|
* An "Epilephany"- Viruses, Serotonin, and Light Boxes to Help Treat Epilepsy (New!!!) This is a letter that I wrote to my friend and colleague Dr. Jean Dodds today (1-12-06). It started out...innocently
enough...as a question that I was posing to her brilliant mind asking whether she thought that light therapy could help
epileptics as it does people with seasonal affected disorder (SAD). Once we understand the vital serotonin connection,
which this letter goes into more deeply, then we can see how light therapy...the right kind of light therapy... may
benefit those with epilepsy by boosting their serotonin levels. BUT, as I am prone to do, I got a little off topic and unloaded
some other loaded questions and thoughts on her. It turned out to be a pretty good summary of everything I know and believe
about how diseases...yes all diseases...occur. Hope you get something good from it.
* We Have Met the Enemy...and He is Us. - (New!!!)This is a piece that I wrote as
the first blog on my newly created BlogtorJ. It covers the gamut on the development of disease with a focus on that so
horribly misunderstood guy...the virus. They are not the culprit. WE are.
*** The Cure for Cancer - (NEW!!!) Got your attention? Please read this. It is short and should change your life.
* Viruses and Lectins-The Missing Links- (Link only)This paper is the manuscript for my upcoming lecture at a major veterinary conference.
It covers my latest passion- studying the potential interrelationships between the lectins of the "big 4" (gluten, casein,
soy and corn) and the latent viruses that are residing in our cells, some even being embedded in our very DNA. These interactions
help to explain "autoimmune" diseases and shed light on the development of that dreaded diagnosis of cancer.
* A Letter to a Friend, Re: Breast Cancer - I recently started a small group at my church to discuss the food issues that I have been researching and writing
about for the past 5 years. As one would expect, breast cancer popped up as one of the first big issues. Here is a letter
that I just wrote to one of members that goes into what I believe is the true nature of the "culprit" we call the
virus.
* Viruses as THE "Cause" of Celiac Disease- This section is one of the posts found on a thread
I started on the Celiac/Gluten Sensitivity section of BrainTalk Communities out of Mass General. The thread proposes
the idea that a virus could be the true underyling cause of celiac disease and the related food intolerances and that the
damage done to the villi of the duodenum is more of a reaction of the virus in situ to the stimulating effects of
the lectins from gluten, casein, soy, and corn as they attach to the glycoprotein receptors of the cells lining the
intestinal tract. Here is the link to the site if you want to read the entire thread- http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=119291. The entire thread covers a lot of ground.
* A Little Virology For You- The last post in the series titled Viruses as THE "Cause"of Celiac Disease is a brief review of virology.
Hopefully it will underscore the importance of seeing the virus as something other than a pure pathogen or parasite. He is
much more...so much more.
* The Latest Epiphany- (Link only) This is my response to my friend George's letter, a wise chiropracter who is attending a Tuesday
night group that I lead at my church. This Email contains many of the elements that we have covered in our group...things
that have arisen from hours of discussion of how and why our body does what it does in response to what we
do to it. I shared the idea that viruses were created for good with the group one night and we came up with some amazing
ideas. As much as this sounds like "medical heresy", it actually dovetails perfectly into what we already know to be true
in medicine. It simply takes our understanding of genetics to a whole new level, demystifying it along the way. Of
course, there is no way in my mind to cover this without bringing in the Creator of the universe. And by including Him,
of course we arrive at the epiphany. This letter contains strong religious references and is not meant to offend
or alienate anyone. It is simply what I believe in my heart of hearts to be true and, again, "dovetails" (perfect analogy)
right into our understanding of medicine, adding a new dimension to the relationship between our physical and spiritual lives.
I hope that it blesses you!
*** The Origin of MS/Degenerative Myelopathy- Here is something I wrote in response to an Email I received. I thought you might be interested in this. I
sent it to a number of colleagues who also have "inquiring minds".
Let me know what you think.
* Viruses and Epilepsy- A Forum Post- Here Is a post that I made on a human epilepsy forum in response to a question concerning a viral infection that
later resulted in epilepsy. This is explainable.
* Viruses and Obesity- A Forum Post- The following is a post I made on a veterinary forum that had a post discussing the role of air pollution in obesity.
It was suggesting that toxins stored in fat contributed to obesity but for reasons different from the ones I wrote in my response
(found below). My study of lectins and viruses has given me some ideas that I shared with the forum...and now with you. :)
* A Graves* Situation- This is an Email that I sent to the Friends of DogtorJ
on 8-16-07 after reading an article on Yahoo Health concerning common household chemicals and their possible role in the development
of hyperthyroidism (*Graves Disease) in the cat. My response covers many of the areas of medicine that
I have been studying over the past 7 years that are related to immune-mediated diseases and cancer. The news article served
as a great spring-board into these topics.
* An important article to read- Here is a link to an article that was recently
published about viruses. I do not agree with much of what is said concerning "evolution", BUT the author makes some very
important points about viruses that are true, especially their role in nature. And, please make note of what they say about
the number of retroviral sequences in our very DNA. This is crucial to our understanding of "genetics", one of my favorite
topics. http://www.discover.com/issues/mar-06/cover/
*** Interesting links- http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/Events/Big-Ideas/Medical-Matters/Viruses-Friend-or-Foe
http://webapp.rps205.com/nsf/modules/Bacteria%20Viruses%20-%20Friend%20or%20Foe.htm
An "Epilephany"- Viruses, Serotonin, and Light Boxes to Help Treat Epilepsy
The following is a letter that I wrote to my friend and colleague
Dr. Jean Dodds today (1-12-06). It started out...innocently enough...as a question that I was posing to her brilliant mind asking
whether she thought that light therapy could help epileptics as it does people with seasonal affected disorder (SAD). Once
we understand the vital serotonin connection, which this letter goes into more deeply, then we can see how light
therapy...the right kind of light therapy... may benefit those with epilepsy by boosting their serotonin levels.
BUT, as I am prone to do, I got a little off topic and unloaded some other loaded questions and thoughts on her. It turned
out to be a pretty good summary of everything I know and believe about how diseases...yes all diseases...occur. Hope
you get something good from it.
********************
Hey Jean,
Happy New year! I hope 2006 is the best ever for you and your family.
As I am sure is true with you, my mind never seems to stop going now that I have
passed through this doorway. (Sometimes I wish I could throw up this red pill, take the blue one instead, and go back into
my comfy place in The Matrix. Have you seen Morpheus recently? LOL ) Actually, I have never been more excited about
being involved in medicine. I just get tired of thinking sometimes. (Thank God for golf. Smile) BUT....today is
not one of those days. LOL So, grab a cup of coffee (or three) and tell me what you think. I'll try to be brief.
hahahahahaha.
My recent area of research has been serotonin (as well as viruses in
their role in "genetics"). WOW!!! There are sooo many things about serotonin that I did not know and yet fit so perfectly
into this whole puzzle. I have been flabbergasted for years by the devastation we see in human and veterinary health
in the fall and winter months, knowing that the cold and flu season has good reason to occur but having never seen the
full serotonin connection. I have known about seasonal affected disorder (SAD) for years, experiencing it myself
to pathological levels in my 40's. I have also known about serotonin and platelet function for years. I picked up
on the pattern of aural hematomas (and my own gum bleeding until I went gluten and casein free) starting in fall and
peaking in April years ago but did not really know why they occurred. I had thought for years that all dogs
with hematomas had a bleeding disorder that distinguished them from the other pets that beat the stew out of their
ears and never developed one. Little did we know that the bleeding problem was one that we were not measuring...serotonin
depletion. No wonder I was depressed and had bleeding gums for years before going GFCF.
BUT, I recently (FINALLY) saw the third connection...the role of serotonin
in the immune response. WOW!!! Between less sunlight causing less vitamin D conversion (and IT'S profound
effect on immunity) and the dropping serotonin, no wonder the immune system struggles so when the days get short, eh? I thought
the cold and flu season was simply because of dropping ambient temperatures and that the subsequent drop in nasal passage
temps allowed opportunistic viruses (that really hate 98.6 in people and 100-102 in dogs/cats) to take hold. And, that
is partly the case. BUT, I now think it is more likely that the other two factors above determine the breadth
and depth of this seasonal phenomenon.
So, I did a search for "serotonin, immune system" and man did I get an eyeful.
You may know all of this but I didn't. It WAS an epiphany of sorts to see the vital importance of this aspect of our seasonal
"bio-rhythms". Of course, this fits perfectly into the design of nature. Winter always has been and always will be the "survival
of the fittest" in nature. The strongest survive and go onto to breed in spring, thereby insuring the survival of the species.
Why certain species hibernate and other flourish in winter all become understandable, as well. (But that is too lengthy
to get into. I did think it was cool, tho, to realize that turkeys...one of the most well-known sources
of tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin...become available in fall and winter and also became one of our dietary staples
RIGHT when we needed them most.) So, it is natural for the immunity to wane in winter to facilitate this "thinning of
the herd". It was done by design.
BUT, what man has done to himself, his diet, his environment,
and the animals (and produce) themselves has amplified this situation phenomenally...almost unbelievably once this REALLY
sinks in, Jean.
Where is most of the serotonin produced? By the enterochromaffin cells of the INTESTINE. It is then distributed by
platelets and white cells to the needed sites. Hmmm... Why are celiacs almost universally depressed? Because we are
leaking serotonin into our damaged gut, resulting directly from the action of the lectins in gluten (and casein,
soy, and corn) damaging the villi AND those cells that produce serotonin. We often suffer from serious depression/SAD.
We are also bleeders, bruising easily and suffering from bleeding gums with routine tooth brushing (me, me , me in the past!).
We have crummy immune systems (for lots of reasons, but add to that the effect of low serotonin on T cells and the immune
response). AND, we are some of the worst epileptics!!! BUT, we also get better...and quickly.... with elimination
of the offending foods.
Here is the main reason I wrote today. How do we treat SAD (seasonal affected disorder)? Well, the main way in the literature
(other than pharmakeia. LOL) is light therapy. And it works...well in many cases. ( http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/sadx.htm). Of course, the main way to treat SAD would be to do what I have done to cure myself...stop the leak and increase production.
This is done by eliminating the offenders of the big 4 (gluten casein, soy, corn) that are doing it. SAD would vaporize
in those who did this WITHOUT light therapy, just as it has in my case. BUT, for those who won't/"can't" do the diet, then
light therapy is a decent and effective back-up. That along with getting plenty of tryptophan (eat those turkeys) and
maybe a melatonin supplement at night. BUT, that is like taking an aspirin for a headache caused by a brain tumor, right?
Headache gone...still got the tumor.
BUT what else would light therapy help??? Ahhhh...that again is the main reason for this Email. Could
light therapy help an epileptic if done properly. Certainly, we know that certain frequencies of light
even trigger seizures. But those light sources that have been incriminated are usually flickering sources, like fluorescent
lights, TVs, computers/graphics. I had an epi person the other day have a seizure while riding in the car, looking out the
window, and observing the sunlight coming through a stand of tall trees. It was like a strobe-light effect and resulted in
a seizure. Would this have happened in summer when the days were long and her serotonin was higher? Could have.
Would light boxes used for SAD therapy trigger seizures like this? Not likely,as long as incandescent, non-flickering
light was used.
I have had a number of seizure logs sent to me that show an increase in seizures during the short days,
some very dramatically. I got one recently from a person with a Lab that had ALL of its 26 seizures from November to
April...NONE in the longer days from April to November. This now makes sense. Have you been seeing an increase since, say,
September? I'm sure you have. My Email box is full of them, from pets and people.
We know that serotonin has an inhibitory effect on seizures, moderating the effect of glutamate in the
synapse. Low serotonin levels must have a great impact on the development and severity of seizures. And restoring these
levels is a major contributing factor in the recovery I believe, once again helping to explain why the elimination diet works
so well. So, if light therapy helps restore these levels for the depressed person, they should help the epileptic, right?
And how many dogs (and people) get the right amount of full spectrum light every day? The lights in our homes and
offices do not come close to the amount of light in direct sunlight, do they? (200-500 lux verus the 50,000-100,000
lux that we get from direct sunlight.) How many indoor, couch-potato epi dogs get enough light, even during the summer months
(especially those drugged to the hilt)? Add to that the immunosuppressive effects of inadequate light (both vitamin
D and serotonin deficiency) and we have a better idea of why these epi dogs CRASH so badly this time of year.
Why? Because "idiopathic" epilepsy IS viral, isn't it, Jean? It has to be. The main underlying cause
of idiopathic epilepsy HAS to be a viral (or mycoplasmal) infection (e.g of the glial cells, a known target for viruses and
mycoplasma). There are NUMEROUS viruses that have been proven to cause seizures, including a number of Herpes and parmyxoviruses.
Even the ubiquitous Epstein Barr, Herpes simplex, and Coxsackie virus have been known to be causes/triggers of seizures. This
"idiopathic" condition has virus written all over it (just like cancer and immune-mediated diseases do), from the age
of onset to the varying severity to the clinical course to the remitting/relapsing symptoms. And if it walks like a duck,
quacks like a duck..... Once we see that, then we can easily see how the cascade of events takes place that
"unleashes" these guys...these opportunists that lay in wait for innocent blood. But do they really? Are they really "bad
guys"?...all evil???
That is the coolest part of what I have come to see over the past year. Viruses were meant for good...yes,
good...created to allow/facilitate adaptation and variation in nature. Once again, here is that link that
started this whole thought process for me ( http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp). You don't have to be "religious" to see the Truth in what he writes. And yes, they were created for good...an organism
that was meant to live in a symbiotic relationship with us while FORCING
adaptation of the host to insure its survival. (In that way, it has an almost "selfish"/parasitic side to it, doesn't
it?). It is these very viruses in our DNA that allow/force us to adapt to the bad things that we do to ourselves. How do
dogs adapt to a wheat-based diet in just 3-4 days? (How long does it take for a healthy individual to get over a viral
infection. Hmmm...) Makes you think about what "genes" and our DNA really are, doesn't it? How DO genes "mutate"?
Are genes alive? If genes cause disease states, why do they wait years and years to do so? Oh man, this is getting
good....isn't it?
BUT, the bad news is that these viruses WILL survive...at all costs!
Yes, they will survive even if it means the end result being detrimental to their host. After all, they are not "alive"...and
thinking, right? (Well, if they are NOT alive, how is it that they do what they do? Man, we really do understand so little,
don't we? We LOVE to categorize things, don't we?).
So, now we can see them "morph" from their friendly, helpful self...causing
variation and facilitating adaptation in all realms of nature...into their self-centered, survive-at-all-costs alter ego in
the face of the threats that WE throw at them. Yes, we...man...have caused them to turn on us. As we pollute our
bodies and environments, we are threatening them. And they start by making us stronger, allowing...no forcing...us
to adapt. That is phase one. But ,as we throw more and more at them and our bodies start to fail...the tissues becoming
unhealthy and the immune system starting to fail....we enter phase two- rescue mode. The viruses step up their
operation and try to overcome the greater threat. Our immune system, which has been over-seeing this whole operation from
the start...our guardian...recognizes the uprising and goes into action. This is one of the causes of "autoimmune
disease", isn't it? The immune system starts to attack the tissue housing the "rebels" to suppress the uprising. Of course,
the presence of lectins...those inflammatory glycoproteins from food that often unleash these guys to begin with...attract
an even stronger and more violent response once we become sensitized to their presence.
Here is what I now believe to be the connection between lectins and viruses.
When you read about lectins, you will find it written that once a lectin attaches to the glycoprotein receptors of a complex
cell wall, a number of things can happen to that cell. In fact, one articles on lectins stated up to 12 different reactions
can take place in that cell, ranging from cell death to tumor formation. Wow! A non-living, antibody-sized glycoprotein can
do all of that??? Uhhh, I don't think so. BUT, I know who could. Yep....the virus living INSIDE that cell, hidden
in its very genome (which we KNOW occurs). Hey, that's what viruses do, right...inject their genetic information into our
cells and then, in a tiny flash of light (as seen on the Discovery channel), that info disappears into our double-stranded
helices. Then?...it waits...and they don't wear watches. :)
Things become pretty simple, don't they? The virus is there in situ and along
comes the stimulus to send it into action. One of those stimuli is the lectin. The virus goes into action to cause adaptation
to insure its survival. And, this works...for a while... UNTIL the challenge becomes overwhelming OR until the immune system
fails to keep this guy under its thumb. Yes, the virus is capable of good and bad and like us in so many ways, in that without
restraint, it reverts to being bad. He wasn't "meant" to be this was any more than we were. It is just in their (and our)
nature to be so IF and once we eliminate the necessary restraints. So once again, our medical lives are in perfect parallel
with our spiritual ones. I have now some to have a better understanding of why this is so. There are things "seen"
to help us understand the things "unseen". (e.g. We discovered the unseen virus after we discovered the
more visible bacteria which we found when we discovered the microscope, but only after we understood the grossly
visible mold/fungus. Similarly, the relatively harmless roundworm and tapeworm help us understand the threat of the more serious
"unseen" hookworm and whipworm.) How cool is that?? LOL Now, if you are of the mind to, apply that to your understanding
of spiritual matters. (This concludes the sermon portion of this lecture. LOL)
Then we come to phase three...after the adaptation (one) and
following the battle of the uprising (phase two-the battle for "middle" earth)... which is immune failure.
Yes, because of what we have done to ourselves, the immune system finally fails. The malabsorption caused by the big 4 food
intolerances coupled with our overall poor diets, polluted environments, stressful lifestyles, shortening days/dropping serotonin,
caffeine/sugar/food/tobacco/drug addictions, etc all add up to unhealthy tissues (brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, et all) and
incompetent immune systems. It's amazing that we live as long as we do when I really think about it. Unfortunately, some lives are
cut extremely short. Are we really surprised? "Darn those genes". Yeah, right.
And what is immune failure? In a word, cancer....IF we survive
phase two (the immune-mediated diseases). It's a foot race, isn't it? Who will win THIS year- lung, breast, colon, prostate,
or lower esophageal cancer or heart disease (immune-mediated atherosclerosis)? What about the millions suffering
from lupus, MS, Parkinson's, ALS, and rheumatoid and epilepsy. Are we really surprised that the asthma rates are skyrocketing
as our lungs are desperately trying to limit the garbage coming into us through THAT port-of-entry. The GI tract is not our
only Achilles' heel, is it? And what is the biggest "organ" and most exposed part in the body? The skin, right? Hmmm...wonder
what is REALLY going on in allergic dermatitis, eczemas, and psoriasis? Makes ya' think, huh?
So, what do you think? Will light boxes help in the treatment of epilepsy???
Your friend and admirer,
John
Dogtor J.
©2006 DogtorJ.com
A Letter to a Friend, Re: Breast Cancer
Hey R.,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Things are going a bit crazy right
now...good crazy, tho. Its like everything is happening at once.
Here is the site that I send women to who are dealing with breast cancer. Again,
it is not there specifically for breast cancer but is a great list of the estrogen-rich and estrogen-blocking foods. (http://www.holistic-online.com/remedies/hrt/hrt_food_and_estrogen.htm ). The estrogen connection is HUGE and avoiding the foods rich in estrogen is important, not only for breast cancer,
but also endometriosis, PMS, perimenopausal symptoms, and more.
The key to ANY cancer is taking dead aim at immune system health. We will be
talking extensively about the role of viruses in cancer. If you put "virus, breast cancer" in your search, you will be amazed
at what they know that they have not told us yet. Hey, they are working on a breast cancer VACCINE. Wow! Vaccine against what?
Uh huh....a virus.
Some researchers have said for years that ALL cancer is viral and I believe that
down to my socks. There ARE powerful carcinogens but they are secondary and contribute to cancer by causing chronic tissue
inflammation/damage, damaging the immune system, and/or damaging the actual DNA where some viruses are "hiding". But
viruses were not created specifically to do harm. They were created to help us (and all plants and animals) to adapt
to facilitate variation in nature. We adapt to changes in our environment and diet because of viruses. How cool is that? BUT,
because of what we have done to our bodies, environment, and the animals that HOLD many of the viruses that afflict us, they
are adapting in such a way to become pathogenic. They were made with one mission...survive. And survive they will, even to
the detriment of the host. Their final act is to wall themselves off in a protective cocoon. You know what that cocoon is
called? A TUMOR. How's that for a different perspective. And I am totally convinced that it is the correct one. (I will add
an Email that I sent to a colleague of mine at the end of this that addresses this very issue).
The immune system was then designed by God to oversee this process. It is simply
a matter of checks and balances. The virus was given the task of helping the host adapt (and cause variation in individuals),
but doing what it took to survive...no matter what. BUT, the immune system was designed to oversee the process and to keep
the virus from getting out of control. (There is a direct spiritual parallel here that we will talk about in group). Immune-mediated
diseases (lupus, etc) are the example of the first wave of uprising on the part of the virus. Cancer is the second and final
stage. Cancer develops because the immune system fails, plain and simple.
The degenerative process that we have been discussing is a progressive one. The
immune-mediated diseases occur while we still have a semi-competent system left...usually. But I'm sure you have heard of
people who went fast from an immune-related disorder. Yes, atherosclerosis is one of those and a person every 3 secs dies
of a stroke or heart attack in this country.
But cancer happens when there has been a serious breech in the integrity of the
immune system. So, the recovery from cancer involves a concerted effort on our part to restore the immune status back to normal.
Unfortunately, many of the cancer therapies used are just the opposite...seriously damaging to the immune system. But that
approach is nothing new. Again, we have been taking fever-reducers for viral induced fevers for years. How "stupid" can we
be when we all know that the fever is there to stop the virus??? Amazing.
So how do we help the immune system? First, stop doing the bad stuff we are doing.
This is HUGE. Now you know where to start...the diet. The big 4 (gluten, casein, soy, corn) are doing the harm to the gut
as well as showering the body with lectins that are causing chronic irritation and driving the immune system.The malabsorption
of nutrients that are vital to the health of the tissues of the body as well as the immune system is CATACLYSMIC
to our health. Then add to that the estrogens in the diet and the hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, preservatives,
colors, pollutants, insecticide residues and more and we can easily see how we are reaping what we have sown. And the viruses
HATE this kind of stuff. Remember, they are a survivor...the ultimate survivor...and they will do all that they can
to adapt and live, including the formation of protective cocoons called tumors.
The next thing we do is eat the appropriate foods and take the appropriate
supplements. What are the right foods? We know. It IS common sense...meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries with some
rice (an estrogen blocker) and some potatoes (well cooked and in moderation). Everything in moderation is the tenet, right?
All you need is SIX almonds a day to get all that you need from an almond. If you are an epileptic, pain sufferer, insomniac,
or one suffering from another glutamate-related disorder like ADHD, MS, ALS, Parkinson's, etc then eating more than 6 almonds
could be a problem. Peanuts are the best example of how BADLY we violate this tenet. Who eats 6 peanuts, right? They
are soy's closest cousin and LOADED with glutamate. I wonder why peanut allergies are such a problem now? Hmmm... :)
Read about vitamin D supplements....a very important nutrient when it comes to
cancer fighting. Get more sunlight, VITAL in the formation of vitamin D and serotonin , also vital in the immune response. Taking a good multi, plenty of C, lots of B complex, and omega three
fatty acids are all great ideas. Read about R-lipoic acid and its benefits....a phenomenal antioxidant.
Also, get regular exercise and, above all, SLEEP....critical to healing. I recommend
getting off caffeine as soon as possible as you will never sleep as well as you could as long as you are bombarding yourself
with caffeine. Caffeine consumed from 8 am to 3 PM delays bedtime and that consumed after 5 wakes us up earlier in the AM
than normal. So, caffeine is robbing us of VITAL sleep time at both ends, lopping off an hour or more at night and in the
early AM. Insomnia and sleep disorders are PANDEMIC in this country and our health is failing miserably from it.
I guess I'll stop here. I went a little farther than just giving you
that link, eh? LOL But, I thought I would give you something that you could forward to your friend to read to get
her interested in this crucial concept. I hope it helps.
May God Bless you and yours with health, wisdom, and prosperity this year.
I look forward to seeing you at church and next week in the group.
John
Dogtor J.
©2006 DogtorJ.com
Viruses as THE "Cause" of Celiac Disease
Hi Guys,
Those of you who know me also know why I would post
such a thread.
I have been away from the forum recently but have still been very involved in research, writing, and
speaking. The most fascinating area of research has been the role of viruses in nature and their role in adaptation,
variation, and in heredity, as well as the obvious role they play the development of disease states.
I have referred
you to this site before (http://www.trueorigin.org/virus.asp) to help you to see something very important (and I don't mean
the religious implications of the site). Viruses play a CRUCIAL role in nature and once we see that, then we can see the important
things that follow.
In celiac disease, the obvious questions are 1) Why does one person have it and another doesn't?
2) How is "heredity" accomplished? 3) Why does it wait such a variable time to raise its ugly head? 4) Why are there
such myriads of symptoms and degrees of affliction. All of these questions and many more can be answered when we look at viruses
as being (one of) the guys who accomplishes this.
I personally can easily believe that viruses were created for
good...to create variation in the species (plant and animal) and to allow the host to adapt to the ever changing environment.
BUT, they were created with the sole purpose...to SURVIVE. They allow us to adapt but only because they want/NEED to
adapt to survive. They are "selfish" in this regard, even to the point of destroying their host to accomplish this end. Why
do they ultimately form tumors??? To ISOLATE themselves from the immune response in a desperate attempt to survive. They aren't
a thinking entity so they don't know that by killing their host that it will be their ultimate undoing. Besides, they have
already "survived" by being passed on through infections, casual contact, and "GENETIC" transmission.
So, is it possible
that celiac disease is simply a viral "infection" of the intestinal tract (starting in the duodenum and spreading to the jejunum
in severe cases) that was acquired vertically from the parents in many cases and later in life in other cases? Is the actual
"disease" simply an attempt on the part of the virus to adapt to the gluten that it comes into contact with? Isn't
the lectin the trigger? How about this- The lectin (in gluten) is the gun but the virus is the bullet.
How DO
lectins like those from gluten, casein, soy, and corn induce a reported 10-12 different reactions from a cell when
they attach to a glycoprotein receptor on that cell. Can a little old dietary protein decide which of those 12 reactions will
occur? Can the cell itself decide? How about a VIRUS(or viruses) living inside an individual cell...in the very genome
of that cell? Ahhhh...now we're getting somewhere.
Here's a little article that may help this idea sink in a bit. Then,
let me know what you think.
John
*****************************
Originally Posted by R.
If Celiac is caused by a virus, why would the person who stops eating gluten never have problems
again like their old Celiac symptoms? I thought viruses mutated more frequently than that...
My Response:
Hey R.,
Great questions!
First
of all, why do we recover? I now believe it is because gluten (the lectin) is the "gun" and the virus is the "bullet" when
it comes to the damage. The lectin attaches to the glycoprotein receptor on the cell and the virus inside reacts. This would
also explain why that same lectin does not do this to everyone or to every cell. How else do we explain that simple
fact? The lectin is the same no matter what it attaches to. It is the CELL of the individual that is different. AND, even
the cells of that individual are different. If that were not true, the damage would be much more uniform and catastrophic.
Of
course, the immune system of that individual has MUCH to do with this as well. The viruses we contain (and there are MANY)
are held in check by the immune system. Again, these guys are "selfish" but I firmly believe that they were designed initially
to HELP us adapt. BUT, we have put sooooo much pressure on them by overloading with antigens (lectins, as those from gluten,
casein, soy, corn, and others) that they are being forced to change into something undesireable. Our initially competent immune
system is able to handle these guys when they first become unruly. But, as the process worsens...the malabsorption and subsequent
malnutrition of every body part and the immune system...they start to take on the appearance of pathogens.
But let
me say right here that it was really cool to see the BENEFITS of malabsorption. Yes, there is an upside to villuos atrophy.
These same foods that are causing damage to the villi contain other undesirable components such as estrogens and the lectins
themselves. Also, looking at epilepsy as an example, there is even a reason why we would "want" to malabsorb calcium. In the
case of seizures, glutamate is the "gun" but calcium is the "bullet". Excess glutamate at the synapse triggers the
seizure but it is the influx of calcium into the cell that actually causes the seizure. The same foods that are LOADED with
glutamate actually block the absorption of calcium. How cool is that to see?
But, since we are built to survive...adapt,
change, and recover...once we remove the threats, we can recover....if that bis possible...which it usually is. Its
just that the threats have gotten so varied and pervasive that it seems nearly impossible to do everything right, especially
when see how contaminated our diets really are and we throw in the devastating effect of air pollution. The question
becoems whether we can do enough right to get better. To some of us, that would involve moving from the highly polluted
city in which we live.
The gut heals QUICKLY once we do enough right. It is the fastest healing tissue in the body.
But we have to do enough right. That's how I got involved on the forum to start...trying to help other who did not know to
see that gluten was only one of the culprits. Many have now found just how much corn was messing them up.
And
once we do enough right and remove the threats, the viral activity changes. The threat ebing gone, the "uprising"ends and
the immune system suppresses/destroys those viruses and the cells involved. The more competent the immune system, the faster
the response. The "worst of the worst" take much longer to get better, partly because they have been cheating (voluntarily
and/or involuntarily) AND because they have concurrent food intolerances (casein, soy, corn...which are BIG factors), AND
because their immune systems have become the most incompetent. The "worst of the worst" have had the worst malabsorption,
malnutrition, and resulting damage to tissues and immune system. And where they live DOES play a role, as air pollution
is immune supressive and affects virtually ALL tissues in the body, just as cigarette smoke does.
The spectral nature
of celiac disease is actually very understandable, isn't it?
I'll give you a breather. 
J.
*****************
Originally Posted by g.
--the autoimmune "molecular mimicry"
process, such as is suspected in my neuropathy (and which may be an explanatory candidate in many other autoimmune syndromes).
Put
succinctly, the theory is that a pathogen (viral, or it could be bacterial in certain cases) invades the bdoy. The body mounts
an immune response, and may even succeed in defeating the pathogen. But if the pathogen happened to have a molecular structure
similar to that of some tissue in that body (remember, the antibody immune response is primarily one of SHAPE recognition--the
body produces proteins that "fit" into the molecular shapes of the pathogens membranes), the now activated immune system may
not be able to distinguish those tissues from the pathogen, with the result that the immune response continues on those tissues
and results in bodily damage.
My Response:
Thanks for posting this. I have some friends and colleagues
that hold tight to the theory/concept of "mimicry". Personally, I have continued to look for a better answer because this
theory suggests that our immune system makes a mistake...gets fooled by the virus, if you will. I want to believe that we
are put together better than that and as long as I hold to that tenet, I keep finding more plausible answers to some of our
pressing questions.
The assumption that our body makes mistakes open the flood gates for all sorts of illogical explanations
(like that women with Lupus being allergic to her own body) and all manner of potentially harmful treatments (such as taking
fever-reducers for viral fevers...duuuh...and using other immune suppressive drugs for conditions that are actually caused
by pathogens that need to be dealt with by a healthier immune system, not one that is being artificially handcuffed.)
Much is upside down in the medical realm, isn't it? What year is it again? We have landers on the moon, Mars, Titan (a moon
of Saturn) and recently crashed a satellite into a moving asteroid to take sample and we're still taking fever reducers???
Hmmm...
We KNOW that chronic, latent viruses are prevalent. We know that they are the master escape artists, going
dormant for months to years, only to emerge in a remitting/relapsing fashion. We are just now finding/reporting mycoplasms
in interesting places (e.g. the glial cells of people with ALS) so how long will it be before we can identify the array of
viruses in our body's and very genome?
The fun thing to do is to take whaqt we KNOW and apply it to what we don't know.
That sounds elementary but it is amazing how few actually do it. That is why I hate the term "idiopathic". It shuts offf the
brains of many who speak it. Hey, that was me for years. It was like a curtain to hide behind when a client would ask
a specific question. "Uh, that is considered idiopathic. No one knows what really causes that." as if there were an unlimited
number of things that could cause something. Here's the news flash I got about 5 years ago- there is a FINITE number of things
that cause our problems (pathogens, foods, pollution/chemicals) and if we put our minds to it, we CAN figure these things
out.
Identifying THE specific virus, for example, may be a trick but that point is almost moot in that what
we do about it is the same thing in each case, right? Only a healthy immune system ...at this time... is the reliable
solution to a viral infection. And what we have to do to stay healthy has just been dumped in our laps in a HUGE way...avoid
the foods/food additives that are doing us in and try to clean up our environments. Simple but not easy.
And we can
work backwards from what we have experienced in the way of MIRACLES that have occurred when we avoid these things. When epileptics
stop seizing and schizophrenics improve on restricted diets, we should learn something vital from that, shouldn't we? When
years and years of medication stops helping a rheumatoid arthrititis sufferer or can't cure an asthmatic but a diet change
manages them in less than three weeks, we should learn something major from that. When an autistic child starts speaking for
the first time within 2 weeks of going gluten-free/casein-free and ends up a fourth grader reading on a fifth grade level
despite the horrible prognosis his mother was given earlier, then...well, you know.
John
*******************
Originally Posted by C. (partial)
I believe there is seldom a SINGLE cause for any complex problem.
When it comes to Celiac Disease/Gluten Sensitivity, and my personal experience and that of others~ I see layers and layers
and layers which may differ from one person to the next.
I think many things can trigger celiac disease and/or gluten sensitivity.
I absolutely believe a virus can start the immune system on a wild goose chase. I believe bacteria, fungi and spirochettes
can as well. And I believe food sensitivity can provoke our bodies into attack mode. Are you suggesting that a virus is responsible
for the actual damage, not misguided antibodies?
I think symptoms are wide ranging, and can stem from both nutritional
and immunological components. Nutritional deficiency plays a HUGE role on wide ranging symptoms...this I believe because I've
experienced it...and I've seen so many things "fixed" with vitamins/supplements.
So, I'm not quite ready to narrow in on any
"ONE" thing as "THE" cause of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. I think the net needs to be broader than that, but I like
to entertain all possibilities. H. Pylori is a good one . I also think sometimes there are genetic defects that may come into play...not every body is perfect. I may have dodged
the essence of this discussion, but that's all I have for today
My Response:
Hi C.,
Its about time you got in on this thread. What took ya so long?
:) :) :)
You always have great things to add. And you are right- this is
a very complex situation and we need to understand all of the contributing factors.
But (did you feel a "but" coming? :) ), the thing that has caught
my attention the most in studying all of the different medical conditions is that [I]ultimate[/I] question that people love
to ask- "Why me?" Why does one individual get something and the other doesn't on the same diet, living in the same city, drinking
the same water, breathing the same air, and even driving the same car (which of course has little to do with anything...just
thought I'd throw that in. :) Guess it [I]could [/I]be a factor, tho.). What ultimately causes one person to suffer
from celiac sprue or one child to have autism and the other not?
Well, what [I]causes[/I] one person to have cancer and the other
not? This is where we have to work hard to break it all down into
"causes" and "contributing factors", or causes vs triggers, or in the case of [I]cancer[/I], cause vs carcinogen.
In the study of cancer, we are rapidly coming to the point where
some researchers have been for over 30 years- that [I]ALL[/I] cancer is viral in origin. I now believe this down to my socks.
Its what the virus does...they get into the cell and boss it around, causing it to do a number of different things including
reproduce the virus or cause the cell to grow out of control.
We just heard about viruses [I]causing [/I]cervical cancer. We have
known for years that viruses cause leukemia/lymphoma in numerous species of animals and they are just now telling about those
in people. We know that viruses cause osteosarcoma (bone cancer).Just put "osteosarcoma, virus" in your search engine
and read for days and days. Hey, put "virus, cancer"in your search. Wow! Got a year or two to soak it all in??? For the newest
info on breast cancer, readers should put "virus, breast cancer" in their search. "Cool! A breast cancer vaccine is
coming???" Vaccine against what? Hmmm...
So, why have most people never heard the word virus and cancer used
in the same sentence? Are the powers at be afraid that the world will panic when they see the truth that cancer is caused
by a virus? Are they afraid that they will be overwhelmed with questions about cancer being contagious or not? Or are the
average doctors just as ignorant of this subject as the people they treat? The latter question is truer than you think. Most
vets don't think this way, I can assure you. You can read every text book on my shelf about osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and
there is NO mention of a viral etiology. BUT, do that search I suggested and you will find sites that list all of the viruses
that cause bone cancer in the different species. Wow! Why the HUGE gulf between what rsearchers know and what the doctors/public
know. Well, the answers are too numerous and involved to really get into.
But, the point is that there are many, many, many contributing causes
to the development of cancer...too many to list. And they are POWERFUL contributors. However, there is likley to be
one [I]cause[/I]...the VIRUS. There are many viruses that cause cancer...lots and lots of them. But, it is likely to be a
virus that is the only true cause. After all, that [I]is [/I]what they do. And they [I]are[/I] everywhere...ubiquitous in
nature and in our bodies, from the blood stream to our very genome....from individual blood cells to every tissue in the body.
Why are they so pantropic? (infecting every cell). Now, not all
viruses infect every cell but there are some viruses that do infect just about every cell ([I]paramyxoviruses[/I] being a
good example. e.g. Distemper of the dog. Measles and mumps are paramyxos in people.). But, there is some virus that can infect
each and every cell of the body. Why would that be?
We have to go back and see why the virus was here to begin with.
What does he do that is good??? We KNOW that he has a GOOD purpose. We know this. We KNOW that he facilitates adaptation and
variation in nature. We know that he plays a role in why there are so many different phenotypes (appearances) or butterflies...and
people. This is how you reconcile Creation and "evolution", for one thing. Yes, "evolution" IS still taking place as scientists
say. What is responsible for this continued change? Yep, the virus. Look at the AIDS virus...the absolute MASTER
of change. WE can't get a hold of this chameleon, can we? And what IS involved in the genetic modification of foods? Better
look into that right quick before we completely destroy our food supply, eh? (What the heck [I]are [/I]"genes", anyway???)
So, how hard [I]is[/I] it to see that the virus was made for good
but has become a pathogen in response to what we have done? How hard is it to believe that viruses in the GI tract are simply
responding to the challenge that we put to them in the form of gluten, casein, soy, and corn? How [I]does[/I] a dog adapt
to a wheat-based diet in 3-4 days (especially when it is mixed in slowly to prevent vomiting and diarrhea)?How long does it
take to get over a typical viral infection? How long does it take to respond to a vaccine? Yep, 3-4 days. How long did it
take for Morgan Spurlock to adapt to the all McDonald's diet in Supersize Me? Yep...he vomited on day 3 and felt
fine on day 4. How long does it take to get over a dose of gluten? 4 days. How long can it take for a food allergy to show
up or go away after elimination....4 days.
Hmm...There is something about 4 days, isn't there? (The cool thing
is that the number 4 means "new beginning" Biblically speaking.)
So, yes. There are a [I]gazillion [/I]things that contribute to
celiac diasease. I think H pylori is like all of the other guys/bacteria...an opportunist. You'll find him in healthy stomachs
waiting for his chance to dive into a superficial ulcer created by something else. And then, when the immune system crashes,
he jumos intothe bloodstream and goes to some interesting places like an atherosclerotic plaque. Oh oh. Yes, in a study done
by human cardiologists, a whopping 80% of plaques cultured were positive for H pylori. Wow!!! Could H pylori leaving the stomach
be one of the triggers for a stroke or MI? Ever hear of heart victims having chronic stomach problems?
The sorting out of cause and effect is THE business to be in if
you want to really help, I think. (The epidemiologists of the world should be solving most of our problems.) And there
are things "seen" to help us understand the things "unseen". Not only that, but the things seen are [I]MORE[/I] important.
We have thought very superficially for years. We love to jump to quick conclusions because of what we "see". But, we have
to think deeper than that, don't we? We can SEE tapeworms and roundworms in the dog. BUT, they actually do little harm. It
is the UNSEEN hookworms and whipworms that do the most harm. We can SEE bacteria unde the typical microscope. BUT, it is the
deadly virus that is the real culprit. The lits of examples of this amazing principle goes on and on.
So, I would encourage everyone to keep their thinking cap on. Try
to sort out in your own mind the difference between a [I]cause[/I] and a contributing factor. Seeing that bacteria, yeast/fungi,
and even viruses are [I]opportunists [/I]really helps. They need tissue damage, chronic inflammation, a change in DNA structure
(e.g radiation/chemicals), or a change in immune status to take hold and do their thing. That opens up all of the possibilites
for the secondary factors. These are [I]powerful [/I]factors... but secondary.
So, who IS the real culprit here?.......................[I]We[/I]
are! (You thought I was gonna say "virus", didn't you? :) ).
Food for thought! (I love that expression. LOL)
John
*******************
Originally posted by K.:
It seems to me that I read something awhile ago that gave me
the chills - that we are probably fending off cancer every day, and that only a strong immune system is keeping it at bay.
That we all have this continuous "opportunity" to succumb to cancer...genetics plays a small role (for instance, most women
who have breast cancer did not have mothers or grandmothers who had breast cancer - I think it's only like 30% had mothers
with breast cancer versus 70% had healthy mothers). Eating gluten would of course put the body at risk, leaving it vulnerable
to lurking viruses. Which virus gets a foothold is probably based on genetics and the environment (pollution, stress, terrible
doctors...)
My Response:
Yes, I believe that this is true. And the "worst of the worst" get
cancer early and the "best of the worst" (I'm not sure there is a best of the best anymore. ) either get it late or don't at all. Cancer is the number one killer of dogs and more would get it IF they could survive
stage 2...the immune mediated diseases (with stage 1 being acquisition of viruses, stage 2 being the immune-mediated
diseases and the immune system's desperate attempt to control the virus so that we don't get into stage 3...immune
failure and the rise of cancer-causing viruses).
And I love studies like the breast cancer one that you stated
because they give us insight into the real role that "genetics" (I always have to put that in quotes. Again, what ARE "genes"?)
and environment play. You are right...its a mixture of these and other factors, just as it is in the development of
personalities.
We know that viruses are acquired through vertical transmission (from parent to offspring), through
natural infection, through vaccines (errrrh), and through casual contact, including airborne means, foods, and contact. Hey,
there are over a billion viruses in a tsp of seawater. They are ubiquitous. Thank God that the vast majority are
not pathogenic...yet!
Where have many of the pathogenic viruses come from? Animals. Hmmm... Yep, they have been
harboring these guys for millennia. Can you think of examples...Swine flu, Rabies, West Nile, SARS, and now...the new Bird
Flu. Where did the "Spanish Flu" of 1918...the worst pandemic the world has ever known come, from? Birds. Ahhh...No wonder
they are worried about the new one, eh? ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu).
What's the key? You nailed it...a competent immune system.
John
*********************
Originally posted by me:
An Internet friend
and colleague just sent me this...right on cue. Anyone ever hear of a "lipoma"...a fatty tumor? What causes tumors again?
Hi John,
Thought you might be interested
in this.
regards
F.
*****
A new study has boosted the theory that some cases of obesity are contagious.
For the past 20 years, research has suggested that strains of human and avian adenoviruses can spur fat cell increases.
Antibodies to one strain, Ad-36, has correlated with being very obese, and one study has linked body mass differences
in twins with exposure to the virus.
Researchers have now found that another strain of adenovirus makes chickens plump.
Scientific American reports:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?cha...5683414B7F0000
Physiologist Leah Whigham of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
and her colleagues inoculated young male chickens with three strains of adenovirus--Ad-2, Ad-31 and Ad-37. She and her team
then monitored the chickens for three and a half weeks, recording their food intake throughout. Though the infected chickens
and noninfected controls consumed the same amount of food and were exposed to the same conditions, chickens carrying Ad-37
were found to have nearly three times as much fat in their guts and more than two times as much fat over their entire body
at the end of the three-and-a-half week period. The other two virus strains appeared to have little effect on weight.
**************************
Originally posted by me:
A Little Virology For You
I thought it would be good, at this point,
to review some basic virology so that you could get the most out of this thread. This is really not that hard to understand.
But it is crucial that we do understand it. So, let's try this-
There are two basic types of viruses-
those that infect the cells of animals and plants (those organisms with a cell nucleus) and those that infect only bacteria.
The latter are called bacteriophages.
Lets cover bacteriophages first because they illustrate the principles
we have been talking about above so well. Again, from Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage )
Phages infect only specific bacteria. There is probably
a phage for every species of bacterium. Some phages are viruruleny upon infecting a cell they immediately begin reproducing,
and within a short time lyse (destroy) the cell, releasing new phages. Some phages (so-called temperate phages) can instead
enter a relatively harmless state, either integrating their genetic material into the chromasomal DNA of the host bacterium
(much like endogenous retroviruses in animals) or establishing themselves as plasmids. These endogenous phages, referred to
as prophages, are then copied with every cell division together with the DNA of the host cell. They do not kill the cell,
but monitor (via some proteins they code for) the status of their host. When the host cell shows signs of stress (meaning
it might be about to die soon), the endogenous phages become active again and start their reproductive cycle, resulting in
the lysis of the host cell.
Do you see that? They enter a cell and either kill the cell out right in order to produce
more viruses OR they can remain dormant…in the very DNA of that bacteria…being reproduced by the host and wait
until some STRESS comes along, which triggers the virus to reproduce and then kill the cell. Wow! (and they are called “non-living
by some scientists. Maybe non-living by most of OUR definitions but they have to be alive on some level to do what they do,
right?)
What about regular viruses that infect animals and plants? Well, there are basically two types: RNA and DNA
viruses. Again from Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus )-
Because viruses are acellular and do not have their own metabolism, they must utilize the machinery and metabolism
of the host for the purpose of self-replication. Before a virus has entered a host cell, it is called a virion — a package
of viral genetic material. Virions can be passed from host to host either through direct contact or through a vector, or carrier.
Inside the organism, the virus can enter a cell in various ways. Once attached, enzymes make a small hole in the cell wall,
and the virus injects its DNA into the cell. Other viruses (such as HIV) enter the host via endocytosis, the process by which
cells take in material from the external environment. After entering the cell, the virus's genetic material begins the destructive
process of causing the cell to produce new viruses.
Some viruses have DNA, which once inside the host cell is replicated
by the host along with its own DNA. There are two different replication processes for viruses containing RNA. In the first
process, the viral RNA is directly copied using an enzyme called RNA replicase. This enzyme then uses that RNA copy as a template
to make hundreds of duplicates of the original RNA. A second group of RNA-containing viruses, called the Retroviruses, uses
the enzyme reverse transcriptase to synthesize a complementary strand of DNA so that the virus's genetic information is contained
in a molecule of DNA rather than RNA. The viral DNA can then be further replicated using the resources of the host cell.
Lifecycle
1)Attachment,
sometimes called absorption: The virus attaches to receptors on the host cell wall.
2)Injection: The nucleic acid of the
virus moves through the plasma membrane and into the cytoplasm of the host cell. The capsid of a phage, a bacterial virus,
remains on the outside. In contrast, many viruses that infect animal cells enter the host cell intact.
3)Replication:
The viral genome contains all the information necessary to p
|
