Herbal insight and rationale for selections in a herbal blend designed to assist Long Covid Recovery 

The beauty of herbal medicine is that treatment is individualised for the client. This is by no means and exhaustive or definitive list of herbs that may be helpful for recovery from a lingering illness, but merely the herbs that were appropriate for this client at this time.

Patient is 33 yrs old male. Fit and no history of any other medical conditions. Has a healthy diet. Tested positive for SARS Cov 2 one month ago. Had cold like symptoms with cough for a few days and found was relatively asymptomatic except for fatigue which persisted.  Is now well enough to work from home but can’t complete any exercise. Is fatigued on a walk around the block. 

 The herbs in recovery tincture are

Dan Shen, Licorice, Cats Claw, Kudzu, Siberian Ginseng

 Rationale:

Dan Shen has an affinity for the heart and circulatory system. It's anti-fibrotic and antiplatelet, meaning it prevents scarring and clotting. The spike proteins in Covid adhere to ACE2 receptors which are featured in many major organs such as the lung, heart, kidneys, and reproductive organs. Once Covid attaches to those ACE2 receptors, the body produces an inflammatory response. Theoretically, reducing inflammation systemically should help improve energy. 

 Cats Claw from the amazon rainforest, also known as 'the vine of life' is traditionally used for chronic infection, convalescence and immune deficiency. Considering this clients  ongoing fatigue, Cats Claw and is well indicated for his symptoms.. Research indicates Cats claw not only blocks covid from adhering to your ACE2 receptors, it also binds to the spike proteins on the virus itself, thereby reducing viral damage. 

 Licorice has lots of research and many actions, the most relevant to this case are that it is adaptogen, adrenal restorative and anti-viral. It's also particularly good for respiratory viruses. 

 Kudzu is also an anti-viral, anti-inflammatory indicated for SARS with an affinity for blood pressure and heart function. It disperses illness from peripheral limbs, and has long been used to drive the measles rash out of the body. This speaks to a potential for kudzu to drive other viruses out of the body and is well worth a try. Additionally, kudzu is an all-round superfood, packed with all kinds of beneficial anti-cancer phytochemicals that do you well, such as daizin, daidzin and puerarin. 

 Siberian Ginseng is an incredible adaptogen indicated for chronic illness, fatigue, and stress. It helps restore mental and physical capacity when recovering from illness. It’s been shown in research to increase stamina by up to 70% 

 I also added in an energetic dose of Wild Yam, as intuitively this one was coming up strongly for the client. It helps relieve muscle cramping especially if the cramping is secondary to other inflammation in the body. Emotionally Wild Yam helps to help one be bend and flow, to be less rigid, and to let go. 

 Dose: Take 7.5ml twice daily. It's a good idea to pour yourself about a third of a cup of water, and pour your measure in to take it. Have it with breakfast and dinner.

Medicine Tea

Herbs are perhaps most pleasantly consumed in tea form. I feel teas are highly under-utilised in the modern practice of herbal medicine. 

This patient’s tea contained Chamomile, which is anti-inflammatory, soothing and relaxing. Rosemary, high in quercetin and also highly nutritive and anti-oxidant, as is Sage. Licorice works both as an adaptogen and an anti-viral, nourishing the adrenals as mentioned above, and Elderflower, which is traditionally indicated for catarrhal symptoms such as you get in a cold. Elder is a delicious, beautiful, nurturing plant. 

 Dose: Take a dessertspoon of tea leaves and steep in a tea pot for 10 minutes at least. To steep is to let the leaves sit in hot water. Have your tea at least twice a day. If you prefer you could make up a litre of tea in the evening, infuse the tea all night and the next day, putting it in the fridge and adding ice cubes to consume cold. 

 I recommended the client add grated, fresh, ginger to the tea leaves before pouring hot water into the pot, as this will bring additional circulatory stimulant and anti-viral benefits. Ginger only works as an anti-viral when it's fresh. 

 Nutritional Supplements: 

Ideally, I would prescribe a Vitamin C and zinc combination product that contains quercetin as a cofactor. But all the products like that are sold out nationally due to demand. 

 Instead I’ve prescribed a good quality Zinc and C powder. The client could choose to take additional quercetin in a separate pill (most of which is also sold out, probably all) but I think concentrating on getting quercetin in the diet will be just as effective.  

 Within the herbs prescribed, The rosemary and sage definitely contain quercetin, and no doubt a few more of these herbs do as well. Taking your herbs will boost your intake. Quercetin is important because it acts as an ionophore, a 'doorway' for zinc into infected cells . Once in the cell the zinc stops any viral replication. Aside from this, zinc will do many more things for your recovery and will be beneficial for many reasons. 

 Also prescribed Vitamin D. Good levels of vitamin D have been associated with better outcomes in SARS COV 2 infection. 

Three weeks later: Client had noticed improvement in energy levels, cognition and fitness.

Six weeks after initial prescription: Client admitted to forgetting to take supplements most of the time but felt mostly recovered and didn't feel like he needed them anymore.

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