Chase and I got pretty sick this week. After two days of Chase being feverish, my responsible and practical husband insisted that we get him antibiotics. We did, and he is starting to feel better. I will experiment with my own health for the sake of research, but I am putty when it comes to my kids. I know you can cure strep throat through natural means, but I am super glad for Live Health Online and penicillin. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This post is for informational purposes only.
My own illness looked slightly different. My throat was killing me, and my body was achy and so lethargic, and my head was pounding, but I had no fever. I tried a few crunchy natural remedies like apple cider vinegar, lemon, ginger, and oregano oil. All of these things can work if you catch a virus early enough, but I did not catch it early enough.
Knowing that people were dropping like flies all around us (my dear friend Laurie was laid out herself, and told me that 50% of the fourth grade class was out sick), I made sure to rest as much as I could (not hard to do with zero energy and 100% body aches). We cancelled all of our weekend plans and hunkered down. Chase and I cuddled miserably on the couch together.
After four days of being miserable, I remembered some fringe science business about a vitamin C flush. I had a large container of pure absorbic acid, so I shuffled out to the garage, grabbed my stash, and started the protocol. After 4 hours, I began to get a raging headache. After 6 hours, my energy perked up a bit. After a good night's sleep and some cleaning out, the only symptoms left are a cough and some chest congestion. I can deal with that.
Why all the fuss about Vitamin C?
Many things increase the body's need for Vitamin C, most notably the adrenal load. If you are under a lot of stress, the adrenal glands are pulling on your body's precious little Vitamin C reserves to support the creation of cortisol.
If you are estrogen dominant or take birth control, your body needs a larger amount of Vitamin C to clear excess estrogen. If you are injured, or infected, or eat a Standard American Diet lacking in micronutrients, your body needs more Vitamin C.
Since Vitamin C is water soluble, you can't take it in an amount that is toxic to the body. Your body will just excrete the extra. We call this, euphemistically, "bowel tolerance". Be warned.
Most humans can tolerate at least 2 grams of Vitamin C per day. Since humans do not make their own Vitamin C, it is very wise to supplement. Linus Pauling, an early advocate of Vitamin C therapy, suggests humans supplement with 2-18 grams per day.
As 1 gram = 1000 mg, we will use the purpose of grams for discussing the Vitamin C flush. The RDA recommends a mere 60 mg of Vitamin C per day. At 46 mg/ day, you can get scurvy. Does anyone else see a problem with this number?
What does Vitamin C do?
It is an antioxidant, which means it attacks reactive oxygen species, or free radicals, and neutralizes them. If you breathe, eat, or put anything on your body, you are exposed to free radicals.
It supports the adrenals, by allowing proper cortisol formation.
It is a hormone precursor, which allows you to create and maintain proper levels of thyroid, steroid, sex, and endocrine hormones.
It rebuilds tissue after injury.
How do I do a Vitamin C Flush?
A flush is just what it sounds like. You take enough buffered vitamin C powder to cause diarrhea. It's not pleasant, but neither is destroying your gut microbiome unnecessarily through broad spectrum antibiotics if you only have a virus.
Take the following steps:
1. Get a good vitamin C powder. It is not a bad idea to have this stuff on hand all of the time, anyway.
2. Plan a time where you can be at home all day.
3. Sip 1 gram (1000 mg) of Vitamin C powder in 6 oz water every 30 minutes until you reach bowel tolerance. Make sure you take notes on how much Vitamin C you are consuming.
4. Most people who are sick will need between 25-100 grams of Vitamin C before they flush. After the flush, you will have watery stools 1-2 more times. That is normal. Yes, you are losing water and built up junk from your body, but you are also flushing out the remains of viral and bacterial bodies because Vitamin C directly contributes to the health of white blood cells. Dump out those LPS's! Good for you.
5. Drop your dose down to 5-10 grams over the next few days.
6. Continue to reduce dose until you are taking 1-2 grams per day.
This protocol worked for my virus. It may or may not work for yours. Get medicine if you need it. Don't be too prideful to see an actual doctor when you are sick. But if you have no fever and think this may work for you, consider trying it. Let me know what you think. There is exciting (but fringe) research into using Vitamin C therapy for other viruses, like Epstein Barr.
That's all for today. I'm still recovering. I pray you stay healthy!
Kindly,
Jennifer