Epstein Barr Virus

This months Allergy Research Groups newsletter had an article outlining Dr. Dana Flavins nutritional treatment protocol for Epstein Barr Virus infection. It is a particular combination of nutrients that creates an intricate interaction in the immune system. The result is a rapid return to health in 24 to 48 hours.14.8 ml of licorice root twice a day or 500 mg glycyrrhicinic acid three times per day (Note, the spice anise tastes like licorice, but it isnt licorice. You will often find anise rather than licorice in licorice candy. Be aware that licorice will raise blood pressure.)

500 to 750 mg of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) three times a day or 500 mg of methionine twice a day.

40 to 60 mg of zinc per day (Note, this much zinc might not be healthy for long term use. However, this treatment protocol is only for a few days.)

800 IU of vitamin E with mixed tocopherols per day

1 gram of vitamin C three times a day

500 mcg of sodium selenite per day (only 200 mcg for children)

A full article describing this protocol will appear in the Summer issue of The Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine.



Polly, Thanks a lot!

I am convinced that Epstein Barr is my problem with candida...

I have been doing l-lysine on and off and it really helps a lot. However, it looks that this is hard on your liver and kidneys, so it cannot be done for long time.

A new protocol is something worth trying for sure!

thanks again...


Hi Polly,

How are you? It nice to see you here! I hope you are well.

Thanks for posting this. I have very, very high levels of Epstein Barr Virus, so I am going to try this formula. Some of my favorite teas have real licorice and they always make me feel better.

Is this protocol a complete cure or does it just work temporarily?

The Lyme suppresses my immune system and causes these other viruses to activate again. So, I'm glad to have something to help.

Guess I got over enthusiastic about posting what I've read recently about Lyme. Hope I didn't bore you too much with things you already knew. Maybe there was something here of use.


Polly,

Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!Thank you!!!! That's all I can say to my sweet friend.

Lyme is such a broad subject that eventually it's bound to branch off into many subspecialties. The things you posted here were new & helpful to me. I had not come across this info in any of my reading. My LLMD hadn't told me about these things, either.

I find the acetylcholine and pain influence fascinating. I'm going to try supplementing to see if it will reduce some of my pain.

Thanks, Polly!


Oh good! Glad it was of help. The prescription Urocholine would work the best to increase acetylchoine. As for the others, I guess it would depend on the person, which of those things would work the best.

The acetylchline would also reduce TNF-alpha, which would get rid of some of the inflammation and help improve sleep.


I will have to inquire with dr. to see if I can get this script.

Speaking of drs., I have an appt to see a Naturopath who trained with Dr. Bernard Jensen. I am looking for a 2nd opinion and perhaps a different approach to treating Lyme other than anti-biotics. I've heard some good reports of her treatment helping Lyme patients this way. Candida is a real problem and I'd hate to fuel it along.

Some Naturopaths believe antibiotics are necessary anyway. I figure I can always do the antibiotics if this route doesn't work...

http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/Lyme_chart8.pdf

Nitric oxide is toxic to Lyme. So Viagra or arginine, since they increase nitric oxide, will help kill off the Lyme.

Of course if you use arginine, it should be balanced with lysine (about equal proportions) otherwise you may increase growth of some viruses.


Polly, I hope you don't mind me adding a little. There was mention of a Mycoplasma co-infection with the Lyme. Just a note from the trenches that caution may need to be exercised with Arginine depending on the type of MYCOPLASMA involved. Notwithstanding its possible effects on LYME and the potential mitigating effects of Lysine, research shows ARGININE may ENHANCE the activity or growth of some species of Mycoplasma, but INHIBIT other species of Mycoplasma. For many reasons, it is good to determine the exact strain of Mycoplasma in play when preparing an attack plan. Arginine can be a primary or alternate source of energy for many types of Mycoplasma. I looked for a straightforward reference, but there doesn't seem to be anything straightforward about Mycoplasmas!


Excellent information, Jed. Thank you.

Nitric oxide is also a free radical, meaning that you should probably use some antioxidants if you are going to supplement arginine.

I read an article, which I don't understand. Maybe you can explain it. It said that nitric oxide converts to peroxynitrite, which is quite harmful. Then the article went on to say that you need to support the nitric oxide system by taking things like arginine. So, what is going on here? That would increase nitric oxide production.

Here is the article:
www.immunesupport.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-causes.htm

Infection and Inflammation, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A theory was published by Dr. Martin L. Pall, a professor of biochemistry and basic medical sciences at Washington State University, in 2001. The theory starts with the observation that infections that precede and may therefore induce Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and related conditions act to induce excessive production of inflammatory cytokines. This initial step activates a series of reactions:

Inflammatory cytokines induce, in turn, nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which synthesizes excessive amounts of nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide reacts with superoxide to produce the potent oxidant peroxynitrite.

Peroxynitrite acts via six known biochemical mechanisms to increase the levels of both nitric oxide and superoxide, which react to produce more peroxynitrite.

In this way, once peroxynitrite levels are elevated, they may act to continue the elevation, thus producing a self-sustaining vicious cycle. According to the theory, it is this cycle that maintains the chronic symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and it is this cycle, therefore, that must be interrupted to effectively treat this condition (Pall 2001a).

Breaking the chain of inflammation caused by chronic viral infections would require a three-part protocol:

First, the underlying viral infection should be addressed with antiviral supplements (such as ginseng, echinacea, and lactoferrin) and those that shift the Th1:Th2 ratio (such as essential fatty acids and vitamin E).

Second, inflammation should be reduced with anti-inflammatory agents (such as essential fatty acids and curcumin).

Third, the nitric oxide system should be supported with supplements (such as arginine, vitamin B2 [riboflavin], vitamin B3 [niacin], and folate).

Thanks Polly. Praise from you is praise indeed! I actually had a couple of torturous questions up my sleeve for you, but you asked me one first....

Scanning that article you quoted quickly, I don't see how that's supposed to work either, but I will see what I can find out.

This is not one of the questions I had in mind, but I did wonder if you had thought about the potential downside of using Viagra to spur nitric oxide production in a male who would not otherwise normally need Viagra?

I think I misquoted Pee Wee Herman in my posting to Paul below on 10/25/06 (Best not to ponder?). What I suspect Pee Wee actually said was something like: "It's like trying to unravel a giant cable knit sweater that someone keeps on knitting and knitting and knitting and KNITTING!"

I will get back to you.


Expanding on the mention of taking antioxidants if nitric oxide is employed, and specifically regarding countering the harmful effects of peroxynitrite, I found the following:

"Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a vitamin-like, sulphur-containing compound that can be synthesized naturally in the body. It is often referred to as the 'universal' antioxidant since it is both fat-soluble and water-soluble, which enables it to provide antioxidant protection in virtually every part of your body. ALA is the superstar of antioxidants because it helps to generate the activity of other antioxidants in the body including Vitamin E, Glutathione, and Co-Q10. Once in the body, ALA is converted to dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), which is efficient at neutralizing two of the nastiest free radicals: singlet oxygen and peroxynitrite. ALA also helps to detoxify and chelate mercury, lead and cadmium." - Dr. James B. LaValle, ND.

Various other sources I have come across recommend supplementing with exogenous ALA either generally, or for its various actions specifically.

In addition to its reported antioxidant and chelating capabilities, I have seen mention of its beneficial effects on nerve function and of its helping to combat neuropathy, which it certainly seemed to do in my case.

There are now three types of ALA as far as I know. The two more expensive and recently developed ones claim to be more efficient and stay in the body longer than the older, standard form.


Very interesting. Thank you Jed! Guess the moral is that you should take some lipoic acid with your Viagra.

I've not found much else to discourage the use of Viagra or Cialis or Levitra. It can be a problem for heart patients that might need to take nitrates. It can cause eye problems in some people.


Polly, I am taking my Alpha Lipoic Acid daily, but not rushing out to buy stocks in the companies making Viagra, Cialis or Levitra just yet.

I am still looking into things. It's quite confusing, but it gets more and more interesting!

On the subject of Nitric Oxide, in the Townsend letter and Chart 8 you referred to, it talks about 'NO' (Nitric Oxide), but I think it also mistakenly refers to Nitrous Oxide (N2O), which is an anaesthetic.

Nitric Oxide (NO) is apparently not to be confused with either Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), another air pollutant, or Nitrous Oxide (N20), which is commonly known as laughing gas.

From what I can see, Nitric Oxide is no laughing matter. In fact, it's connected to some quite explosive issues!

Nitroglycerin, as used by Alfred Nobel in his invention dynamite, can be one of the sources of Nitric Oxide.

Apparently, Alfred Nobel had heart problems later in life and was prescribed Nitroglycerin, which is used to dilate blood vessels, relieve angina and so on.

Nobel refused to take Nitroglycerin because he did not believe it could help his health: he knew it caused headaches. As we now know, Nitro is a dynamite lifesaver!

The different properties and effects of Nitric Oxide are evidently a study in similar contradictions and seeming paradoxes, as is illustrated by the article on CFS you quoted.

Another article I have seen on Lyme says "Nitric Oxide can be thought of as a double-edged sword; while it is an essential defense against some pathogens, its overproduction in certain tissues can have direct deleterious effects."

I shall not let fear of the possible stiff consequences of Nitric Oxide deter me, but concentrate on finding out more and making sense of what I can about Nitric Oxide's effects on pathogens. It looks like it will take a lot of knitting things together though. In fact, it looks like I may come unravelled in the process!

I'll give it my best shot. No promises on results. I may have to just pull some ideas and references together and throw them back at you.

Why, a bunch of people got a Nobel prize as recently as 1998 for elucidating some of the effects of Nitric Oxide. What say, Polly, if we really get anywhere, shall we go halves?

Half of nothing is still nothing. :)
Yet, I wonder if arginine will end up as part of a treatment protocol, yet definitely not the whole enchilada.

Arginine is very important for T cell production as well as NO production. In a petri dish, NO will kill off Lyme, but if you increase NO in the body, the Lyme spirochete seems to be able to evade it. (Changes form? Hides?)

From:
www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=173547

The in vivo inhibitor of the NO synthase enzyme NG-L-monomethyl arginine (LMMA) was given to mice to investigate whether decreasing NO production would alter the course of disease. LMMA effectively blocked NO production in infected mice; however, there was no significant difference in arthritis development, spirochete infection of tissues, or production of specific antibody in LMMA-treated mice. These results indicate that B. burgdorferi is able to persist in the host even in the presence of high levels of NO.


Polly, don't despair! There may be something in it yet.

The article you cited this time is the article I quoted from before about Nitric Oxide being a double-edged sword, but it's from 1995.

From the other sources I saw, I don't think it is necessarily the end of the Nitric Oxide question in general by any means, even though the 1995 University of Utah article doesn't seem so encouraging where Nitric Oxide is concerned for Lyme.

I found a number of more recent approaches and different ideas for different diseases, because it seems they are still working out how Nitric Oxide works.

As you know, some seem to think Nitric Oxide can help in different situations, but again there's the question of how to take advantage of its reported good effects without triggering its bad effects, and who exactly is right about what.

I agree Arginine will increase T cells as well as Nitric Oxide and could therefore be part of some types of treatment protocol for different diseases. In fact, I've seen it recommended here and there.

The thing is, what to do with problems like the fact that some micro-organisms like some types of Mycoplasma are thought to infect even the T cells and be encouraged by Arginine and so on?

Then again, there's the tricky 'double-edged sword' questions such as, if you limit the bad effects of the Nitric Oxide cycle by taking antioxidants and free radical scavengers like Vitamin B-12 Hydroxycobalamin, do you in fact possibly deplete Nitric Oxide levels to the extent that you may actually encourage micro-organism growth, at least in some areas?

I'm intrigued and will keep on the trail, although I suspect it will lead to more almost unanswerable questions.

If nothing else, I feel I really have to try to see if I can find the answer to your original question about making sense of the basis of those ideas in the Immune Support article for dealing with the CFS Nitric Oxide/Peroxynitrite vicious cycle theory.


Thanks Jed!

If you ever do get a definite answer on the mycoplasma stuff, I'd be interested.

If you can get a definite reading on what species of Mycoplasma you have, based on the knowledge that is out there, you can better REFINE your plan of attack with your doctor. Some of them can even make the time to try to read and interpret the research articles!

I saw that Schardt article above. Specifically with regard to the mention of Penicillins, from what I have seen, when Lyme is involved and treatment with Penicillins is considered, it should be borne in mind that Penicillins basically attack the cell walls of bacteria WITH CELL WALLS.

Penicillins may be effective against some forms of Lyme, but they are generally said to be ineffective against Mycoplasma, which do not have traditional cell walls, but rather MEMBRANES/PROTEIN COATS.

See this article on the generalities of Mycoplasma:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol3no1/baseman.htm

Further, there is a fair bit of reference out there to patients with Mycoplasma becoming MORE symptomatic (i.e. WORSE) on Penicillins, but improving on other antibiotics.

So, I think people have to think about what to do with they know they have (or have a clinical diagnosis for) and bear in mind side effects and interactions, known or unknown - of EVERYTHING.

There is a lot of information and many different ideas for Lyme and Mycoplasma treatments at the following sites amongst others:

www.immed.org (articles & treatment)
www.ilads.org
www.raintreenutrition.com
www.mycoplasmasupport.org

Everybody is different, and you have to bear your entire personal medical situation in mind, but those are sources of general information you might want to consider.

I really hope you have a good doctor, or can get one. In my experience, one good doctor is worth the hundred that came before!


>.....depends on what species of Mycoplasma you have...,

My test says Mycoplasma Pneumoniae AB

>>I saw that Schardt article above. Specifically with regard to the mention of Penicillins, from what I have seen, when Lyme is involved and treatment with Penicillins is considered, it should be borne in mind that Penicillins basically attack the cell walls of bacteria WITH CELL WALLS.

Interesting!

>>Penicillins may be effective against some forms of Lyme, but they are generally said to be ineffective against Mycoplasma, which do not have traditional cell walls, but rather MEMBRANES/PROTEIN COATS.

I did not know this. So two different antibiotics may be needed--one to attack the Mycoplasma & one to attack the Lyme?>>Further, there is a fair bit of reference out there to patients with Mycoplasma becoming MORE symptomatic (i.e. WORSE) on Penicillins, but improving on other antibiotics.

I did not know this either. The last thing I want is to be made worse!

>>So, I think people have to think about what to do with they know they have (or have a clinical diagnosis for) and bear in mind side effects and interactions, known or unknown - of EVERYTHING.

Sometimes the side effects are worse than the original problem! Or you have to take something to counter it.

>>There is a lot of information and many different ideas for Lyme and Mycoplasma treatments at the following sites amongst others:

www.immed.org (articles & treatment) www.ilads.org www.raintreenutrition.com www.mycoplasmasupport.org

Thanks for these sites! There is indeed a lot of information out there. The trouble is wading through it all and seeing how it applies to my personal situation.

>>I really hope you have a good doctor, or can get one. In my experience, one good doctor is worth the hundred that came before!

I agree 100%. I've had several bad doctors who messed me up worse than I was before. Your statement, "One good doctor is worth the hundred that came before!" is so true! The trouble is how to find that good doctor!

That's a lot to think about. Let me think about it some. I'll be back to you.


If you go to the "Contact Us" section of Paul UK's website below and put your contact details, I can arrange to call you.

www.yeast-candida-infections-uk.co.uk.


Jed,

Do you know the names of any excellent Lyme drs. who also know and treat yeast & heavy metals?

Thanks,


This is an excerpt from

Dietary Supplements in Lyme Disease

http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/lyme0206.htm

One of the known actions of the Lyme spirochete toxin is to diminish the release and availability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This substance is biosynthesized by the body as required in nerve activation and transmission. Supplementation by the precursors of acetylcholine synthesis would be of value to Lyme patients since they have a deficiency of this substance. (See Listing 1.)

Listing 1: Dietary Supplements Increasing Acetylcholine
Synthesis Improving Neurologic Function

Phosphatidylcholine (Lecithin)Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Lysine (Amino Acid)
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) (Sulfur-bound Adenosyl Methionine)

If the inhibition of acetylcholine release were total, Lyme patients and those suffering from food poisoning would not be able to move; they would be completely paralyzed. Since the blockage is only partial, any increase in the amount of available neurotransmitter would benefit anyone experiencing neurotransmitter blockage. For this reason, dietary supplements increasing the amount of available acetylcholine have been shown to benefit Lyme patients.


Guess how you get rid of some of the pain? Increase your acetylcholine.
From http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/Lyme_chart3.pdf
"Acetylcholine deficiency in Lyme disease leads to muscular pain, fatigue and depression/anxiety. "

Also here is a French reference that states essentially that everyone knows that a lack of acetylcholine will increase pain perception.

Document title
Intravenously administered oxotremorine and atropine, in doses known to affect pain threshold, affect the intraspinal release of acetylcholine in rats
Author(s)
ABELSON Klas S. P. (1) ; HGLUND A. Urban (1) ;
Author(s) Affiliation(s)
(1) Department of Physiology, Division of Comparative Medicine, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SUEDE

Rsum / Abstract
Both systemically and intrathecally administered cholinergic agonists produce antinociception while cholinergic antagonists decrease pain threshold. .....


Urocholine (prescription), DMAE, Jarrows CDP-choline, taurine


Increased carbon dioxide concentration helps produce acetylcholine. So, thyroid, coQ10, and anything that helps your cells produce carbon dioxide should help.


Are people in the Lyme community now using Pepto Bismal, De-Nol or Zantac to get rid of the Lyme in the intestines? These are all bismuth preparations. (Zantac is ranitidine bismuth citrate. Pepto bismal is bismuth subsalicylate. De-Nol is bismuth subcitrate.)

There was one death using intravenous EDTA-bismuth to treat Lyme. So that treatment looks like it is too strong. However, pepto bismal should mainly stay in the intestines and therefore might be much more tolerable.

Here is an article about Lyme and bismuth.

www.gaianstudies.org/articles9.htm

(Bismuth should not be taken at the same time as Cat's Claw, because bismuth will inactivate the Cat's Claw.)

Hi Pace,

What it does is activate the immune system. I got the impression, that it was a complete cure in many people. Unfortunately, with a coinfection of Lyme, I don't know if this formula is up to the task. Worth a try though.