Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a recurring systemic viral infection caused by Epstein-Barr Virus, the same organism which produces the more acute but less debilitating form of the illness known as mononucleosis.
The primary infection often goes undetected, because it acts like a cold/cough/flu illness. Following the acute infection, the virus penetrates the nuclei of healthy T-cells, a type of white blood cell that is an important part of the immune system, where it can survive and multiply indefinitely. Periodically, these cells rupture and release the viruses into the blood stream, creating a recurrence of symptoms and spreading of the viruses to new T-cells. These episodes can occur at any time, but are most frequent when the individual is significantly stressed or the immunity is compromised. The same process occurs with other viruses, such as the Cytomegalo virus, Herpes and HIV viruses, which also live in the human body, but cause different symptoms.
Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome is characterized by --
- Persistent or relapsing debilitating fatigue that does not resolve with bed rest.
- In some individuals it may impair average daily activity below 50% of the pre-morbid activity level, even confining them to bed.
- Exacerbations occur multiple times per year and result in significant disability with marked systemic symptoms, but few definitively diagnostic signs.
Many conditions such as anemia, hypoglycemia, bacterial infections, cancer, etc. can cause similar symptoms and that is the reason why this problem is so controversial and difficult to diagnose.
Serological laboratory testing has become more sensitive over the last few years and enabled the diagnosis of this syndrome as a significant cause of serious illness. There are now specific blood tests available called "viral titers" which measure the body's reaction to the virus. The VCA-IgG antibody test will identify the chronic state in which most patients present.
Modern research findings also suggest that cell-wall-deficient micro-organisms called stealth pathogens such as certain mycoplasma species, play a contributory role in Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, as in many other immune disorders. These micro-organisms can live with us in symbiosis for many years, even a lifetime. When the immune system is suppressed over a longer period of time, they may become pathogenic.
Increased mental/emotional stress and environmental challenges also increase the susceptibility to chronic viral infections. It has been estimated that 30% of the American population has been exposed to the virus. Of this number, 20% may be shedding the virus even though they have no symptoms. It is difficult to estimate the numbers of people who actually have symptoms that are due to the virus, because many are misdiagnosed. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has established major and minor criteria for diagnosis.
Conventional medicine, as yet, has no effective treatment. In fact, many physicians do not acknowledge Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome as anything that warrants treatment.
Through Natural Medicine, however, the immune system can be strengthened so that the virus that persists indefinitely, becomes less active and symptoms can be prevented.
The therapeutic rationale at the Issels Medical Center is the following:
- Determine and eliminate root causes that compromise the immune system.
- Restore the body's immune mechanisms to proper functioning by a system of effective and safe natural treatments according to individual needs.
- Changes of lifestyle including diet, exercise as tolerated, stress management.
The immune system is one, although very important, part of the body's complex defense system against invaders and disease. This defense system is comprised of several defense zones, which embrace virtually the whole organism, from the microflora on our mucous membranes, the mucous membranes themselves and the skin, to the lymphatic system with its immune cells (called the immune system) and to the connective tissues.
All these defense zones are intricately linked and the disturbance of one zone affects the other. Proper functioning of all the mechanism of defense is the precondition for a healthy "internal environment" of our body, and a strong immune system.
Unfortunately, modern lifestyles create serious chronic deterioration of this internal environment, which leads to a disturbed acid-base balance, reduced oxygen levels, decreased cellular nutrient intake, impaired waste disposal, and the build up of chemical toxins such as pesticides and heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
Micro-organisms, such as certain mycoplasma species, found as contributory factors in Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome and other immune disorders, thrive in such an environment and become more pathogenic. The weakened immune system renders the body more susceptible to acute and chronic viral infections.
Our main goal at the Issels Medical Center is to find out and eliminate causative factors of this "unhealthy environment" and immune suppression, with the help of a very sophisticated testing system and thorough examination of a wide range of factors on the physical, psychological and social levels.
The resulting individualized treatment program is designed to restore health to the "internal bodily environment" and the immune system by treatment measures such as:
- Intravenous beet derived levo-rotary Vitamin C, which has been shown to increase immune cell activity, block carcinogens in the body, help in the elimination of virally infected cells, protect DNA from mutation, help eliminate carcinogens by increasing glutathione, and reduce pain.
- Treatment of hormonal deficiencies in the body. Hormones such as DHEA, melatonin, and thyroid gland hormones provide powerful immune support when given to patients after proper medical evaluation.
- Therapy to help regenerate organs such as the liver, thyroid, thymus, and the adrenal glands with specialized glandulars.
- Promotion of balance and proper function of healthy intestinal micro-organisms in the intestines. The digestive tract plays a very important role in maintaining a healthy immune system. It is roughly 20 feet in length with an immense surface area that supports about 5 pounds of bacteria and fungi, most of which are beneficial to your health. However, many common features of modern living, such as recurrent antibiotic therapy, dietary sweets, alcohol, and stress cause this delicate internal ecology to be upset. Overgrowth of fungi, atypical bacteria, parasites, delayed onset food sensitivities, "leaky bowel syndrome," and impaired nutrient assimilation are a few of the common bowel ecology disturbances that gradually create a chronic debilitating workload for the immune system, as well as many other troubling symptoms in the body. By treating any abnormal gut ecology along with support of healthy absorption, assimilation of nutrients, and maintenance of proper bowel transit times a health state can be restored.
- Body detoxification strategies that focus on removing chemical toxins like pesticides, and heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic). These unfortunate by-products of modern living contribute to many diseases and weaken many body systems, including the immune system. Endotoxins resulting from a malfunctioning digestive tract can have serious implications on a person's health and must be eliminated as well. Body detoxification can be enhanced by increased water intake, exercise, diet changes, vegetable juicing, enemas, sauna therapy, and chelation techniques, to mention a few. Of equal importance is the use of substances that improve the function of the major eliminative organs such as the liver, colon, kidneys, lungs and skin. Enzymatic therapy designed to assist with digestion and elimination of immune suppressive factors.
- Stress reduction and psychological healing are an essential part of consistently effective treatments for many chronic degenerative diseases. The mind and body are intimately connected and actually they are one system. Many scientists use the term MINDBODY to reflect the powerful unity between the mind and the body. The staff at the Issels Medical Center has had a lot of experience in addressing these important issues and consider them a necessary part of treatment.
- Anti-coagulant therapy where indicated. Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia patients have shown to suffer from an increased level of blood coagulation, which renders the blood thick and reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery to the tissues. This may be due to a syndrome called Immune System Activation of Coagulation or ISAC by David Berg. He and other researchers suggest that infections with stealth pathogens which are cell wall deficient micro-organisms such as mycoplasma can activate the immune system and blood coagulation system so as to produce a thin layer of fibrin (blood clotting material) along the inner lining of the blood vessels. This renders the blood thick and viscous, reducing the blood flow to the tissues and additionally seems to hide these micro-organisms which can live in the blood cells. This may account for the difficulty in diagnosing stealth pathogen infections. According to researchers such as Garth Nicolson, mycoplasma infections have been found in a high percentage in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and other chronic degenerative diseases and immune disorders.
- Other immune enhancing methods may be integrated to meet the individual patient's needs. As every patient is an individual, every treatment program at the Issels Medical Center is customized. This is the key to the treatment's success.
** For patients who do not yet have an established diagnosis, we will carry out all of the conventional diagnostic procedures including our specialized testing methods.**
* DISCLAIMER: The extent of the response to treatment varies from patient to patient, even with similar diagnosis as the internal bodily environment is unique to each individual patient.
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