alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-16--Does Your Prescription Increase Your Risk of COVID-19?

PPIs are among the many drugs that can make us more vulnerable to COVID-19 .
Action Alert !
As we learn more about the COVID-19 virus , it is becoming increasingly clear that a number of pharmaceutical drugs put us more at risk for infection .
While Americans should not stop their medications without consulting a physician , it is important to become educated about these dangers .
This highlights the terrible price of ignoring low-cost , safe , and effective natural medicines in favor of dangerous and expensive pharmaceutical drugs .
Take proton pump inhibitors ( PPIs ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prilosec and Prevacid are popular brand names ) block the production of stomach acid and are intended for the treatment of heartburn and GERD ( gastroesophageal reflux disease ) .
Most importantly , too little stomach acid means that nutrients and minerals that help protect us are not being properly absorbed .
We also must remember that PPIs have been linked with increased risk of pneumonia , which is of particular concern with COVID-19 and the respiratory damage that characterizes advanced cases .
We ’ ve also written extensively about the many dangers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key points to note in relation to COVID-19 .
For one , stomach acid protects us from harmful pathogens—including pathogens in nasal secretions .
This is particularly true of bacterial infections .
As we ’ ve noted previously , symptoms of acid reflux can often be caused by too little stomach acid , so acid blocking drugs like PPIs can aggravate the problem .
Other potentially problematic drugs for weathering this pandemic are blood pressure medications known as ACE inhibitors .
These drugs are used in patients with hypertension and diabetes ; these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most frequent comorbidities reported in studies of patients with COVID-19 .
As such , some hypothesize that these drugs increase expression of the ACE2 receptor , which is the pathway used by the COVID-19 virus to enter cells .
More study must be done to determine whether it is the underlying conditions , the drugs used to treat these conditions , or some combination , that leads to increased susceptibility to COVID-19 .
Also note that other antacids using the drug Ranitidine ( Zantac is one popular brand name ) have been pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N-Nitrosodimethylamine ( NDMA ) , a probable human carcinogen .
Note that many other drugs interfere with or deplete key nutrients in the body , which is extremely problematic as many of us are trying to optimize and bolster our immunity to prevent infection .
Statins lower CoQ10 levels in the body ; anticonvulsants can lower levels of vitamin D ; many antibiotics decrease calcium , magnesium , potassium , B vitamins , and vitamin K. Americans are taking more prescription drugs than ever .
Consider these statistics : 44 % of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 % take three or more drugs .
Polypharmacy ( the use of five or more prescription drugs ) almost doubled from 1999 to 2012 , rising from 8 % to 15 % , according to a JAMA study .
This incredible over-reliance on expensive prescription drugs is almost certainly making us more vulnerable to COVID-19 .
This emphasizes the price we ’ re paying when federal agencies like the FDA throttle access to low-cost , safe , and effective natural medicines .
Action Alert !
Tell the FDA , with a copy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dangers of PPIs and other drugs , particularly in relation to COVID-19 .
Please send your message immediately .

PPIs are among the many drugs that can make us more vulnerable to COVID-19. Action Alert!
As we learn more about the COVID-19 virus, it is becoming increasingly clear that a number of pharmaceutical drugs put us more at risk for infection. While Americans should not stop their medications without consulting a physician, it is important to become educated about these dangers. This highlights the terrible price of ignoring low-cost, safe, and effective natural medicines in favor of dangerous and expensive pharmaceutical drugs.
Take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), for example. These widely-prescribed drugs (Prilosec and Prevacid are popular brand names) block the production of stomach acid and are intended for the treatment of heartburn and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Most importantly, too little stomach acid means that nutrients and minerals that help protect us are not being properly absorbed. We also must remember that PPIs have been linked with increased risk of pneumonia, which is of particular concern with COVID-19 and the respiratory damage that characterizes advanced cases. The mechanism by which PPIs cause pneumonia are not fully understood, but one theory is that they compromise the stomach’s “acid mantle” against gastric colonization of bacteria. Another theory is that PPIs reduce the acidity of the upper digestive tract which results in increased bacterial colonization of the larynx, esophagus, and lungs.
Important research has also found that PPIs shut off acid pumps not just in the stomach, but in every other cell of the body. This interferes with the way cells make energy and detoxify. One researcher summed it up like this: “I think we now have a smoking gun,” referring to the mechanism by which PPIs cause the wide range of negative health effects that have been documented.
We’ve also written extensively about the many dangers of these drugs. There are some key points to note in relation to COVID-19. For one, stomach acid protects us from harmful pathogens—including pathogens in nasal secretions. This is particularly true of bacterial infections. As we’ve noted previously, symptoms of acid reflux can often be caused by too little stomach acid, so acid blocking drugs like PPIs can aggravate the problem.
Other potentially problematic drugs for weathering this pandemic are blood pressure medications known as ACE inhibitors. These drugs are used in patients with hypertension and diabetes; these chronic diseases also happen to be the most frequent comorbidities reported in studies of patients with COVID-19. As such, some hypothesize that these drugs increase expression of the ACE2 receptor, which is the pathway used by the COVID-19 virus to enter cells. More study must be done to determine whether it is the underlying conditions, the drugs used to treat these conditions, or some combination, that leads to increased susceptibility to COVID-19.
Also note that other antacids using the drug Ranitidine (Zantac is one popular brand name) have been pulled from the market for being contaminated with N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a probable human carcinogen.
Note that many other drugs interfere with or deplete key nutrients in the body, which is extremely problematic as many of us are trying to optimize and bolster our immunity to prevent infection. Statins lower CoQ10 levels in the body; anticonvulsants can lower levels of vitamin D; many antibiotics decrease calcium, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins, and vitamin K.
Americans are taking more prescription drugs than ever. Consider these statistics: 44% of Americans take at least one prescription medication; 17% take three or more drugs. Polypharmacy (the use of five or more prescription drugs) almost doubled from 1999 to 2012, rising from 8% to 15%, according to a JAMA study. This incredible over-reliance on expensive prescription drugs is almost certainly making us more vulnerable to COVID-19. This emphasizes the price we’re paying when federal agencies like the FDA throttle access to low-cost, safe, and effective natural medicines.
Action Alert! Tell the FDA, with a copy to Congress, to warn Americans about the dangers of PPIs and other drugs, particularly in relation to COVID-19. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-16--FDA Blocking Efforts to Produce Hand Sanitizers

Once again , the agency refuses to change its mindset in the midst of the pandemic .
Action Alert !
Amidst critical shortages of hand sanitizer in online and brick-and-mortar stores , distillers and compounding pharmacies have stepped up to fill in a crucial gap in supply .
“ Not so fast !
” says the FDA .
The agency released two policies detailing how these entities should be producing sanitizer .
These guidance documents have thwarted the efforts of distillers and compounders to produce hand sanitizer that the nation needs , highlighting once again the ineptitude , bureaucratic stubbornness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the COVID-19 crisis .
The FDA ’ s policy stipulates that distillers use denatured alcohol in their sanitizers .
Denatured alcohol is ethanol or grain alcohol that contains denaturants , or additional chemicals that make it unfit for human consumption .
According to Matt Dogali , the President and CEO of the American Distilled Spirits Alliance , introducing denatured alcohol into a distillery ’ s production lines “ renders them useless for future alcohol production barring extreme cleaning measures , because we can not have any remnant of the denaturant in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product.
” Distillers , of course , do have ready supplies of undenatured alcohol they are ready and willing to put to use for the production of hand sanitizer .
According to a letter from Reps. John Yarmuth ( R-KY ) and Andy Barr ( R-KY ) to the FDA asking for flexibility , The senselessness of the FDA ’ s position hardly needs to be stated .
FDA rules have also restricted the ability of compounding pharmacies to make hand sanitizer .
The agency ’ s guidance stipulates the particular strength of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requiring the use of denatured alcohol .
A letter from compounding pharmacists urges the FDA to grant more flexibility to compounders so they can be more helpful in this crisis .
Specifically , they ask that the FDA relax its requirement for 75 % isopropyl alcohol due to a shortage of this ingredient .
The letter asks FDA to “ consider allowing compounders further flexibility to meet the consumer need .
For example , allowing pharmacists to exercise professional judgment with the use of food-grade products [ such as from liquor stores ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is supported by a 2020 review article , which found that alcohol-based hand sanitizers which were 60-95 % alcohol were effective at killing germs , given a certain amount of sanitizer was used for 25-30 seconds .
The FDA ’ s conduct throughout this health crisis has been shocking .
We saw how the agency ’ s baffling commitment to bureaucratic red tape knee-capped our ability to deploy timely , widespread testing that could have saved lives .
This hand sanitizer debacle underlines the point : the FDA can not be trusted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Write to the FDA , with a copy to Congress , telling the agency to relent on its strict guidelines for hand sanitizer .
Please send your message immediately .

Once again, the agency refuses to change its mindset in the midst of the pandemic. Action Alert!
Amidst critical shortages of hand sanitizer in online and brick-and-mortar stores, distillers and compounding pharmacies have stepped up to fill in a crucial gap in supply. “Not so fast!” says the FDA. The agency released two policies detailing how these entities should be producing sanitizer. These guidance documents have thwarted the efforts of distillers and compounders to produce hand sanitizer that the nation needs, highlighting once again the ineptitude, bureaucratic stubbornness, and even pettiness of the agency during the COVID-19 crisis.
The FDA’s policy stipulates that distillers use denatured alcohol in their sanitizers. Denatured alcohol is ethanol or grain alcohol that contains denaturants, or additional chemicals that make it unfit for human consumption. According to Matt Dogali, the President and CEO of the American Distilled Spirits Alliance, introducing denatured alcohol into a distillery’s production lines “renders them useless for future alcohol production barring extreme cleaning measures, because we cannot have any remnant of the denaturant in our lines, and then sell a consumable product.”
Distillers, of course, do have ready supplies of undenatured alcohol they are ready and willing to put to use for the production of hand sanitizer. According to a letter from Reps. John Yarmuth (R-KY) and Andy Barr (R-KY) to the FDA asking for flexibility,
Undenatured alcohol is food grade alcohol that is compliant with the [World Health Organization’s] hand sanitizer formula and has the same effectiveness as denatured alcohol. The United States largely differentiates between the two types of alcohol for tax purposes – with undenatured alcohol incurring the distilled spirits Federal Excise Tax (FET) and paid to the federal government.
The senselessness of the FDA’s position hardly needs to be stated.
FDA rules have also restricted the ability of compounding pharmacies to make hand sanitizer. The agency’s guidance stipulates the particular strength of isopropyl alcohol that is permissible while also requiring the use of denatured alcohol. A letter from compounding pharmacists urges the FDA to grant more flexibility to compounders so they can be more helpful in this crisis. Specifically, they ask that the FDA relax its requirement for 75% isopropyl alcohol due to a shortage of this ingredient. The letter asks FDA to “consider allowing compounders further flexibility to meet the consumer need. For example, allowing pharmacists to exercise professional judgment with the use of food-grade products [such as from liquor stores] for compounding hand sanitizers.” This request is supported by a 2020 review article, which found that alcohol-based hand sanitizers which were 60-95% alcohol were effective at killing germs, given a certain amount of sanitizer was used for 25-30 seconds.
The FDA’s conduct throughout this health crisis has been shocking. We saw how the agency’s baffling commitment to bureaucratic red tape knee-capped our ability to deploy timely, widespread testing that could have saved lives. This hand sanitizer debacle underlines the point: the FDA cannot be trusted to protect public health.
Action Alert! Write to the FDA, with a copy to Congress, telling the agency to relent on its strict guidelines for hand sanitizer. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-15--Why Can’t We Talk About Nutrition and Covid?

New Blood Testing Technology is Cheaper , Faster , More Accurate and Less Invasive But will government stifle it ?
@ @ @ @ @ be to get a battery of blood tests for under $ 30 , with no @ @ @ @ @ in hours , not days !
A story that begins with a 19-year-old dropping out @ @ @ @ @ sound like one that will have a happy ending .
But ...

Take Action.
See more regarding nutritional deficiencies and Covid-19.
Join ANH
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alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-15--Government Cronyism Undermines COVID Prevention

Federal policies keep us from learning about the ability of natural medicine to offer protection from COVID-19 .
Action Alert !
As the COVID-19 crisis has unfolded , the health system has focused on finding a pharmaceutical treatment for the COVID-19 virus .
Once found , this treatment will likely be expensive and carry dangerous side effects .
Meanwhile , we ’ re told there ’ s little else we can do other than stay home and wash our hands .
This is not bad advice , but of course ignores the role of low-cost , safe , and effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great effect .
Government policies that throttle natural medicine are causing real harm right now by hampering our ability to take control of our own health during this pandemic .
Longstanding government policies privilege pharmaceutical drugs above natural products , ensuring that drug companies have a monopoly on the healthcare market .
Free speech about natural products ’ benefits is censored by the FDA and the FTC : only FDA-approved drugs can make claims to treat , prevent , mitigate , or diagnose a disease , even if good science supports a range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health claims natural products can make are then severely restricted by the federal government .
The FDA is also directly threatening our supplement access through its “ new dietary ingredient ” ( NDI ) guidance we ’ ve written at length about .
These are not the policies of agencies truly dedicated to promoting public health , but of agencies dedicated to promoting Big Pharma profits .
The FDA and the CDC are surely aware of the millions of Americans who are not receiving the proper amount of micronutrients , and that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health , including chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease : two conditions that make us more susceptible to COVID-19 infection .
This is our crony medical system at work .
Government agencies don ’ t promote natural products to correct imbalances to prevent these chronic diseases when billions can be made for the drug industry in selling prescription drugs for chronic illnesses that patients will take for years on end .
The benefits of natural medicine go beyond preventing chronic disease .
An excellent podcast featuring Jeffrey Bland , PhD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context .
The conventional view of the current health crisis is that a single agent , the COVID-19 virus , is the only culprit .
What ’ s missed is that , for the virus to be able to infect us , it needs to be able to bypass our body ’ s immune defenses .
If the immune system is not resilient , the virus is able to do immense damage .
Our environment , our diet , exercise , how much sleep we get , genetics , and many other factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s defense against viruses and other stressors .
There are also a host of natural medicines that can help rejuvenate our immune systems .
You can visit our COVID-19 page to review some of the highlights of what some of the experts in the field of natural medicine are recommending to fortify our immune systems and offer protection from viral infection .
Note though that there are key differences in approaches to treatment as opposed to prevention .
Prevention strategies are aimed at getting the immune system operating at optimal efficiency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , however , is due to an overactive immune system that produces a “ cytokine storm.
” Some suggest immune-boosting strategies should therefore be used only for prevention , not treatment—you don ’ t want to stimulate an already overactive immune system at more advanced stages of infection .
For treatment , the goal is to reduce inflammation and to down-regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome .
Some nutrients that can be helpful may include resveratrol , curcumin , melatonin , andrographolides , luteolin , and thymoquinone ( from black cumin seed ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-viral or to prevent follow up bacterial infections .
Crucially , evidence has shown that silver hydrosol may be effective against certain strains of coronavirus like SARS .
Potassium appears to be one key nutrient implicated in COVID-19 cases .
Preliminary data show that COVID-19 patients exhibit hypokalemia ( low potassium in the blood ) and that potassium supplementation assisted recovery .
Note that a national survey of 16,444 Americans found that 100 % were not getting the estimated average requirement ( EAR ) of potassium ( EAR is the intake level for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 percent of the population will be met ) .
This critical nutrient could be saving lives , but the government is too busy searching for pharmaceutical interventions that can make drug companies rich .
Many news reports have covered the clinical use and a few small trials of hydroxychloroquine as a Covid-19 treatment .
This drug has many serious potential side effects .
News accounts rarely mention that in the clinical trials it has been combined with the mineral zinc and that the Chloroquine may be helping by getting more zinc into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zinc in general is one of the most important things we can take both to avoid Covid-19 infection and to treat it .
In addition to the supplements that experts recommend , there are general lifestyle considerations to keep in mind to reduce our risk of contracting infection .
• Adequate sleep is key , as studies have shown that less sleep increased the risk of developing rhinovirus associated colds by 350 % .
• Psychological stress reduction is important , as this stress disrupts immune regulation and is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vegetables that are rich in flavonoids is also helpful , as many flavonoids have been found in vitro to down-regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome .
Experts recommend at least 5-7 servings of vegetables and 2-3 servings of fruit daily to deliver a daily repository of flavonoids in an anti-inflammatory diet .
• Research has demonstrated that physical activity improves the body ’ s response to viral infections .
A March 2020 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a greater number of daily steps was associated with lower all-cause morbidity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this topic , in no particular order : There are currently no drugs that can treat COVID-19 infection , but the science tells us that a number of nutrients can help us prevent and perhaps treat the virus .
But companies are barred from telling you of such benefits .
Worse , if the FDA completes its ( NDI ) guidance without significant changes , thousands of products will be swept off store shelves anyway .
It is irresponsible for health authorities not to inform people of natural ways of supporting immunity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 .
The FDA and the medical establishment willfully ignore the benefits of these natural products because they can not make billions for the drug industry , on whose funding the FDA relies .
The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the real harm caused by these policies .
Action Alert !
Write to the FDA and Congress , urging them to stop blocking Americans from learning about the benefits of natural products .
Please send your message immediately .

Federal policies keep us from learning about the ability of natural medicine to offer protection from COVID-19. Action Alert!
As the COVID-19 crisis has unfolded, the health system has focused on finding a pharmaceutical treatment for the COVID-19 virus. Once found, this treatment will likely be expensive and carry dangerous side effects. Meanwhile, we’re told there’s little else we can do other than stay home and wash our hands. This is not bad advice, but of course ignores the role of low-cost, safe, and effective natural medicines that can be used to great effect. Government policies that throttle natural medicine are causing real harm right now by hampering our ability to take control of our own health during this pandemic.
Longstanding government policies privilege pharmaceutical drugs above natural products, ensuring that drug companies have a monopoly on the healthcare market. Free speech about natural products’ benefits is censored by the FDA and the FTC: only FDA-approved drugs can make claims to treat, prevent, mitigate, or diagnose a disease, even if good science supports a range of health benefits for supplements. What health claims natural products can make are then severely restricted by the federal government. The FDA is also directly threatening our supplement access through its “new dietary ingredient” (NDI) guidance we’ve written at length about.
These are not the policies of agencies truly dedicated to promoting public health, but of agencies dedicated to promoting Big Pharma profits.
The FDA and the CDC are surely aware of the millions of Americans who are not receiving the proper amount of micronutrients, and that these inadequacies have profound implications for long term health, including chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: two conditions that make us more susceptible to COVID-19 infection. This is our crony medical system at work. Government agencies don’t promote natural products to correct imbalances to prevent these chronic diseases when billions can be made for the drug industry in selling prescription drugs for chronic illnesses that patients will take for years on end.
The benefits of natural medicine go beyond preventing chronic disease. An excellent podcast featuring Jeffrey Bland, PhD, puts some of these issues into context. The conventional view of the current health crisis is that a single agent, the COVID-19 virus, is the only culprit. What’s missed is that, for the virus to be able to infect us, it needs to be able to bypass our body’s immune defenses. If the immune system is not resilient, the virus is able to do immense damage. Our environment, our diet, exercise, how much sleep we get, genetics, and many other factors help determine the strength of our body’s defense against viruses and other stressors.
There are also a host of natural medicines that can help rejuvenate our immune systems. You can visit our COVID-19 page to review some of the highlights of what some of the experts in the field of natural medicine are recommending to fortify our immune systems and offer protection from viral infection.
Note though that there are key differences in approaches to treatment as opposed to prevention. Prevention strategies are aimed at getting the immune system operating at optimal efficiency. The severe respiratory damage of advanced coronavirus cases, however, is due to an overactive immune system that produces a “cytokine storm.” Some suggest immune-boosting strategies should therefore be used only for prevention, not treatment—you don’t want to stimulate an already overactive immune system at more advanced stages of infection. For treatment, the goal is to reduce inflammation and to down-regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Some nutrients that can be helpful may include resveratrol, curcumin, melatonin, andrographolides, luteolin, and thymoquinone (from black cumin seed). Silver also has its proponents as an anti-viral or to prevent follow up bacterial infections. Crucially, evidence has shown that silver hydrosol may be effective against certain strains of coronavirus like SARS.
Potassium appears to be one key nutrient implicated in COVID-19 cases. Preliminary data show that COVID-19 patients exhibit hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) and that potassium supplementation assisted recovery. Note that a national survey of 16,444 Americans found that 100% were not getting the estimated average requirement (EAR) of potassium (EAR is the intake level for a nutrient at which the needs of 50 percent of the population will be met). This critical nutrient could be saving lives, but the government is too busy searching for pharmaceutical interventions that can make drug companies rich.
Many news reports have covered the clinical use and a few small trials of hydroxychloroquine as a Covid-19 treatment. This drug has many serious potential side effects. News accounts rarely mention that in the clinical trials it has been combined with the mineral zinc and that the Chloroquine may be helping by getting more zinc into certain cells. Some researchers believe that zinc in general is one of the most important things we can take both to avoid Covid-19 infection and to treat it.
In addition to the supplements that experts recommend, there are general lifestyle considerations to keep in mind to reduce our risk of contracting infection.
Adequate sleep is key, as studies have shown that less sleep increased the risk of developing rhinovirus associated colds by 350%.
is key, as have shown that less sleep increased the risk of developing rhinovirus associated colds by 350%. Psychological stress reduction is important, as this stress disrupts immune regulation and is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines.
is important, as this stress and is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables that are rich in flavonoids is also helpful, as many flavonoids have been found in vitro to down-regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Experts recommend at least 5-7 servings of vegetables and 2-3 servings of fruit daily to deliver a daily repository of flavonoids in an anti-inflammatory diet.
that are rich in flavonoids is also helpful, as many flavonoids have been in vitro to down-regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Experts recommend at least 5-7 servings of vegetables and 2-3 servings of fruit daily to deliver a daily repository of flavonoids in an anti-inflammatory diet. Research has demonstrated that physical activity improves the body’s response to viral infections. A March 2020 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a greater number of daily steps was associated with lower all-cause morbidity.
Here are some excellent resources on this topic, in no particular order:
There are currently no drugs that can treat COVID-19 infection, but the science tells us that a number of nutrients can help us prevent and perhaps treat the virus. But companies are barred from telling you of such benefits. Worse, if the FDA completes its (NDI) guidance without significant changes, thousands of products will be swept off store shelves anyway.
It is irresponsible for health authorities not to inform people of natural ways of supporting immunity, especially in the absence of pharmaceutical treatments for COVID-19. The FDA and the medical establishment willfully ignore the benefits of these natural products because they cannot make billions for the drug industry, on whose funding the FDA relies. The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the real harm caused by these policies.
Action Alert! Write to the FDA and Congress, urging them to stop blocking Americans from learning about the benefits of natural products. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-23--EPA Makes Pandemic Worse

EPA Makes Pandemic Worse

By kowtowing to industry , agency actions increase the risk of death from the COVID-19 virus .
Action Alert !
A recent Harvard study found that a small increase in soot air pollution is associated with a 15 % increase in the COVID-19 death rate .
Meanwhile , the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) announced they are waving multiple environmental laws that reduce air pollution for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19 .
Through these actions , the EPA is putting us more at risk from COVID-19 infection , prioritizing polluter profits over public health .
The agency ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just six days after the oil industry asked for regulatory relief during the coronavirus outbreak .
Studies of SARS , another coronavirus , also found that , as air pollution increased , so too did SARS case fatality .
Note that air pollution increases the risk of chronic and acute respiratory diseases , heart disease , cancer , and diabetes ; people with these conditions have a fatality rate from COVID-19 that is 700-1,400 % higher compared to those who don ’ t have these preconditions .
First , the EPA passed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same type of pollution that the Harvard study found increased the COVID-19 death rate .
The EPA ’ s own scientists found that strengthening the rule could save 12,150 people a year .
Who knows how many more deaths on top of these estimates will come about as a result of increased susceptibility to COVID-19 ?
The agency also just completed a rule that will expose us to more mercury and other toxic metals from oil and coal-fired power plants .
Mercury occurs naturally in coal and fossil fuels ; burning these substances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule will bar the EPA from taking secondary public health benefits into account when conducting a cost/benefit analysis for a rule .
The intent of the change is to provide legal justification to weaken mercury emissions rules .
Recall that mercury in any form is toxic .
Organic mercury readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and damages developing nervous tissue .
Children are at the greatest risk , as exposure to methylmercury can impact cognitive thinking , memory , attention , language , motor skills , and spatial skills .
The EPA is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards required an average 5 % reduction in emissions annually from cars and light truck fleets ; the new standard requires just 1.5 % .
According to an analysis from the Environmental Defense Fund , the change will result in a total of 18,500 premature deaths , 25,000 more asthma attacks , 350,000 other respiratory problems , and $ 190 billion in health costs between now and 2050 .
Again , these estimates do not include how many more people will become infected and die from COVID-19 as a result of exposure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stresses our respiratory system and makes us chronically sick , leaving us more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection .
Note too that the most vulnerable are most at risk , as low-income neighborhoods near highways and industrial plants will experience the highest level of exposure .
All of these rollbacks have happened since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US .
This is inexcusable .
Hardly more evidence is needed that the EPA is completely in the pocket of polluters .
This crony capitalism will lead to many preventable deaths that will be on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Write to Congress and the EPA , telling them to reverse these decisions to protect us from more severe COVID 19 infection .
Please send your message immediately .

By kowtowing to industry, agency actions increase the risk of death from the COVID-19 virus. Action Alert!
A recent Harvard study found that a small increase in soot air pollution is associated with a 15% increase in the COVID-19 death rate. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they are waving multiple environmental laws that reduce air pollution for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19. Through these actions, the EPA is putting us more at risk from COVID-19 infection, prioritizing polluter profits over public health.
The agency’s announcement about relaxing environmental standards came just six days after the oil industry asked for regulatory relief during the coronavirus outbreak.
Studies of SARS, another coronavirus, also found that, as air pollution increased, so too did SARS case fatality. Note that air pollution increases the risk of chronic and acute respiratory diseases, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; people with these conditions have a fatality rate from COVID-19 that is 700-1,400% higher compared to those who don’t have these preconditions.
First, the EPA passed up an opportunity to reduce industrial soot emissions—the same type of pollution that the Harvard study found increased the COVID-19 death rate. The EPA’s own scientists found that strengthening the rule could save 12,150 people a year. Who knows how many more deaths on top of these estimates will come about as a result of increased susceptibility to COVID-19?
The agency also just completed a rule that will expose us to more mercury and other toxic metals from oil and coal-fired power plants. Mercury occurs naturally in coal and fossil fuels; burning these substances releases mercury into the atmosphere. The rule will bar the EPA from taking secondary public health benefits into account when conducting a cost/benefit analysis for a rule. The intent of the change is to provide legal justification to weaken mercury emissions rules. Recall that mercury in any form is toxic. Organic mercury readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and damages developing nervous tissue. Children are at the greatest risk, as exposure to methylmercury can impact cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, motor skills, and spatial skills.
The EPA is also rolling back car pollution standards. Old standards required an average 5% reduction in emissions annually from cars and light truck fleets; the new standard requires just 1.5%. According to an analysis from the Environmental Defense Fund, the change will result in a total of 18,500 premature deaths, 25,000 more asthma attacks, 350,000 other respiratory problems, and $190 billion in health costs between now and 2050. Again, these estimates do not include how many more people will become infected and die from COVID-19 as a result of exposure to additional air pollution.
Air pollution clearly stresses our respiratory system and makes us chronically sick, leaving us more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Note too that the most vulnerable are most at risk, as low-income neighborhoods near highways and industrial plants will experience the highest level of exposure.
All of these rollbacks have happened since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US. This is inexcusable. Hardly more evidence is needed that the EPA is completely in the pocket of polluters. This crony capitalism will lead to many preventable deaths that will be on the agency’s hands.
Action Alert! Write to Congress and the EPA, telling them to reverse these decisions to protect us from more severe COVID 19 infection. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-23--Media Bungles COVID-19 Prevention

Media Bungles COVID-19 Prevention

…by once again telling us supplements are useless .
This irresponsible reporting has to stop .
Action Alert !
Mainstream media outlets have come out swinging at the idea that supplements can help you during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The takeaway from these articles is that there isn ’ t anything we can do to protect ourselves until a pharmaceutical intervention is developed .
This couldn ’ t be further from the truth .
A BBC article makes much out of claims that cayenne pepper , green tea , kombucha , and , most bizarre of all , masturbation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide protection against COVID-19 .
“ Unfortunately , ” the author concludes , “ the idea that pills , trendy superfoods or wellness habits can provide a shortcut to a healthy immune system is a myth.
” Similarly , a New York Times headline reads : Supplements for Coronavirus Probably Won ’ t Help , and May Harm .
A key contention made by the BBC article is that supplementing isn ’ t helpful unless you have a deficiency .
The article asserts that most people in the “ developed ” world get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their diet , but this is simply false .
Consider that 92 % of Americans have a vitamin deficiency .
Large studies have confirmed that most Americans are lacking in important micronutrients .
A national survey of over 16,000 people found high percentages of Americans were not meeting the estimated average requirements ( EARs ) – the intake level for a nutrient at which the needs of 50 percent of the population will be met .
Crucially , the survey found that almost 95 % of Americans did not meet the EAR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the immune system relies on micronutrients , and that supplements can help deliver these nutrients .
One study compared supplementation consisting of multivitamins alone , vitamin A alone , or both with placebo in women in Tanzania , Africa who had HIV infection .
The study found that women who received the multivitamin were less likely to progress to advanced stages of HIV disease .
A review article found that micronutrient inadequacies can result in a reduced ability to fight infections and impaired cognitive function .
Other research shows that micronutrient inadequacies may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chronic diseases like cancer , cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes—which are comorbidities for COVID-19 .
Practitioners of natural medicine understand this and advise patients to address their particular deficiencies with proper supplementation .
This sensible advice runs against a pervasive media narrative that claims nutritional “ silver bullets ” don ’ t work , mock supplements , and tell us they ’ re useless .
There are a number of other points brought up by these articles that should be addressed : • The BBC article describes the vitamin C market as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t shared by the scientists and researchers who are studying the use of vitamin C in combination with other supplements for the treatment of COVID-19—there are in fact ten clinical trials looking at vitamin C ’ s efficacy as a treatment for COVID-19 ; intravenous vitamin C is also being used in New York hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients .
• The NYT article calls out colloidal silver , but there is evidence for silver ’ s effect on bacteria and even viruses .
• The BBC article highlights green tea as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yet a compound found in green tea , epigallocatechin-gallate ( EGCG ) enhances the entry of zinc into cells , much like the highly touted drug chloroquine .
Quercetin is another natural compound that helps zinc enter cells .
Experts say zinc has been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus replication .
Our COVID-19 page lists many other supplements that can be helpful for prevention and treatment during this pandemic .
The author of the BBC piece seems to fundamentally misunderstand—or be uninterested in understanding—a functional medicine approach to rejuvenating immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to strengthen or “ boost ” certain immune responses , like a fever or mucus production .
But the point made by functional medicine experts is that the immune systems of many people are not operating at full capacity because of a lack of micronutrients , environmental exposures , and many other factors .
The point is to correct these many imbalances so the body ’ s natural defenses can do their work—not to send these processes into overdrive so we have more mucus or a higher fever .
( Note though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the activity of natural killer cells and T cells . )
Our environment , our diet , exercise , how much sleep we get , genetics , and many other factors help determine the strength of our body ’ s defense against viruses and other stressors .
Ensuring that we have optimized our levels of a variety of vitamins and minerals is one aspect of shoring up our immune defenses against viral infection .
To suggest otherwise is to compromise our health and keep us in a system that treats sick people rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have long made a punching bag out of supplements and natural health , but the stakes are much higher during this pandemic .
It is irresponsible to tell people that supplements can ’ t help , particularly at a time when people should be empowered to take proactive steps to protect their health .
Action Alert !
Write to the NYT and BBC editorial boards , telling them to issue corrections to these factually inaccurate articles .
Please send your message immediately .

…by once again telling us supplements are useless. This irresponsible reporting has to stop. Action Alert!
Mainstream media outlets have come out swinging at the idea that supplements can help you during the COVID-19 pandemic. The takeaway from these articles is that there isn’t anything we can do to protect ourselves until a pharmaceutical intervention is developed. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
A BBC article makes much out of claims that cayenne pepper, green tea, kombucha, and, most bizarre of all, masturbation, can “boost” immunity” and provide protection against COVID-19. “Unfortunately,” the author concludes, “the idea that pills, trendy superfoods or wellness habits can provide a shortcut to a healthy immune system is a myth.” Similarly, a New York Times headline reads: Supplements for Coronavirus Probably Won’t Help, and May Harm.
A key contention made by the BBC article is that supplementing isn’t helpful unless you have a deficiency. The article asserts that most people in the “developed” world get most of the essential vitamins and minerals from their diet, but this is simply false. Consider that 92% of Americans have a vitamin deficiency. Large studies have confirmed that most Americans are lacking in important micronutrients. A national survey of over 16,000 people found high percentages of Americans were not meeting the estimated average requirements (EARs)– the intake level for a nutrient at which the needs of 50 percent of the population will be met. Crucially, the survey found that almost 95% of Americans did not meet the EAR for vitamin D.
Studies have shown that the immune system relies on micronutrients, and that supplements can help deliver these nutrients. One study compared supplementation consisting of multivitamins alone, vitamin A alone, or both with placebo in women in Tanzania, Africa who had HIV infection. The study found that women who received the multivitamin were less likely to progress to advanced stages of HIV disease. A review article found that micronutrient inadequacies can result in a reduced ability to fight infections and impaired cognitive function. Other research shows that micronutrient inadequacies may impact long-term health, increasing risk for chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes—which are comorbidities for COVID-19.
Practitioners of natural medicine understand this and advise patients to address their particular deficiencies with proper supplementation. This sensible advice runs against a pervasive media narrative that claims nutritional “silver bullets” don’t work, mock supplements, and tell us they’re useless.
There are a number of other points brought up by these articles that should be addressed:
The BBC article describes the vitamin C market as a “racket.” This view isn’t shared by the scientists and researchers who are studying the use of vitamin C in combination with other supplements for the treatment of COVID-19—there are in fact ten clinical trials looking at vitamin C’s efficacy as a treatment for COVID-19; intravenous vitamin C is also being used in New York hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients.
looking at vitamin C’s efficacy as a treatment for COVID-19; intravenous vitamin C is also being used in New York hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients. The NYT article calls out colloidal silver, but there is evidence for silver’s effect on bacteria and even viruses .
for silver’s effect on and even . The BBC article highlights green tea as an outlandish example of natural health advice. Yet a compound found in green tea, epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) enhances the entry of zinc into cells, much like the highly touted drug chloroquine. Quercetin is another natural compound that helps zinc enter cells. Experts say zinc has been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus replication.
Our COVID-19 page lists many other supplements that can be helpful for prevention and treatment during this pandemic.
The author of the BBC piece seems to fundamentally misunderstand—or be uninterested in understanding—a functional medicine approach to rejuvenating immunity, writing that you wouldn’t want to strengthen or “boost” certain immune responses, like a fever or mucus production. But the point made by functional medicine experts is that the immune systems of many people are not operating at full capacity because of a lack of micronutrients, environmental exposures, and many other factors. The point is to correct these many imbalances so the body’s natural defenses can do their work—not to send these processes into overdrive so we have more mucus or a higher fever. (Note though that some supplements do in fact support the activity of natural killer cells and T cells.)
Our environment, our diet, exercise, how much sleep we get, genetics, and many other factors help determine the strength of our body’s defense against viruses and other stressors. Ensuring that we have optimized our levels of a variety of vitamins and minerals is one aspect of shoring up our immune defenses against viral infection. To suggest otherwise is to compromise our health and keep us in a system that treats sick people rather than maintaining healthy people. Mainstream journalists have long made a punching bag out of supplements and natural health, but the stakes are much higher during this pandemic. It is irresponsible to tell people that supplements can’t help, particularly at a time when people should be empowered to take proactive steps to protect their health.
Action Alert! Write to the NYT and BBC editorial boards, telling them to issue corrections to these factually inaccurate articles. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-23--FDA Still Restricting COVID-19 Testing

FDA Still Restricting COVID-19 Testing

The agency is delaying deployment of serological testing with more red tape .
When will this end ?
Action Alert !
The FDA is blocking COVID-19 testing at point-of-care facilities such as doctors ’ offices and clinics , and instead insisting that , in many cases , they be performed at “ high complexity labs , ” of which there are only a very few nationwide .
This is yet another unfortunate example of the FDA ’ s complete lack of flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic .
This agency needs to stop getting in the way of widespread testing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few weeks ago how the FDA and CDC bungled the deployment of widespread testing at the outset of the pandemic .
When Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency , new rules kicked in that made it harder for labs and hospitals to develop their own COVID-19 diagnostic tests .
Labs needed to receive an Emergency Use Authorization ( EUA ) —in essence , pre-approval—from the FDA to deploy COVID-19 tests .
It was only later that the agency released a policy that allowed companies to develop and offer these tests while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as not to waste any more valuable time .
The FDA ’ s policy included serological tests , which measure the amount of antibodies present in the blood when the body is responding to a specific infection such as COVID-19 .
The benefit of serological tests is that they are simple to conduct and give rapid results , sometimes in 15 minutes .
The RT-PCR tests that are meant to detect viral DNA can take hours to days .
There have been issues with the accuracy of the tests being deployed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but does not diminish the importance of widespread testing .
South Korea used a similar RT-PCR test that is used in the US , yet large scale testing is widely regarded as a key pillar of South Korea ’ s successful and rapid response to the pandemic .
The FDA ’ s policy allowed companies to begin offering serological tests , both in labs and at point of care , while waiting for the FDA ’ s approval of the EUA as long as certain conditions were met .
In subsequent statements , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more red tape .
The FDA policy mentioned above , the agency explains , was silent about the status of these tests under the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act ( CLIA ) .
CLIA requires that “ high complexity ” tests be performed in high complexity labs unless the test is waived .
The FDA further states that all tests offered under the new policies are high complexity by default until or unless they are deemed otherwise through an EUA or general FDA review process .
The point is this : serological tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at point of care can only be performed in high complexity labs .
Only after an EUA for a point of care serological test is approved by the FDA can the test be conducted outside of a high complexity lab .
Almost at every turn , the federal government is putting its incompetence and costly commitment to bureaucracy on full display .
The FDA and other government health agencies are making it harder to get COVID-19 testing at locations where it would be most beneficial and convenient .
The first at-home test was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies were ready to offer them but destroyed samples they had collected due to FDA intimidation .
The agency is blocking distillers and compounders from making hand sanitizer during a shortage .
The FDA is also blocking us from learning about the benefits of natural medicine to deal with the pandemic .
This is damaging to public health even in normal circumstances , much less a pandemic .
This agency must be reined in .
Action Alert !
Write to the FDA and Congress , telling them to stop blocking access to serological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The agency is delaying deployment of serological testing with more red tape. When will this end? Action Alert!
The FDA is blocking COVID-19 testing at point-of-care facilities such as doctors’ offices and clinics, and instead insisting that, in many cases, they be performed at “high complexity labs,” of which there are only a very few nationwide. This is yet another unfortunate example of the FDA’s complete lack of flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. This agency needs to stop getting in the way of widespread testing with excessive red tape.
We detailed a few weeks ago how the FDA and CDC bungled the deployment of widespread testing at the outset of the pandemic. When Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency, new rules kicked in that made it harder for labs and hospitals to develop their own COVID-19 diagnostic tests. Labs needed to receive an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)—in essence, pre-approval—from the FDA to deploy COVID-19 tests. It was only later that the agency released a policy that allowed companies to develop and offer these tests while they awaited approval of the EUA so as not to waste any more valuable time.
The FDA’s policy included serological tests, which measure the amount of antibodies present in the blood when the body is responding to a specific infection such as COVID-19. The benefit of serological tests is that they are simple to conduct and give rapid results, sometimes in 15 minutes. The RT-PCR tests that are meant to detect viral DNA can take hours to days. There have been issues with the accuracy of the tests being deployed in the US. This is certainly problematic, but does not diminish the importance of widespread testing. South Korea used a similar RT-PCR test that is used in the US, yet large scale testing is widely regarded as a key pillar of South Korea’s successful and rapid response to the pandemic.
The FDA’s policy allowed companies to begin offering serological tests, both in labs and at point of care, while waiting for the FDA’s approval of the EUA as long as certain conditions were met.
In subsequent statements, however, the FDA hit serological tests with more red tape. The FDA policy mentioned above, the agency explains, was silent about the status of these tests under the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act (CLIA). CLIA requires that “high complexity” tests be performed in high complexity labs unless the test is waived. The FDA further states that all tests offered under the new policies are high complexity by default until or unless they are deemed otherwise through an EUA or general FDA review process.
The point is this: serological tests developed to be used by healthcare workers at point of care can only be performed in high complexity labs. Only after an EUA for a point of care serological test is approved by the FDA can the test be conducted outside of a high complexity lab.
Almost at every turn, the federal government is putting its incompetence and costly commitment to bureaucracy on full display. The FDA and other government health agencies are making it harder to get COVID-19 testing at locations where it would be most beneficial and convenient. The first at-home test was finally approved by the FDA weeks after companies were ready to offer them but destroyed samples they had collected due to FDA intimidation. The agency is blocking distillers and compounders from making hand sanitizer during a shortage. The FDA is also blocking us from learning about the benefits of natural medicine to deal with the pandemic. This is damaging to public health even in normal circumstances, much less a pandemic. This agency must be reined in.
Action Alert! Write to the FDA and Congress, telling them to stop blocking access to serological tests. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-23--Poor Journalism Exacerbates Covid

Poor Journalism Exacerbates Covid

And we wonder why health care costs are so high .
Action Alert !
Researchers using government funds have found @ @ @ @ @ an old prescription drug to prevent HIV infection .
But once again , the government @ @ @ @ @ to reap the benefits of publicly- ...

Send letters to NYT and BBC
See more regarding nutritional deficiencies and Covid-19.
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alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-30--As Drug Failures for COVID Mount, Feds Ignore Natural Options

Many COVID drugs are failing .
Natural medicine may hold the key—but can government cronyism be overcome ?
Action Alert !
A large analysis has found that antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine had no benefit for COVID patients , causing more deaths than standard care .
Other pharmaceutical treatments are also turning out to be useless .
Remdesivir is being touted by Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , but this is likely due to pressure to come up with a drug of the moment ; some evidence has shown the drug has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural medicines like zinc , quercetin , and potassium could help , sometimes in conjunction with drugs , but the government refuses to acknowledge these benefits because nutrients aren ’ t as profitable for drug companies .
While hydroxychloroquine may be ineffective on its own , there are trials that have combined the drug with zinc .
Zinc inhibits viral activity , but it is difficult to get high levels of zinc into cells .
Hydroxychloroquine may help by aiding zinc ’ s entry into cells .
Studies show quercetin may also do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toxic side effects .
Some researchers believe that zinc in general is one of the most important things we can take both to avoid Covid-19 infection and treat it .
Hydroxychloroquine comes with the usual laundry list of dangerous side effects , while quercetin could help prevent heart damage along with many other benefits .
Research indicates that many other natural medicines could help prevent or treat COVID-19 .
• It is known that big viruses rapidly exhaust potassium levels , which can be fatal .
A Chinese study has confirmed this for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( vitamin C injected into veins ) with reported good results and began clinical trials .
New York State ’ s largest hospital system , Northwell Health , also began using IVC but at relatively low doses ( 4.5 to 6 grams ) compared to the doses used in cancer trials .
• Vitamin D is a key immune system regulator .
People with especially low D are more vulnerable to Covid-19 .
• Many supplements ( curcumin , resveratrol , luteolin etc . )
are candidates to help control the cytokine storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not being tested for this use .
• Other supplements ( oregano oil , monolaurin ) are candidates to attack the viral capsule but are also unlikely ever to be tested for this use .
• Viruses cloak themselves from the immune system using a substance called nagalase .
Some supplements , especially probiotics , are candidates to help control nagalase but are also unlikely to be tested for this use .
• Silver is acknowledged to be a bacteria killer that has been able to clean up drinking water in the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies making any medical claims for silver .
Under current law , they have the right to do that , but in the process these agencies are stating that silver has no medical role , which is not consistent with the known facts .
Silver is definitely effective against bacteria .
What is needed is more testing of whether and how silver can be used against viruses .
• Other supplements , like the herb Andrographis paniculate , are candidates to interfere with enzymes needed by the virus to reproduce but are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use .
More information can be found at our COVID 411 page .
There ’ s a theme here .
Low-cost , safe , and effective natural medicines are largely ignored by the government and the medical community , instead focusing on pharmaceutical treatments that can be more easily patented and made profitable for drug companies .
People are getting sick and dying .
We can not afford to ignore natural treatments that can save lives during and beyond this pandemic .
This is the moment to bring this message to every legislator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the state level .
Will you help us do this ?
If every reader of this message takes action now , we can get legislators ’ attention .
This is the moment .
Please help us .
Action Alert !
Send a message to your state and federal representatives , telling them that there are vitally important nutritional strategies to deal with COVID .
Please send your message immediately .

Many COVID drugs are failing. Natural medicine may hold the key—but can government cronyism be overcome? Action Alert!
A large analysis has found that antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine had no benefit for COVID patients, causing more deaths than standard care. Other pharmaceutical treatments are also turning out to be useless. Remdesivir is being touted by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, but this is likely due to pressure to come up with a drug of the moment; some evidence has shown the drug has no benefit. Emerging evidence suggests that natural medicines like zinc, quercetin, and potassium could help, sometimes in conjunction with drugs, but the government refuses to acknowledge these benefits because nutrients aren’t as profitable for drug companies.
While hydroxychloroquine may be ineffective on its own, there are trials that have combined the drug with zinc. Zinc inhibits viral activity, but it is difficult to get high levels of zinc into cells. Hydroxychloroquine may help by aiding zinc’s entry into cells. Studies show quercetin may also do what chloroquine does with zinc but without toxic side effects. Some researchers believe that zinc in general is one of the most important things we can take both to avoid Covid-19 infection and treat it. Hydroxychloroquine comes with the usual laundry list of dangerous side effects, while quercetin could help prevent heart damage along with many other benefits.
Research indicates that many other natural medicines could help prevent or treat COVID-19.
It is known that big viruses rapidly exhaust potassium levels, which can be fatal. A Chinese study has confirmed this for Covid-19.
has confirmed this for Covid-19. The Chinese used IVC (vitamin C injected into veins) with reported good results and began clinical trials . New York State’s largest hospital system, Northwell Health, also began using IVC but at relatively low doses (4.5 to 6 grams) compared to the doses used in cancer trials.
. New York State’s largest hospital system, Northwell Health, also but at relatively low doses (4.5 to 6 grams) compared to the doses used in cancer trials. Vitamin D is a key immune system regulator . People with especially low D are more vulnerable to Covid-19.
. People with especially low D are to Covid-19. Many supplements (curcumin, resveratrol, luteolin etc.) are candidates to help control the cytokine storm that may kill Covid-19 patients but are not being tested for this use.
to help control the cytokine storm that may kill Covid-19 patients but are not being tested for this use. Other supplements ( oregano oil , monolaurin ) are candidates to attack the viral capsule but are also unlikely ever to be tested for this use.
, ) are candidates to attack the viral capsule but are also unlikely ever to be tested for this use. Viruses cloak themselves from the immune system using a substance called nagalase . Some supplements, especially probiotics , are candidates to help control nagalase but are also unlikely to be tested for this use.
. Some supplements, , are candidates to help control nagalase but are also unlikely to be tested for this use. Silver is acknowledged to be a bacteria killer that has been able to clean up drinking water in the third world. The feds are moving against companies making any medical claims for silver. Under current law, they have the right to do that, but in the process these agencies are stating that silver has no medical role, which is not consistent with the known facts. Silver is definitely effective against bacteria. What is needed is more testing of whether and how silver can be used against viruses.
in the third world. The feds are companies making any medical claims for silver. Under current law, they have the right to do that, but in the process these agencies are stating that silver has no medical role, which is not consistent with the known facts. Silver is against bacteria. What is needed is more testing of whether and how silver can be used against viruses. Other supplements, like the herb Andrographis paniculate, are candidates to interfere with enzymes needed by the virus to reproduce but are also unlikely ever to be tested for this use.
More information can be found at our COVID 411 page.
There’s a theme here. Low-cost, safe, and effective natural medicines are largely ignored by the government and the medical community, instead focusing on pharmaceutical treatments that can be more easily patented and made profitable for drug companies.
People are getting sick and dying. We cannot afford to ignore natural treatments that can save lives during and beyond this pandemic. This is the moment to bring this message to every legislator in America, both in Congress and at the state level. Will you help us do this? If every reader of this message takes action now, we can get legislators’ attention. This is the moment. Please help us.
Action Alert! Send a message to your state and federal representatives, telling them that there are vitally important nutritional strategies to deal with COVID. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-30--Are Ventilators Killing People?

Are Ventilators Killing People?

Many are now questioning the usefulness of ventilators for COVID-19 patients , suggesting they might cause more harm than good .
This may be because the paradigm by which doctors are treating the disease is wrong .
Simply put , hospitals around the country are operating from the assumption that COVID-19 infection causes respiratory failure in which a ventilator is needed to do the work that the patient ’ s muscles normally do .
But there is an emerging theory that oxygen failure is the problem , that it is as if patients have been placed at high altitudes without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is true , increasing pressure on the lungs to open them up actually hurts the patient even more .
Similar observations have been made by doctors in Europe .
This may help explain the 90 % mortality rate for intubated patients that has been recorded in the New York City area .
Some doctors are contemplating hyperbaric oxygen therapy ( HBOT ) in sick COVID patients to prevent intubation , and there are indeed a number of clinical trials underway to assess HBOT ’ s viability for treating COVID patients .
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t mean ventilators wouldn ’ t be used .
They are still useful for standard pneumonia , which COVID-19 is not .
Separately , in another of a long list of failures , federal actions have resulted in fewer of these machines being available to hospitals and clinics across the country Years ago , the federal government began contracting with private companies to produce smaller , cheaper ventilators to have on hand in the event of a pandemic .
The company that eventually developed the ventilator hasn ’ t delivered a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling the model at a huge markup overseas .
The feds also failed to maintain the ventilators they already had stockpiled for emergency use , rendering thousands of them unusable .
This is yet another example of the shocking ineptitude of our federal government during this pandemic .
Five years ago , a division of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) contracted with multinational company Philips N.V. to create a low-cost , portable , and easy-to-use ventilator in order to better prepare the US for a pandemic .
The FDA approved Philips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered 10,000 of the ventilators for $ 3,280 each to be delivered by September 2022 .
The contract gave Philips a year before they had to produce a single ventilator for the government .
Then a global pandemic hit , and the ventilator designed with taxpayer money is selling like hot-cakes—just not to the US government .
After getting FDA approval , Philips began selling commercial versions of the ventilator to overseas customers at a huge markup for $ 17,154 .
Meanwhile , the company apparently has “ no plan ” to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
ProPublica reporting described HHS as “ remarkably deferential to Philips—and never more so than in the current pandemic.
” HHS officials have yet to explain why they haven ’ t forced Philips to accelerate the fulfillment of the government contract when it became clear that medical facilities were getting overwhelmed and there was a shortage of ventilators .
HHS is apparently happy to let Philips make a killing off of a taxpayer-funded ventilator while healthcare workers scramble and adjust to crippling shortages .
This isn ’ t the only government fumble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have reported to HHS that ventilators they received from the agency didn ’ t work .
This was reportedly due to the fact that the government ’ s stockpile was not properly maintained ; the contract with a company that was maintaining the ventilators had expired in the summer of 2019 , and another company wasn ’ t given the job of maintaining the government stockpile until January 2020 , when the US was already in the grips of the pandemic .
This lapse likely rendered many of the machines inoperable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sensitive and can not be stored for prolonged periods without maintenance .
The government ’ s failure to provide ventilators to hospitals may have inadvertently and ironically saved lives , but this and all the wrong moves that prevented COVID tests being available illustrates why government is not qualified to run healthcare .
The primary virtue of private enterprise is that falling profits and bankruptcy eventually weed out poor performance .
Government programs never die , no matter how badly run .
Worse , private companies make deals with government to keep themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which we see throughout the medical system .
Today ’ s pandemic is a moment to admit failure and not just to accept it , but to do something about it .
In particular we need to bring back natural medicine despite the fierce opposition of crony capitalist interests in Big Pharma , hospitals , and insurers , backed by allies in government .
Action Alert !
Send a message to your state and federal representatives , telling them that there are vitally important nutritional strategies to deal with COVID .
Please @ @ @ @ @

Emerging evidence suggests they are. Action Alert!
Many are now questioning the usefulness of ventilators for COVID-19 patients, suggesting they might cause more harm than good. This may be because the paradigm by which doctors are treating the disease is wrong. Simply put, hospitals around the country are operating from the assumption that COVID-19 infection causes respiratory failure in which a ventilator is needed to do the work that the patient’s muscles normally do. But there is an emerging theory that oxygen failure is the problem, that it is as if patients have been placed at high altitudes without being able to acclimate. If this is true, increasing pressure on the lungs to open them up actually hurts the patient even more. Similar observations have been made by doctors in Europe. This may help explain the 90% mortality rate for intubated patients that has been recorded in the New York City area.
Some doctors are contemplating hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in sick COVID patients to prevent intubation, and there are indeed a number of clinical trials underway to assess HBOT’s viability for treating COVID patients.
If the emerging theory is correct, it doesn’t mean ventilators wouldn’t be used. They are still useful for standard pneumonia, which COVID-19 is not.
Separately, in another of a long list of failures, federal actions have resulted in fewer of these machines being available to hospitals and clinics across the country
Years ago, the federal government began contracting with private companies to produce smaller, cheaper ventilators to have on hand in the event of a pandemic. The company that eventually developed the ventilator hasn’t delivered a single one to the government and is instead selling the model at a huge markup overseas. The feds also failed to maintain the ventilators they already had stockpiled for emergency use, rendering thousands of them unusable. This is yet another example of the shocking ineptitude of our federal government during this pandemic.
Five years ago, a division of Health and Human Services (HHS) contracted with multinational company Philips N.V. to create a low-cost, portable, and easy-to-use ventilator in order to better prepare the US for a pandemic. The FDA approved Philips’ design in 2019, and HHS ordered 10,000 of the ventilators for $3,280 each to be delivered by September 2022. The contract gave Philips a year before they had to produce a single ventilator for the government.
Then a global pandemic hit, and the ventilator designed with taxpayer money is selling like hot-cakes—just not to the US government. After getting FDA approval, Philips began selling commercial versions of the ventilator to overseas customers at a huge markup for $17,154. Meanwhile, the company apparently has “no plan” to begin production of the government-ordered ventilators anytime this year.
ProPublica reporting described HHS as “remarkably deferential to Philips—and never more so than in the current pandemic.” HHS officials have yet to explain why they haven’t forced Philips to accelerate the fulfillment of the government contract when it became clear that medical facilities were getting overwhelmed and there was a shortage of ventilators. HHS is apparently happy to let Philips make a killing off of a taxpayer-funded ventilator while healthcare workers scramble and adjust to crippling shortages.
This isn’t the only government fumble when it comes to ventilators. State officials have reported to HHS that ventilators they received from the agency didn’t work. This was reportedly due to the fact that the government’s stockpile was not properly maintained; the contract with a company that was maintaining the ventilators had expired in the summer of 2019, and another company wasn’t given the job of maintaining the government stockpile until January 2020, when the US was already in the grips of the pandemic. This lapse likely rendered many of the machines inoperable, as experts say that these machines are sensitive and cannot be stored for prolonged periods without maintenance.
The government’s failure to provide ventilators to hospitals may have inadvertently and ironically saved lives, but this and all the wrong moves that prevented COVID tests being available illustrates why government is not qualified to run healthcare.
The primary virtue of private enterprise is that falling profits and bankruptcy eventually weed out poor performance. Government programs never die, no matter how badly run. Worse, private companies make deals with government to keep themselves alive through crony capitalist subsidies and monopolies, which we see throughout the medical system.
Today’s pandemic is a moment to admit failure and not just to accept it, but to do something about it. In particular we need to bring back natural medicine despite the fierce opposition of crony capitalist interests in Big Pharma, hospitals, and insurers, backed by allies in government.
Action Alert! Send a message to your state and federal representatives, telling them that there are vitally important nutritional strategies to deal with COVID. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-04-30--EPA Approves Known Carcinogen

EPA Approves Known Carcinogen

Hint : it ’ s not glyphosate , but another cancer-causing herbicide .
Action Alert !
After sidestepping the normal public comment process , the EPA has approved a pesticide called isoxaflutole , which the agency has determined likely causes cancer , to be sprayed in 25 states .
Nor is it the first time the agency has flouted the Administrative Procedures Act ( APA ) to approve dangerous chemicals .
Once again , the EPA demonstrates that it cares more about industry profits than public health .
Isoxaflutole has been approved for use on genetically modified soybeans which have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemical is already used on corn in 33 states , despite having been linked by the EPA to cancer and liver damage .
It ’ s also known to drift more than a thousand feet from where it is sprayed , threatening nearby crops and back yards .
One of the most stunning aspects of this action is how the EPA ignored the normal public comment process to approve this herbicide .
Normally the public is given notice and a chance to voice concerns through an official process .
This time , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ public comment ” period was initiated but not listed in the Federal Register—where the public is able to learn about such actions .
Instead , the EPA actively solicited feedback from herbicide and industrial farming interests .
Unsurprisingly , all 54 comments to the docket praised the EPA ’ s decision and encouraged broader use of the herbicide .
This outrageous action by the EPA will expose more Americans to dangerous chemicals , both through the air and through food .
Cancer is a comorbidity for COVID-19 .
We also know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EPA has made much worse , makes us susceptible to COVID-19 infection .
What is the EPA thinking ?
Unfortunately , this isn ’ t the first time the EPA has ignored the public comment process to approve a dangerous chemical .
The agency did the same thing when it re-approved and expanded the use of sulfoxaflor , a bee-killing neonicotinoid insecticide , even though this approval was eventually thrown out after a court decided the EPA based its decision on flawed data .
The EPA also failed to notify the public when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medically important antibiotic streptomycin on citrus crops in Florida and California this year .
Clearly the EPA can not be trusted to put public health over industry interests .
We must fight back against this appalling action .
Action Alert !
Tell the EPA to reverse its approval of isoxaflutole and to stop sidestepping the APA .
Please send your message immediately .

Hint: it’s not glyphosate, but another cancer-causing herbicide. Action Alert!
After sidestepping the normal public comment process, the EPA has approved a pesticide called isoxaflutole, which the agency has determined likely causes cancer, to be sprayed in 25 states. Nor is it the first time the agency has flouted the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) to approve dangerous chemicals. Once again, the EPA demonstrates that it cares more about industry profits than public health.
Isoxaflutole has been approved for use on genetically modified soybeans which have been altered to withstand it. The chemical is already used on corn in 33 states, despite having been linked by the EPA to cancer and liver damage. It’s also known to drift more than a thousand feet from where it is sprayed, threatening nearby crops and back yards.
One of the most stunning aspects of this action is how the EPA ignored the normal public comment process to approve this herbicide. Normally the public is given notice and a chance to voice concerns through an official process. This time, the EPA conducted a sham process by which a “public comment” period was initiated but not listed in the Federal Register—where the public is able to learn about such actions. Instead, the EPA actively solicited feedback from herbicide and industrial farming interests. Unsurprisingly, all 54 comments to the docket praised the EPA’s decision and encouraged broader use of the herbicide.
This outrageous action by the EPA will expose more Americans to dangerous chemicals, both through the air and through food. Cancer is a comorbidity for COVID-19. We also know that more air pollution, which the EPA has made much worse, makes us susceptible to COVID-19 infection. What is the EPA thinking?
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time the EPA has ignored the public comment process to approve a dangerous chemical. The agency did the same thing when it re-approved and expanded the use of sulfoxaflor, a bee-killing neonicotinoid insecticide, even though this approval was eventually thrown out after a court decided the EPA based its decision on flawed data. The EPA also failed to notify the public when it approved an emergency use of the medically important antibiotic streptomycin on citrus crops in Florida and California this year.
Clearly the EPA cannot be trusted to put public health over industry interests. We must fight back against this appalling action.
Action Alert! Tell the EPA to reverse its approval of isoxaflutole and to stop sidestepping the APA. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-05-07--NIH’s Failing COVID Study Strategy

NIH’s Failing COVID Study Strategy

Cronyism is standing in the way of natural COVID-19 prevention .
Action Alert !
There are no drugs for preventing COVID-19 , so the government says almost nothing about prevention except for social distancing while our economy suffers .
There are many indications , however , that nutrients and lifestyle approaches can help protect us from this virus .
The “ problem ” is that these approaches don ’ t make billions for the drug companies , so the government doesn ’ t care .
We must demand research into nutritional strategies to prevent COVID-19 infection .
We know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases have no symptoms .
The question is , why ?
Why do these people have no symptoms , while others get very sick and die ?
There are some clues : • Data show that dietary selenium is linked with COVID-19 outcomes : a study found that patients in areas with high levels of selenium were more likely to recover from the virus , while places with lower selenium intake had a death rate five times higher .
• Research has also shown that low vitamin D is linked with worse COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vitamin D level was below 30 nmol/L , which is considered severe deficiency , had more COVID-19 cases .
• Multivitamins also have been shown to protect against devastating viruses .
One study compared supplementation consisting of multivitamins alone , vitamin A alone , or both with placebo in women in Tanzania , Africa who had HIV infection .
The study found that women who received the multivitamin were less likely to progress to advanced stages of HIV disease .
• A third of patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have at least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID patients in New York found that 60 % had high blood pressure , 40 % were obese , and a third had diabetes .
All of these conditions are amenable to nutritional and lifestyle prevention and interventions .
• We also know that research has tied micronutrient inadequacies to long-term health consequences , increasing our risk for chronic diseases like cancer , cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes—which are comorbidities for COVID-19 .
• Drugs like proton pump inhibitors can increase the likelihood of serious infection with COVID-19 .
Research into these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ COVID-19 fitness exam ” that tells us how at risk we are .
This is what a well-functioning health system would do : help Americans protect themselves and reduce COVID casualties by conducting research into prevention .
But we do not have such a system ; we have a crony capitalist system .
Preventive strategies that include nutrients will make no one rich , so the government , which works closely with Big Pharma , doesn ’ t study them .
As we ’ ll see in further coverage this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patent protection and drug exclusivity , is now being pushed as the new standard of care .
We ’ re also seeing drug pricing for COVID treatments skyrocket .
The point is that there is a lot of money to be made by the drug companies during this pandemic , and natural options that can prevent infection and thus reduce the need for expensive drugs are a direct threat to Big Pharma ’ s bottom line .
Without a strong consumer voice calling for government health agencies like the National Institutes of Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevention strategies , it will not happen .
Visit our COVID-411 page for other information on natural prevention and treatment of COVID-19 .
Action Alert !
Write to NIH , with a copy to Congress , telling them to study nutritional prevention strategies to protect us from COVID-19 .
Please send your message immediately .

Cronyism is standing in the way of natural COVID-19 prevention. Action Alert!
There are no drugs for preventing COVID-19, so the government says almost nothing about prevention except for social distancing while our economy suffers. There are many indications, however, that nutrients and lifestyle approaches can help protect us from this virus. The “problem” is that these approaches don’t make billions for the drug companies, so the government doesn’t care. We must demand research into nutritional strategies to prevent COVID-19 infection.
We know that as many as 50% of COVID-19 cases have no symptoms. The question is, why? Why do these people have no symptoms, while others get very sick and die?
There are some clues:
Data show that dietary selenium is linked with COVID-19 outcomes: a study found that patients in areas with high levels of selenium were more likely to recover from the virus, while places with lower selenium intake had a death rate five times higher.
found that patients in areas with high levels of selenium were more likely to recover from the virus, while places with lower selenium intake had a death rate five times higher. Research has also shown that low vitamin D is linked with worse COVID-19 outcomes. Places where the mean serum vitamin D level was below 30 nmol/L, which is considered severe deficiency, had more COVID-19 cases.
has also shown that low vitamin D is linked with worse COVID-19 outcomes. Places where the mean serum vitamin D level was below 30 nmol/L, which is considered severe deficiency, had more COVID-19 cases. Multivitamins also have been shown to protect against devastating viruses. One study compared supplementation consisting of multivitamins alone, vitamin A alone, or both with placebo in women in Tanzania, Africa who had HIV infection. The study found that women who received the multivitamin were less likely to progress to advanced stages of HIV disease.
compared supplementation consisting of multivitamins alone, vitamin A alone, or both with placebo in women in Tanzania, Africa who had HIV infection. The study found that women who received the multivitamin were less likely to progress to advanced stages of HIV disease. A third of patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have at least one underlying condition ; a study of hospitalized COVID patients in New York found that 60% had high blood pressure, 40% were obese, and a third had diabetes. All of these conditions are amenable to nutritional and lifestyle prevention and interventions.
; a of hospitalized COVID patients in New York found that 60% had high blood pressure, 40% were obese, and a third had diabetes. All of these conditions are to and prevention and interventions. We also know that research has tied micronutrient inadequacies to long-term health consequences, increasing our risk for chronic diseases like cancer , cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes —which are comorbidities for COVID-19.
, and —which are comorbidities for COVID-19. Drugs like proton pump inhibitors can increase the likelihood of serious infection with COVID-19.
Research into these various areas could be used to develop a “COVID-19 fitness exam” that tells us how at risk we are. This is what a well-functioning health system would do: help Americans protect themselves and reduce COVID casualties by conducting research into prevention.
But we do not have such a system; we have a crony capitalist system. Preventive strategies that include nutrients will make no one rich, so the government, which works closely with Big Pharma, doesn’t study them.
As we’ll see in further coverage this week, remdesivir, a new drug with patent protection and drug exclusivity, is now being pushed as the new standard of care. We’re also seeing drug pricing for COVID treatments skyrocket.
The point is that there is a lot of money to be made by the drug companies during this pandemic, and natural options that can prevent infection and thus reduce the need for expensive drugs are a direct threat to Big Pharma’s bottom line. Without a strong consumer voice calling for government health agencies like the National Institutes of Health to collect data and fund studies on prevention strategies, it will not happen.
Visit our COVID-411 page for other information on natural prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Action Alert! Write to NIH, with a copy to Congress, telling them to study nutritional prevention strategies to protect us from COVID-19. Please send your message immediately.


alliancefornaturalhealth--2020-05-07--Remdesivir is NOT the COVID Silver Bullet

The new drug is being billed as the new “ standard of care ” for COVID-19 , but only improves mortality by 3.6 % .
Action Alert !
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) , has declared that the new antiviral drug remdesivir will “ be the standard of care ” for COVID-19 , delivering a windfall to the manufacturer .
This bold claim is seemingly based on results from a single trial that leaves some serious questions about the efficacy of this drug .
In the meantime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatments are being ignored .
This is a prime example of how our crony capitalist health system operates .
The government ’ s study of remdesivir found the drug had an extremely modest benefit , with an 8 % mortality rate for the study group on the drug versus an 11.6 % mortality rate for the placebo group .
That ’ s right : the “ standard of care ” is a drug that improves survival by 3.6 % !
We can surely do better than this .
But the mortality rate was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government to approve the drug ’ s emergency use authorization ( EUA ) for treatment of COVID-19 .
In fact , the government moved the goalposts of the study : rather than using the mortality rate to assess the drug ’ s effectiveness , NIAID decided to judge the drug on how long it took surviving patients to recover .
Judging from the very modest reduction in mortality compared to placebo , it ’ s no surprise the government needed another metric to demonstrate success .
Remdesivir comes with some serious side effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vomiting , and shivering .
In the fact sheet made available to patients as part of the FDA ’ s emergency use authorization for the drug , the agency notes , “ These are not all the possible side effects of remdesivir .
Remdesivir is still being studied so it is possible that all of the risks are not known at this time.
” Despite the lack of information about possible side effects , one million vials of the drug are being shipped to US hospitals .
Other trials have shown that remdesivir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s more .
Nearly 20 % of the 50 researchers and physicians on the government panel responsible for deciding on treatment recommendations for COVID-19 , including remdesivir , have financial ties to Gilead , the drug ’ s manufacturer .
We should also note that the enthusiasm for remdesivir might have something to do with the fact that it is a new drug and will make huge amounts of money for Gilead , whereas hydroxychloroquine , another drug the government was seriously considering , is an old drug that can not be made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available as a generic .
Hydroxychloroquine also has dangerous side effects .
The point isn ’ t that hydroxychloroquine should be used rather than remdesivir , but rather how unsurprising it is that our crony medical system pushes a new drug that can make billions over an old drug that can ’ t .
Note that quercetin , which may perform the same function as hydroxychloroquine in helping to get zinc into cells , also is not profitable and is not being touted by the government .
There is something wrong with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Fauci barely has a better rate of saving lives than a placebo ; the government shifts its metric of success for the drug in the middle of the trial ; other trials show no benefit for the drug ; and we don ’ t have full information yet on potential side effects .
This is the new “ standard of care ” for COVID-19 ?
We can expect remdesivir to carry an exorbitant price tag .
One company has already tripled the price of a drug that is being used during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently on the promising natural medicines for treating and preventing COVID-19 infection .
All of these are low-cost and safe .
Yet the government will not consider these treatments and is instead throwing its entire weight behind a dangerous drug with incomplete safety information .
As we ’ ve been saying for years , this is because monopoly drugs make pharmaceutical companies billions of dollars , while natural options usually can not be patented and made into big money-makers .
Until we address this fundamentally broken mechanism , we will continue to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pharmaceutical drugs that make us sicker .
Action Alert !
Write to Congress and your state lawmakers , urging them to learn more about natural ways of dealing with COVID-19 .
Please send your message immediately .

The new drug is being billed as the new “standard of care” for COVID-19, but only improves mortality by 3.6%. Action Alert!
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has declared that the new antiviral drug remdesivir will “be the standard of care” for COVID-19, delivering a windfall to the manufacturer. This bold claim is seemingly based on results from a single trial that leaves some serious questions about the efficacy of this drug. In the meantime, low-cost, safe, and effective natural treatments are being ignored. This is a prime example of how our crony capitalist health system operates.
The government’s study of remdesivir found the drug had an extremely modest benefit, with an 8% mortality rate for the study group on the drug versus an 11.6% mortality rate for the placebo group.
That’s right: the “standard of care” is a drug that has a mortality rate just 3.6% higher than placebo! We can surely do better than this.
But the mortality rate was not the key metric used by the government to approve the drug’s emergency use authorization (EUA) for treatment of COVID-19. In fact, the government moved the goalposts of the study: rather than using the mortality rate to assess the drug’s effectiveness, NIAID decided to judge the drug on how long it took surviving patients to recover. Judging from the very modest reduction in mortality compared to placebo, it’s no surprise the government needed another metric to demonstrate success.
Remdesivir comes with some serious side effects, including liver damage, nausea, vomiting, and shivering. In the fact sheet made available to patients as part of the FDA’s emergency use authorization for the drug, the agency notes, “These are not all the possible side effects of remdesivir. Remdesivir is still being studied so it is possible that all of the risks are not known at this time.”
Despite the lack of information about possible side effects, one million vials of the drug are being shipped to US hospitals.
Other trials have shown that remdesivir has no clinical benefit.
There’s more. Nearly 20% of the 50 researchers and physicians on the government panel responsible for deciding on treatment recommendations for COVID-19, including remdesivir, have financial ties to Gilead, the drug’s manufacturer.
We should also note that the enthusiasm for remdesivir might have something to do with the fact that it is a new drug and will make huge amounts of money for Gilead, whereas hydroxychloroquine, another drug the government was seriously considering, is an old drug that cannot be made as profitable, since it is now available as a generic. Hydroxychloroquine also has dangerous side effects. The point isn’t that hydroxychloroquine should be used rather than remdesivir, but rather how unsurprising it is that our crony medical system pushes a new drug that can make billions over an old drug that can’t. Note that quercetin, which may perform the same function as hydroxychloroquine in helping to get zinc into cells, also is not profitable and is not being touted by the government.
There is something wrong with this picture. A drug being hyped by Dr. Fauci barely has a better rate of saving lives than a placebo; the government shifts its metric of success for the drug in the middle of the trial; other trials show no benefit for the drug; and we don’t have full information yet on potential side effects. This is the new “standard of care” for COVID-19?
We can expect remdesivir to carry an exorbitant price tag. One company has already tripled the price of a drug that is being used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’ve reported recently on the promising natural medicines for treating and preventing COVID-19 infection. All of these are low-cost and safe. Yet the government will not consider these treatments and is instead throwing its entire weight behind a dangerous drug with incomplete safety information. As we’ve been saying for years, this is because monopoly drugs make pharmaceutical companies billions of dollars, while natural options usually cannot be patented and made into big money-makers. Until we address this fundamentally broken mechanism, we will continue to be a country that is over-reliant on dangerous pharmaceutical drugs that make us sicker.
Action Alert! Write to Congress and your state lawmakers, urging them to learn more about natural ways of dealing with COVID-19. Please send your message immediately.