Oleander: Not A COVID Cure
By: John King
More people than ever before are turning toward a holistic approach in managing their health. As a holistic practitioner I applaud this and encourage my clients to seek out holistic measures to bolster their health. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad information on the internet much of which can be very confusing as well as convincing. You’ve heard the expression “caveat emptor” or buyer beware, I encourage this approach when doing your research.
Recently I received a call from someone who wanted to be treated for COVID-19 with oleander. Upon further inquiry into their request I found they did not actually have COVID but this was more of a preventative measure.
There are several problems with this approach. But first, what is oleander? Oleander or Nerium oleander is a small drought resistant shrub cultivated for it’s beautiful blooms. It is highly toxic to humans and animals both to the touch and by ingestion. It is so toxic that the ingestion of one leaf can cause death to a human adult and contact with the skin can cause a severe rash. Oleander poisoning is rare as the leaves are so bitter they are unpalatable to humans and animals. But when plants like oleander are touted by influencers as a “cure”, without qualification, they become dangerous and even deadly in the hands of those who use them.
Nerium oleander should never be ingested as a whole herb or herbal extract as it is highly toxic. Symptoms of oleander poisoning include: nausea, vomiting, excess salivation, bloody stool, irregular heartbeat, tremors, seizures, coma and death. If someone you know ingests oleander, get them to the hospital right away!
Many of today’s most therapeutic medicines were derived from plants. Some of these plants are highly toxic and therapeutic margins for these medicines are quite narrow, requiring great care in their use. Examples of such medications are atropine and scopolamine. Oleander is no exception. Currently, there is a cancer drug (Anvirzel™) that is derived from oleander. Admittedly, it has some undesirable side effects and must be used under the supervision of an oncologist.
The only way to attempt to use oleander as a medication is in it’s homeopathic form. Homeopathy is a science of using very dilute preparations of substances (some potentially toxic) in order to provoke a healing response. Homeopathic preparations of oleander are said to help with the recovery from viruses such as the flu. Keep in mind that homeopathic preparations only attempt to stimulate the natural healing response, they are not antibiotics or antivirals. They are not “cures” and should not be touted as such. These preparations tend to help with symptoms and may shorten the duration of the illness. To date I have not seen any conclusive evidence that oleander has any dramatic effect on COVID-19. If your COVID symptoms are mild I do not see any harm in trying a homeopathic preparation of oleander to help reduce symptoms. However, there are also many other homeopathic medicines that will do the very same thing. If your body is badly compromised there may not be much of an innate healing response to activate. In which case, homeopathics may not be the right avenue to pursue. And in so far as using homeopathic oleander as a “preventative measure”, forget it, it just doesn’t work that way. You cannot use it to treat something that you do not have. In fact, stimulating the immune system inappropriately can make you feel sick even when you’re not.
If you would like to take a more proactive approach in helping your body with potential COVID-19 exposure, stick to the basics. Wear a mask when in public and sanitize your hands often. Avoid sugar, stay hydrated and do not skimp on sleep. Take a high quality All-in-One Vitamin supplement or at the very least supplement with Vitamin C. If you have special health concerns that make you more vulnerable to COVID such as COPD or diabetes you may benefit from a more personalized supplement program. If you would like my assistance with this I would be happy to help, just register on the site and fill out the contact form and I will get back to you promptly.
If you decide to use a homeopathic preparation of oleander make sure that it is USP Certified and follow the label directions. Should you experience any side effects discontinue immediately and contact your physician.
Best in Health,
John