Hormones are Healing Especially in the Pandemic

December 9, 2020

In thinking about ways to protect ourselves from getting Covid 19, protect ourselves from future viral pandemics, and how to mitigate symptoms if we get Covid, I circled back to the use of hormones!!

I noticed patients having sex hormone levels less than 50% on the normal reference range bell shaped curve tended to have more symptoms.   Patients whose sex hormone levels were higher than 50% were asymptomatic or had few symptoms.

We know it is critical to treat possible Covid immediately with high dose vitamins for 3-5 days:

  1. Vit D 200,000 units a day x 3 days
  2. Zinc 100-200 mg a day
  3. Quercetin   2000 mg or  EGCG 2000 mg a day
  4. Vitamin C 3000 mg a day
  5. Orenda Immune. 4 -5 capsules 3-4 times a day
  6. Aspirin 325 mg as an anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory a day
  7. Dexamethasone prescribed by your PCP if there is shortness of breath.
  8. Always apply ASAP silver gel to hands and face before leaving the house.

However, is it also critical to treat Covid with hormones?

In researching the topic of hormones and Covid 19, I was surprised to find voluminous research exploring this subject.  When I came across a study in progress using Estradiol patches on women who have Covid 19 to decrease morbidity and mortality in the hospital, I had a huge smile on my face and thought “finally”, as this concept is very dear to my heart.*   I have used hormones in healing pre and post-surgery, but never as a viral treatment!  To me this study is another blessing arising from the pandemic!

Across the entire world, women are more protected than men from getting Covid and more protected from severe symptoms of Covid.   Interestingly, I have 2 women in my practice who remained Covid negative the entire time their husbands were both Covid positive without wearing masks or social distancing!

 

What protects women and is there anything we can do to protect men?

“Genetically women as a result of having an extra X chromosome, have stronger immune function and more efficient viral clearing.  Comorbidites of  hypertension, diabetes, and obesity all being associated with inflammation can put patients at a higher risk of death for which estrogen and testosterone hold potential therapeutic modalities.

For most infectious diseases, women have been consistently observed to mount a stronger immune response than do men.  In general, the female immune system responds more efficiently to pathogens, producing higher amounts of interferons and antibodies; however, this protective effect, mediated primarily by estrogen, is attenuated in postmenopausal women. For coronaviruses in particular, women have demonstrated a consistent survival advantage over men. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as in both the 2003 SARS-CoV and the 2012 Middle East respiratory syndrome epidemics, women have substantially lower case-fatality rates than do men.

 Among the theoretical pathways through which SARS-CoV-2 is hypothesized to damage the tissues, the inflammation and cytokine storm mechanisms are the most widely accepted.  It is likely, given the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2, that the anti-inflammatory pathways (from Estrogen) hold particular relevance for developing therapeutic strategies against COVID-19. Moreover, the anabolic effects of testosterone may have clinical relevance for older male patients with COVID-19.  It is likely, given the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2, that the anti-inflammatory pathways hold particular relevance for developing therapeutic strategies against COVID-19. Moreover, the anabolic effects of testosterone may have clinical relevance for older male patients with COVID-19.

Exogenous estrogen and testosterone therapies have a therapeutic potential to mitigate the damaging inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 without hampering the immune system’s response to the virus as corticosteroids do.”**

During the pandemic, knowing benefits from Estrogen and Testosterone as immune modulating hormones, I have purposefully allowed men’s estrogen levels to remain on the high side when using testosterone and have purposely encouraged women to maximize their estrogen and testosterone.

Another article looked at progesterone and estrogen as being protective against Covid 19  stating, “ This review highlights experimental evidence that the steroid hormones 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), at high physiological concentrations, are powerful immunomodulators and argues that acute steroid therapy with the combination of E2 and P4 may represent a safe and viable therapeutic option that needs to be tested in clinical trials to mitigate severe COVID-19 outcomes.”***

Bottom line, take your hormones and enjoy their healthy benefits especially during this pandemic!

Have an awesome day!  Dr D

Posted in Hormone Balance, Hormone Therapy