(Editorial Note: This article continues from the Muslim Journal issue dated April 10, 2020, page 12.)
6) If you have a caretaker, they can put on a mask and perform lung cupping and clapping on your chest, side-body and your back in the areas that correspond with the lobes of the lungs. Follow these sessions by taking deep breaths and coughing as above.
7) Don’t use alcohol or intoxicants. Intoxicants may dull your awareness of mucous collecting in the back of your throat. If secretions are heavy oryou cannot stop coughing or if you have the constant sensation of fluid behind your tongue, you must use these lung clearing techniques often.
If you feel CHEST PAIN or SHORTNESS OF BREATH or oxygen falls below 97%, call your health care provider. Stay calm and continue to do the above lung exercises to cough, gag and spit out secretions while you wait for medical instructions or while you are on the way to the Emergency Department.
Also do deep vigorous massage of your lower abdomen. Stimulating intestines may improve GI motility and immune response..
8) Continue to VIGOROUSLY WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN for 20 seconds, especially before and after going to the bathroom and before eating. Be mindful of where your hands are at all times.
Washing up to the forearms with soap is a good practice after using the bathroom to reduce contamination from wiping. If infected with coronavirus, you can put mild baby wash in the cleansing water (istinja) that you use to cleanse yourself after emptying the colon.
Keep in mind that the fat found in all soaps dissolves the fatty “envelope” coating of the virus which prevents it from reproducing itself.
Clean often commonly touched places like knobs, handles, etc. Observe the Muslim hygienic practice of reserving the left hand for touching dirty things and the right hand for touching clean things.
9) Stay physically distant more than 6 feet away from others in your home. Your caretakers should wear a mask and eye covering or glasses if possible when coming close to care for you. After giving care, they should wash their hands.
10) Practice gentle nasal (nose) and pharyngeal (throat) hygiene throughout the day. Sniff-blow a small amount of water or saline (balanced salt-water solution) in and out of your nose quickly 3x or until your nasal cavity feels clean, then blow your nose and wash your hands.
This practice is done as part of the Muslim ritual ablution in preparation for prayers. Some have theorized that this practice may make carriers of the virus less contagious by reducing nasal viral shedding. Sanitize the sink area and wash your hands when you’re done.
11) Gentle and safe nasal steam treatments may provide comfort. You can add aromatics like lemon peel, tea tree oil, peppermint, onion, ginger, etc. Some believe inhaling mild moist heat into the nose can disable some of the virus within the nares and sinuses.
NEVER use blow dryers or excessive heat, as this may damage delicate lung and nasal tissue. Be careful of fire and burn safety. If boiling water for steam, don’t overfill pots and ALWAYS TURN OFF STOVE BURNERS.
If using electric pots or kettles be careful of cords and spilling hot water.
12) DON’T Take NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen, Motrin, Naproxin, Advil, etc… There are reports that these drugs may make COVID-19 symptoms worse. There is debate as to whether this concern is valid, however, it’s better to be safe.
13) TAKE SUPPLEMENTS that will support the lungs remaining healthy and resilient, stimulate the removal of mucous from the gut and replenish the guts healthy microbiome.
Vitamin C, Quercetin (found in red onions and capers) and Vitamin D3. Some report that Oregano Oil pills seem to dissolve the copious secretions from COVID-19. Take oregano oil pills with meals. Be aware that if using liquid even a small drop will be very strong.
Also, Black Seed Oil has many immune support benefits. There are many other nutritive herbs that you might try for immune regulation as well as lung and colon health. Check with a qualified herbalist for these.
14) Stay HYDRATED. Drinking and continually sipping warm fluids while your body is upright may help wash the flow of mucous into the stomach away from your windpipe (trachea) and lungs.
For some people, this may have the opposite effect. Experiment and see what works best for you. EAT SMALL NUTRITIOUS HIGH FIBER MEALS. Eating very small meals may keep the stomach from filling, which may cause a back-up of secretions flowing from sinuses.
Eat foods that will sweep the gut clean of mucous. You can try foods such as Irish sea moss, RAW vegetables and Cooked vegetables that have soft fiber – like yams, brussel sprouts, squash, beans are good choices. Eat easily digested halal animal proteins like fish, eggs, broths and collagen.
15) IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to take daily PROBIOTICS which can be taken as supplements or foods like kombucha, kefir, yogurt, etc…, and PREBIOTICS like apples, onions, chicory root-INULIN, and banana.
Some protein shake mixes have probiotics, prebiotics, vitamins, minerals and protein all in one.
16) Keep digestion flowing – use of mild LAXATIVES can be extremely helpful with moving secretions of mucous out of the intestines. Some theories suggest that new drugs being researched for treatments of COVID-19 are actually useful because of their strong laxative (gut stimulating) side effects.
If you ever feel like vomiting, put your head down and let yourself throw up. Your body may be trying to pull off excess foods and fluids to safeguard you in this way.
17) DEEPLY POKE and MASSAGE YOUR ENTIRE ABDOMEN REGULARLY. Try to keep gut intelligence “awake.”
18) Patients may be advised to take tub baths or brief luke-warm showers, avoiding steamy showers as there are some reports that the novel coronavirus may be aerosolized and consequently spread in the air throughout the home. However, keep in mind there is no solid evidence for this as yet.
19) Be aware that at NIGHT-TIME, MANAGING COVID-19 ILLNESS MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT. Some report that fluid drainage increases dramatically at night. Others report having nighttime panic attack episodes with a rapid bounding heartbeat. This can feel very frightening.
Patients may also experience more of a sense of isolation from family. At night you may feel lonely or abandoned. You may have insomnia or simply feel afraid to go to sleep. The more calm you are, the better.
View calming nature shows, listen to positive music or read. Pray as you listen for G-d’s Love to surround you. Avoid the sounds and images of the news and media. Relax your muscles from head to toe and breathe calmly. Practice your lung exercises. Pray for others. G-d Willing, you will make it through this epic struggle.
20) SELF TALK – New communication research is providing evidence that the manner in which we speak to ourselves within our minds is very important for all aspects of our lives, including health.
Speak to your body about healing. The truth is that all healing comes from G-d. Call yourself by your name as you speak and guide your body, mind and spirit towards wellness.
Tell yourself: “You are doing well today (‘your name’). Just stay calm and do what you know how to do. G-d is with you! G-d is GREATER!” READ THE QUR’AN AND LISTEN INTO YOUR HEART FOR THE LOVING AND MERCIFUL VOICE OF G-d.
21) Get SUNLIGHT daily. If you are quarantined/sheltering in place and do not have a yard, open a window and let light touch your skin directly and not through a window.
Even if you’ve been up all night managing secretions, you should try to get sunlight during the day. Sunlight prompts the body to manufacture Vitamin D, which is a critical hormone for immune balance. Sunlight also improves mood and mental status.
20) Finally EXPRESS SINCERE AND UTMOST GRATITUDE AND LOVE FOR G-D OFTEN, EXPRESS LOVE for FAMILY members, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND our AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL LIFE EXPERIENCE and the ABUNDANTLY BLESSED EARTH-HOME.
At the same time, continue to THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS AND PRAY FOR OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIPS AS WELL. These things can provide a powerful boost to the healing aspects of the body.
With this, we are reminded that The Almighty Merciful G-d is truly The One and Only True Healer. May we allow His Loving Voice to stimulate our hearts and minds to be at their best during these most challenging times.
Offer Prayers and Dua’s (supplications) for G-d’s Help with your physical, mental and spiritual status often. Also, read sacred scripture daily. The Qur’an states that we should “read as much as is easy for you.”
And when faced with difficulty, we should CALL ON G-D with FORCE AND FREQUENCY TRUSTING that “THE FAITHFUL MUST BE VICTORIOUS!”
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