Page 36 - IMCJ19s1

REVIEW OF EMERGING RESEARCH

The Functional Medicine Approach to COVID-19:

Virus-Specific Nutraceutical and Botanical Agents
Evans JM , Luby R , Lukaczer D , Rountree R , Stone PM , Guilliams TG , Yanuck S , Messier H ,
1
3
4
5
2
6
7
2
Ramsdell K , Hanaway PJ 8
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1 The Center for Functional Medicine, Stamford CT
2 The Institute for Functional Medicine, Federal Way, WA
3 Boulder Wellcare, Boulder, CO
4 Stone Medical, Ashland, OR
5 Point Institute, Stevens Point, WI
6 The Yanuck Center for Life and Health, Chapel Hill, NC
7 Medical Intelligence Learning Lab, Inc (MILLI), San Jose, CA
8 The Institute for Functional Medicine COVID-19 Task Force, Federal Way, WA
Abstract
As the novel infection with SARS-CoV-2 emerges, infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus. While there are limited
objective assessment of the scientific plausibility of studies to validate these agents to specifically prevent
nutraceutical and botanical interventions for prevention COVID-19, they have been chosen based upon their level
and treatment is important. We evaluate twelve such of evidence for effectiveness and safety profiles, in the
interventions with mechanisms of action that modulate context of other viral infections. These agents are to be
the immune system, impair viral replication, and/or have used in a patient-specific manner in concert with lifestyle
been demonstrated to reduce severity of illness. These are interventions known to strengthen immune response
examples of interventions that, mechanistically, can help (see related article in this issue of IMCJ).
protect patients in the presence of the prevalent and

Background and Introduction • Optimizing modifiable lifestyle factors in order to
Health professionals and the public must be well improve overall immune function (an introductory
informed about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the disease it document on boosting immunity is available ). This
i
causes (COVID-19), and how it spreads. This information should reduce progression from colonization to
is readily available and not within the scope of this illness.
document. At this time, there are no specific vaccines or • Personalized consideration of therapeutic agents
uniformly successful treatments for COVID-19. In this that may:
context of insufficient evidence, the scope of this document ■ Favorably modulate cellular defense and
will be to assess the scientific plausibility of promising repair mechanisms.
prevention approaches and therapeutic (nutraceutical and ■ Favorably modulate viral-induced
botanical) interventions and then to offer clinical pathological cellular processes.
recommendations. ■ Promote viral eradication or inactivation.
With respect to interventions, the practice of ■ Mitigate collateral damage from other
Functional Medicine emphasizes the primacy of safety, therapeutic agents.
validity, and effectiveness. In the novel context of COVID- ■ Promote resolution of collateral damage and
19, validity in the form of published evidence is lacking. restoration of function.
Therefore, validity relies upon inferences from the • Treatment of confirmed COVID-19 illness (as per
mechanisms of action of individual agents and/or conventional standards and practice):
published outcomes data supporting their mitigating ■ May reduce the severity and duration of acute
effects on illness from other viral strains. Likewise, data symptoms and complications.
for the effectiveness of interventions targeting the viral ■ May support recovery and reduce long-term
mechanisms of COVID-19 are nascent and rapidly morbidity and sequelae.
emerging. In this context, the following recommendations
represent the Functional Medicine approach to the Additional references are being collated and will be made
COVID-19 crisis: available in the future.

• Adherence to all health recommendations from i. https://www.ifm.org/news-insights/boosting-immunity-functional-medicine-
official sources to decrease viral transmission. tips-prevention-immunity-boosting-covid-19-coronavirus-outbreak/

34 Integrative Medicine • Vol. 19, No. S1 • Epub Ahead of Print Evans—Virus-Specific Nutraceutical and Botanical Agents