March 2, 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention Tactics – Dr. Andrew Weil on The Kevin Rose Show
Check Out Kevin’s Website
Key Takeaways (How to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Infected with COVID-19)
- WASH YOUR HANDS
- Avoid people who are sick (and if you’re sick, STAY HOME)
- Take the Chinese herb, astragalus, every day
- Make sure your vitamin D levels are optimal
- Supplement with immune-enhancing mushroom extracts (Dr. Weil recommends Host Defense’s MycoShield Throat Spray)
- Eat more crushed garlic (or take an allicin extract)
- “Ordinary masks are permeable by viruses. They don’t do anything to prevent you from getting infected. The only ones that reduce the possibility of inhaling or swallowing a virus are the N95 respirators.” – Dr. Weil
Intro
- Dr. Andrew Weil (@DrWeil) is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine.
- Check out his website
- Andrew has written 15 books on health and well-being, including:
- Host: Kevin Rose (@kevinrose)
How scared is Dr. Weil of COVID-19?
- “I’m not particularly fearful. It’s hard to sort out the news—there’s a lot of sensationalism and a lot of paranoia.” – Dr. Andrew Weil
- “I would say, at the moment, the flu is much more of a concern” – Dr. Andrew Weil
- In 2019, 80k people in the U.S. died from the flu: “That dwarfs anything that’s going on with the coronavirus”
- What about the coronavirus’ death rate of 2%?
- (For reference, the flu’s death rate is ~0.1%)
- That number might not be accurate—time will tell
Big Questions We Still Need Answered
- Can the coronavirus be transmitted by people who don’t develop symptoms?
- Does the coronavirus persist on surfaces, and for how long?
How does Dr. Weil advise people to prepare for COVID-19?
- WASH YOUR HANDS
- Avoid people who are sick (and if you’re sick, STAY HOME)
- (Dr. Weil stresses this point’s importance)
- Although masks may not prevent you from catching the coronavirus, they can certainly reduce the possibility of transmission
- Try not to touch your face
How to Boost Your Immune System and Reduce Susceptibility to COVID-19
- Make sure your vitamin D levels are optimal
- (Hint: if you live in a colder climate, supplement with 3,000-5,000 of vitamin D3 daily)
- Take the Chinese herb, astragalus (1-2 capsules), every day
- “This is a very well-known medicinal plant. It’s non-toxic and can be used long-term. There’s good research supporting its efficacy against viral infections.” – Dr. Andrew Weil
- (There’s some research stating that elderberry extracts may reduce the risk of catching the flu, but Dr. Weil doesn’t think it’s in the same league as astragalus)
- Supplement with immune-enhancing mushroom extracts
- Examples: Reishi, shiitake, maitake, oyster mushrooms, etc.
- Dr. Weil recommends Host Defense’s MycoShield Throat Spray (he uses it when traveling or out in public)
- “If you’re around people who might be sick, this is a great thing to have on hand. It reduces the risk of contracting something through your oral and nasal cavities.” – Dr. Andrew Weil
- Eat more crushed garlic (or take an allicin extract)
- Dr. Weil heard from a doctor friend that in one Chinese county (where most of China’s garlic is produced), there isn’t a single person who’s been infected with the coronavirus (the county’s population is 1.3 MM, and 30k people work in Wuhan)
- Allicin isn’t present in raw garlic; it’s formed when fresh garlic is crushed and exposed to air
- To get the maximum dose of allicin, crush some fresh garlic cloves in a garlic press, and let them sit for 10 minutes before cooking
- Also: “Anything you do to garlic—drying it, aging it, fermenting it—destroys allicin” – Dr. Andrew Weil
- Zhang Health Company makes an excellent allicin supplement
What about vitamin C?
- “The evidence for vitamin C as a preventative isn’t very great” – Dr. Andrew Weil
Do masks protect against COVID-19?
- “Ordinary masks are permeable by viruses. They don’t do anything to prevent you from getting infected. The only ones that reduce the possibility of inhaling or swallowing a virus are the N95 respirators.” – Dr. Andrew Weil
