Do spontaneous temporary remissions provide clues about CFIDS?
A number of years ago I experienced a spontaneous remissions of virtually ALL of my CFIDS symptoms. I have had waxing and waning of symptoms before but this was quite different. I had taken a medicine to treat pinworms because of a family member with an infection (they treat the whole family for this). We were told to take a medicine called 'Vermox' two times, a week apart. The continual heavy fatigue, insomnia and other symptoms just vanished about 12 hours after the first dose. This lasted for a full 24 hours. I was incredulous, but did not realize that the Vermox was the cause until after the second dose a week later, when it happened again. I spoke with my doctor, an Internist, and he had no explanation. At this time I had no idea that co-infections would become a probable explanation for CFIDS, and my doctor did not know what to think. Eventually I forgot about this, because the drug is so toxic that it could not be used regularly or therapeutically. But just in the past few months I have heard other similar stories, and at first I did not connect all the dots. But now I think there are some clues here about at least one element of CFIDS, and possible infections with Helminth parasites...
Helminths are a class of parasite usually found in the third world. There are good Helminths and bad Helminths. Some can make humans very sick. Some are used to control insect populations. Several different people, including myself, have used substances that can alter or stop helminth activity resulting in partial, temporary, or even complete recovery from CFIDS.... Here are the details.
1. Hans (from Switzerland) posts to a CFS research list I monitor and participate in. Hans has CFIDS and went to Central America where he used Ayahuasca, a native narcotic drink used to stimulate visions and shamanistic healing journeys. Ayahuasca contains DMT, a hormone-like substance that is used in agricultural research to alter the metabolism of the Nematode, a Helminth. DMT is also a street drug in some places, a powerful narcotic. After taking the Ayahuasca healing drink, Hans experienced a significant 'spiritual journey' not unlike a psychedelic drug trip. Hans described this as a type of emotional purging, followed by a significant period of peace and serenity. Hans fully recovered from CFIDS for a few hours. He got his normal strength back, could think clearly, had all his faculties back, could pick up heavy rocks, etc., with no post-exhertional milase. He really did get well for several hours. Hans used the Ayahuasca three times with the same experience each time. Apparently DMT is also a natural human hormone released by the Pineal Gland in the brain. We don't understand much about its effects. Hans theorizes that we may be able to treat CFIDS with DMT, or something like that. What an incredible experience! Hans is trying to learn more about this, and so am I. I thought this was interesting, but then wondered about other possible effects of DMT. Here is what I have found so far. DMT is used in agriculture to change the activity levels of Nematode parasites, a member of the Helminth family! Here is a link to the use of DMT to alter Nematode metabolism... I believe that the DMT may have somehow altered the activity of a parasite load Hans is carrying. I can not prove this, but some other stories suggest to me that this is possible... Read on...
2. Kurt (me) has CFIDS and took Vermox (described above) which is another powerfulanti-parasitic for pinworm and probably other parasites (Nematodes?) and fully recovered from CFIDS for a few hours. I did this two times, a week a part, same experience both times. But Vermox is very toxic, not a long-term treatment option. Did the Vermox stop some unknown parasitic activity for a few hours, besides its killing of any pinworms?
3. Nil, another CFS experimental group member, has CFIDS and took Ketrax, another anti-parasitic with similar effects to Vermox, and 'felt human' again. She tried this also several times with the same effect. Unfortunately, like Vermox, Ketrax also is toxic and not a candidate for a long-term therapeutic agent.
4. Nancy has Lyme Disease (with CFS symptoms of course) and identified multiple Nematode parasites exiting her body when she took high doses of Salt. Here is her website, called LymePhotos which includes photos of some organisms that look like Helminths. Anyway, Nancy took salt in the theory that if Salt keeps Cows immune to Lyme (proven fact), then maybe it can help people. Nancy recovered fully from Lyme Disease after long-term use of salt. Dozens of people with Lyme are having positive effects from Nancy's protocol, and some are fully recovered, a Yahoo group is focused on this protocol (Lyme Strategies). Many of these people report similar experiences to Nancy's, including the exiting of nematode type parasites from the body during the salt therapy. Also, salt is a definite long-term treatment option, at biological doses. Although using high salt doses is controversial, most current sources agree that Nancy's dose is reasonable and tolerable by most people - humans with healthy kidneys can handle up to 30g of salt per day according to The Salt Institute.
5. Other people with CFIDS have taken Flagyl, another anti-parasitic, and had some remission, but then most have stopped because Flagyl has some 'issues' including neuropathy (Kurt also tried this but did not get nearly as much improvement as with the Vermox and had to stop with severe neuropathy). Several people on the online CFS research group have reported this.
These experiences suggest to me that CFIDS may involve a Helminth invasion. Maybe there area bad Helminths involved as co-infections in CFS/CFIDS and Lyme. OK, there are several possible alternate explanations here, one of which is that the immune system may be simply not functioning when loaded with anti-parasitics. Certainly that is a possible explanation for the Vermox, Flagyl, and Ketrax, but Nancy and others on Salt/C alternate between herx and improvement as they recover, and so clearly the immune is still alive and well for them. This leaves us with the real possibility that some, or maybe even many people with CFIDS and related illnesses have Nematode Helminths as a co-infection, or maybe even as a primary element.
But Helminths are not supposed to be a problem outside of Africa and third-world countries, right? Think again. Some species of Nematodes are considered 'harmless,' so they are used in agriculture to kill insects (huh?). They are sprayed right onto our crops.. See this scientific article on the incredible truth. We are definitely exposed to Helminths through our crops. If this is true, then we should have been told, and consumers should have been warned years ago to wash their vegetables with anti-parasitic washes (saline water or GSE work), and also to use parasite treatments occasionally (maybe a yearly cleanse), as is done in the third world. So for all you sleuths. what's goin' on here?
Do we have Nematodes that are making some of us sick? Maybe some of us do not have good natural defenses against these critters. OR maybe there is some other explanation. But something is in this data, these are strange 'coincidences.' I have wondered for years why I got well briefly from Vermox. Maybe finally the explanations surfacing. Maybe the problem has been Nematodes all along. And finally, what happens when a person has Nematode infestation? Well, for starters, Salt/C seems to help... and maybe there are other therapies that will help.
Helminths are a class of parasite usually found in the third world. There are good Helminths and bad Helminths. Some can make humans very sick. Some are used to control insect populations. Several different people, including myself, have used substances that can alter or stop helminth activity resulting in partial, temporary, or even complete recovery from CFIDS.... Here are the details.
1. Hans (from Switzerland) posts to a CFS research list I monitor and participate in. Hans has CFIDS and went to Central America where he used Ayahuasca, a native narcotic drink used to stimulate visions and shamanistic healing journeys. Ayahuasca contains DMT, a hormone-like substance that is used in agricultural research to alter the metabolism of the Nematode, a Helminth. DMT is also a street drug in some places, a powerful narcotic. After taking the Ayahuasca healing drink, Hans experienced a significant 'spiritual journey' not unlike a psychedelic drug trip. Hans described this as a type of emotional purging, followed by a significant period of peace and serenity. Hans fully recovered from CFIDS for a few hours. He got his normal strength back, could think clearly, had all his faculties back, could pick up heavy rocks, etc., with no post-exhertional milase. He really did get well for several hours. Hans used the Ayahuasca three times with the same experience each time. Apparently DMT is also a natural human hormone released by the Pineal Gland in the brain. We don't understand much about its effects. Hans theorizes that we may be able to treat CFIDS with DMT, or something like that. What an incredible experience! Hans is trying to learn more about this, and so am I. I thought this was interesting, but then wondered about other possible effects of DMT. Here is what I have found so far. DMT is used in agriculture to change the activity levels of Nematode parasites, a member of the Helminth family! Here is a link to the use of DMT to alter Nematode metabolism... I believe that the DMT may have somehow altered the activity of a parasite load Hans is carrying. I can not prove this, but some other stories suggest to me that this is possible... Read on...
2. Kurt (me) has CFIDS and took Vermox (described above) which is another powerfulanti-parasitic for pinworm and probably other parasites (Nematodes?) and fully recovered from CFIDS for a few hours. I did this two times, a week a part, same experience both times. But Vermox is very toxic, not a long-term treatment option. Did the Vermox stop some unknown parasitic activity for a few hours, besides its killing of any pinworms?
3. Nil, another CFS experimental group member, has CFIDS and took Ketrax, another anti-parasitic with similar effects to Vermox, and 'felt human' again. She tried this also several times with the same effect. Unfortunately, like Vermox, Ketrax also is toxic and not a candidate for a long-term therapeutic agent.
4. Nancy has Lyme Disease (with CFS symptoms of course) and identified multiple Nematode parasites exiting her body when she took high doses of Salt. Here is her website, called LymePhotos which includes photos of some organisms that look like Helminths. Anyway, Nancy took salt in the theory that if Salt keeps Cows immune to Lyme (proven fact), then maybe it can help people. Nancy recovered fully from Lyme Disease after long-term use of salt. Dozens of people with Lyme are having positive effects from Nancy's protocol, and some are fully recovered, a Yahoo group is focused on this protocol (Lyme Strategies). Many of these people report similar experiences to Nancy's, including the exiting of nematode type parasites from the body during the salt therapy. Also, salt is a definite long-term treatment option, at biological doses. Although using high salt doses is controversial, most current sources agree that Nancy's dose is reasonable and tolerable by most people - humans with healthy kidneys can handle up to 30g of salt per day according to The Salt Institute.
5. Other people with CFIDS have taken Flagyl, another anti-parasitic, and had some remission, but then most have stopped because Flagyl has some 'issues' including neuropathy (Kurt also tried this but did not get nearly as much improvement as with the Vermox and had to stop with severe neuropathy). Several people on the online CFS research group have reported this.
These experiences suggest to me that CFIDS may involve a Helminth invasion. Maybe there area bad Helminths involved as co-infections in CFS/CFIDS and Lyme. OK, there are several possible alternate explanations here, one of which is that the immune system may be simply not functioning when loaded with anti-parasitics. Certainly that is a possible explanation for the Vermox, Flagyl, and Ketrax, but Nancy and others on Salt/C alternate between herx and improvement as they recover, and so clearly the immune is still alive and well for them. This leaves us with the real possibility that some, or maybe even many people with CFIDS and related illnesses have Nematode Helminths as a co-infection, or maybe even as a primary element.
But Helminths are not supposed to be a problem outside of Africa and third-world countries, right? Think again. Some species of Nematodes are considered 'harmless,' so they are used in agriculture to kill insects (huh?). They are sprayed right onto our crops.. See this scientific article on the incredible truth. We are definitely exposed to Helminths through our crops. If this is true, then we should have been told, and consumers should have been warned years ago to wash their vegetables with anti-parasitic washes (saline water or GSE work), and also to use parasite treatments occasionally (maybe a yearly cleanse), as is done in the third world. So for all you sleuths. what's goin' on here?
Do we have Nematodes that are making some of us sick? Maybe some of us do not have good natural defenses against these critters. OR maybe there is some other explanation. But something is in this data, these are strange 'coincidences.' I have wondered for years why I got well briefly from Vermox. Maybe finally the explanations surfacing. Maybe the problem has been Nematodes all along. And finally, what happens when a person has Nematode infestation? Well, for starters, Salt/C seems to help... and maybe there are other therapies that will help.
posted by Kurt at 11:45 AM
7 Comments:
thanks for the post....i googled "ayahuasca cfs" and you popped up. the conclusion you draw between dmt and nematodes is a very interesting one. I also read your blog post on benzos. I am having a similar experience. I'm going to Peru for a while in feb '10 to see what happens to "my" symptomatic state. After that i'll be getting back on benicar and finishing out the marshall protocol. Ever heard of it?
kind regards,
Greg
Hi Greg,
Yes I know about the MP, also know it really works for some and not for others.
There is mounting evidence for the involvement of several viruses in CFS, including several Herpes species (HHV3, HHV4, HHV5, HHV6). I found one report of a Herpes Zoster (HHV3) flare-up after a woman took Vermox (the med that gave me a temp remission once). And Minocycline (from MP) has some antiviral properties. Who knows, maybe DMT also stops Herpes activity, among other things. There is a lot we do not know yet about CFS.
Peru sounds nice!
--Kurt
I've taken ayahuasca 12 times. Whilst in Peru I noticed parasites in my stools having taken ayahuasca. This should not be surprising as one of the uses of the brew is to expel gut-nasties (eg parasites and bacteria such as commonly occur in the Amazon) ayahuasca hugely bitter and acrid. Ayahuasca is not a cure all though for CFS, some people may benefit and some may not. An experienced shaman I spoke to said in his experience CFS was 'very difficult to treat' with ayahuasca.
I think much depends on the causes of CFS, some may be gut related eg parasites or candida, many are not.
Interestingly, some immune problems are being treated with parasitic worms - i.e. helminthic therapy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/may/23/parasitic-hookworm-jasper-lawrence-tim-adams
Hi Kurt,
Thank you for your informative blog.
As you mentioned there is a good chance that CFS is caused by infection with a variety of viruses. Yet the CDC will only allow doctors to test to rule out other diseases not for the causes of CFS/ME. See quote from CDC site below.
In clinical practice, no additional tests, including laboratory tests or neuroimaging studies, can be recommended for the specific purpose of diagnosing the chronic fatigue syndrome. Tests should be directed toward confirming or excluding other etiologic possibilities. Examples of specific tests that do not confirm or exclude the diagnosis of the chronic fatigue syndrome include serologic tests for Epstein-Barr virus, retroviruses, human herpesvirus 6, enteroviruses, and Candida albicans; tests of immunologic function, including cell population and function studies; and imaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging scans and radionuclide scans (such as single-photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography) of the head.
http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/general/case_definition/complete.html
Why do you suppose this is the case?
Hi Bev,
Wish I knew why the CDC does what they do. Anyway, I suspect they are limited and can not do much when there is not a scientifically accepted pathology or treatment. But clearly CFS patients have immune problems, multiple co-infections, and some very serious digestive, gut health, heart, liver and kidney function, and blood volume problems.
Personally I think the CDC should go back to the basics, the outbreaks of CFS have generally started with some type of contagion, a flu-like illness. Maybe there are multiple contagions involved in the people who acquire CFS, whatever, that is the place to start. They need to answer the question, what are those bugs and what did they do to this population, and why?
In our age of full genomic sequencing, PCR testing, and incredible diagnostic scanning abilities, CFS should not be hard to figure out, once adequate resources are applied to the problem.
DMT is now proven to be an inmunomodulator and act in different aspects of the cells in the central nervous system.
More info here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500993/
Thanks Star, fascinating article!
The presence of neurotransmitter receptors in immune cells makes sense if someone has a long-term gain from use of psychadelics like DMT. But not sure how a short-term improvement could be explained this way. But still, I think this is useful and maybe important information for ME/CFS/Lyme patients. I think we have a lot to learn from neuroimmunology.
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