In last week's post entitled “Three Little Known, Unconventional Antiviral Approaches For Boosting Your Immune System,” I shared some tips on how to improve your immune system via fully comprehensive, novel, and alternative health strategies—strategies that often go beyond simple pharmaceutical pill-popping or conventional medicine (similar to my previous posts on issues I've personally dealt with in the past, such as MRSA, and Giardia). In that article, I dove into natural ways I've been strengthening my immune system for my hefty amount of airline travel, even in the face of recent viral outbreaks that have made me have to be even more careful and thorough in my approach.

Two friends of mine, Drs. Matthew Cook and Matthew Dawson, are true experts in the realms of functional and precision medicine, and both were kind enough to offer me their advice when it comes to boosting immunity and fighting viruses. I've included their audio in this podcast for your listening and learning pleasure.

My first guest, Dr. Matthew Cook, has been on the following podcasts:

Dr. Cook founded BioReset Medical Corporation and, as acting President, operates a regenerative and pain medicine practice that offers leading-edge non-surgical solutions in orthopedic medicine, sports medicine, regenerative pain medicine, and stem cell medicine.

He is a board-certified anesthesiologist with over 20 years of experience in medical practice. Currently, Dr. Cook is president of California Anesthesia and medical director of the National Surgery Center, Los Gatos, CA.

Dr. Cook’s early career as an anesthesiologist and medical director of an outpatient surgery center that specializes in sports medicine and orthopedic procedures provided invaluable training in the skills that are needed to become a leader in the emerging fields of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging, nerve hydrodissection, and stem cell medicine. Dr. Cook has recently begun doing telemedicine “Ketamine Resets” as well. Follow the link to learn more, and use code BENDEAL for a $250 discount.

My second pair of guests, Drs Matt Dawson and Michael Mallin of WildHealthMD, have been on the following podcasts:

Dr. Matt Dawson is a precision medicine physician in Lexington, KY, co-host of the Wild Health Podcast, and has been obsessed with performance optimization as long as he can remember. He received scholarships to play two sports in college even with “minimal talent” because of his voracious reading and implementation of any fitness or nutritional techniques that would give him an edge. Dr. Dawson continued that obsession in medical school, and as a physician, he has won national awards for education, innovation, and leadership. He has lectured in over 20 countries and trained thousands of other physicians through live lectures, online education, two textbooks, and an educational app.

Dr. Dawson combines his training in genomics and functional medicine to give personalized, precise medical guidance. His obsession with performance optimization has morphed from, initially athletic, to now mental performance and longevity. Whether it's a professional athlete or a grandparent optimizing their mental clarity and mobility to keep up with their grandkids, Dr. Dawson is passionate about helping everyone perform at their absolute peak.

Dr. Michael Mallin is a physician in Bend, OR who is obsessed with health performance and precision medicine and is co-founder of the Wild Health Podcast. He completed medical school in South Carolina and trained in Emergency Medicine in Salt Lake City, UT where he competed in several ultramarathons and found his love for the mountains and performance.

Dr. Mallin currently practices in Bend, OR and Lexington, KY in his precision medicine clinics. He is also co-founder of the Ultrasound Podcast, an educational podcast that has taught thousands of physicians all over the world how to use ultrasound.

During this podcast, you'll discover:

Part 1 with Dr. Matt Cook of BioReset Medical

-Dr. Cook's history with virology…7:10

Studied feline immunodeficiency virus, a model for HIV

Anesthesiologist with an interesting approach to pain management

Began to successfully treat patients with complex illnesses

Many patients have viral infections, chronic illnesses with a viral overlight

-A brief history of viral epidemics…9:08

Influenza pandemic from 1918-1920 (Spanish flu) infected over 500 million people worldwide; 17-50 million people died Fear of affecting morale of WWI soldiers; publicity was censored in Germany, U.S., U.K. The virus created an extreme inflammatory response Young people were especially susceptible

SARS and MERS occurred more recently Both respiratory viruses Mortality rate from SARS was 9.6%; MERS was 34.4% Current mortality rate of COVID-19 is unclear right now

Pattern of viral infections that create an exaggerated response, particularly in the lungs

3 categories of patients: 80% will get the virus and recover with no complications Patients with preexisting conditions are at greater risk Healthy patients get a viral infection, have an overreactive immune response



-What a “coronavirus” is…15:00

Viruses are extremely small

Cold climates are ideal for viruses; they are very rare in tropical climates

How are viruses transmitted? Respiratory droplets and other bodily fluids Stringent approach to maintaining cleanliness for prevention and treatment

Pneumonia, fever, cough, shortness of breath; affects both lungs

Symptoms can be in GI tract, low white blood cell counts

Most common symptoms: fever, dry cough, tiredness; often there are no symptoms

Most common complication is pneumonia

Best practices for avoiding the virus: Avoid traveling to infected places Careful hand washing Avoid touching T zones Avoid crowded areas Keep your living area clean

Majority of cases are relatively mild Small number can have complex problems

Common symptoms: Fever Coughing Muscle pain Confusion Shortness of breath



-What the cytokine storm is…22:30

Primary target is the respiratory system

Virus can't replicate itself without getting into a cell

Body responds by making chemical messengers to create inflammatory response to fight the virus

Inflammatory process is out of control; doesn't take effect

-Immunology 101…25:30

Best known inflammatory cytokine is tumor necrosis factor A (TNF-A) Turns on other cytokines, promote an exaggerated inflammatory response

Factors that drive the cytokine storm: Nuclear factor-kappa beta (nuclear factor kappa bad) Block nuclear factor kappa beta, turn on NrF2 (helps modulate inflammatory response to a stress)

Status of testing: Quest diagnostics will offer a test for the current viral outbreak Gates Foundation working on an at-home test

How to treat influenza: Hand-washing is one of the greatest medical concepts of our time Patients with mild illnesses can self-quarantine



-Treatment options for viruses…33:45

Most important factor is containment

Improve your hygiene

A great job done with the 80% of mild cases gives hope that it will be beat

Steroids have done more harm than good in the past

Be aware of anti-viral medications Remdisivir Kelapra

Antioxidants: NAC (antiviral effects) Vitamin C Glycyrrhizin

Plant-derived antioxidants with antiviral effects

Upregulate NrF2 Ozone therapy may be an activator



-A functional medicine approach to wellness…40:18

Plato: “The part can never be well unless the whole is well”

Systems approach is the best way to improve immune system

Immune system is centered in the gut Problems come with age because diversity in microbiome goes down SIBO leads to leaky gut

Difficulties in fighting chronic illness is due to multiple systems in the body dysfunctioning

Increasing overall wellness provides the best defense against viruses

Effective supplements for immune system wellness: Vitamin C administered intravenously Vitamin D (pro-survival molecule) helps dampen chronic reactions Curcumin and quercetin has been found to inhibit kappa b Probiotics may balance the GI tract X-Viromin Apex Energetics Life Extensions Zinc Lozenges Quercetin Vitamin C combo Vitamin A helpful to immune system, Vitamin D offsets some of the toxicity (cod liver oil) Quicksilver “The One” Lauricidin Apex Energetics Turmero NAD Gold from Quicksilver Royal jelly Raw honey Oleuropein (derivative of olive leaf)



-What ozone therapy is…1:06:35

Used by naturopaths and more and more doctors

Nikola Tesla patented first ozone generator in 1896

Ozone has antiviral, anti-fungal, antiparasitic effects

Stimulates NrF2

Decreases cytokines

Ozone is an oxidative therapy (helpful used with anti-oxidative treatments)

Ozone can oxidize sulfhydryl groups on the virus (may block ability of the virus to get into the cell)

“Oxidative preconditioning”

Pretreatment with ozone could be beneficial before exposure to a chronic infection

How is it administered: Ozone generator Ozone enema Sauna treatment Mix with blood, reinsert into body Ozone dialysis

Proponents of ozone therapy: Dr. Frank Schallenberger, world's foremost authority on ozone therapy Dr. Johann Lahodny (high dose ozone therapy) Dr. Robert Rowen

Longevity ozone generators

-How exosomes affect the immune system…1:28:30

Exosomes are the secretion of stem cells

The person who invented the term “stem cell” changed it to “medicinal signaling cell”

Exosomes have TGF beta

Patients with COPD have had exosome treatments

Can be administered via IV or nebulizer

Trial: Stem cells grown in a lab given to patients with the current virus

Part 2 with Drs. Dawson and Mallin of Wild Health…1:48:12

-What we know about COVID-19 at the time of recording (12 March 2020)…1:50:00

COVID-19 is the illness not the virus (SARS 2)

COVID-2 is the virus

“Coronavirus” is a family of viruses

Lower respiratory health is affected

Virus is spread without feeling symptoms

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

Case fatality rate reported as 3.4%; varies by country

Transmissibility rate is the number of people you'll infect on average (2.2 currently)

Worse on the elderly, mild on children

The data is changing by the hour

-How COVID-19 compares with pandemics from the past…1:53:47

2009 H1N1 infected 25% of global population

1918 Spanish flu infected 1/3 of the pop.

Mortality rate of COVID-19 is 3.4% currently; predicted to be lower H1N1 was very low Spanish flu was the highest mortality rate on record

COVID-19 has a higher mortality rate than common flu and H1N1

Higher mortality rate than Spanish flu currently

It's difficult to test for COVID-19, knowledge of how to quarantine

It's not if it will be a big deal; it will be a big deal

Exponential growth: Without containment measures, the virus would double every 6 days

How to test for COVID-19 Quest Diagnostics Lab Corp Genome Send in tests to avoid exposure to infected people Watch Wild Health website for updates



-How to improve your immune system…1:59:03

Standard hygiene Wash hands Don't touch face

Avoid public contact (self-quarantine)

Flatten out the curve

Government interventions (St. Louis vs. Philadelphia with the Spanish flu)

No approved FDA treatments currently

No better time to clean up your diet

Smoking and obesity is a factor for mortality

Get more and better sleep

Exercise without overdoing it

Green smoothies

Supplements: Vitamin D Zinc Olive leaf extract Four Sigmatic mushroom extract Vitamin C Quercetin

Peptides: Thymosin A LL-37 Pentosan polysulfate

Ceylon cinnamon

-What to do if you start to feel ill…2:14:19

Follow CDC and WHO guidelines

You're best served at home

Telemedicine (phone consults)

Don't go to the clinic unless there is a tangible benefit for doing so

Children are not affected as severely but there is a high risk of communicating it to others (grandparents for example)

Closing schools may be important for public health

-Specific advice to health care workers…2:21:12

Have appropriate personal protective gear

N95 masks

Understand how to properly don and doff the gear

Protect yourself first

Isolate infected patients

Nebulizers may spread the infection

Understand intubation procedures

Shave facial hair for the mask to fit

Elderly are the most vulnerable

We don't know how well current tests are performing

Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

Resources from this episode:

– BGF Article: Three Little Known, Unconventional Antiviral Approaches For Boosting Your Immune System.

– Immune Support graphic from Wild Health

– Wild Health website

– Center for Disease Control

– World Health Organization

– Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

– International Peptide Society

Episode sponsors:

–JOOVV: After using the Joovv for close to 2 years, it's the only light therapy device I'd ever recommend. Give it a try: you won't be disappointed. Order using my link and receive my brand new book, Boundless absolutely free!

–Clearlight Saunas: You can be sure that I researched all the saunas before I bought mine and Clearlight was the one that stood out from all the rest because of their EMF and ELF Shielding and their Lifetime Warranty. Use discount code: BENGREENFIELD to get $500 off your sauna and a free bonus gift!

–Water and Wellness: The best solution for clean and safe drinking water. Water and Wellness also offers an amazing line of essential water additives such as Quinton Marine plasma which contain over 78 trace minerals and elements from the ocean to help restore your biological-terrain. Get 15% off your order when you use discount code: GREENFIELD

Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for Dr. Dawson, Dr. Cook, Dr. Mallin or me on how to improve your immune system or anything else discussed on this episode? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!