Drug-free, Natural Approach
Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections can be an underlying cause of Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, and other chronic illnesses. In some cases, these can be viruses that stay with us our whole life, but which our immune system should be keeping dormant. However, a weak or compromised immune system can falter, allowing such viruses to re-activate in our systems.
Once you isolate and treat any infectious diseases with appropriate medications under a doctor’s care, there are then VITAL steps you will need to take to stabilize and better your improvement. Or maybe you want to forego the drug regimens completely and go the naturopathic route solely. This is something that you and your doctor can decide. Either way, there are effective alternative treatments for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and other similar chronic illnesses.
I’ve known that there were supplements and even some foods that were helpful for the immune system, such as garlic, certain mushrooms, zinc, etc., but I wasn’t so sure about natural treatments that could actually kill viruses and shorten the duration of the illnesses caused by viruses. Well, after some digging, I found quite a few resources available that have antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties — some of them are herbs, but not all.
I’ll give a brief summary of what I have found and in some cases will include some links to further research and information as well as links to Amazon to buy them. I’m not trying to sell you anything. It’s only that I’ve had a fair amount of inquiries about where to buy some of these, so I have added links to Amazon products.
The natural supplements described here could be a way to keep viruses dormant and deal with infections. Some of these are promising but really have not been subjected to thorough clinical trials. Therefore, don’t get stuck on using just one of these. Correct use of several antiviral products together with immune-boosting nutrients and vitamins and a healthy diet as covered in other pages on this website (and more thoroughly covered in my book) is really the recommended route to take.
Once again, I want to stress the following: None of the health topics presented in this book or at www.FibromyalgiaFree.org have been evaluated or approved by the FDA. They should not replace personal judgment or medical treatment when indicated, nor are they intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always talk to your doctor or naturopathic physician about the use of any of the recommendations for diet, supplements, drugs, exercise, or any other complimentary modalities.
Here is a list, along with a bit of info on each, of what I have gotten the best results from:
FULVIC ACID:
Fulvic acid is a humic extract (humic is the major organic constituents of soil [humus] which is produced by biodegradation of dead organic matter). Fulvic acid is a mineral complex found in rich organic humus soil and also certain ancient plant deposits. Many medical studies show that humic substances, especially fulvic acid, have the power to protect against cancer AND other viruses.
Some studies have even shown reversal of cancers, tumors, and viruses using special humic substance therapies.
Many studies and extensive references exist, a few of which are referenced on my website here: fibromyalgiafree.org/fulvic-acid-antiviral-and-fibromyalgia/
I take 1 ounce of fulvic acid daily. It is easy to take in liquid form with a very mild taste. I pour 1 ounce into a small glass each day and take a sip or two, three times a day.
ZINC:
Zinc has been tested in trials and proven to reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms.
Topical application of zinc has also been used to treat cold sores, which are caused by the herpes simplex virus. One study found that using zinc monoglycerolate resulted in complete healing of cold sore lesions in 70% of subjects, whereas zinc oxide only healed 9%. So the form of zinc used is also important.
OLIVE LEAF:
The olive leaves contain elenoic acid, which has been identified as a potent inhibitor of a wide range of viruses in laboratory tests. The calcium salt of elenoic acid destroyed all of the viruses it was tested against, including influenza, herpes, polio, and coxsackie viruses.
A clinical trial in Budapest involving over 500 patients concluded that olive leaf extract was extremely effective in treating a wide range of viruses and infections. Fast recovery as a result of taking the extract was noted in 115 out of 119 patients with respiratory tract infections and 120 out of 172 patients with viral infections.
LOMATIUM:
The antiviral and antibacterial properties of Lomatium dissectum are utilized in the treatment of some of the most difficult viral diseases and may be part of a protocol in the treatment of Hepatitis-C, Influenza, HIV, AIDS, Chronic-fatigue, Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Herpes simplex, Sinusitis, and common Colds.
When used on a group of patients with Hepatitis C, it resulted in dramatic reductions in viral counts. It has been used for other viral syndromes, flu, upper respiratory illness, and sinusitis with good results.
GARLIC:
Garlic has been used for more than 5000 years and hailed for its medicinal properties dating back to the days of the pharaohs. In laboratory studies, garlic was found to possess antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. One of its most important compounds is allicin, which produces garlic’s pungent odor. Aged garlic contains very little allicin, so it is important to use fresh garlic. Allicin and various other sulfur compounds in fresh garlic can be used successfully to treat the common cold virus, various strains of influenza viruses, and herpes simplex virus types I and II. So eat as much garlic as you can and you can take high-quality garlic capsules.
GOLDENSEAL:
Goldenseal is a fantastic antiviral. It contains berberine, which can kill off too much of your natural intestinal flora, so it is recommended to take this for one week and then take a week off while you take more probiotics before resuming. You can also often get Goldenseal and Echinacea together in capsules or tinctures.
ECHINACEA
The herb echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) is one of the better-known herbs for supporting the immune system. Roots and flowering portions of the plant have been found to help reduce the duration and severity of colds, bronchial, and upper respiratory infections in clinical trials and may have direct antiviral properties.
ELDERBERRY:
Black elderberry has antiviral properties. One clinical trial showed improvement in 90% of patients with influenza symptoms and higher levels of influenza antibodies. An independent study performed in Norway found elderberry helped to reduce the duration of influenza symptoms by about four days. The activity of elderberry against other viral infections, including HIV and herpes, has also been found to completely inhibit the replication of four strains of herpes simplex virus, including two strains resistant to the drug acyclovir (Zovirax).
LIQUORICE:
The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic many years ago spurred the search for active antiviral compounds to treat the disease. Researchers at the Institute of Medical Virology at Frankfurt tested four pharmaceutical drugs (including ribavirin, the recommended treatment) and glycyrrhizin, a compound found in the root of the licorice plant on SARS patients. The published results found that glycyrrhizin out-performed all four drugs in inhibiting the virus. It was also non-toxic to virus-infected cells. Licorice has also shown qualities of inhibiting the reproduction of HIV in lab studies.
Clinical trials have shown that injections of glycyrrhizin may have a beneficial effect on AIDS with some evidence that orally administered licorice also may be safe and effective for long-term treatment of HIV infection.
A preliminary trial involving people with acute and chronic viral hepatitis found that taking 2 ½ grams of licorice three times a day (containing 750 mg glycyrrhizin) was superior to the antiviral drug inosine poly-IC. Entire licorice extract (not de-glycyrrhizinated licorice or DGL) may be a very effective treatment for other viral illnesses.
MONOLAURIN:
Monolaurin is a chemical made from lauric acid, which is found in coconut milk and breast milk. Monolaurin is often used by Naturopaths for preventing and treating colds (the common cold), flu (influenza), swine flu, herpes, shingles, and other infections.
It is also used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and to boost the immune system. Monolaurin has antibacterial, antiviral, and other antimicrobial effects in vitro. It has not really been tested or proven on humans.
MUSHROOMS:
There are a number of mushrooms that are renowned for their antiviral and antimicrobial attributes. Maitake, Shiitake, and Reishi are some of the most well-known ones, but there are others.
You can get mushroom capsules that have combinations of these immune system boosting mushrooms, and you can add these mushrooms into foods you prepare as much as possible.
PAU D’ARCO:
Comes from the inner bark of the tree which contains a high proportion of chemicals called quinoids, including the compound lapachol, which has been found in laboratory tests to be active against various viruses, including herpes simplex types I and II, influenza, poliovirus, and others. You can take it in capsules or a tincture and you can also get tea bags for tea.
ST JOHN’S WORT:
In addition to being a well-known remedy for depression and easing pain, some lab studies have found that St. John’s wort also has antiviral properties against influenza, herpes simplex, and HIV.
COLLOIDAL SILVER:
A colloid is a suspension of ultra-fine particles that neither dissolve nor settle out, even with changes in concentration. It is thought to work by interfering with the enzymes that enable viruses, bacteria, and fungi to utilize oxygen so it basically suffocates them. Many case studies have indicated that the use of various forms of colloidal silver dramatically reduced the activity of the viruses and cleared up bacterial infections in patients.
There are reports of the successful use of colloidal silver to fight the hepatitis C virus.
There is also a fair amount of controversy about colloidal silver with some reports saying it has no effect. It did seem to help with bacterial infections including topically.
LEMON, LIME, LEMON BALM, CINNAMON, PEPPERMINT and BASIL ESSENTIAL OILS:
These all have some antiviral attributes. There is more info in an excellent article here: https://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/antiviral-essential-oils.html
If you don’t like taking a bunch of different things, then here is a supplement called Ultimate Immunity, made by Nature’s Way, that has a nice combination of supplements in it that are great for strengthening your immune system. You can get it on Amazon.
The following ones listed here I have not tried, but are reported to have anti-viral properties:
OIL OF OREGANO:
Another serious antiviral and antioxidant, you can take oil oregano internally (1-4 drops in water twice a day) when indicated on the bottle, or externally on the affected skin.
Apparently, you can also cook with it, although I have never tried this.
CLOVE ESSENTIAL OIL:
One of the most potent of antiviral essential oils. It’s a strong antiseptic as well as antifungal oil. It’s great for cleaning with its antibacterial/disinfectant attributes. To use topically, dilute with two-parts carrier oil. Some say it can be taken internally with the right precautions.
HELICHRYSUM ESSENTIAL OIL:
This oil is powerfully antiviral, as well as antibacterial, and it can be used to treat muscle spasms.
Most people can take it undiluted and it is generally recognized as safe to consume when indicated.
MELALEUCA ESSENTIAL OIL:
More commonly known as Tea Tree oil. It is also an excellent antiviral essential oil, in addition to being antifungal, antibacterial and can be used to treat parasites.
Some of these will work better than others for each individual, so I really recommend your own trial and error until you find what produces the most improvement.
Again, I must stress that I am not prescribing or telling you to take any of these supplements, herbs, or oils. I strongly recommend that you find a good naturopath or holistic doctor to advise you on what to take, how to take it, dosages, etc. I am not a doctor. I am not a certified nutritionist. I am only telling you what I have found in my research and what I have tried myself that helped me.
I do not recommend any long-term use of internally taken essential oils as there is some evidence that it can overtax your liver.
Please use every caution. I could not bear the thought of any harmful effects caused to anyone as a result of the incorrect use of these supplements. Ideally, consult a professional in the field of alternative treatments before you start this. And certainly, if you experience any bad side effects from taking a supplement, immediately stop and consult a professional.