Free Lecture from this Course:
Viral Infections
We review the antiviral materia medica for the effects of plant medicines on viral infections and/or host resistance to those infections. We then cover materia medica, formulation, and therapeutic strategies for herpes and shingles, arbovirus (mosquito borne), and for respiratory infections including influenza and COVID-19.
Viral infections, whether acute or chronic, are among the most common maladies affecting the human species. With infection, the virus competes against the host resistance, and lifestyle, nutritional, and herbal methods to maintain or increase host resistance are the main strategies.
With topical infection, herbs or their constituents and volatile oils, may have a direct effect against viral replication. But with internal use, plant constituents are too dilute to directly affect a virus, and supporting host resistance by various methods, and reducing local or systemic inflammation that may result from the antiviral immune response become the only strategies available. This course reviews the scientific literature on the effects of herbs on viral infection, and more-important offers the traditional and contemporary professional treatments used for these conditions.
Overview
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Review the pathophysiology of viral infection.
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Offer a general overview of the antiviral herbal materia medica.
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Review myths and misconceptions about the effects of herbal medicines on virus in the body.
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Describe the pathophysiology and herbal therapeutics for topical viral infections, such as herpes and shingles.
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Describe the pathophysiology and herbal therapeutics for mosquito-borne viral infections such as West Nile, Dengue, Chikungunya, or Zika virus infections, including treatment strategies for neurological complications or long-term sequelae.
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Describe general nutritional and herbal support for immunity during respiratory viral infection.
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Describe historical and contemporary therapeutics for influenza, including a review of herbal remedies used during the 1918 Influenza pandemic.
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Describe the stages of COVID-19, from prevention, to early onset, to the onset of inflammatory symptoms, to “long haul” consequences, with herbal strategies for each of the stages.
Lessons
Lesson 1. Viral Infection and the Antiviral Materia Medica
Lesson 2. Herpes and Shingles: Materia Medica and Therapeutics
Lesson 3. Mosquito-borne virus and neurological complications
Lesson 4. Respiratory Infection: Influenza and Covid-19
Course Materials
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68 audio files totaling over 7 hours
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278 pages of notes & slides
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A PDF library of 5 resources and classical herbal texts totaling over 283 pages
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total storage 437 MB
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The recorded lectures were delivered by NAIMH Director Paul Bergner in classroom settings, edited and supplemented with studio portions.
