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Published on: Apr 13, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Plasma Treatment For COVID-19?

TREATING COVID WITH BLOOD

We have previously covered proposed treatments for COVID-19, in particular hydroxychloroquine, and explained why we shouldn’t look for a magic cure for this disease. Viruses are difficult to treat, and ultimately supportive treatment appears to be best we can achieve. But an editorial published in BioMedicine Central appears to show a novel treatment for the most ill patients, one that may have flown under most people’s radar.

“A novel treatment approach to the novel coronavirus: an argument for the use of therapeutic plasma exchange for fulminant COVID-19”

An interesting title. Lets dissect it.

SUMMARY

- Blood is made up of many different components

- The immune system recognises the virus and produces antibodies against it to neutralise it

- These antibodies float in the blood plasma, a watery solution

- The plasma can be extracted from donated blood, and given to patients suffering from COVID-19

- So far evidence suggests it can help treat the most seriously affected patients.

WHAT IS IN OUR BLOOD

To understand this we must first understand what our blood is made of. Most people know that blood functions to transport oxygen from our lungs. But this is an oversimplification. Blood has many different functions:

- Transport: along with oxygen it transports sugars, fats, protein subunits throughout the body. This is done with the watery PLASMA of the blood.

- Clot: cells and protein structures act to plug any holes that form from cuts and damage. This is done by the PLATELETS in the blood

- Immunity: Immune cells respond to bacteria, viruses, parasites in the blood and body. They target these pathogens, identify and tag them with antibodies, and ultimately destroy them. This is done by the WHITE BLOOD CELLS.

And many more functions that we won’t bore you with.

IMMUNITY

It is this last point that is of interest to us. Our immune system consists of white blood cells that can recognise invading organisms in the blood, around cells and even invaders hiding within our own cells. All cells have protein markers on their surface, no matter if its human cells, bacterial, viral, fungal etc. These markers can be highlighted and targeted by specialised white blood cells, who in turn produce antibodies against these markers. Think of antibodies as handcuffs with flares attached: once attached other white blood cells use this information to find and destroy the invaders.

What is amazing about antibodies is how complex they are. The proteins in our body are incredibly complex. They are long chains that fold into unique shapes depending on hundreds of different types of chemical interactions. These are so complex that supercomputers can take literal years to figure out the shape of a single protein and how it folds depending on the subunits in its chain. This means that our immune system has to recognise these markers and figure out a complementary tag out of hundreds of billions of potential sequences. Antibodies have to be specific to their tag. If an antibody is produced that can target more than one tag, it can cause problems. If it targets a bacterial tag, but accidentally highlights the person’s cells as well, the immune system will start targeting and destroying the person’s organs. These auto-immune disorders can be devastating.

But when they work, antibodies are miraculous. They persist in the blood after an infection, and if a second infection occurs, memory cells in the blood can rapidly produce these antibodies before the infection can even produce symptoms. This is known as immunity, and is why we usually don’t get the same illness twice. Antibody based treatment is see as the future of medical therapy, and is something we will cover in future blogs.

PLASMA EXCHANGE

From population testing we can see that the majority of patients with COVID-19 recover, experiencing either mild symptoms, moderate symptoms requiring some form of treatment and hospitalisation, or no symptoms whatsoever. In these patients their immune system will have successfully recognised the virus and produced antibodies against it to neutralise the virus. It is the patients with severe symptoms, those in which the virus is running rampant in the body, that the production of antibodies happens too late.

Plasma exchange involves obtaining blood from patients who have beaten the virus, spinning the blood to separate out the red cells, white cells, platelets and watery plasma. The plasma contains all the glucose, small proteins and importantly for us, the antibodies. This plasma can be transfused into patients with COVID-19 that cannot cope, in order to help their immune system. These transfused antibodies will neutralise some of the viruses in the patient, reducing the viral load, amount of replication and cell destruction that causes such devastating symptoms in COVID-19.

The published editorial showed that in the most critical pneumonia patients, requiring mechanical ventilators and drugs to support the heart, mortality in plasma exchange patients resulted in a 47.8% mortality instead of 81.3%. Of course it is a single study with a limited number of patients, but the results are encouraging. It is further helped by the fact plasma exchange is a well established therapy, with established protocols known to intensivists and haematologists.

THE FUTURE

We may see the use of Plasma exchange for critically ill patients increase as the pandemic continues. It is not a treatment option available for everyone, as it requires intravenous access and careful monitoring in a controlled setting. But it also needs donation from people who have recovered from COVID and have suitable antibodies. So whilst it might not be a magic pill that everyone expects to cure COVID, it might be the difference between life and death for those that need it most.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, UK, Chief Product Officer, Second Medic Inc

www.secondmedic.com

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Best Home Remedies for Glowing Skin

Glowing skin is not simply a cosmetic goal. It is a visible reflection of skin health, hydration, and cellular repair. While the market is flooded with serums and treatments, dermatologists consistently observe that the most sustainable skin glow comes from consistent, simple, and evidence-supported practices. The good news is that many of the most effective ingredients are already available in an Indian kitchen.

Why Skin Loses Its Natural Glow

Before applying any remedy, understanding the root cause of dull skin is essential. Dermatologists identify the following as the most common triggers in the Indian context:

Cause	Effect on Skin
Pollution and sun exposure	Oxidative stress, pigmentation, uneven tone
Dehydration	Reduced elasticity, dryness, dullness
Poor diet and nutrient deficiency	Slowed cell renewal, loss of radiance
Disrupted sleep	Impaired skin repair, dark circles, puffiness
Hormonal imbalance	Acne, oiliness, pigmentation
Harsh skincare products	Damaged skin barrier, redness, sensitivity

Identifying and addressing the underlying cause is as important as applying any topical remedy. Skin that appears dull despite consistent care often signals an internal factor requiring dietary or medical attention.

Which Home Remedy is Best for Glowing Skin?

Among all widely used natural ingredients, raw honey combined with aloe vera gel is considered the most universally effective home remedy for glowing skin. Honey acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin, while its antibacterial and antioxidant compounds protect against environmental damage. Aloe vera complements this by delivering vitamins A, C, and E directly into the skin, supporting collagen synthesis and reducing inflammation.

This combination works across all skin types, requires no preparation time, and demonstrates consistent results in clinical observations relating to skin hydration and barrier repair. Applied three times a week for 15 to 20 minutes, this remedy produces visible improvement in skin texture and brightness within two to three weeks of regular use. For individuals with oily or acne-prone skin, aloe vera used alone without honey is the preferred option as it is non-comedogenic and lightweight.

Top Home Remedies for Glowing Skin by Skin Type

One of the most significant gaps in standard advice is that remedies are rarely matched to skin type. Applying the wrong ingredient can worsen the skin condition rather than improve it. Dermatologists recommend the following skin-type specific approach:

Skin Type	Best Remedy	Key Benefit	Frequency
Dry Skin	Raw honey and milk paste	Deep hydration, lactic acid exfoliation	3 times per week
Oily Skin	Multani mitti with rose water	Sebum control, pore tightening	2 times per week
Combination Skin	Aloe vera gel	Balances moisture without clogging pores	Daily
Sensitive Skin	Oat flour and plain yogurt pack	Soothes inflammation, gentle exfoliation	2 times per week
Normal Skin	Turmeric and honey mask	Antioxidant boost, brightening	2 to 3 times per week
Dull or Pigmented Skin	Potato juice or tomato pulp	Natural kojic acid, reduces pigmentation	3 times per week

Matching the remedy to skin type is the single most important factor in achieving consistent results from any natural skincare routine.

Which Kitchen Ingredients Work Best for Skin Glow?

Several common Indian kitchen ingredients carry clinically recognised skin benefits. The mechanism behind each ingredient matters as much as the application method:

Turmeric (Haldi): Contains curcumin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. Curcumin inhibits melanin synthesis, which helps reduce pigmentation and uneven skin tone over time. Used as a paste with milk or honey, turmeric is one of the most researched natural brightening agents.

Raw Milk: Contains lactic acid, a naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates dead skin cells, stimulates collagen production, and improves skin luminosity. Applying raw cold milk with a cotton pad and leaving it for 15 minutes is a simple and effective brightening practice.

Besan (Gram Flour): Functions as a mild physical exfoliant and oil absorber. Mixed with turmeric and rose water, besan-based face packs have been used across Indian households for generations and remain dermatologically appropriate for most skin types.

Aloe Vera: Rich in polysaccharides that support skin hydration and mucilaginous compounds that form a protective barrier. Clinical data supports its use in reducing UV-induced skin damage and accelerating epidermal repair.

Potato Juice: Contains catecholase, an enzyme with mild skin-lightening properties. Particularly useful for reducing dark circles, tan lines, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

How to Get Glowing Skin Naturally in One Week

Most competitors list remedies without telling readers how to actually use them together. The following 7-day routine is structured to progressively address cleansing, exfoliation, hydration, and brightening within a single week:

Day	Morning	Evening
Day 1	Raw milk cotton pad cleanse	Aloe vera gel application
Day 2	Rose water toner	Honey and aloe vera mask (15 min)
Day 3	Raw milk cleanse	Turmeric and honey mask (10 min)
Day 4	Rose water toner	Aloe vera gel application
Day 5	Raw milk cleanse	Besan, turmeric and rose water pack (15 min)
Day 6	Rose water toner	Potato juice on dark spots (20 min)
Day 7	Raw milk cleanse	Honey and aloe vera mask (15 min)

This routine uses no more than three to four ingredients across the entire week, minimising the risk of ingredient overload or skin irritation. Always perform a patch test on the inner forearm before applying any new ingredient to the face.

Lifestyle Habits That Support Glowing Skin From Within

Topical remedies address the surface. Skin glow that is deep and lasting is primarily determined by internal health factors that all four competitor articles fail to address:

Hydration: Dermatologists observe that inadequate water intake is the single most common and most overlooked cause of dull skin among Indian adults. A minimum of 2.5 to 3 litres of water daily supports cellular metabolism and maintains skin turgor.

Diet: Skin cells require vitamins C, E, and A along with zinc and omega-3 fatty acids for repair and renewal. Indian dietary staples such as amla (Indian gooseberry), carrots, spinach, walnuts, and flaxseeds provide these nutrients in bioavailable forms. Reducing refined sugar intake is equally important, as excess glucose triggers glycation, a process that breaks down collagen and accelerates skin ageing.

Sleep: The skin's repair cycle peaks during deep sleep between 11 PM and 3 AM. Chronic sleep deprivation elevates cortisol, which degrades collagen and increases inflammatory skin conditions. Clinical specialists recommend seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep as a non-negotiable component of any skin improvement plan.

Gut Health: Emerging dermatological research on the gut-skin axis confirms that dysbiosis (imbalance of gut bacteria) is linked to acne, rosacea, and dull skin. Incorporating fermented foods such as curd and buttermilk into the daily diet supports gut microbiome balance, which in turn improves skin clarity.

Home Remedies to Avoid: What Dermatologists Warn Against

This section exists in none of the competing articles and represents the most clinically important addition to this topic. Several widely promoted "natural" skin remedies are actively harmful:

Lemon juice directly on skin: Lemon juice has a pH of approximately 2, far too acidic for direct skin application. It disrupts the skin's natural acid mantle (pH 4.5 to 5.5), causes photosensitivity, and can result in chemical burns or permanent pigmentation when skin is exposed to sunlight post-application.

Baking soda: Despite its popularity on social media, baking soda has an alkaline pH of 9, which severely disrupts the skin barrier, strips natural oils, and causes microbial imbalance on the skin surface.

Toothpaste on pimples: Toothpaste contains fluoride, menthol, and hydrogen peroxide, none of which are formulated for skin. It causes contact dermatitis, dryness, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly on Indian skin tones.

Undiluted essential oils: Applying undiluted tea tree oil, lavender oil, or any essential oil directly on the face without a carrier oil causes irritant contact dermatitis and skin sensitisation.

Dermatologists advise that if a remedy causes stinging, redness, or visible irritation, it should be discontinued immediately regardless of how widely it is recommended online.

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