Prior to COVID, I had never heard of quercetin. Turns out, it’s an amazing ally to have in our supplements arsenal!

What Is Quercetin?

Quercetin belongs to the flavonoid class of antioxidants commonly found in apples, onions and citrus fruits. Its use has been widely established, particularly in Europe, for the treatment of a variety of ailments including allergy symptoms, diabetic complications, and cardiovascular concerns, all thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects.

In 2007, Korean researchers were able to demonstrate how quercetin can reduce the production of inflammatory signaling processes in the body, which were associated with chronic inflammatory conditions.

Immune-Modulating Effects

Quercetin is effective in reducing the ability of numerous viruses to replicate. In an Italian study, researchers demonstrated that they could use a quercetin-rich extract to up-regulate the antiviral response of the immune system in response to infected cells.
https://aor.ca/products/quercetin/

How does it work?

Quercetin is a bit of a badass when it comes to fighting viruses. It acts as a zinc ionophore, the same mechanism that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have, and it does so by helping zinc pass the cell wall where it can halt viral replication.

Basically, quercetin disrupts viral docking and penetration into the cell. (SAY WHAT?!)

Researchers have been applying computer modeling techniques to identify molecules with structures that could conceivably block the “ACE2 receptors” on cells to which the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 attaches, much like a key fits into a lock. Once the virus enters a cell, it hijacks the cellular machinery and uses it to reproduce and crank out more viruses. Based on its molecular structure, quercetin could be a “key” that fits the lock and blocks other “keys.”

There are apparently also trials going on in the US and China on using quercetin for COVID-19. I’ll be on the lookout for those studies. Bookmark this post so you can come back to it as I’ll update it in the near future.

Lastly, I came across this research from McGill University on quercetin that I feel is worth linking here.

I also found this article and Dr. Molly’s notes on supplements to take during COVID-a9 to be very helpful. Read them here.

N-Acetyl-l-Cysteine (NAC) is a derivative of the dietary amino acid l-cysteine, a precursor to glutathione, the body’s most powerful antioxidant, and helps promote optimal detoxification. NAC is heavily researched for its role in optimizing lung health and is also used for rapid recovery after workouts

NAC has a high affinity for lung tissue, which it supports through mucolytic and antioxidant action. In her supplements for immune support document, Dr. Molly notes that “NAC disrupts disulfide bonds and thins mucus,” so it’s something to consider during this COVID-19 pandemic.

NAC is a powerful free radical scavenger and therefore supports the body’s natural defense system. It also supports tissue levels of glutathione, a key component of the antioxidant defense system.

NAC is also beneficial for protection against normal exposure to heavy metals, which is why, personally, my naturopath had recommended this supplement. (Have you read Liver Rescue by the Medical Medium Anthony Williams? Williams explains that skin conditions are almost always a result of pathogens feeding on heavy metals in the liver, which creates dermatoxins appearing as acne, rosacea, eczema…)

Astragalus came up on my radar when listening to a fascinating interview with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald (host of one of my favorite Functional Medicine podcasts) and her guest Dr. Chen, who’s both a conventionally trained doctor and traditional Chinese medicine doctor.

If you have ever doubted that plants and herbs could provide the treatment or cure for a virus, such as SARS-COV-2, this episode is a MUST listen. In his conversation with Dr. Fitzgerald, Dr. Chen praised the benefits of astragalus and recommended we add it to our farmacy as an immune booster.

Astragalus is an herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and it has many purported health benefits, including immune-boosting, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects.

Astragalus is believed to prolong life and is used to treat a wide variety of ailments, such as fatigue, allergies and the common cold. It’s also used against heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.

I was happy to discover that one of my favorite herbal supplements company, St-Francis Herbal Farm, has included astralagus in their powerful Deep Immune formula.

We all know that Vitamin D is essential for those of us who live in a less than sunny climate. Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt “blue” from the lack of sunlight?!

Vitamin D deficiency can manifest itself in several ways from fatigue to depression, sluggishness… So it’s a good idea to get our vitamin D levels checked whenever possible and to supplement accordingly.

Evidence from several clinical trials and pooled studies show that vitamin D supplementation lowers the odds of developing acute respiratory tract infections (most of which are assumed to be due to viruses) by 12% to 75%. These studies included both the seasonal and pandemic flu caused by H1N1 virus in 2009. 

The beneficial effect of supplementation was seen in patients across all ages, and individuals with pre-existing chronic illnesses. Among those who were infected, flu symptoms were fewer and recovery was earlier if they had received doses of vitamin D greater than 1000 IU. The benefits were relatively greater in individuals with vitamin D deficiency than in those who had adequate levels of vitamin D.

Lastly, if you’ve ever wondered how much sun you need on a daily basis for your body to produce vitamin D, this app will tell you. I’ve installed it on my phone and was not surprised to see that here, in Quebec, it’s extremely difficult to get enough sun on a daily basis to produce vitamin D, especially in winter where it’s nearly impossible.