In this final step, you'll see how you can use this information to correctly treat, restore, and heal yourself of viral illness. I discuss how to design your individualized viral immunity program, which laboratory tests are most useful, and how to evaluate the results of your program and make modifications for better results. Serious viral illness requires good medical care, so I discuss how you can find the right doctor.
However, before we launch into the discussion on treatment, it is important to begin with a review of the main points from this book that influence and guide treatment.
There are seven key points about viral illness we need to keep in mind:
Perhaps even more basic than the points listed above is prevention. Obviously, if you do not become infected there is no need for treatment. However, when it comes to viruses, prevention is not as easy as it sounds.
First, many people are already infected with viruses and do not know it. For them, it is too late for prevention. Hepatitis C can be harbored in your liver for thirty or forty years before tissue damage shows up on blood tests, and even then no symptoms may be present at all. Many of those already infected can be active carriers and spread infection to others unknowingly.
Second, there are many routes of transmission that are beyond our control. Take mosquitoes: even with effective public health controls, mosquitoes still breed and will bite and infect unsuspecting individuals given the opportunity. Also consider influenza; it can be spread by waterfowl flying in the sky above your home and is easily transmitted by children and even a person coughing in a crowded room.
Third, viruses are passed from person to person through normal human functions like giving birth, breast-feeding, eating, and sex. Giving birth and breast-feeding are functions that we cannot change, but by encouraging healthy lifestyle practices, prenatal and postpartum care, we can reduce the incidence of viral disease spread in this manner. Care can be taken for sanitary preparation of food. Sexually transmitted viruses can be controlled by “safe sex” and abstinence. However, humans are highly sexual creatures and safety and abstinence in all cases all of the time is improbable.
Humans cannot stop eating, forego making love, or stop breathing. However, we can change the manner in which we obtain our food, we can stop polluting our air, alter our personal habits, and maximize our health and healing potential with natural medicines. In both the short and long run, prevention is the means of diminishing the spread of viral infections.
Here are some preventive measures to keep in mind:
Epidemics and the effects of bioterrorism constitute a special circumstance. If we were to experience a rapidly spreading viral epidemic from either a natural source or from an act of terrorism, survival would still depend upon the strength of your immune system, your body's reserves of energy, your age, and the other factors that influence health and immunity. Therefore, following the viral immunity principles and steps increases your chances of resisting such developments. Measures to prevent contamination would be more aggressive than outlined above, including quarantine of infected individuals, wearing rubber gloves when caring for the sick, and using surgical or gauze masks to reduce inhalation exposure.
Now that we have reviewed prevention, let's look at the treatment aspect of viral immunity.
Your viral immunity program begins and ends with your lifestyle. Natural medicines work best when applied to a person who eats well, exercises regularly, and takes care of his body. The medications discussed in part 2 are important, but ultimately their role is secondary to having a healthy body and mind. By building your viral immunity program step by step, you will achieve the best results, including permanent healing and lasting health.
Building the Foundation: The foundation of your viral immunity program is composed of steps 1 through 4. These are the corner-stones of viral immunity (see figure 15-1). The most important parts are diet, exercise, detoxification, and antioxidants. Here are some reminders to help you get started:
Figure 15-1: Cornerstones of Viral Immunity
Managing Inflammation: Viruses stimulate immune activity and activate systemic inflammation. Viruses also cause localized tissue damage and inflammation. As it is so difficult to eradicate viruses once they take hold in the body, if you have an active viral infection, inflammation management is critical. When treating viral illness, the most important part of your program after lifestyle is managing inflammation. Here's how in review:
Enhance Your Natural Immunity: Use adaptogenic and immune-modulating natural medicines to enhance your immune system. In steps 6 and 8, several such agents are discussed, so study these chapters and choose one or two medicines, or a combination immune-enhancing medication.
For general enhancement and prevention, select one of the following:
If you have frequent colds and flu, or repeated mild infections, select one of the following:
If you have a chronic viral condition, take:
Select Natural Antivirals: Carefully review the chapters on natural antiviral and antimicrobial alternatives and Chinese herbs. If you have an active or chronic viral illness, choose several agents or an herbal combination from this category.
Mild antivirals useful for colds, flu, and general viral conditions include:
Stronger natural antivirals include:
For those with HCV or more severe viral illness, add a Chinese herbal formula:
Caution: As long as your system tolerates the herbs in a Chinese formula, stay with it for three months then evaluate your progress. You can add individual herbs or nutrients to your program, but it is better not to add additional complex herbal formulas.
Evaluate and Balance Hormones: If you are over fifty and suffer from chronic fatigue or are thirty-five or older and have a chronic illness, you may have one or more hormonal imbalances. Correct hormone activity is crucial for all stages of immunity and influences all the steps in your viral immunity program. Read step 9 on optimizing hormones and take the self-questionnaire. If you suspect a hormonal deficiency, ask your doctor to perform the recommended tests to evaluate your hormonal function. If the lab tests reveal values outside the range or within the range but less than optimal, consider hormone supplementation. Here are some hormone tips:
It is not easy to pick which medications will be the most effective, even for an experienced doctor who has considerable knowledge of natural medicine. Individual responses vary, and the effectiveness of any particular medication is influenced by many different factors. Though there is now more science in alternative medicine than there was twenty years ago, in the clinical practice of alternative medicine we are largely dependent on what a particular doctor's experience is or what patients report. Unfortunately, this style of practice does not tell you exactly how a particular medicine will work in your body. You will have to take the medicine to know that. In this next section, I discuss several clinical factors that influence the effectiveness and safety of taking medications.
Safety: The number one rule is to never take any medication, natural or chemical, when you do not know its safety. I have made every attempt to present only safe remedies that have proven effectiveness. Some of the proof is from laboratory or clinical studies; some medicines are also empirically proven from my own and other doctors' experiences. As with any substance you take into your body, individual reactions, allergies, and other unpredictable problems can occur. If you experience any uncomfortable reaction with any of these medications, discontinue its use immediately.
Substances Can Have Multiple Immunological Actions. Those marked under the substance's function indicate areas of overlapping activity.
Overlaps: Most medicines have more than one use. The general rule of thumb is that the more complex the medicine is, the more potential uses it is likely to have. This is especially true for natural medications. Due to their highly complex molecular structures and the many different chemical substances they contain, natural substances possess a variety of therapeutic actions (see table 18). To make use of this characteristic, I usually choose as first-line medications those that have the broadest pharmacological range.
Specificity: Once you have incorporated nutrients into a healthy lifestyle and have chosen one or two broad-spectrum immune-enhancing medications, I suggest you next select those that have the most specificity to your condition. Though most natural products are considered nonspecific in their mode of action (meaning they influence function rather than directly manipulating specific biochemical, metabolic, or immunological activities), many display remarkable specificity.
In comparison, pharmaceutical drugs are designed to absorb well into the body and have specific activity, such as the use of prednisone for its anti-inflammatory effects. However, even with drug specificity, these are foreign chemicals and cause other effects that often result in harm to the body.
Dosages, Timing, and Interactions: For most of the substances listed in this book, I have given a dosage range from a low starting dose to an upper limit. Begin with the lower dosage listed, and gradually increase to the higher dosage if you are male or a woman over 150 pounds. For women and those men under 150 pounds, start at the lower dosage and gradually increase to mid-range. Reduce the dosage by half if you experience any uncomfortable effects—usually stomach upset, diarrhea, or bloating. Discontinue if such symptoms persist. Children require dosages that are generally one quarter to one half of the suggested lower dosage.
When you take medications it is important to maximize their absorption and utilization. Review the instructions for each and take them according to the recommended timing, such as with or without meals, in the morning or evening.
Serious interactions with drugs rarely occur with natural substances, but the possibility does exist. Read about each nutrient, herb, or nutraceutical substance in detail before you start taking it. If you are taking prescription drugs, read the insert that comes with the medication, ask your pharmacist, or speak with your doctor about possible interactions. In the recommended reading list, you will find books that discuss possible interactions between pharmaceutical drugs and natural substances.
In Chinese medicine, the study of interactions among herbal ingredients in a formula is an exacting discipline. Strict rules define which herbs combine best with others. When you take multiple natural medications, as many people do, interactions among the various substances are likely to occur, but it is not well known what their consequences are. It is naïve to believe that since they are natural they are completely benign and that you can mix everything together. For best results, I suggest you take only the minimum amount of natural medications at any one time, but optimize the dosage.
When you take multiple natural medications, as many people do, interactions among the various substances are likely to occur, but it is not well known what their consequences are. For best results, I suggest you take only the minimum amount of natural medications at any one time, but optimize the dosage.
Your Age: Though this book is written primarily for adults between the ages of twenty-five and sixty-five, mothers wanting to optimize their family's health and immune status can apply the principles outlined in the book. Keep in mind that infants and children have specific requirements, including much lower dosages than those recommended. They will be unable to tolerate many different medications at the same time, and are more likely to have gastrointestinal upset from herbs and nutrients than adults. The same applies for the elderly. Use lower dosages and fewer medicines. Consult an experienced physician before self-prescribing for infants, children under fifteen years old, or for seniors over sixty-five. However, the general rule is to reduce the dosage to ¼ to ½ of the lowest recommended amount for these age groups.
For chronic viral conditions, evaluate your progress after three months of treatment, whether self-directed or physician-assisted. To measure your success, first assess any side effects of the treatment. If there were no complications, then you are on a safe regimen. However, to be sure, review the information on each medication you are taking to see if there are any restrictions for continuing past three months. If there are, change that medication; if there are none, continue the evaluation process.
Next, redo the self-questionnaire in step 9 and compare the new results to your original answers. If you answered, “yes” to fewer of the questions this time, you may be improving. Take a mental inventory of your systems. Are you less tired? Do you have more energy? Do you sleep better? Is there less inflammation or less pain? Are bacterial and yeast infections fading? If your symptoms are lessening or disappearing one by one and your energy is increasing, you are making progress.
You may also retest your earlier abnormal laboratory results. I generally retest in increments of 90 days, or in 180 or 360 days. Only retest if necessary. Tests will not affect the course of your therapy and testing too much may cause anxiety. Don't watch lab tests too closely, as they are only part of a complete evaluation. Unnecessarily retesting is also time consuming and costly. Ask yourself if the results of the lab tests, whether positive or negative, will change what you are doing. If the answer is no, then wait to retest.
Natural medicines work more slowly than drugs. In treating chronic illness, you may not notice any progress on a daily or even weekly basis. Once your viral immunity program starts, you may not notice any improvement for three to four weeks, and in some cases for as long as four to six months, or more. Restoring your immunity and organ function takes time. Exercise patience and follow the procedures outlined above for evaluating your progress.
Modifying Your Program: If you are showing improvement and your lab values are normalizing, continue on the same program for another three to six months before re-evaluating. After the six-month evaluation, if you continue to improve, remain on the same program or make a few modest additions and continue to the end of the first year and continue for up to two years.
If you are not improving by the time of your first self-evaluation, change or modify your program by adding or replacing medications. If you still are not improving after six months, you may need professional advice; I suggest you seek the services of a physician skilled in this type of care. If you are worsening at any time in your program, either with worsening symptoms or returning abnormal lab values, find a good doctor.
In closing this section, I offer advice from my clinical experience. Consider the following five treatment principles. They will provide you with a yardstick to measure your program and results:
As you proceed with your viral immunity program, you will gain experience and sufficient insight to heal yourself. Keep in mind that your experiences relate particularly and specifically to you, and no one else. A mistake many people make is that once they improve, they immediately imagine that they have found a cure for disease. They have: they cured their condition. But it does not mean they have found the cure for everyone else.
Keep in mind these five healing principles:
Finally, I will guide you through different viral illnesses so you can see what I might prescribe for a patient with each different virus. You can use this review as an exercise in how a viral immunity plan might be organized for yourself. This information is not meant to replace good medical care or to serve as a manual on self-care. For more information, consult the recommended reading list.
Diagnosis: This is based upon symptoms and signs of cough, sore throat, headache, sinus and ear congestion, runny nose, and general malaise.
Diet and Fluids: Increase fluids; eat lightly of only chicken or vegetable soups.
Lifestyle and Activity: Rest and reduce activity; inhaling steam from a warm vaporizer can be helpful.
Natural Medications: There are numerous natural remedies, including vitamin C and zinc, that significantly improve cold symptoms and reduce the severity and duration of a cold; none actually cure this common viral condition. Ginger or cinnamon tea with honey is helpful; or choose herbal remedies from chapters 12 and 13. Also helpful are:
Drugs: Antihistamines help dry up nasal secretions; decongestants help improve breathing and clear up congestion in the nose and ears; aspirin can help relieve a headache and body aches. However, most of these over-the-counter drugs are not necessary for the treatment of a cold. Use them only if necessary to control symptoms. Antibiotics or antivirals should not be used to treat the common cold.
Diagnosis: This is based upon symptoms and signs of fever, cough, headache, malaise, and systemic body aches. Symptoms can be mild or severe, and even life-threatening in elderly people. Respiratory symptoms can be severe. Complications include bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, and encephalitis.
Diet and Fluids: Eat lightly, use chicken or vegetable soups, drink plenty of fluids.
Lifestyle and Activity: Bed rest and avoid exertion. Use steam or a vaporizer to improve respiration and keep the mucous membranes moistened. Gargle with salt water for sore throat.
Natural Medications: You may use the same herbal medications as for the common cold, but increase the dosage and take them for 10–14 days, even after symptoms subside. Gargle with myrrh tincture for sore throat. Stronger natural medications include:
Drugs: Aspirin or acetaminophen can be used to manage fever and to reduce head and body aches when severe; the antiviral drugs Amantadine and Ribavirin can be helpful when used in the early stages and for uncomplicated influenza. Opportunistic bacterial infections frequently accompany the flu; however, unless they are severe or compromise an already weak patient, antibiotics are rarely needed.
Diagnosis: This is based upon symptoms and signs of recurrent clear fluid-filled blisters that occur on the lips in HSV-I, and in the genital region in the case of HSV-II. A positive antibody test confirms the diagnosis.
Diet and Fluids: Increase fluids and avoid arginine-containing foods.
Lifestyle and Activity: Rest when lesions are active and avoid direct sunlight.
Natural Medications: Many natural antiviral agents are effective against both types of herpes, as well as for shingles (HZV). Natural topical medications are also helpful. Take 1,500–3,000 mg of L-lysine daily.
Drugs: Acyclovir and some of the newer antivirals can be helpful in some cases.
The treatment of chronic hepatitis is considerably more complicated than the previous three viral illnesses. For HCV and other serious viral diseases, carefully re-read chapters 10–14 and read several of the recommended books on hepatitis. For the purposes of this discussion, I will focus on a case of HCV in which active inflammation is present but has not deteriorated to cirrhosis or liver failure.
Diagnosis: This is based on a positive antibody test, an elevated viral load measured by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, and an elevated ALT (alanine aminotransferase) level. In advanced stages, other abnormal lab test results may appear such as decreased albumin, and elevated AST (aspartate aminotransferase). Diagnosis is also based on liver biopsy, a procedure in which a small piece of tissue is taken from the liver and examined under a microscope to check for cirrhosis. In the early stages, HCV often does not display any obvious symptoms or signs of illness.
Diet and Fluids: Have a normal fluid intake but avoid dehydration. Avoid excess iron-containing foods and use iron-free nutritional supplements. Have a moderate to low animal protein, and a higher vegetable protein intake. Possibly supplement with branched-chain amino acids (leucine, valine, and isoleucine). Increase calcium intake and restrict sodium use. Avoid cold foods and foods that are difficult to digest, such as fatty foods. Eliminate alcohol and coffee; reduce or eliminate all refined sugar. Eat frequent (four to six times daily), smaller meals to reduce hypoglycemic tendencies.
Lifestyle and Activity: Maintain normal activity and never exercise to exhaustion. Maintain a positive attitude and guard against the emotional ups and downs you may experience from routine fluctuations of lab test results. It is mandatory that you follow the principles of chapters 6–10 to establish a healthy lifestyle and one that promotes optimal immune function and reduces inflammatory activity in the body.
Natural Medications: There are many natural medications that work with HCV, and most are reasonably successful in managing liver inflammation and lowering ALT levels. Over time, some have the potential to lower the viral load. My first choice for HCV is to make sure you are taking adequate amounts of antioxidants, especially vitamin C and selenium (see chapter 7 for antioxidants).
I suggest a three- to six-month course of a combination of ganoderma with other mushroom glucans and cordyceps (see chapter 11). Next, you need a natural antiviral such as phyllanthus or olive leaf extract (chapter 12). Finally, I recommend a Chinese herbal formula (chapter 13):
Drugs: Conventional medicine relies on interferon and Ribaviron and other antiviral drugs, as well as liver transplant as the mainstay of current therapy for HCV.
At this point it is helpful to conclude our discussions with two case studies to illustrate what complete treatment and follow-up plans look like. Also, it is instructive to discuss a case in which complete resolution was not possible.
The first case is interesting in many ways. First, I have been treating this patient for about eight years, and during that time, though I do not see him socially outside of the office, we have come to know each other as supportive friends. By becoming friends, I not only take more interest in his case, but his successes and setbacks affect not only him but touch me as well.
Second, though he came to me in an advanced stage of his illness, many of his complaints have been significantly improved or eliminated and his viral condition stabilized to a great degree. This is important because it shows that alternative therapies have a place in the integrated management of patients with chronic disease, and provides patients with effective and safe methods of treating parallel illnesses without resorting to additional drugs.
Third, we achieved some degree of clinical success, yet his underlying condition remains unchanged. The final outcome, though still unpredictable and less bleak than when he first came to see me, is that he is not completely well and may never be. This case shows how conventional medicine, alternative medicine, and self-care work together.
Case Study on Hepatitis: Phil is a middle-aged man of good bearing and character who raised two children and put them through college; he has been in a stable second marriage for twenty years. During his youth, he experimented with recreational drugs and alternative lifestyles, but by his later twenties he settled into his chosen profession and developed his own business. It was very successful, affording him a comfortable lifestyle with plenty of time to pursue his other interests in art and world cultures.
His youthful experimentation, though more than thirty years before I first saw him, exposed Phil to the hepatitis C virus. By the time he was diagnosed with HCV, he was overweight, had Type-II diabetes, high blood pressure, and a host of other symptoms including fatigue and joint pains. His medical doctors treated each of his complaints as different diseases, according to the allopathic model: hypoglycemic agents for the diabetes, blood pressure-lowering drugs for the hypertension, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain, and antidepressants and sleeping pills for his fatigue.
The results were as could only be expected. His blood pressure was improved but not normal, glucose levels were lower but not normal, he was drowsy from the psychoactive drugs, he had to be taken off the anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering drugs when his liver enzymes increased, and still he did not feel any better.
Realizing he was not improving, and was even gradually worsening, Phil spoke with his family and friends about their experiences with alternative medicine. A few had some good experiences but none knew much about alternative options for chronic hepatitis. His wife suggested he speak with his general physician about it. Though Phil expected his conventional medical doctor would not only know nothing about alternative medicine, but might be antagonistic toward it, Phil was surprised to find that his doctor was open to having him try this option and referred Phil to me. He told Phil that other patients of his had worked with me on various health problems and that most had improved or at least felt better. Phil called me the next day.
I carefully evaluated his case, including his prescription drugs. I ordered a new set of blood tests, sent for old medical records, and mailed the referring doctor a summary of my findings.
Phil's case was advanced hepatitis C virus with moderate cirrhosis, complicated by diabetes and hypertension. He was particularly interested in the Chinese medicinal approach, so I started treatment with Chinese herbs to remove accumulated pathogenic “dampness” and to tonify his underlying deficiency of organ energy reserves, using yin tonics for the liver and kidney. I corrected his diet and encouraged Phil to lose weight and start exercising moderately. Since his iron levels were elevated, he was to avoid red meat and all supplements with iron. I started him on extra vitamin C, an antioxidant combination, and milk thistle extract.
Within three months, his glucose levels were falling below normal and his doctor gradually took him off all anti-diabetic medications. His blood pressure also normalized and he was able to reduce his anti-hypertension drugs to a very minimal dose. Acupuncture effectively controlled all of his pain complaints and his energy and mood improved to the point where he no longer needed sleeping aids or antidepressant drugs.
His previously elevated test results for liver function lowered, but never fully normalized; and his viral load remained over one million. When the viral load, or number of viruses, is over one million, active viral disease is present. A person without viral disease should have no viruses present. The goals of therapy in chronic hepatitis are to reduce inflammation, treat co-infections, improve liver function, prevent cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer, and to ultimately reduce or eliminate the viral load.
Phil, who continues to see me regularly, is on a regimen of anti-inflammatory and antiviral Chinese herbs along with nutritional supplementations. He is cured of diabetes and his blood pressure is normalized. His cholesterol has also lowered considerably, but is still above normal values. His energy and mood are good. He reads and regularly browses the Internet for information on hepatitis C; after culling what he finds, he shows me what he thinks is promising, and I approve or disapprove of adding it to his regimen.
His general practitioner has been cooperative during the time I have been treating Phil; and his hepatologist, though pessimistic about the outcome of any chronic hepatitis case, has had to admit that Phil is holding his own and that his liver, though not “cured,” has been stable for nearly a decade.
Second Case Study on Hepatitis: Elizabeth also came to see me for hepatitis C. She is over fifty but looks and acts much younger than her age. Ironically, as with many patients with HCV, fatigue was not a significant symptom of her condition, which concealed the seriousness of her case until it was already well advanced. I reviewed her medical history and lab studies, then took a detailed account of her symptoms and complaints. She reported hot flashes, that her period was becoming very irregular, that she was finding it difficult to fall asleep, and that she was often woken up by night sweats. Her memory was declining, her mood ebbed low at times, and she had neck pain. She had a history of chronic vaginal yeast infections, chemical sensitivity, abdominal bloating, intolerance to fatty foods, constipation, and dry, itchy skin.
Her previous lab tests revealed extremely elevated ALT and AST levels, a very high viral load, higher-than-average thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and slightly lower levels of the thyroid hormone free T4. A liver biopsy confirmed cirrhosis, and a bone density study revealed the early stages of osteoporosis. An MRI of her neck showed a mild disc protrusion. Since many of Elizabeth's symptoms, as well as her age, suggested she was experiencing menopausal changes, I ordered follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, progesterone, and DHEA-S tests.
The function of the ovaries decline with age and, when measured by a blood test, the levels of ovarian hormones, estrogens (estradiol being the most active) and progesterone are low. At the same time, FSH (a pituitary hormone that influences the secretion of estrogen) becomes very elevated. The combination of elevated FSH and low estradiol indicates menopause.
As expected, Elizabeth's FSH was elevated in the menopausal range; the estradiol was very low, as was the DHEA-S; and the progesterone was in the normal range, as she was self-medicating with an over-the-counter cream.
WESTERN MEDICINE INTERPRETATION: Elizabeth was diagnosed by her internist as having chronic hepatitis C virus, early stage cirrhosis consistent with hepatitis infection, osteopenia, menopausal syndrome, and neck pain caused by degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. I thought her case was thoroughly worked up from the allopathic point of view. However, her doctors offered few solutions to her problems other than interferon therapy (she was very afraid of this) and an estrogen patch.
ENERGETIC MEDICINE INTERPRETATION: Though Elizabeth had been an energetic and robust woman, her energy was beginning to decline. Her yin was not depleted, yet the beginnings of age-related yin and blood deficiency were showing up in the degeneration of her bones, liver, and in the hot flashes and night sweats. Stagnation of liver qi was present, as evidenced by the abdominal bloating and difficulty digesting fatty foods. The virus was chronically active within her liver, and had already penetrated to the deeper energetic layers even though her basic energy was still relatively alive and active.
INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE INTERPRETATION: Though the Western medicine diagnoses were correct, they were incomplete. Elizabeth had borderline thyroid insufficiency, recurrent fungal infections, and was heading full-force into menopause. Her ovarian hormones were very low and her adrenal function was also stressed. Her liver was inflamed, and degeneration of liver tissue and cells was advancing. Still, her general constitution was strong and she was not over-whelmed physically or mentally by her symptoms. She was a firm believer in natural medicine and told me several previous stories of “cures” she had enjoyed with homeopathy and herbal therapies.
TREATMENT: The immediate goal of therapy was to manage Elizabeth's inflammation and to lower the ALT and AST levels. For this, I gave her a blend of Chinese herbs including cordyceps, the liver-protecting herb milk thistle (Silybum marianum); L-tyrosin to promote thyroid function; sublingual DHEA; and a low-dose topical natural estrogen and progesterone cream. To treat the fungal problem, I prescribed allicin and other natural antifungals. For her neck pain, I advised acupuncture.
Elizabeth already had eliminated alcohol and most of her daily coffee and caffeinated sodas. However, I advised her to eliminate all caffeine except that in green tea, to avoid eating red meat, eliminate sugar, and eat more vegetables and fresh whole fruits. She started with a monthly mild detoxification program using UltraClear Plus, and resumed her yoga practice. Elizabeth was already on a good multivitamin and mineral supplement, but I asked her to change to one that contained no iron, and to take additional vitamin C in a buffered form, extra selenium, quercetin, and a calcium and magnesium supplement.
Elizabeth established a daily prayer routine and attended a weekly meditation group. Her psychologist encouraged her renewed interest in spirituality, and she attended two shamanic ceremonies and felt a connection with nature. She renewed her commitment to her relationships with family and friends. She is interested in following these new spiritual awakenings and we have discussed her participation in a tour to the Amazon to take an herbal cleansing program in the rain-forest and undergo an authentic shamanic experience in an ayahuasca ceremony.
CLINICAL EVALUATION: By the end of one month on the program, her ALT levels had dropped by 50 percent. Her menopausal symptoms were considerably lessened, her skin was less dry, her fungal infection cleared nicely, and she had lost a few pounds. Her mood was positive and hopeful, and she was enthusiastic and fully participating in her treatment plan.
Three months later, her ALT levels were approaching the normal range. Her hot flashes and night sweats were completely gone, her neck was considerably better with acupuncture, and her skin was clearing without itching or further vaginal yeast infections. Her new-found spiritual growth through yoga, prayer, meditation, and shamanic rituals had given her a new view of life's transitions and uncertainties. Her disease was no longer a burden. The shamanic ceremonies helped to free her from the overwhelming fear of a horrible life and a painful death.
Perhaps the virus was something of an ally in helping her reach into herself and to the universal spirit to which we are all connected.
What the Cases Mean: Both Phil's and Elizabeth's cases remind us that the path of healing can be long and arduous. But we can also heed the wise saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and avoid illness and disease by creating a positive and healthy lifestyle. In treating chronic viral illness, we must be patient and work towards healing over time. We should not overdo medications, even natural ones, and we need to allow time for them to work before changing the program.
In the face of serious viral illness, I recommend you to seek the advise of a wise and knowledgeable doctor whenever possible. Chronic illness can be painful, physically and emotionally, and it can be very lonely. It is a blessing to have the companionship of a caring physicianin your journey to recovery and healing.
Yet, no matter how important taking personal preventive steps may be, a significant proportion of the current immune dilemma is due to environmental problems beyond our individual control. As long as continued large-scale destruction of virgin forests, the pollution of water systems, and other ecologically unsound practices continue, viruses and other infectious diseases will spread in a massive and unpredictable manner. Wars and rapid global transportation assist the spread of viruses worldwide.
Keep in mind that it not simply a viral problem, but an immune system issue. Without stronger environmental laws, increased ecological consciousness, and more ethical and morally sound political strategies, the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the food you eat, will continue to contain chemical toxins that disrupt your immunity, making you increasingly vulnerable to ubiquitous viruses.
In the face of serious viral illness, I recommend you to seek the advise of a wise and knowledgeable doctor whenever possible. Chronic illness can be painful, physically and emotionally, and it can be very lonely. It is a blessing to have the companionship of a caring physician in your journey to recovery and healing.
In the process of restoring our health, we must eventually return to the source of our creation: the healing power in our bodies, the intelligence of our cells, and our purpose for being—our personal destiny. Go deep within and allow yourself to feel the wellspring of life.
