From eNewsletter 5/18/2022
DID YOU KNOW that listening to music really does relax us? A study recently published in PLoS ONE suggests treatments integrating music and auditory beat stimulation are particularly effective in reducing anxiety, even more than anti-anxiety medication. Auditory beat stimulation (ABS) involves combinations of tones, played in one or both ears, designed to trigger changes to brain activity. Subjects downloaded a special digital music therapy app on their mobile phones that played music only, ABS only, and music and ABS together. Subjects saw the greatest reductions in cognitive state anxiety, the aspect of anxiety related to thoughts and feelings, who listened to both music and ABS. Among people with high anxiety before the session, the music-only group had “significantly higher” reductions in anxiety compared to the ABS group.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Information View this document here.
Virus Prevention And Treatment Vaccines minimize COVID-19 related mortality and hospitalizations, but SARS-CoV-2 is here to stay. Moreover, it is not the only virus we fight. There are influenza (flu), norovirus (stomach flu), adenovirus (common cold), and four other coronaviruses (common cold), among others. Continue your immune support year-round. For more information, refer to our Prevent and Fight Viruses 2.0 Protocol.
COVID-19 Condition Monograph For those interested in conventional and integrative treatments for COVID-19 with over 250 references, this is our COVID-19 Condition Monograph.
Post-COVID Syndrome 2.0 The official diagnosis for post-COVID syndrome (PCS) are symptoms that last for 12 weeks or more. If you, a family member, friend, coworker, or neighbor is suffering from PCS, diligently following our Post-COVID Syndrome 2.0 Action Plan for purchase, or free to paid members here (must use the password), can bring measurable improvement.
Have a happy, healthy day! Steve and Bonnie Minsky
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COVID-19 Update
Steve: While I have been focusing less on COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 is still more pervasive than any other infectious pathogen, post-COVID syndrome is affecting more of the population than anticipated (some studies say as much as 30%, unfortunately more in women than men), and post-COVID-onset diabetes is becoming a thing. Hence, here is the latest you need to be aware of, especially regarding the efficacy of natural therapies. Natural Therapies Therapeutic doses of zinc should be included in the treatment strategies for COVID-19, especially to prevent or reduce diarrheal symptoms, according to a study in Nutrition Reviews. A balanced calcium to magnesium ratio is critical for COVID-19 prevention, according to a study in Nutrients. Specifically, calcium:magnesium should not exceed 2:1 if possible. This means that, for example, if you are taking 400 mg. of supplemental calcium, you should taking at least 200 mg. supplemental magnesium. A refreshing take from a study in Nutrients regarding prevention of COVID-19 in children: "Two ways to fight against COVID-19 disease exist: one with an antiviral response through immune system boosting and another with antioxidants with an anti-inflammatory effect. In the current pandemic situation, the intake of a varied and balanced diet, rich in micronutrients and bioactive compounds." In older patients hospitalized for COVID-19, it should not come as a surprise that there was a high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies, particularly regarding selenium, vitamin D, vitamin A, magnesium, and zinc, according to a study in Nutrients. Journal of Medical Case Reports published the first case of successfully treated long COVID symptoms with hyperbaric oxygen therapy with improvements in cognition and cardiopulmonary function. According to a study in Medrxiv, because post-COVID syndrome increases oxidative damage from free radical stress, antioxidant therapy through diet and supplements is critical for recovery. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of subjects with COIVD-19 taking a pre/probiotic capsule had an almost two-fold reduction in fatigue, a three-fold reduction in cough score, and more than a double improvement in overall well-being scores compared to those taking placebo. The study appeared in journal COVID. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine reports an online breathing and music-based program can improve the mental component of quality of life elements of breathlessness in people with persisting symptoms after COVID-19. Managing Stress Key A study in Medrxiv states that the high stress preceding an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection plays a key role in the development of long COVID, specifically in regard to problems involving cognition. This places even more emphasis on stress management, as well as finding ways to mitigate worries and experiences of adversities during pandemics. Pfizer Versus Moderna, and More Results from two new studies confirm why I recommended Pfizer over Moderna after they were authorized. A new study from Medrxiv found significant allergic reaction to polyethylene glycol (PEG), the active adjuvant, in the Moderna vaccine, whereas the Pfizer induced minimal, if any, allergic reaction. One of the largest studies to date on myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination, appearing in JAMA Cardiology, confirms an increased risk with both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in young men, but the risk is much higher for Moderna. Finally, as predicted early on, there is a ninefold increase in COVID-19 antibody levels with a longer interval (about 10 weeks) between first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine. This means you get much better immunity the longer you wait between the first and second dose. The results were presented last month at the 32nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.