Spirulina, a fresh water plant alae, has helped me a lot and I have used it for a number of years.

About a month ago I came across a new Supperfood, Marine Phytoplankton. With over 200+ micro algae. It is over 400 times more Powerful than anything else on the planet. The Marine Phytoplankton rebuilds us at a cellular level.

So far I am experiencing less pain, less dissiness, and feel more energy.

Marine Phytoplankton gets our immune system working naturally again.

I feel that I am on my road to recovery and Super Health. Maybe you will feel the same, it is working for other with Chronic Fatique Syndrome, Cancer, etc.

FrequenSea is the name of what I amusing, which has the Marine Phytoplanton in it, there is a video to explain more about FreqeunSea and Marine Phytoplankton.I have a few more video's to share with you to soon.

Ok, Yea, here are a three videos for you to learn more about FreqeunSea and Marine Phytoplankton.

Superfood, Marine Phytoplankton

The Carrie Host Story - Hope with a rare Cancer

Ulcerative Colitis - Road back to health - Frequensea

Many Blessing's My Friend's !!!******


 

I find this useful information, so am passing it on to you.

[Moderator's Note: Please respond directly to
Rich Van Konynenburg, Ph.D. <Richvank@AOL.COM>]


From Rich Van Konynenburg:

I've updated my general outline for dealing with cases of CFS, and I
would like to receive comments on it.


DRAFT FOR COMMENT

March 1, 2004



SUGGESTED GENERAL OUTLINE FOR DEALING WITH CASES OF
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

by

Richard A. Van Konynenburg, Ph.D.

(richvank@aol.com)


Disclaimers

I am an unlicensed independent researcher with a background in the
physical sciences and engineering. I have been studying chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS) as an avocation for more than seven years.
Though I am not a clinician or a practitioner and do not accept
remuneration from clinicians, patients, or vendors of the products
mentioned herein, I have attached a disclosure statement about
myself at the end of this document, in keeping with the spirit of
that part of the California Business and Professions Code that
pertains to complementary and alternative health care services.

Where particular products or laboratories are cited in this general
outline, these citations are intended as possibilities rather than
specific endorsements. These possibilities are not intended to rule
out other products or laboratories that may also be available.

Clinicians or persons with chronic fatigue syndrome who choose to
follow this general outline do so at their own risk. In particular,
as an unlicensed researcher I am not authorized to prescribe
pharmaceuticals. Where these are mentioned, they are intended only
as possibilities for consideration by licensed health care
practitioners, who remain responsible for their prescription.

I am hopeful that this general outline will be of help to those
suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome as well as those who treat
them.

Basis

What follows is based on my own hypotheses about CFS and on what I
have learned from researchers and clinicians who specialize in
treating these disorders, from papers, books, and conferences, and
from interactions with people on internet lists, during my years of
focusing on this disorder. My thoughts on effective methods of
coping with this disorder continue to change as I learn more, but
this is a snapshot of my present views. While I cannot guarantee
that they will bring about a cure of CFS, I am confident that they
can improve the quality of life for many PWCs (persons with chronic
fatigue syndrome).

Audience

This paper is written both for clinicians who treat CFS and for PWCs
themselves. Many of the actions discussed herein can only be
performed by PWCs on their own behalf. Other aspects can only be
performed by licensed health care professionals. It is my hope that
this general outline will foster increased cooperation between PWCs
and clinicians to improve the methods for dealing with CFS

Application

This general outline is intended to apply to PWCs who have been
diagnosed as having CFS according to "Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Clinical Working Case
Definition, Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols," by Carruthers, et
al. (Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, vol. 11, no. 1 (2003)).
These diagnostic criteria were developed by a consensus committee
under the auspices of Health Canada.

This general outline is also appropriate for PWCs diagnosed under
the older Fukuda et al. international research case definition
developed under the auspices of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention in Atlanta, GA.

It is particularly important to make efforts to rule out Lyme
disease in people who have CFS-like symptoms. This has been very
difficult to do, and many have suffered from Lyme disease for years
while carrying a diagnosis of CFS. The NIH has recently announced a
new test for Lyme disease. If it turns out to be reliable, it will
be a major contribution.

Multifaceted Nature of Approach

To be most beneficial, a treatment program for CFS must be
multifaceted, combining several types of interventions. The reasons
for this are that CFS affects the human organism at a very
fundamental level, and it has an exceedingly complex pathogenesis,
composed of many steps, interactions, and vicious circles, many of
which still remain to be elucidated. The longer a PWC has been ill,
the more involved this pathogenesis becomes. A single treatment
intervention will not be sufficient to break through this web.
Figuratively speaking, to bring a PWC back out of the CFS pit, she
or he must be lifted at several places, some of them simultaneously,
others in appropriate chronological order. Most of the clinicians
who treat many PWCs (including Dr. Paul Cheney and Dr. Jacob
Teitelbaum) have found that a multifaceted treatment approach is the
most effective.

Subsets and Tailoring to Individual PWCs

The PWC population as currently defined by the above diagnostic
criteria is heterogeneous, composed of many subsets. There are few
serious CFS researchers who doubt this, and many are now emphasizing
the importance of separating the subsets in order to make further
progress in understanding the causes of CFS. Consequently, a
single, uniform treatment protocol is not appropriate and will not
be effective for all PWCs. In the general outline described here,
there are many parts, and I have attempted to point out criteria for
inclusion of the various parts when tailoring to an individual PWC.

Chronological Order of Interventions

Some of the aspects of this general outline are best carried out in
a certain chronological order. This order is based on the
interactions and vicious circles that are characteristic of the
current pathophysiology of the PWC rather than on the order in which
the various body systems were affected during the pathogenesis.
Where the order of interventions is important, I have specified it,
to the best of my current understanding.

Description of the Parts of the General Outline

1. Stress Relief

Many PWCs were overloaded by various types of long-term stressors
prior to the onset of their symptoms, and some continue to be so.
There is considerable published research supporting the observation
of stressors in the etiology of CFS. In an initially healthy human,
the long-term stress that results from these stressors causes the
secretion of adrenaline and cortisol by the adrenals for extended
periods, and these lead to suppression of cell-mediated immunity and
depletion of glutathione, which in turn can produce a range of
deleterious effects, leading to CFS in genetically susceptible
individuals. Unless the load of stress is lifted or at least
greatly reduced, it is probably not possible to achieve health, so
this aspect should be dealt with early.

Even though it may be extremely difficult to do, it's important for
PWCs to do whatever they can do to relieve their load of various
kinds of stressors, including physical, chemical, biological,
mental, and emotional stressors. This includes changing their actual
life circumstances as well as changing how they respond to these
circumstances. They may have to make some hard decisions and stick
to them. If they have not already dropped out of their employment,
they may have to. If there are interpersonal interactions in their
lives that cause them excessive stress, they will either need to
make peace with the people involved or minimize their interactions
with them. If their living environments are exposing them to
significant amounts of chemical toxins or irritants, it will be
critical for them to eliminate these substances or to move to other
dwellings. If they are overdoing physical exercise or exertion,
they will need to moderate it. If they are repeatedly being exposed
to infections, they will need to isolate themselves from the sources
of these infections.

Pacing is an important habit for PWCs to develop. Before becoming
ill, many PWCs were achievement-oriented, action-prone, "Type A,"
hard driving people. Recovery from CFS will demand a fundamental
change in this approach to life. Instead of attempting always
to "do one's best," a PWC may need to come to terms with doing
something that is quite good enough. Tomorrow is another day.
Balance is called for.
Instead of ignoring signals from the body that rest is needed and
forging full steam ahead, a PWC should develop the habit of heeding
these signals and lightening the load. This advice may seem like
heresy to a person whose life has been oriented since childhood
toward maximum achievement or perfection, but I believe it's the
correct advice when it comes to promoting recovery from CFS.

Once PWCs have made the changes necessary to reduce their stress to
a manageable level, they must seek to improve the ways in which they
cope with their remaining stress: they should consider activities
such as listening to music, meditating, praying, practicing yoga,
watching comedy videos or radio programs, developing their sense of
humor, and enjoying nature. If they have deep-seated animosities
because of past wrongs done to them, they should work on developing
the ability to forgive. Different things work for different people.

Of course, it is much easier to talk about reducing stress and
coping with it than to actually do these things. The degree to
which PWCs can reduce the stress in their lives depends on what
their financial picture is, whether or not they have a supportive
social structure, and other factors. But the more they can rid
themselves of stress and/or learn to cope with it more effectively,
the better will be their chance for recovery.

2. Exercise

There is a continuing controversy over the benefit of exercise in
CFS. My view of this is that too much exercise, particularly of
aerobic types, is damaging to a PWC, but appropriate amounts of the
right kinds of exercise can be beneficial.

I believe that damage to the skeletal muscle cells occurs as a
result of the increased production of oxidizing free radicals during
aerobic exercise, in the presence of an ongoing condition of
oxidative stress in these cells. There are now several papers in
the literature reporting on elevated measurements of markers of
oxidative stress in CFS. It is well-established that oxidizing free
radicals are produced in the normal course of metabolism, and that a
higher rate of metabolism will result in a higher rate of production
of oxidizing free radicals. I believe that this accounts for the
observed "post-exertional malaise" that may extend for days after a
PWC gets too much exercise.

Movement, stretching, and resistance exercise are important for the
health of the joints, the bones, the lymph system, the circulatory
system, the vestibular (balance) system, the tendons and muscles and
the digestive system. The joints require physical movement in order
to bring nutrients to the cartilage via the synovial fluid. The
maintenance of strong bones requires mechanical stress in the
bones. The lymph system requires the action of skeletal muscles to
move lymph from the periphery of the body into the thoracic duct and
thence into the circulatory system. The circulatory system requires
muscle action to assist in returning blood to the heart, as well as
in preserving the tone of the heart muscle and the condition of the
overall circulatory system. Bouncing type exercise (such as on a
small trampoline or a chair suspended with springs) has been found
helpful for the vestibular system. The muscles and tendons require
exercise to stay in condition, and exercise can also help to relieve
muscle pain. The digestive system benefits from exercise in
maintaining proper motility.

PWCs should get regular exercise, but should not overdo it. They
should approach exercise cautiously, doing less than they think they
can, and waiting until the next day or two to decide whether they
are able to tolerate it at the level achieved. Increases in exercise
parameters should be entered upon cautiously. PWCs should avoid
aerobic exercise, but carry out stretching, movement, and short-term
(non-aerobic) resistance exercise. For people who have
fibromyalgia only, without symptoms characteristic of CFS, even
aerobic exercise can be helpful.

3. Relief of Pain

Muscle pain, and to a lesser extent joint pain, are major symptoms
for many PWCs. Most of this pain does not appear to be associated
with observable tissue damage, but rather seems to originate in
malfunction of the sensory parts or pain signal processing parts of
the nervous system. Since severe pain can interfere with the
ability to obtain restorative sleep and can also stimulate the
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, it should be dealt with before
treating sleep problems or the neuroendocrine system. Some pain
relief can often be obtained from appropriate exercise, such as
stretching and relaxation, as mentioned above. Pain relief can also
often be obtained from massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, physical
therapy, or local or general heating. Far-infrared heating, in
particular, appears to offer advantages. Pharmaceutical pain
relievers are often used by clinicians. Their benefits must of
course be weighed against their side effects, and in the case of the
more potent ones, their habituation tendencies.

4. Sleep

Sufficient deep, restorative sleep is very important for several
reasons. Human growth hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland
during the deepest stages of sleep (Stages 3 and 4). This hormone is
necessary to carry out repairs while we sleep. In addition, memories
of daily events are fixed in our brains during sleep, and poor sleep
quality can lead to deficits in short-term memory. Biochemical
energy supplies are restored in the brain during sleep. There are
probably many more benefits of restorative sleep that are not yet
understood.

PWCs should do what they need to do to get the amount of restorative
sleep nightly that is sufficient for them to feel rested when they
awaken. Seven to eight hours per night is appropriate for most
people. This should start with avoiding foods (such as caffeine) and
activities in the period before bedtime that tend to keep people
awake. It's important to have a regular bedtime and a quiet, dark
place to sleep
with a comfortable temperature and a reasonably comfortable
mattress. If this doesn't bring restorative sleep, then PWCs should
look into the possibility that they might have sleep apnea, as
follows: If he or she has a sleeping partner, the partner can be
asked whether he or she has noticed that the PWC stops breathing for
periods of time while sleeping, a sign of sleep apnea. If the PWC
frequently awakens with a gasp or a snort, this is another sign of
sleep apnea. Snoring or a neck size larger than 17 inches are other
risk factors for sleep apnea. If suggestions of sleep apnea are
present, a clinician can order a sleep study to determine whether a
PWC has this condition for sure, and if so, a CPAP machine may be
helpful. If these measures don't bring restorative sleep, then the
orthomolecular substances should be tried first, such as a magnesium
supplement or melatonin at bedtime. If they don't correct the
problem, an herbal mixture including valerian, passion flower, kava
kava, and others (such as from www.immunesupport.com) should be
tried. If that doesn't work, the clinician should consider
prescribing zolpidem (Ambien). Antihistamines such as Benedryl
(diphenhydramine) may promote sleep, but may also interfere with
deep-stage sleep.

5. Air

Many PWCs suffer from respiratory allergies, multiple chemical
sensitivities, and/or deficits in the operation of their
detoxication system. Therefore, it's important for them to be able
to breathe air that is free of toxins, allergens, and substances to
which a PWC may have a chemical sensitivity.

The home heating system should be checked for leakage of carbon
monoxide into the living space. Furnishings and building materials
that outgas volatile substances such as formaldehyde or emit mold
spores should be eliminated. A high efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filter should be installed to remove pollens and dusts, if
they cause allergic reactions.

6. Water

It is important to drink sufficient water for proper hydration of
the body and for proper operation of the bowels. Many PWCs have a
higher than normal requirement for water, because they suffer from
central diabetes insipidus (not the same as the more common diabetes
mellitus). Central diabetes insipidus results from insufficient
secretion of antidiuretic hormone by the hypothalamus and pituitary
gland, and this causes the kidneys to pass too much water into the
urine. The result is constant thirst and low blood plasma volume.
The latter exacerbates problems with orthostatic intolerance
(inability to stand for a significant length of time because of poor
blood supply to the brain).

Several of the minerals found in natural waters are among those
essential to the body, and many PWCs are deficient in some of them,
particularly magnesium and calcium.

As noted above, the detoxication system is not operating properly in
many PWCs (primarily because of glutathione depletion). Therefore,
minimizing the content of toxins in ingested water is important.

A PWC should obtain a supply of clean water to drink. It's best if
it does not contain chloride, fluoride, or significant amounts of
heavy metals, organic toxins, or bacteria, but the minerals needed
by the body, such as calcium and magnesium, should not be removed.
Distilled water or water that has been through reverse osmosis are
not the best choices, because they do not contain these minerals. A
home tap water filter that includes a charcoal filter to remove
heavy metals and organic toxins is a good investment.

7. Orthostatic Intolerance

Many PWCs suffer from orthostatic intolerance, manifested as
orthostatic hypotension (sometimes diagnosed as NMH or neurally
mediated hypotension) or postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS), or
both. These can involve a low blood plasma volume or pooling of
blood in the lower body when standing, or both.

The blood plasma volume can be increased to some degree by drinking
more water, together with added salt. It's important to make sure
that enough potassium is taken in to maintain the sodium/potassium
balance in the body. Fresh, non-starchy vegetables are good sources
of potassium without abundant sugars.

Blood pooling can be counteracted by the use of support hose. The
tightness should be selected to prevent blood pooling, but should
allow sufficient blood circulation in the legs and feet.

Taking supplemental tyrosine at a dosage of up to 1,500 mg per day
is another thing to consider to counteract blood pooling, because
tyrosine is the substrate for making norepinephrine, the
neurotransmitter used by the sympathetic nervous system to contract
the muscles around the veins in the lower body. There is evidence
of low tyrosine in some PWCs and of a deficit in norepinephrine
production in some with othostatic intolerance.

Fludrocortisone has been prescribed by some clinicians as a
treatment for orthostatic intolerance in PWCs, but its efficacy is
not clear. Midodrine has also received some testing, and has been
helpful for some with orthostatic hypotension. It is an alpha-1
adrenoceptor agonist, and thus acts in place of norepinephrine to
constrict blood vessels. Clinicians should be alert, however, to
possible excessive elevation of supine blood pressure by this agent.

8. Diet and Nutrition

The normal, healthy human body has requirements for about 40
essential nutrients to support its biochemistry and sufficient
calories to provide the needed energy. Under normal conditions the
gastrointestinal system is able to obtain enough of these nutrients
from the diet to supply the needs of the cells to a significant
degree (though perhaps not an optimum degree), and the cells are
able to metabolize the nutrients from food to maintain normal
function and at least a nominal condition of health.

In the case of PWCs, there are two categories of problems in this
area. First, while the gastrointestinal system functions well in
some PWCs, in many others it does not. Second, in many PWCs the
skeletal muscle cells in particular are not able to carry out
oxidative metabolism of absorbed fuels in a normal manner or at
normal rates. (This appears to be a result of partial blockades in
the Krebs cycle produced by a rise in peroxynitrite secondary to
glutathione depletion. Prof. Martin Pall has theorized and
published extensively about peroxynitrite in CFS.)

With respect to the first category, it is important for the PWC and
the clinician to assess the function of the gastrointestinal system
at the outset to determine the best approach to diet and nutrition
in the particular case. At one extreme are those whose G.I. systems
are in such disarray that they are suffering from serious
malnutrition and deficiencies. These PWCs have difficulty retaining
sufficient body weight and suffer in many ways from the lack of
essential nutrients. At the other extreme are those who appear to
have normal function of their digestive system, and who may have
great difficulty avoiding constant weight gain. In between are most
PWCs, who experience varying degrees of malfunction of this system
and may have some deficiencies in nutrients.

Problems with the digestive system that are commonly found in PWCs
include lack of sufficient stomach acid, overgrowth of yeasts and/or
deleterious bacteria in the intestines, intestinal permeability,
food allergies, sensitivities or intolerances, and irritable bowel
syndrome. Celiac disease is occasionally found.

In cases of serious malfunctions of the gastrointestinal system that
are producing malabsorption and serious deficiencies of essential
nutrients, clinicians should consider intravenous nutritional
interventions, such as the Myers cocktail. This approach bypasses
the gastrointestinal system and delivers essential nutrients
directly to the cells via the blood stream. This may be the only
way to get the boost needed to begin recovery of health.

If there are problems with the digestive system, it is important to
deal with them before doing the other things discussed below.
Specifically, if the digestive system is not producing at least
daily, well-formed, normal-colored, normal-appearing stools, and the
PWC is not free of symptoms such as excessive gas (belching or
flatus), bloating, intestinal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, poor
stomach motility, gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), and/or
multiple food allergies or intolerances, then the gut needs to be
dealt with before other aspects described below are entered upon.
There are several reasons for this: a. An efficiently performing gut
is necessary to absorb nutrients adequately. Without them, the body
won't be able to obtain what it needs to get well. b. The gut is the
final pathway for dumping many toxins. If a PWC has had CFS for an
extended period of time, the body will have large burdens of toxins,
because the detox system has not been functioning well (largely
because of the depletion of glutathione), and the toxins will have
had time to build up. There must be a clear pathway to carry the
toxins out before one begins to mobilize them, or they will be
recirculated and may end up in a worse place than where they were
located initially. For example, more of them may be moved into the
brain. c. If the PWC has dysbiosis and leaky gut, the resulting
absorption of antigens directly into the blood stream from the lumen
of the gut will be placing a heavy load on the immune system, and it
may not be able to recover unless this load is lifted first.

Clinicians should first rule out structural causes for
gastrointestinal symptoms by conventional diagnostic methods. If
structural abnormalities are not found, a Comprehensive Diagnostic
Stool Analysis (CDSA) such as is available from www.gsdl.com, should
be performed. If parasites are suspected, a detailed
parasitological stool analysis should be performed, such as is
available from www.parasitetesting.com. The results of these tests
should be used to augment the bowel treatment program discussed
below with specific additional remedies as needed.

I suggest considering the bowel treatment program described by Dr.
Serafina Corsello in her book "The Ageless Woman," available at
www.corsello.com. This program includes bowel cleansing, soothing
and repopulation with probiotics. The detailed ingredients used are
given in the book, and are all non-prescription items.

In addition to this bowel treatment program, the most beneficial
things for promoting normal function of the gut are eating
sufficient fiber in the diet (fresh fruits and vegetables and whole
grains), drinking enough water, and getting sufficient (but not
excessive) exercise.

Turning now to the second category of problems in diet and nutrition
in CFS, many PWCs have partial blockades in the Krebs cycles of
their red, slow-twitch skeletal muscle cells, and these cells are
thus not able to metabolize carbohydrates completely to carbon
dioxide and water. When a PWC with such partial blockades continues
to consume too many carbohydrates, especially those of high glycemic
index, the results may be surges of insulin, hypoglycemia, and
conversion of carbohydrates to stored fats, resulting in persistent
weight gains.

The metabolism of fats is also limited in many PWCs by the Krebs
cycle partial blockades, and transfats in particular interfere with
the proper metabolism of the essential fatty acids and distort the
structures of cell membranes.

Proteins are utilized as fuel at higher rates than normal in the
bodies of many PWCs, because they are broken down into amino acids,
which are to some degree interconvertible by transamination
reactions, and some of them are able to compensate for the Krebs
cycle partial blockades by anaplerosis, and thus to be used
effectively for fuel.

As a result of the above, many PWCs find that they feel much better
on a diet that is relatively high in protein and relatively low in
carbohydrates and fats, especially low in foods containing
significant amounts of sugars and white, starchy foods such as
potatoes, rice, pasta, and bread, and also low in saturated fats and
transfats. It is important to choose proteins that do not provoke
an allergic response. Meats are often better tolerated than dairy
foods or eggs. Vegetables that grow above the ground are good
choices to supply essential nutrients and fiber.

With regard to determining the status of the essential nutrients,
including the vitamins, the minerals, the essential fatty acids, and
the essential amino acids, the best approach is to perform blood
tests, such as those offered by www.metametrix.com and
www.bodybio.com. With results of such testing, it will be possible
to emphasize supplementation of those nutrients which are
deficient. If this is not feasible, then I suggest regular
ingestion of a high-potency general nutritional supplement such as
Sparx (www.krysalis-sparx.com), two teaspoons of essential fatty
acids with the ratio of four-to-one linoleic acid to alpha linolenic
acid, and an undenatured whey protein product such as ImmunoPro Rx
(for example, from www.immunesupport.com).

Certain nutrients have been found to be especially helpful to many
PWCs. These include I.M. or S.C. injections of hydroxocobalamin
(vitamin B12) at relatively large doses--10,000 micrograms or more
per injection, two or three times per week. I.M injections of
magnesium sulfate (100 mg per week) together with taurine (This one
is painful, but the taurine helps), together with 600 mg magnesium
as glycinate or malate per day, taken orally. L-carnitine comes in
here, too, at 1 to 2 grams, three times per day. It's important to
take lots of antioxidants to counter the condition of oxidative
stress: 2 grams of vitamin C per day, in divided doses, some
bioflavonoids, coenzyme Q-10 (100 mg per day, provided it is
tolerated), and 400 I.U. per day of vitamin E. Alpha lipoic acid
should be avoided if there is likely a high body burden of methyl
mercury (such as if the PWC has been eating a lot of large predatory
fish, such as tuna or swordfish or shark, especially). Otherwise,
alpha lipoic acid can help to build glutathione, and 100 to 300 mg
per day can be used. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) can be helpful, at
400 mg, 2X per day, orally (Those with bipolar or manic-depressive
disorder should avoid taking SAMe, because it can bring on the manic
phase.)

There are also some things that should be eliminated from the PWC's
diet: caffeine, alcohol, MSG, Nutrasweet, food colorings, and other
artificial food additives.

More information on diet and nutritional approaches in CFS can be
found in Chapter 27 of the Handbook of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(Edited by L. Jason et al., Wiley, Hoboken, NJ, 2003), which was
written by the present author.

9. Building the Detoxication System and Flushing Out Toxins

As noted above, toxins build up in the PWC's body over the course of
the illness, primarily because of glutathione depletion.
Glutathione is responsible for Phase II detoxication of several
important categories of toxins, and it also serves as the basis for
the antioxidant enzyme system, which among other things is necessary
to deal with oxidizing free radicals produced during Phase I
detoxication of many toxins.

Important work has been done on detoxication in recent years by
Ritchie Shoemaker, M.D., and by Patricia Kane, Ph.D. and her
coworkers. I suggest that clinicians obtain a copy of The Detoxx
Book by Foster, Kane and Speight (www.detoxxbook.com) and consider
the protocols described therein. They include intravenous
injections of glutathione and phosphatidyl choline as well as oral
supplementation with appropriate oils and lipids. These measures
serve to augment the body's supply of glutathione as well as to
replenish the fatty acids needed by the body and to promote flushing
of the liver, gall bladder and biliary tract.

Other methods of helping the body to build glutathione include use
of oral undenatured whey protein products (such as ImmunePro Rx,
available from www.immunesupport.com). Use of these in CFS was
pioneered by Paul Cheney, M.D., Ph.D. This is a very powerful way
to build glutathione. For those who have allergies to whey protein,
the use of oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and the other amino acids
making up glutathione (glycine and glutamic acid or glutamine) is
preferable. Jeff Clark at www.cfsn.com sells such amino acid
precursors for building glutathione. (Some PWCs react badly to
anything that contains sulfur, which whey protein and NAC do. If
this is the case, they should consider taking 250 micrograms of
molybdenum and 100 mg of vitamin B-6 per day, and
starting slowly on the NAC or other sulfur-containing supplements.

It should be noted that it is not always easy to build the
glutathione levels back up to normal, because there are numerous
vicious circles that make this difficult, especially if the PWC has
been ill for an extended period of time.

When the glutathione begins to build back up, both the detoxication
system and the immune system will start to come alive, and they will
start moving toxins into the blood stream. This may produce an
exacerbation of symptoms known as the Herxheimer reaction, and this
may require a reduction in dosage. Having generous amounts of
indigestible fiber in the diet at this time is helpful to bind
toxins in the gut and carry them out in the stools.

10. Correcting Low Metabolic Rate and Furthering the Detoxification

Many PWCs have a lower than normal metabolic rate in their skeletal
muscles as a result of the partial blockades in the Krebs cycles
there. The results are that they exhibit a low armpit temperature
and they feel cold much of the time, even if they have normal
thyroid function (which many don't). In addition, many PWCs have
accumulated various toxins in their bodies, as noted above. Use of
far infrared (FIR) heating serves to simultaneously raise the
metabolic rate and sweat out toxins. Sherry Rogers has been a
proponent of FIR for detox. It's important to use FIR heating,
which penetrates into the tissues, and not other types of heating,
such as standard near-infrared bulbs, dry or wet ordinary saunas, or
hot baths or showers, because these methods deposit heat primarily
in the skin. Heating the skin results in dilating the arterioles
that supply blood to the skin, and in many PWCs this will provoke
low blood pressure or tachycardia because of lack of sufficient
blood flow to the brain.

PWCs who feel cold much of the time, or who have armpit temperatures
upon awakening that are significantly below normal, should consider
FIR heating. In the order of cost, beginning with the lowest cost,
this is available in the forms of individual FIR lamps, FIR heaters
that stand on the floor, FIR sauna tunnels, and upright FIR saunas.
One approach (pioneered by Jim Clements) is to get two FIR heaters
(so you can sit between them) and use them for about 15 or 20
minutes a couple of times per week. Unless a tunnel or full sauna
is used, it may be necessary to warm the room first (a small room is
best, such as a closet or bathroom), and it may be necessary to
outgas vapors from the walls or wall coverings by heating and
ventilating the room before it is used with the heaters. FIR
heating seems to help people most who feel cold, and who have
orthostatic intolerance (and thus cannot tolerate other ways of
heating the body, such as hot showers, without feeling faint).
Considerable water and minerals are lost in the sweat during FIR
heating, so it is important to replace them by drinking lots of
water before and during the heating, and also to take enough of a
good multimineral supplement. Replenishment of magnesium and zinc
is particularly important. This heating often feels very pleasant,
and it is easy to overdo it, so care must be taken to approach this
gently. If a PWC begins to feel worse after undertaking a program of
FIR heating, she or he should try backing off on the total amount of
time it is used per week, and/or increasing the intake of water
and/or minerals.

11. Removal of Heavy Metals

Many PWCs have accumulated considerable body burdens of toxic heavy
metals, again because of their longstanding glutathione deficit. One
heavy metal that is very commonly elevated is mercury, because of
its constant evaporation and corrosion from amalgam fillings in the
teeth, and because of the consumption of large predatory fish,
including tuna.

It is important to test for heavy metals before initiating efforts
to remove them. I suggest a combination of hair testing (as for
example by Doctor's Data Laboratories) and urine testing after
challenge by a chelating agent such as DMSA (succimer) (as offered
by the King James Laboratory in Ohio, for example). Blood and stool
tests are also available, and there are proponents for each.

If excessive mercury is found, its removal from the body must be
done very carefully, because otherwise it is possible to mobilize it
and transfer it into the brain and nervous system, where it acts as
a neurotoxin.

In the field of toxicology, one of the time-honored principles in
treating toxicity is to first remove the source of the toxin. This
has led many PWCs, when they became aware of the sources of mercury
in their teeth, to rush to have their amalgam fillings removed.
Based on the unpleasant experiences of several who have done this, I
suggest that it is important first to properly build up the
detoxication system as described above, so that mercury that is
released to the body during the removal of the amalgams can be
properly dealt with. In addition, it is important to select a
dentist who uses measures for minimizing the mercury exposure of the
patient from this procedure, such as abundant water cooling to keep
the amalgam material cool during drilling, a high volume air suction
device to remove mercury vapor to prevent its inhalation, and a dam
to prevent the swallowing of mercury-containing material.

There are several agents available for chelation of mercury. I
recommend that an experienced specialist in this field be consulted,
since there are many pitfalls.

12. Inflammation and Local Extracellular Bacterial Infections

Many PWCs are suffering from inflammation and local infections. I
believe that these are exacerbated by the low output of cortisol in
many PWCs after their onset, as a result of HPA axis malfunction.
These infections should be sought out, based on the PWCs medical
history and symptoms, and by specific testing of suspicious areas.
Common examples are infected root canals, infected cavitations where
teeth have been pulled, sinus infections, and infections in the
nasal passages. Problems in the teeth and gums may require removing
teeth or cleaning out cavitations. An experienced oral surgeon is
needed for this. Sinus infections can be bacterial or fungal or
both, and may need to be treated with both antibiotics and
antifungals. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, which used to be
considered innocuous, may not be so for PWCs, and may need to be
treated with a combination of antibiotics. Pioneering work in this
area has been done by Neil McGregor, Ph.D., in Australia, and by
Ritchie Shoemaker, M.D., in Maryland. Testing for coagulase-
negative staphylococcus is not routinely done, but is available from
Esoterix (www.esoterix.com) by culturing of deep nasal swabs.

13. Viral and Intracellular Bacterial Infections

In CFS, it is commonly observed that the immune response has been
shifted to the Th2 mode, away from the Th1 mode. I think this
results from long-term elevated cortisol prior to onset, followed by
glutathione depletion. Some pathogens are also able to promote this
continuing shift in their own self interest. Because of this shift
PWCs are particularly vulnerable to viral and intracellular
bacterial infections, which require a viable Th1 response for their
defeat. Many of the viral infections found in PWCs appear to result
from reactivation of latent endogenous viruses of the herpes family.

Testing should be done for Epstein--Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, HHV-
6, mycoplasma, and Chlamydia as a minimum, as these are most
commonly found in CFS. PCR testing for these pathogens and others
found in CFS is performed by www.mdlab.com.

David Berg of Hemex Labs in Phoenix has pointed out that in many
PWCs there are genetic variations in proteins of the blood clotting
cascade that lead to hypercoagulation when the immune system
responds to infections. His lab offers tests for this condition.
If present, hypercoagulation can be countered by low dose heparin
and by nonpharmaceutical substances such as lumbrokinase and
nattokinase. It is very important not to counter only the
hypercoagulation alone, but also to simultaneously combat the
infectious agent involved. Otherwise, the infection can become
worse, as can the hypercoagulation in response to it.

Most of these infections are suppressed by a healthy immune system,
and Paul Cheney, M.D. reported that glutathione rebuilding was
effective for restoring the ability of the immune system to put them
down. In addition, many herpes family viruses can be suppressed by
taking 3 grams of L-lysine per day, and avoiding foods that are high
in arginine, such as chocolate and nuts. Nonpharmaceutical antiviral
substances include oil of oregano and olive leaf extract. There are
also pharmaceutical antivirals that are effective for some of these
viruses. Antibiotics can be used to treat mycoplasma and Chlamydia
infections.

Some PWCs have viral infections in the brain, i.e. viral
encephalitides. These are difficult to knock out, but some are
treatable with existing antivirals, as has been shown by Daniel
Peterson, M.D. of Incline Village, NV. Testing for these infections
involves performing analyses, including PCR analyses, on spinal
fluid taken from a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). PCRs who have
pressure-type headaches and a variety of neurological symptoms are
suspects for having encephalitides.

Transfer factors (such as are available from www.immunesupport.com)
are another approach that has been found effective in suppressing
viral infections in PWCs. Joseph Brewer, M.D., of Kansas City has
reported success with transfer factors against HHV-6 infections.

As mentioned in the Application section, another very important
pathogen to test for is Borrellia Burgdorferi, the spirochete that
is responsible for Lyme disease. It is important also to test for
other tick-borne disease, such as babesiosis and erlichiosis. This
is especially important for PWCs who have spent time in brushy or
wooded areas where deer and mice live. Up to this point, there have
not been completely reliable tests to distinguish between long-term
disseminated Lyme disease and CFS, but clinicians should consider
the tests offered by www.igenex.com and by
www.immunoscienceslab.com, together with use of clinical diagnosis.
It remains to be seen whether the new test recently announced by the
NIH will prove to be more reliable than past tests.

14. Supporting the Immune System

To achieve long-term control of infections, it is necessary to have
a healthy immune system. Supply of the essential nutrients for the
proper operation of the immune system has been covered in the
section on Diet and Nutrition. The replenishment of glutathione,
which is also very important for the immune system, has also been
covered above. The elimination of inflammation, bacterial
infections, and the suppression of viral and intracellular bacterial
infections will go a long way toward taking the load off the immune
system, and this has also been discussed above. The neuroendocrine
system, which has significant effects on the immune system, is
discussed in the next section. Because of the interactions between
them, these two systems should be supported simultaneously. If the
immune system continues to be shifted to the Th2 immune response, it
may be necessary to rebalance it, by using immune modulators such as
Isoprinosine (Imunovir), MGN-3, Moducare or Pinextra. The goal is to
restore the immune system's ability to respond either with a Th1 or
a Th2 response, whichever is needed to combat the threat. There
have been reports that cimetidine (Tagamet) is effective in enabling
the immune system to overcome suppression of Th1 (cell-mediated)
immunity by blocking the histamine H2 receptors on cells of the
immune system that the pathogens use to fool the immune system.
(Since cimetidine suppresses the production of stomach acid for
several hours, it is best taken at bedtime, on an empty stomach. It
also suppresses phase I detox for some drugs, and may have other
side effects which should be taken into account.) ProBoost thymic
protein A (available from www.immunesupport.com) may be helpful
here, too, since it promotes the production of new helper T cells by
the thymus gland. Glutamine is another substance that may help here,
because it is the main food for the lymphocytes. It is necessary to
take a large dosage to supply it to the lymphocytes, because it's
also the main food for the intestinal cells, and they have first
access to it. Some PWCs react unfavorably to glutamine (probably
because of a leaky blood-brain barrier that allows too much of it
into the brain to form glutamic acid, the main excitatory
neurotransmitter). Therefore, it is a good idea to start with a low
dosage and work up to as much as 20 grams per day if it is tolerated
well. Bulk glutamine powder is available from www.beyond-a-
century.com, and it has a sweet taste, so it isn't hard to take.

It may not be possible to restore the immune system to complete
health until the HPA axis is dealt with, as described under the
neuroendocrine system in the next section, because cortisol and DHEA
are important to the operation of the immune system.

As part of the immune system balancing, it's also necessary to deal
with allergies, because they will tend to exhaust the immune system
and keep it shifted to Th2. It's important to identify the
substances that produce allergic reactions or sensitivities, and to
avoid them. Detailed allergy testing should include both the RAST
test and the Elisa-ACT test. If these are not feasible for a
particular PWC, elimination of the major causes of food allergies
and sensitivities can be tried. Elimination from the diet should
extend for at least two weeks. The major causes are dairy products
and wheat.

Hopefully, the leaky gut condition has been dealt with in section 8
above, and that will have eliminated food intolerances, which also
place a load on the immune system.

Another approach that has helped to improve the immune system
function in some PWCs is to perform skin brushing or lymphatic
massage, to help the flow of the lymph, which carries the immune
system cells back to the blood stream via the thoracic duct.

15. The Neuroendocrine System

The neuroendocrine system is strongly impacted in many PWCs. Prior
to the onset of CFS, many PWCs were subject to long-term stress, as
discussed earlier. The body has specific responses to various kinds
of stress, but it also has nonspecific responses to stress in
general. The latter involve the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis
and the sympathetic nervous system interacting with the adrenal
medullas. Long-term stress produces long term elevations in the
secretion of cortisol by the HPA axis and epinephrine by the adrenal
medullas. This can lead to adrenal fatigue and can contribute to
the depletion of glutathione by detoxing the adrenochrome that
results from the oxidation of some of the epinephrine. After onset
of CFS, in many cases the cortisol secretion is below normal and/or
has lost its proper circadian variation, and this appears to result
from problems with the hypothalamus or higher brain centers. The
mechanism for this is not yet understood, but it may result from the
effects of long-term cortisol elevation.

In addition to this, there are thyroid problems in many PWCs, most
commonly hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The thyroid
produces considerable hydrogen peroxide in the course of
synthesizing its hormones, and the cells are normally protected from
this by glutathione. It seems likely that the glutathione depletion
that occurs in CFS may be responsible for damage to the thyroid
gland.

Furthermore, in female PWCs, problems with the levels of the sex
hormones are commonly found. In particular, estrogen dominance is
often a problem, especially after menopause. Even though estrogen
secretion drops considerably in menopause, progesterone secretion
may drop even more significantly, producing estrogen dominance.
This was emphasized by the late Dr. John Lee.

These neuroendocrine problems are best dealt with together, because
they are interactive.

Considering first the HPA axis, it is helpful to determine the
status of this axis by means of an Adrenal Stress Index test which
is a saliva test that measures the levels of cortisol at several
times during the day, as well as the DHEA and secretory IgA levels.
This test is available from www.diagnostechs.com. Based on the
results of the test, support can be given to the adrenals if needed.
Dr. James L. Wilson describes this in his book, available at
www.adrenalfatigue.com. Dr.
Corsello's book (www.corsello.com) has some helpful advice about
this, too. In supporting the adrenals, the goal is to give them a
rest by supplying an exogenous steroid for a time, together with
nutrients particularly needed by the adrenals, such as pantothenic
acid and vitamin C, but to avoid using exogenous steroids at too
high levels or for too long a time, so that the HPA axis does not
adapt to them and become dependent on them. It is wise to start
with very low doses of exogenous steroid if a PWC's HPA axis is
badly suppressed.

The status of the thyroid should be determined not by measuring only
the levels of TSH and T4, but also by measuring the level of free
T3, because many PWCs don't convert T4 to T3 very well. (This may
result from the fact that the enzymes that perform this conversion
are selenoenzymes, and selenium forms an intermetallic complex with
mercury, which is elevated in many PWCs.) In addition, it's wise to
measure the armpit temperature upon awakening for a few days to see
if it is running low, and to pay attention to other hypothyroid
symptoms, such as general tiredness, weight gain, aches and pains in
the joints and muscles, low sex drive, abdominal bloating, puffy
face, depression, muscle cramps, constipation, thickened skin, dry
and pale skin, thin or brittle fingernails, brittle hair, hair loss,
including loss of the outer parts of the eyebrows, feeling cold even
in warm temperatures, and a milky discharge from the breasts). In
CFS, it is often not easy to distinguish between hypothyroidism and
partial blockades in the metabolism, since there is considerable
overlap in symptoms. However, if there appears to be a
constellation of symptoms that are consistent with low thyroid, a
trial with thyroid hormone should be considered. In particular,
consideration should be given to Armour thyroid, because it supplies
both T3 and T4.

I suggest referring to Dr. Corsello's book (www.corsello.com) for a
discussion of balancing the female sex hormones.

16. Repairing Accumulated Damage

If all these steps have been carried out, and a PWC still hasn't
fully recovered, the reason may be that there has been damage to
the organs and tissues by pathogens, toxins and oxidizing free
radicals during the duration of the illness. There are several
approaches now being tested to repair this damage. One is injections
of growth hormone and bovine growth factors, to stimulate the
production of new cells, including those in the brain. Another is
live cell
therapy, which is done in Mexico, and another is stem cell therapy,
which is new and controversial. Further developments can be
expected in these areas.

I hope this general outline is helpful. Please bear in mind that I
am a researcher, not a licensed physician. My disclosure statement
is shown below. I request that anyone considering following this
outline read my disclosures and send me an e-mail stating that you
have read them, at richvank@a.... Also, I recommend that any PWC
desiring to follow this outline first have it reviewed by a
licensed health care provider familiar with their case, and follow
it under supervision of such a provider.

Richard A. Van Konynenburg


Disclosure Statement:

As of January 1, 2003, a new law became effective in the state
of California pertaining to the provision of complementary and
alternative health care services by non-licensed practitioners.

I do not regard myself nor advertise myself as a practitioner, nor
do I accept remuneration for providing health care services, but I
do frequently give suggestions to individuals about complementary
and alternative health care, primarily via the internet. Since I do
reside in California, and am not a licensed healthcare provider, I
want to make sure that I am operating within the spirit of this new
law. I am therefore providing the following information required by
the law:

1. I am not a licensed physician.

2. The advice and suggestions I give are alternative or
complementary to healing arts services licensed by the state of
California.

3. The services I provide are analyses of cases of chronic
syndromes and diseases, particularly chronic fatigue syndrome and
related disorders, and suggestions for dealing with them.

4. The theory upon which these services are based is
that it is possible to understand the root causes and disease
processes of chronic syndromes and diseases by the use of
biochemistry and physiology, and to deal with them by means that are
primarily orthomolecular, functional, holistic, naturopathic,
alternative, or complementary. Use is made of insights gained from
specialists in treating these disorders and from published research.

5. I have B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Engineering and Applied
Science from the University of California--Davis. I worked for
about 30 years in research and development in chemistry, physics,
materials science and engineering. I have no formal training in the
biological sciences or health-related fields. Since 1996 I have
been performing independent study of chronic fatigue syndrome and
related disorders. I am a member of the American Association for
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Orthomolecular Health-Medicine
Society and am a subscriber to the Journal of Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome. I have attended five professional conferences
specifically on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as of this date, as well as
several other medical conferences.

The law requires that written acknowledgment be obtained from anyone
to whom these health care services are provided that he or she has
been given the above information. Accordingly, I ask that
anyone who desires to apply this outline to a particular case to
please acknowledge that you have read the above by so stating in a
reply sent to me at richvank@a.... Thank you.

Richard A. Van Konynenburg

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Take care...

 

Greg Lunger

http://www.yogizenartistdude.com

Here is some good news!

Federal Rules Do Not Bar Hospitals From Giving Discounts to
the Uninsured, Bush Administration Says

Access this story and related links online:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=1962.TM.C.D.NjrYnj

  In a "toughly worded response" to hospitals, HHS Secretary
Tommy Thompson on Thursday said that federal regulations do not
prevent hospitals from offering discounts to uninsured patients,
the Wall Street Journal reports (Lagnado, Wall Street Journal,
2/20). In a letter sent to Thompson in December, the American
Hospital Association asked HHS to change or clarify pricing
schedule rules so that hospitals can give discounts to uninsured
patients without worrying about violating Medicare rules.
According to hospitals, Medicare regulations require them to
keep a uniform price list for treatments and procedures for all
patients (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 12/17/03).
Hospitals often bill the uninsured for "full charges," or the
list prices that hospitals maintain for every item and
procedure. Insurance companies and the Medicare and Medicaid
programs often pay lower rates, the Journal reports. According
to hospitals, Medicare policy requires "aggressive efforts to
collect from all patients," including those who are uninsured.
Hospitals also believed that Medicare policy did not allow
hospitals to provide discounts to the uninsured. Medical bills
are the second leading cause of personal bankruptcy, and
hospitals have "come under fire" for what they charge and what
tactics they use to collect unpaid bills, the Journal reports
(Wall Street Journal, 2/20).

Thompson's Response and Guidelines

In a letter to AHA President Richard Davidson, Thompson said,
"Nothing in the Medicare program rules or regulations prohibit
such discounts" to the uninsured. Thompson also said that
hospitals should "take action to assist the uninsured and
underinsured, and therefore end the situation where, as you said
in your own words, uninsured Americans and others of limited
means are often billed and required to pay higher charges"
(Denver Post, 2/20). The letter includes an accompanying
document with a "road map for hospitals in the form of a
question-and-answer dialogue," the Journal reports. One of the
questions asks: "Are hospitals required to take low-income
patients to court or seize their homes or send claims out to a
collection agency when those patients don't pay their hospital
bills?" The answer: "No. Nothing in the Medicare instructions
requires the hospital to seize a patient's home, take them to
court, or use a collection agency." It adds that hospitals are
not required "to engage in any specific level of collection
effort for Medicare or non-Medicare patients" (Wall Street
Journal, 2/20). "Hospitals can provide discounts to uninsured
and underinsured patients who cannot afford their hospital bills
and to Medicare beneficiaries who cannot afford their Medicare
cost-sharing obligations," Thompson said (Appleby, USA Today,
2/20). Dara Corrigan, acting principal deputy inspector general
at HHS, said that hospitals could reduce or eliminate copayments
and deductibles that would create financial hardship for a
Medicare beneficiary. Corrigan said that hospitals can define
"financial need" based on local costs of living and the
beneficiary's income, assets and medical bills. She added that
the hospital's criteria should be applied consistently to all
patients. Corrigan said that while hospitals can advertise
discounts available for uninsured patients, they cannot offer
discounts "as part of any advertisement or solicitation"
designed to attract Medicare beneficiaries or to generate
business payable by Medicare or other federal health programs
(Pear, New York Times, 2/20).

Hospital Reaction

Rick Wade, a spokesperson for AHA, said that Thompson's response
answered only some of AHA's questions, the AP/Las Vegas Sun
reports. "When a hospital sets a policy on the indigent, it will
not accommodate every case that comes through a door," Wade said
(Sherman, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 2/19). Melinda Hatton, AHA vice
president, said, "It's still not entirely clear what hospitals
can do to help the working poor," adding, "How much of a
discount can they give to a family of four with income of more
than $37,000 a year?" (New York Times, 2/20). Chip Kahn,
president of the Federation of American Hospitals, said that
Thompson's letter could be "a useful roadmap." He added that the
"substantive guidance should help end confusion and enable
hospitals to continue their efforts to address this problem on
which we have a shared concern" (Dorschner, Miami Herald, 2/20).
Laura Wegscheid, a spokesperson for Colorado-based Centura
Health, said that hospitals are waiting for guidelines on how
exactly they can provide discounts and financial assistance to
uninsured patients who have annual incomes higher than the
federal poverty level; the guidelines are due for release next
year, the Post reports (Denver Post, 2/20).

Advocate Reaction

Elisabeth Benjamin, an attorney for the Legal Aid Society, said
that Thompson's letter "finally puts to rest the hospitals'
tired and inaccurate argument that the government made them
charge uninsured and underinsured people these crazy inflated
prices" (Wall Street Journal, 2/20). K.B. Forbes, executive
director of the Council of United Latinos, said, "We are very
pleased with Secretary Thompson's letter. It's now clear that
hospitals can offer discounts to the uninsured, including
working-class families who earn too much to qualify for charity
care, but not enough to pay their medical bills" (New York
Times, 2/20). James Tallon, president of the United Hospital
Fund, said that Thompson's letter is a good "template" because
"there was ample room for criticism of hospitals' behavior."
However, he added that "hospitals were genuinely confused by the
thicket of federal regulations" (Wall Street Journal, 2/20).

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Take care...

Greg Lunger

http://digitalartdude.typepad.com/