We're all aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 as much of the world's population has already been exposed to at least one of the corona viruses over the years, let alone one of the C-19 strains.
Prolonged symptoms lasting over 4 weeks have been labeled Long Covid-19, Long Haul COVID-19 or Post COVID-19 Syndrome and have impacted many. The numbers are still unclear, but it is reported that 1 in 5 people ages 18 to 64 have at least one medical condition that might be due to COVID-19.
That's a big number to wrap one's head around.. that up to 1 in 5 people have developed a medical condition due to this virus. The main symptoms of Long Covid-19 include;
- Chronic Fatigue
- Fever
- Respiratory symptoms including difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and cough
- Neurological symptoms or mental health conditions, including difficulty thinking or concentrating, memory loss, headache, sleep problems, dizziness when you stand, pins-and-needles feeling, loss of smell or taste, and depression or anxiety
- Joint or muscle pain
- Insomnia
- Tinnitus
- Heart symptoms or conditions, including chest pain and fast or pounding heartbeat
- Digestive symptoms, including diarrhea and stomach pain
- Blood clots and blood vessel (vascular) issues, including a blood clot that travels to the lungs from deep veins in the legs and blocks blood flow to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
- Chronic inflammation
- Menstrual disregulation
- Other symptoms such as rashes and more
When approaching Covid from an herbal perspective, I immediately want to go to Mullein for its lung soothing properties and White Pine for its warming, anti-viral and decongesting properties. But the list of symptoms is well beyond a prolonged cough or flu, and therefore, each case really needs to be taken on its own. From inflammation to fatigue, menstrual disregulation and lung congestion, each of these symptoms need their own specific supports. See herbal supports below
Interestingly, another term has surfaced with a similar list of symptoms to Long Covid. This condition is being called Long Post-COVID Vaccination Syndrome or LPCVS and is being increasingly recognized across the medical industry. LPCVS occurs specifically after SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations (of any brand) and lasts more than 4 weeks, like Long COVID.
While many might argue LPCVS is just Long-COVID-19 Syndrome, it has also been found in those who have not contracted COVID-19 and repeatedly test negative for the virus and anti-bodies.
It's been reported by the FLCCC that up to 80% of patients experience prolonged illness after COVID-19. They agree that many of the symptoms are similar to COVID-19 vaccine-injured patients; both disorders are considered manifestations of “spike protein-related disease,” with a significant overlap in symptoms, pathogenesis, and treatment. To make it even more complicated, many Long COVID patients are vaccinated, and the symptomatology of vaccine-injured patients is often exacerbated by COVID-19 infection.
Controversial? Absolutely. But if we simply ignore these overlapping symptoms and growing data supporting vaccine injury, we might be doing ourselves a great harm.
What difference does it make if it's one or the other? I considered writing an article about treating Long Covid and not mentioning LPCVS or vaccine damage while giving herbal suggestions that cover both. While that might be a more digestible and easily shared article, it's not honest and ignores the growing research on this topic (including well over 1000 studies on covid vaccine injury).
"SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations may cause not only short-term but also long-term side effects that include not only known diseases but also non-specific symptoms with normal or slightly abnormal clinical and instrumental findings. Although LPCVS leads to long-term disability, it is not widely recognized and not always accepted by manufacturers, health authorities, and even scientists. LPCVS should not be dismissed as a functional disorder and patients with LPCVS should be taken seriously."
The possible side effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can't be ignored and we need to be open to further studies and discussion without fear of cancel culture, job loss or violence.
In most cases, these vaccine side effects are mild and short-lived. "However, in a number of patients adverse reactions to anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can persist and be severe or even life-threatening and fatal."
Many say LPCVS is not fully understood as of yet, but often attributed to Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome or MIS, is a serious complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2 infection that affects multiple body systems including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and skin. It occurs primarily in children, and while not fully understood, it's being associated with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and antibodies induced by both the virus and the vaccine.
There is evidence as well that vaccine-associated MIS may become more common as more children receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
So, we have Long-COVID-19-Syndrome, Long Post-COVID Vaccination Syndrome as well as Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome. All of these being linked to both the virus as well as the vaccine.
Over 1,000 peer-reviewed articles have been published now on COVID vaccine injuries. If you want to dive deeper, you can find links to some of these studies at COVID Vaccine Injuries, REACT19, and on Substack.
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HERBAL PERSPECTIVE
Let's talk about suramin, a potent inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase and acts by blocking the binding of RNA to the enzyme. In studies, suramin is at least 20x more potent than Remdesivir (the currently approved COVID drug which has an extensive list of side effects), and has been show to block viral reproduction.
Surmanin has been used to both fight the virus as well as support a system that is experiencing mRNA vaccine damage and may be helpful then in LPCVS and MIS.
So where do we find suramin in nature? White Pine primarily and Plantain (the herb, not the banana).
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White Pine is warming and is used specifically for respiratory and bronchial complaints. Both the needles and the thin twigs are used in promoting the expectoration and removal of mucus from the lungs. It is anti-viral, anti-flu and can ward against cardiac issues including blood clotting. It is potentially effective against a protein contagion and is a great source of suramin.
- Scotch Pine is much the same as white pine in its actions and uses. It has long been used for its anti-bacterial action and was historically used in storing food to prevent rancidity.
- Spruce Tips are high in minerals including potassium and magnesium. They have long been used like their conifer cousins described above and contain plenty of chlorophyl which helps with the healing of tissues and the transportation of oxygen to cells.
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Plantain is slippery and is often used in the treatment of coughs and mucous membrane irritation. Its high amount of potassium makes it useful in controlling heart rate and blood pressure. It helps to draw out infection and poisons and is also a great source of suramin.
I also like to use a few other herbs;
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Mugwort is a bitter that is often used to boost energy and promote healthy digestion. It aids in stimulating gastric juices and bile secretion to better break down foods, assimilate nutrients and eliminate toxins. Energetically, it's used to help drive other herbs to where they need to go and aids in emotional protection.
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Clove is high in antioxidants, is an antiviral, an antibacterial and improves liver health. It is used to fight free radicals which may otherwise lead to disease and may also help to reduce the risk of heart disease. It has been used to boost the immune system health and fight against infections and flu.
- Mullein is often used for dry, harsh, hacking coughs, and weak lungs. It's also helpful to the kidney and nervous system. The flowers of this plant are soothing and coat the lungs, while the leaves are more astringent and expectorant, helping the lungs to expel unwanted particles that have been inhaled.
I also want to point out that there are several studies linking Long Covid to intestinal and respiratory microbiome dysbiosis. A whole other topic on microbiome disregulation and parasites can stem from there, but I'll leave that to another article coming soon.
Other Herbs and supplements recommended by the FLCCC Alliance for Long Post COVID Vaccine Syndrome & Long COVID include:
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K2
- Nattokinase (Nigella sativa)
- Melatonin
- Bromelain
- Vitamin C
- Probiotics
You can find products formulated with these specific supplements to support the recovery of vaccine injury, Long COVID and more at The Wellness Company.
For treatment information regarding Post Vaccine Syndrome, see the FLCCC Alliance's comprehensive Post Vaccine Syndrome Treatment or their simplified, quicker read document here. Several of the doctors working with the FLCCC have come together to create The Wellness Company linked above.
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RESOURCES
PubMed + NIH ~ A retrospective analysis of clinically confirmed long post-COVID vaccination syndrome The possible causal relation between some long side effects and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines cannot be ignored. The pathophysiology of LPCVS should be further studied to lay a foundation for further improvement of the vaccines.
Mayo Clinic ~ COVID-19 Long Term Effects
FLCC Alliance was created by highly published, world-renowned physicians and scholars from around the world with the goal of developing life-saving protocols to prevent and treat COVID-19 at all stages of illness.
The Wellenss Company ~ We strive to build a new health care system that earns people’s trust, governed and operated with transparency, and offering the highest quality practitioners who align at their core with our fundamental belief – to put the patient first.
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Antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of pine needle ingestion https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4241895/
Effects of ethanolic extract of pine needs on respiring-induced depression-like behaviour. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3173901/
Antioxidant activity and analysis of proanthocyanidins from pine needles. https://e-nrp.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4162/nrp.2011.5.4.281
Antioxidant, Antimutagenic and Antitumour Effects of Pine. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6355045_Antioxidant_Antimutagenic_and_Antitumor_Effects_of_Pine_Needles_Pinus_densiflora
Structural basis for inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase by suramin. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41594-021-00570-0?fbclid=IwAR1KVygXTrGUxFFKHAWUFUAHGVy9FmfcbnaxR9NWWvqTJyLkdSCrFfbR3zg