I believe it is a doctor’s duty to provide relevant and science-based information to patients to prevent and treat disease. As I mentioned in my last article, the world has been in a strange season with the C problem. The C problem refers to the issue that America and the world have been dealing with since 2019. The C problem has become “crazy” for not just the public but for doctors as well.
In this out-of-control political climate, doctors of various backgrounds, especially holistic or integrative doctors, are being warned only to recite what the FDA and CDC recommend for the C problem. While I listen to what the FDA and CDC have to say, I do not automatically assume they are correct or incorrect on any of their positions. One must examine the evidence and come to a conclusion objectively and not emotionally. In addition, it is well known that the FDA and CDC are not big proponents of nutritional and non-pharmaceutical therapies.
Many Americans and people around the world are suffering from the C problem. Whether one has been vaccinated or not, there is an ongoing concern of C variations that are causing health issues for people. In my last article on the quercetin breakthrough, I provided evidence for the potential benefits of quercetin for the C problem. I also recommended other natural supplements for internal health optimization in protecting against this health problem. You can see the article at https://www.americasnaturaldoctor.com/2021/08/the-natural-immune-breakthrough/
As an integrative and holistic Naturopathic Medical Doctor, I utilize the best of natural and conventional medicine. Obviously, I prefer treatments that focus on nutritional and holistic therapies whenever possible. However, I also prescribe medications when necessary, which you would know if you are a patient of mine or subscriber to my newsletter Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs.
In this article, I will introduce you to my friend I will refer to as “Ivy.” “Ivy” refers to a prescription medication known as I-----v####e-----r…….m------e****c-----t___i****n (just put the letters together to get the name). I apologize for the extended structuring of the word of this drug, but it is written this way to prevent the unethical scrutiny of content by internet providers. This type of code is mildly analogous (very mildly, I may add as our current situation is nowhere as severe as the first century) to the writer of the biblical book of Revelation, which was authored during a time of governmental hostility.
Ivy has long been used as an FDA-approved drug to treat parasites. It has been prescribed billions (yes, billions of times) around the world with a great safety record. Interestingly, there has been mounting evidence that Ivy has antiviral and anti-C effects. Thanks to the doctor's group known as FLCCC Alliance, the benefits of Ivy for COVID-19 are updated and supported by doctors who work in hospitals and treat patients with C. These doctors not only scour the medical journals for the best treatments (pharmaceutical or natural), but they use the best treatments available regardless of whether they are natural or pharmaceutical. Many of these doctors are hospitalists, which means they work only in a hospital setting and treat severe acute illnesses. The point is that these doctors are responsible for giving patients with C and other severe conditions the very best in medical care based on the scientific literature and their own experience. They are not opposed to vaccines or nutritional supplementation.
1. Inhibits the replication of many viruses, including C, influenza, and others
2. Has potent anti-inflammatory properties
3. Diminishes viral load and protects against damage in animal models
4. Prevents transmission of C when taken either pre-or-post exposure
5. Hastens recovery and decreases hospitalization and mortality in patients with C
6. Leads to far lower case-fatality rates in regions with widespread use
Furthermore, the FLCCC Alliance has reported that Ivy has 63 trials, 21 randomized controlled trials, and has involved over 26,000 patients. They state the following summary for the use of Ivy for the treatment of C:
86% improvement in 14 prophylaxis{prevention} trials
73% improvement in 27 early treatment trials
40% improvement in 22 late treatment trials
61% improvement in 25 mortality results
60% improvement in 31 randomized controlled trials
However, Ivy is not FDA approved for the treatment of C (of course, vitamin D is not FDA approved for C even though there are many studies on it, and a former president was treated with vitamin D as part of his protocol when he had C).
Some people speculate that this inexpensive drug is of little interest to the pharmaceutical industry. Whatever the case may be, doctors such as myself and others worldwide believe it is a safe and inexpensive tool that should be mainstream treatment.
The NIH used to recommend against the use of Ivy for C but changed their stance from against it to a neutral position in January of this year. Then as of February 11, 2021, the NIH's official stance is that there is insufficient evidence for C treatment. There have been several positive studies that have come out since February 2021. One example is a June 17, 2021, paper published in the American Journal of Therapeutics that analyzed 15 trials using Ivy to treat C. The authors' conclusion is eye-opening:
Moderate-certainty evidence finds that large reductions in COVID-19 deaths are possible using ivermectin. Using ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce numbers progressing to severe disease. The apparent safety and low cost suggest that ivermectin is likely to have a significant impact on the C problem globally.
All doctors are warned not to recommend natural or pharmaceutical treatments to the public that the CDC and FDA do not endorse for the C problem. This has changed since licensed doctors such as me could always prescribe what is termed “off-label” use. The FDA notes the following:
From the FDA perspective, once the FDA approves a drug, healthcare providers generally may prescribe the drug for an unapproved use when they judge that it is medically appropriate for their patient. You may be asking yourself why your healthcare provider would want to prescribe a drug to treat a disease or medical condition that the drug is not approved for. One reason is that there might not be an approved drug to treat your disease or medical condition. Another is that you may have tried all approved treatments without seeing any benefits. In situations like these, you and your healthcare provider may talk about using an approved drug for an unapproved use to treat your disease or medical condition.
And according to the conventional website webmd.com, off-label prescription drug use is “entirely legal and very common” and that “more than one in five outpatient prescriptions written in the U.S. are for off-label therapies.”
Yet when it comes to the C problem, many regular pharmacies are not allowing doctors to fill prescriptions for Ivy. Now doctors like myself must prescribe Ivy through compounding pharmacies, which are legitimate, but not near as plentiful as regular pharmacies.
There are two ways to use Ivy. One is to take Ivy preventatively (most doctors recommend approximately 12 mg to 15 mg (and higher for people with higher body weight) one to two times weekly). The other is to use Ivy if one has C (12 mg to 24 mg once daily for five days or longer).
Work with a doctor to have this prescription. If you are having trouble finding a prescribing doctor, some doctors at my clinic may be available to consult for a fee in person, by phone, or by telemedicine (855-DOC-MARK)
Do not forget the importance of a healthy diet, regular exercise, proper sleep, and stress reduction for good health. In addition, I recommend my readers use several or all of the following supplements for optimizing immunity for the C problem, including the breakthrough quercetin I wrote about in my last newsletter.
Quercetin–I recommend my patients use our Highly Absorbale quercetin at two capsules daily. This form of quercetin is much more absorbable than regular quercetin and is the same used in studies.
Vitamin D-5000 IU daily with a meal. For the long-term use of vitamin D, it is best to take with vitamin K2 (50 mcg to 100 mcg). Our store carries this combination.
Immune Wellness-take 3 capsules daily. This blend of long-term immune supporters includes mushroom extracts such as maitake and Coriolus, as well as the immune tonic astragalus.
Zinc–50 mg daily with a meal.
Vitamin C-take 1000 mg twice daily. One option is my Vitamin C wellness, which comes in a powder form buffered with minerals to reduce acidity. The preventative dose is a half scoop in water twice daily.
Melatonin–take 3 mg to 6 mg at bedtime. Melatonin is a potent immune enhancer and has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. People sensitive to melatonin who feel groggy in the morning may need to take lower doses of 1 mg.
Bryant, Andrew MSc1,*; Lawrie, Theresa A. MBBCh, PhD2; Dowswell, Therese PhD2; Fordham, Edmund J. PhD2; Mitchell, Scott MBChB, MRCS3; Hill, Sarah R. PhD1; Tham, Tony C. MD, FRCP4 Ivermectin for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis to Inform Clinical Guidelines, American Journal of Therapeutics: July/August 2021 - Volume 28 - Issue 4 - p e434-e460doi: 10.1097/MJT.0000000000001402
Ivermectin. COVID-19 TREATMENT GUIDELINES. 2021. Available at: https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/antiviral-therapy/ivermectin/
One Page Summary of the Clinical Trials Evidence for Ivermectin in COVID-19. Covid19criticalcarecom. 2021. Available at: https://covid19criticalcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/One-Page-Summary-of-the-Clinical-Trials-Evidence-for-Ivermectin-in-COVID-19.pdf
The FLCCC Alliance. FLCCC | Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance. 2021. Available at: https://covid19criticalcare.com/network-support/the-flccc-alliance/. Accessed August 13, 2021.
