IMMUNE SYSTEM DISORDER NUTRITIONAL THERAPY

A Five Point Empowerment Plan Based on the Clinical Research of Joan Priestley, M.D. Omni Medical Center 615 East 82nd Avenue, Ancorage, AK 99518; 907-344-7775

[The following information is for educational purposes only. Each person should consult their health professional for their personal medical issue(s) and information.]

This is a pretty fascinating article since it includes a LOT of INFO that we deal with here on our little HepC world. This therapy was written with AIDS patients in mind, but a good deal of it applies to us as well.

Point 1--Lifestyle Changes

No Recreational Drugs, e.g., cocaine, marijuana

No Alcohol

No Tobacco

Stress Reduction

Point 2A--Dietary Changes:

Add Fresh, Whole, Non-processed, High-protein Foods.

+ Vegetarian--salads, rice, grains, beans, legumes, washed fruits;

+ Proteins--chicken, fish, eggs, soy bean products;

No Beef, pork, lamb, "Nothing with four legs;"

No Dairy--Milk, cheese, ice cream;

No White Sugar.

Point 2B--Weight Management:

Far too many AIDS deaths are due to starvation/malnutrtion/weight loss as immune and digestive system effects occur. To prevent this weight replacement is indicated and highly successful.

Weight Replacement:

+ Eat more proteins: Amino acid solutions and protein powders can be very helpful. For example: "OPTI" protein powder or "Gainer's Fuel." Mix these 1:1 with soy milk;

+ Add Raw (Organic) Eggs to diet. Can be mixed with soy milk/protein powder drinks;

+ Carnitine (liquid)--burns better and directs amino acids to muscles (take 2 grams/day);

+ Chromium--normalizes sugar levels and builds muscle mass= (1,000mcg=3D1mg/day).

+ Testosterone (natural steroids, not necessarily by injection)--Avoid Megase (a steroid that holds water).

Point 3--Nutrient Replacement

Add Vitamin Supplements to Diet: Vitamin A, B, C, E, and Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Selenium, Iron and Essential Fatty Acids. Many of these may act as antioxidants and anti-cancer nurtients.

Nutrient Therapy (Begin when T-cells go below 200):

+ Vitamin C--Antiviral, antibacterial, anti-tumor. Take the "bowel tolerance dose," that is, as much as you can take WITHOUT getting diarrhea or indigestion. Use ascorbic acid, ascorbate NaMg, and ester C (which is more expensive if the former cannot be tolerated)

+ Zinc--By far the most powerful immune system nutrient (Take 100 mg/day; the citrate form of zinc is easier to absorb. Call the manufacturer to determine the actual zinc content. For example, zinc gluconate may only contain 10mg per tablet.)

+ Garlic--A 2,000 year old medical sulfur drug that kills yeast, parasites, and fungal infections.

+ Jaropak: Contains Vitamin E, minerals and acidophilus.

+ B Vitamins: Essential to prevent neurological problems (e.g., dementia).Take one shot per week. Oil/liquid is the best. Capsules are O.K. Tablets are least effective.

Miscellaneous Nutrient Therapy:

+ NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine): A superb antiviral. Blocks a virus at four stages in its lifecycle. 500mg capsules may be taken 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. Amino acids are best absorbed on an empty stomach. DO NOT TAKE WITH GARLIC.

+ Quercetin: "Nature's AZT"--A unique HIV (reverse transcriptase) blocking bioflavinoid. Take 1,000mg of quercetin/day. It is relatively inexpensive and has no side effects.

+ St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum): Licensed in Germany for depression, fatigue, and retrovirus blocking. Expensive in high doses. Take 10mg every other day.

+ Aloe Vera (product concentration varies considerably): Natural anti-HIV/antiviral. Aloe Magic (from Olympia Botanicals) and Tripeutic (both expensive.) Take 1 ounce 2x/day.

+ DNCB (Dinitro-chlorobenzene): Safe, simple, inexpensive and effective immune system stimulant. Good for HIV infection and immune dysfunction.

Once/week rub on a silver-dollar size area of the skin.

Additional Herbal Remedies for HIV Infection:

+ Isatis root tea;

+ Siberian ginseng;

+ Lentinan (extract of shiitake mushrooms).

+ Bitter Melon--reduces nerve damage (neuropathy), fevers, skin itchyness, fatigue. Use as an enema.

Point 4--Drugs for HIV Therapy (When T-cells are less than 200)

Bactrim: Prevents pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) with a double strength (low dose) tablet 3 times per week. (Dapsone or Pentamidine may also be used but are more expensive.) Side effects include fever and skin rashes.

Diflucan (Fluconazole): Take when T-cells are less than 100. This systemic antifungal treats candidiasis. 100mg for 7 days in a row as a "month pulse dose." Also protects against cryptoccal meningitis.

Note: Low T4-cell counts appears to be far less important than low T8-cell counts. Patients with minimal T4-cell counts have been observed to remain very healthy versus those with low T8-cells. Treatment should therefore be directed at increasing and maintaining optimal T8-cells which are special cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL). These mop up infected cells, tumor cells, fungus and parasites. When T8-cell counts are above 500 no opportunistic infections occur. AZT DEPLETES T8 CELLS OVER 2 YEARS. DNCB selectively increases T8 cells as does Japanese mushroom extracts.

In addition, B-cells (associated with antibody production, autoimmune disorders, and reduced T-cell activity) is increased by vaccines, glandulars, and thymus extracts. You want to avoid this. Thus, AVOID AZT and VACCINES.

Likewise, PROTEASE INHIBITORS the highly touted new miracle drug for HIV/AIDS patients that is observed to increase T-cell counts, also has numerous side effects. [PLEASE READ "PROTEASE (LIFE) INHIBITORS" in FTP File at http://www.tetrahedron.org ] Interestingly, manufacturers warn against using any drugs when this liver enzyme blocker is being used. Oddly, then, protease inhibitors are recommended in "cocktails" containing AZT, 3TC, ddI, and ddC. Not surprisingly, a recent warning issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged physicians to use caution in administering protease inhibitors as fifteen patients were recently observed to experience spontaneous hemorrhaging. Likewise, numerous other side effects have those taking the drug complaining and searching for answers.

Point 5--Intestinal Flora Replacement

Acidophilus

Strepbucalis

Salivarious

Point 6--Psychosocial and Emotional Healing and Balancing

(Focus on FactorsAssociated with Psychoneuroimmunology):

Anger

Guilt

Fear

Stress

Self-esteem

Self-sabotage

Spirituality

Will

Life Purpose

HepC BC