...the researchers tested levels of IGF-1 and IGF-BP-3 in the patient’s blood before Acclydine was taken...

Value of IGF-BP-3 / IGF-1 General Response to Acclydine:

4.5 or greater : Greatest Probability of Response
3.5 to 4.5 : Some patients responded, some did not
Less than 3.5 : Most patients did not respond

The researchers concluded that Acclydine is best suited for patients with a ratio of IGF-BP-3/IGF-1 greater than 3.5. Patients with a ratio greater than 3.5 have a IGF-1 deficiency.

In the case the ratio is less than 3.5, but the concentration of IGF-1 is higher than normal, it might be useful to begin with a low dose of Acclydine, 1-2 capsules per day.

Methods: 90 individuals suffering from CFS (Holmes and/or Fukuda criteria) entered the study. They were not allowed to take any other medication than minor pain relievers and homeopathic medication.

The treatment protocol consisted of first 4 weeks: 250 mg four times a day in combination with amino acids; second 4 weeks 250 mg Acclydine twice daily in combination with amino acids. The primary efficacy variable was the change from baseline in CFS as measured by the Clinician’s Global Impression Scale (CGI) after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints were: IGF-1, IGF-BP3 values, LMW/HMW RNase L ratio, GHQ-30, POMS, SF-36 and SCL-90.

Conclusions:
Acclydine in combination with amino acids gives an improvement in CFS symptoms (54% in the active group compared to 16% in the placebo group). No major adverse events were noted. Acclydine appears to be a safe and adequate drug for CFS.

This study was sponsored by
Optipharma ,The Netherlands.

HOWEVER, I found this on
CFSFMExperimental-yahoogroup:

"...and hasn't Asensio & Company been charged and on several counts fined by the court with manipulating stock and bringing about the destruction of many companies?
I wouldn't trust them as a source of information, because they have a vested interest in making money off their accusations, and they've gained a reputation for unethical behavior..."

Andrographis is believed to have immune-stimulating, anti-inflammatory, fertility-decreasing, liver-protective, and bile secretion-stimulating actions. Though some older studies suggested andrographis was antibacterial, modern research has been unable to confirm this finding.

... supposedly most helpful for the URI's (upper respiratory tract infections) that hit CFS patients. Also, clot busting.

Details on Andrographis can be found at:

Altcancer.com/andcan.htm

A preliminary uncontrolled study using isolated andrographolide found that while it tended to decrease viral load and increase CD4 lymphocyte levels in people with HIV infection, at the amount used, the preparation led to side effects, including headache, fatigue, a bitter/metallic taste in the mouth, and elevated liver enzymes (which returned to normal after the medication was stopped). It is unknown whether the andrographolides used in this study directly killed HIV or had an immune-strengthening effect.

"...The species name somnifera means "sleep-bearing" in Latin, indicating it was considered a sedative, but it has been also used for sexual vitality and as an adaptogen.
Some herbalists refer to ashwagandha as Indian ginseng, since it is used in ayurvedic medicine in a way similar to that ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine..."
Ashwagandha (Wikipedia)

"...Ashwagandha root, is an important herb from the Ayurvedic or Indian system of medicine. Ashwagandha has been traditionally used for the treatment of debility, emaciation, impotence, and premature aging. This dietary supplement is used to enhance mental and physical performance, improve learning ability, and decrease stress and fatigue.
Ashwagandha is a general tonic to be used in stressful situations, especially insomnia, overwork, nervousness, restlessness, and CFS..."
Immunesupport.com/articles

Boone K. Withania 1998
The Indian Ginseng and Anti-aging Adaptogen. Nutrition and Healing.

Singh A, Naidu PS, Gupta S, Kulkarni. 2002 Effect of natural and synthetic antioxidants in a mouse model of chronic fatigue syndrome. J Med Food.

Chinese: Huang qi

Zhao KS, et al. 1990
Positive Modulating Action of Shengmaisan with Astragalus membranaceus on Anti-tumor Activity of LAK Cells.

"...One doctor gave me azithromycin for a sinus infection.
It did not help my sinus problems at all, but suddenly my stomach problems were much better.

I have since learned that azithromycin is one of the antibiotics used to treat mycoplasmas.
I had not yet heard of mycoplasmas, but it is now apparent that I may have had an infection..."
Cfs-recovery.org/mycoplasma

"The temporary initial benefits come crumbling down after not so long, probably because antibiotics don't address more key upstream issues in ME/CFS."
CFSFMExperimental-yahoogroup/message

Azithromycin Therapy May Be Beneficial for Subset of CFS Patients

In a group of 99 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients treated experimentally for six weeks with azithromycin, a subgroup of 58 patients reported a positive decrease in overall symptom severity. Azithromycin is an antibiotic, but is also believed to possess beneficial immunomodulation (immune system affecting) abilities.

...After the azithromycin treatment, the responders’ blood plasma levels of acetylcarnitine were lower on average than for the nonresponders.
The researchers speculate that the reason for the lower acetylcarnitine levels in the responders’ blood has to do with cellular energy production. Acetylcarnitine is involved in the cells’ normal use of fatty acids to produce energy (oxidation). They cite studies offering preliminary evidence of a relationship between CFS patients’ fatigue and dysfunction of cellular energy production, indicating “a complex response involving acetylcarnitine.”
Are the responders’ cells using more acetylcarnitine, for example?
Immunesupport.com/azithromycin

Recommendation by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum:
Baclofen: 10 to 20mg 1 to 3 times a day (sedating).
Immunesupport.com/Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum
(Treatment Protocol for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia)

Dr. Jay Goldstein's treatment protocol from the book "Betrayal by the Brain":
Ncf-net.org/forum/jay.htm

Carnitine
(L-Carnitine)
(Acetyl-L-carnitine)

Like all other proteinogenic amino acids natural carnitine is the L-stereoisomer. It can be synthesised within the body from the amino acids lysine or methionine.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential to the synthesis of carnitine. It has been speculated that during growth or pregnancy the requirement of carnitine could exceed its natural production.
Carnitine (Wikipedia)

Acetyl-L-carnitine or ALCAR, is an acetylated form of L-carnitine. ALCAR is far superior to normal L-carnitine in terms of bioavailability in that it is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, enters cells and crosses the blood-brain barrier more readily than unacetylated carnitine.

ALCAR has a broad range of uses including combination with alpha lipoic acid to comprise a patented formulation that has been evidenced to "rejuvenate" the mitochondria of aging mice in studies conducted by Bruce Ames and others. Accordingly, acetyl-L-carnitine has potential as a life extension supplement probably capable of improving the quality and possibily also extending the average life-span of humans. Other attributed uses for ALCAR include using it as a treatment for depression (250 mg per day for several weeks) and for clearing plaque/fatty deposits out of the veins and arteries.

Chlorella is more than 50% protein, 1.6% chlorophyll, and rich in carotenoids, RNA-DNA, B12 and magnesium.

Very similar in nutrients to spirulina & blue-green algae.
Beyondacenturyonline.com

Some were given the remedy and some a placebo over a 12-week period.

Researchers measured exercise capacity, endurance performance and metabolic alterations before, during and after receiving the remedy or placebo.

Oxygen

Volume of oxygen consumption went up 5.5% in the group given the remedy, but only 2.2% in the others, suggesting an increase in aerobic capacity.

The time taken to complete a one-mile walk was reduced by 29 seconds in the CordyMax group but increased slightly in the others. And diastolic blood pressure fell by 3.2% among people taking the remedy.

The researchers said: "This study provides scientific evidence that CordyMax is effective in enhancing aerobic exercise capability, endurance exercise performance, and exercise metabolism and alleviating fatigue in healthy humans."
Bbc.co.uk

Diazepam is a core medicine in the World Health Organization's "Essential Drugs List", which is a list of minimum medical needs for a basic health care system. Diazepam is used to treat a wide range of conditions and is one of the most frequently prescribed benzodiazepines.

Treatment with DHEA or Melatonin alone, as well as together , prevented the reduction of B- and T-cell proliferation as well as of Th1 cytokine
secretion caused by retrovirus infection. Supplementation also suppressed the elevated production of Th2 cytokines stimulated by retrovirus infection.
(Zhang, Araghi-Niknam et al. 1999)

One study showed the value of DHEA and vitamin C infusion treatment in the control of cfs.
Refer to the
DHEA Replacement Therapy protocol before embarking on this therapy.

DHEA replacement therapy has become popular as an antiaging regimen and offers aging patients help in preventing diseases such as osteoporosis, fatigue, depression, atherosclerosis, and cancer.

DHEA (50 or 100 mg a day) was also shown to significantly elevate insulin growth factor (IGF). Aging causes a decline in IGF levels that contributes to the loss of lean body mass, as well as to excess fat accumulation, neurological impairment, and age-associated immune dysfunction.

One study showed the value of DHEA and
Vitamin C infusion treatment in the control of cfs.
(Kodama, Kodama et al. 1996)

A study of 15 subjects with CFS, 15 subjects with major depression, and 11 healthy subjects found that DHEA and DHEA-S levels were significantly lower in the cfs compared to the healthy group. DHEA-S levels, but not DHEA, were lower in the depressives. The authors concluded that DHEA has a potential role both therapeutically and as a
diagnostic tool, in CFS.
(Scott, Salahuddin et al. 1999)

Another study of DHEA levels in 22 CFS patients and 14 healthy controls found normal basal DHEA levels, but a blunted serum DHEA response curve to ACTH (adreno-corticotropic hormone) injection.
ACTH normally stimulates the adrenal
glands to secrete DHEA. The authors concluded that endocrine abnormalities play a role in CFS and that a relative glucocorticoid deficiency might contribute to the overall clinical picture in CFS. (De Becker, De Meirleir et al. 1999)

Use DHEA up to 4 months for full effect (?)

Remedyfind.com on DHEA

Essential fatty acid

Omega 3: Alpha-linolenic acid

Omega 6: Linoleic acid

Omega 9: Oil acid
(not essential ?)

Udo's choice oil blend offers Omega-3, 6, 9-acids in a 2:1:1 relation.

Inventor: Udo Erasmus
His book: "Fats that heal, fats that kill"

Distributor USA: Florahealth.com
Distributor Switzerland: Chrisana.ch

Udo's choice oil blend contains:
• Flax oil
• Sunflower oil
• Sesame oil
• Medium chain triglycerides
• Evening primrose oil (12.6 mg GLA per tablespoon)
• Rice germ & Bran oil
• Soy lecithin
• D-alpha tocopheral (natural Vitamin E)
• Oat germ & Bran oil.

One tablespoon liquid form contains:
• Calories 135
• Total fat 14.5 g
• Saturated fat 1.5 g
• Polyunsaturated fat: (Omega-3 fatty acids 6.4 g, Omega-6 fatty acids 3.2 g)
• Monounsaturated fat (Omega-9 fatty acids 3 g)
• Medium chain triglycerides 231 mg.

Udo's Choice® Ultimate Oil Blend does not contain preformed EPA and DHA as it is an all vegetarian product. EPA and DHA can only be obtained preformed in the form of fish oil. As we completely want to avoid the potential problems of contamination with persistent organic pollutants, such as dioxins, furans and PCBs, we only use seed oils in Udo's Choice® Ultimate Oil Blend. The particular combination we used provides the following "important" fatty acids:

1. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), 18:C3-n3, which is the parent of the omega-3 fatty acid series. If provided in sufficient amounts, ALA is converted into EPA and DHA. Furthermore, ALA has a host of beneficial biological effects on its own that are independent of conversion into EPA and DHA. To facilitate optimal conversion, it is necessary to provide all the cofactors used by the enzymes involved in the desaturation and elongation of essential fatty acids (EFAs). The main ones are zinc, magnesium, vitamin B3 (as niacin), vitamin B5, vitamin B6, selenium and vitamin E (preferably as natural mixed tocopherols). Also, the diet should contain sufficient amounts of protein (at least 20%E), have a low-glycemic index, have a high ratio of EFAs to saturated fats and an overall ratio of omega-6:omega-3 of no more than 4:1.

2. Linoleic acid (LA), 18:C2-n6, which is the parent of the omega-6 fatty acid series that includes gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (AA). If enough LA is provided, then the body can convert it into GLA and DGLA. The same issues as those for ALA also pertain to LA in terms of optimal conversion.

3. GLA, 18:C3-n6, in small amounts.

4. Lauric acid, 12:C0, which is known to stimulate the immune system and suspected of having an effect on certain groups of vira because it disrupts their lipid envelope.

If people get the recommended dosage of the oil blend, approx. one 15-ml tablespoon per 25 kg bodyweight daily and make sure they create the right environment in their body to facilitate optimal conversion (as mentioned above), then ample amounts of EPA, DHA and GLA should be produced in the body.

Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium

Dr. Goldstein recommendation
---------------------------------------------
Dr. Jay Seastrunk:
Parke-Davis, the company that purchased gabapentin, has seen dosages that range from 3,000 to 6,000 mg per day while, even at 10,000, the drug is not toxic.
Dr. Seastrunk has never found anyone to be allergic to Neurontin in the hundreds of patients he has treated.
It does not cross-react with other medications. Magnesium, however, will block Neurontin.
Ncf-net.org (The National Forum)
Brain injury in cfids and mcs
Researchers explore many uses for Neurontin (Cfids.org)
---------------------------------------------
Dr. Paul Cheney:
...believes Neurontin can help "protect the brain" from further damage He has said that an injured brain may respond to lesser stimuli than a healthy brain, and this overstimulation of the brain may contribute to feelings of fatigue and pain. He has found that Neurontin seems to raise the sensitivity threshold of the brain’s pain response in CFIDS patients.
...Neuroprotection - The brain is injured in a monotonous way. It fires at lower threshold levels. Therefore, information density will confuse, sensitivity to light, pain intensified, cannot sleep, hearing is amplified. Drugs which treat this are magnesium, klonopin, neurontin, doxapin, nicotine, and narcotics. These need to be titrated at small optimum doses different for each patient. These drug perserve the brain from damage.
Lecture by Dr. Cheney, May 7, 1998
--------------------------------------------
Gabapentin (Wikipedia)

Components; Nutrients:

Calcium
Folate
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Phosphorus
Potassium
Selenium
Zinc
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin C

- Increases brain oxygenation, transmission rate to nerve cells
- concentration, mental alertnes & memory
- circulation

Ginkgo supposedly also inhibits cortisol biosynthesis

Ginkgo Biloba and Nimodipine are probably the two most important treatments for normalising brain circulation in cfs/me.
It works by countering the viscosity produced by excess production of platelet activating factor (which thickens the blood).
Dr. David Mason Brown

Glutathione is one of the body's most important and powerful antioxidants. Glutathione also attaches to toxic molecules, which are then eliminated from the body (detoxification).

An article published in the journal Medical Hypothesis proposed
that glutathione, an antioxidant essential for lymphocyte function, may be depleted in cfs-patients.
Glutathione is needed for both the immune system and for aerobic muscular contraction. The authors proposed that glutathione depletion by an activated immune system also
causes the muscular fatigue and myalgia associated with cfs.
(Bounous and Molson 1999)

Cysteine is a precursor to glutathione. It has been hypothesized that glutathione and cysteine metabolism may play a role in skeletal muscle wasting and muscle fatigue. The combination of
abnormally low plasma cysteine and glutamine levels, low natural killer (NK) cell activity (with a resulting usceptibility to viral infection), skeletal muscle wasting or muscle fatigue,
and increased rates of urea production defines a complex of abnormalities that is tentatively called "low CG syndrome."
These symptoms are found in patients with HIV infection, cancer, major injuries, sepsis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, cfs, and to some extent in over-trained athletes.
(Droge and Holm 1997)

N-acetyl-cysteine is a precursor of glutathione that has been shown to be helpful against viruses (most of the research has been with HIV and Hepatitis infections).
(Sprietsma 1999)
(Weiss, Hildt et al. 1996)

- 1 cup spring water
- 1 cup seltzer water
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp "no salt" brand salt substitute (potassium)
- Stevia sugar substitute is allowed, sugar is not. Flavoring is allowed

Drink 3 - 4 glasses daily. Observe blood pressure response. Consider stopping if blood pressure rises above 140/90.

Grapefruit seed extract is a strong antimicrobial with proven activity against bacteria and fungi. It also has antioxidant properties.
Grapefruit (Wikipedia)

- Polyphenol antioxidants
(A class of phytochemicals found in high concentrations in green tea, and have been associated with heart disease and cancer prevention. The slight astringent, bitter taste of green tea is attributed to polyphenols.
Dried leaves contain about 10% polyphenols.)

- Catechins
(A category of polyphenols.
In green tea, catechins are present in significant quantities, more specifically:
- epicatechin (EC),
- epigallocatechin (EGC),
- epicatechin gallate (ECG)
- epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG makes up about 10-50% of the total catechin content and appears to be the most powerful of the catechins – with antioxidant activity about 25-100 times more potent than vitamins C and E.

- Theanine (amino acid that reportedly stimulates production of alpha waves)

contains also:

Tannins - A group of simple and complex phenol, polyphenol, and flavonoid compounds, bound with starches, and often so amorphous that they are classified as tannins simply because at some point in degradation they are astringent and contain variations on gallic acid. Produced by plants, tannins are generally protective substances found in the outer and inner tissues.
All of the tannins are relatively resistant to digestion or fermentation, and either decrease the ability of animals to easily consume the living plant, or, as in deciduous trees, cause shed parts of the plant to decay so slowly that there is little likelihood of infection to the living tree from rotting dead material around its base.
All tannins act as astringents, shrinking tissues and contracting structural proteins in the skin and mucosa.

(For a mouth rinse you can swallow, use Xylitol and Green Tea!)(?)

Health benefits of tea (Wikipedia)

1001herbs.com/hoshouwu

Hydrocortisone
(Cortisol)

...I think you're right about the FIR sauna promoting detox. Since PWCs tend to have lots of toxins stored up as a result of
glutathione depletion over extended times, this is probably a big factor in the FIR's benefits for PWCs.

I suspect that the FIR sauna simultaneously does several things that are beneficial to PWCs. As you probably know,
Jim Clements emphasizes the increase in body temperature and the resulting
increase in metabolic rate.

Sherry Rogers emphasizes the detox aspect.
I have hypothesized that it enables the sympathetic nervous system to:
Stop generating so much norepinephrine in the skin, to shut down the blood flow there, thus lifting the demand on glutathione to dispose of the oxidation product of norepinephrine, and also freeing up supplies of tyrosine and phenylalanine so that the sympathetic nervous system can make norepinephrine, to control pooling of blood in the legs, and to stop the orthostatic intolerance.

In view of all this, I suspect that the FIR sauna will have the biggest benefits for PWCs who have:
- a big toxin load,
- a lower than normal armpit temperature,
- orthostatic intolerance, and
- glutathione depletion.

Rich Van Konynenburg
CFSFMExperimental (at) yahoogroups

Hyperthermia in the form of hot baths has also proved useful in the treatment of herpes simplex and herpes zoster (shingles).

At first the treatment aggravates the situation, but conditions improve considerably after a short time.
It is also useful in treating the common cold and flu, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome.

The body protects itself from viruses, bacteria, and other harmful substances through the use of numerous defense systems.

One of these is fever. Fever raises the body's temperature above normal in an attempt to destroy invading organisms and sweat impurities out of the system.

Fever is a highly effective and natural process of curing disease and restoring health, and has been recognized as such for thousands of years. Hyperthermia deliberately creates fever in the patient in order to utilize this natural healing process.
Bodytrends.com

What is far infrared?
by Jim Clements

"Infrared Thermal System For Whole-Body Regenerative Radiant Therapy"
by Dr. Aaron M. Flickstein

"Warming Up to Far Infrared"
by D.J. Fletcher

"Detox in the Sauna"
by Lawrence Wilson, MD

"Turn Up the Heat; Improve Health with the Infra-red Sauna"
by Stefan Kuprowsky, MA, ND

"The Manual of Sauna Therapy"
by Dr. Lawrence D. Wilson MD

"Infrared Sauna"
by Dr. Jim Chan ND

"Energy Returns with Cellular Purification"

"250-Watt Infrared Heat Lamp Warnings"

Infraredsauna.net
(Medical info)

...when used orally for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In one small-scale, placebo-controlled trial, OCD patients receiving inositol for 6 weeks had significant improvement, based on Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scores, compared to placebo (2186).
Abstracts from:
Naturaldatabase.com


1'200 mg per day of myo-inositol has been effective (within 2 weeks) for some cfs-patients with hormonal problems.

Fights blurry vision (?)

Inositol (Wikipedia)

Anti-aging-drugs.com

Clonazepam (marketed by Roche under the trade-name Klonopin® in the United States and Rivotril® in Canada and Europe) is an anticonvulsant sedative-hypnotic anxiolytic (anti-anxiety drug), and a member of the benzodiazepine class of drugs.
Like other benzodiazepines, Clonazepam is believed to act by simulating the action of GABA on the central nervous system. Because of strong anxiolytic properties and euphoriant side-effects it is said to be among the class of 'high potent' benzodiazepines with a higher risk of abuse, misuse and dependence than other benzodiazepines.
The sedative effects of Clonazepam are relatively weak, compared to its strong anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effectivity.
250 micrograms (0.25mg) are equivalent to 5mg Diazepam.
Klonopin (Wikipedia)

Dr. Paul Cheney Discusses the Benefits of Klonopin
by Carol Sieverling
ImmuneSupport.com

10-12-2001

Editor’s Note: The following is based on a recent interview conducted by Carol Sieverling with Dr. Paul R. Cheney, M.D., Ph.D., and the article "CFIDS Treatment: The Cheney Clinic’s Strategic Approach" (CFIDS Chronicle, Spring 1995). Dr. Cheney gave permission to share this information, but has not reviewed or edited it.

Many CFIDS specialists prescribe the drug Klonopin. In the October 1999 issue of The Fibromyalgia Network, nine CFS/FM specialists summarized their most effective treatments, and six included Klonopin. Interestingly, the three who did not are primarily FM specialists.

Dr. Cheney prescribes Klonopin to address a condition associated with CFIDS called "excitatory neurotoxicity." To explain this condition to patients, he draws a line with "seizure" on the far left and "coma" on the far right. A big dot in the middle represents where healthy people are when awake. A dot somewhat to the right of the middle indicates where healthy people are when asleep – slightly shifted toward coma. He highlights in red the left portion of the line, from seizure to the middle, and labels it "Neurotoxic State" (damaging to the brain). He highlights in blue the right portion of the line, from coma to the middle, and labels it "Healing State."

In CFIDS, an ongoing injury to the brain shifts patients toward seizure. A dot to the left of the middle, marked "injury," represents the position of CFIDS patients. This puts us in the red "Neurotoxic" zone. When we shift toward seizure, we often experience "sensory overload." It’s as if our brain’s "radar" is too sensitive. Our neurons (nerve cells) are sensing stimuli and firing when they should not. This causes amplification of sensory input. Light, noise, motion and pain are all magnified. At the beginning of their illness, many patients report feeling exhausted, yet also strangely "wired." The "wired" feeling is the slight shift towards seizure that occurs as a result of the excitatory neurotoxicity.

Cheney frequently uses the term "threshold potential" when discussing excitatory neurotoxicity. (Think of the threshold - bottom - of a doorway. The lower it is, the more accessible it is. When it is at floor level, everything can enter. When it is raised, access is restricted to taller people. If it is too high, no one can enter.) Threshold potential refers to how much stimulus it takes to make neurons fire. If the threshold potential is too low, even slight stimulation is "allowed to enter" and is detected by the neurons. This causes the neurons to fire, resulting in sensory overload. If the threshold is dropped to nothing, all stimuli get through and the neurons fire continuously, resulting in a seizure. If the threshold is raised, only stronger stimuli can make neurons fire. A healthy person’s threshold potential naturally rises at bedtime, promoting sleep. If the threshold potential is too high, you feel drugged or drowsy. If the threshold potential is raised extremely high, coma results.

In CFIDS, NMDA is more activated than GABA, lowering the threshold potential. This causes neurons to fire with very little stimulation, resulting in sensory overload. This condition of excitatory neurotoxicity is dangerous. Dr. Cheney emphasizes that in an attempt to protect itself, the body will eventually kill neurons that fire excessively. He states that brain cell loss can result if this condition isn’t addressed.

How can the brain be protected against excitatory neurotoxicity? Klonopin. This long acting benzodiazepine has been Dr. Cheney’s most effective drug for CFIDS over the years. He believes that Klonopin and the supplement magnesium may be two of the most important treatments for CFIDS patients because of their neuroprotective qualities. He recommends two or more 0.5 mg tablets of Klonopin at night. Paradoxically, very small doses (usually a quarter to a half a tablet) in the morning and mid-afternoon improve cognitive function and energy. If the daytime dose is low enough, you’ll experience greater clarity and think better. If the daytime dose is too high, you’ll become drowsy. Adjust your dose for maximum benefit, taking as much as possible without drowsiness. Adjust the morning dose first, then take the same amount mid-afternoon if needed, then take three to four times the morning dose at bedtime. Dr. Cheney recommends doubling the dose during severe relapses.

Dr. Cheney most frequently prescribes the combination of Klonopin and Doxepin, along with the supplement "Magnesium Glycinate Forte." Magnesium Glycinate alone is a good choice for the more budget minded(www.ImmuneSupport.com sells it as "Magnesium Plus".) A common dosage of magnesium is 200 mgs at bedtime. Too much magnesium can cause diarrhea, though glycinate is usually the best tolerated form.

Cheney prescribes Doxepin in the form of a commercial elixir (10mg/ml). At low doses, this tricyclic antidepressant acts as a very potent antihistamine and immune modulator. Doxepin acts synergistically with Klonopin to assist sleep, and may improve pain. Patients tend to be very sensitive to Doxepin, which can cause morning fog and fatigue if the dose is too high (5 to 10 mg or higher). He recommends starting at two drops a night and gradually increasing the dose until "morning fog" becomes a problem. Most patients can’t tolerate more than half a cc.

On a handout entitled "Neuroprotection via Threshold Potentials," Cheney lists six substances that can protect the brain. Under the category "NMDA Blockers" Cheney lists:

1. Parenteral magnesium and taurine (intramuscular injections of magnesium and taurine, usually given with procaine) 2. Histamine blockers (Doxepin Elixir) Under the category "GABA Agonists" (increases GABA) Cheney lists: 3. Klonopin 4. Neurontin 5. Kava Kava 6. Valerian Root

Many myths abound concerning Klonopin. When asked about these myths, Dr. Cheney shared the following information.

MYTH NUMBER ONE: THE GENERIC IS JUST AS GOOD.

When the generic Clonazepam came on the market, many patients switched to it because it was less expensive than Klonopin. Cheney then began hearing that most patients had to take more Clonazepam to get the same effect. Generics aren’t exactly identical to the original products, and with most drugs the slight variations don’t matter. However, most CFIDS patients can tell the difference between Klonopin and its generic form, Clonazepam. Most find Klonopin to be more effective.

MYTH NUMBER TWO: KLONOPIN IS ADDICTIVE.

Dr. Cheney was adamant that Klonopin is not addictive. In treating thousands of patients, he has never seen a patient become addicted to Klonopin. He reviewed the definition of addiction, stating that it involves: (1) psychosocial disruption, (2) accelerated use, (3) inappropriate use, and (4) drug seeking behavior.

Dr. Cheney said a case might be made that Klonopin is habituating. It’s true that it can’t be stopped suddenly. You must taper off of it gradually. However, he was cautious about even calling it habituating. The process of tapering off a drug is not the same thing as withdrawal, a term that implies addiction.

Dr. Cheney said to keep in mind that Klonopin is given for a physiological problem – excitatory neurotoxicity. It’s prescribed to adjust the threshold potential: to keep neurons from firing inappropriately and being destroyed. He stressed that Klonopin should never be given unless you intend to raise the threshold potential. He stated, "Problems arise when you begin to use benzodiazapines for reasons other than threshold manipulation." However, CFIDS patients have a "threshold potential aberration" and need Klonopin (or something similar) to avoid brain injury. Dr. Cheney has never seen a recovered patient have difficulty coming off Klonopin. He stated, "When you no longer need the drug, coming off it is very easy."

On the other hand, trouble arises when someone who still has an injured brain tries to come off Klonopin. It’s like a thyroid patient stopping their thyroid medication. Dr. Cheney warned, "All hell breaks loose". However, it’s not because the drug is addicting, and it’s not withdrawal. The condition still exists, and the body lets you know it has a legitimate physical need for the drug. Cheney stated, "When a CFIDS patient who is still experiencing the underlying mechanisms of brain injury goes off Klonopin, there is a burst of excess neural firing and cell death. That’s the havoc we hear about that is mistakenly called withdrawal."

MYTH NUMBER THREE: KLONOPIN DISRUPTS STAGE 4 SLEEP.

Dr. Cheney said that he honestly doesn’t understand this concern. He believes Klonopin might disrupt the sleep of people who take it for conditions other than the threshold potential aberration found in CFIDS. He also acknowledged that if you are looking just for drugs to facilitate sleep, Klonopin is certainly not the first one to come to mind, nor should it be used to induce sleep in "ordinary" patients. It’s not a sleep drug per se. However, a large part of the sleep disorder of CFIDS is excitatory neurotoxicity and the resulting shift toward seizure. If you treat this condition with Klonopin, then you have treated a large part of the sleep disorder in CFIDS. Most importantly, he said he simply does not see stage 4 sleep disruption in his patients on Klonopin.

Towards the end of this discussion on Klonopin, Cheney smiled, and remarked, "But suppose I’m wrong about the brain injury and the threshold potential aberration and the shift toward seizure? What if I’m wrong about your need for Klonopin? I’m absolutely sure I’m right, but what’s the worst case scenario? Do you know what long-term studies on Klonopin have shown? Reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease is a complicated and convoluted way of knocking out your neurons, and Klonopin protects your neurons. Now it’s believed that Klonopin didn’t actually stop Alzheimer’s. It just delayed its onset so long that everyone died of something else before they ever got it - which is to say you won’t get Alzheimer’s. You’ll die of something else first."

The last question Cheney addressed concerned the dose: what happens if the dose is too high? He said the only down side was that if you took a little too much (we are not talking overdose here) it would shift you toward coma on the continuum. It would shut your brain down to some degree, and thus impact your ability to function. This is inconvenient, but it’s not harmful. In fact, it shifts you into the "healing state" on the continuum. You may feel like a zombie, but your brain is protected and your neurons are not getting fried. However, not being able to function isn’t an option for most of us, so we need to find the maximum dose that doesn’t make us drowsy.

Dr. Cheney emphasized that Klonopin, Doxepin, and magnesium are very, very good at protecting the brain from cell death due to excess firing. However, they can’t stop the underlying mechanisms of CFIDS that are injuring the brain in the first place.

Though it can’t stop the underlying mechanisms causing the injury, Klonopin can protect your brain and keep your neurons from being destroyed. Then, as Cheney put it, "When you come out on the other side of this, you’ll have more of your brain left."

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a biennial plant or annual plant grown in very high parts of the Andes in Peru for its enlarged hypocotyl, used as a root vegetable. Botanically this herb is related to turnip and radish.
The part of the radish that is eaten is also known as a hypocotyl. Maca is the only member of its genus with a fleshy hypocotyl. Maca's hypocotyl is roughly 10-15 cm long and 3-5 cm long in each plant.
The plant spreads entirely by seeds which germinate within 5 days given good conditions and have no dormancy.
Maca (Wikipedia)

Maca root
- glucosinolates which have a positive effect on fertility.
- Proteins, as polypeptides, make up 11 per cent of the maca root;
- calcium makes up 10 percent - magnesium and potassium are present in significant amounts.
- iron, silica and traces of iodine, manganese, zinc, copper and sodium.

Vitamins in maca are thiamine, riboflavin and ascorbic acid.

Menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, tender breasts, sleeplessness and emotional upsets, "brain fog", vaginal dryness.
Osteoporosis: significant bone rebuilding, improvement in bone density.
Energy booster: Balances the endocrine system - thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands.
Male impotence
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Period problems: Pain, PMS, flooding and/or scant flow.

Healalliance.com/macaroot.html

Although magnesium is present in many foods, it usually occurs in small amounts.
As with most nutrients, daily needs for magnesium cannot be met from a single food. Eating a wide variety of foods, including five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and plenty of whole grains, helps to ensure an adequate intake of magnesium.

The magnesium content of refined foods is usually low. Whole-wheat bread, for example, has twice as much magnesium as white bread because the magnesium-rich germ and bran are removed when white flour is processed.
The table of food sources of magnesium suggests many dietary sources of magnesium.

Water can provide magnesium, but the amount varies according to the water supply. "Hard" water contains more magnesium than "soft" water. Dietary surveys do not estimate magnesium intake from water, which may lead to underestimating total magnesium intake and its variability.

Following are some foods and the amount of magnesium in them:

- spinach (1/2 cup) = 80 milligrams (mg)
- peanut butter (2 tablespoons) = 50 mg
- black-eyed peas (1/2 cup) = 45 mg
- milk, low fat (1 cup) = 40 mg
Magnesium (Wikipedia)

In the placebo group only 3 of 17 patients said they felt better and one patient had improvement in energy. Red cell magnesium normalized in all patients receiving the injection, but only 1 patient returned to normal in the placebo group.

The authors conclude that chronic fatigue syndrome patients have slightly lower magnesium levels than healthy controls and that magnesium therapy appeared to be of benefit. They cautioned that their trial was small and only had a follow-up of 6 weeks.
Cox IM, et al. 1991
Red Blood Cell Magnesium and CFS.

Maitake is rich in minerals (such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium), various vitamins (B2, D2, Niacin, and C), fibers and amino acids. The active constituent in maitake for enhancing the immune actively has been identified in the late 1980s to be the protein-bound polysaccharide compound, beta-glucan, an ingredient found especially in the family of polyporaceae.

Mito "cocktail" consists of relatively large amounts of:

- L-carnitine
- CoQ10
- D-Ribose (Possibly)
- Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
- Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
- Several other nutrients

...MSM is marketed as a dietary supplement. However, the claims of proof of its beneficial effects are disputed and published research on the compound's effects is considered thin...

In the United States, NAC is available as an over the counter supplement in health stores and in a prescription-only oral solution as Mucomyst® (Bristol-Myers Squibb) or Mucosil® that can be ingested or aerosolized and inhaled.
Outside of the United States, it is available in pharmacies as an over the counter oral medicine and also available in an intravenous form as Parvolex®.

NAC has different uses in the treatment of medical conditions:

Coenzyme #1 is the substance within the cell with the highest reduction power of all biologically active compounds.

A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study examined the use of NADH with CFS.
26 eligible patients diagnosed with cfs received either 10 mg of NADH or placebo for a 4-week period.
8 of 26 (31%) responded favorably to NADH in contrast to 2 of 26 (8%) to placebo.
Based upon these encouraging results the authors decided to conduct a larger study to establish its efficacy in cfs. (Forsyth, Preuss et al. 1999)

NADH (5 to 10 mg per day) is most effective when taken in the
morning 30 minutes before breakfast.

Neurotropin is a “non-protein extract of cutaneous tissue from rabbits inoculated with vaccinia virus”
Masscfids.org

Neurotropin is a medication that is currently used in Japan to treat RSD and other painful conditions.
(RSDS = Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome)
Rsdhope.org

At the initial visit, he complained of lack of concentration, memory decline, frequent urination, insomnia and occasional difficulty of emotional control, as well as general fatigue and pain involving the entire body. Four tablets of Neurotropin per day alone were administered. General fatigue and pain were gradually alleviated one week later. His sleep condition, concentration power, and memory also improved two weeks later.

Medication was discontinued from 11 weeks based on the patient's judgment as he felt little general fatigue and pain involving the entire body. Treatment was completed 3 months later. The symptoms disappeared and did not recur five months after the discontinuation of Neurotropin. He was looking for a job without fatigue and pain 8 months later (5 months after the cessation of treatment).

Efficacy of neurotropin in chronic fatigue syndrome (Immunesupport.com)

Nimodipine (marketed by Bayer as Nimotop®) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker originally developed for the treatment of high blood pressure.
Nimodipine (Wikipedia)

Nimodipine is a calcium channel blocker.
It works by normalising the blood circulation in the brain, especially through the smallest blood vessels.

It also works by relieving areas of localised vessel spasm in the brain decreasing the vascular headaches sometimes associated with ME-CFIDS

In ME-CFIDS there can be reduced blood pressure due to the neurally mediated hypotension found in many patients.

Neurally mediated hypotension is where the blood drains from the head causing parts of the brain to have inadequate circulation.
This is why ‘brain fog’ often occurs.

Benefits:
- vasodilator activity
- antimicrobial agent for treatment of intestinal or respiratory tract infections
- potentiates the macrophage
mediated response
- antiviral agent
- strong antioxidant
- antibacterial and antifungal
Lassesen.com/supplements

But it can lower blood pressure, so be careful and add licorice if necessary. Up to 10 capsules per day is safe. Take at bedtime since the effect tends to deepen sleep. Olive leaf extract kills viruses by inhibiting their replication and increases conversion of T4 to T3.

An effective dose of oleuropein increases body temperature 1/2 to 1 degrees F within 1 hour after you take it. Besides increases in body temperature, sometimes people have flu like symptoms and mild headaches due to a die-off effect from killed-off fungal infections.

Dose : Is supposed to work at low doses, yet is believed to be nontoxic even at high doses.
(note that to clear an infection it needs to be taken in very high doses ie 4x 500mg capsules 4 times a day)

Ondansetron is a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist used mainly to treat nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy.
Its effects are thought to be on both peripheral and central nerves.
One part is to reduce the activity of the vagus nerve, which is a nerve that activates the vomiting center in the medulla oblongata, the other is a blockage of serotonin receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone. It does not have much effect on vomiting due to motion sickness. This drug does not have any effect on dopamine receptors or muscarinic receptors.

Ondansetron (Wikipedia)

I can do a huge amount each day with only short sit downs to recover. By the evening I am sometimes quite tired but usually can take my dog out for a 30 minute walk. I sleep through the night nearly every night and this hasn't happened for 10 years.
In addition to the 5mg Prednisone I have to take 2 grains of Armour for my thyroid. These 2 meds have given me my life back and everyday I can lead a more or less normal life (I have high antithyroglobulin antibodies).

Dr. Jeffries proved with thousands of patients over 30 years or more that there were no ill effects as long as one stuck under 20 mg hydrocortisone. In fact he found that his patients on this dose were healthier than his other patients. After all if our bodies are not making enough cortisol all we are doing is bringing it back up to a normal level

My bp still falls if I do too much (41/120) but with 5 minutes of sitting down it recovers to a normal reading of 65/120.

Even if there is a small risk of problems later on I am prepared to take that risk to have my life back now. Who knows maybe in another 6 months time when I have chelated more mercury out of my brain, my adrenals and thyroid might even start to work better and I will drop my dose to 2.5mg a day..."

Probiotic bacterial cultures are intended to assist the body's naturally occurring flora within the digestive tract to reestablish themselves. They are sometimes recommended by doctors, and, more frequently, by nutritionists, after a course of antibiotics, or as part of the treatment for candidiasis. Many probiotics are present in natural sources such as lactobacillus in yogurt. Claims are made that probiotics strengthen the immune system.

The rationale for probiotics is that the body contains a miniature ecology of microbes, collectively known as the gut flora.
The number of bacterial types can be thrown out of balance by a wide range of circumstances including the use of antibiotics or other drugs, excess alcohol, stress, disease, exposure to toxic substances, or even the use of antibacterial soap. In cases like these, the bacteria that work well with our bodies (see symbiosis) may decrease in number, an event which allows harmful competitors to thrive, to the detriment of our health.

Some products containing probiotic bacteria include:

- Kefir
- Raw milk
- Yogurt
- Kombucha
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi

Probiotics (Wikipedia)

University of Miami CFS Study:

The Behavioral Medicine Research Center at the University of Miami is conducting a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Barry Hurwitz Ph.D. and Dr. Nancy Klimas M.D. are the principal investigators of this study.

CFS Procrit clinical trial phone is
305-575-7154.

The research study is actively searching for CFS patients who would like to participate in the study.
(11. April 2002)

The study is investigating a potential treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The study is a placebo-controlled clinical trial in which Procrit is prescribed to the participants for 13 weeks.

Procrit is a drug that has been used for over a decade to treat anemia which is low red blood cell volume. The drug increases the production of red blood cells, which we have discovered is low in many cfs patients.

Because the red blood cell delivers oxygen to the body, it is projected that this treatment may reduce the debilitating fatigue experienced by individuals with cfs.

Other links:
Procrit.com
Ivanhoe.com

Coenzyme Q (CoQ), also known as ubiquinone or ubiquinol, is a biologically active quinone with an isoprenoid side chain, related in structure to vitamin K and
vitamin E.

...Because of its ability to transfer electrons and therefore act as an antioxidant, Coenzyme Q has become a fashionable dietary supplement.

Young people are able to make Q10 from the lower numbered ubiquinones such as Q6 or Q8. The sick and elderly may not be able to make enough. Q10 thus becomes a vitamin later in life and in illness.

Supplementation of Coenzyme Q10 has been found to have a beneficial effect on the condition of some sufferers of migraines, and is a common component of the "mito cocktail" used to treat mitochondrial disorders and other metabolic disorders.
It is also being investigated as a treatment for cancer, and as relief from cancer treatment side effects.

One a study of 20 female patients with CFS that required bed rest following mild exercise and 20 healthy controls. Eighty percent of the CFS patients were found to be deficient in CoQ10 which further decreased following mild exercise or over the course of normal daytime activity.
After three months of CoQ10 supplementation (100 mg per day) exercise tolerance (400 kg-meters of work) more than doubled.
All patients had improved. Ninety percent had reduction and/or disappearance of clinical symptoms, and 85 percent had decreased post-exercise fatigue.
(Judy 1996) (Werbach 2000)

Rebirthing is a branch of alternative medicine which postulates that human birth is a traumatic event (see birth trauma) and that a discipline consisting of a combination of connected breathing techniques, relaxation and focused awareness can have therapeutic benefits.
Rebirthing (Wikipedia)

Disordered Breathing Rhythms

More than half of our patients with FMS or CFS develop a disordered pattern of breathing. They take very small rapid breaths using the small muscles of their chest instead of slow, deep breathing with the large muscles of the abdomen. These changes are subtle and most people who "hyperventilate" in this manner don't realize that their breathing pattern is out-of-sync.

Shallow chest breathing makes people feel tense.
Slow, deep abdominal breathing creates feelings of calmness.

Disordered breathing can also cause a broad array of frightening symptoms including mental fog, dizziness, irritability, chest pain, feeling numb and more. Worse symptoms then disrupts breathing further.
Dr. Podell's site

...Breath language is especially rich in communicating emotion. Strong emotions like crying, anger, fear, sorrow, and pleasure usually involve increased breathing, while repressing emotions means reducing breathing.

Breath language is a body language. The noises our breath makes such as puffing, panting, yawning, gasps, snorts, sighs, coughing, choking, and suffocating are all part of its vocabulary as is the length of the breath and the part of the body it takes place in. When we are relaxed, we breathe deeply and slowly into our belly. Stress moves our breath from our belly to our chest.

Our breath can be a language of illness. When we are ill, our breathing is affected; when our breathing is inadequate, our health is affected. Hyperventilation is an indication of stress and anxiety. Hesitation and mental conflict can trigger asthma attacks...
I-breathe.com

The stimulant substances involved are referred to as adaptogens.
Rhodiola Rosea (Wikipedia)

Ribose
(D-Ribose)
Beta-D-ribofuranose

Ribose is also sometimes part of the Mito cocktail.

As a component of the RNA that is used for genetic transcription, ribose is critical to living creatures. It is related to deoxyribose, which is a component of DNA.
It is also a component of ATP, NADH, and several other chemicals that are critical to metabolism.
Ribose (Wikipedia)

The natural dietary supplement D-ribose - a form of sugar essential to fuel cellular energy generation - "significantly reduced clinical symptoms in patients suffering from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"...

How do the researchers think D-ribose supplementation supports improved CFS and FM patient quality of life? Many scientists have come to believe that "inefficient" or "disordered" cellular metabolism may account for the symptoms of fatigue and muscle pain associated with CFS and FM.
Patients' muscles become "anaerobic" or depleted of oxygen faster than the muscles of normal healthy people.

And supplementation with the nutrient D-ribose may represent one avenue for supporting faster regeneration of ATP and healthier metabolism in oxygen-deprived muscle cells.
Immunesupport.com/ribose (12.Jun.2006)

Ribose is used to increase muscle function, recovery, athletic performance, boost muscle tissue energy, and enhance effectiveness of creatine, replenish ATP stores, and improve or maintain nucleotide salvage and/or synthesis in heart and sceletal muscles following high intensity exercise...
...Individuals who feel they are overly tired or are concerned about their energy stores typically take up to 3 grams twice per day or adjust to perceived benefit.
Naturaldatabase.com

...Ribose and Creatine are very synergistic (support each other) in their actions...
Bodybuilding.com/store/ribose.html

Salt
NaCl

(Hydropulse)

Salt is necessary for the survival of all living creatures, including humans. Salt is involved in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of the body. Salt flavor is one of the basic tastes. Salt cravings may be caused by trace mineral deficiencies as well as by a deficiency of sodium chloride itself.

Salt is required for life, but overconsumption can increase the risk of health problems, including high blood pressure, in those individuals who are genetically predisposed to hypertension. In food preparation, salt is used as a preservative and as a seasoning.
Edible Salt (Wikipedia)

Bacteria don't like salt, so eat it and gargle with it, and irrigate your sinuses with it.
ENT-consult.com

Salt-Vitamin C theory (Curezone.com)
Salt-n-C (Special CFSFMExperimental-group)
Lyme Strategies (Yahoo-group)
Borreliose-abhilfe (Yahoo-group über Salz und Vitamin C, RIFE, Frequenztherapie)

see also:
Gookinaid
Vitamin C

Selegilin ist ein Antidepressivum / MAO-Hemmer und bewirkt Verbesserung psychischer Variablen.
uni-züri/klipsy.ch

- Rasagilin gehört zur Gruppe der selektiven Monoaminooxidase-Hemmer (MAO-Hemmer) und ist ein MAO-B-Hemmstoff der „zweiten Generation“. Es hemmt die MAO-B fünf- bis zehnfach stärker als das bislang aus dieser Gruppe verfügbare Selegilin.
Rasagilin (Wikipedia.de)

Researchers studied the effect of Selegiline, a specific monoamine oxidase B receptor inhibitor, against a placebo in 25 CFS patients over a six-week trial period....
They found that the patients who took Selegiline reported significant improvement in tension/anxiety, vigor and sexual relations, and that the drug was not acting as an antidepressant.
PubMed.com (enter this number in the search field: 98259960 )

Mushroom, contains:
- Lentinan
- KS-2 (interferon-inducer)
- 10 % Polysaccharides

Extracts from shiitake mushrooms have also been researched for many other immunological benefits, ranging from anti-viral properties to possible treatments for severe allergies.

Lenthionine, a key flavor compound of shiitake, also inhibits platelet aggregation, so it is a promising treatment for thrombosis.
Shiitake (Wikipedia)

Contains:
- Eleutherocide

Attention: Must be standardized for eleutheroside content!
(According to Dr. Weil)

Siberian ginseng is a powerful tonic herb with an impressive range of health benefits. Unlike many herbs with a medicinal use, it is more useful for maintaining good health rather than treating ill health. Research has shown that it stimulates resistance to stress and so it is now widely used as a tonic in times of stress and pressure.
In an alarming situation, the adrenal glands release corticosteroids and adrenaline which prepare the organism for the fight or flight reaction. When these hormones are depleted, the organism reaches an exhaustive phase. Eleutherococcus delays the exhaustive phase and allows a more economical and efficient release of these hormones.
Siberian Ginseng (Wikipedia)

- Medon PJ. 1984
Effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus extracts on hexobarbital metabolism in vivo and in vitro.
- Davydov M. 2000
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Araliaceae) as an adaptogen: a closer look.
- Fulder SJ. 1981
Ginseng and the Hypothalamic-pituitary Control of Stress.
- Asano K, et al. 1986
Effect of Eleutherococcus senticosus Extract on Human Physical Working Capacity.

Spirulina is a high protein micro-algae. It's very similar in nutrients to chlorella & blue algae with even more protein, B12 and high amounts of phycocyanin.
Beyondacenturyonline.com

Spontaneous healing
(Spontaneous remission)

Some of the suggested medications and therapies on this database might even cure the physical causes, especially the tonics and adaptogens, which I added to this list after really being inspired by the excellent book Spontaneous Healing, by Dr. Andrew Weil

See Max Rivers' story on his spontaneous healing from ME-CFIDS-CFS

Therapie mit Staphylococcus toxoid führt zu einer Verbesserung von Variablen, welche die Lebensqualität betreffen. (Ebene III-3)
uni-züri/klipsy.ch

Clinical global impressions showed significant improvement in the vaccine-treated group, and VAS did so in both groups. In a follow-up study of 23 patients, the vaccine treatment was continued for 2-6 years. Fifty percent were rehabilitated successfully and resumed half-time or full-time work. The results of this study support the authors>> hypothesis that treatment with staphylococcus toxoid may be a fruitful strategy in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

Pubmed: Effects of staphylococcus toxoid vaccine on pain and fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome

In 1949, H.S. Lawrence discovered that a part of an individual's white blood cells was responsible for immune responses while he was studying tuberculosis.
Upon injecting an extract of leukocytes from one host to another, he observed that these molecules were able to replicate the immune response of the host to the recipient.
He dubbed these 'immune information' molecules transfer factors for their ability to "inform" other immune cells regarding their immune responses to harmful agents.

Transfer factors are found in colostrum of humans and other animals, most abundantly in cows.
They are made up of amino acids and are antigen-specific, meaning that specific types of transfer factors can be used to treat specific types of diseases.

...In an informal study, where extraneous factors were not held constant, patients who used transfer factor were free from pathogenic disease for the duration of the administration of transfer factor.
Patients reported spontaneous disappearance of flu and cold symptoms concomitant with oral administration of transfer factor containing products...
Transfer Factor (Wikipedia)

The immune system's job is to recognize potentially harmful invaders (pathogens) and then destroy or neutralize them. Transfer factors are tiny protein molecules which are produced by immune cells called T-cells. Transfer factors are the key to the immune system's memory of previous pathogen exposure, and thus, are an integral component for maintaining immune system integrity and effectiveness.

Transfer factors allow the immune system to remember conditions for which immunity has already been established. When a person has been infected with chickenpox in childhood, for example, the body develops a memory of that illness which prevents the person from becoming re-infected later in life. In the future, the specific immune transfer factor molecule for chickenpox will endow the immune system with the exact 'blueprint' of what chickenpox looks like, and the body will be able to quickly recognize and respond to any possible re-infection before it can cause disease.

Reportedly the only company that has the patented protected process for extracting transfer factor is 4LIfe Research.

Apparently many companies are actually using colostrum instead of transfer factor. (?)

Colostrum contains transfer factors but it is not pure concentrated transfer factor.
Colostum has all the other properties of the bovine milk in it, and may cause a reaction.

Transferfactor.ws : Several transfer products have recently been introduced, each with a different focus or specificity:

ImmuneTransfer C™ and ImmunFactor 2™. These products contain the widest range of antigen-specific transfer factors in one product. They are designed for enhanced activity for Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6B), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Chlamydia pneunmoniae, and Borrelia burgdorferi (cell-wall deficient Lyme), Babesia, and Erlichia. Both products utilize chicken derived transfer factors with added bovine colostrum.

Transfer Factor System 200™, Transfer Factor 6000™ and Formula 560™. These products contain enhanced activity for HHV-6, (both A and B variants), and CMV. Both products are supported by a patent on the process for obtaining transfer factor from colostrum. Transfer Factor 6000 is the same high quality patented formula (included in the Hemex™Lab protocol) as Formula 560, at a lower price.

Transfer Factor System 100™, Transfer Factor 4000™ and Formula 540™. These products contain enhanced activity for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and CMV. Both products are supported by a patent on the process for obtaining transfer factor from colostrums. Transfer Factor 4000 is the same high quality formula as Formula 540, at a lower price.

Transfer Factor Essentials™ (formerly Transfer Factor Basics™) This product is a non-antigen specific transfer factor (chicken derived) product designed for daily use to support any person's immune system. In addition to transfer factor, it incorporates pretty high levels of other immune supporting nutrients like beta glucan, IP-6, astragalus, TMG, bovine colostrum, and larch.

Transfer Factor XF and Transfer Factor Plus. For individuals seeking only to improve overall immunity without targeting specific viruses, these products contain only the general transfer factors found in the colostrum, and do not include transfer factors for any targeted pathogens such as HHV-6, EBV, CMV etc.

Therapie mit TF (transfer factor) führt zu einer Verbesserung physiologischer Messwerte (Ebene III-3).
uni-züri/klipsy.ch

Chisolm Labs
4Life Research, Utah (Products and independent study)
Immunesupport.com (Related abstracts, and TF-products)
Immunity Today (TF against HHV-6; variant A&B and EBV)

Dr. Podell's suggestion on Transfer Factor.
(Based on Dr. Joseph Brewer's double-blind tests)

Turmeric
(Tumeric)
Curcuma longa

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae.

In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is thought to have many healthful properties. It is taken in some Asian countries as a dietary supplement, which allegedly helps with stomach problems and other ailments. It is popular served as a tea in Okinawa, Japan. It is currently being investigated for possible benefits in Alzheimer's disease, cancer and liver disorders.

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, might inhibit the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients and also break up existing plaques. "Curcumin has been used for thousands of years as a safe anti-inflammatory in a variety of ailments as part of Indian traditional medicine..."
Turmeric (Wikipedia)

Curcuminoid extract from Tumeric is antioxidant (actually prevents formation of free radicals as well), antiviral, antiinflammatory, and anticarcinogenic.
Kilohealth.com/curcumin

"...It can have serious side-effects including anemia, so you have to monitor patients very carefully. But so far none of the CFS/ ME patients have reacted badly to it..."

“When Donna came to see us, her energy levels were around 10 per cent of what she considered normal,” Professor Montoya was quoted as saying. “Today, she is functioning at 90 per cent.”
A patient who could hardly walk all the way around the block is now bicycling for up to three hours each day.
Another patient who could not even leave the bed now comes to breakfast every day at 7:00 AM.
Immunesupport.com/valganciclovir

Vitamin A
(Retinol)
(Axerophthol)

Retinol, the dietary form of vitamin A, is a fat-soluble, antioxidant vitamin important in vision and bone growth.
It belongs to the family of chemical compounds known as retinoids.
Retinol is ingested in a precursor form; animal sources (milk and eggs) contain retinyl esters, whereas plants (carrots, spinach) contain pro-vitamin A carotenoids.

... Vitamin A is essential to provide intact epithelial tissues as a physical barrier to infection; it is also involved in maintaining healthy lymphocytes and T-cells.

...Vitamin A affects the production of human growth hormone.
Vitamin A (Wikipedia)

Although vitamin A does play a role in balancing Th1 and Th2 function, it does so by downregulating Th1 cell IFN-gamma
secretion directly, decreasing activated antigen presenting cell (APC) function, and promoting Th2 cell growth and/or differentiation. Therefore, although vitamin A is an important nutrient for immune function, cfs-patients should avoid excessively high doses.
(Wiedermann, Hanson et al. 1993)
(Cantorna, Nashold et al. 1994)
(Cantorna, Nashold et al. 1995)
(Watzl, Bub et al. 1999)
(Stephensen 2001)

B1 Thiamine
B2 Riboflavin
B3 Niacin (also Vitamin P or Vitamin PP)
B5 Pantothenic acid
B6 Pyridoxine and Pyridoxamine
B7 Biotin (also Vitamin H and Vitamin B-w )
B9 Folic acid (also Vitamin M and Vitamin B-c, important for pregnancies)
B12 Cyanocobalamin

- Bolster metabolism
- Maintain healthy skin and muscle tone
- Enhance immune and nervous system function
- Promote cell growth and division
- Together, they also help combat the symptoms and causes of stress, depression, and cardiovascular disease.

All B vitamins are water soluble, and are dispersed throughout the body and must be replenished daily with any excess excreted in the urine.

Vitamin B comes from a number of natural sources, including potatoes, bananas, cereal, lentils, liver, turkey, and tuna. Brewer's yeast is an especially good source of Vitamin B.
Vitamin B (Wikipedia)

One study showed the value of DHEA and
vitamin C infusion treatment in the control of cfs.

Salt-Vitamin C theory (Curezone.com)
Salt-n-C (Special CFSFMExperimental-group)
Lyme Strategies (Yahoo-group)
Borreliose-abhilfe (Diskussionsforum über Salz und Vitamin C, RIFE, Frequenztherapie)

Several studies show that vitamin D also regulates the growth of skin cells. Psoriasis gives shell-like skin as a result of uncontrolled cell growth. A vitamin D compound is used in the treatment of this disease.

The human body produces its own vitamin D in the skin. This process is dependent on ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. However, Vitamin D should not be excluded from the diet – this is especially important for people who do not receive sufficient sunlight.

Xylitol, gram for gram, is roughly as sweet as sucrose, but contains 40% less food energy.
Xylitol (Wikipedia)

Non-insulin producing sugar-alcohol looks and tastes like sucrose but a bit sweeter and “cooler” in the mouth.
Found in many fruits & vegetables, it is produced from birch wood or corn cobs.

Has anabolic, anticatabolic and immune stimulating effects, and fights fatigue from strenuous aerobic and anaerobic activities with its antioxidant and ATP increasing properties.

Studies show it inhibits bacteria that cause dental caries, plaque, mouth sores & ear infections by coating the bacteria so that they are less likely to adhere to cells.

Children taking 8g/day had 40% fewer ear infections. A 5% solution in saline is sold as a nasal spray. Use with green tea for a mouthwash you can drink. Builds stronger bones and tooth enamel.
With only 2.4 Calories per gram (40% fewer than sugar) and a glycemic index of 7, it maintains a steady low level of blood sugar and insulin.
Beyond-a-Century.com

Another article from
Immunesupport.com/4181 :
...A predominance of a Th2-type response is therefore consistent with pathologies, such as autoimmunity and atopy, which are based on inappropriate production of immunoglobulins.

Many of the cfs therapies discussed decrease the Th2-type predominance seen at baseline in cfs-patients, thereby allowing a greater predominance of a Th1-type response, which favors the function of macrophages
and natural killer cells.

The function of the latter cells, which have the natural ability of directly destroying invading microbes and cancer cells, is defective in untreated CFS patients.
Typical Th1-type cytokines include IL-2
and interferon-gamma, and some of the therapies induce their production.

SciClone Pharmaceuticals in San Mateo, California, Sciclone.com produces Zadaxin which is a subcutaneously administered, synthetic preparation of a natural peptide, thymosin alpha 1, which among other positive actions enhances the body's Th1 immune response to viral infections (current clinical studies target hepatitis C and hepatitis B) and to certain cancers (current clinical studies target malignant melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma).

Zadaxin promotes stem cell differentiation into helper T-cells and differentiation of those cells into the Th1 subset by increasing the production of cytokines such as IL-2 and gamma interferon and decreasing production of IL-4.
In addition, studies suggest that Zadaxin also increases the number and function of cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer cells.

...Thus, compounds which drive the immune response toward a Th1 profile could be highly effective in fighting chronic viral infection.

As the name "thymalfasin" suggests this drug is the peptide originally isolated from the thymus gland and tested on animals after the thymus gland was removed to reconstitute the immune system.

A healthy functioning thymus is essential to a healthy immune system. Alternative medicine and anti-aging physicians have been prescribing thymus extract for some time.
But this peptide is not readily absorbed through the gut, and there are some safely risks to the use of animal glandulars.

Zadaxin, is a synthetic peptide which exactly matches the human thymosin alpha 1 peptide. It is taken by injection and has none of the risks of an animal product.

... Zadaxin is indicated in infections that shift the immune system to Th 2 when a Th 1 response is needed. Patients with cfs, fibromyalgia, and gulf war illness seem to have an immune system shifted toward Th 2 immunity.
… Zadaxin should be useful in any disease where the immune system needs to be shifted toward Th 1 immunity.

...Some of these reasons include infections such as viruses and certain bacteria which are intracellular such as:

- Chlamydia,
- rickettsia ,
- mycoplasma,
- and post Q fever syndrome.

A combination protocol similar to the one being used in phase 3 trials for hepatitis C would include either antivirals or antibiotics in combination with two injections of Zadaxin per week for six months to a year.

This is not currently being tested, therefore a patient would need to assume responsibility for this treatment including the cost of purchasing Zadaxin in another country.