Is There Natural Immunity to Viruses? Part 1

With COVID-19 fears running rampant, I have been taking a step back and observing the messages of many of my health mentors, with the aim of searching for any clues to share that might help limit the devastation that has occurred elsewhere in the world in recent weeks.  All are reminding us to use good hygiene & social distancing practices, they are coming out with the latest promising anti-viral drugs and some are listing supplements to support the immune system - more on that later.

Others are telling us to stay calm amidst a pandemic of fear and have FAITH (aka First Attribute in Thinking Healthy).  I will explain the significance of this later in this article.  Some are highlighting the effects of glyphosate (found in Roundup) in our soils (and then food) and the novel 5G Internet of Things (IoT) technology rolling out in some of the areas hardest hit with COVID - potentially weakening our immune systems.

Please know I am not an expert in virology, epidemiology or medicine and I can only mention supportive wellness tools and nothing therapeutic.  This is a rapidly evolving situation and I do not pretend to know the prevention or treatment.  I also cannot pretend to know the truth of what caused this viral pandemic but I am open to the cause being multi-factorial at least.  One message that resonated with me is the concept that the one thing we have control over is our terrain.  This appealed to my innate belief to Stop Playing the Victim (thank you Robin Sharma).  No matter the cause of this pandemic, we can take action and stop playing the victim.  And it starts with the knowledge of how to do it.

 What is our Terrain?

The terrain theory was initiated by Claude Bernard (1813–1878), and later built upon by Antoine Bechamp (1816-1908). Bernard believed that the “terrain” or “internal environment” determined our state of health. When the body is functioning in homeostasis, and immunity and detoxification is operating well, he claimed there was a healthy terrain which could handle various pathogenic microorganisms that inevitably are thrown its way.  In essence, he believed the quality of the terrain and the elements it faced determined an individual’s susceptibility to disease.¹

I could get into the Germ vs Terrain debate as background; but, this is far too political for my liking.  Regardless of which theory is the correct one – I truly believe your terrain matters.  Even the creator of the Terrain theory - Pasteur’s contemporary Antoine Béchamp (MPharm, DSc, MD, Professor of Physics, Toxicology, Biological Chemistry, Medical Chemistry, Pharmacy & Dean of the Faculty of Medicine said “There is no doctrine so false that it does not contain some particle of truth” ².  My take – if you believe in one or the other theories – you might stay open to there being some truth to each, learning from them both and taking recommendations from both to up your immunity.

What Determines the Terrain?

A healthy or a diseased terrain is determined primarily by four things:

1. Its nutritional status
2. Its acidic/alkaline balance (pH)
3. Its electric/magnetic charge (negative or positive)
4. Its level of poisoning (toxicity)

I cannot emphasize #1 enough as a nutritionist.  Hopefully you all are eating nutritionally dense food.  If that diet has lots of vegetables and fruit, including some organic and some raw, it should help cover all four of these criteria.  If not, supplementation will be key to helping your terrain.

Nutritional Supplements for Immunity

One study highlighting this was with mice.  In it they made mice virulent from an avirulent state i.e. sick from asymptomatic by making them nutritionally deficient in Selenium and Vitamin E.  In other words, the mere lack of these two nutrients in the mice exposed them to sickness they otherwise would not have experienced.

The current supplements that I am aware of to date being recommended for COVID-19 are: Vitamins A, C, D, E, minerals Zinc & Magnesium, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), certain herbs, and Melatonin.  Remember, eating a healthy diet and living more ancestrally helps keep these nutrients replete (and you healthy).

Here are a few notes I have taken so far:

“Science shows IMMUNITY is enhanced by vitamin D3, C, zinc and N-acetyl-cysteine (however, nothing has been shown to prevent infection with COVID-19 except avoiding exposure).³

Vitamin A - can improve immunity by helping epithelial tissues and potentially by, improve the probiotic bacteria lactobacillus in the microbiome. Note that too much Vitamin A can be harmful and that Vitamin A taken with Vitamin D can be synergistic.  The top three foods highest in vitamin A are liver, cod liver oil and carrots.  It helps to maintain the mucous membranes, the internal skin surface of our respiratory system and of our digestive organs, and as these are in the first line of attack by an infection, the vitamin became known as the "anti-infective" vitamin for its protective benefits.

Vitamin C - You may have heard of success with intravenous Vitamin C for immunity for cancer.  For more on Vitamin C for COVID-19 see: this Webinar held on 19 Mar 20: Vitamin C for the Treatment of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at ISOM.CA. It shows lessons learned direct from China, Korea and Europe I pray our health practitioners have watched it.  Applying this information could save more lives if this hits North America as badly.

Vitamin D3 – There is a lot of research with vitamin D (more specifically, calcitriol) in the body’s immune system. Very few foods naturally supply vitamin D: Beef liver, cheese, egg yolks and fatty fish, cod liver oil and mushrooms and most of these are very low except cod liver oil.  It’s best to get your Vitamin D naturally – either from the sun and food but it is a challenge for us northern dwellers, even if we eat well.   Supplementation seems to be necessary in the winter months – or go south every couple months with at least 4 days of sun to build up your stores.  But test don’t guess if your doctor will do a Vitamin D3 test and if not, be sure you are not caught short in a situation like this.  Please contact your health practitioner to hear their recommendations on the dosing instructions for Vitamin D right now.

Zinc - has been proven to disrupt this virus - dissolvable lozenges are best for the first onset of contact in the upper mucous membranes (throat)”³ Two foods rich in Zinc are oysters and pumpkin seeds.

Magnesium - has a strong relation with the immune system, in both innate and acquired immune response.⁴ High magnesium foods include dark leafy greens, seeds, beans, fish, whole grains, nuts, dark chocolate, yogurt, avocados, bananas and more. Despite this, it is estimated that 80% of North Americans are magnesium deficient. With all the electrosmog around and the stressful lives we live, it is no wonder.  If you supplement Magnesium and overdo it, the fail-safe is diarrhea so you will know when you have had too much.  My favourite Magnesium supplement is surprisingly a transdermal spray.

If these above mentioned micronutrients (specifically Vitamins A, C, D, E, minerals Zinc & Magnesium) are not replete (and this can be tested – please contact me), then supplementation can help, but it is always best to get them naturally.  Please seek advice before super dosing any of these – you could do more harm.

A Warning on Selenium - the latest recommendations on the experience to date with COVID-19 are to stop your supplementation of Selenium as it may be contribute to the cytokine storm⁶  The Cytokine storm is the runaway over-inflammatory potential stage of a flu that can lead to sepsis.  So please do your homework right now on all your current supplements during this unprecedented situation!

For other supplement recommendations including important information on Melatonin, herbs, Vitamin C and the contraindication with Selenium, see: https://youtu.be/NctiERzrny4  Dr Dietrich Klinghardt’s latest discoveries on COVID-19 and if you contact me off my website, I will send you the handout he made.

Need Support?

 If you prefer holistic nutritional support with your diet, supplementation or lifestyle – just reach out on my website contact page or book it here:  I am still doing 30 minute or 1 hour phone and video consultations for the foreseeable quarantine future.  In addition to nutritional coaching, I also coordinate testing for your sensitive foods/micronutrient deficiencies, intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut syndrome), menu plan and advise on Voxx Neurotechnology which works to support homeostasis in the body (and that includes the immune system).

Need Supplements?

Please know that there are no guarantees with COVID-19 according to Health Canada.  Apparently healthy people are needing ventilators so please do not solely rely on these supportive suggestions and follow Health Canada or your countries latest recommendations.

My Website shop page has:

• My Fullscript Online Pharmacy – with professional grade Vitamin A, C, D, Zinc and Magnesium and much more.  https://ca.fullscript.com/welcome/lkissmann
• Other immunity supporting supplements:
  • Oceans Alive Marine Phytoplankton
  • Juice Plus Whole Food Fruits and Vegetable Capsules and Chewables*
  • EASE Magnesium Spray

1. * These are full of nutrients like Vitamin A, C and anti-oxidants that support the immune system.  If fruits and vegetables become scarce, you will be happy to have this on hand!  See here for the links to the international research studies on it (4 on immunity and one lung related): https://canada.juiceplus.com/clinical-research/juice-plus-clinical-research

References

 1 https://naturalnewsblogs.com/germ-vs-terrain-theory-adopt-healthy/

2 - Sick and Tired, by Dr. Robert Young, Ph.D., D.Sc. pg.26

3 - Dr Catherine Hansen, MD, ObGyn

4 - https://www.nature.com/articles/1601689)

Stay tuned for Part 2 that will introduce you to other contributors to a diseased terrain including the body’s largest and newest organ, and what role it plays in immunity…