3-D animation by Bryan Brandenburg. March 9, 2013
<a href=http://www.bryanmbrandenburg.com>Courtesy of Bryan Brandenburg </a>
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/virus-human.htm A virus is a tiny particle – about 1,000 times smaller than bacteria and must be viewed using an electron microscope. It consists of:
• Nucleic acid – set of genetic instructions, either DNA or RNA, either single-stranded or double-stranded (see How Cells Work for details on DNA and RNA)
• Coat of protein – surrounds the DNA or RNA to protect it
• Lipid membrane – surrounds the protein coat (found only in some viruses, including influenza; these types of viruses are called enveloped viruses as opposed to naked viruses)
Viruses are all over the place, just waiting for a host cell to survive and proliferate. They enter through our nose, mouth, or breaks in the skin. Once they’ve infiltrated, they take over the host cell and make copies of viral genetic instructions to make new viruses. Then they either break the cell open, destroying it or they pinch out and break away with a piece of the cell membrane surrounding them, but not destroying the host cell. Once freed, they attack other cells, and spread quickly.
When you catch a cold here’s what happens:
*An infected person sneezes near you.
*You inhale the virus particle, and it attaches to cells lining the sinuses in your nose.
*The virus attacks the cells lining the sinuses and rapidly reproduces new viruses.
*The host cells break, and new viruses spread into your bloodstream and lungs.
*Viruses in nasal fluid drips down your throat giving you a sore throat.
*Viruses in your bloodstream can attack muscle cells and give you muscle aches.
The immune system finally responds producing chemicals which cause you to have a fever. This fever helps by slowing down the rate of viral reproduction and continues until the viruses are eliminated; however, if you sneeze, you can spread it into the environment where they again lie in wait for another host. This is why it’s wisest to not use fever reducers unless absolutely needed. By using a fever reducer you are eliminating one of the most powerful interventions against viruses in your own body.
In viruses like herpes and HIV; however, they mix their genetic code into the host cell’s genetic instructions so when the host call reproduces, the new instructions get copied into the his cell’s offspring. These particular host cells can go through many rounds of reproduction and then some environmental or predetermined genetic signal will wake up the “sleeping” viral instructions that now take over the host’s machinery and make new viruses.
Some routes of viral transport:
*Carriers such as mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks
*The air
*Body fluids such as sailva, sweat, mucus, blood, semen, vaginal secretions
*Surfaces on which bodily fluids have dried
What helps?
Interestingly, viruses often change slightly, changing their genetic instructions and altering their protein coat, making vaccines ineffective. Vaccine proponents will say this is why they must continually make new vaccines. Those opposed to vaccines will say this is why they rarely work. Just like MSIDS (multi systemic infectious disease syndrome or Lyme with friends) there is a schism in the medical community over vaccines.
To read more on vaccines, please go here and be informed: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/a-word-on-vaccines/ and https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.wordpress.com/2015/07/15/vaccines-continued/ and https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.wordpress.com/2016/03/19/a-dozen-collapse-after-vaccine/
To combat viruses, we must look at the immune system and make ourselves tough targets. http://health-truth.com/our-program/health-articles/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/how-to-conquer-the-viral-bacterial-syndrome/
According to Michael Biamonte, C.C.D., the immune system uses nutrients from food to manufacture substances that attack and kill viruses. Viruses help bacteria by invading the cells in an area, and if the immune system is too weak, bacteria begin to swarm the damaged cells invaded by the virus. As the virus begins to die having gone through it life cycle, the bacteria then start a secondary infection. For an MSIDS (multi systemic infectious disease syndrome) patient, they might be fighting borrelia (Lyme), Babesia, Bartonella, and many more pathogens, on top of viruses. This makes their illness much more complex.
Biomonte says to avoid sugar as it reduces the number of white bloods cells which fight off infection. He states that garlic is the most effective food against all infections as well as Echinacea, Zinc, water-soluble vitamin A, protein (stimulates the adrenal and thyroid), and eggs (contain large quantities of lecithin).
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/light-virus.htm Interestingly, a study done at Arizona State and Johns Hopkins shows strong, quick blasts of purple light from a low power laser can kill viruses by vibrating and damaging their outer shells, but unlike other treatments doesn’t cause mutations leading to viral resistance. Blood UV radiation, similarly to the laser, also kills viruses by breaking down their cell walls.
Anti-virals:
Green Tea
Licorice (glycyrrhizin)
Pau D-Arco
Olive Leaf
Elderberry
Zinc
Garlic
Echinacea
St. John’s Wort
Coconut oil
Eucalyptus oil
Vitamin C
Blood UV
Ozone
Monolaurin
Always check with your health care professional before starting any supplement.
wellnessresources.com.http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/monolaurin_a_natural_immune_boosting_powerhouse/ Written by Byron J. Richards, Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist
“Monolaurin a 12-carbon long fatty acid, derived from coconut oil but prepared into a mono-ester of lauric acid, is another anti-viral with decades of research showing the germ-killing and disinfectant properties of this natural compound. Monolaurin is a component of breast milk, part of Mother Nature’s immune support that is passed from mother to child.
Research dating back 30 years first identified that the 12 carbon fatty acid2 of monolaurin was highly effective at combating gram positive bacteria and yeasts (like Candida albicans). The Candida killing ability of monolaurin3 has been established. The most research has been done on gram positive bacteria, as the compound can be used to reduce infections on poultry and help clean equipment involved in the production of food. And monolaurin is effective against many viruses. The nutrient has been in widespread use as an immune support dietary supplement for several decades.
Monolaurin has been found to incorporate itself into the cell membrane of gram positive bacteria and have the net effect of disturbing the integrity of its cell membrane, blocking replication and making it an easier enemy for your immune system to take care of.
In 1992 University of Minnesota researchers demonstrated an additional way that monolaurin helps, showing that it could reduce the toxicityof Staphylococcus gram positive bacteria. More recently, another gram positive bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, has been thrust into public attention by the threat of its use in bioterrorism. Like many bacteria, it’s severity of infection is based on how much toxin it can produce. In 2005 the University of Minnesota researchers this time demonstrated that monolaurin inhibited the genes that enabled anthrax to generate toxins. In 2006 research they showed the mechanism of reducing gram positive infection toxicity applied to many organisms, indicating that monolaurin is likely to help reduce the toxicity of any gram positive infection by making it less severe. This research also found that healthy cells were made stronger by monolaurin, also helping them combat the toxicity.
Monolaurin has demonstrated some ability to help regulate gram negative bacteria, one of which is the common intestinal inhabitant known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). If H. pylori starts getting out of balance and turns hostile, like a bad gang in the neighborhood, then a lot of stomach distress can follow. Researchers have shown that monolaurin has a direct and potent germ killing effect on H. pyloria, regardless of stomach pH. The H. pyloria germ killing ability of monolaurin has been confirmed by a second group of researchers. Exactly how monolaurin is able to kill these gram negative bacteria has not been identified.
Research has shown that monolaurin is not effective against most gram negative bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli, which have a different kind of outer cell membrane than gram positive bacteria. In contrast to this general finding, one study of bacteria cultured from the skin of children found that monolaurin inhibited the growth of gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
It has been generally observed that no gram positive bacteria are resistant to monolaurin. However, a recent study demonstrated that various super strains of gram positive Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) have developed partial (up to 70%) resistance to monolaurin. VRE is especially problematic to those with weak immunity. It is unknown if monolaurin is effective or not against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A detailed analysis in the VRE study showed that the mutated enterococcus bacteria had learned to tighten their cell walls, making it more difficult for monolaurin to get a toehold (the same problem antibiotics were having). Monolaurin has been shown to reduce the toxicity of gram positive infections, and has been shown to help Vancomycin work better against these super strains – meaning that monolaurin used along with appropriate medical care may produce a superior result.
Monolaurin and Viruses
Monolaurin is one of the most popular nutrients to assist in combating various viruses. It is believed to work by interacting with the lipids and phospholipids that form the envelope of the virus, causing it to weaken or disintegrate. Research suggests that monolaurin exerts some degree of immune support for the following viruses:
• Human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1, HIV+ *Measles virus *Herpes simplex virus-1 *Herpes simplex virus-2 *Herpes viridae (all) *Human lymphotropic viruses (type 1) *Vesicular stomatitis virus *Visna virus *Cytomegalovirus *Epstein-Barr virus *Influenza virus *Pneumonovirus *Sarcoma virus *Syncytial virus
One study showed that while monolaurin was effective against Cytomegalovirus it was not effective against rhinoviruses, the cause of the common cold. There are many anecdotal reports of monolaurin helping combat the flu.
Many of the types of viruses monolaurin helps are those that can be chronic low grade infections that deplete energy on a regular basis and flare up when you are stressed or down. If you have ever had a bad bug and never really got your energy back then monolaurin may help your immune system clean up the problem – even years later. Many find it useful for recurring mouth sores that are herpes-based problems.
The new discovery that many lipid coated viruses can live in your stored fat and disturb your metabolism, promoting obesity, opens the door for the use of monolaurin to assist weight management – though no specific studies have been done on this topic.
In summary, monolaurin is a nutritional fatty acid that is non toxic to humans and a friendly nutrient for human cell health. In contrast, it can be a knock out punch for gram positive bacteria and a number of difficult viral problems. It can also help to keep normal inhabitants of your digestive tract, such as H. Pylori and Candida albicans, in a better state of healthy balance.”
MSIDS sufferers need as many tools as possible in their toolbox as our bodies are in a war. Thankfully we have many aids at our disposal to assist our bodies along the way.
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 