Conrad LeBeau
The seasonal flu is already a deadly killer, but a new and more serious threat now looms on the horizon. A day hardly goes by where there is not yet another story on the spread of the Avian Bird Flu and a deadly strain called H5N1. Published reports state that over 100 million birds in Asia have died from the bird flu or have been killed in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease. Since 2004, over 120 people in Asia who lived in close proximity to infected birds have picked up the virus. The casualty rate for humans infected by the avian bird flu has been a staggering 50%.
Scientists at the U.S. National Institute of Heath fear the H5N1 strain of the virus will mutate into a form that will easily pass from person to person and set off a world epidemic that could kill several hundred million people. The mutations for direct human to human transmission have not occurred yet but the clock is ticking. Meanwhile, migratory birds are now carrying the avian influenza from Asia to Europe and soon the infected birds are expected to arrive in the Middle East and Africa. President Bush has proposed a quarantine to stop the spread of H5N1 if and when it arrives in our backyard.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Avian Bird flu was first seen in the poultry of Republic of Korea in mid December 2003. Soon it spread to the Asian countries of Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The first cases of humans being infected by the strain of H5N1 avian influenza were reported in January 2004 in Thailand and Vietnam.
In the strong warning issued by the United Nations, it was pointed out that bird flu will probably remain for a long time in the countries where the disease outbreaks, and hence strong precautionary measures need to be taken to arrest the virus at its roots. In the avian form, the disease is borne by wild birds, especially ducks, and so it may be difficult to contain the spread of the disease. In the last week of October, 2005, China reported a third outbreak of the bird flu.
The H5N1 strain of the Bird flu, considered the most deadly, has been compared to the Spanish flu of 1918 that killed over 50 million people worldwide. In October, 2005, CNN reported that scientists in Atlanta, GA, have resurrected from scratch the Spanish flu virus that killed as many as 50 million people in 1918, the first time an infectious agent behind a historic pandemic has ever been reconstructed.
Like the 1918 virus, the current avian flu in Southeast Asia occurs naturally in birds. In 1918, the virus mutated, infected people and then spread among them. So far, the current Asian virus has killed at least 65 people but has rarely spread person-to-person.
"Viruses mutate rapidly and it could soon develop infectious properties like those seen in the 1918 bug," said Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger of the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. "The effort to understand what happened in 1918 has taken on a new urgency," said Taubenberger, who led the gene-sequencing team.
The virus recreation is detailed in the journal Science. The completion of that gene sequencing was announced in the journal Nature. The virus was made from scratch, but based on a blueprint from Alaska.
About 10 vials of virus were created, each containing about 10 million infectious virus particles, Tumpey said in an interview with The Associated Press. More may be created, he said, to accommodate researchers' future needs.
The virus particles are being stored at the CDC, and there are no plans to send samples off campus, said Dr. Julie Gerberding, the agency's director. However, the genetic information sequenced by Taubenberger is being placed in GenBank, a public genetic sequence database operated by the National Institutes of Health.
Scientists need access to the research as they try to develop vaccines and antiviral medications against potential future pandemic agents, said Donald Kennedy, editor-in-chief of Science. Presently research is ongoing to develop a vaccine for the bird flu.
Symptoms of the Flu (including the Bird Flu) as reported by Medindia.com, include the following
Persons with reduced capability to produce antibodies are most susceptible. This includes persons with defective B cell function, chronic herpes type viral infections (HSV I and II, EBV, CMV including HHV-6) and persons who easily gets colds and the seasonal flu are the most susceptible to becoming infected with the Avian Bird Flu.
Persons who are HIV+ or in the early stages of cancer are likely to have strong humoral immunity at the expense of cell mediated immunity and will be less susceptible to the avian Bird flu as they are not susceptible now to colds and the seasonal flu. Persons who never get colds or flu's are not likely to get the avian Bird flu due to strong humoral (antibody) immunity.
The more obvious protections during a pandemic are to wear a face mask, wash hands with soap and water after touching door knobs and public phones and avoid places where the public is sneezing and wheezing.
Conventional advice for the seasonal flu, any type, is to rest and drink plenty of water. Preventing the seasonal flu requires an annual flu shot vaccination or in the alternative, good humoral immune responses.
Meanwhile, due to a number of mishaps in prior years including (the use of mercury in vaccines that has been linked to autism in children in the 1990's; a hepatitis B vaccine in 1981 widely given to members of the gay community was contaminated with HIV and helped to rapidly spread the AIDS virus from San Francisco to New York, and other mishaps) a growing number of people have become distrustful of all non-essential vaccinations.
A drug being manufactured in Switzerland called "Tamiflu" is now back ordered by hundreds of millions of doses from several countries. The worldwide scramble to obtain Tamiflu is ongoing even though experts are not sure how effective it will be against an evolving avian bird flu that infects humans. The cost of Tamiflu, even if available, will be unaffordable to billions of persons in the third world. What is needed is a low cost remedy that is plentiful and available now.
Update: On Dec 21, 2005, CBS News reported Avian Flu resistance to Tamiflu
CBS reported that: "Two people infected with avian flu have died despite being treated with Tamiflu, a drug many consider to be the best defense against a flu pandemic, doctors say. Physicians in Vietnam say they found evidence the H5N1 avian influenza virus can quickly mutate into a form that resists the effects of the frontline drug."
CBS reported on tests that found virus samples taken from two patients showed a substitution in a gene that confers resistance to Tamiflu, the researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. "In all, four of eight patients treated in Vietnam for bird flu died despite use of Tamiflu. In one case, a 13-year-old girl was treated during the first 48 hours, which is considered the best time for the drug to work."
The death rate after treatment with Tamiflu is 50%. The death rate from the Avian flu without using Tamiflu has also been reported at 50%. At this juncture, it appears that Tamiflu may has no effect at all on the H5N1 strain of the avian bird flu.
Like all viruses, influenza can become resistant to drugs, so the findings are disappointing but not entirely unexpected to virologists.
It is important for health officials not to wait until a world pandemic is underway to develop and test a number of ways of treating the avian influenza. It is crucial to test now a number of promising treatments in birds that are infected with the virus. What helps birds recover may also help humans recover. The National Institute of Health should conduct tests on birds infected with the H5N1 strain of avian flu using all known low-cost and natural anti-viral substances. This list should include hydrogen peroxide, ozone, grapefruit seed extract, bee propolis, common food preservatives that are on a GRAS list and various botanical extracts.
Beyond rest and water for the flu, is provided below, an expanded list of treatment possibilities for consideration by the doctor and/or the patient.
No one can be sure which treatment or combination of treatments will be most effective. This is why testing on infected birds is needed now, before a pandemic gets underway.
1. Foods and supplements to avoid when the flu strikes - avoid milk and ice cream that stress humoral antibody responses and increase mucus formation in the sinuses and lungs. Avoid wheat and gluten containing grains.
2. Avoid iron and iron supplements as iron supports and stimulates viral replication.
3. Avoid aspirin and other Over-the-Counter fever reducers that suppress symptoms of the flu as these products also suppress the antibody (humoral) immune response and can prolong the illness and infection and even increase fatalities. Exception: Use immunosuppressive fever reducers like aspirin only if the temperature goes over 104° F to prevent brain damage. Consult a doctor for more specific advice.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was first discovered in 1818 by French chemist Louis Thenard who named it eau oxygenee. After the Civil War between the states, it was called hydrogen dioxide. By 1890 it was called "Peroxide of Oxygen 15 volume" which is the 3% solution that is sold today as "Hydrogen Peroxide." It can be found in pharmacies and local grocery stores and is packaged in brown bottles. It is mainly used today as a mouth wash, an ingredient in toothpaste and as a topical antiseptic.
In the 1980's, Walter Grotz, a retired postmaster from Minnesota discovered in the Library of Congress a copy of the 18th edition of a book published in 1904 by chemist Charles Marchand titled "The Therapeutical Applications of Hydrozone and Glycozone." The book contained numerous case reports on persons who recovered from various infections using ozonated water or ozonated glycerine.
The book also contained reprints of 140 articles published in medical journals of the era on the use of peroxide of oxygen to treat a whole range of infectious diseases including the following: pneumonia, scarlet fever, diphtheria, whooping cough, tonsillitis, cancer of the womb, lupus, tuberculosis, gastritis, gonorrhea, gangrene, urethritis, gun shot wounds, nephritis, ear infections, sore throat, typhoid fever, yellow fever, cholera, measles, poison ivy, riggs' disease, endometritis, vaginitis, insect bites, bees stings, ringworm, emphysema, acne, hives, chilblains, piles (hemorrhoids), leucorrhoea, anthrax and periodontal disease. This was all before 1904!
While most of the articles discussed the use of peroxide of oxygen in the mouth, nose, ears, vagina and topically on the skin, one case where typhoid fever was successfully actually had the patients drink a small amount of hydrogen peroxide diluted with water once every 3 hours. That case is reported in Marchands book as follows:
by F.H. Wiggin MD From New York Medical Record, Nov., 28 1891
Having had good results in using Peroxide of Hydrogen locally in diphtheria and tonsillitis, and in infected wounds, it occurred to me, when a case of typhoid fever came under my care, during my summer practice, that this remedy might be beneficial, it being the most powerful non-poisonous germicide we possess.
On August 24th I was called to see Abby M-, who gave a history of having been ill for a week with fever and diarrhoea. On examination I found a characteristic case of typhoid fever and temperature of 104 and 1/2° F.; pulse, 130; rose spots, abdominal pain, tympanites diarrhoea, and mild delirium.
I prescribed one ounce of 15-volume Peroxide of Hydrogen (a 3% solution) to eight ounces of water, to be taken every 3 hours by the mouth. On the following day I found the patient more comfortable; temperature 103° F.; pulse 112; had had only two movements during the twenty-four hours; less delirium and less pain in the head. On the 26th had had one movement; temperature 102° F; pulse 104; less tenderness in abdomen, and pain in the head diminishing. On the 27th, temperature 100 and 1/2° F.; pulse 98, no movement; tympanites disappeared, and head, though still weak, clearer. On the 29th, temperature 99 and 1/2° F.; no movement. On the 30th, temperature normal, pulse 84; formed movement.
The case went on uninterruptedly to recovery, with nothing further of interest to report. On the 9th of September I discontinued my visits, the patient being discharged, cured, though weak.
The H5N1 strain of the current avian bird flu has been compared to the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 that killed over 50 million people. An article appearing in The Lancet, a British medical journal, on Feb. 21, 1920, titled: "Influentzal Pneumonia: The Intravenous Injection of Hydrogen Peroxide" tell of a remarkable recovery of a man in a coma near death who received a single injection of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
While the patient recovered, the use of 3% H2O2 solution as a direct injection would not be used today as it might just as likely kill the patient with a gas embolism. This could happen if it were injected too quickly and too close to the heart. However, this case that is part of the public record, is very important because it demonstrates that hydrogen peroxide can kill a deadly virus that has been closely compared to the deadly H5N1 strain of the avian bird flu that is feared will one day mutate into a form that will spread from human to human and kill 50% of those who are infected.
In 1986, I was inspired to write a series of articles on the uses of hydrogen peroxide for both topical and oral application in the treatment of various health conditions and published it in a booklet form. Today, 19 years later and in the 13th edition, it is called "Hydrogen Peroxide and Ozone." It contains numerous case reports on recoveries from infections in both humans and pets using hydrogen peroxide either orally or topically.
In April 2005, I came down with a severe case of the seasonal flu that included a fever of 104 and an infected stomach, lungs and sinuses. My first event upon arising was to vomit in the kitchen sink which I repeated several more times. I was a sick puppy and about to dial 911 for assistance when I thought of using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). I added a teaspoon of 3% H2O2 solution to a glass of water and drank it down rather quickly. It didn't stay down very long, so about 5 minutes later I drank another glass of water with a teaspoon of the H2O2 added. This time it stayed down and a half an hour later I took another virus fighting product called "Grapefruit Seed Extract" and added 10 drops to a glass of water.
I alternated every half hour between the H2O2 and water and the grapefruit seed extract for the first 2 hours, then I reduced this pattern to once every hour alternating between the H2O2 and the grapefruit seed extract. An hour after first starting these two drinks, my temperature began to drop. Within 4 hours it was down to 100 degrees and by the end of the day I was feeling normal but drained. Unlike aspirin that may suppress the fever by turning off the immune response, the H2O2 solution and grapefruit seed extract reduced the fever by actually killing the infection and supporting the humoral immune response.
Since this experience I have thought of other ways of using hydrogen peroxide for the flu.
Sublingual: Hold 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in the mouth for about 3 minutes every hour on the hour until most of it is absorbed in the mucus membranes. You may then drink a glass of water.
Topical or skin application: Pour 1/4th of a cup of hydrogen peroxide on a cotton terry cloth. Place the cloth on the persons chest and let it sit there for about half an hour. H2O2 will be slowly absorbed into the body through the skin. Repeat this once every 2 hours until it no longer is needed.
Whichever method of using hydrogen peroxide used (oral, sublingual or topical), It might be prudent to alternate with other treatment options like grapefruit seed extract and other options mentioned earlier until you recover from the infection.
Hydrogen peroxide can be found in pharmacies and Grapefruit seed extract can be found in health food stores. I would not use either product as a daily preventative as there can be side effects from long term use. Hydrogen peroxide kills off good intestinal flora and grapefruit seed extract can be very acidifying on the saliva pH.
Other options like cod liver oil, castor oil, garlic capsules and zinc can be used on a regular basis as a preventative. Remember to always keep your doctor informed of what you are using when self medicating.
Ozonated water is, in my opinion and experience, an excellent choice for killing viruses, and, if used properly, will taste better and not nauseate the stomach like H2O2 diluted with water. Very diluted H2O2 and water has a bleachy flavor like heavily chlorinated city tap water. However, both chlorinated tap water and highly diluted H2O2 have disinfectant properties that could be helpful in killing viruses and other pathogens when battling the flu. Small amounts of chlorine or H2O2 in water will taste better when the water is ice cold.
Ozone has strong disinfectant properties when consumed within 15 to 30 minutes after adding the ozone to the water. Ozone naturally breaks down into oxygen and has a half-life of 30 to 45 minutes depending on the temperature of the water. Breakdown of ozone into oxygen occurs faster when the water is warmer and slower when it is colder.
These are two types of ozone machines. Smaller less expensive units may use ultraviolet light and room air to produce ozone. When ozonating a glass of water with one of these units, allow 10 to 15 minutes per glassful. Drink one glassful every 2 to 4 hours on an empty stomach or one hour before or after eating. The other type of ozone unit uses bottled oxygen and a high voltage corona arc to produce the ozone. When ozonating a glass of water with one of these units, ozone it for 2 to 3 minutes per glassful. Drink one glass every 2 to 4 hours throughout the day or until it no longer is needed. Satisfactory results with drinking ozonated water usually comes very quickly, usually within a few hours after starting the treatment.
Castor oil packs over the liver area were made famous by the late Edgar Cayce for treating many chronic conditions including hepatitis. Some people have reported being cured of hepatitis after using castor oil packs daily over the liver area for 2 or 3 months.
Lesser known are the benefits of castor oil packs for the lungs in treating scar tissue from years of smoking cigarettes, radiation treatments, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung cancer, emphysema, shortness of breath, tuberculosis and other lung infections. Castor oil packs over the upper chest area, just above the heart, can stimulate and detoxify the thymus gland, the master gland of the immune system. The systemic benefits of this therapy are profound as chronic infections often disappear after a series of treatments.
Mark Konlee
First time users: Lay heat pad on table. Cut a piece of plastic to the size of the heat pad and place on top of heat pad. Cut one layer of white cotton (terry cloth) or white wool flannel to the same size and place on top of the plastic. Turn heat pad on high. Pour 1/2 cup of cold pressed castor oil in center of flannel and spread manually up to 2 inches from edge of flannel. After five minutes of preheating, lift up pad and place the whole assembly against the area of the body to be treated. Wrap a large bath towel around the body and over the heat pad and pin in place. Reduce heat to medium if it feels too hot. Let it remain in place for 1 hour to 90 minutes.
When the hour is over, remove pad, plastic and flannel and place aside. Massage oil into skin and then rub skin dry with a dry hand towel. Once the treatment is finished, the castor oil in the flannel that has been heated is not to be reused by adding more castor oil to it. You must wash the oil soaked flannel in warm water with baking soda before using the flannel again. Rinse thoroughly with clear warm water before reusing the flannel for another treatment.
A convenient alternative to wool or cotton flannel is white cotton terry cloth.
One person told of satisfactory results using white cotton terry cloth purchased from a local fabric supply outlet. He buys two yards at a time, cuts a piece to the size of his heat pad. When he is done with the castor oil treatment, he simply throws the terry cloth away and uses a new piece for his next treatment.
Use the castor oil packs as often as you feel you need them (daily or 1 to 3 times weekly). You can alternate from the liver area to the upper chest (thymus area) to the spleen (left side of rib cage) and to other body parts like the back.
The best results we have found is with "cold pressed" Castor Oil. Once the castor oil bottle is opened, store it in a cool dark place or in a refrigerator. Cold pressed castor oil can be found in health food stores.
Conrad LeBeau
The following is a list of products that I have personally found useful in preventing and treating sinus and lung infections as well as the flu.
Zinc, Cod Liver Oil, and Guaifenesin (400 mg daily) available on the internet or through your doctor.
The following is a list of products I have used to successfully treat sinus and lung infection and the seasonal flu: Ozonated water, Hydrogen Peroxide, Grapefruit Seed extract, Castor oil packs over the chest area daily (at or above the heart near the thymus gland and bronchial tubes), Golden seal root with Echinacea, Zinc lozenges, Bee Propolis and chicken soup.
I have also had good results with a product called "Bee's Winter Defense Cold and Flu Formula" that contains bee Propolis (used by bees to disinfect the hive), Echinacea, golden seal, Astragalus, Elderberry, vitamin C, Bioflavinoids and Zinc (available in health food stores from YS organic Bee Farms in Sheridan , Ill found on the internet at www.ysorganic.com. Grapefruit seed extract is also sold under the name Citracidal and is effective against several hundred viral and bacterial infections. Cold EZE with zinc gluconate has been proven effective in controlled studies to reduce the time of the common cold.
by Heggers JP et al
OBJECTIVES: Recent testimonials report grapefruit-seed extract, or GSE (Citricidal) to be effective against more than 800 bacterial and viral strains, 100 strains of fungus, and a large number of single and multicelled parasites. This study investigated GSE for antibacterial activity at varying time intervals and concentration levels and tissue toxicity at varying concentrations in an effort to determine if a concentration existed that was both microbicidal and nontoxic and in what period of time.
DESIGN: Gram-negative and gram-positive isolates were introduced into graduated dilutions of GSE (twofold concentrations ranging from 1:1, through 1:512) for determination of bacterial activity. In vitro assays with human skin fibroblast cells were also performed at the same dilutions to determine toxicity.
RESULTS: These tests indicated that from the 1:1 through the 1:128 concentrations, GSE remained toxic as well as bactericidal. However, test results indicated that at the 1:512 dilution, GSE remained bactericidal, but completely nontoxic.
CONCLUSIONS: The initial data shows GSE to have antimicrobial properties against a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive organisms at dilutions found to be safe.
References:
1. The effectiveness of processed grapefruit-seed extract as an antibacterial agent: Heggers JP, et al; J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Jun;8(3):333-40.
Kahnert A, Seiler P, Stein M, Aze B, McDonnell G, Kaufmann SH.
Lett Appl Microbiol. 2005;40(6):448-52.
Max-Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany. antje.kahnert@mpiib-Berlin.mpg.de
AIMS: To determine the efficacy of room fumigation with vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) in decontamination of viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
METHODS AND RESULTS: About 8 x 10(4)-2.3 x 10(6) CFU of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. tuberculosis Beijing were dried in 10-microl drops in tissue culture plates, placed in steam-permeable Tyvek pouches and distributed on laboratory surfaces. The room was exposed to VHP delivered by air conditioning. Different exposure conditions were tested. Exposure to VHP resulted in sterilization of the bacterial samples in three different test runs.
CONCLUSIONS: VHP treatment is an effective means of reducing and eliminating room contaminations of M. tuberculosis.
Gekker G, Hu S, Spivak M, Lokensgard JR, Peterson PK.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Nov 14;102(2):158-63.
Neuroimmunology Laboratory, Minneapolis, MN
An urgent need for additional agents to treat human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection led us to assess the anti-HIV-1 activity of the natural product propolis in CD4(+) lymphocytes and microglial cell cultures. Propolis inhibited viral expression in a concentration-dependent manner (maximal suppression of 85 and 98% was observed at 66.6mug/ml propolis in CD4(+) and microglial cell cultures, respectively). Similar anti-HIV-1 activity was observed with propolis samples from several geographic regions.
The mechanism of propolis antiviral property in CD4(+) lymphocytes appeared to involve, in part, inhibition of viral entry. While propolis had an additive antiviral effect on the reverse transcriptase inhibitor zidovudine, it had no noticeable effect on the protease inhibitor indinavir. The results of this in vitro study support the need for clinical trials of propolis or one or more of its components in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
El-khawaga OA, Salem TA, Elshal MF.
Clin Chim Acta. 2003 Dec;338(1-2):11-6.
Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
BACKGROUND: Propolis has numerous biologic activities including antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. The present work is aimed to study the effect of crude Egyptian propolis on tumor in mice induced by Ehrlich ascitis carcinoma (EAC) cell line.
RESULTS: The administration of propolis (160 mg/kg body weight), by gastric intubation 2 h before the intraperitoneal injection of EAC, effectively inhibited tumor growth and the proliferation of EAC. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) concentrations were markedly increased in propolis-treated mice. This effect was associated with inhibition of cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis.
CONCLUSIONS: Crude Egyptian propolis has a strong inhibitory activity against tumors.
San - Nunes A, Faccioli LH, Sforcin JM.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Jul;87(1):93-7.
University of San Paulo, San Paulo, Brazil.
We evaluated propolis influence on polyclonal activation of lymphocytes by concanavalin A (Con A). The in vitro experiments showed that propolis decreases splenocyte proliferation both in the absence or presence of Con A. The suppression in mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation also occurred when mice were treated intraperitoneally with propolis for 3 days. An increased of IFN-gamma production in the culture supernatants of the same cells was observed. A dual action of propolis on lymphocyte activation was proposed: it decreases splenocyte proliferation in the presence or absence of Con A and stimulates IFN-gamma production by spleen cells. These results are important to understand the immunomodulatory action of propolis on the host's specific and non-specific immunity.
Kathy K of Manchester, NH was diagnosed with Hepatitis C (HCV), Genotype 1a in September of 1995. Six months earlier she had been also diagnosed with Lupus. Because of the Lupus diagnosis, the doctor said the use of alpha interferon was contraindicated. No prescribed remedy was available. Since 1996, she began using Silymarin (Milk Thistle)) 175mg 3 times a day. Around 2000, she added 200 mcg of yeast based selenium daily. With Silymarin and Selenium, she was able to keep her HCV viral load around 500,000 until July of 2005 when it shot up to 9 million. A month later, it climbed further to 25 million. A second blood test confirmed these disturbing findings. She attributed the increase viral load to stress in the family.
In the last week of August, an internet search led to the keephopealive.org and Kathy contacted me by email seeking help. I sent her a copy of the Immune Restoration Handbook and we discussed the situation by phone. I made a few suggestions of a dietary and supplemental nature.
Separately, she found a medical doctor who does photoluminescence, the treatment of blood with ultraviolet light. She said she talked to one doctor who told her that one of his patients was cured of HCV with 20 consecutive treatments of UV blood irradiation. She located a doctor that offered ultraviolet (UV) treatment of blood and commenced to start a series of five treatments about one week apart starting on September 7th and ending Oct 12th. Her treatment regimen was as follows:
At the end of October, she reports that her viral load dropped from 25 million to 3.4 million and her ALT/AST decreased from 300/276 to 219/216.
Kathy is very pleased with the results. She has stopped the UV blood treatments for now as they are expensive and she wants to see what the rest of her program does by itself.
She credits the synergistic effect of everything she has done together for the results obtained. In an email she writes: "I am extremely pleased with the results I've achieved, and I'm convinced that your advice on diet, supplements, castor oil packs etc has a lot to do with the results I've achieved. I am eternally grateful for all your help and assistance, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you! Kathy." Kathy can be contacted at 603-627-3686 for more information.
Treatment Update. 1998 May;10(3):1-2.
Garlic has been used for hundreds of years to treat fungal, parasitic, and viral infections, and has anti-inflammatory properties that show promise for prevention of cardiovascular disease. Researchers are focusing on an extract of garlic called ajoene which also appears to protect CD+ cells from attack by HIV early in the viral life cycle. At low concentrations, the drug appears to have little toxicity, and its anti-HIV activity is 45 times more powerful than the drug dextran sulfate. Ajoene is found only in fresh garlic and is not readily available. One researcher found that garlic impairs the activity of the liver enzymes that process protease inhibitors and raises the protease inhibitor levels.
Mark Konlee.
Alternating anti-viral cocktails with immune based combinations seems like a safe and reasonable choice. However, to appreciate its benefits, immune based cocktails need to be evaluated in terms of maintaining higher CD4 Helper cell counts rather than their effects in lowering the HIV viral load. In terms of surviving long term, high CD4 counts offer much more protection than low viral loads. In marketing their new drugs, Big Pharma has sought to change the goal post from high CD4 counts to non-detectable viral loads. This has served their bottom line but not the patients long term health.
HIV infection and AIDS and not one and the same thing. Viral loads alone, even high viral loads, do not automatically give you an AIDS diagnosis. To have an AIDS diagnosis, CD4 counts must drop below 200 irrespective of what the viral load is. When the CD4 count drops below 200 is the point where the immune system may no longer protect the patient from life threatening opportunistic infections and cancer.
The dichotomy of HIV/AIDS is that high viral loads are sometimes linked to a declining CD4 cell count and sometimes they are not. Also a low viral load should always logically be associated with an increase in the CD4 counts and improved immune function, but often it is not.
Many an HIV+ patient with low or non-detectable viral load but with less than 100 CD4 cells have died from AIDS related opportunistic infections. Many fatalities have come from heart attacks from staying too long on drug combinations that include protease inhibitors. No one seems to be counting all the deaths from heart attacks associated with long term use of protease inhibitors and drugs like D4T that have been associated with lipodystrophy.
POZ magazine gives a lot of ink to the cosmetic adverse effects (lipodystrophy) of some of the drug cocktails. However, a face lift and a butt tuck won't extend the life or the quality of life of someone who is already deceased from a stroke. Loss of lean muscle mass in the face, buttocks, legs and arms is a growing reality among thousand of faithful users of the drug cocktails. What is needed is for physicians to stop being marketing robots for Big Pharmaceutical companies and start doing some creative thinking for their patients. A Strategic Treatment Interruption (STI) is what is the patient often needs but is not recommended. The use of immune based therapies during an STI could be very beneficial for most patients.
Big Pharma would gladly promote immune-based therapies if they could generate the same profit. Sadly, low cost treatments don't get the promotion or the ink in the press that they deserve.
What is needed to improve the quality of medical treatments is leadership and independent creative research by medical doctors who treat patients.
Big HMOs are doing nothing to advance low cost treatments. They prefer a revolving door policy to process the greatest number of patients. Profits are the bottom line and control of treatment options is the key to profits. Control and influence can be bought with big money. What should be a service to mankind, modern medicine, has become a corrupted profession and business.
In addition, much of the public affected by cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS are complicit in their own misery from the adverse effects of the drugs they take. They are complicit by not educating themselves on these adverse effects and seeking out alternative treatment options that are safe and effective.
They are the sheep that take whatever is handed to them and their physicians are not always the good shepherds that are leading them in the right direction.
Government should fund research to develop low cost treatments for all the major killer diseases. We could start by learning from the Cuban experience and their system of medicine that is low cost and includes botanicals, Chinese medicine and cheap drugs whose patents have expired. Health care in Cuba is free to all its citizens. Learning from Cuba's health care system would be a priceless experience if and when humility ever returns to our political leaders in Washington.
Published quarterly. Copyright 2005- To subscribe to this newsletter, send $20 to Keep Hope Alive, PO Box 270041 West Allis, WI 53227 Phone 414-751-4998 Email: Keephope@highstream.net