Viral Infections: Part 3—Clearing the Bugs Naturally

In this series, I've been discussing a key problem that comes with having CFS, FMS and Long COVID. Namely, your immune system is on the fritz. So, you're vulnerable to lots of different kinds of chronic infections. Making it even worse, there are no reliable tests for many of them.

It can get pretty crazy making.

But most of these aren't heavy-duty inflections. They're like yapping little dogs that normally you'd just shoo away. Unless 10 of them decide to jump you at once, in which case they can be overwhelming. Fortunately, if you can take action to rid yourself of even a few of these bugs, then your body can handle most of the others on its own.

Plants and animals in nature face the same problem. They have to fight off a wide array of viruses, fungi, parasites and bacteria. The good news? They learned a trick that we can follow!

Some compounds in nature have broad defensive power against many of these different bugs all at the same time. Over time, plants have learned how to use them—and so can we! Below is a "recipe" that I recommend in addition to the multivitamin powder. This combination can dramatically help keep your immune system as strong as it can be and keep you from going crazy, trying to battle that pack of yapping "dog bugs" all at once.

The Recipe

 I start with three key supplements:

1. Berberine (use the Terry Naturally® form), 500 mg 2-3 times a day for 12 weeks.
2. Lactoferrin with Propolis Extract, 1 tablet 1-2 times a day (also use the Terry Naturally form)  for 12 weeks.
3. Pearls Elite™ Probiotic, long term once a day.

If needed, all the above can be used long term. I consider 3 months to be a fair trial to see if they help. If so, I will continue for 6 months total, and then as needed. They can be combined with antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals.

Want to see a few studies that show just how powerful these are?

What the Research Shows

Let's look at some of the research on Berberine, lactoferrin, and propolis. Most of you are already familiar with the importance of probiotics.

Berberine

Accumulated evidence indicates berberine plays an inhibitory role against numerous viruses, including EBV, human cytomegalovirus, and influenza virus. Berberine's antiviral action has shown promise even on its own, also making it a viable option for synergistically enhancing the inhibitory effect of current antiviral medicines. Take a look at these two studies:

• A Review of the Antiviral Activity of Berberine
• Berberine in Human Oncogenic Herpesvirus Infections and Their Linked Cancers

But according to these studies, there's even more. Berberine also:

• Enhances innate cellular immunity.
• Is like birth control for many viruses (EBV, HSV 1-2, and others).
• May be as effective as Diflucan for Candida/Fungi.
• Keeps healthy gut bacteria while blocking unhealthy ones.
• Blocks parasites.

I like to use Terry Naturally® Berberine 500 mg, 2-3 times a day for at least 12 weeks, as it also helps gut biome support.   

Lactoferrin and Bee Propolis

Lactoferrin acts as a key “orchestra conductor” in optimizing immune function.

• Helps suppress unhealthy organisms.
• Keeps your immune system from going overboard (SIRS) over irrelevant organisms.

Current known antiviral mechanisms of lactoferrin against viral survival include:

• Stops the virus from entering cells.
• Suppresses numerous bugs (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites).
• Powerfully balances immune activity and reactivity. 

Bee Propolis

Propolis also inhibits viral, bacterial and fungal organisms. A problem with being a bee is that so many critters like to eat their honey. Their solution? Bee propolis inhabits a wide array of them.

• Effects of Propolis on Infectious Diseases of Medical Relevance

I use a high absorption (via natural Gammasorb) combination of Lactoferrin with Propolis for 3-6 months as part of an intensive protocol (with or without antiviral medication).

In Summary

Tired of fighting what seems like a wild pack of yapping dog bugs? Daily use of the three nutritional supplements I've discussed can do wonders to help send them running.

And always remember: Despite dealing with these illnesses, we are not defenseless. Nature offers powerful, affordable and well-tolerated ways to keep a lot of these bugs in check!

Next week I'll share three more natural options that I'm likely to add during symptom flare ups.