COVID-19 continues to dominate our news. People who have had COVID-19 continue to report a wide range of after effects following their recovery. Joint pain, brain fog, sinus and respiratory problem,and nerve problems are among the issues that have been reported.
The most reported after effect of a bout of COVID-19 we have heard about is loss of taste and smell. Though there is no guarantee that any natural treatment will work in all cases, we have found using zinc and B- complex has been helpful for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 induced sense situations. For example, recent reports show retraining your sense of smell by using essential oils has been very helpful.
To attempt to retrain the sense of smell, a person would need to use four types of oils: herbal, floral, penetrating,and spicy. Smelling these four categories daily for a period of time each day can help reactivate your olfactory nerve.
Something else that has been reported helpful in recovering the sense of smell is the use of nitric oxide to speed the process. While the study was small, it did indicate nitric oxide could help the recovery process.
Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, which means it widens the blood vessels usually near the surface of the skin, increasing blood flow. Sources of nitric oxide include the amino acid L-Arginine, dietary sources such as garlic, watermelon, red wine,celery, spinach, arugula, dark chocolate and beets.
Garlic activates nitric oxide synthesis and aids in conversion of nitric oxide from L Arginine.
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that increase nitric oxide. Watermelon contains citrolline which converts arginine to nitric acid. Red wine, celery, spinach and the others help increase nitric oxide.
Best of all is beets. This humble root vegetable is rich in nitrates which convert to nitric oxide. Not only are beets used for smell recovery, this vegetable lowers blood pressure and helps with a variety of other conditions including heart health and erectile dysfunction.
Many people have asked about turmeric for arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
Research continues on the best form to use. Some studies show adding black pepper extract will increase turmeric absorption. Some of the advertising even claims “283 percent increase in absorption!” Really? While bioperine (black pepper extract) can help, it is not the end all and be all.
Over the years we at the Herbarium have found a guaranteed potency is superior to a standardized form.
Some companies simply spike their turmeric with curcumin, the active ingredient found in turmeric and most associated with its anti-inflammatory action.
The one form that really is
not helpful would be the grocery store bottled spice. Many companies irradiate their spices to increase shelf life, but this process can also change some chemical structure in the spice. Longer shelf life is fine, but that also means volatile oils in the plant can deteriorate.
If you are using the grocery spice expecting quick relief from pain, don’t hold your breath. The other aspect is that the store spice is not measured for its curcumin content. It could be 5 percent or 20 percent, we just don’t know.
Yes, South Asian cultures have lower inflammatory conditions, credited to a steady diet of curry, but that is a cumulative effect. How much time and discomfort do you want to endure to get the pain relief you seek?
A male reader reached out for help with a common problem:
Dear Jonathan,
I have trouble passing water. Sometimes I am up for quite a while at night trying to urinate, but it feels like my bladder never empties. The doctor says I have an enlarged prostate and recommends a prescription, but I am concerned about some of the side effects listed. Are there any natural products that can help? I see a lot of commercials on television and the internet but I am skeptical.
Roger
Dear Roger,
An enlarged prostate is a very common problem for men over 40. Your note showed a slightly elevated PSA, which is good.
There are several herbal supplements that have shown good results over the years without negative side effects. One of the first things men try is Saw Palmetto tincture or capsule. The tincture does well for early BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). Your body converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which is absorbed by the prostate causing the swelling and increased urinary frequency. If caught early the tincture form does well. If your prostate is very swollen, a guaranteed potency saw palmetto extract with 85 percent to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols is the way to go.
We have found using a good quality saw palmetto extract can improve urinary function within six to eight weeks. If all goes well, many men switch over to maintenance formulas. These formulas usually contain saw palmetto, nettle root (a natural source of beta sitosterol) pumpkin seed, and zinc.
Know your product or at least the people selling to you. There are companies offering “ discount” saw palmetto. I’ve actually bought some to check it out. “When you can count the pieces of saw palmetto berry in a tablet, you have to know it is not good.”
-- Jonathan
Send questions on botanical remedies to: Nature’s RX: Jonathan Evans at Herbarium258@gmail.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 254 Exchange St., Chicopee MA 01013. If requesting info, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
