We are entering a new season with the C problem. The C problem refers to the issue that America and the world have been dealing with since 2019. You may be wondering why I am writing in this type of code? Well, it has not only been a strange time for the public but also for doctors, particularly integrative doctors. 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 been a change since licensed doctors have always had the ability to prescribe what they want, assuming it is not dangerous or lethal. Medical boards have warned doctors that the government agencies could fine a doctor, take away their license, shut down their website, amongst other penalties. So, you can see the C problem has become the “crazy” problem in many ways.
I feel it is important to share what research is demonstrating can be helpful with the C problem and what I recommend to my patients. Therefore, I will have a series of articles on this issue through my newsletter Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs, available at MarkStenger.com).
One of the exciting supplements showing benefit for the C problem in human studies is quercetin. Quercetin is a natural compound that is found in plants. Quercetin is a pigment that belongs to unique plant compounds known as flavonoids. Food examples include apples, onions, green tea, berries, olive oil, red wine, citrus fruits, and green leafy vegetables.
As a supplement, quercetin is often recommended for the treatment of allergies and inflammation. Research has demonstrated that quercetin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antiviral activity.
In the past year, several studies have been published in major medical journals on quercetin and its potential benefit for the C problem. Quercetin has been shown to have multiple functions and low toxicity in the inhibition of C replication. One of the mechanisms of quercetin is that it blocks the entry receptor for the C problem. You may have heard that the C problem binds with ACE2 receptors on the cells. Quercetin blocks these receptors making it more difficult to enter the cell and cause infection.
Quercetin also inhibits an excessive inflammatory response by the immune system. One of the challenges of the C problem is that the body responds with an immune response where the inflammation activity stays elevated for a prolonged time. This intense inflammatory response leads to tissue destruction, as seen with the lungs. Therefore, steroids and other medications are commonly used for patients with the C problem. Natural agents such as quercetin have been shown in studies to suppress excess and damaging inflammation markers such as cytokines and NLRP3 inflammasome.
A 2021 study in the International Journal of General Medicine evaluated the potential effect of a highly absorbable form of supplemental quercetin 1000 mg for 30 days in 152 C problem patients. These patients were in the early symptoms of the disease. This randomized study found “a reduction in frequency and length of hospitalization, in need of non-invasive oxygen therapy, in progression to intensive care units and in a number of deaths. The results also confirmed the very high safety profile of quercetin and suggested possible anti-fatigue and pro-appetite properties” …and that quercetin is “is a safe agent and in combination with standard care, when used in early stage of viral infection, could aid in improving the early symptoms and help in preventing the severity of COVID-19 disease.”
In a separate two-week study, a highly absorbable form of quercetin was studiedin 42 people not hospitalized with the C problem. 21 of the 42 people receivedtypical standard of care, and then the other 21 people received standard of careand quercetin supplementation at a dose of 500 mg three times daily for sevendays followed by 500 mg twice daily for another 7 seven days. Compared to thestandard of care only, those receiving quercetin had a shortened amount of timefrom a positive C test to negative, as well as reducing symptom severity. Mostpatients receiving quercetin reported improvement in fatigue and appetite.
Readers should check with their doctor before taking any supplements. Based on research, my supplement regimen for optimizing immunity for the C problem includes:
Quercetin-I recommend my patients use our Highly absorbable Quercetin Phytosome at 2 capsules daily. This form of quercetin is 20 X's more absorbable than regular quercetin and is very well studied.
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 clinic carries this combination, and as well there are retail brands that combine the two together as well.
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.
Dr. Mark Stengler NMD, MS, is a bestselling author in private practice in Encinitas, California, at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine. His newsletter, Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs, is available at www.markstengler.com and his product line at www.drstengler.com
Di Pierro F, Derosa G, Maffioli P, Bertuccioli A, Togni S, Riva A, Allegrini P, Khan A, Khan S, Khan BA, Altaf N, Zahid M, Ujjan ID, Nigar R, Khushk MI, Phulpoto M, Lail A, Devrajani BR, Ahmed S. Possible Therapeutic Effects of Adjuvant Quercetin Supplementation Against Early-Stage COVID-19 Infection: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, and Open-Label Study. Int J Gen Med. 2021;14:2359-2366 https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S318720
Di Pierro F, Iqtadar S, Khan A, Ullah Mumtaz S, Masud Chaudhry M, Bertuccioli A, Derosa G, Maffioli P, Togni S, Riva A, Allegrini P, Khan S. Potential Clinical Benefits of Quercetin in the Early Stage of COVID-19: Results of a Second, Pilot, Randomized, Controlled and Open-Label Clinical Trial. Int J Gen Med. 2021;14:2807-2816https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S318949
Gu YY, Zhang M, Cen H, et al. Quercetin as a potential treatment for COVID-19-induced acute kidney injury: Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking study. PLoS One. 2021;16(1):e0245209. Published 2021 Jan 14. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0245209
Saeedi-Boroujeni, A., Mahmoudian-Sani, MR. Anti-inflammatory potential of Quercetin in COVID-19 treatment. J Inflamm 18, 3 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12950-021-00268-6
