To our Root community:
Obviously, everyone’s talking about the coronavirus. It’s probably difficult to know what’s valid – and relevant – for you and your family. Here is what we know and what we can do.
Facts: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. All the surfaces where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average – everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious.
This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs). The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.
Symptoms: The majority of people who get sick only develop a mild disease. The most common symptoms are fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and, as with any viral illness, fatigue. Some people experience muscle aches, confusion, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, chest pain, diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting.
Here is a detailed list of the precautions that we can take daily to stay within the stream of prevention.
- NO HANDSHAKING!
- Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches, elevator buttons, etc.
- Open doors with your closed fist or hip – do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.
- Use disinfectant wipes at stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.
- Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with 60-95% alcohol only when hand washing is not possible.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands (we touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!).
- If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid large crowds and places with poor ventilation.
- Stay home if you feel unwell!
Suggestions to keep at home for treatment of mild viral infections:
- Buy a good digital thermometer.
- Low-sugar electrolyte tablets such as Nuun tablets or coconut water.
- Consider antiviral herbal formulas including licorice root, ginseng, elderberry, echinacea, lemon balm, olive, cats claw, oregano and garlic.
- Drink hot tea with lemon and organic honey.
- Stock up now with zinc lozenges. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel “cold-like” symptoms. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx.
- Use a humidifier. Humidifiers reduces virus survival of influenza and this may also apply to COVID-19.
For maintenance and prevention:
Your immune system is designed to help protect yourself from threats, and protecting/boosting your immune is the best prescription for preventative health. Be sure to prioritize the following during normal times, but especially during times of concern:
- Good quality sleep: aim for at least 7 hours each night.
- Eat a whole-foods based diet.
- Avoid eating sugars and refined food, as well as limiting alcohol – sugars weaken your immune system.
- Exercise and move your body regularly to promote detoxification.
- Practice daily stress reduction – mindfulness, meditation, journaling, sunshine, fresh air, and self-care.
If you have any questions or concerns for you or your family, please schedule a complimentary consultation with any of our clinicians at Root.
Yours in health,
The Root Whole Body Clinic Team