A COVID-19 Update
Dear All,
As we continue on this journey in a world dominated by COVID-19, I would like to shed some light on the incredible research that is being done by professionals in the field of Chinese medicine. As you well know I am glued to webinars almost daily and not only am I deeply inspired by the reports of my colleagues, but I feel a very real sense of hope from the treatment outcomes we are seeing. Currently, the university hospitals of UCLA, UCSD, and UCI are performing studies on the use of Chinese herbal formulas and, while I say this quite casually, the enormity of this should not be lost on anyone. This is a huge deal and is a very welcome opportunity to demonstrate the efficacy of herbal medicine in treating this virus.
Without going too deep into the technicalities of how Chinese herbs treat the COVID-19 virus (which is fascinating), the theoretical paradigm of the use of Chinese herbs goes above and beyond the use of antibacterial or antiviral compounds. As we are seeing widely in the media, clinical presentations of the virus vary enormously from patient to patient, this is the result of both a person’s constitution and on how their immune system is responding to the presence of the virus. The herbal formulas we are using are designed to treat a complex immune response. In other words, the herbs not only inhibit the binding of the virus to receptors in the lungs and reduce its replication, but they modulate the response of the individual’s immune system to the virus. They do this by reducing inflammation, by helping the body clear the by-products of inflammation such as fluids and mucus from the lungs, and by enabling the person to breathe to name just some functions. Furthermore, this is not a result of the use of a single herb or even a single formula (which contain several herbs), this is the result of applying herbal formulas based on a careful analysis by the clinician and determining both the stage of the disease a given person presents with, as well as how their immune system is responding.
I hope this wasn’t too technical, I just want you to know that we continue to really study this and are applying the use of Chinese herbs very successfully in clinical practice. If you develop any symptoms, we now have a new option on the online booking called "COVID-19 Consult". These consultations will be held virtually and I will have herbs delivered straight to your home within 24 hours.
On another note and in the spirit of addressing the impact the pandemic and the shelter-in-place is having on our mental health, my dear friend and colleague Jamie Green is holding a workshop today, Monday the 27th at 5:30pm PST. Not only does Jamie have over 30 years of experience as a therapist, but has specialized in the treatment of anxiety and is a very articulate and gifted speaker.
Have a wonderful week and continue to stay safe.
Yours in Health,
Andrea Thorpe DACM L.Ac FABORM