I recently read an article written by one of my favourite Herbalists, Matthew Wood. It was simply titled “Coronavirus” and spoke in detail about TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) treatment protocols that are currently coming out of China. The basic overview of the article suggested that the virus be thought of and treated as a condition of “damp pestilence”, where the illness (dampness) lingers like a sticky flour/oil like glue and because of its stickiness, is difficult to fully disperse.
The Coronavirus’ main cause of disease is damp toxicity, not heat toxicity with dampness, as is often treated in TCM. The herbs used to treat these two tissue states are completely different. In treating heat toxicity with dampness, the principle is to ‘clear the heat, resolve the toxins and dispel the dampness’. However, when treating dampness toxicity, if you clear heat and resolve toxins by using cooling herbs too early, this inevitably exacerbates the dampness and leads to a tissue state called ‘cold enveloping heat’; thus producing an adverse reaction to treatment outcomes.
The focus is therefore recommending resolving the turbidity with aromatic herbs, “out-thrusting through the exterior and up-bearing and downbearing the spleen and stomach organs. As dampness is resolved, depressed heat can safely disperse, and toxicity will not be able to form; and in this way the patients’ symptoms will gradually resolve”.
Aromatic herbs tend to warm the stomach and the spleen; the centre of the body. This class of herbs is extensive, from chai spices such as ginger, cloves, star anise, pepper, cardarmom and cinnamon, to the lovely Mediterranean aromatics like rosemary, lavender, sage, wild bergamot, oregano and thyme. Other
warming herbs that would be excellent in keeping the centre warm and the pores open are Angelica, Lomatium and Osha root. Also, this mention of “out-thrusting” is similar to the theories of Samuel Thomson (1769-1843); of warming the centre and keeping the peripheries open (to expel excess heat and toxins). In fact, Thomson’s legendary formula of Lobelia, Cayenne and Bayberry bark was specifically administered to keep the pores open, warm the stomach and break up the turbidity/damp toxicity (congealed mucus). An heroic medicine for a modern day heroic illness indeed!
In addition to these basic principles of treatment, (Western Herbal Medicine) herbs for specific symptoms that are recommended include: Elecampane (for thick green mucus), Grindelia (for thick adhesive mucus), Pleurisy Root (to gently open the pores, and for fluid at the bottom of the lungs, but dryness at the top), and Spikenard (for an irritating cough with some phlegm). Some excellent antiviral herbs being used in the treatment of Coronavirus are St John’s Wort (when there are no contraindications or adverse drug interactions), Elderberry and Helichryssum.
Secondary infections, and the interaction between viral and bacterial infections, is something that must also be considered, as it is common for bacterial infections to follow viral infections. When the old virus cells begin to break down and die, the quickly expanding population of bacteria become targets themselves for the viruses. In the instance of Coronavirus this evidently gets out of hand sometimes.
So again, keeping the channels of elimination open and the centre of the body warm, is really important.
I hope you have enjoyed this ‘other perspective’ into the treatment of the Coronavirus. I am finding the information coming out at the moment from Herbalists all around the world really fascinating.
Blessed Be!