenza. It covers more phases of grippe than perhaps any other remedy. Hughes believes that it will cut short an attack, especially when there is a copious flow, prostration and paroxysmal coryza. Its periodicity makes it suitable to epidemics, and it suits the early symptoms when the affection is in the upper portion of the respiratory tract. The burning dryness and copious watery excoriating secretion and the involvement of the conjunctiva are unmistakable indications. Langour and prostration are prominent symptoms. Arsenicum iodide. Chills, flushes of heat and severe fluent coryza, discharge irritating and corrosive, sneezing and prostration. It corresponds to true influenza and is highly recommended. 

Aconite 

Homeopathic medicines for common cold having coryza caused by cold, dry winds; first with violent headache Roaring in ears, in the earlier stage Feverish with dryness in the nostrils, sleeplessness; heat and sense of fullness in nares

Belladona

high fever, red face, cold extremities, throbbing pains, patient radiates heat. Skin hot, dry with high temperature Throbbing headache, very thirsty or not thirsty, sore throat on right side Eyes glassy Eyes dilated. Delirious in high fever

dry barking cough

desires lemons or lemonade

Bryonia 

Homeopathic medicine for common cold having severe dry coryza with catarrh of the frontal and maxillary cavities

Fluent coryza, beginning with violent and frequent sneezing, accompanied by stitching headache when stooping Nose blocked with congestion in the head

Hoarseness and altered tone of voice

Profuse nose bleed; catarrh extending to chest

Gelsemium 

Insidious onset of cold with marked body ache and prostration.

Dullness and drowsiness are marked.

Thirstless.

Muscle’s sore all over body so that sneezing forces him to support chest

Fluent coryza with frequent sneezing and dropping of a clear, hot water

Inner nose red, swollen, interfering with breathing, amelioration in cool room and open air.

Eupatorium perf. 

Coryza, with aching in every bone, and lassitude

Fluent coryza with sneezing and hoarseness

Weight overhead and forehead

Nose and eyes both streaming with water at intervals.[4]

Silicea

Homeopathic medicines for common cold having alternately dry and fluent coryza with every fresh cold

Stoppage and acrid discharge from nose

Frequent but ineffectual sneezing; makes inner nose sore and bloody

Dryness of throat, rough cough

Itching in Eustachian tube; frequent sneezing, especially in cold air

Frequent chilliness, even while taking exercise; cold nose

Influenzinum

Acute or chronic coryza.

Acute and chronic rhino-pharyngitis, Nasal congestion.

Coryza of influenza, sinusitis, nasal polyps, chronic atrophic rhinitis

Dry painful cough, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia of influenza

This generally prevents the spread of the trouble and clears up the colds, whether they are influenza or not.[4]

Phosphorus [Phos]

It is “the great mogul of lobar pneumonia.” It should remember that Phosphorus is not, like Bryonia, the remedy when the lungs completely hepatize, although it is one of the few drugs which have known to produce hepatization.

When bronchial symptoms are present it is the remedy, and cerebral symptoms during pneumonia often yield better to Phosphorus than to Belladonna.

There is cough; with pain under sternum, as if something torn loose; additionally there is pressure across the upper part of the chest and constriction of the larynx; there is pressure across the upper part of the chest and constriction of the larynx; there mucous rales, labored breathing, sputa yellowish mucus, with blood streaks therein, or rustcolored, as under Bryonia. Besides this, After Phosphorus, Hepar Sulphur. naturally follows as the exudate begins to often; it is the remedy of the third stage, the fever is; of a low character. Tuberculinum.

Other symptoms

Arnulphy says that in lobular pneumonia this remedy surpasses Phosphorus or Antimonium tartaricum, and competent observers convince that it has an important place in the treatment of pneumonia; some using it in very case intercurrently; doses varying from 6x to 30x. When typhoid symptoms occur in the course of pneumonia then Phosphorus will come in beautifully. Phosphorus follows Bryonia well, being complementary to it.

Lastly, There is also a sensation as if the chest were full of blood, which causes an oppression; of breathing, a symptom met with commonly enough in pneumonia.

Carbo Vagetabilis

In case of infection, individualized treatment by a licensed homeopath is recommended.

Prof. Aaron To Ka Lun

Prof. Aaron To Ka Lun (PDHom, MARH), president of the Hong Kong Association of Homeopathy has gathered data from 30 homeopaths and tentatively speculated on a few possible genus epidemicus remedies: Gelsemium, Bryonia and Eupatorium perf.

Dr. Paul Herscu

In terms of the larger remedies, Dr. Paul Herscu has found that the main effective homeopathic remedies have been, in order of likelihood: Sulphur, Lycopodium, Bryonia, and then less likely Phosphorus, and Arsenicum album. By far, at this moment, he has found that the most common remedy is Sulphur.  The more acute remedy seems to be Bryonia.

Dr. Bhatia

Dr. Bhatia believes that the remedy that covers the initial symptoms better is Bryonia alba; and that this remedy will work well as prophylactic too. He also believes that the remedy that covers the later symptoms best is Lycopodium and could expect to help a large majority of people who develop Pneumonia.

Amma Resonance Healing Foundation’s

Amma Resonance Healing Foundation’s current remedy recommendations are Bryonia, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Gelsemium and Eupatorium perfoliatum (ordered in likelihood of being called for).

Dr. Massimo Mangialavori

As of March 22, 2020, Dr. Massimo Mangialavori has treated 84 patients. His first choice is Chininum muriaticum, followed by Grindelia robusta and thirdly Camphora.

Dr. Rajan Sankaran

In consultation with his teacher, Dr. Rajan Sankaran, Iranian homeopath Dr Aditya Kasariyans has treated coronavirus patients successfully using Camphora 1M.

Jeremy Sherr

As of March 28, 2020, Jeremy Sherr has successful treated also supervised over 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases from around the world, and has had no fatalities. For treatment, Jeremy Sherr recommends giving Aconite at the very first signs of illness. Ant tart (stage 2, 3) has been his most useful remedy. The next most useful remedies used in his practice have been Phosphorus (stage 1, 2), Phosphoric Acid (stage 2) also Bryonia (all stages), Arsenicum (stage 1) and Mercurius (stage 1). Besides this, Other remedies that may prove useful include Gelsemium, Croton tig, Spigelia, Kali bi, Pyrogen, Ars-i and Ant-ars.

Dr. Robin Murphy

Dr. Robin Murphy recommends giving Gelsemium, Arsenicum, or Camphora during the first stage of the illness. He recommends Aconite, Belladonna or Ferrum Phos for mild coronavirus infections. Arsenicum, Bryonia and Gelsemium have been Dr. Murphy’s top remedies during this pandemic. Other remedies that may prove useful include Bapt, China, Drosera, Eup per, Oscillo, Merc, Pyrogen, Rhus tox, and Pulsatilla.

Dr. Andre Saine

Dr. Andre Saine feels that the better indicated remedies for the current COVID-19 pandemic are Bryonia, Beryllium metallicum, Gelsemium, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Camphora, Lobelia purpurescens, and Arsenicum. Other useful remedies (though this list is not exhaustive) include Ammonium mur, Mag mur, Carbo veg, Bapt, Cuprum met, Ferrum phos, Rhus Tox, Sabadilla, Sambucus, and Sanguinaria.

Sally Fallon of the Weston A Price Foundation

For dietary advice on how to protect oneself from any virus (including coronavirus), Sally Fallon of the Weston A Price Foundation has written two excellent articles: How To Protect Yourself From Coronavirus (Or Any Virus)
as well as another article that follows up on her earlier one: More on Coronavirus

Dr. Amy Rothenberg’s

For more lifestyle and supplement advice about keeping one’s immune system in optimal condition, please refer to Dr. Amy Rothenberg’s latest article: COVID-19 Thoughts and Recommendations: April 1, 2020

Disclaimer:

This article is a compilation of homeopathic professionals’ experiences with treating their patients with individually selected homeopathic remedies. This article is not intend as medical advice.

• Drink plenty of water
• Get proper rest
• Wash your hands Properly
• Keep hands & finger away from your eyes, nose, mouth
• Avoid close contact with people who infected

• A humidifier or steamy shower can also help ease a sore & scratchy throat.