ABSTRACT/ In this article, The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19: Virus Specific Nutraceutical and Botanical Agents, from our partners at Integrative Medicine, a Clinician’s Journal, leading experts in functional medicine evaluate twelve interventions. By Evans JM, Luby R, Lukaczer D, Rountree R, Stone PM, Guilliams TG, Yanuck S, Messier H, Ramsdell K, Hanaway PJ.
As the novel infection with SARS-CoV-2 emerges, objective assessment of the scientific plausibility of nutraceutical and botanical interventions for prevention and treatment is important. We evaluate twelve such interventions with mechanisms of action that modulate
the immune system, impair viral replication, and/or have been demonstrated to reduce severity of illness. These are examples of interventions that can protect patients in the presence of the prevalent and infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus. While there are limited studies to validate these agents to specifically prevent COVID-19, they have been chosen based upon their level of evidence for effectiveness and safety profiles, in the context of other viral infections.
These agents are to be used in a patient-specific manner in concert with lifestyle interventions known to strengthen immune response.
In this article, you will learn:
- Optimizing modifiable lifestyle factors in order to improve overall immune function.
- Personalized consideration of therapeutic agents.
- Clinical recommendations and mechanisms of action.
- Evaluative criteria.
