My SARS-CoV-2 The AD Robb Solution and Treatment 02

Since my last post I have refined my solution to use a simple hand warmer pad that is readily  available in Canada ski country. Hand-warmers require a layer of cloth to avoid over heat injury and so I have included a pouch design using common materials. The cloth is to control the heat. Adding layers will lower the heat. I used a small heat glue gun to tack the pouch together and I made a template for making many copies shown in the photo. Tacking the insulation in place then sewing the sides is good.

My comment on the treatment is that I have never tried this on COVID-19 and don't know anyone that has. I have tried that equivalent heating pad on colds and flu and it works like a charm. I have sent notes with this information to about 15 organizations and have so far received no personal response. So if someone tries this on the coronavirus, please make a comment!

Nose and Sinuses Warmer for Colds

Why is it necessary to warm the nose channels and sinuses?  Most colds are caused by viruses that propagate in the nose channels and sinuses. These areas supply the ideal temperature and humidity for this to happen. The purpose of these areas is to warm the incoming air and collect moisture on outgoing air. Cold viruses propagate rapidly in a temperature range of 33-35 ⁰C and humidity range 40-50%, an environment found in the nose areas. Rhinoviruses, the cause of most colds have been found to stop existing above 38.8 ⁰C and humidity of 95%.  So by blocking the nose entrance stopping cold air from entering, and heating the channels to above 39 ⁰C, you can create an environment that demolishes the viruses.

The process is time-dependent as it takes a while for the heat to travel along the various paths.  The materials the nose is created from are good heat conductors, so the process is relatively fast. Blocking off the nose and breathing through the mouth, increases the temperature in the nose to core temperature in about 5 minutes. During this process, it is best to block the nose inlet on the side of the face that is being heated and to breathe through the mouth. This stops the cold air inlet thus maximizing the heating process.

Both heating pads and hand-warmer pads are suitable for heating. The heat output can be easily adjusted, both have sufficient heat capacity, heat output is constant and both are designed for body heating. I would not use any other heat sources as the danger of over-heating could cause burning. Neither of these devices has temperature gauges.  I use an infrared detector which is non-intrusive and immediate. A body thermometer will work but make sure it will measure up to 44 ⁰C. I also use a digital cooking thermometer for measuring the pad temperature. The back of the hand or forearm can be used to check the temperature of your source if none of the above are available. The advantage of the warming pad is that its’ size is perfect for this application. It should be noted that heating the skin, blood will rise to the surface turning it red. The redness will disappear in a few hours.

For electric heating pads, the highest or second-highest setting can be used.

Hand-warmer pads are inexpensive bought in bulk and much less bulky to use. Read the instruction on the package.  (I’m not sure of the term medical use means as it is not defined. I used the pads in my ski boot to keep my feet warm.)  The pad uses the oxidation of iron to create heat which means they need oxygen/air to create heat.  When removed from their sealed package they require some massaging to get them started. Returning the pad to a sealed, air evacuated bag stops the heating process, ready to use again. These pad are designed for local heating of body parts. Ideal.

Equipment Needed

A thermometer, a warming pad, a pouch, and a plastic bag to seal the pad when not in use

Make a Pouch

 The pouch is a sandwich with material surrounding the pad. One outside layer of cloth shields the skin from the pad and the rest is insulation.   Instructions on how to make a pouch are included.

Application of the Heating Pad and Pouch

In this process, the pouch is placed at 9 locations on the face and neck. The figures on the left, show these locations.  Here are some preliminary instructions:

·        Breath through the mouth.

·        Hold the pouch place for 10 minutes in each place.

·        Massage the heating pad between application areas if it cools from the lack of oxygen.

·        Press hard enough to ensure contact but light enough to let air penetrate the insulation to the pad. Heat is transferred mostly by the amount of contact pouch surface. Uniform constant pressure on the pouch is best.

·        Open the package and start the heat process. Insert the pad into the pouch, folding the sealed ends to fit. Check the pad temperature.

·        When the pad is warm to 42 degrees C  (about 15 to 20 min) apply the pouch to the locations. Use as many fingers as needed.

·        Go to the Locations page to apply the pouch.

When the heating process is completed, remove the heating pad from the pouch and place the pad in the corner of the sandwich bag.  As per instructions for the pad use, force all the air out of the bag and seal it, to stop the heating process.

Note: If an electric heating pad is used, some of the above instructions are unnecessary. I have two new heating pad. One with 6 settings, that heats to temperature in 30 second and large 12” x 24”, and another that has 4 setting and the same size that take about 2 minutes to heat.  I use both on the highest setting.

This ends the first session.

After the application of heat above you should expect a clearing of the nasal passages. If lost your sense of smell it may return also.  Some people will have redness where the heat is applied but this should disappear in a few hours. Viruses cause some damage and so it takes some time to heal. The first sign of symptoms is a sign that the damage has begun. The amount of damage depends on the amount of time the virus takes to reproduce and be detected.  It also depends on the rate of reproduction. If this treatment is applied early the damage is minimal and the repair time may be only a day or two.  A second application a day later may be necessary if the nasal passages are not completely cleared.

Extensive damage caused by the virus will take more time to repair.  It is not known to what depth this process will penetrate but it will eliminate the most prolific virus generators and give the immune system time to take action. I gargle with a tea made with fresh ginger root, very thinly sliced. 

If you have an electric heating pad, applying it to your throat and chest may help. If you have a high fever it may be necessary to cool some other parts of your body, such as legs uncovered.

 

An Engineer’s Take on SARS-CoV-2 Towards a Solution

In general, viruses that cohabit in our bodies have a high-temperature limit.  Often, the limit is higher than our core temperature of 37 ⁰C, and so for a while, we co-exist. If they cause trouble, our body reacts by putting our immune systems in action.  One response is to increase our body temperature, usually by a few degrees. In some cases, the body temperature goes too high to above 40 ⁰C, putting us in a jeopardy. We start cooking at that temperature.

But we can tolerate relatively high temperatures (43.2 ⁰C) very locally, such as our hands when we wash dishes and themselves many times a day. We eliminate rhinovirus causing the common cold at about 38.5 ⁰C, influenza a little higher.  Coronavirus seems similar as most people escape with symptoms of a bad cold.  The exception is that it clogs the lungs of some people.  Young people have the advantage of higher core temperatures and more active immune systems.  By heating certain critical locations causing a micro fever where the viruses recreate, we can eliminate them.  

I took a long way around to get there. For several years now I have used heat to eliminate colds and flu.  I also used over the counter pills and syrups to suppress the effects of colds.   

I first use hot baths and eventually measured my core temperature. I submerged myself in water, heated to the limit of my tolerance (about 41.6 ⁰C) and found my core temperature rose to about 39 ⁰C. This temperature is sufficient to demolish the bug.  In the last few years, I have instead used heating pads to heat my chest and throat. Then I started reading about colds and flu and found that most colds were caused by the cold viruses incubating in the nasal passages.

I found that lying down
is easier and less work.

So this is where I applied my heating pad. This works fine. I apply the heating pad holding it tight against my nose, eyebrows to tip, one side at a time, for about 10 to 15 minutes each side. I also found this process would clear my sinuses in my forehead and cheeks. Similarly, it also worked on my sore throat and chest as mentioned above. This process was much easier to apply than a hot uncomfortable bath. Colds went away overnight and the damage caused by the virus over the next few days.  I believe that I can’t completely get rid of all of the viruses but I sufficiently damage the reproduction process and environment to an extent that the body immune systems can finish the job.

I have recently been very interested in SARS-CoV-2.  I am in the old category and most vulnerable. After detection, the symptoms soon appear.  The incubation time is about 5-6 days during which the virus spreads vigorously. In young people, it seems to be less destructive, but with older people, even if they are on ventilators, their life expectancy is not good.  Some people survive and some don’t.  Older people have weaker immune systems and lower core temperature. This raises the question, “does half a degree make that much difference?”

If you look at the morphology of cold viruses, they seem in general to prefer to incubate in a temperature 33-36 ⁰C range. This is approximately the mean temperature of the nasal passage, per reports, and frontal sinus by my crude measurement. The viruses also seem to like moist surfaces.  When we expel breath out we moisten the air channel from lungs to the nose.  You can see the mini cloud formation on cold days. Every breath you take conveys the viruses out into the free air and the lungs.

The viruses also seem to have similar upper limits because people do survive core temperatures of 40 ⁰C.  So it seems that if the prime areas can be heated to a range of 41-42 ⁰C the virus would be corrupted. If you look at the data, viruses seem to stop being effective at an accelerating rate as the temperature rises to their demise limit.  As mentioned above, some viruses are highly active at 36 ⁰C and gone at 38.5 ⁰C.

I checked the heating capabilities of my newest heating pad; the highest surface temperature I can heat my nose and sinuses to was 41 ⁰C.  I was able to do this by using a double thickness.  The heating pad just sitting on a pillow will heat to about 60 ⁰C but as soon as I apply it to my face, it immediately drops to about 39 ⁰C. It has a very low heat mass and takes about 5 minutes held on my forehead to reach the highest temperature. The nose takes a little longer. I experimented a little on finding the best way to hold the heating pad in place. I found the easiest position is lying down is less tiring as your hand can be supported. For this application, a normal 12”x 12” rather than the King size I use is sufficient. Sufficient pressure must be applied to close the air passage at the nose tip.

I have had rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years and have been able to keep it in remission using heating pads. The older pads have hots spots and could cause burning, but the new type of pads have solved that problem.  They must have sensors and a feedback system to keep the temperature under control. They don’t burn the skin easily. From an engineering point of view, it would be good to know the heat conductivity of flesh and bone but at a guess, it is similar to water. So it takes a little time to heat parts of my face to a useful depth. I have found that by holding the heating pad in place, using my hand, takes about 10 to 15 minutes at each location.  I keep the heat on my throat until the pain goes away.  On my lungs, I heat both my chest and back for about an hour each.  If I have waited too long to heed the cold warning signals I may have to repeat the process a few days later.

There are many parameters to be checked to formalize this procedure, temperature sensitively, heat transfer rate, in situ effects on the virus and immune system, to name a few.  I know this is not the magic pill but you can look at it as radiation treatment on the infra-red spectrum, home remedy style.  I believe that by damaging the virus at the primary breeding areas my immune system will be sufficient to finish the job.

In product design, the first stage is to gather information, set goals and limitation and define the product’s critical  and non-critical functions. The next step is to explore possible paths to a solution. It is good design practice to pole people from different disciplines for their perspectives. My approach here is to look at a virus weakness that can be exploited. I wrote to a variety of people and organizations but have received only robotic replies.  Hence this note has migrated to my blog to see if there is any interest. Although I am a Doctor, I’m the wrong kind and have limited credibility.  My solution here is very simple and easy to apply. The cost of the necessary equipment is approximately $40. If this works the results are catastrophic in a good sense.

If I contracted COVID 19, the above is what I would do. But if some other person tries this, I will only take responsibility if it is successful in adding some control over this awful virus. Call it the AlanR treatment. Please let me know if you try this and your results.  My gift.

Alan Robb

About Lesson 5, The Skill of Blending

View west at the  Golden Hind

The Skill of Blending Skills
The sequence of lessons 3, 4, and 5 is deliberate.  Lesson 3 is about the finish of a turn, Lesson 4 is about the initiation of a turn and lesson 5 is about putting the previous 4 lessons together and adding the concept of skiing with the skis-side-by-side, parallel to each other.  In most beginner lessons the first goal is for the student to make a series of snowplow turns. I have found this practice counterproductive as I believe that once you have made 1  snowplow turn you have made enough. I use the snowplow as a teaching tool, not as a way to ski.  Unfortunately, if you show some people the snowplow turn and have them make a series of them, it can become a way of skiing. It is then difficult to switch to a more efficient way of skiing with your skis parallel to each other. So lesson 5 is designed to make use of the rudimentary skills, previously learned, in order to begin parallel skiing.

Blending Progression

Blending begins slowly starting with a short run with the skis parallel and at a 45-degree angle to straight down the fall line, the steepest hill angle.  There is a conundrum. If the angle is too great the student may go too fast, but if the angle is not steep enough it will be too difficult to apply pressure on the toe, in order to initiate the turn. The angle of 45-degrees in not written in stone, it should be modified greater or smaller, depending on snow conditions and hill steepness in order to make the first turn easily.

As subsequent turns become smoother and easier, the distance covered with the skis parallel can become shorter, and the speed increased gradually.  What happens is that as the speed increases more force is applied to the outside ski.  At some speed level, it will become easier to have the ski on the inside of the turn follow beside the outside turning ski.  The other progression is to try and keep the shoulders and head facing down the hill in the direction of travel.  The students’ balance on the skis should be centred so that pressure on the toe and heel can be applied quickly at the appropriate timing.

The last step in this lesson is for the student to make the turning continuous one turn after the other, by eliminating the short parallel skiing between turns.  The upper body should be facing down the hill in the direction of travel.

Sub-Lessons to  Beginner Lesson
The lessons should probably be named steps, but I wanted to stress the importance of the skills learned in each lesson.  The point is that the lessons are really the first lesson in learning how to ski on the technical side. Perfection is not expected at each stage. The purpose is to introduce the skills and to immediately repeat the process several times, with each time improving performance.

To Speed After Blending
The last lesson, 6, is added for you to experience the sensation of speed on skis.  For some people there can be a background fear of speed, but skiing in a tucked position, on a gentle slope, will give some sense of what speed feels like, often the fun part of skiing. In the tucked position with your feet wide and your elbows on your knees, you can’t fall far and hurt yourself. You know how to stop 3 different ways and how to turn if necessary. This is really a test of confidence in your new-found abilities.  You pass this and you are on the way to being a downhill skier. Time now, to have some fun now.
Miles to Imprint the Beginner Lesson

The next step is to get some mileage. Ski all the green level hills. And then try some blue.  If you find you are having a problem, the best attack is to repeat the lessons and find which one is giving you problems. In the future, you can use the lessons as a test of your skiing competence.