Saturday, July 13, 2024

Fences and Friends

I met a new friend today. Tara stumbled into work with a sweet puppy in tow. She seemed together by her exterior virtues, but her interior life told a different story.  I am not sure how she got over to my side of town since she was from a less than desirable area. 

William got her something to eat out of the goodness of his heart, she asked me when the bus was coming so she could go "home". Home was not really a home, but the streets is her home. She told me she is homeless since her boyfriend was abusing her. She had marks on her face from the abuse. She did not ask for money, but I gave her some, it wasn't much but I think the act of kindness warmed her heart. I have heard countless stories of people who encounter hardships. Most Americans never count their blessings but sure do complain of what they don't have. 

Fernand Leger  - The City


She remarked to me that people would not give her the time of day. Those are the fences. Humans use fences to keep people out of their space. Humans define goodness by their own values; whether their values are right or wrong, humans use those values as their fences. I think I am fortunate in that I have been able to develop empathy. Some say empathy comes from our past suffering, some believe it is a gift of God. I pray every day for God's guidance; I need that to make up for my human limitations. As good of a person I think I am, there are faults in me. 

Fernand Leger - Chimneys on Rooftops


I learned first-hand the sting of those fences, what people don't understand they reject. I did not have the typical upbringing of my peers and of course I paid the price for that. It was not that I was evil but because I did not obtain the same social status of my peers, I was wrong. 

Tara is just one of the many people I met that were less fortunate than myself.  I could by choice use my fences to judge and shame them. In reality, I have no idea what they migrated from - it is not my position to play God. 
Fernand Leger - The Level Crossing



You would think that these people are on the lower-class of society which is just partly true. I have met a large spectrum of people; some were in the top levels of socio-economic status. Those people may not be in Tara's situation, but I can tell you they have their own specific problems, some of them quite severe. "Judge not lest you be judged" is the appropriate comment here. 

Assuming you know about people is silly. Silly people have silly ideas and with silly ideas, they become less than human. 

"Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss event; small minds discuss people." -Eleanor Roosevelt. 


"It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled" - Mark Twain

Sunday, July 7, 2024

War of the Mind

 I was hitting golf balls at the park to ease my burdened mind when I heard a loud voice. I looked to find out what the voice was saying as he was some distance away from me. He was sitting in a wheelchair in the parking lot and as I walked closer, I could understand what he was saying. Some papers had flown off his wheelchair and of course, he was unable to reach them.

Joan Miro - Catalan Landscape
  

He was likely 50 years old. I have always been a people person in which I have gained great perspectives by listening to wise people. He was nice and we began to discuss life things. I was in the middle of several life crises and was looking for answers. I asked him how he ended up disabled and he told me he suffered an injury in college playing intramural football. I felt bad.

I said that his situation must be difficult. He pointed to his head and told me that the battle is between the ears, meaning that our thoughts and attitude must be in place to survive life. I say "survive life" because life is difficult according to my successful friend. My successful friend had the life most would hope to have but like all humans suffered some very hard trials. Life is hard, we all must carry our cross. 

I needed (and need) to hear those voices rather than the multitude of voices that blamed me for things that were out of my control, or worse, falsely accused. I learned that humans are vicious and unforgiving most times they lack the empathy to understand the complete picture. Then I had neighbors who spread vicious and hurtful lies about me. I still deal with that today. 

I have learned that many humans operate from the "reptilian brain" and few operate out of completeness and fullness that they should. Humans like shortcuts and they like to serve their frail ego by attacking and dehumanizing others - it makes them feel better. I avoid those people at all costs. 

Joan Miro - Hope of a Condemned Man


Truth is a difficult thing to corner, regardless of how smart we think we are. There are many layers to a situation and a wise person can see each one of those layers and explain with some detail the options that lie there, even then, it can be wrong. Seldom are things as simple as we perceive. The Dunning-Kruger effect proves this. Jumping to conclusions is dangerous, not only to yourself but others involved. My belief is that Western Society has done itself a great disservice, in that it is self-promoting, selfish and arrogant, we foster that in many aspects from schooling to social media. 

I spent a great amount of time in spiritual development and had many tastes of that. From traditional Orthodoxy to Pentecostalism, to Reformed theology, Christian mysticism (John of the Cross, Franciscan theology etc.) and my favorite which was Contemplation. Today, I center in Orthodox thinking with an emphasis of daily surrender and repentance. 

But during my time of searching, I knew a woman named Ruth who prayed with me. She was a channel of God, and I knew that because she loved "By their fruits you shall know them". I still remember her to this day. What struck me was her words that she believed came from God. She said that America's great sin was freedom. That seems odd but what she said has deeper tones. 

Freedom, no doubt is an awesome gift and I saw that first-hand in the military when I was deployed in West Germany. I got to stand at the border of West and East Germany at the time of the USSR occupation. I saw what radical control does to oppress its own people. Hair stood on my head as I witnessed what was happening. I still remember that day vividly, even after 40 years.

But freedom has a backside to it. What Ruth was saying was that freedom is a gift, but it no longer holds the virtue in which it was intended and turned into an abuse. 

Joan Miro - 

Rene Descartes made a famous statement "cogito ergo sum" which means "I think, therefore I am". Philosophers adore this statement because it defines the consciousness of humans, but Western Society has perverted this statement. They state "I think, therefore I am right" - a clear abuse of freedom.

 I see this in medical research. I have an honest 30,000 hours of reading research papers to resolve my long-standing disability. I finally learned that knowledge has many different levels to it. I would consider the average American to be at a level 1 thinker and they would consider their local physician at a level 2. Not to knock anyone, this is all admirable, but this is really a scarcity of the current research that is available. Of course, I should state that there is quite a bit of variation with these thinkers.

I spent quite some time trying to help people with Long Covid due to my deep knowledge coming from my current disability. I know the pitfalls; I know the research and I have answers for the myriads of symptoms they endure. Sadly, I quickly learned that no one is interested in hearing my perspective mostly because they are all "experts". This was all very disheartening for me, and I quickly withdrew from this pursuit, but I began to think why this was happening. 

Long Covid and other auto-immune disease can range from moderate to severe, I know severe as I was bedridden for 20 hours per day for more than a decade. It was devastating to me, I lost my income, was disregarded and mocked by my social circles, my reputation was damaged severely and quite frankly I lost hope. But I made up the lost ground by countless hours in from of my computer researching and formulating new treatment ideas. Doctors were of little to no help to me, I lost time, money and most importantly, hope. Hope is a wonderful friend and very welcome during times of despair. 

I trialed hundreds if not thousands of different combinations that I administered myself. I never gave up. I truly hate to see people suffer and have offered help to many. Most are neglectful and ignore me, a few have taken me up and made progress. That makes my difficult journey a little more palatable. 

I have been fortunate to have some very smart people who educate me in my circle (yes, we never stop learning, truth is a very deep journey). These include some published researchers and my friend Alison.  

Cognitive bias is something seldom discussed and more seldom recognized as an issue. Perception is distorted in many cases because of different forms of bias. Bias should be recognized much like a red light means to stop, failure to realize this causes cognitive crashes. 

Life is not easy and certainly more difficult (or not) when we are ignorant. Listen to the wise, and don't presume that life has downloaded all knowledge to you. Stay humble or be humbled. 


Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Perceptions and Misperceptions




define misperceive [mis-per-seev] (verb) :: to understand or perceive incorrectly; misunderstand. 

From time to time I am reminded of an incident that bad timing occurred. The other person perceived injury when the truth was something completely different. It was an embarrassing event and the truth would have likely failed. My reputation was damaged. Sadly we are often wrongly accused and we absorb the guilt.

I have learned that people many times assume things that hold little evidence. They fail to consider other factors or perhaps motives and assume the worst.


I have learned that what appears to be a simple solution seldom is the case, many situations have a multi-faceted problem that requires a multi-faceted solution. I like to do treatment experiments on myself to resolve a complex disease process, I estimate that I have done over 20,000 hours of research which includes reading, treatment experiments and the like. I am a creative thinker and have a very good IQ and a desperate need to recover from my disease since it has limited me in so many ways. I must add that I am bit of adventurer and willing to take some risks in therapies, self administered ozone therapies would be an example.




I have evolved in scientific experiments which at first my ego would leap to conclusions based on scant information or because somebody told me something they thought was true -the latter is very likely incorrect.

As I have progressed in my learning phase which has obviously widened, I now realize that there is much more to the picture than meets the eye. These other factors play a key role in outcomes. Each of these factors have sub-factors and it spirals into more complex problems.

In scientific method there are a number of steps from first identifying the problem, considering all the co-factors, define an expected outcome, reformulate then consider if the experiment worked or failed and what changes can be made and done over and over again. I have tested hundreds of theories and the complicated combinations.

These experiments are largely failures and if you don't like failing then this is not for you. In order to make a reasonable and logical conclusion we must have all the facts and those facts must line up to support our final theory. Guessing at things is not necessarily an answer but can do damage as things are seldom what they seem to be. 

Friday, June 30, 2023

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (Etiology)

Disclaimer: The material presented is educational and is not meant for treatment or diagnosis. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any treatment. 

                                            Author: Patrick Bayer C.N.C. - all rights reserved


Some people on a forum devoted to M.E. asked me to summarize both the research and treatment I have accumulated over a course of a long time of research. I estimate that to be around 25k hours in both reading research papers, and my countless hours of observation and treatment. My M.E. had beginnings some 40 years ago and accelerated about 25 years ago. I went through multiple phases of M.E. and suffered Severe M.E. for many years being completely bed ridden for 20 hours per day to working 15 hours per week. Currently, I am working full time and lead a more functional life. I continue on my core treatments and continue to progress.

(Update May 2024: More evidence is coming out in published medical articles that butyrate may be one of the central actors in the auto-immune diseases which include M.E. Butyrate is a SCFA (Short Chain Fatty Acid) that is produced by particular bacteria gut). This molecule supports the colonocytes which are key molecules in the gut that provide barrier integrity.

Barrier integrity means that the intestinal wall is sound. Without the structural integrity, then chaos ensues. Inflammatory cytokines are produced in greater amounts without the integrity. Cytokines are generally destructive and have systemic wide activity. This means that other body systems are affected such as the cardiovascular system, endocrine, neurological etc. Most diseases, particularly degenerative have inflammation at the core. 

There are particular bacteria that naturally produce butyrate but cannot thrive in a high inflammatory condition, thus, butyrate production falls which leads to more inflammation. This high inflammation also impacts metabolic processes, in particular the mitochondria. With poor mitochondria function, comes less energy in the cell, without proper energy production in the cell, then other systems become adulterated such as the detoxification systems and so the cycle continues).


 M.E. would be best described as the symptoms as being flu-like. To give a better picture of what M.E. patients go through, please imagine what it would be like to wake up with the flu for 20 years. Now anticipate what it would be like to run a business, a life or just daily activities with the flu.

M.E. stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a recognized set of symptoms by leading authorities including the C.D.C. It is classified as many things including an auto-immune disease. This disease attacks many areas of the body such as the endocrine, immune and neurological. It is perhaps best to explain that the measurable energy output (Krebs Cycle) is low to very low. Energy is a valued and necessary commodity. Energy is needed to perform tasks and these tasks can be many such as work in terms of economic survival to the power necessary to perform the myriad of metabolic functions in the body. Energy is necessary for things to function, this is basic information.

The medical system has largely been unsuccessful in helping those with M.E. which forces patients to seek routes not commonly taken. Sadly, M.E. along with other disabling diseases receive little to no funding while the lion's share of research money is given to H.I.V ($34 Billion for 2017). What research has been done is little to no help to those who suffer with this disease. Many M.E. victims also suffer from societal persecution with accusations ranging from mental illness, to lying, to being a coward and a whole host of insensitive and ignorant statements. I find it both sad and disheartening that an "educated" and "civil" society would stoop to such nonsense but stupid is as stupid does. It is a very taxing disease in many ways, many doors are closed and so many obstacles are placed in the way. I made strong decisions to drive around the obstacles and not allow those to stop me in spite of the many refusals to help me.

M.E. has its roots in Western living where chemicals and other short cuts are a normal part of life. Western society has dis-valued others in order to worship at the altars of materialism and power. This leaves its victims in its wake. 


M.E. is a multi pronged problem that is rooted in biochemical dysfunction. M.E. is not a behavioral issue, a mental issue or an emotional issue, it is a biological issue unless you reference out-dated and poorly researched information.

Dr. Hooper, a leading M.E. doctor stated this:
Undoubtedly, the perverse use of CFS, to impose a psychiatric definition for ME/CFS by associating it with fatigue syndromes, has delayed research, the discovery of effective treatment(s), and care and support for those with this illness. (J Clin Pathol. 2007 May; Myalgic encephalomyelitis: a review with emphasis on key findings in biomedical research).

Best selling author, Laura Hillenbrand stated "This illness (M.E.) is to fatigue as a nuclear bomb is to a match -it is an absurd mis characterization". 


M.E. is a hyper-complex problem with many potential starting points (etiology). Many theories exist but I think they can be categorized in easy to understand concepts. With this complexity, there is many different etiologies so we cannot assume that what caused a problem for one then the remainder must have this same problem. That is broken logic in my opinion.

M.E. would best be described as being a problem producing energy, this is also known as the Krebs Cycle. Energy production starts at the cellular level which means that it is the cells themselves that produce energy. The hierarchy of the body starts with the cells (lowest level) then migrates to tissues, organs, organ systems and finally the whole organism. There can be a number of factors that disrupt cellular energy in which I will touch on below.

Observations.
Western medicine looks for a single cause, single solution problem whereas Eastern medicine looks at the body as a whole. I will take anxiety for an example. In Western Medicine they would simply say you have anxiety and give a pill for this. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine or Eastern medicine) they might diagnose you with liver stagnation. In the minds of TCM, they would consider liver stagnation to be the causative factor of the anxiety which would be just one of the symptoms of liver stagnation.

So Eastern medicine views the whole system, where one situation can affect the entire body. The idea is that imbalances in the body tilt the whole system, so they try to harmonize the body. TCM largely depends on un-kinking energy blockages (acupuncture or acupressure) and to use botanicals to support the pathways that are blocked. They simply correct the imbalance which makes the system function normally again.


Research Mesearch.
Most of the research is directly towards either the immune system or metabolic pathways that are blocked. One of the key things I have learned about research papers is that the writers of these conceptualize a theory then use supportive evidence to build their case. This could be good or bad. Good in the idea that they are correct in your situation, bad in the respect that this may not be the case  for you. In my opinion, the papers can be shallow in that, yes they have identified the problem and no in that solutions are not provided. No problem can be solved unless it is identified and a plan to unravel the problem.
The problem is that this disease is far too complex to summarize in a single theory. An example of this would be that the etiology of M.E. is due to Epstein Barr virus. This was an early idea and it built strength for sometime until they realized it was not entirely true for all patients.

The clinician needs to make several conclusions first. For many the onset of M.E. started with flu-like symptoms while others developed it without this specific onset. This is a very basic foundational diagnostic in which the first would indicate a strong pathogenic invasion while the second situation may indicate 'softer' issues such as nutrient deficit, a mild viral condition or perhaps a pharmaceutical interaction.

This differentiation would help direct the appropriate treatments. Any strong pathogenic invasion is very problematic and must be addressed. These strong immune reactions change the terrain of the body quite drastically.

MicroCirculation.
This is a newer concept and is gaining traction. The idea is the blood becomes "sticky", the official name is platelet aggregation. The blood becomes sticky due to immune system activation. When the blood becomes sticky then circulation of vital nutrients, oxygen and immune factors are stuck in a traffic jam. They need to be mobilized throughout the body. 

There seems to be a few ways to help the platelets loosen up. Some are advocating the use of certain enzymes (serrapeptase, nattokinase and lumbrokinase). Enzymes do work and these seem to break up the sticky mess. The other is the use of anti-coagulants such as Plavix with one baby aspirin. 

Metabolic Pathways.
There is quite a bit of information/studies done on aberrant metabolic pathways that are found in CFS/ME. Pathways such as BH4, Itaconate Pathway and up to 20 pathways that are affected. 


Research Robert Naviaux stated this:

“Despite the heterogeneity of CFS, the diversity of factors that lead to this condition, our findings show that the cellular metabolic response is the same in patients,” said Naviaux. “And interestingly, it’s chemically similar to the dauer state you see in some organisms, which kicks in when environmental stresses trigger a slow-down in metabolism to permit survival under conditions that might otherwise cause cell death. In CFS, this slow-down comes at the cost of long-term pain and disability.”

 Source:American ME Society ammes.org


There is no question that these pathways are defective, unfortunately, the origins of these defects are murky. It is my belief that immune activation is at the core either through pathogenic invasion and/or environmental toxins. The immune system has a very strong pull on all systems of the body. You can read more here 


Inflammation Model.
The inflammation model is used to describe a myriad of degenerative diseases including M.E. Inflammation is the end result of immune and endocrine activation. Inflammation destroys via oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the enemy and failure to control it results in cascading downwards. Inflammation can have many starting places, from trauma, infections, poor nutrient quality, emotional stress and so on.

Inflammation puts stress on the body and wastes nutrient stores. If you do not replace the core nutrients then the body cannot repair the damage. Antioxidants repair damage. Antioxidants are naturally produced by the body (glutathione, Superoxide dismutase and catalase) which all depend on raw materials (nutrients) to be produced. Exogenous antioxidants such as Vitamin C and plant based antioxidants help the body to cope with the stress (inflammation).

Oxidative stress attacks the cell membranes. Several research papers have shown the deleterious effects of oxidative stress on the cell membranes. The vitality of the cell membrane is key for proper functioning of the cell and damage reduces the energy output (Krebs Cycle). The cell membrane is largely comprised of healthy fats and is protected by antioxidants.

Where does oxidative stress come from? The three likely sources are from immune activation, environmental toxins and psychological stressors. The immune system is likely elevated in M.E. patients due to pathogenic invasion(s). Oxygen and nitrogen compounds are formed by the immune system and these chemicals are highly damaging.

Reducing oxidative stress comes from the use of antioxidants. Oxidants cause damage while antioxidants heal. Antixodiants come in many varieties, Vitamins C and E* are the most well known  The body produces antioxidants (glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase) which are dependent on raw nutrients to be produced. Other antioxidants come from plants, so a diet that includes organic and preferrably raw will help. Most spices have trenendous capacity in the antixodant potential. I use bulk turmeric, ceylon cinnamon and paprika (or cayenne) in a daily mix and drink herbal teas.

*Vitamin E as D-Alpha (not dl-alpha which is synthetic) and Vitamin C as Quali C or one that is minimally processed. Many vitamin C products have fillers and additives which are not good, in fact they can cause more problems.

Nutrient model.
The cells are very dependent on nutrients to do their thing. Every enzyme, protein assimilation, cell/tissue/organ function is dependent on nutrients. Nutrition is largely comprised of minerals, vitamin co-factors, healthy fats and adequate protein (amino acid). Deficiency or excess states will inhibit the proper function of the cells. And remember the cells are the foundations for tissues, organs and so on. The Krebs Cycle (energy) is dependent on nutrients to being robust.

Magnesium is just one of the vital nutrients and deficiency states of this will cause a myriad of problems, such as a dysfunctional immune response, cardiovascular issues, low production of glutathione and enzymes and the list goes on. Dr. Mildred Seelig was a comprehensive researcher of magnesium and wrote many papers that can be found at mgwater.com. One paper she authored was on the role of magnesium and M.E. http://www.mgwater.com/clmd.shtml.

Infectious Organism model.
Pathogens make people sick. This sounds very childlike but people sometimes have a difficult time understanding the nature of pathogens, doctors seem to have a hard time understanding this, for what reason, I do not know. Pathogens cause a wide swath of problems from Lyme disease, the flu, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, malaria and so on. Pathogens can kill. 

This is the predominant model that I have worked on. Viral, protozoa, rogue bacteria, parasites  yeast/fungal, unknown or stealth pathogens (l form bacteria, mycoplasma etc).  This means that say one particular virus could be causing the problem. This was an outdated model years ago thinking that Epstein Barr virus was the only culprit. There are a multitude of viral agents that have been identified as a causative factor of M.E.

I had CMV which is in the herpes family, this was a troubling virus for me. Other herpes family viruses such as HHV6, HHV7 etc have been correlated to M.E. and other auto immune diseases. The problem is with testing in that the doctor may have a suspicion of what organism in which they guess. There are many types and subtypes of viral agents that they may not test for and undiscovered ones as well.

Research continues to point in the direction of immune activation as being a culprit in M.E. Most articles reference the T cells being activated. T cells are specific immune cells that are involved protection from pathogens.  With any immune activation then metabolic changes occur which inhibit energy production.

With strong immunity kicking in, then the metabolic rate changes. One such enzyme affected by this metabolic change is  pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). This enzyme is necessary for energy production (Kreb's cycle) and impaired levels are found in M.E. patients. Not only does PDH impairment show up in energy levels but muscle burn and neurological disorders. 

Dr. Fluge is a known M.E. researcher and had this to say about PDH impairment:

"I think that at present our data are primarily telling us something about the ME/CFS disease. Our findings indicate an impaired function of the PDH enzyme complex, resulting in reduced flux of pyruvate to the [tricarboxylic acid (TCA)] cycle. Increased lactic acid accumulates upon limited exertion, and there is a compensatory use of alternative substrates to fuel the TCA cycle. So, the results indicate an impaired mitochondrial PDH complex function, we believe induced by the immune system,"

There is an hierarchy in pathogens. This means that some pathogens can lay dormant in the system in which they are symbiotic (do not cause problems) while others can be aggressive which causes a myriad of problems.

The gastrointestinal tract is one area to look for infection and Dr. Leo Galland states this is the first place he looks for infection, particularly parasites. But parasites are not the only problem in the gut, rogue bacteria can harbor the gut as well.

The microbiome is the community of all the organisms living in the gut which provide more support to the body than ever thought. Most of the immune system (70%) is present in the gut. Dr. Galland thinks there is a reason for that in that the GI tract is the most vulnerable to infectious organisms. Fungal and yeast strains can be present there as well along with viral agents.

Pathogens manufacture toxins which makes cells sick. Pathogens evoke an immune system reaction which involves a myriad of chemicals, processes etc and these chemicals circulate in the body which causes further damage. Cells membranes become damaged which disrupts normal cell functioning and energy in the cell diminishes. With the diminished energy output then the cell cannot function correctly which creates a domino effect.

NEI SuperSystem.
The NEI SuperSystem is one of my favorite studies. The initials stand for Neurological, Endocrine and Immune. These 3 systems are intertwined meaning that they can help one another and conversely negatively affect the others. For instance, constant stress (neurological) will influence the endocrine (adrenal activity) which weakens the immune system. There is a hierarchy in the body and the immune system has the highest priority.

In most cases of M.E., the immune system has the highest gravitational force (assuming that the primary problem is pathogenic). With this strong force then the other systems become subordinate and dysregulated.



Cell Signalling.
Cell signalling is exactly what it says which means there is a complex network of signals in the body. These signals control the body much like a traffic light directs traffic. If there was no traffic signals then chaos would ensue. However the signalling in the body is much more complex than a traffic light since it involves a myriad of processes such as neurotransmitters, hormones, immune signals (cytokines) and much more. Research has shown that each of these classes of signals has the potential of affecting other signalling systems. For instance stress triggers endocrine and the immune system.

The key to taming M.E. is to find the errant signalling system and then the rest should follow, however this is easier said than done. M.E. is like a big traffic jam due to a stalled semi truck that is blocking the intersection, move the truck out of the way and the jam will be fixed. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a glimpse into this complex world by attempting to balancing the body. Proper nutrition plays a key role in these signalling pathways for without it, the body becomes dysregulated. Without targeted nutrition then the chaos will continue or to worsen. 

Neurological.
There have been repeated studies concerning the role of the psychological and the biological systems. Any form of stress triggers the neuro-endocrine system. It is almost impossible to avoid stress in this day and age, it comes at us in many different forms and directions. Trauma, abuse, financial and relationships can be some major stresses along with all the other things that gnaw at us. These events trigger the neurological pathways which in turn stimulate endocrine responses. Cortisol is one of the players in these events which can have deleterious effects after prolonged periods of release. There are known studies which show that cortisol has a negative impact on immune health. Activation of dormant viruses may occur as well as new infections.

One of the bigger omissions in neurological health has to do with the role of the immune system. It is generally accepted that the mind affects the body but the opposite is true as well: the body can influence the mind. For instance immune activation releases powerful chemicals that change neurological behavior.

Newer research is showing that certain pathways are being block by wrong organisms in the gut. The pathway is kynurenine, psychiatric disorders result from this blocked pathway such as schizophrenia, bipolar, Autism, Alzheimer's.

Immune Health.
The immune system is comprised of a complex system of different components. Toxins, stress, improper diet and nutrient deficiencies can weaken the immune response. A weakened immune response puts us at risk for acquiring new infections or having dormant viruses suddenly reappear.

Endocrine Involvement.
The endocrine system plays key roles in regulation of cycles in the body. It is involved in reproduction, sleep wake cycles, energy production, inflammation and so on. However the endocrine system is involved in immune reactions and the neurological system. Many studies have shown that the HPA axis is deeply involved in M.E. The HPA axis stands for Hypothalamus, Pituitary and Adrenal. There are more aspects of this but I will shorten this and focus on the adrenals. The adrenals are the body's pharmacy, they produce some 50 different hormones. These hormones act on the cells to change their chemistry. One well known hormone is cortisol. Cortisol has many physiological actions, one of them being a natural anti inflammatory.

Continual activation of the adrenals leads to adrenal fatigue. With this draining of the adrenals then the body cannot produce adequate hormone output which then weakens the resistance of the body. A weakened endocrine response also changes neurological and immune function. These three systems (endocrine/immune/neurological) are closely tied to one another and each can influence the others.

The endocrine system is a dependent loop meaning that each of the endocrine glands have influences on other glands in the network. This follows much of Traditional Chinese Medicine models which I discussed previously, in other words, imbalance causes imbalance. The HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands) plays a key role but there are other networks that are affected such as the HPG axis which is hypothalamus, pituitary and gonadal systems. Androgens play a key role in immune support and many people with M.E. have problems with either testosterone or estrogen. In later stages, these become very low  mostly due to exhaustion. 

Toxin model.
Toxins are poisons. Poisons are poisons because they damage cell function. Toxins come in many shapes and sizes. For instance we are all familar with arsenic, it is a strong poison and can cause serious problems in very small doses but what about the other 800 or so chemicals that are produced?  True, many of them do not have the same effect (potency) as arsenic but what if we are exposed to them day after day for say 20 years. Without proper functioning of the detoxification systems then they can accumulate and damage normal cell functioning.

Some will argue that the body is adept at handling these chemicals but what if the body is damaged? The body has an elaborate set of processes that can handle toxins, take glutathione for one example. Glutathione is a dual acting chemical in which it both supports immune function and assists in detoxification. Production of this chemical can diminish with nutrient deficiency and immune activation.

Other Considerations.
Other studies have shown correlations between auto immunity and vaccinations (ASIA) which is controversial in some circles, however some leading researchers in auto immunity have proven correlation.

Epigenetics (genetics) is a new field of study and researchers are finding correlations with genetics and M.E. A recent study looked at over 9,000 genes and found defects in 16 specific genes that correspond with T cell regulation (immune), neuronal (neurological) and mitochondria (energy)* .

(*J Clin Pathol. 2007 May; Myalgic encephalomyelitis: a review with emphasis on key findings in biomedical research)

With epigenetic studies, there has been  proof that supplemental with nutritions/botanicals can improve genetic defects and provide support for weakened metabolic functions in M.E. patients.

I have taken the most commons attributes of the etiology of M.E. and in closing would like to state that if the etiology of one of the above categories may well trip the breakers of the others. For instance, an issue of trauma could set off neurological responses which in turn trigger the endocrine system and with that the immune system becomes disrupted. With this disruption then a viral situation may set foot. Then the immune response will begin an inflammation model which could deplete glutathione stores which then further weaken immune responses and the ability to detoxify.

It is important to target the right areas in order to rebalance the body and they must be done in the correct order. Clinicians must be well versed in all of these areas in order to be effective. The body is an amazing creation and given the right materials, it has the ability to return to a state of balance.

A list of my studies can be found here C.V.

What treatments I have done that enabled some recovery Recovery

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

My Video Series on YouTube (Biofilms and Butyrate)

My video series on 2 topics, the first is on biofilms and antimicrobial resistance. The second is on the studies done on CFS patients and the findings of low butyrate forming bacteria. 


Video Series #1 Biofilms 


Video Series #2 Butyrate

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Whitney & Self-Blame

 I follow quite a few people on Twitter that are suffering with CFS/ME or LC (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) (Long Covid) and a consistent stream occurs; they are ignored, ridiculed and condemned. 

Having to cope with a disease that doctors are unable to fix obviously creates stress but to get kicked while on the ground by others who chose not to understand is another. I found that people who engage in this have defects of their own.  These are people who suffer with either Dunning Kruger Syndrome or have poor social skills, these poor skills tend to irritate those people the most and for good reason. 

        The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias whereby people with low ability, expertise, or experience  regarding a certain type of task or area of knowledge tend to overestimate their ability or knowledge. -Wikipedia

Whitney Dafoe is a ME sufferer and wrote the following his blog:

https://www.whitneydafoe.com/mecfs/?post=self-blame

If I could be doing something I would be. I never choose inactivity. If I am inactive, it is because I am too sick to be active.

I need to keep repeating this to myself over and over sometimes. It’s so hard not to blame myself, to think I could somehow be doing more. To blame the discrepancy between my dreams and what I am able to do physically on my mind or thought process. I try to "psych" myself into doing things a lot. But when I am healthier I do more. I always do as much as I can within my limits.

This is suffering that is directly caused by the prejudice we face; ME/CFS not being recognized by society, the government, the scientific or medical communities not to mention friends and family as being a legitimate illness and having all of our symptoms called into question constantly. If we were treated as legitimately sick people and our illness was understood, none of us would have these thoughts of self doubt.

A lot of the suffering we face is caused by society. Not ME/CFS. Society piles onto the people with the biggest burden and makes them suffer even more. Someday they will look back on this time and shake their heads with disgust.

Until then we need to remember. It is not our fault. It is not our fault. It is not our fault. IT’S NOT OUR FAULT.

When you feel like you can’t do something, you can’t. It’s not your mind, it’s not depression, it’s not a bad morning, it’s not your coffee, it’s not your cereal, it's not the side of bed you slept on, it’s not the monkey at the zoo. It is you being sick and not having the health to do what you feel you can’t do.

The bottom line is that if you feel like you can’t, you can’t. Listen to that inner voice of weakness or strength to make decisions, not the voice of the world’s prejudice. You know your body instinctively. Listen to your body. Respect your inner voice. It’s guiding the way. it’s not a pretty way, but it is the only way.

IT’S NOT OUR FAULT.

Love,
Whitney 



Art by El Lissitzky



Thursday, February 10, 2022

The Gossiper

 Someone I know quite well lamented to me about a situation within his community in which half-truths were propagated against him. Naturally, it hurts anyone to know that people find weakness for exploitation, this person is no exception. This is clearly an American sin that knows no boundaries. America is a Godless country that has lost the sense of decency and what is right. It prides itself on false pretenses. 

I ask myself why people resort to such behavior. Why they take a rumor and use it as a weapon to destroy a person. I myself have been victimized by this a number of times from unscrupulous neighbors, co-workers and people in the Church. 

There is a difference between talking about someone about mundane subjects and another about malicious gossip that is designed with one thing and that is to destroy someone's reputation. In particular, there is a difference between reporting facts versus distorted facts, again this is to destroy people. 

Gossip is evil. 

 “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” -Book of James 3:6

I do not know anyone who is without fault (sin), it is impossible. Even the most "perfect" among us has faults. The person who readily admits their faults and helps others who are less fortunate are the most admired in my opinion.

No one is without fault. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

Of course, many people lack self -realization which blinds them to their own shortcomings. Jesus spoke clearly about judging others.  

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged."

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite!  First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."

Some facts about gossipers:

1/ Gossipers fall into the temptation to destroy a person because they are undisciplined and gullible. They lack critical thinking skills. They certainly lack proper judgement skills to correctly interpret information, so they jump to irrational conclusions. 

2/ Suspect that they are mentally ill or at the very least they are emotionally ill. 

2/ Gossipers are weak people, they are morally weak, emotionally weak and spiritually weak. They tempt others to join their weakness. 

3/ Gossipers will lunge at anyone so they can elevate their weaknesses. They use gossip to divert focus away from their own shortcomings.

4/ Gossip is as (if not more) evil than other egregious sins. 

5/ Gossipers have low IQs and low moral standards. 

6/ They are nosy and intrusive, they seek information not to help you but to exploit your weakness to others. 

7/ Gossipers should never be trusted (if they are gossiping about someone else to you, they are certainly gossiping about you to others).

What to do when faced with gossipers. First realize that they are weak in mind and spirit. Secondly realize they are not to be trusted, so seek out smart and mature people to help you. Remember that gossipers are like parasites, they need to feed on other people, at some point, they will find new victims and you will be forgotten.

Get the law on your side. US law allows for monetary damages for defamation of character. I took the opportunity to seek legal counsel and you should too. 

"Keep away from small-minded people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great."  -Mark Twain

"Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people" -Socrates