But Daniel Small, MD, a rheumatologist with the Mayo Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, says many people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune diseases may need to take much higher doses under a doctor's supervision.

Nobel Prize-winner Linus Pauling championed vitamin C as a cold cure decades ago, but research remains mixed. Some studies suggest that taking mg twice daily can help prevent colds but not cure them.

Other research has found that vitamin C may not prevent viral respiratory infections but can speed recovery. Doctors in China are experimenting with intravenous vitamin C for patients with moderate to severe COVID This seems to hold true for both low and high doses — 80 mg to over mg a day — and for different forms, including gluconate, sulfate, acetate and picolinate.

Zinc works best if you start it at the first sign of symptoms. Doctors are taking a closer look at zinc for COVID, too. Zinc supplements come in lozenge, pill or liquid form. com recommends taking a lozenge containing 13 mg to 23 mg zinc every two hours throughout the day for no more than a week if you have a cold.

Those without symptoms may not get any benefit. Too much zinc can have the opposite effect and blunt your immune response and can cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and headache.

The National Institutes of Health sets the daily maximum limit at 40 mg day, unless being advised to take more under medical supervision. Thousands of different chemicals known as polyphenols are found naturally in plants, including most fruits and vegetables as well as coffee beans, cocoa, nuts, green tea and extra virgin olive oil.

One polyphenol — quercetin — proved especially effective against infections similar to COVID Quercetin seems to work by preventing viruses from entering cells. A clinical trial of quercetin is underway in China. In human research, polyphenols from green tea and blueberries helped prevent viral respiratory infections in athletes.

You can buy polyphenol supplements or specific types, such as quercetin, but Dr. Cooperman at Consumerlab. The new coronavirus causes low potassium levels because it blocks an enzyme called ACE2 that regulates blood pressure by balancing potassium and sodium. Potassium loss can be especially severe in COVID patients with heart disease or high blood pressure.

Experts recommend getting potassium from food instead of supplements, which could be dangerous for certain groups of people, including but not limited to those with kidney or heart disease and those who take particular blood pressure medications.

Potatoes, lentils, beans, squash and dried fruit are good sources. In a Cochrane review of 12 randomized controlled trials, probiotics cut the number of respiratory infections nearly in half.

You can find probiotics in kefir, yogurt and fermented foods like miso and sauerkraut look for unpasteurized products sold in the refrigerated sections of your supermarket. In fact, Echinacea purpurea , a variety that produces cone-shaped flowers , was used by Native Americans to treat a wide array of conditions, including viral infections Several test-tube studies suggest that certain varieties of echinacea , including E.

pallida , E. angustifolia , and E. purpurea , are particularly effective at fighting viral infections like herpes and influenza Notably, E. purpurea is thought to have immune-boosting effects as well, making it particularly useful for treating viral infections Sambucus is a family of plants also called elder.

Elderberries are made into a variety of products, such as elixirs and pills, that are used to naturally treat viral infections like the flu and common cold. A study in mice determined that concentrated elderberry juice suppressed influenza virus replication and stimulated immune system response Licorice has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and other natural practices for centuries.

Glycyrrhizin, liquiritigenin, and glabridin are just some of the active substances in licorice that have powerful antiviral properties Test-tube studies demonstrate that licorice root extract is effective against HIV, RSV, herpes viruses, and severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus SARS-CoV , which causes a serious type of pneumonia 35 , 36 , Astragalus is a flowering herb popular in traditional Chinese medicine.

It boasts Astragalus polysaccharide APS , which has significant immune-enhancing and antiviral qualities Test-tube and animal studies show that astragalus combats herpes viruses, hepatitis C, and avian influenza H9 virus 39 , 40 , 41 , Plus, test-tube studies suggest that APS may protect human astrocyte cells, the most abundant type of cell in the central nervous system, from infection with herpes Ginger products, such as elixirs, teas, and lozenges, are popular natural remedies — and for good reason.

Ginger has been shown to have impressive antiviral activity thanks to its high concentration of potent plant compounds. Test-tube research demonstrates that ginger extract has antiviral effects against avian influenza, RSV, and feline calicivirus FCV , which is comparable to human norovirus 43 , 44 , Additionally, specific compounds in ginger, such as gingerols and zingerone, have been found to inhibit viral replication and prevent viruses from entering host cells Ginseng , which can be found in Korean and American varieties, is the root of plants in the Panax family.

Long used in traditional Chinese medicine, it has been shown to be particularly effective at fighting viruses. In animal and test-tube studies, Korean red ginseng extract has exhibited significant effects against RSV, herpes viruses, and hepatitis A 47 , 48 , Plus, compounds in ginseng called ginsenosides have antiviral effects against hepatitis B, norovirus, and coxsackieviruses, which are associated with several serious diseases — including an infection of the brain called meningoencephalitis Dandelions are widely regarded as weeds but have been studied for multiple medicinal properties, including potential antiviral effects.

Test-tube research indicates that dandelion may combat hepatitis B, HIV, and influenza 50 , 51 , Moreover, one test-tube study noted that dandelion extract inhibited the replication of dengue, a mosquito-borne virus that causes dengue fever.

This disease, which can be fatal, triggers symptoms like high fever, vomiting, and muscle pain 53 , Common kitchen herbs , such as basil, sage, and oregano, as well as lesser-known herbs like astragalus and sambucus, have powerful antiviral effects against numerous viruses that cause infections in humans.

However, keep in mind that most research has been conducted in test tubes and animals using concentrated extracts. If you decide to supplement with extracts, tinctures, or other herbal products, consult your healthcare provider to ensure safe usage.

Many delicious ingredients are also exceptionally healthy. Here are 10 of the world's healthiest herbs and spices, supported by science. Oregano is a staple herb in many cuisines around the world. It may also have significant health benefits, such as the 6 discussed here.

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