For decades workplaces have been full of sick people with colds and flu “soldiering on”, dosed up on over-the-counter drugs, but the advent of a pandemic has seen the era of the flu martyr waning. “Presenteeism’” (where people turn up to work sick) has been replaced by convalescence. The word convalescence may conjure up romantic, Secret Garden-esque, images from wholesome 19th Century novels set in Victorian Britain. However, it simply means the gradual return to health after illness or injury, a gentle process of recovery and recuperation.
In the current health climate there are many people recovering from COVID-19 (estimated to be more than 220,000 people in Australia at the time of writing). While there is no miracle cure, there has been a lot of talk about certain supplements which can make life much more bearable during the illness but not much emphasis on the aftermath of the disease and the convalescing patient. According to the renowned herbalist Simon Mills “the neglect of convalescence may yet prove to be one of the most serious mistakes of modern medicine.” The seminal herbal textbook, Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy, says: “A good convalescence is a marvellous thing. It rounds off an illness and gives it meaning; it makes the sufferer stronger for having had the illness. In a way no vaccination could do, it arms and strengthens the immune defences and provides real protection against recurrence, possibly forever…”
When it comes to illness, sometimes the end is just the beginning. Recovery from COVID-19 can be slow, with the patient feeling very weak and lacking in vitality. Getting better takes time and deserves respect. People now realise that mandatory bed rest and increasing fluids will give the body a much better chance at fighting disease. And herbalists know that there are many herbs which can be used during the convalescence period along with attention to a nourishing diet and gentle exercise coupled with rest, clean sheets, fresh air and sunshine.
Nutritive and tonic herbs are frequently used to replenish minerals and vitamins spent during an illness. These are herbs such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), nettle leaf (Urtica dioica), oats green (Avena sativa) and rose hips (Rosa canina). Bitter tonics, such as gentian (Gentiana lutea) and dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale), speed recovery by stimulating the appetite as well as digestion. As illness can take its toll on the immune system herbs that build white and red blood cells have a part in convalescence. These herbs include astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), echinacea (Echinacea spp.), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and schizandra (Schisandra chinensis). Adaptogens, and adrenal strengthening, herbs such as liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) and withania (Withania somnifera) help with general strength and fatigue. Which herbs are prescribed depends largely on what the patient is convalescing from. For instance, if it is a respiratory disorder lung herbs such as mullein (Verbascum thapsus), garlic (Allium sativum) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) can be used. Nervines (nervous system tonic herbs) such as St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) and vervain (Verbena officinalis) may assist with the depression that can follow a debilitating illness.
References
Kinman G, Grant C. Presenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic: risks and solutions, Occupational Medicine, Volume 71, Issue 6-7, August-October 2021, Pages 243–244, https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqaa193
Coronavirus (COVID-19) case numbers and statistics. Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health. (accessed 7 Mar 2022). Available from https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/case-numbers-and-statistics
Bone K, Mills S. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier: Edinburgh;2013.p 86
Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester: Healing Arts Press. 2003. p. 339
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