COVID-19 Time For An Update On My Treatment For Colds 04 (Revised 2021-03-05 and 31)

Nose blocked, heat added 04

Hand warmer pad 02

    

Band-aid blocker 03

Heating pad heat 01

    

It is time for an update on my treatment for colds. Since April when I posted my first blog on colds I have been searching for clinical evidence that validates my assumptions. I found the limit for the rhinovirus and its 200 or variations but there has not been an equivalent study for the coronaviruses. I found one paper that shows the S spike glycoprotein which helps to connect the virus to the host cell doesn’t work in situ above 37.5⁰C(99.5F)which means the virus Cov2 can’t connect. It is not clear what happens to the virus but it seems to be killed at above this temperature and humidity making it more sensitive just above the human average normal temperature.

While I assumed from one paper that most of the replications occurred in the nasopharynx at the back of the nose, of the upper respiratory tract, it can also reproduce before that at the top of the nose in the smell sensory area. It can also happen below these areas and just above the tongue. Hence the loss of smell and coughing.

Another point I found was that the average temperature of humans is dropping below 37⁰C. My temperature is around 36.3 and 36.6⁰C(97.3-97.9F). This temperature difference is enough to make older folks vulnerable to the third stage after the virus stage stops shedding. The lungs and central nervous systems become compromised.

Heat when applied to colds by breathing saturated air at 43⁰C(109.4F) for 20 minutes per 2 to 3 intervals has been tested on rhinovirus over 20 years ago with an 80% success rate.  By applying heat by direct conduction to the bone and cartilage to the infected is more efficient and doesn't require sophisticated equipment. The process is to extend the natural effect of a fever, to an area that is normally cooled by incoming air which compromises the fever effectiveness.  I have found that the symptoms drop off overnight. 

What I am getting to is that it is best to combine my last 3 posts to get the best results. That is to add extra heat, blocking the nose closed, where to apply the heat and how to make a hand warming pouch . This will make my treatment most effective particularly for older people. There are still some caveats below with some redundancy from the last post. I believe this treatment is viable.  

In simplified terms: 

1.  get a heat source of your choice as suggested, 

2.  plug your nose, breathe through your mouth.

3. hold the heat source of your choice, on your face for the designated time and location, 

4. Times up, remove nose plug tape, 

5. Clear your nose as needed.  

The caveats: There are some rules. 

• You should have a fever, preferably defined as high. Fever is your friend.
• You have recently tested positive for COVID-19 Asymptomatic or symptomatic.
• You have a newly acquired cough, sore throat, runny nose, sore sinuses, loss of sense of smell.
• This must be applied within the first week of any of the above.
• Should not be applied under very high fever conditions (cytokine storm).
• Don’t take any aspirin, acetaminophen (paracetamol), or ibuprofen as they lower the fever.
• Repeat the process the next day if necessary. ( If stored properly, hand-warmers work for 6 to 10 hours and can be stored if sealed in a plastic bag.)
• A maximum direct heat application of 41-42⁰C is sufficient.
• Keep warm, wear a hat, sweater, and scarf.
• Be smart! Wear a mask until everyone is vaccinated.

Me, fooling around, 2 hats, 3 neck warmers
Checking Temperature Effects
It warms the incoming air 

        Some References

1.                  1.  - Why is temperature sensitivity important for the success of common respiratory viruses?                       Eccles R.,      Rev Med Virol. 2020;e02153. https://doi.org/10. 1002/rmv.2153

 

2.            2. -Body temperature and host species preferences of SARS-CoV-2.

                 Uzoigwe, Chika Edward     https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(20)30424-9/pdf

      

     3.   -The Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the Viability of the SARS                        coronavirus,    K. H. Chan, et al,  https://www.hindawi.com/journals/av/2011/734690/

     4.   -Role of fever and ambient temperature in COVID-19

               Muhammad Hamdan Gul,a Zin Mar Htun,b and Asad Inayatc 

 

     5.   -Animal and translational models of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19                           

        M. D.     Johansen1, et al,

        Mucosal Immunology (2020) 13:877–891; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41385-020-00340-z 

 

    6.  -Fever and the thermal regulation of immunity: the immune system feels the heat                                             Sharon S. Evans, Elizabeth A. Repasky, and Daniel T. Fisher

                    HHS Author Manuscripts   PMC4786079

  7.  Protective Facemask Impact on Human Thermoregulation: An Overview

         

         Raymond J. Roberge*, Jung-Hyun Kim and Aitor Coca

        https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mer069

COVID-19 AlanR Treatment 03

COVID-19 AlanR Treatment 03

This is a different treatment that requires only a bandage.  When we breathe in, we create in our nasal and sinus chambers the ideal environment for the cold viruses to propagate. By stopping the airflow through these passages the temperature quickly rises to our core temperature. It is assumed that the humidity is close to saturation. This combination seems to kill off the viruses. There are several requirements needed for it to work. It will require some application time, about 1.5 hours a session, and may require 1-3 repeat the following days.

·First, If you have a fever oral temperature, that is good. If it has a reading of 39 ⁰C that is best. This is required as it is assumed that the stopping of the COVID-19 is similar to other cold viruses such as the rhinoviruses which are dispatched at 38.7 degrees C and relative humidity of greater than 95%. A caveat is that the actual values are at present not published or known. So if you are tested positive it is still worth a try.

Second, Block off both sides of your nose for a minimum of 1.5 hours.  This seems like a long time. When I tried just holding my nose I gave up after 10 minutes and started looking for another way. I first tried masking tape then several types of bandages.  By wiping the oil off my nose the bandage pictured seals all around the padded portion. This worked like a charm.

·        Third, swallowing can be a problem, so if necessary, release one side temporarily. After a short time I became accustomed to breathing through my mouth and was soon reading or watching a movie.

·        Fourth, If this works for you, you will know the next day if your various passages are clear.  If only partially, repeat the process.  Or better still add some heat suggested in my 3 previous posts.

·        Fifth, the above process if it works at all for you, it is limited to your upper respiratory tract. As mentioned above, when you breathe in through your mouth, you are cooling your throat making it possible to still cultivate the virus. Breathing out again reheats and humidifies the throat. Rapping your throat with a scarf or an old Tee shirt will help to maintain the surface area at near core temperature and high humidity.  

      In summary, using heat to fend off respiratory infections has most likely evolved by natural selection over a long time.  I have noted one weakness in this process which enhances the propagation of the virus, by creating a surface area with ideal temperature and humidity. By blocking the airflow, the nasal and sinus chambers stagnate at core temperature and greater than 95% humidity creating the opposite environment, destroying the virus.  I suspect that we have survived by not clearing these areas plus our immune system has been improved over the same eons of time. 

      My suggested treatment is simply to enhance the existing systems with extra heat. The heat is transferred efficiently by conduction to the infected areas by water content, ligaments, and bone structure. So this is an engineered solution that if applied when an infestation has been determined, a cold can easily be removed.  It should be noted that this may not be a complete cure for colds but it will remove the most dominant reproduction location for viruses from the equation and give the internal immune system a much lighter load to carry. 

      The AlanR treatment 03.

A Possible COVID-19 Home Remedy 02 enhanced

     COVID-19 maybe and other colds in general, here is possible solution. This is my third attempt to show my treatment process that I now use.  At one time, I took hot baths to get rid of colds. Out of curiosity I measured my core temperature while in the tub and it measured at 102 degrees F (38.777 degree C). Recently I found that the rhinovirus, 200 varieties, seem to stop existing above this temperature. Will it work for the SARS-CoV-2 virus? Who knows? Here are some pictures of me working on my last cold. See my last post for equipment detail. I forgot the materials for the pouch, See my note below the treatment exercise.

   Here is the start:                                         

Open the hand warming pad and massage it to start the heating process.  It may be necessary to massage the pad occasionally it starts to cool. No need to hurry as they last up to 6 hours or more. Note: these pads are design to heat parts of the body to temperatures above core.

 Insert the warming pad into the pouch and let the pouch warm up.

I used a meat thermometer to check the heat. The actual temperature can get much higher but when you place it on your face or hands it cools down to the temperature shown.  Feel the pouch with your hand and try it on your arms to make sure you are comfortable to proceed.

1. When warm place the pouch on the side of your nose.  Press on the opening of your nose and hold the loosely along the side of your nose. 

Hold for about 10 minutes in each of the following locations.

Breathing through your mouth stops the cool incoming air from entering and helps to maintain the high humidity. I call it the Malaysia effect. So breath through your mouth for each step.

2. Now place the pouch on the other side of your nose.  You will notice one finger is pressing the pouch against the top of the nose in the above picture. Do the same for this step.                                        

Note in steps 3 to 7 the pouch will over lap the same location, the top of the nose.  The bone structure behind this location helps to conduct the heat to the area of highest virus reproduction. This stops the process.

3. This location is include both the nasal passages and the sinuses in the centre of  the forehead.

4. Place the pouch on one side of the forehead just above the eyebrows including above the nose.

5. Similar to 4. above only on the other side of the forehead. Both 4. and 5. cover the sinuses above the eyes.

6. Chose one cheek below the eye and close the nose opening to prevent air flow in the nasal passages.

7. And the same as above on the other side.

 8. I use my right hand to heat the left side of my throat placing the pouch as high as possible below my jaw.

9.  Similarly, I use my right hand to hold the pouch on the left side.

Depending on how long or how much damage the virus has done it may be necessary to repeat the treatment.  On trying this treatment and if it works a person should feel much better in an hour or so.

If properly sealed in a bag the one pad should be sufficient.  The pads do not cause harm to the environment. 

COVID-19 Maybe? My proposed solution, materials, and comment.

  The solution that I have presented should come under the heading of Home Remedies, as it has no official standing.  I did try to find several organizations and people that I thought might be interested, but as I have mentioned I received no personal replies, mostly form letters. My first post on the subject in April had over 500 views, unheard of number for my blog.  I wrote the second blog on the subject because I wanted to present a simple design, for this specific application. On a piece-wise basis, the design is much less expensive and could be mass-produced or made for a single-use application. On a single unit, one-time use using scrap material and masking tape the cost is less than $5 (A pair of  hand warmer pads at CTC cost about $2 including tax)  but on mass production about $2.

I know that this treatment works for colds and flu, for my self and my wife and a few friends.  I published it to determine the efficacy of this approach from your comments, as I could find no other option.  Also, the downside to someone trying this treatment is minimal.  If you stick to my guidelines of staying in the heating ranges I suggest, there should be no harm done.  There are no chemicals or potions that can do any harm. It is analogous to the mustard plasters that my mother used on me as a child. It can be applied at home and no special equipment is required. The results are immediate and you will know by your nasal and sinuses clearing up. I would not have published the last two posts if this treatment would cause any damage.

The problem with acceptance of calling this a cure is that there is the assumption that the common cold can’t be cured.  The reason is that there are over 200 versions of the rhinovirus and each one requires a specific vaccine.  Some reports show their reproduction rate given a suitable environment of humidity and temperature, can vary widely from below 24 ⁰ C up to 37 ⁰C.  At 38.7 ⁰C and humidity greater than 90% the rate drops off to zero. The humidity is the issue as I understand the virus can exist at higher and lower temperatures but lower humidity.

 Blocking off your nose raises the temperature in your nasal and sinus passages to core temperature and the relative humidity must be 90% plus. All my treatment does is raise the temperature artificially to about 41 ⁰C where I assume the COVID-9 won’t survive.

The other issue is I neglected what materials to use of the pouch. The cloth I used is unbleached, close weaved, cotton muslin. At Len’s Mills in Ontario, a yard of 36” wide is about $5. And the insulation material is called quilted broadcloth ¼” thick. It is made of a layer of cotton backing with a layer of polyester batting. About $11 a yard. The idea is that one side of the pad is just a cloth layer and the other some material that will allow air in and out of the pad. If the pad is too hot you have to add another layer of cloth to the hot side.

My hope is that this will work on the COVID-19 virus as it cut short the ski season by 3 weeks. It would be great that the next season proceeded unhampered. 

AlanR

My SARS-CoV-2 The AD Robb Solution and Treatment 02

Since my last post I have refined my solution to use a simple hand warmer pad that is readily  available in Canada ski country. Hand-warmers require a layer of cloth to avoid over heat injury and so I have included a pouch design using common materials. The cloth is to control the heat. Adding layers will lower the heat. I used a small heat glue gun to tack the pouch together and I made a template for making many copies shown in the photo. Tacking the insulation in place then sewing the sides is good.

My comment on the treatment is that I have never tried this on COVID-19 and don't know anyone that has. I have tried that equivalent heating pad on colds and flu and it works like a charm. I have sent notes with this information to about 15 organizations and have so far received no personal response. So if someone tries this on the coronavirus, please make a comment!

Nose and Sinuses Warmer for Colds

Why is it necessary to warm the nose channels and sinuses?  Most colds are caused by viruses that propagate in the nose channels and sinuses. These areas supply the ideal temperature and humidity for this to happen. The purpose of these areas is to warm the incoming air and collect moisture on outgoing air. Cold viruses propagate rapidly in a temperature range of 33-35 ⁰C and humidity range 40-50%, an environment found in the nose areas. Rhinoviruses, the cause of most colds have been found to stop existing above 38.8 ⁰C and humidity of 95%.  So by blocking the nose entrance stopping cold air from entering, and heating the channels to above 39 ⁰C, you can create an environment that demolishes the viruses.

The process is time-dependent as it takes a while for the heat to travel along the various paths.  The materials the nose is created from are good heat conductors, so the process is relatively fast. Blocking off the nose and breathing through the mouth, increases the temperature in the nose to core temperature in about 5 minutes. During this process, it is best to block the nose inlet on the side of the face that is being heated and to breathe through the mouth. This stops the cold air inlet thus maximizing the heating process.

Both heating pads and hand-warmer pads are suitable for heating. The heat output can be easily adjusted, both have sufficient heat capacity, heat output is constant and both are designed for body heating. I would not use any other heat sources as the danger of over-heating could cause burning. Neither of these devices has temperature gauges.  I use an infrared detector which is non-intrusive and immediate. A body thermometer will work but make sure it will measure up to 44 ⁰C. I also use a digital cooking thermometer for measuring the pad temperature. The back of the hand or forearm can be used to check the temperature of your source if none of the above are available. The advantage of the warming pad is that its’ size is perfect for this application. It should be noted that heating the skin, blood will rise to the surface turning it red. The redness will disappear in a few hours.

For electric heating pads, the highest or second-highest setting can be used.

Hand-warmer pads are inexpensive bought in bulk and much less bulky to use. Read the instruction on the package.  (I’m not sure of the term medical use means as it is not defined. I used the pads in my ski boot to keep my feet warm.)  The pad uses the oxidation of iron to create heat which means they need oxygen/air to create heat.  When removed from their sealed package they require some massaging to get them started. Returning the pad to a sealed, air evacuated bag stops the heating process, ready to use again. These pad are designed for local heating of body parts. Ideal.

Equipment Needed

A thermometer, a warming pad, a pouch, and a plastic bag to seal the pad when not in use

Make a Pouch

 The pouch is a sandwich with material surrounding the pad. One outside layer of cloth shields the skin from the pad and the rest is insulation.   Instructions on how to make a pouch are included.

Application of the Heating Pad and Pouch

In this process, the pouch is placed at 9 locations on the face and neck. The figures on the left, show these locations.  Here are some preliminary instructions:

·        Breath through the mouth.

·        Hold the pouch place for 10 minutes in each place.

·        Massage the heating pad between application areas if it cools from the lack of oxygen.

·        Press hard enough to ensure contact but light enough to let air penetrate the insulation to the pad. Heat is transferred mostly by the amount of contact pouch surface. Uniform constant pressure on the pouch is best.

·        Open the package and start the heat process. Insert the pad into the pouch, folding the sealed ends to fit. Check the pad temperature.

·        When the pad is warm to 42 degrees C  (about 15 to 20 min) apply the pouch to the locations. Use as many fingers as needed.

·        Go to the Locations page to apply the pouch.

When the heating process is completed, remove the heating pad from the pouch and place the pad in the corner of the sandwich bag.  As per instructions for the pad use, force all the air out of the bag and seal it, to stop the heating process.

Note: If an electric heating pad is used, some of the above instructions are unnecessary. I have two new heating pad. One with 6 settings, that heats to temperature in 30 second and large 12” x 24”, and another that has 4 setting and the same size that take about 2 minutes to heat.  I use both on the highest setting.

This ends the first session.

After the application of heat above you should expect a clearing of the nasal passages. If lost your sense of smell it may return also.  Some people will have redness where the heat is applied but this should disappear in a few hours. Viruses cause some damage and so it takes some time to heal. The first sign of symptoms is a sign that the damage has begun. The amount of damage depends on the amount of time the virus takes to reproduce and be detected.  It also depends on the rate of reproduction. If this treatment is applied early the damage is minimal and the repair time may be only a day or two.  A second application a day later may be necessary if the nasal passages are not completely cleared.

Extensive damage caused by the virus will take more time to repair.  It is not known to what depth this process will penetrate but it will eliminate the most prolific virus generators and give the immune system time to take action. I gargle with a tea made with fresh ginger root, very thinly sliced. 

If you have an electric heating pad, applying it to your throat and chest may help. If you have a high fever it may be necessary to cool some other parts of your body, such as legs uncovered.