Reclaiming my body from the clutches of Covid-19

I'd kept my Vitamin D level high and my immune system strong since Covid-19 arrived on the scene in early 2020 and hadn't ever contracted the virus. So when I started having respiratory difficulty the evening of April 23 2025, I assumed it was from breathing in particulates from the raging wild fire in New Jersey. There'd been an alert the day before warning that smoke from it was blowing across the Hudson into New York City.

But I kept feeling worse as the week went on and figured the smoke inhalation had damaged my lungs or heart so finally went to a CityMD on Sunday to be checked out. To my surprise, t learned I had Covid.

I felt quite ill for basically half a month. The symptoms kept changing in their variety, frequency and intensity: A deep, wet cough. Intense brain fog. Exhaustion. Loss of sense of smell & taste. No appetite. Post-nasal drip with a sore throat. Fever spikes. Sneezing fits. Mostly constipation with occasional diarrhea. Itchy skin. Allergy eyes. I'd feel better part of a day then quite sick again a short time later. It felt like Whack-A-Mole.

When I finally started testing negative on May 6, the brain fog, lack of energy, wet cough, sore throat, fever spikes, sneezing fits & constipation continued on and off.

Working virtually with my excellent homeopath, Brenda Tobin, to reduce the symptoms helped a lot.

I was finally able to see Gabrielle Francis, my Naturopath/Acupuncturist, three days ago, on Friday May 9. She provided the information I needed to really start repairing the damage Covid had done during its residence in my body and also prevent developing Long Covid.

The important thing I learned from Dr G:

The Covid-19 virus uses ACE-2 receptors to attack the body's mucosal linings - especially in the lungs, intestines and sinuses - so it's super important to repair the cells in those linings.

Those three areas were the greatest sources of misery for me while the Covid virus replicated in my body - and even after I started testing negative - so this made perfect sense and let me understand how to recover from the virus.

I already knew a lot about the importance of having strong mucous membranes in the intestines and sinuses, but didn't know about the virus's using ACE-2 receptors as a gateway to commandeer the body via its mucosa.

That was the critical piece of information I needed!

"Mucosal linings, also known as mucous membranes, are moist tissues that line various parts of the body, particularly those that connect to the outside world, such as the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive tracts. They act as a barrier to protect the body from external irritants and pathogens while also aiding in functions like secretion and absorption." 1

Dr G recommended supplements that help reclaim your body from its invasion by the Covid virus

An intestinal repair supplement

Intestinal Repair Capsules (BioGenesis) for repairing the mucosal lining of the gut. I've happily taken G I Revive for years but now discover it doesn't contain Vitamin A.

In the early days of my Covid, I lost my sense of smell/taste, had no appetite and felt so weak I stopped taking GI Revive along with the rest of my usual supplements that were keeping me healthy. An unfortunate mistake. The principal ingredient in GI Revive is the amino acid L-glutamine (AKA glutamic acid), which is the main building block of the intestinal mucosal lining - the very part the Covid virus was attacking.

In retrospect, I wish I'd made myself continue to take it.

Magnesium

Plays a crucial role in the various bodily functions that are affected by the virus. It also has potential to influence the immune response and inflammation caused by the Covid virus. I take and like Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate (2 in AM) + Neuro-Mag Magnesium L-Threonate (3 in evening before bed).

Zinc

Has antiviral effects. I take Life Extension Zinc Caps 50mg (1/day).

Vitamin A

• Enhances antibody response.

• Supports integrity of the mucosal lining in the respiratory tract.

• Vital in developing, functioning and regulation of immune cells, such as T and B lymphocytes, and natural killer cells.

• Enhances antibody response. It can boost antibody production, essential for fighting infections

• Supports the integrity of the mucosal lining in the respiratory tract, a key barrier against pathogens.

Notes:

~You can get Vitamin A from your diet: Fish, fish oils, eggs, dairy products, fruits & leafy greens.

~ Intestinal Repair Capsules contain Vitamin A.

Vitamin C

A natural antiviral. (My body reacts badly to Vitamin C supplements so I get it from my diet.)

Digestive Enzymes

I take Enzyme Science Complete Digestion with probiotics (1 before the first bite of each meal). I figure it doesn't hurt to get extra probiotics in addition to Seed Pre- and Pro-biotics.

I started my healing regimen on Friday evening after seeing Dr G, and now, two days later, I'm mercifully seeing results.

From here down is information about how ACE-2 receptors work and how the Covid virus hijacks them to insert itself into our cells:

The Normal Role of ACE-2 Receptors in the Body

ACE-2 (Angiotensin-converting Enzyme 2) is an enzyme on the surface of many cell types. The main role of ACE-2 is to break down angiotensin II (ANG II) into molecules that counteract ANG II's harmful effects of increasing blood pressure and inflammation.

ACE-2 cells are found in many tissues and organs throughout the body, with particularly high concentrations in:

• Lungs

• Heart

• Kidneys

• Small Intestines

Other organs and tissues where lower numbers of ACE-2 cells are located:

• Endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in blood vessels throughout the body

• Arteries and veins

• Brain

• Testes

• Gallbladder, liver and pancreas

• Skin

This is important because ACE-2 cells are the entry point for the Covid virus. This wide distribution of ACE-2 cells helps explain by Covid can affect multiple organs and produce a wide variety of symptoms. 2.

ACE-2 Receptors in the body

3.

How Covid Hijacks ACE-2 Receptors to Gain Entry into Lung Cells

Using a spike-like protein on its surface, the Covid virus binds to the ACE-2 receptors - like a key being inserted into a lock.

With the Covid virus occupying the ACE-2 receptors on cells' surfaces, the ACE-2 receptors become unable to moderate ANT II's harmful effects, increasing inflammation in the lungs and the death of cells in the alveoli which are critical for bringing oxygen into the body.

When the virus takes over the ACE-2 receptors in the lungs, these receptors start acting as a cellular doorway for the Covid virus to infect and replicate inside our cells.

The Covid virus binds to ACE-2 receptors in the lungs, allowing the virus to enter the body and replicate

After successfully resisting Covid since it appeared in 2020, I think the virus finally got me because the last four months of feeling angry and scared by the constant destructions of governmental protections finally eroded my immune system enough to let it take over. The tipping point for me was the defunding of PBS and NPR.

When I have the time, I'm going to drop a note to Anthony Fauci thanking him for his part in NIH's involvement with the 'gain of function' lab in Wuhan. Alter a regular virus to greatly increase its transmissibility and lethality. Do this in a notoriously lax lab inside a major population center. What could possibly go wrong?

If you have more information about any of this - or think I've got something or everything wrong, please use the COMMENTS box at the end of the post to let me know.

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