Over the past two years, we’ve shared, here in the Daily Post, more than 60 press releases sent to us by San Juan Basin Public Health on various topics related to the COVID crisis.
More than one press release every two weeks, on average.
I believe many of these same press releases were also shared by the Durango Herald and by the weekly Pagosa Springs SUN. SJBPH has made a concerted effort, in other words, to keep the public informed about numbers of cases, and about the mandates handed down by Colorado Governor Jared Polis. The district has encouraged people to get vaccinated.
During those same two years, we’ve shared more than 40 Daily Post editorials (written by yours truly) that discussed the crisis, often from a different perspective than the one offered by SJBPH.
Looking at people’s willingness to submit to at least one vaccination, we see that — according to the SJBPH Dashboard — about 77% of eligible residents in La Plata County have received at least one dose of vaccine, while the percentage in Archuleta County is about 69%, according to SJBPH accounting.
This suggests that about a quarter of the eligible citizens in La Plata County — 23% — have avoided all vaccinations… as have nearly one third — 31% — in Archuleta County.
One might assume, from that difference in vaccination rates, that the number of COVID cases per capita might be lower in La Plata County? Due to the higher vaccination rate?
But according to SJBPH, La Plata County has confirmed a total of about 12,900 cases since March 2020 — or about 23 cases per 100 residents.
Here in Archuleta County, SJBPH has tracked about 2,900 COVID cases, which comes to about 21 cases per 100 residents.
Vaccination rates didn’t make any difference? Mask-wearing didn’t make any difference?
People in Archuleta County are simply healthier?
Or the data is inaccurate? If the data is inaccurate… which data, and how seriously inaccurate?
Maybe something else is going on?
One of the more popular American websites for tracking the progress of the COVID crisis — in terms of suspected infections and deaths — has been the John Hopkins School of Medicine.
According to their numbers, the COVID death rate in the U.S. is currently about 300 per 100,000 population. That’s not nearly as frightening as the death rate in Peru (654) or Bulgaria (528)…
…but the U.S. rate is considerably higher than, say, Cuba (75) or Finland (55) or South Korea (43) or Japan (23).
China clocks in with a death rate of 1.0 — one-point-zero — with 14,043 confirmed deaths in a nation of 1.4 billion people.
Is this data flawed? Or are these real numbers?
If these numbers are real, what do Cuba and Finland and South Korea and Japan and China understand about COVID — that we can learn from them?
From a July 2021 article in ‘Frontiers in Pharmacology’ by Zhong Sun, et al.
Experience indicates that Traditional Chinese Medicine effectively treats SARS and has been used for treating patients with COVID-19 in China. As one of the world’s oldest herbal remedies, licorice is used for treating patients with all stages of COVID-19. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), the main active compound in licorice, has been proven effective in killing the SARS virus. Meanwhile, as a natural plant molecule, GA can also directly target important protein structures of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2…
Licorice Root, the root of the licorice plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, is one of the world’s oldest medicines. Despite its long history, not many American doctors prescribe it nowadays; they seem to prefer an experimental, hastily-tested ‘messenger RNA’ inoculation.
And here’s another interesting botanical medicine.
Since the beginning of the COVID crisis, I’ve kept a bottle of ‘Osha Root’ tincture on my desk next to my computer screen.
Osha, known scientifically as Ligusticum porteri, is a bitter-tasting root found mainly in the Rocky Mountains, with a long history as a traditional medicine in both the U.S. and Mexico, among Native American tribes. Some tribes refer to it as “bear root”, based on observations of bears eating the root when they are ill, or during their weakened state following hibernation. One source states, “Bears have also been observed to chew the roots up into a paste, drop it on the ground and roll in it to coat their fur, possibly to protect themselves from parasites and infections. Plants such as osha, that have their origins as bear medicine, are highly respected and considered to be strong, protective, nurturing, and healing.”
From the Zuma Nutrition website:
Historically, osha root has been used as medicine by Native American and Hispanic cultures. Today, osha is used for sore throat, bronchitis, cough, common cold, influenza, swine flu, and pneumonia…
Osha root can help alleviate various breathing concerns in a number of capacities. Osha root helps clear mucus from the sinuses and lungs by increasing expectoration — this relieves congestion and makes breathing easier. Osha root also increases blood circulation to the lungs, which increases dilation during constriction…
It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare practitioner before using products medicinally, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are taking other medications.
I purchased my osha tincture from Earthsense Herbals, here in downtown Pagosa. Herbalist Lake McCullough also makes a “Lung Support” tincture that includes Osha, Turmeric, Mullein Leaf, Horehound, and Lobelia, “formulated to help promote circulation to the lungs, dilating the bronchials, easing coughs, and promoting decongestion.”
I have no idea how long the Native Americans of the southwest have been using osha root to treat flu and pneumonia. Several centuries? Several millennia?
None of the 60 articles sent to us by San Juan Basin Public Health, about the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, mentioned osha root.
Nor did any of the SJBPH articles mention licorice root, or glycyrrhizic acid.
But we didn’t expect them to.