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Editorial: COVID-19: The Silver Lining That Could Have Been

Editorial: COVID-19: The Silver Lining That Could Have Been

by | Apr 1, 2022

Post Categories: Family and Community | Healthy Aging Practices | Integrative Medicine | Perspectives | Preventive Care for Children | Studies/Reviews | Supplements

Mainstream medicine and medical academia have historically been biased against natural therapies such nutritional supplements and herbal remedies. This bias manifests in various ways, such as ignoring evidence of efficacy, exaggerating or overemphasizing adverse effects, misrepresenting the data, and referring to natural medicine in disparaging terms such as, “massive, carelessness, indefensible, useless, indiscriminate, false, unnecessary, deplored, and poor medical practice.”1 I have documented many examples of this bias in the nearly 40 years I have been writing for the Townsend Letter.

When the COVID-19 pandemic came along, I thought that there could be a silver lining to all the sickness and death and fear that was gripping the world; something positive that might arise from it. After all, natural medicine has been pretty successful at treating a wide range of viral illnesses. For example, there have been reports over the years that high-dose intravenous vitamin C can knock out most viruses, and that oral vitamin C or zinc lozenges can shorten the duration of the common cold (which is caused in some cases by coronaviruses). Might these and other natural treatments also be effective against COVID-19?

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Author

Alan R. Gaby, MD

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    "From Practitioner to Leader: Clinical Excellence, Business Mastery & Sustainable Practice" Discover how clinical excellence, business mastery, and sustainable systems can help practitioners grow into confident leaders and build practices designed for long-term impact. Why Attend? Three days of learning, connection, and growth designed for every stage of your practice journey. Learn from Leading Voices Gain insights from top experts in natural health, holistic wellness, and functional medicine. Hands-On Learning Participate in in-depth workshops, real-world case studies, and interactive sessions you can apply immediately. Meaningful Networking Connect with like-minded professionals, students, and exhibitors who share your passion for natural health. Practical Tools & Approaches Explore new strategies and tools to elevate both your practice and your own health journey. Who Should Attend? This conference is built for a wide community of natural health professionals, educators, and advocates - wherever you are in your journey. Licensed & Clinical Practitioners Doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and functional or integrative medicine practitioners looking to sharpen clinical skills and grow into stronger practice leaders. Allied Health Professionals Bio-feedback technicians and other allied practitioners seeking hands-on training and the latest tools in natural and holistic care. Educators & Students Natural health educators and students entering the […]

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    Join health professionals, farmers, food producers, researchers, educators, nonprofit leaders, chefs, policymakers, community organizers, food advocates, public health practitioners, nutritionists, and other changemakers as we convene to share knowledge, build partnerships, and explore new possibilities for improving health, strengthening communities, and creating more equitable and sustainable food systems. This year’s program features inspiring speakers and practical examples of collaboration at the intersection of food, health, social justice, and planetary well-being. Together, we’ll explore innovative approaches to Food as Medicine, community-led initiatives, nutrition, public health, regenerative agriculture, and equitable access to healthy food. Whether you work in health care, agriculture, food production, education, research, policy, or community development, you will discover new ideas, meaningful connections, and practical strategies to advance healthier, more resilient communities. Virtual  |  Join from anywhere in the world Check out the Program: https://tinyurl.com/Food-as-Medicine-for-All

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    Menopause Care in the Longevity Era Longevity medicine is everywhere right now. Supplements, protocols, influencer clinics, patients walking in with questions about interventions their doctors have never heard of. What's missing from most of it is the evidence. The Midlife Women's Health Summit is three days on what the research actually says about menopause care when you add a longevity lens. What works, what doesn't, what's being oversold, and what to tell the patient sitting in front of you. Co-chaired by Lisa Larkin, MD, FACP, MSCP, IF, Jen Gunter, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, DABPM, ABPMR, and Lauren Streicher, MD, FACOG, MSCP; three of the clearest voices in women's health on separating data from marketing.

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