12 Natural Alternatives to Oral Ivermectin Evidence based Review (2024) Part 1 of 4

This practical guide on natural alternatives has more than 200 supporting studies that represent the best of science-backed strategies for nutritional interventions in the prevention and....

We use Ivermectin horse paste since 2020. We’ve never had a problem with it. We use the horse paste because we could not secure a prescription for Ivermectin people pills.

By: Dr Frank Yap, M.D. - November 12, 2024

Ivermectin

The use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 has been controversial. 

Ivermectin is often recognized – 2nd to penicillin – for having the greatest impact on human health. And its discovery won the Nobel Prize in 2015. Ivermectin has an increasing list of indications due to its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, and is included on the WHO’s Model List of Essential Medicines. Several studies reported antiviral effects of ivermectin on RNA viruses such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, West Nile, Hendra, Newcastle, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, chikungunya, Semliki Forest, Sindbis, Avian influenza A, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, Human immunodeficiency virus type 1, and COVID 19 virus.

If you are confused about the recommendations made by different professional groups for the COVID-19 pandemic and you don't accept what you read at face value, you've come to the right place. Before you continue to read this long-form article, let's start with the end in mind and begin with the conclusion that you may have been told from various mainstream media channels:

• Most of the studies on ivermectin are small and are of low quality? 

• Ivermectin is for horses and dogs?

• We shall wait for bigger and better quality evidence before we can make formal recommendations? There’s no evidence that IVM works or the effectiveness is yet to be proven? 

• There are no randomized controlled trials of IVM? 

In a nutshell, there are two conflicting recommendations from various professional groups. One for and the other against.

The past two years saw basic health information censored and slapped with "mis/dis/mal/information" labels amid a pandemic. 'Misinformation' is based on inaccurate facts. So, what are accurate and inaccurate facts? That will depend on science and research. However, science and research can be manipulated and is subjected to bias. Therefore, it is wise to do your own research in consultation with your trusted doctor. Unfortunately, some of the references used by many media channels are based on outdated studies, or a biased selection of studies based on the narrative that they would like to support.

According to the The Cochrane Review’s editor-in-chief, Karla Soares-Weiser:

“For each measure, though, lack of evidence of effectiveness is not evidence that the interventions are ineffective. Rather, the details of these reviews show why there may never be strong evidence regarding the effectiveness of individual behavioural measures when deployed, often in combination, in a general population living in the complex, diverse circumstances of individuals’ everyday lives. Waiting for strong evidence is a recipe for paralysis. Public health officials must, instead, take measured gambles, based on circumstantial evidence from the reviewed studies and other sources. When protecting the public from harm is the objective, public health officials must act in a precautionary manner to take action even when evidence is uncertain (or not of the highest quality), particularly when the harms and costs of such action are likely limited." - (source)

Check out the evidence tracker on ivermectin and COVID-19 from c19ivermectin.com (constantly updated), with more than 90 published studies (43 RCTs) by more than 1,000 scientists in 27 countries.

Related: Anti Spike Protein Effect of Ivermectin

Natural Alternatives to Ivermectin

Ivermectin is a useful medication against Covid but we don't think it's a miracle drug. There is more than one way to manage COVID-19. 

In the event that you simply cannot get ivermectin, there are viable natural alternatives. Although ivermectin is a relatively safe drug, it's still a synthetic chemical that can have side effects. Nutrients are natural alternatives that will benefit your body for optimal health. 

We know there’s an ocean of information out there to navigate, so we’ve compiled and covered 12 best natural alternatives for ivermectin. 

We have perused hundreds of studies and identified multiple nutritional supplements that can be a  game-changer in the alleviation and prevention of severe COVID-19.

Various dietary supplements can be used in combination with other treatments of COVID-19. All these featured supplements have scientific studies to back up their claims. These natural alternatives can easily be purchased over the counter in most countries.

Nutrients and nutraceuticals tend to be agnostic to the COVID-19 virus i.e. it doesn't matter if the patient is down with the Indian, European, Delta, Omicron or Deltacron variants. The mode of actions tend to be multiple and do not have a specific target like targeting the spike protein alone.

Nutrients and supplements are also safer alternatives especially if your risk is low e.g. age below 50 and no other chronic illness. Discuss with your doctor on the benefit vs risk for each treatment. If you are on multiple medications, be aware of supplement-drug interactions that might enhance the possibilities of adverse effects.

The important key takeaway is that you should never attempt to self medicate without the guidance of a licensed medical provider. If you are not a medical doctor, you are likely to find the information below overwhelming. The aim of this article is to empower you with a better understanding of the options available and to discuss the options with your medical doctor as an informed patient.

That said, here are some of the substitutes for ivermectin that, in some parts of the country, will be easier to buy whenever we want them. 

Vitamin D3

Quercetin

Zinc

Melatonin

Curcumin from Turmeric

Vitamin C

Black Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa

NAC (N Acetyl Cysteine

Green Tea (EGCg)

Thiamine (B1)

Nutraceutical Therapy by Mode of Action

We have provided the list below as a summary and followed by a summary explanation and references for each option/nutrient:

1. Vitamin D3

2. Quercetin

3. Zinc

4. Nigella Sativa (Black Seed Oil)

5. Melatonin

6. Vitamin A

7. Curcumin and Turmeric

8. Vitamin C

9. NAC and Glutathione

10. B Vitamins and NAD+

11. Probiotics

12. Nattokinase

1. Vitamin D3 - Anti-inflammatory and Anti-coagulant

At this point, there is simply no question that vitamin D optimization is a crucial component of COVID-19 prevention and treatment. In addition to the many studies published during 2020 and 2021, since December 2021, four large systematic meta-analyses (R, R, R, R) have been published, looking at either vitamin D levels, supplementation or both.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, published in Pharmaceuticals (Jan 2023), is titled “Protective Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on COVID-19-Related Intensive Care Hospitalisation and Mortality: Definitive Evidence from Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis”. Vitamin D cuts the risk of death from COVID-19 by 51% and the risk of ICU admission by 72%.

In all cases, the data consistently show that low vitamin D levels raises your risk of COVID while higher baseline levels and/or supplementation lowers all risks by 1.5 to three times.

The TSA (trial sequential analysis) revealed "the protective role of vitamin D and ICU admission showed that, since the pooling of the studies reached a definite sample size, the positive association is conclusive." To put it another way, the results suggest "a definitive association between the protective role of vitamin D and ICU hospitalization." 

Words like "conclusive" and "definitive" aren't typically used lightly in scientific research. So, this finding is indeed impressive — although not altogether surprising, since a wealth of other data also shows vitamin D's protective effect against COVID-19. What does raise eyebrows, however, is why the study, which has major implications for public health, isn't being talked about — and vitamin D isn't being widely recommended for COVID-19?

Vitamin D, as an immuno-modulator, is a perfect candidate for countering the immune dysregulation common with COVID-19. Vitamin D deficiency affects the body’s susceptibility to infection and has been associated with influenza, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other viral diseases [Source]. Surveys indicate that most people in the United States consume less than recommended amounts of vitamin D. 

Scientists from Harvard reported in 2021 that hospitalized patients with a 'Vitamin D blood serum level' of ≥30ng/mL had a much lower mortality rate than those with <30ng/mL.

Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis (Nutrients 2021) suggested that COVID-19 mortality risk correlates inversely with vitamin D3 status, and a mortality rate close to zero could theoretically be achieved at 50 ng/ml 25(OH)D3.

In a June 2022 review paper titled “The Role of Diet and Supplements in the Prevention and Progression of COVID-19: Current Knowledge and Open Issues”​ published in the journal Preventive Nutrition and Food Science, researchers said:

"The consumption of vitamin C and D supplements, in addition to a healthy diet, could be promoted as a co-adjuvant therapy for COVID-19..."

For more evidence, check out the evidence tracker on vitamin D and COVID-19 from c19vitamind.com (constantly updated), with more than 100 published treatment studies and more than 130 sufficiency studies by more than 1,000 scientists.

Trusted Source

Vitamin D has also been shown to have an anticoagulant effect. A decrease in 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration has also been associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (PubMed).

Safety: Daily intakes of up to 25–100 mcg (1,000 IU–4,000 IU) vitamin D in foods and dietary supplements are safe for children (depending on their age) and up to 100 mcg (4,000 IU) are safe for adults. These values, however, do not apply to individuals receiving vitamin D treatment under the care of a physician. Higher intakes (usually from supplements) can lead to nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, pain, loss of appetite, dehydration, excessive urination and thirst, and kidney stones. In extreme cases, vitamin D toxicity causes renal failure, calcification of soft tissues throughout the body (including in coronary vessels and heart valves), cardiac arrhythmias, and even death.

Excessive vitamin D in combination with lack of vitamin K2 may cause over-absorption of calcium, which in turn may result in calcium deposits in your heart and kidneys and why some experience symptoms of vitamin D toxicity. Part of the explanation for these adverse side effects is that vitamin K2 keeps calcium in its appropriate place — in your teeth and bones and out of soft tissues and arteries.

Vitamin D and Omicron variants

Will Vitamin D Work Against FLiRT, Omicron BA4, BA 5 and XBB variants? Vitamin D is not variant specific because it's primary mode of action is to support the body’s immune system which reacts in a variety of ways against viral attack, not just in a specific antibody reaction to a specific spike protein. 

Related: Best Vitamin D3 Supplement

2. Quercetin - Anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, zinc ionophore and anti-viral

As of July 2024, there have been 11 published studies of quercetin and COVID-19 (c19quercetin.com). 

Quercetin is a pigment that is found in plants, vegetables, and fruits, and serves as an immune nutrient offering many health benefits. Elderberry, red onions, white onions and cranberries are the richest sources of quercetin. It is a flavonoid and antioxidant that may help to reduce inflammatory cytokines, infections, allergies and anti-blood clot property. Research has found that quercetin may be particularly beneficial for viral respiratory infections.

Quercetin as a Zinc Ionophore

Quercetin is a zinc ionophore (J Agric Food Chem. 2014). A 2015 study found that that Quercetin shows inhibitory activity in the early stages of a wide range of influenza viruses, including H1N1 and H5N1 (Viruses 2016). Although influenza is not in the same family of viruses as the coronavirus, it’s plausible that a similar mechanism could apply here. There is actually some evidence that Quercetin has already proven effective at treating Ebola and Zika viruses.

Quercetin and Vitamin C

Incidentally, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and the bioflavonoid quercetin (originally labeled vitamin P) were both discovered by the same scientist — Nobel prize winner Albert Szent-Györgyi. Quercetin and vitamin C also act as an antiviral drug, effectively inactivating viruses. 

Quercetin Dosage

The FLCCC I-MASK+ protocol recommends 250 mg daily for prevention and 250 mg twice daily for early treatment.

Quercetin works best when taken with vitamin C and Bromelain, as vitamin C helps activate it and bromelain helps with the absorption.

Precaution: Quercetin should be used with caution in patients with hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and relevant thyroid hormone levels should be monitored.

Quercetin and ivermectin interactions? According to Drugs.com: "No interactions were found between ivermectin and Quercetin. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider."

Quercetin and COVID-19

For an updated list of studies, check out c19quercetin.com. 

A word about quercetin: Some physicians are recommending this supplement to reduce viral illnesses because quercetin acts as a zinc ionophore to improve zinc uptake into cells. It is much less potent than HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) as a zinc transporter, and it does not reach high concentrations in lung cells that HCQ does. Quercetin may help reduce risk of viral illness if you are basically healthy. But it is not potent enough to replace HCQ for treatment of COVID once you have symptoms, and it does not adequately get into lung tissue unless you take massive doses (3-5 grams a day), which cause significant GI (gastrointestinal) side effects such as diarrhea.

Editor's Note: Studies typically use advanced formulations for greatly improved bioavailability.

Related: Best Quercetin Zinc Supplement

By: Dr Frank Yap, M.D.

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Disclaimer: I am a dedicated herbalist working with botanical remedies to heal people naturally without toxic side-effects. Since I am not a medical doctor I make no claims as to diagnosing or treating medically defined conditions. I use natural,, plant sourced materials to bring your body back into balance. Herbal medicine is generally understood to be very safe. However, certain herbs may interact with certain prescribed pharmaceutical medications or be contra-indicated when pregnant. Please consult with your prescribing physician if you are on any medications before opting for herbal remedies.