Can Vitamin C Beat The Coronovirus? Chinese Doctors Seem To Think So!
Holistic Stress Solutions, March 7, 2020
The government of Shanghai, China has announced its official recommendation for the treatment of COVID-19; their solution is high amounts of intravenous vitamin C also known as IVC. [1] The dosage recommendations vary from with the severity of the illness, from 4,000mg to 16,000mg of vitamin C, administered intravenously. Intravenous administration is important, says intravenous therapy expert Atsuo Yanagisawa, MD, Phd, because “vitamin C’s effect is at least ten times more powerful by IV than if taken orally. Dr. Yanagisawa is president of the Tokyo-based Japanese College of Intravenous Therapy. He says, “intravenous vitamin C is a safe, effective, and broad-spectrum antiviral”.
Richard Z. Cheng, MD, Phd, a Chinese-American specialist physician, has been working closely with medical and governmental authorities throughout China. He has been instrumental in facilitating at least three Chinese clinical IVC studies now underway. Dr. Cheng is presently in Shanghai continuing his efforts to encourage still more Chinese hospitals to implement vitamin C therapy incorporating high oral doses as well as IVC. Dr. Cheng and Dr. Yanagisawa both recommend oral vitamin C for prevention of COVID-19 infection” [2]
The use of Vitamin C in the fight against illness is not a new idea. For more than 80 years, Vitamin C has been successfully used to combat infections from influenza to polio. Beginning in the 1930’s, Vitamin C was used to lower fever and reduce pain in pneumonia patients. [3] In the 1940’s Frederick R. Klenner and Robert F. Cathcart successfully treated influenza and pneumonia with very high doses of vitamin C. [4] Later in 1949, the first successful use of vitamin C in the fight against Polio was recorded. [5] In the following decades, the successful use of vitamin C continued around the world, with doctors finding success in treating everything from cancer[6] to sepsis [7].
In fact, by 2019 it was estimated that Vitamin C was a $1.14 billion dollar industry, and that it will continue to grow to $1.52 billion dollars by 2024.[8] China is the world’s largest producer of Vitamin C, generating an estimated 95% of the global supply.[9] That’s why, on February 23, 2020 the shipment of 50 tons of Vitamin C from the Province of Hubei should have been unremarkable- however, the destination made it newsworthy. All 50 tons of that vitamin C was shipped to Wuhan to combat COVID-19 coronavirus.[10]
Three confirmed Vitamin C treatment studies are currently underway in China. [11] Led by Dr. Richard Cheng, the first approved study of 12,000 to 24,000 mg/day of Vitamin C by IV has been successful enough to prompt the approval of additional studies. Dr. Cheng has been quoted as saying, “Early and sufficiently large doses of intravenous vitamin C are critical. Vitamin C is not only a prototypical antioxidant, but also involved in virus killing and prevention of viral replication. The significance of large dose intravenous vitamin C is not just at antiviral level. It is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that kills most people from coronaviral pandemics (SARS, MERS and now NCP). ARDS is a common final pathway leading to death.”[12]
In this second study, says Dr. Cheng, “They plan to give 6,000 mg/day and 12,000 mg/day per day for moderate and severe cases. We are also communicating with other hospitals about starting more intravenous vitamin C clinical studies. We would like to see oral vitamin C included in these studies, as the oral forms can be applied to more patients and at home.” [13] And on Feb 21, 2020, a third research trial was approved for intravenous vitamin C for COVID-19. [14]
Intravenous vitamin C is a safe, effective, and broad-spectrum antiviral, that can be used to minimize or even prevent symptoms for future viral infection, including the recent outbreak of COVID-19. Preventing an illness is obviously easier than treating an illness, so do all that you can to remain healthy. That being said, always treat serious illness seriously! Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if you become ill. Using nutrition based methods to prevent illness, does not replace treatment once a person becomes sick. Vitamin C and supplements can be used right along side medicines when indicated. If you have any questions, please contact your healthcare provider, to ensure that there are no contraindications for previously prescribed medications.
For further information on the use of Vitamin C and nutritional based methods to prevent illness and combat viruses such as the coronavirus, please visit: http://orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html
Resources:
1- https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bF2YhJKiOfe1yimBc4XwOA
2- http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n16.shtml
3- Gander and Niederberger. Vitamin C in the handling of pneumonia.” Munch. Med. Wchnschr., 31: 2074, 1936.
4- Klenner FR. (1948) Virus pneumonia and its treatment with vitamin C. J South Med Surg 110:36-8.https://www.seanet.com/~alexs/ascorbate/194x/klenner-fr-southern_med_surg-1948-v110-n2-p36.htm.
5- Klenner FR. The treatment of poliomyelitis and other virus diseases with vitamin C. J South Med Surg 1949, 111:210-214. http://www.doctoryourself.com/klennerpaper.html.
6- https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/vitamin-c-pdq
7- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191001110838.htm
11- http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n12.shtml
12- http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n12.shtml
13- http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n11.shtml
14- https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04264533
Additional resources-
http://2yuan.xjtu.edu.cn/Html/News/Articles/21774.html
Klenner FR. Observations on the dose and administration of ascorbic acid when employed beyond the range of a vitamin in human pathology. J Applied Nutrition 1971, 23:3&4. http://www.doctoryourself.com/klennerpaper.html
Klenner, FR. (1951) Massive doses of vitamin C and the virus diseases. J South Med and Surg, 113:101-107.
Klenner, FR. (1971) Observations on the dose and administration of ascorbic acid when employed beyond the range of a vitamin in human pathology. J. App. Nutr., 23:61-88.
All of Dr. Klenner’s papers are listed and summarized in: Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C (ed. Lendon H. Smith, MD, Life Sciences Press, Tacoma, WA, 1988. This book is posted for free access at http://www.seanet.com/~alexs/ascorbate/198x/smith-lh-clinical_guide_1988.htm
http://www.doctoryourself.com/klennerpaper.html
Hochwald A. Beobachtungen uber Ascorbinsaurewirkung bei der krupposen Pneumonie.” Wien. Arch. f. inn. Med., 353, 1936.
McCormick WJ. Have we forgotten the lesson of scurvy? J Applied Nutrition, 1962, 15:1 & 2, 4-12. https://www.seleneriverpress.com/historical/have-we-forgotten-the-lesson-of-scurvy/
Slotkin & Fletcher. Ascorbic acid in pulmonary complications following prostatic surgery.” Jour. Urol., 52: Nov. 6, 1944.
Slotkin GE. Personal communication with WJ McCormick. December 2, 1946.
http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n07.shtml