You remember when I told you may favorite things to take to strengthen your immune system? Turns out, this illness, when severe results can result in cytokine storm, and this is one of the things thought to contribute to the mortality of this infection. Turns out, this is part of the way elderberry strengthens the immune system, and many are cautioning that it SHOULD NOT be used in this illness. Remember, my blog is not to be taken as medical advice—particularly in this extremely fluid situation. I’m not even sure what to do here myself! Because there is so little understood, I am currently still taking my elderberry, but at this point, I would stop it if I were to become ill. What would I say as a physician to my patient? If my license were behind it, given the risk, I would recommend against it. When it’s not a personal choice, but a professional one, I don’t take risk lightly AT ALL. Hopefully this sheds some light on how little we understand—talk to YOUR physician. Ask their opinion. Again, when it’s my license, I’m extremely risk averse.
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