SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Vital to life on earth, mushrooms are magical. But not necessarily in the way most people think.

“There are gazillions, and most of them are not psychedelic mushrooms," said Dr. Gordon Saxe, a preventative medicine physician and epidemiologist at the University of California San Diego and director of the Krupps Center of Integrative Research. “Most have no mind-altering effect whatsoever but may be really helpful for our health.”

While used medicinally for thousands of years, researchers say there's been a lag in modern science to study their potential today. But a first-of-its-kind study assesses whether medicinal mushrooms and Chinese herbs provide therapeutic benefit in treating acute COVID-19 infection.

“Often, these things would be dismissed as quackery, even though there’s such a long history of their use by folks like Hippocrates and his contemporaries," said Dr. Saxe. "Some of our best Western medicines are derived from fungi. Think penicillin.”

From fending off viruses to boosting our immune systems, Dr. Saxe is among researchers trying to harness the potential of medicinal mushrooms.

MACH-19 (Mushrooms and Chinese Herbs for COVID-19) — a multi-center study led by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UCLA — is among the first to evaluate these specific integrative medicine approaches using the gold standard of Western medicine: the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Working with two mushroom species, turkey tail, and agarikon, Dr. Saxe says they're also studying whether medicinal mushrooms can bolster immune response after vaccination.

To understand science, you must go way back in time.

“We co-developed for over a billion years together. Much of our genetics is very similar to that of fungi and mushrooms," said Dr. Saxe. “The same things that would prey on us – viruses, bacteria – preyed on fungi. And so a billion or more years, they evolved all kinds of exquisite defenses against those pathogens.”

Medicine created by Mother Nature that can benefit humans.

“Many of the substances they produce, will bind, have specificity for cells in our immune system, for receptors on those cells, and so when we ingest them, they can activate or enhance our own immune responses.”

Their rigorous clinical trials are supported by the Krupp Endowed Fund.

“Very few natural products undergo FDA-approved research, and even fewer make it to the point that they receive FDA approval for use," said Dr. Saxe. “Unfortunately, natural products don’t have the same level of patent protection that pharmaceuticals do, so the financial incentives are less.”

Receiving FDA approval would be historic for fungi, which are already having a moment in today’s wellness culture. Varieties like reishi, chaga, and lion’s mane can be found in fancy lattes today and are available over the counter as health supplements.

“And we don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater. We can use pharmaceuticals but also, when appropriate, use natural approaches,” said Dr. Saxe.

Relatively dirt cheap and easy to produce, Dr. Saxe believes unearthing their superpowers could be a critical tool for the world.

“COVID and other diseases are global problems. We have to be thinking globally, not just locally, about these things. It makes sense to use things such as mushrooms to help in this fight.”

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — For many people, a COVID-19 diagnosis means several weeks of isolation at home, waiting for symptoms to pass as the body fights off the disease. But doctors and pharmacists now have many ways people can alleviate symptoms to make their recovery more comfortable.

That's especially true when it comes to the four most common symptoms of COVID-19: fever, aches, cough, and shortness of breath.

They warn, however, that you should consult with your doctor before starting any form of treatment.

The CDC says the best treatment for fever or body aches is still an over-the-counter drug like acetaminophen.

As for a cough, there is a combination of OTC medicines and homeopathic treatments.

"We can use the time-tested remedies," says Merissa Corey, the pharmacy supervisor for Sharp Healthcare. "A humidifier or a vaporizer works great to help soothe and control a cough."

Corey also says to look for specific active ingredients when choosing an over the counter treatment like cough syrup or throat lozenges. Guaifenesin is an expectorant, which can help you cough out built-up mucus or fluid. Dextromethorphan works as a cough suppressant for a dry cough.

If you experience shortness of breath, experts say it can help to lay face down in the prone position.

"That can help the mechanics of the lung and gas exchange," says Dr. Atul Malhotra, UC San Diego's research chief of pulmonary critical care.

He put out a study showing that laying in the prone position has helped COVID-19 patients in a hospital setting. The study says it can help increase ventilation and relieve stress on the lungs.

Malhotra believes it may work at home as well.

"But," he warns, "it needs to be done cautiously."

Malhotra says you should only practice laying in a prone if your doctor advises it. Malhotra also says something as simple as blowing a fan over your face can trigger Trigeminal reflexes in your body to help relax and regulate breathing.

Corey also says movement can help open up the lungs and make breathing easier. She suggests short walks around the house. She also says to practice deep breathing exercises.

"Taking deep breaths, to help clear anything in the lungs, that can help facilitate a better recovery, and oftentimes prevent or reduce the need for advanced treatments," says Corey.

Meanwhile, a November study from North Carolina State found that green tea, dark chocolate, and certain types of grapes can help fight the disease by blocking certain enzymes in SARS-COV-2. Those enzymes, called the Main Protease, are what help COVID-19 replicate and grow in your body.

The study says chemicals in those foods prevent the enzyme from functioning.

Doctors also say rest and sleep are an essential part of COVID-19 recovery. Malhotra says sleep deprivation increases the risk of pneumonia and makes it harder for your immune system to fight off disease.

Corey says all of this can combine with other home-based comforts to make people feel better.

"It's time to get that favorite book, make some phone calls to friends, let everyone know you're okay," she says. "And stay positive."

Again, experts say to talk with your doctor first before trying any home remedy.

This article was written by Jared Aarons for KGTV.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A team of scientists are declaring that a total of seven coronavirus variants spotted around the United States are carrying the same mutation, as reported in a study published over the weekend.

“These variants tell us that the virus is adapting to us,” said UC San Diego’s Dr. Davey Smith, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health.

“The virus evolves every day that it's growing. It develops mutations and some of those mutations are beneficial to the virus and if they're beneficial to the virus in terms of being able to spread, then those mutations stay and that’s why we call them variants,” he said.

The new study reveals that the mutation is in a gene that influences how the virus gets into the host cells, leading researchers to worry about whether the mutation causes the variants to be more transmissible. The new study has yet to be peer-reviewed.

Meanwhile, the contagious UK and South African variants remain of serious concern.

“People should get their vaccine as soon as they’re offered it. That's one way to curb the evolution of the virus in general. So, the more of us that get vaccinated as soon as possible, the less the virus is able to grow within the human population and less likely to evolve,” added Dr. Smith.

He said that in the future, the public may need to receive annual COVID-19 vaccines, similar to how flu shots are given, because the flu virus continues to evolve.

This story originally reported by Jennifer Kastner on 10News.com.

LA JOLLA, Calif. (KGTV) -- In 2019, a UC San Diego student started a website and business to fulfill what was originally a personal need. But now, the young entrepreneur is catering to hundreds of students on campus.

When Jaida Day moved from Los Angeles to La Jolla to attend UC San Diego in 2018, she immediately noticed a problem.

"I would ask around, 'Where is the nearest beauty supply?' and they would say, 'It's 30 minutes away from campus, driving,' and I'm a freshman, and I'm like, 'I can't do that all the time! I need these products right now,'" Day remembered.

To maintain her beautiful braids, the 20-year-old needed to either get a $40 Uber ride to get two products 30 minutes away or stock up when she went back home.

The university, which according to 2019 statistics, has a 2.9% African American undergraduate population, did not have the Black beauty products Day needed on campus. So the Math and Computer Science major took matters into her own hands.

"I'm like, your local beauty supply, that's what I like to tell people," Day laughed.

In 2019, she opened up a pop-up shop every other week at the campus Black Resource Center. But since the pandemic, she shifted operations online to a website she created called Black Beauty Near You.

"You add to your cart, I email you what my availability is, I package your order, and give it to them," Day said.

Her online shop spread by word of mouth, and now, her dorm room has become a stock room. She serves hundreds of customers like 21-year-old Sociology, Law and Society major, Kayana Hudson. The Compton native said the products in the student store just weren't cutting it.

"Honestly, it saved my life. It gives students access to Black hair care on campus," Hudson said. "We have Pantene products in the market, but I need my Mielle sometimes."

While Day is proud of her business, she does not want it to last forever. She hopes her business inspires the school and other college campuses to cater to a more diverse student body.

"I hope that by the time I graduate, Black Beauty Near You is not going to be necessary on this campus anymore," Day said. "That we will have what we need in the markets on campus. That would be lovely. That would be the goal."

This story originally reported by Rina Nakano on 10News.com.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Some doctors think there will be a need for a third COVID-19 vaccine "booster" shot.

"At some point, I think it's very likely," said UC San Diego Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. Davey Smith. "When that point is, I don't know."

A lot is unknown about the need for a booster shot, as the vaccines have only been around for six months. That's barely given researchers time to determine how long they provide complete protection against COVID-19.

Dr. Smith says it's a process that can take years.

"We follow a whole bunch of people who got a vaccine, we measure their immune responses, and then we look and see how often people are getting infected over time," he explains.

"Once we start seeing more infections below a certain level (of antibodies), then we're like, okay, so if somebody has this level of antibody and it dips below that, then perhaps we need a booster at that point," said Dr. Smith.

But measuring antibodies may not be the only indicator of the need for a booster. As the pandemic continues, doctors discover new mutations and variants of COVID-19. There is a strong possibility one of those variants could be resistant to the vaccine, requiring a booster.

"Some of the mutations might be able to evade the immune protection," said Sharp Chula Vista Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Hai Shao. "As a result, our neutralizing antibodies needs to be tweaked, to be made specifically against the new variants of viruses so that the level of protection can be modified and sustained."

Dr. Shao compares it to the flu, where the yearly vaccine includes several variants. He believes there may be a need for that type of vaccine for COVID-19.

"The likelihood is high," Dr. Shao said. "The question is when do we need the first booster, and how often do we need it after that."

In separate interviews last month, the heads of both Pfizer and Moderna said their vaccines would probably need booster shots. They did not specify when.

Current studies show the vaccines offer protection for at least six months and are effective against all known variants.

Research beyond that is ongoing.

In the meantime, Dr. Shao and Dr. Smith say everyone must get their initial doses of the vaccine to help achieve herd immunity.

"It is important for us to focus our attention and make sure that people who have not gotten the vaccine yet get it in time," said Dr. Shao.

"When you get a vaccine, you're protecting your community," said Dr. Smith. "I really want to get that message out."

This story was originally published by Jared Aarons at KGTV.