consciouslifenews--2020-03-19--Love and Nonviolence in the Time of Coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic has ground the world to a halt .
While Hubei province in China has begun to recover , it has done so by locking down sixty-million people and severely disrupting the patterns of life and work there .
The rest of the world is generally behind the curve in its response , with the number of cases skyrocketing and a few countries courageously taking the same drastic measures that the Chinese did toward containment and mitigation .
The United States has declared a national emergency , but the pivotal strategy of testing is severely lagging .
Quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dramatic increase in cases and deaths .
How , then , does this crisis sharpen our choice for a culture of active and life-giving nonviolence ?
Doesn ’ t it , instead , point to a future of epidemics , social disruption , economic chaos , and an increase in the politics of fear ?
There is no question that the current catastrophe could worsen an already grim trajectory of climate change , poverty , racial injustice , and militarism .
It could feed the flames of authoritarianism and regimes of surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic dislocation , with harsh impacts on the lives of people everywhere .
At the same time , however , this crisis is so global , so encompassing , so pervasively universal—touching virtually every person on the planet—that is not only begging for an immediate and comprehensive response , it cracks open the possibility for a long-term cultural and planetary shift toward a more just , peaceful and sustainable order .
“ Let us use these coming days and weeks to take steps toward liberation from the domination system and toward a culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the magnitude of this cataclysmic predicament that directly confronts us , willingly or not , with the choice Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. specified for humanity half a century ago—nonviolence or nonexistence—and prompts us urgently to discover a way forward drawing on nonviolent methods toward a more nonviolent world .
While combating this pandemic with xenophobia and “ us versus them ” nationalism has been the reaction of some , the reality is that , if we are to survive this crisis effectively , it will require comprehensively nonviolent cooperation and approaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action .
When the people of Wuhan and Italy—and now Spain—join in the radical social-distancing of staying home for weeks , they are not only protecting themselves , they are engaging in a powerful , nonviolent action of social responsibility and solidarity .
When societies take rapid , extraordinary steps to mitigate the shock of job loss or the expense of testing , they are pursuing nonviolent strategies—nonviolent because they resist the violence of exclusion or indifference while fostering healing and unity .
Even as we find ourselves in the midst of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often responding instinctively with empathy and compassion .
No doubt , this nonviolent energy , extended to the entire world , will be increasingly needed as the scale of this catastrophe becomes clearer over the next weeks and months .
Nonviolence is organized , love .
A constructive force , an active method , and a powerful way of life , active nonviolence is the power of creative love unleashed to relieve suffering , to struggle for justice , and to nurture a world where everyone counts .
Now more than ever this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world of hurt that the COVID-19 tsunami is leaving in its wake—the growing number of people struck down with the virus ; the keen grief of those who have suddenly lost loved ones ; the overwhelmed health-care systems and providers ; but also those caught in its financial wreckage , including minimum wage workers who suddenly have no income ; small business owners with laser-thin margins forced to shut down ; and , most palpable of all , millions at the margins who have no safety net , no resources , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present world of pain not only presents an emergency requiring an immediate response , but it also throws in sharp relief the need for dramatic social change .
We have not built a world that is up to effectively dealing with this challenge .
This moment of what we might call “ pan-suffering ” —agony reaching deeply into the lives and societies across the globe—is revealing the need for societies and systems capable of handling such transnational emergencies while providing for those most impacted by them .
While the metaphor of “ going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in many media reports— “ Every college and university is on a war footing about this and are trying to assemble as much information as possible ” ( LA Times ) ; “ New York adopts war footing to ready hospitals for virus surge ” ( Bloomberg News ) ; “ Trump ’ s national emergency declaration , corporate partnership put the U.S. on war footing vs. coronavirus ” ( Boston Herald ) —the strategies in place , and the ones that will succeed , are anything but those of war-fighting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like “ war footing , ” they are falling lazily into a traditional groove for describing a concerted , society-wide strategy for mobilizing people and resources to solve a monumental problem confronting the nation or the world .
“ The present world of pain not only presents an emergency requiring an immediate response , but it also throws in sharp relief the need for dramatic social change.
” If , in fact , defeating COVID-19 will most effectively happen through nonviolent strategies , it is best to reach for a metaphor that both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent counter-measures ( as in the “ war in Iraq ” or even policies that have taken on this signifier , like “ the war on drugs ” or “ the war on poverty ” ) .
Rather than the metaphor of war , it is better to take on a metaphor from the world of nonviolence , for example , “ nonviolent mobilization ” : inviting people across our societies to tap their power for love , mercy , peace and nonviolent change in a comprehensive and collaborative way .
Truly ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of , and policies supporting and fostering , unity , cooperation , and healing .
The more we take steps now in the spirit of nonviolent transformation , healing and connectedness , the more we will glean lessons for going forward as a society and a planet .
These lessons—for example , that health-care for all lessens the spread of epidemics ; that an economic safety-net for all buffers the shocks of such catastrophes ; that our limited resources should be poured into meeting the human needs of all instead of military systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geopolitics—will point us toward and serve as a foundation of a nonviolent shift that our nation and our world desperately needs .
While many of us may have long been thinking along these lines , it is in these moments of shock and peril that we can find the gumption to take the concrete steps for making this shift a reality .
In addition to teaching at DePaul University , I work with Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service , a thirty-year-old organization spreading the power of nonviolence .
Pace e Bene ( “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used by St. Francis of Assisi ) has long been working for what Joanna Macy calls “ the great turning.
” Since 2014 , we have been collaborating with a growing community of sisters and brothers in the US and around the world to take steps toward building and nurturing a culture of active nonviolence free from war , poverty , racism and environmental destruction .
Each year since then Campaign Nonviolence has been growing—by organizing Nonviolent Cities , by facilitating trainings and workshops , by publishing books on nonviolence , by encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our work with Pax Christi International ’ s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative ) , and by mobilizing nonviolent actions for a week each September , anchored by the International Day of Peace .
( This year , the Campaign Action Week will take place September 19-27 . )
In all of this , we have been preparing for a turning point .
Maybe it is here .
This all depends on our choice .
We can ’ t predict what the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be .
Perhaps , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life we have always known .
There is some evidence that this is what ’ s happening in China , where the lessening of the coronavirus spread has seen a return to pre-COVID-19 fossil fuel consumption levels .
At the same time , there is the potential for a long-term shift .
In spite of rampant nationalistic tendencies , this disease underscores the inextricable interconnectedness of planet earth .
We are all literally in this together , and that togetherness does not stop at national borders .
The healing of the earth ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global infection ultimately will hinge on the care for all , not for some .
Just as humanity began to reset its self-understanding after Apollo 8 ’ s “ earthrise ” photo was beamed home in 1968—a startling image that helped us “ get ” that we are one borderless planet , suspended in the darkness , together—so COVID-19 shocks us into an even deeper awareness : whatever threatens one threatens all .
Our survival depends on one another .
Or , to put it positively , we are being beckoned to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limiting conceptions of self and nation .
Our full flourishing hinges on transcending the confining cultural and social operating systems that exclude , demonize , and reject .
“ Whatever the outcome , the experience of this current pandemic is likely a rehearsal for the summoning of global resolve to , once and for all , tackle the series of grave ‘ epidemics ' that are mutating and growing all around us.
” COVID-19 has deepened our understanding of the Apollo 8 image : we see a planet wounded and needy , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compassion , and transformation , a sacred reality calling us to the nonviolent turn .
Violence will not heal this brokenness and pain .
Only nonviolence—purified of violence at its very roots , as Sr , Nancy Shreck , OSF has put it—can relieve this suffering in its comprehensiveness .
Whatever the outcome , the experience of this current pandemic is likely a rehearsal for the summoning of global resolve to , once and for all , tackle the series of grave “ epidemics ” that are mutating and growing all around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; the epidemic of racism , sexism and homophobia ; the epidemic of nationalism and xenophobia ; the epidemic of militarist systems and solutions ; and the existential epidemic of planetary collapse .
Our current struggle offers us the gift of both seeing the “ big picture ” in a new way and the invitation to shift our way of life and being in foundational ways in light of that “ big picture.
” It is a vivid and compelling invitation to see anew the indivisible reality of life and , consequently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement for this cultural and planetary shift .
The immediate question is : How can we make this choice for a nonviolent shift in the midst of the current chaos ?
First , within our own lives .
As one nation after another goes into lockdown in order to interrupt the transmission of COVID-19 , more and more of us will be staying put at home .
This is an opportunity to prepare ourselves for taking part in this shift .
How ?
Instead of regarding it as a kind of involuntary imprisonment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a space for transformation .
In the fourth century , the first monks headed to the deserts of Egypt and Palestine too , as Thomas Merton imagined it , jump ship from the Roman Empire , which had begun to co-opt the Church .
Their life of contemplation and self-confinement was a process of being freed from the empire , physically but also spiritually .
They sparked a revolution of consciousness that has rippled down to our own day .
Similarly , let us use these coming days and weeks to take steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward a culture of peace and nonviolence .
With intentionality , reflection , prayer and community offline and online , we can take steps to challenge scripts of fear and division and to experience healing and transformation in our lives , our relationships and in the global movement for a world where everyone counts .
“ Let us commit ourselves to the dramatic , systemic transformation needed now more than ever .
“ In this time of anxiety , let us renew our relationship with our loved ones , even if we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dislocation , let us nurture the bonds of connection and solidarity .
In this time of disruption , let us find ways to commit our lives to the healing and well-being of all .
In this time of instability , let us imagine what nonviolent practice we can take up and deepen .
The greatest social movement in human history is coming .
Each of us is called to join it .
It is a global movement , a movement of movements .
It is learning from the history of movements that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is rooted in the blood and tears of millions who have spent their lives throughout history clamoring for justice , working for peace , laboring for a world that works for everyone .
This movement will not appear by magic .
It requires hard work and “ acting our way into thinking.
” It will be deeply nonviolent—saying No to injustice and Yes to the humanity of all , including the humanity of our opponents .
In a curious way , COVID-19 is a strange messenger .
It is calling us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is emerging .
Let us join this all-embracing movement .
We can fill our knapsack for the journey ahead by taking nonviolent pieces of training online , planning for action in September , imagining how your locality could become a nonviolent city—and entering the mystery of nonviolent healing and transformation .
We can ready for humanity ’ s next step by finding—online , or off—a small group of 4 or 5 people to reflect , study and plan together , supporting one another as catalysts for transformation , as agents of nonviolent change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revitalized world .
Let us commit ourselves to the dramatic , systemic transformation needed now more than ever .
The vision , principles , and strategies of nonviolent movement-building will strengthen our ability and capacity as agents of nonviolent change for a renewed and revitalized world .
We do not know , yet , how the change which is needed will come about .
In these days of darkness and decision , let us open ourselves to the new direction to which we are being called .
Let us choose the way of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The COVID-19 pandemic has ground the world to a halt. While Hubei province in China has begun to recover, it has done so by locking down sixty-million people and severely disrupting the patterns of life and work there. The rest of the world is generally behind the curve in its response, with the number of cases skyrocketing and a few countries courageously taking the same drastic measures that the Chinese did toward containment and mitigation. The United States has declared a national emergency, but the pivotal strategy of testing is severely lagging. Quite likely, the next weeks will see a dramatic increase in cases and deaths.
How, then, does this crisis sharpen our choice for a culture of active and life-giving nonviolence? Doesn’t it, instead, point to a future of epidemics, social disruption, economic chaos, and an increase in the politics of fear?
There is no question that the current catastrophe could worsen an already grim trajectory of climate change, poverty, racial injustice, and militarism. It could feed the flames of authoritarianism and regimes of surveillance, even as it could drive long-term economic dislocation, with harsh impacts on the lives of people everywhere.
At the same time, however, this crisis is so global, so encompassing, so pervasively universal—touching virtually every person on the planet—that is not only begging for an immediate and comprehensive response, it cracks open the possibility for a long-term cultural and planetary shift toward a more just, peaceful and sustainable order.
“Let us use these coming days and weeks to take steps toward liberation from the domination system and toward a culture of peace and nonviolence.”
It is the magnitude of this cataclysmic predicament that directly confronts us, willingly or not, with the choice Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. specified for humanity half a century ago—nonviolence or nonexistence—and prompts us urgently to discover a way forward drawing on nonviolent methods toward a more nonviolent world.
While combating this pandemic with xenophobia and “us versus them” nationalism has been the reaction of some, the reality is that, if we are to survive this crisis effectively, it will require comprehensively nonviolent cooperation and approaches. We are already seeing these in action. When the people of Wuhan and Italy—and now Spain—join in the radical social-distancing of staying home for weeks, they are not only protecting themselves, they are engaging in a powerful, nonviolent action of social responsibility and solidarity. When societies take rapid, extraordinary steps to mitigate the shock of job loss or the expense of testing, they are pursuing nonviolent strategies—nonviolent because they resist the violence of exclusion or indifference while fostering healing and unity. Even as we find ourselves in the midst of this disorienting and surreal disaster, we are often responding instinctively with empathy and compassion. No doubt, this nonviolent energy, extended to the entire world, will be increasingly needed as the scale of this catastrophe becomes clearer over the next weeks and months.
Nonviolence is organized, love. A constructive force, an active method, and a powerful way of life, active nonviolence is the power of creative love unleashed to relieve suffering, to struggle for justice, and to nurture a world where everyone counts. Now more than ever this energy is urgently required to respond to the world of hurt that the COVID-19 tsunami is leaving in its wake—the growing number of people struck down with the virus; the keen grief of those who have suddenly lost loved ones; the overwhelmed health-care systems and providers; but also those caught in its financial wreckage, including minimum wage workers who suddenly have no income; small business owners with laser-thin margins forced to shut down; and, most palpable of all, millions at the margins who have no safety net, no resources, no health care, no recourse.
The present world of pain not only presents an emergency requiring an immediate response, but it also throws in sharp relief the need for dramatic social change. We have not built a world that is up to effectively dealing with this challenge. This moment of what we might call “pan-suffering”—agony reaching deeply into the lives and societies across the globe—is revealing the need for societies and systems capable of handling such transnational emergencies while providing for those most impacted by them.
From “War Footing” to “Nonviolent Mobilization”
While the metaphor of “going to war against the virus” crops up in many media reports—“Every college and university is on a war footing about this and are trying to assemble as much information as possible” (LA Times); “New York adopts war footing to ready hospitals for virus surge” (Bloomberg News); “Trump’s national emergency declaration, corporate partnership put the U.S. on war footing vs. coronavirus” (Boston Herald)—the strategies in place, and the ones that will succeed, are anything but those of war-fighting. When the media reach for a term like “war footing,” they are falling lazily into a traditional groove for describing a concerted, society-wide strategy for mobilizing people and resources to solve a monumental problem confronting the nation or the world.
“The present world of pain not only presents an emergency requiring an immediate response, but it also throws in sharp relief the need for dramatic social change.”
If, in fact, defeating COVID-19 will most effectively happen through nonviolent strategies, it is best to reach for a metaphor that both imply this and minimizes the possibility of violent counter-measures (as in the “war in Iraq” or even policies that have taken on this signifier, like “the war on drugs” or “the war on poverty”). Rather than the metaphor of war, it is better to take on a metaphor from the world of nonviolence, for example, “nonviolent mobilization”: inviting people across our societies to tap their power for love, mercy, peace and nonviolent change in a comprehensive and collaborative way. Truly ending this epidemic will require a common vision of, and policies supporting and fostering, unity, cooperation, and healing.
The more we take steps now in the spirit of nonviolent transformation, healing and connectedness, the more we will glean lessons for going forward as a society and a planet.
These lessons—for example, that health-care for all lessens the spread of epidemics; that an economic safety-net for all buffers the shocks of such catastrophes; that our limited resources should be poured into meeting the human needs of all instead of military systems that buttress “us versus them” geopolitics—will point us toward and serve as a foundation of a nonviolent shift that our nation and our world desperately needs.
Pace e Bene
While many of us may have long been thinking along these lines, it is in these moments of shock and peril that we can find the gumption to take the concrete steps for making this shift a reality.
In addition to teaching at DePaul University, I work with Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, a thirty-year-old organization spreading the power of nonviolence. Pace e Bene (“Peace and Good,” a greeting used by St. Francis of Assisi) has long been working for what Joanna Macy calls “the great turning.” Since 2014, we have been collaborating with a growing community of sisters and brothers in the US and around the world to take steps toward building and nurturing a culture of active nonviolence free from war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction. Each year since then Campaign Nonviolence has been growing—by organizing Nonviolent Cities, by facilitating trainings and workshops, by publishing books on nonviolence, by encouraging the Catholic Church to spread nonviolence (in our work with Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative), and by mobilizing nonviolent actions for a week each September, anchored by the International Day of Peace. (This year, the Campaign Action Week will take place September 19-27.)
In all of this, we have been preparing for a turning point. Maybe it is here.
This all depends on our choice.
On the Threshold?
We can’t predict what the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be. Perhaps, after it passes, we will resume the life we have always known. There is some evidence that this is what’s happening in China, where the lessening of the coronavirus spread has seen a return to pre-COVID-19 fossil fuel consumption levels.
At the same time, there is the potential for a long-term shift. In spite of rampant nationalistic tendencies, this disease underscores the inextricable interconnectedness of planet earth. We are all literally in this together, and that togetherness does not stop at national borders. The healing of the earth’s population in the face of this global infection ultimately will hinge on the care for all, not for some. Just as humanity began to reset its self-understanding after Apollo 8’s “earthrise” photo was beamed home in 1968—a startling image that helped us “get” that we are one borderless planet, suspended in the darkness, together—so COVID-19 shocks us into an even deeper awareness: whatever threatens one threatens all. Our survival depends on one another. Or, to put it positively, we are being beckoned to, once and for all, outgrow our limiting conceptions of self and nation. Our full flourishing hinges on transcending the confining cultural and social operating systems that exclude, demonize, and reject.
“Whatever the outcome, the experience of this current pandemic is likely a rehearsal for the summoning of global resolve to, once and for all, tackle the series of grave ‘epidemics' that are mutating and growing all around us.”
COVID-19 has deepened our understanding of the Apollo 8 image: we see a planet wounded and needy, one community of communities in need of healing, compassion, and transformation, a sacred reality calling us to the nonviolent turn. Violence will not heal this brokenness and pain. Only nonviolence—purified of violence at its very roots, as Sr, Nancy Shreck, OSF has put it—can relieve this suffering in its comprehensiveness.
Whatever the outcome, the experience of this current pandemic is likely a rehearsal for the summoning of global resolve to, once and for all, tackle the series of grave “epidemics” that are mutating and growing all around us: the epidemic of economic inequality; the epidemic of racism, sexism and homophobia; the epidemic of nationalism and xenophobia; the epidemic of militarist systems and solutions; and the existential epidemic of planetary collapse. Our current struggle offers us the gift of both seeing the “big picture” in a new way and the invitation to shift our way of life and being in foundational ways in light of that “big picture.”
It is a vivid and compelling invitation to see anew the indivisible reality of life and, consequently, to join and contribute to the global movement for this cultural and planetary shift.
Steps Forward
The immediate question is: How can we make this choice for a nonviolent shift in the midst of the current chaos?
First, within our own lives. As one nation after another goes into lockdown in order to interrupt the transmission of COVID-19, more and more of us will be staying put at home. This is an opportunity to prepare ourselves for taking part in this shift. How? Instead of regarding it as a kind of involuntary imprisonment, perhaps we can envision it as a space for transformation. In the fourth century, the first monks headed to the deserts of Egypt and Palestine too, as Thomas Merton imagined it, jump ship from the Roman Empire, which had begun to co-opt the Church. Their life of contemplation and self-confinement was a process of being freed from the empire, physically but also spiritually. They sparked a revolution of consciousness that has rippled down to our own day.
Similarly, let us use these coming days and weeks to take steps toward liberation from the domination system and toward a culture of peace and nonviolence. With intentionality, reflection, prayer and community offline and online, we can take steps to challenge scripts of fear and division and to experience healing and transformation in our lives, our relationships and in the global movement for a world where everyone counts.
“Let us commit ourselves to the dramatic, systemic transformation needed now more than ever. “In this time of anxiety, let us renew our relationship with our loved ones, even if we are in close quarters.
In this time of dislocation, let us nurture the bonds of connection and solidarity.
In this time of disruption, let us find ways to commit our lives to the healing and well-being of all.
In this time of instability, let us imagine what nonviolent practice we can take up and deepen.
A New Movement is Coming
The greatest social movement in human history is coming. Each of us is called to join it. It is a global movement, a movement of movements. It is learning from the history of movements that has been accelerating over the past century. It is rooted in the blood and tears of millions who have spent their lives throughout history clamoring for justice, working for peace, laboring for a world that works for everyone.
This movement will not appear by magic. It requires hard work and “acting our way into thinking.” It will be deeply nonviolent—saying No to injustice and Yes to the humanity of all, including the humanity of our opponents.
In a curious way, COVID-19 is a strange messenger. It is calling us resolutely to join this planetary movement that is emerging.
Let us join this all-embracing movement. We can fill our knapsack for the journey ahead by taking nonviolent pieces of training online, planning for action in September, imagining how your locality could become a nonviolent city—and entering the mystery of nonviolent healing and transformation. We can ready for humanity’s next step by finding—online, or off—a small group of 4 or 5 people to reflect, study and plan together, supporting one another as catalysts for transformation, as agents of nonviolent change, as advocates for a renewed and revitalized world.
Let us commit ourselves to the dramatic, systemic transformation needed now more than ever. The vision, principles, and strategies of nonviolent movement-building will strengthen our ability and capacity as agents of nonviolent change for a renewed and revitalized world.
We do not know, yet, how the change which is needed will come about. In these days of darkness and decision, let us open ourselves to the new direction to which we are being called.
Let us choose the way of nonviolent love in this time of coronavirus.


consciouslifenews--2020-03-19--Morning Inspiration: How To Get Serious About Life (Motivational Video with Jim Rohn)

The matters of the heart are serious and it makes sense to do your best to become the greatest version @ @ @ @ @ better sail and turn the miracle of what you have into a better future .
@ @ @ @ @ to know that while they 're getting the diamonds and the millions , there are @ @ @ @ @ the world , for them , it is the worst of times ; the best @ @ @ @ @ of times .
That 's called a serious matter .
How come such a difference @ @ @ @ @ such incredible heights than those who have n't yet found the answers for their life @ @ @ @ @ future ?
We just have to ponder that and let that give us a note @ @ @ @ @ Tags : `` featured , developing hope for your future , featured , finding answers @ @ @ @ @ to become serious , how to change and develop , motivation and dedication

“But I want you to know that while they're getting the diamonds and the millions, there are a lot of people around the world, for them, it is the worst of times; the best of times and the worst of times. That's called a serious matter. How come such a difference from those who can reach such incredible heights than those who haven't yet found the answers for their life, their health and their future? We just have to ponder that and let that give us a note of seriousness.” Jim Rohn
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consciouslifenews--2020-03-20--BASHAR: “2020 Is Going To Be CRAZY!” (What YOU Need to KNOW and Do)

EXCLUSIVE – Darryl Anka , world renowned channeler for ‘ Bashar ’ speaks for the first time about a message @ @ @ @ @ early December of 2019 about what we would be experiencing in 2020 and what we @ @ @ @ @ Alexis Brooks of Higher Journeys interviews Darryl , not only about Bashar ’ s DIRE @ @ @ @ @ about what we as a species can do to remain in the “ Eye of @ @ @ @ @ interview premieres on Higher Journeys YouTube Channel , Friday , March 20th at 4pm Eastern @ @ @ @ @ on hand for a live chat during the premiere to answer any questions you have @ @ @ @ @ Anka .
Go HERE to learn more about Alexis ’ upcoming interview with Darryl .
@ @ @ @ @ critical and important message from Bashar !

EXCLUSIVE – Darryl Anka, world renowned channeler for ‘Bashar’ speaks for the first time about a message that Bashar brought through in early December of 2019 about what we would be experiencing in 2020 and what we are facing RIGHT NOW!
Alexis Brooks of Higher Journeys interviews Darryl, not only about Bashar’s DIRE warning for 2020, but about what we as a species can do to remain in the “Eye of the Storm.”
This exclusive interview premieres on Higher Journeys YouTube Channel, Friday, March 20th at 4pm Eastern Time.
Alexis will be on hand for a live chat during the premiere to answer any questions you have about her interview with Darryl Anka.
Go HERE to learn more about Alexis’ upcoming interview with Darryl.
Don’t miss this critical and important message from Bashar!


consciouslifenews--2020-03-20--Tackling The Loneliness Epidemic | Dr. Joseph Mercola

According to the most recent statistics , loneliness is at “ epidemic ” levels in the U.S .
In a 2018 Cigna insurance health survey , , of 20,000 individuals aged 18 and over : • 46 % report sometimes or always feeling lonely • 47 % say they feel left out • 47 % say they do not have meaningful in-person social interactions or extended conversations on a daily basis • 43 % sometimes or always feel the relationships they have aren ’ t meaningful The loneliest are young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowest , which correlates with science linking loneliness with a greater risk for obesity , heart disease , anxiety , dementia and reduced life span .
In fact , maintaining strong and healthy social connections has been linked to a 50 % reduced risk of early death .
, Similarly , emotional loneliness is linked with an increased risk of all-cause mortality .
Studies have also shown that people who are lonely are more likely to experience higher levels of perceived stress , increased inflammation , reduced immune function and poor sleep .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ each 1-point increase on the UCLA loneliness scale , an individual is 8 % more likely to experience some sort of sleep disruption .
Research has also shown that lack of sleep has the effect of triggering feelings of loneliness , so the two problems tend to feed on each other .
Somewhat surprisingly , seniors over the age of 77 — an age group well-known for loneliness — had the lowest loneliness score in Cigna ’ s survey ; 77 % also rated their physical health as good , very good or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of younger Gen X ’ ers .
Even the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration ( HRSA ) acknowledges there ’ s an “ epidemic ” of loneliness in the U.S. , and that it ’ s taking a mounting toll on public health .
According to HRSA , a panel presentation by the National Institute for Health Care Management — a nonprofit research firm for the health insurance industry — revealed social isolation among seniors is costing the federal government $ 6.7 billion each year in added health care spending , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a 29 % higher risk of heart disease and a 32 % increased risk of stroke .
Research by the AARP Foundation — an organization dedicated to empowering American seniors — presents a similar picture .
In its 2018 survey , “ Loneliness and Social Connections , ” the AARP reports that 35 % of adults over 45 struggle with loneliness .
Among those making less than $ 25,000 a year , the loneliness ratio is 1 in 2 .
Aside from financial woes , a diagnosis of depression or anxiety , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased use of technology for communication are identified as factors that increase feelings of loneliness .
Why is loneliness becoming an increasingly prevalent experience ?
Through interviews with leading experts around the world , author and investigative journalist Johann Hari has tried to sort out why so many of us struggle with loneliness , depression , and anxiety , and what we can do to turn the tide .
In the featured video , “ The Loneliness Epidemic , ” filmmaker Matt D ’ Avella interviews Hari about his findings .
In his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hari investigated the causes behind rising anxiety and depression rates .
Through his travels and interviews , he identified nine scientifically verified causes of depression — only two of which are biological .
The remaining seven are all related to how we live .
Once we understand these root causes , it opens up a broader range of possible solutions , Hari notes , pointing out that all around the world , the most effective strategies are the ones that address the real reasons behind people ’ s distress .
Loss of tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book , Hari cites research looking at reported loneliness scales .
One question in this study was , “ How many close friends do you have that you can turn to in a crisis ?
” The most common answer in the past used to be five .
Today , the most common answer is “ none.
” Half of Americans also say that nobody really knows them well .
Historically , mankind survived because we banded together and worked as a group .
Our very survival often depended on being part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ we ’ re depressed and anxious for a reason , ” Hari says .
“ You ’ re in terrible danger ; you ’ re about to die … We are the first humans ever , in the long … history of our species to try to disband our tribes , and it is making us feel awful.
” Understanding this , how can we fix it ?
In “ Lost Connections , ” Hari details how Sir Sam Everington , a British doctor in East London , tackled the problem by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gather and do things together as a group .
As city slickers , none knew much about gardening , so they decided to turn an abandoned plot of land behind Everington ’ s practice into a group garden .
In learning about gardening , and meeting to share and implement their newfound knowledge , they formed a “ tribe.
” And with that , “ they did what people do when they are part of a tribe , ” Hari says , “ they began to care about each other … they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems.
” As one of the participants told Hari , “ As the garden began to bloom , we began to bloom.
” Hari cites a similar program in Norway , which showed group gardening to be twice as effective as antidepressants .
In his view , there are obvious reasons for this .
Forming relationships addresses the reasons people feel bad in the first place .
Paradoxically , while loneliness and anxiety are at an all-time high , modern humans are also the most interconnected technologically .
Video calls are readily available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re sharing more of our lives with more people than ever before — or so it seems .
Yet it ’ s not making us feel more connected .
Hari admits it ’ s a complex issue .
To understand this paradox better , he visited the world ’ s first internet rehab center in Spokane , Washington .
A vast majority of patients are young men addicted to multiplayer games .
To address their addiction , a key question that needs to be answered is , “ What are these young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” Hari says : “ I think what they ’ re getting is a kind of hollow version of the thing they used to get from society long ago — They get a sense of tribe , they get a sense of status , they get the sense they ’ re good at something , they get the sense they ’ re moving around .
Young people barely leave their homes now .
It ’ s incredible how rarely children play outdoors.
” The problem is , “ we didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hari says , likening the problem with internet game addiction to that of pornography versus real sex .
If all you know about sex is from viewing pornography , dissatisfaction is bound to arise because it doesn ’ t fulfill the biological need of actual sex .
Hari points out that even when people can see each other on a screen , the feeling of being fully “ seen , ” as when you physically face to face , remains absent .
“ Human beings have a need to be seen , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert on loneliness in the world , [ the late ] professor John Cacioppo , said … if social media is a waystation for meeting people offline … it ’ s a good thing .
[ But ] if it ’ s the last stop of the line , generally something ’ s gone wrong.
” Hari points out that when the internet , and social media , in particular , arrived on the scene , the sense of community was already waning , and social media gave the appearance of giving back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d lost — friends and status being two examples .
But it ’ s not a proper replacement .
Hari refers to social media as a “ parody ” of the social connectedness we used to have in the past .
“ So , what we need to do , in very practical ways , is to restore what we ’ ve lost , ” Hari says .
Is there a connection between materialism and happiness ?
As noted by D ’ Avella , modern humans are living exceptionally safe and materially comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also serve as a distraction from personal interrelationships .
Is there a correlation between material wealth and happiness ?
he wonders .
Hari cites research by professor Tim Kasser , who has studied materialistic values and goals .
Like junk food has led to a mass deterioration of health , Kasser believes “ junk values ” have infiltrated and deteriorated our mental space as well .
Kasser ’ s research conclusively showed that the more you ’ re driven by money and status , the more likely you are to succumb to depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is because everyone knows they have natural physical needs , right ?
You need food , you need water , you need shelter , you need clean air — if I took these things away from you , you ’ d be in real trouble real fast .
But there ’ s equally strong evidence that all human beings have natural psychological needs .
You need to feel you belong … that your life has meaning and purpose , you need to feel that people see you and value you , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a future that makes sense .
Our culture is good at lots of things … but we ’ re getting less and less good at meeting these deep underlying psychological needs.
” Kasser also did research to identify ways to undo some of these effects .
The answer turned out to be simple .
When people would meet on a regular basis to discuss their materialistic values — such as the feeling they “ needed ” a certain brand sneaker — it didn ’ t take long before they began shifting their values @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a difference in their life .
They would also discuss moments in which they felt most satisfied with life , and once the participants had identified activities that made them feel good , they were asked to figure out ways of incorporating more of that into their day-to-day lives .
“ Just that process of meeting every couple of weeks and checking in with each other … led to a measurable shift in people ’ s values , ” Hari says .
“ They became less materialistic , which we know relates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Hari , research clearly shows that poverty is linked to unhappiness .
We all need some basics .
But once the basics are covered , additional money does not translate into greater happiness .
What ’ s more , it ’ s the constant seeking of more money that ultimately corrupts your values and lead to unhappiness .
D ’ Avella brings up the minimalism movement with its focus on simpler living with fewer material belongings , favoring “ simple pleasures ” and human interactions instead .
Is this movement part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes .
Hari cites a simple study from the late 1970s in which children were divided into two groups .
One group was shown two advertisements for a popular toy while the other group was not shown any advertisements .
The two groups were then told to choose between two options : Play with a friendly boy who did not have the toy in question , or play with an unfriendly boy who had the toy .
Children who ’ d just seen the advertisements overwhelmingly chose to play with the unfriendly boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d not been exposed to the advertisements overwhelmingly chose to play with the friendly boy .
“ Just two ads were enough to prime those kids to choose an inanimate lump of plastic over the possibility of fun and connection , ” Hari says .
This , in essence , proves advertising works .
Its very purpose is to first make you feel dissatisfied or inadequate , and then present the solution to that dissatisfaction — buy this thing and you won ’ t be dissatisfied or inadequate anymore .
Advertising sells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea that we might want to step off that treadmill — I ’ ve got a limited amount of time in which to be alive ; maybe I ’ ll spend my time on things that are more meaningful — seems to me to be a really positive step , ” Hari says .
If you struggle with loneliness , you ’ re certainly not alone .
A number of remedies are addressed in the featured interview with Hari .
Following are several other strategies , pulled from a variety of sources , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ,

Video Source: Matt D'Avella
By Dr. Joseph Mercola | mercola.com
Internet and social media arrived when our sense of community was already waning, and social media gave the appearance of giving back to us something of what we’d lost — friends and status being two examples. But it’s not a proper replacement, as humans were not designed to relate to each other without face-to-face interactions
Historically, mankind survived because we banded together and worked as a group. Our very survival often depended on being part of a tribe. When feeling disconnected from community, anxiety, and depression arise
Through his travels and interviews, Hari identified nine scientifically verified causes of depression — only two of which are biological. The remaining seven are all related to how we live
Through interviews with leading experts, investigative journalist Johann Hari has tried to sort out why so many of us struggle with loneliness, depression, and anxiety, and what we can do to turn the tide
According to the most recent statistics, loneliness is at “epidemic” levels in the U.S., with 46% of adults saying they sometimes or always feel lonely
According to the most recent statistics, loneliness is at “epidemic” levels in the U.S. In a 2018 Cigna insurance health survey1,2,3 of 20,000 individuals aged 18 and over:
46% report sometimes or always feeling lonely
47% say they feel left out
47% say they do not have meaningful in-person social interactions or extended conversations on a daily basis
43% sometimes or always feel the relationships they have aren’t meaningful
43% report feeling isolated
The loneliest are young adults between the ages of 18 and 22. This age group also rated their health the lowest, which correlates with science linking loneliness with a greater risk for obesity,4 heart disease,5 anxiety,6 dementia7, and reduced life span.8 In fact, maintaining strong and healthy social connections has been linked to a 50% reduced risk of early death.9,10 Similarly, emotional loneliness is linked with an increased risk of all-cause mortality.11
Studies have also shown that people who are lonely are more likely to experience higher levels of perceived stress,12 increased inflammation,13 reduced immune function14, and poor sleep.15,16
A 2011 study17 found that for each 1-point increase on the UCLA loneliness scale,18 an individual is 8% more likely to experience some sort of sleep disruption. Research19 has also shown that lack of sleep has the effect of triggering feelings of loneliness, so the two problems tend to feed on each other.
Somewhat surprisingly, seniors over the age of 77 — an age group well-known for loneliness — had the lowest loneliness score in Cigna’s survey;20 77% also rated their physical health as good, very good or excellent, compared to just 65% of younger Gen X’ers.
Loneliness translates into higher health care costs
Even the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) acknowledges21 there’s an “epidemic” of loneliness in the U.S., and that it’s taking a mounting toll on public health.
According to HRSA,22 a panel presentation by the National Institute for Health Care Management — a nonprofit research firm for the health insurance industry — revealed social isolation among seniors is costing the federal government $6.7 billion each year in added health care spending, as “poor social relationships” are associated with a 29% higher risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
Research by the AARP Foundation — an organization dedicated to empowering American seniors — presents a similar picture. In its 2018 survey,23 “Loneliness and Social Connections,” the AARP reports that 35% of adults over 45 struggle with loneliness. Among those making less than $25,000 a year, the loneliness ratio is 1 in 2.
Aside from financial woes, a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, living in an urban community and the increased use of technology for communication are identified as factors that increase feelings of loneliness.24
Investigating loneliness
Why is loneliness becoming an increasingly prevalent experience? Through interviews with leading experts around the world, author and investigative journalist Johann Hari has tried to sort out why so many of us struggle with loneliness, depression, and anxiety, and what we can do to turn the tide.
In the featured video, “The Loneliness Epidemic,” filmmaker Matt D’Avella interviews Hari about his findings. In his book, “Lost Connections,” Hari investigated the causes behind rising anxiety and depression rates.
Through his travels and interviews, he identified nine scientifically verified causes of depression — only two of which are biological. The remaining seven are all related to how we live.
Once we understand these root causes, it opens up a broader range of possible solutions, Hari notes, pointing out that all around the world, the most effective strategies are the ones that address the real reasons behind people’s distress.
Loss of tribal communities have taken a toll
In his book, Hari cites research looking at reported loneliness scales. One question in this study was, “How many close friends do you have that you can turn to in a crisis?”
The most common answer in the past used to be five. Today, the most common answer is “none.” Half of Americans also say that nobody really knows them well. Historically, mankind survived because we banded together and worked as a group. Our very survival often depended on being part of a tribe.
Without a tribe, “we’re depressed and anxious for a reason,” Hari says. “You’re in terrible danger; you’re about to die … We are the first humans ever, in the long … history of our species to try to disband our tribes, and it is making us feel awful.”
Recreating holistic communities
Understanding this, how can we fix it? In “Lost Connections,” Hari details how Sir Sam Everington,25 a British doctor in East London, tackled the problem by inviting patients struggling with depression and anxiety to gather and do things together as a group.
As city slickers, none knew much about gardening, so they decided to turn an abandoned plot of land behind Everington’s practice into a group garden. In learning about gardening, and meeting to share and implement their newfound knowledge, they formed a “tribe.”
And with that, “they did what people do when they are part of a tribe,” Hari says, “they began to care about each other … they began to solve each other’s problems.” As one of the participants told Hari, “As the garden began to bloom, we began to bloom.”
Hari cites a similar program in Norway, which showed group gardening to be twice as effective as antidepressants. In his view, there are obvious reasons for this. Forming relationships addresses the reasons people feel bad in the first place.
The paradoxical role of technological hyperconnectedness
Paradoxically, while loneliness and anxiety are at an all-time high, modern humans are also the most interconnected technologically. Video calls are readily available and social media platforms abound. We’re sharing more of our lives with more people than ever before — or so it seems. Yet it’s not making us feel more connected.
Hari admits it’s a complex issue. To understand this paradox better, he visited the world’s first internet rehab center in Spokane, Washington. A vast majority of patients are young men addicted to multiplayer games. To address their addiction, a key question that needs to be answered is, “What are these young men getting out of playing these games?” Hari says:
“I think what they’re getting is a kind of hollow version of the thing they used to get from society long ago — They get a sense of tribe, they get a sense of status, they get the sense they’re good at something, they get the sense they’re moving around. Young people barely leave their homes now. It’s incredible how rarely children play outdoors.”
The problem is, “we didn’t evolve to talk through screens,” Hari says, likening the problem with internet game addiction to that of pornography versus real sex. If all you know about sex is from viewing pornography, dissatisfaction is bound to arise because it doesn’t fulfill the biological need of actual sex.
Hari points out that even when people can see each other on a screen, the feeling of being fully “seen,” as when you physically face to face, remains absent.
“Human beings have a need to be seen,” he says, adding “the leading expert on loneliness in the world, [the late] professor John Cacioppo,26 said … if social media is a waystation for meeting people offline … it’s a good thing. [But] if it’s the last stop of the line, generally something’s gone wrong.”
Hari points out that when the internet, and social media, in particular, arrived on the scene, the sense of community was already waning, and social media gave the appearance of giving back to us something of what we’d lost — friends and status being two examples.
But it’s not a proper replacement. Hari refers to social media as a “parody” of the social connectedness we used to have in the past. “So, what we need to do, in very practical ways, is to restore what we’ve lost,” Hari says.
Is there a connection between materialism and happiness?
As noted by D’Avella, modern humans are living exceptionally safe and materially comfortable lives. However, materialism and consumerism also serve as a distraction from personal interrelationships. Is there a correlation between material wealth and happiness? he wonders.
Hari cites research by professor Tim Kasser,27 who has studied materialistic values and goals. Like junk food has led to a mass deterioration of health, Kasser believes “junk values” have infiltrated and deteriorated our mental space as well. Kasser’s research conclusively showed that the more you’re driven by money and status, the more likely you are to succumb to depression. Hari says:
“I believe this is because everyone knows they have natural physical needs, right? You need food, you need water, you need shelter, you need clean air — if I took these things away from you, you’d be in real trouble real fast. But there’s equally strong evidence that all human beings have natural psychological needs.
You need to feel you belong … that your life has meaning and purpose, you need to feel that people see you and value you, you need to feel you’ve got a future that makes sense. Our culture is good at lots of things … but we’re getting less and less good at meeting these deep underlying psychological needs.”
Kasser also did research to identify ways to undo some of these effects. The answer turned out to be simple. When people would meet on a regular basis to discuss their materialistic values — such as the feeling they “needed” a certain brand sneaker — it didn’t take long before they began shifting their values, realizing these material acquisitions would not make a difference in their life.
They would also discuss moments in which they felt most satisfied with life, and once the participants had identified activities that made them feel good, they were asked to figure out ways of incorporating more of that into their day-to-day lives.
“Just that process of meeting every couple of weeks and checking in with each other … led to a measurable shift in people’s values,” Hari says. “They became less materialistic, which we know relates to less depression and anxiety.”
According to Hari, research clearly shows that poverty is linked to unhappiness. We all need some basics. But once the basics are covered, additional money does not translate into greater happiness. What’s more, it’s the constant seeking of more money that ultimately corrupts your values and lead to unhappiness.
On the minimalism movement
D’Avella brings up the minimalism movement with its focus on simpler living with fewer material belongings, favoring “simple pleasures” and human interactions instead. Is this movement part of the answer? The answer is likely yes.
Hari cites a simple study from the late 1970s in which children were divided into two groups. One group was shown two advertisements for a popular toy while the other group was not shown any advertisements. The two groups were then told to choose between two options: Play with a friendly boy who did not have the toy in question, or play with an unfriendly boy who had the toy.
Children who’d just seen the advertisements overwhelmingly chose to play with the unfriendly boy with the toy, whereas children who’d not been exposed to the advertisements overwhelmingly chose to play with the friendly boy. “Just two ads were enough to prime those kids to choose an inanimate lump of plastic over the possibility of fun and connection,” Hari says.
This, in essence, proves advertising works. Its very purpose is to first make you feel dissatisfied or inadequate, and then present the solution to that dissatisfaction — buy this thing and you won’t be dissatisfied or inadequate anymore. Advertising sells solutions to manufactured wants.
“The idea that we might want to step off that treadmill — I’ve got a limited amount of time in which to be alive; maybe I’ll spend my time on things that are more meaningful — seems to me to be a really positive step,” Hari says.
Overcoming loneliness
If you struggle with loneliness, you’re certainly not alone. A number of remedies are addressed in the featured interview with Hari. Following are several other strategies, pulled from a variety of sources, that can help address loneliness:28,29,30
Join a club — Proactive approaches to meeting others include joining a club and planning get-togethers with family, friends or neighbors, Meetup.com is an online source where you can locate a vast array of local clubs and get-togethers. Many communities also have community gardens where you can benefit from the outdoors while mingling with your neighbors. Learn a new skill — Consider enrolling in a class or taking an educational course. Create rituals of connection — Rituals are a powerful means for reducing loneliness. Examples include having weekly talk sessions with your girlfriends and/or making mealtime a special time to connect with your family without rushing. Consider a digital cleanse — If your digital life has overtaken face-to-face interactions, consider taking a break from social media while taking proactive steps to meet people in person. Research shows Facebook may be more harmful than helpful to your emotional well-being, raising your risk of depression — especially if your contacts’ posts elicit envy. In one study,31 Facebook users who took a one-week break from the site reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and a significantly improved emotional life. Make good use of digital media — For others, a phone call or text message can be a much-needed lifeline. Examples of this include sending encouraging text messages to people who are struggling with loneliness, offering support and help to live healthier lives and follow through on healthy lifestyle changes. Exercise with others — Joining a gym or signing up with a fitness-directed club or team sport will create opportunities to meet people while improving your physical fitness at the same time. Shop local — Routinely frequenting local shops, coffee shops or farmers markets will help you develop a sense of community and encourage the formation of relationships. Talk to strangers — Talking to strangers in the store, in your neighborhood or on your daily commute is often a challenge, but can have many valuable benefits, including alleviating loneliness (your own and others’). Talking to strangers builds bridges between ordinary people who may not otherwise forge a connection. People of the opposite gender, different walks of life or different cultures hold a key to opening up to new ideas or making connections with old ones. In this short video, a reporter for The Atlantic, Dr. James Hamblin, demonstrates techniques for learning how to talk with strangers. Volunteer — Volunteering is another way to increase your social interactions and pave the way for new relationships. Adopt a companion pet — A dog or cat can provide unconditional love and comfort, and studies show that owning a pet can help protect against loneliness, depression, and anxiety. The bond that forms between a person and a companion pet can be incredibly fulfilling and serves, in many ways, as an important and rewarding relationship. The research on this is really quite profound. For instance, having a dog as a companion could add years to your life,32 as studies have shown that owning a dog played a significant role in survival rates in heart attack victims. Studies have also revealed that people on Medicaid or Medicare who own a pet make fewer visits to the doctor.33 The unconditional acceptance and love a dog gives to their owner positively impact their owner's emotional health in ways such as: Boosting self-confidence and self-esteem
Helping to meet new friends and promoting communication between elderly residents and neighbors
Helping you cope with illness, loss, and depression
Reducing stress levels
Providing a source of touch and affiliation If you’re looking for a furry friend, check out your local animal shelter. Most are filled with cats and dogs looking for someone to love. Petfinder.com34 is another excellent resource for finding a pet companion. Move and/or change jobs — While the most drastic of all options, it may be part of the answer for some. To make it worthwhile, be sure to identify the environment or culture that would fit your personality best and consider proximity to longtime friends and family.
Read more great articles at mercola.com


consciouslifenews--2020-03-20--Expert Advice from an Herbal Immunity Pro – Herbs to Consider for Coronavirus

The following are my best recommendations for using herbs for immunity as well as the particular symptoms being reported with Covid-19 .
I want to be clear that I am recommending common sense herbal approaches .
Time and time again I ’ ve seen that foundational strategies work !
They may not be as sexy as the latest exotic “ anti-viral ” miracle herb , but they are more likely to succeed .
I also want to be clear that I am not claiming that any single herb is effective at stopping the Coronavirus .
Instead it ’ s by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using supporting and nourishing practices that you will have the best chances at seeing beneficial results from using herbs .
It may surprise some people that herbs not only have a long history of successful use but they are also studied extensively .
For more information or a closer look at the studies I mention , see the citations at the end of the article .
I see two prominent stories being played out right now .
On the one hand we have people completely panicking .
Store shelves are bare and face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at exorbitant rates .
Perhaps in opposition to that panic we have others brushing off this epidemic .
It ’ s commonly repeated that this virus is only affecting severely older populations and those with underlying health problems .
It ’ s as if those of us who can claim youth and well-being can collectively take a sigh of relief .
“ Not my problem !
” I am in no way advocating for panic .
However , I have many loved ones who are aged 60+ and know many people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk .
These people are vital members of our communities .
So , while I am not panicking , I am also taking every step possible to stay healthy and avoid spreading this disease .
While this virus doesn ’ t have a high mortality rate for everyone , it is everyone ’ s collective responsibility to protect those who are more vulnerable .
Or at least that ’ s my hope .
Please see the end of this article for additional resources and information about community preparedness .
Washing your hands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as avoiding people via unnecessary travel and staying home if possible , are all being covered heavily in the news and via health agencies and social media networks .
Avoidance and basic hygiene like washing your hands for 20 seconds is important !
However , what ’ s not being discussed as readily are ways you can actually build or modulate your immune system .
While I certainly can ’ t promise that the following herbs and practices will make you immune to Covid-19 , my personal experience tells me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacts for keeping you healthy and for reducing severity of symptoms during an illness .
Astragalus works best when taken in higher amounts for a long period of time .
I recommend 15-30 grams of the dried root daily .
( Get the e-book for an astragalus recipe . )
Codonopsis ( Codonopsis pilosula ) Codonopsis root is another Chinese herb .
It ’ s commonly used as a substitute for ginseng due to its lower price .
Codonopsis can stimulate the immune system , strengthen the lungs and has moistening qualities ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below ) .
I recommend 15-30 grams per day .
Lately I ’ ve been combining it with astragalus in my daily chai spiced teas .
Like astragalus , this is something to take regularly over a period of time .
Elderberry ( Sambucus nigra , S. cerulea ) Recently some herbalists have raised concerns that elderberry can potentially stimulate what is commonly called a cytokine storm or cytokine release syndrome ( CRS ) .
CRS was considered a major source of fatalities during the SARS epidemic and some are reporting it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderberry , as far as I can tell , are based on a 2001 study involving healthy volunteers and the popular product Sambucol .
In that study researchers concluded , “ Sambucol might therefore be beneficial to the immune system activation and in the inflammatory process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases.
” 4a More recently , a 2016 study showed that a formula based on elderberry inhibited harmful cytokines in people who had atherosclerosis.4b Elderberry is a very popular herb and is currently used extensively for the prevention of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zero actual cases of elderberry stimulating a cytokine storm or CRS .
I ’ m happy to revise my statements if a clear correlation is found ; however , I ’ ve seen elderberry work too many times to now brush it aside because of a hypothesized risk .
Of course , if you have concerns about elderberry there are other immunity herbs to choose from .
Lots of studies have been done showing elderberry benefits for preventing and reducing the symptoms of upper respiratory viruses .
One study followed 312 airline passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given an elderberry preparation and the other half got a placebo .
Those taking the placebo had slightly more occurrences of a cold or flu during their trip than did those taking the elderberry .
More significantly , those taking the elderberry who did get a cold reported a marked reduction of cold duration and severity compared with those taking the placebo .
Studies have shown that garlic increases the natural killer cells of the immune system , reduces inflammatory cytokines ( chemical messengers of the immune system ) and can reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study compared a group of children taking long-releasing garlic extracts with another group of children taking a pharmaceutical drug in the hopes of preventing upper respiratory infections .
Those taking the garlic had a two- to fourfold reduction in sickness compared with a control group taking a placebo .
Incidentally , the pharmaceutical performed no better than the placebo.7 The garlic studies used aged garlic .
I prefer raw garlic .
It ’ s effective , cheap and local !
Win-win-win .
I mince or crush up 1-2 cloves and add that to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Get the e-book for more garlic recipes . )
Mushrooms Many mushrooms can help to build your immune system .
I take reishi frequently simply for general health .
Reishi has many immune system benefits .
I ’ ve written about turkey tails here .
I also take MyCommunity by Fungi Perfecti daily .
Cordyceps powerfully supports the lungs and there is some evidence it can greatly reduce inflammation within the lungs .
This may be an important ally for this particular virus .
In addition to herbs for immunity there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system health .
Eating a nutrient-rich diet , maintaining ideal vitamin D levels , being active , spending time outside , and joy and laughter have all been shown to have positive effects on the immune system .
Covid-19 is an upper respiratory infection with reported symptoms including a fever and cough .
Initial reports from China indicate thick gluey mucus being an issue .
Since coughs and mucus production can vary with people with viral infections , it 's important to have a variety of strategies .
( Difficulty breathing is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate medical care . )
Herbs for immunity excel at addressing the symptoms of upper respiratory viruses .
I see them working best when they are used in a way that supports your own amazing and powerful immune system .
Herbs aren ’ t there to magically erase symptoms ; instead they are partners , something able to give you a helping hand as your body dances with the pathogens .
Fevers are a beneficial immune system response .
Immediately taking steps to reduce a fever through over-the-counter drugs is harmful and could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fever becomes severe , or the person with the fever is exhibiting severe symptoms , fevers do not need to be lowered .
The most important consideration during a fever is rest and hydration .
Water , tea and electrolyte blends can all be used to ensure hydration .
Fevers , as beneficial as they may be , are still uncomfortable .
Herbs can help reduce that discomfort and they can also help support the fever process .
When you feel hot , restless , have aches and pains but aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring circulation to the skin , relax tense muscles and promote sweating .
Elderflower ( Sambucus nigra , S. cerulea ) Elderflower excels at supporting the fever process .
I also like this herb as a tea at the first sign of illness as it can potentially shorten the duration ( similar to elderberries ) .
( Get the e-book for the recipe . )
When you feel chilled the following herbs can help to warm you up .
( Also , bundling up , sauna and hot showers and baths can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) If you could choose only one herb to use during a cold or the flu , ginger might be the one , especially when there are signs of coldness and dampness such as shivering or a thickly coated tongue .
Many different complaints during an upper respiratory system infection can be treated with ginger .
Ginger can warm you up from the inside , which is helpful for the onset of a cold or flu when you feel chilled and are shivering .
Relieve a sore throat with ginger tea or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s antimicrobial properties help prevent further infection .
I also like ginger as a fresh juice .
Fresh ginger is the best choice as an antimicrobial .
Dried ginger is more heating in nature and is good for feelings of coldness .
Cayenne ( Capsicum annuum ) Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Robyn Landis wrote in their book , “ You can treat a cold very effectively with nothing but chiles if you can get enough down.
” Cayenne is an internal heating herbal medicine and one of several long-celebrated ways to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other methods include sweating therapies such as saunas or hot baths . )
You can add cayenne to meals or make an easy tea by adding small amounts of the powder to hot water and adding lemon and honey .
( Get the e-book for the recipe ) .
Oregano and Thyme Oregano and thyme are very similar garden herbs that are both antimicrobial and warming in nature .
I prefer these as a short-infused tea taken consistently throughout the day .
I ’ ve heard conflicting reports of the type of cough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who has a cough it ’ s best to choose the herb for the type of cough rather than simply a “ cough herb ” .
While many over-the-counter cough medicines simply focus on stopping a cough , herbs can be more artfully called upon .
For example , with dry coughs the goal is often to moisten the tissues , thus stopping the dryness and irritation that is causing the cough .
For congested or damp coughs we want to thin the mucus so it ’ s easier to expel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use for different coughs .
For even more information see my article on home remedies for coughs here .
Mullein ( Verbascum thapsus ) Long used to support general lung health , mullein leaves can benefit people with weak lungs ( such as those with asthma ) or those under acute lung stress such as a cold or flu or even pollution or wildfire smoke inhalation .
I recommend a strong tea that has been filtered through a cloth ( to avoid ingesting the potentially irritating little hairs that cover the leaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P. lanceolata ) You know that type of dry , hacking cough that seems endless and oh so painful ?
The one you typically get at the end of a cold or flu or from inhaling small particles such as dust or smoke ?
Plantain soothes hot , dry , and spasmodic coughs .
It moistens the lungs and cools the heat , thus relieving the irritation causing the cough .
I prefer plantain as a tea for coughs , but it can also be used as a tincture .
Marshmallow and Mallow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Malva spp . )
The many different mallows out there are wonderfully demulcent and a favorite for soothing dry irritated throats and coughs .
I often use it as a simple or added to other herbs such as plantain and mullein .
Violet ( Viola spp . )
Violets are a soothing and moistening herb as well as a gentle lymphatic .
If you have access to lots of violets , then a strong violet tea can be a soothing way to relieve a dry cough .
One double-blind randomized clinical trial with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that violet syrup could help the coughs of children with intermittent asthma.9 The second way to address those dry spasmodic coughs are to use anti-spasmodic herbs to quell coughing .
I especially like this technique to stop ongoing spasms or when a person lays down and immediately starts coughing .
( Note , coughs that are accompanied with a lot of congestion are best addressed with stimulating expectorant herbs , rather than cough suppressant herbs .
Otherwise you run the risk of trapping excess mucus in the lungs . )
Lobelia ( Lobelia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tincture or vinegar extract in drop dosages ( increasing slowly as needed ) to stop spasmodic coughs .
Relief is generally achieved immediately .
Taken in excess lobelia may induce vomiting .
Valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ) Valerian is a powerful anti-spasmodic herb that also promotes sleep .
I like to take it in increasingly larger dosages until I get the results I ’ m looking for .
Occasionally some people become more hyper when taking valerian as opposed to relaxed .
Valerian can be taken as a tea or tincture ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Viburnum opulus ) Cramp bark can relieve muscle spasms including those from a dry cough .
It can be used as a decoction or tincture .
When used as a decoction I like to combine it with yummy-tasting herbs like cinnamon and ginger to offset the taste .
When there is a lot of congestion in the lungs we rarely want to stop the coughing reflex .
Basically your body is coughing in order to rid your lungs of a potentially harmful buildup of mucus .
We don ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use stimulating expectorant herbs to help thin the mucus and make it easier to expel from the lungs .
If there is congestion but it is especially thick or dry , the demulcent herbs listed above ( as well as hydration ) can also help .
Medical agencies are asking that people avoid coming in if they are presenting with mild symptoms .
In this case it ’ s best to stay home and rest and also avoid spreading the illness .
If you want to seek medical treatment the CDC recommends calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you may be infectious .
If you have the following symptoms then seeking medical attention is necessary : • Fever over 104F lasting for more than three days Don ’ t Panic Not panicking starts with turning off the endless fearmongering news cycle and instead choosing to be as informed as necessary via balanced news outlets .
• Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) Take this Seriously Not panicking doesn ’ t mean brushing this aside .
As mentioned earlier , I strongly believe it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously and take every step that is possible to us to maintain our health or to quarantine ourselves if necessary .
Be Prepared If you are healthy currently then now is the best time to think through how you can be best prepared .
The CDC is recommending that folks prepare to be quarantined for two weeks .
Having water , food and medications is important .
A couple essential items I don ’ t often see mentioned are soap , pet food and chocolate .
Are you Healthy and Able ?
Help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be strongly affected by this virus , but many other people will be more sensitive and have a harder time .
Reach out to at-risk populations and see if you can help .
Also very important : Speak up and out against any signs of hate or intolerance against Asian communities .
Xenophobia is real and , as this NPR article shares , is spreading like a virus .
I hope this information by Rosalee will be helpful to you , be well and love well my friends .
Julia Julia Parsell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emphasis on the intersection of science and the sacred .
She writes from experiences and transformative understandings that have led her to an authentic and peaceful life .
She goes by these names : wife , grandmother , mother , sister , aunt , niece , cousin , and friend .
As home educator of her three children , she also developed/ran cafes , and maintained various leadership roles within her community .
Her greatest desire is to encourage others to live life fully .
Her passions are family , art creation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is happily married in Western North Carolina .

Herbs for Immunity
by Rosalee de la Forêt
As Covid-19 continues to spread, I’ve been fielding more and more questions regarding herbs for immunity and their ability to prevent as well as address Covid-19.
At first I was a bit reluctant to write anything, mainly because I have personally never worked with this particular virus and don’t want to throw my hat in the ring with anyone claiming they have the magic silver bullet cure for something that is so new and untested.
However, I do have extensive experience working with the immune system and both preventing and addressing upper respiratory infections like the common cold and influenza. In my younger years I had a very weak immune system and, thanks to herbs and other practices, I rarely gets cold or the flu now. I’ve also worked with many clients and students on this subject. One of my most popular online courses is Herbal Cold Care.
The following are my best recommendations for using herbs for immunity as well as the particular symptoms being reported with Covid-19. I want to be clear that I am recommending common sense herbal approaches. Time and time again I’ve seen that foundational strategies work! They may not be as sexy as the latest exotic “anti-viral” miracle herb, but they are more likely to succeed.
I also want to be clear that I am not claiming that any single herb is effective at stopping the Coronavirus. Instead it’s by working with your own immune system and using supporting and nourishing practices that you will have the best chances at seeing beneficial results from using herbs.
It may surprise some people that herbs not only have a long history of successful use but they are also studied extensively. For more information or a closer look at the studies I mention, see the citations at the end of the article.
Coronavirus: Mindset and Preparedness Matters
I see two prominent stories being played out right now.
On the one hand we have people completely panicking. Store shelves are bare and face masks and hand sanitizer are being sold at exorbitant rates.
Perhaps in opposition to that panic we have others brushing off this epidemic. It’s commonly repeated that this virus is only affecting severely older populations and those with underlying health problems. It’s as if those of us who can claim youth and well-being can collectively take a sigh of relief. “Not my problem!”
I am in no way advocating for panic. However, I have many loved ones who are aged 60+ and know many people who have underlying health issues that put them at risk. These people are vital members of our communities. So, while I am not panicking, I am also taking every step possible to stay healthy and avoid spreading this disease.
While this virus doesn’t have a high mortality rate for everyone, it is everyone’s collective responsibility to protect those who are more vulnerable. Or at least that’s my hope.
Please see the end of this article for additional resources and information about community preparedness.
Prevention
Hygiene and Avoidance
Washing your hands, elbow bumps, avoiding touching your face, as well as avoiding people via unnecessary travel and staying home if possible, are all being covered heavily in the news and via health agencies and social media networks.
Avoidance and basic hygiene like washing your hands for 20 seconds is important!
However, what’s not being discussed as readily are ways you can actually build or modulate your immune system.
While I certainly can’t promise that the following herbs and practices will make you immune to Covid-19, my personal experience tells me that building your immune system has positive impacts for keeping you healthy and for reducing severity of symptoms during an illness.
Herbs for Immunity and Preventing Illness
Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus, syn A. membranaceus)
Astragalus root is originally from China and is now used extensively by western herbalists. For many years astragalus has been my favorite herb for building and modulating the immune system. I regularly take it during the winter months.
This Chinese herb is used in many formulas for upper respiratory viruses including Jade Screen Formula (used as a preventive). I often combine it with other herbs in chai spiced teas. Despite astragalus’ popularity and extensive history of use there aren’t a lot of studies on the whole root. From limited human clinical trials and from in-vitro studies, we know that astragalus increases the white blood cell count, decreases viral replication, and stimulates the production of T killer cells.1,2
Astragalus works best when taken in higher amounts for a long period of time. I recommend 15-30 grams of the dried root daily. (Get the e-book for an astragalus recipe.)
Codonopsis (Codonopsis pilosula)
Codonopsis root is another Chinese herb. It’s commonly used as a substitute for ginseng due to its lower price. Codonopsis can stimulate the immune system, strengthen the lungs and has moistening qualities (which seems important for Covid-19; see below).3 I recommend 15-30 grams per day. Lately I’ve been combining it with astragalus in my daily chai spiced teas. Like astragalus, this is something to take regularly over a period of time.
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, S. cerulea)
Recently some herbalists have raised concerns that elderberry can potentially stimulate what is commonly called a cytokine storm or cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS was considered a major source of fatalities during the SARS epidemic and some are reporting it may be similar for COVID-19.
Concerns about elderberry, as far as I can tell, are based on a 2001 study involving healthy volunteers and the popular product Sambucol. In that study researchers concluded, “Sambucol might therefore be beneficial to the immune system activation and in the inflammatory process in healthy individuals or in patients with various diseases.”4a
More recently, a 2016 study showed that a formula based on elderberry inhibited harmful cytokines in people who had atherosclerosis.4b
Elderberry is a very popular herb and is currently used extensively for the prevention of upper respiratory infections. I know of zero actual cases of elderberry stimulating a cytokine storm or CRS. I’m happy to revise my statements if a clear correlation is found; however, I’ve seen elderberry work too many times to now brush it aside because of a hypothesized risk.
Of course, if you have concerns about elderberry there are other immunity herbs to choose from.
Lots of studies have been done showing elderberry benefits for preventing and reducing the symptoms of upper respiratory viruses.
One study followed 312 airline passengers flying overseas from Australia. Half were given an elderberry preparation and the other half got a placebo. Those taking the placebo had slightly more occurrences of a cold or flu during their trip than did those taking the elderberry.
More significantly, those taking the elderberry who did get a cold reported a marked reduction of cold duration and severity compared with those taking the placebo.5
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Studies have shown that garlic increases the natural killer cells of the immune system, reduces inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers of the immune system) and can reduce the severity of colds and the flu.6 One study compared a group of children taking long-releasing garlic extracts with another group of children taking a pharmaceutical drug in the hopes of preventing upper respiratory infections. Those taking the garlic had a two- to fourfold reduction in sickness compared with a control group taking a placebo. Incidentally, the pharmaceutical performed no better than the placebo.7
The garlic studies used aged garlic. I prefer raw garlic. It’s effective, cheap and local! Win-win-win. I mince or crush up 1-2 cloves and add that to my veggie breakfast in the morning. (Get the e-book for more garlic recipes.)
Mushrooms
Many mushrooms can help to build your immune system. I take reishi frequently simply for general health. Reishi has many immune system benefits. I’ve written about turkey tails here. I also take MyCommunity by Fungi Perfecti daily. Cordyceps powerfully supports the lungs and there is some evidence it can greatly reduce inflammation within the lungs. This may be an important ally for this particular virus.
Other Ways to Support Immune System Health
In addition to herbs for immunity there are many other ways to support general immune system health.
Eating a nutrient-rich diet, maintaining ideal vitamin D levels, being active, spending time outside, and joy and laughter have all been shown to have positive effects on the immune system.
Addressing Symptoms of Covid-19
Covid-19 is an upper respiratory infection with reported symptoms including a fever and cough. Initial reports from China indicate thick gluey mucus being an issue. Since coughs and mucus production can vary with people with viral infections, it's important to have a variety of strategies. (Difficulty breathing is also a symptom of this virus and requires immediate medical care.)
Herbs for immunity excel at addressing the symptoms of upper respiratory viruses. I see them working best when they are used in a way that supports your own amazing and powerful immune system. Herbs aren’t there to magically erase symptoms; instead they are partners, something able to give you a helping hand as your body dances with the pathogens.
Fever
Fevers are a beneficial immune system response. Immediately taking steps to reduce a fever through over-the-counter drugs is harmful and could lead to a prolonged illness.8 Unless a fever becomes severe, or the person with the fever is exhibiting severe symptoms, fevers do not need to be lowered.
The most important consideration during a fever is rest and hydration. Water, tea and electrolyte blends can all be used to ensure hydration.
Fevers, as beneficial as they may be, are still uncomfortable. Herbs can help reduce that discomfort and they can also help support the fever process.
Herbs for Immunity for Hot Fevers
When you feel hot, restless, have aches and pains but aren’t sweating, the following herbs help to bring circulation to the skin, relax tense muscles and promote sweating.
Elderflower (Sambucus nigra, S. cerulea)
Elderflower excels at supporting the fever process. I also like this herb as a tea at the first sign of illness as it can potentially shorten the duration (similar to elderberries). (Get the e-book for the recipe.)
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Chamomile is my favorite herb for fevers associated with crankiness, headaches and general aches and pains. I recommend a strong infusion; it will be bitter, but also very effective at soothing irritability and promoting restful sleep.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is a premier herb for supporting the fever process. An old western herbal formula that remains popular today consists of a yarrow and elderflower formulation. (Get the e-book for the recipe.)
Herbs for Immunity for Cold Fevers
When you feel chilled the following herbs can help to warm you up. (Also, bundling up, sauna and hot showers and baths can be helpful).
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
If you could choose only one herb to use during a cold or the flu, ginger might be the one, especially when there are signs of coldness and dampness such as shivering or a thickly coated tongue. Many different complaints during an upper respiratory system infection can be treated with ginger. Ginger can warm you up from the inside, which is helpful for the onset of a cold or flu when you feel chilled and are shivering. Relieve a sore throat with ginger tea or a spoonful of ginger-infused honey; ginger’s antimicrobial properties help prevent further infection. I also like ginger as a fresh juice. Fresh ginger is the best choice as an antimicrobial. Dried ginger is more heating in nature and is good for feelings of coldness.
Cayenne (Capsicum annuum)
Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa and Robyn Landis wrote in their book Herbal Defense, “You can treat a cold very effectively with nothing but chiles if you can get enough down.” Cayenne is an internal heating herbal medicine and one of several long-celebrated ways to stop a cold in its tracks. (Other methods include sweating therapies such as saunas or hot baths.) You can add cayenne to meals or make an easy tea by adding small amounts of the powder to hot water and adding lemon and honey. (Get the e-book for the recipe).
Oregano and Thyme
Oregano and thyme are very similar garden herbs that are both antimicrobial and warming in nature. I prefer these as a short-infused tea taken consistently throughout the day.
Dry Cough
I’ve heard conflicting reports of the type of cough associated with Covid-19. When working with someone who has a cough it’s best to choose the herb for the type of cough rather than simply a “cough herb”. While many over-the-counter cough medicines simply focus on stopping a cough, herbs can be more artfully called upon.
For example, with dry coughs the goal is often to moisten the tissues, thus stopping the dryness and irritation that is causing the cough. For congested or damp coughs we want to thin the mucus so it’s easier to expel.
The following are some examples of herbs to use for different coughs.
For even more information see my article on home remedies for coughs here.
Demulcent Herbs for Dry Coughs
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Long used to support general lung health, mullein leaves can benefit people with weak lungs (such as those with asthma) or those under acute lung stress such as a cold or flu or even pollution or wildfire smoke inhalation. I recommend a strong tea that has been filtered through a cloth (to avoid ingesting the potentially irritating little hairs that cover the leaves).
Plantain (Plantago major, P. lanceolata)
You know that type of dry, hacking cough that seems endless and oh so painful? The one you typically get at the end of a cold or flu or from inhaling small particles such as dust or smoke?
Plantain soothes hot, dry, and spasmodic coughs. It moistens the lungs and cools the heat, thus relieving the irritation causing the cough. I prefer plantain as a tea for coughs, but it can also be used as a tincture.
Marshmallow and Mallow (Althaea officinalis or Malva neglecta, Malva spp.)
The many different mallows out there are wonderfully demulcent and a favorite for soothing dry irritated throats and coughs. I often use it as a simple or added to other herbs such as plantain and mullein.
Violet (Viola spp.)
Violets are a soothing and moistening herb as well as a gentle lymphatic. If you have access to lots of violets, then a strong violet tea can be a soothing way to relieve a dry cough. One double-blind randomized clinical trial with children aged 2 to 12 years found that violet syrup could help the coughs of children with intermittent asthma.9
Anti-Spasmodic Herbs for Dry Coughs
The second way to address those dry spasmodic coughs are to use anti-spasmodic herbs to quell coughing. I especially like this technique to stop ongoing spasms or when a person lays down and immediately starts coughing. (Note, coughs that are accompanied with a lot of congestion are best addressed with stimulating expectorant herbs, rather than cough suppressant herbs. Otherwise you run the risk of trapping excess mucus in the lungs.)
Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)
Lobelia can be taken as a tincture or vinegar extract in drop dosages (increasing slowly as needed) to stop spasmodic coughs. Relief is generally achieved immediately. Taken in excess lobelia may induce vomiting.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian is a powerful anti-spasmodic herb that also promotes sleep. I like to take it in increasingly larger dosages until I get the results I’m looking for. Occasionally some people become more hyper when taking valerian as opposed to relaxed. Valerian can be taken as a tea or tincture (I prefer tincture).
Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus)
Cramp bark can relieve muscle spasms including those from a dry cough. It can be used as a decoction or tincture. When used as a decoction I like to combine it with yummy-tasting herbs like cinnamon and ginger to offset the taste.
Stimulating Expectorant Herbs for Congested Coughs
When there is a lot of congestion in the lungs we rarely want to stop the coughing reflex. Basically your body is coughing in order to rid your lungs of a potentially harmful buildup of mucus. We don’t want to hinder that! Instead, we can use stimulating expectorant herbs to help thin the mucus and make it easier to expel from the lungs. If there is congestion but it is especially thick or dry, the demulcent herbs listed above (as well as hydration) can also help.
Many of my favorite herbs for lung congestion are the same herbs we used for cold fevers above. These warming herbs also thin mucus. Garlic, ginger, cayenne, thyme and oregano are all effective. Elecampane (Inula helenium) Elecampane root is one of my favorite herbs for lung congestion. It is antimicrobial, has a strong pungent and bitter taste, and noticeably improves lung function and relieves congestion. You can slice up the fresh root and infuse it into honey. Or you can make a syrup out of the dried root. You can see my recipe for the syrup here.
When to Seek Medical Treatment
Medical agencies are asking that people avoid coming in if they are presenting with mild symptoms. In this case it’s best to stay home and rest and also avoid spreading the illness. If you want to seek medical treatment the CDC recommends calling in ahead to let the facility know that you may be infectious.
If you have the following symptoms then seeking medical attention is necessary:
Fever over 104F lasting for more than three days
Difficulty breathing
Loss of consciousness
Other Important Steps
Don’t Panic
Not panicking starts with turning off the endless fearmongering news cycle and instead choosing to be as informed as necessary via balanced news outlets.
Here's the news outlets I'm following:
Take this Seriously
Not panicking doesn’t mean brushing this aside. As mentioned earlier, I strongly believe it is our social responsibility to take this seriously and take every step that is possible to us to maintain our health or to quarantine ourselves if necessary.
Be Prepared
If you are healthy currently then now is the best time to think through how you can be best prepared. The CDC is recommending that folks prepare to be quarantined for two weeks. Having water, food and medications is important. A couple essential items I don’t often see mentioned are soap, pet food and chocolate.
Are you Healthy and Able? Help Others
Many younger and healthy people will not be strongly affected by this virus, but many other people will be more sensitive and have a harder time. Reach out to at-risk populations and see if you can help.
Also very important: Speak up and out against any signs of hate or intolerance against Asian communities. Xenophobia is real and, as this NPR article shares, is spreading like a virus.
I hope this information by Rosalee will be helpful to you, be well and love well my friends. Julia
Julia Parsell is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor with an emphasis on the intersection of science and the sacred. She writes from experiences and transformative understandings that have led her to an authentic and peaceful life. She goes by these names: wife, grandmother, mother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend. As home educator of her three children, she also developed/ran cafes, and maintained various leadership roles within her community. Her greatest desire is to encourage others to live life fully. Her passions are family, art creation, writing, and trail blazing. She is happily married in Western North Carolina.