COVID-19: The Critical Role of Chinese Medicine, Mental Healthcare & Science Literacy

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Updated for Autumn 2020 in preparation for 2nd Wave

As Western/modern medicine grapples developing a vaccine under extreme pressure, I strongly feel that little to no actual immune system supportive measures are being discussed broadly, despite the fact that we do have tools to help at our disposal. This cannot be stressed enough – especially for at-risk populations.

Traditional Chinese/Eastern Medicine (TCM) is indeed capable of being an assistant method of prevention and treatment (alongside, of course, all standard CDC/local governmental guidelines – this goes without saying!) with extensive science and millennia of experience to back this claim up – all provided below.

This set of resources is intended to educate the general public and healthcare practitioners in general.

Check back often, I will likely be updating this daily, and will be posting general updates to my ‘Inspired Living Warriors‘ Fb Page.

If you’d like to learn much more about the philosophy and basics of Chinese Medicine, please check out my comprehensive article – here (and give it some claps while you’re there!)

First video found here: https://youtu.be/Ndzv7bwjFls
Note 1: I forgot to stress the importance of Jade Windscreen to our *amazing* frontline hospital workers, physicians and nurses! Eek! 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️
Note 2: This was unscripted so “flu” was a convention in language, I know its worse than a flu!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. TCM Basics: Your Action Plan Summary
    1. Stage One – Prevention: “I’m fine”
    2. Stage Two – Mild: “I think I may have caught something?”
    3. Stage Three – Acute: “I’m sick”
  2. Public TCM Distributors
  3. TCM Technicals: Advanced Tactics & Science
    1. A Note on “Boosting” the Immune System
  4. Mental Health Resources
  5. My Top Resources
    1. Science-Based Databases
    2. Emergency/Financial Resources

SPRING 2020 ARCHIVE

  1. Appendix: Personal Reflections
    1. A Note for TCM Skeptics
    2. Keeping Your Head Screwed On: Debunking Conspiracies (Fact Checking, General Articles, Bill Gates, 5G)
  2. Big Picture (Now Outdated)
    1. Emerging Newsfronts
    2. Socio-Political Implications

1. The Basics: YOUR ACTION PLAN SUMMARY

I’m aware this doesn’t provide citation, you’ll find the preliminary research in the next advanced section.

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

  • Please note – neither Matt Walton nor Roots to Sky take responsibility for your decision to purchase & consume any of these recommendations. They are provided for your own research, and should always be under the supervision of an experienced practitioner.
  • To prevent hoarding and low-supply stock, these should be prioritised to the most at-risk populations – in other words, please buy these for your grandparents or those with compromised immune systems, before buying them for yourself.
  • Skeptical? Refer to the TCM Science section, and see next page at bottom of this article.

The first 2 formulas below Yu Ping Feng San and Gan Mao Ling should be in every at-risk household, especially front-line healthcare workers. When properly prescribed can reduce the days and intensity of the illness – with little, if any side effects. I choose these because of their high availability to the public from the distributors I have listed in Part 2.

STAGE ONE – PREVENTATIVE: “I’m fine”

  • Immune Supportive/Incubation/Asymptomatic Stage use: Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San) (1, 2)
  • Other useful single Immune Tonic herbs:
    • Astragalus, North American ginseng, turkey tail, reishi/ganoderma, shiitake (in fact, mushrooms in general), elecampane (related to ragweed)
  • My top immune system enhancing supplements:
  • Prevention lifestyle tips:
    • I’m worried about the mental health and increased substance abuse from those we aren’t hearing from in our social networks. Please call and check in with your friends & family – especially those who fall easily into depression/addiction.
    • Honestly, don’t underestimate the power of “catching a chill” – wear a scarf, stay warm, avoid drafts & breezes that give you goosebumps. If you catch a chill, be sure to make a fresh ginger tea (boiled 10 mins), or even chai, to “throw it off”.
    • Stop acting like the air outside is toxic! Go for a walk, fresh air, forests, and sun will boost your immune system and mood. This isn’t an apocalypse! Just avoid crowds, the virus can only be transmitted through sustained contact.

STAGE TWO – MILD: “I think I may have caught something?”

  • Early/First mild signs of infection use: GAN MAO LING
    • According to Jake Paul Fratkin, a stronger anti-viral when compared to the other popular YIN QIAO SAN formula – but can absolutely be taken in combination in this case.
    • I’m recommending it over other more technical/less commonly available formulas because of how easy it is to find for any household.
    • Do not be afraid of raising the dose – but it may cause GI issues.
    • As soon as acute fever/chill symptoms emerge – STOP taking Jade Windscreen (refer to my initial video above) and get the infected person to immediately sweat by any means necessary – strong fresh ginger tea and a hot bath!
  • Other useful single early stage herbs (diaphoretics):

STAGE THREE – ACUTE COLD/FLU: “I’m sick”

  1. Established Acute Infection: Refer the “Advanced TCM Resources” below to your practitioner.
  2. STOP taking Jade Windscreen and go to a hospital!
    • In the full blown stage, Chinese Medicine works best when guideline formulas are customized to the needs of the individual – as is the tradition.
    • When it comes to cytokine storms – the logic remains, simply treat based on TCM pattern presentation in the Advanced section.
  3. Immediately order: QING FEI PAI DU TANG (FDA approved!) from the distributors listed below – or have your TCM practitioner order it for you.
    • Other easy to find formulas include: Pinellia Expectorant Pills/Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan paired with Jie Geng Wan

2. PUBLIC TCM DISTRIBUTORS

This has proved to be far more time consuming that I originally thought – so any help is appreciated – feel free to contact me via my Facebook Page or Instagram.

Please note – neither Matt Walton nor Roots to Sky take responsibility for your decision to purchase & consume any of these recommendations. They are provided for your own research, and are best dispensed under the supervision of an experienced practitioner.

TORONTO/CANADA

NORTH AMERICA

GLOBAL

3. The Technicals: ADVANCED TCM TACTICS & SCIENCE

Please note I am rigorously staying on top of all the information disseminated from CTCMPAO & Health Canada so that my medical expertise stays sharp and updated.

A NOTE ON “BOOSTING” THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: When I/we say this term, what we TCM practitioners are saying is restoring/maintaining optimal immune system markers especially when a person is in a general poor state of overall health – as from the TCM symptom pattern view and on lab reports, many, if not most Westerners are. This is primarily due to poor diets, chronic inflammation, and stress-related immune suppression. Essentially – why some people get sick, while others don’t. I do not believe this a lottery, especially when TCM symptomotology is completely capable of predicting who is more likely at risk, besides the obvious comorbidities. Specifically there is research to prove that this, and numerous other herbs not mentioned here (such as Tulsi, Turkey Tail) can “significantly increase levels of the immune system’s T-helper cells and NK-cells”. I will provide more evidence here – I am obviously working on a few fronts!

To better understand TCM terminology, please check out my brief FAQ on the topic, here.

Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold: Coping with Coronavirus: Fortify Resistance, Recovery and UnderstandingDownload

Further, I recommend doing PubMed searches on any individual herbs included in any of the aforementioned formulas. I do not mean to deflect research – I am simply overwhelmed due to being admittedly distracted by my ‘Mental Health’ & ‘Misinformation‘ campaigns below and in my social media channels. I will soon be providing even more research as there have been numerous TCM studies & reports since the first (early March) stages of this resource page.

Still skeptical? See next page at bottom of this article.

4. 🆕MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

“If you’re feeling anxious or fearful during the coronavirus pandemic, you’re not alone. Offering hope and understanding, author Elizabeth Gilbert reflects on how to stay present, accept grief when it comes and trust in the strength of the human spirit. “Resilience is our shared genetic inheritance,” she says. (This virtual conversation is part of the TED Connects series, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and head of curation Helen Walters. Recorded April 2, 2020)”

If you’ve been following my writing on social media, one of my biggest alarms I’ve been sounding regarding prolonged quarantine is increased depression, stress, anxiety – and even suicides. As of April, with my above Chinese Medicine resources now generally complete, I will switch my focus to providing as many mental/emotional resources as I can here. Please check back often.

RESOURCES

COVID-19 Fact Sheet: Resources for Ontarians Experiencing Mental Health and Addictions Issues During the PandemicDownload

TCM FOR DEPRESSION/ANXIETY/INSOMNIA/STRESS

  • Gan Mai Da Zao Wan – This is basically the only formula I’m recommending for the general public without the need for a formal precise TCM diagnosis. There are many other options to choose from – but these may not be suitable for everyone, unlike this one. Order it from the links provided in Section 2 above.

TELEHEALTH & SERVICES

TOP ARTICLES

5. MATT’S TOP RESOURCES & ARTICLES:

SCIENCE-BASED DATABASES & UPDATES

🆕EMERGENCY/FINANCIAL RESOURCES

APPENDIX & ARCHIVE: Next Page

Pages: Page 1, Page 2