02/29/2020
The Coronovirus: the truth is, we should be concerned however, there are many things that can be done to prevent its spread.
Of all the articles I've read, I appreciate Lissa Rankin MD's blog the most. Comprehensive, creative, and empowering, she provides 15 concrete ideas to limit exposure and strengthen one's immune system holistically:
What can I do to avoid infection?
EXTERNAL PREVENTION: Let’s start with the external things you would normally do to protect yourself (and others) from any virus that is spread by respiratory means.
1. Minimize close contact with people who are sick.
2. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible.
3. Stay inside and don’t go out if you’re sick with cold or flu-like symptoms.
4. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and dispose of tissues properly.
5. Although we don’t know if this virus lives on surfaces for long, be mindful about cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that could have been infected with an environmentally friendly cleaning spray.
6. The CDC and WHO do not recommend face masks for anyone other than health care workers caring for those with known infection, but celebrities like Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow are posting on Instagram wearing face masks during plane flights, so people might get the idea that this is what’s recommended. If you insist on wearing a face mask, the N95 respirator mask is the one to wear. But be careful. Greedy people are price gouging and feeding off mass hysteria.
HOLISTIC PREVENTION: From a holistic health point of view, what else might you do to improve your chances of staying safe during a viral outbreak?
7. Consider immune-boosting supplements, like 10 Mushroom formula.
8. Make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D.
9. Sleep!
10. Eat a healthy, balanced diet with lots of organic plants. Limit sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods.
11. Add green juice to your diet.
INTERNAL PROTECTION: Okay, now that we’ve covered the obvious, what else can you do to treat the mind-body-heart-spirit connection?
12. Deal with any panic you might feel in an emotionally healthy way, allowing yourself to move through the emotion without getting stuck in it. I’m in love with the way Karla McLaren teaches us to find the gifts in our emotions. Here’s what you can do if you’re feeling panicky.
13. Induce relaxation responses. Meditate. Pray. Dance. Chant. Make art. Have great s*x. Do yoga. Get out in nature. Stay away from the news. You know what relaxes you! Calming your nervous system and helping it reset to relaxation response will give your immune system a boost and optimize your chance to fight off any infection, should you be exposed to it.
14. Connect with loved ones. Love heals. Assuming they’re not sick, surround yourself with people you love and trust and enjoy the boost of endorphins, oxytocin, dopamine, and other healing hormones that can help you fend off viruses naturally.
15. Ask for help from whatever invisible support resonates with you. My favorite prayer, which I learned from my mentor Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, is “Let us pray for that which is most right.” This humility-inducing prayer reminds us that what is most right for the highest good of all is a mystery to our cute little pea brains. It’s tempting to pray for what we want, but this humble act of deep surrender not only relaxes the nervous system, it allows us to rest in trust. When we can trust that whatever is most right shall come to pass, we can let go of the desperate attempt to control life with a death grip. Paradoxically, this might even help us fight off disease.
The entire article is worth reading: https://lissarankin.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-coronavirus-15-tips-for-staying-safe/?inf_contact_key=f0ca8a75a6086ef1e919f3a12694ab52f651f238aa2edbb9c8b7cff03e0b16a0
