Dr. Jack and Dr. Pierre Kory discuss NEW SCIENCE on Ivermectin – prophylactic efficacy, effective across populations – Fact Checkers take NOTE – this is NEW science,NEW information that cannot be “Fact Checked” using OLD INFORMATION.
Dr. Kory, medical director at the Trauma & Life Support Center and a faculty member in the Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in the Department of Medicine at theUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, is President of FLCCC (Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance).
Similarly to HCQ, Ivermectin’s been used for nearly 40 years, has an incredible safety record and is on the WHO’s list of essential medicines: https://list.essentialmeds.org
Kory’s paper he began writing in April, took attempts with SIX journals to get published, that states COVID-19 is NOT a viral pneumonia. They are not finding cytopathic changes on autopsy in the vast majority of cases. COVID-19 is an organizing pneumonia, which is not infectious but a response or exposure to something causing inflammation/injury in the lungs. The primary treatment for organizing pneumonia is corticosteroids. Paper here: https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/bmjresp/7/1/e000724.full.pdf Important excerpt:
Given this likely high prevalence of OP, AFOP or both in early COVID-19, a concern is that the increasingly adopted RECOVERY trial protocol (6mg dexamethasone daily for up to 10 days) may be insufficient given that treatment of secondary OP often requires higher doses, prolonged duration of treatment, and a careful and monitored tapering.9 Thus, additional studies comparing corticosteroid type, dosing and duration should be conducted along with the use of other immunosuppressive agents.
Background and Aims:The most restrictive non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for controlling the spread of COVID-19 are mandatory stay-at-home and business closures. Given the consequences of these policies, it is important to assess their effects. We evaluate the effects on epidemic case growth of more restrictive NPIs (mrNPIs), above and beyond those of less restrictive NPIs (lrNPIs).
Methods:We first estimate COVID-19 case growth in relation to any NPI implementation in subnational regions of 10 countries:
England
France
Germany
Iran
Italy
Netherlands
Spain
South Korea
Sweden
US
Using first-difference models with fixed effects, we isolate the effects of mrNPIs by subtracting the combined effects of lrNPIs and epidemic dynamics from all NPIs. We use case growth in Sweden and South Korea, two countries that did not implement mandatory stay-at-home and business closures, as comparison countries for the other 8 countries (16 total comparisons).
Results: Implementing any NPIs was associated with significant reductions in case growth in 9 out of 10 study countries, including South Korea and Sweden that implemented only lrNPIs (Spain had a non-significant effect). After subtracting the epidemic and lrNPI effects, we find no clear, significant beneficial effect of mrNPIs on case growth in any country. In France, e.g., the effect of mrNPIs was +7% (95CI -5%-19%) when compared with Sweden, and +13% (-12%-38%) when compared with South Korea (positive means pro-contagion). The 95% confidence intervals excluded 30% declines in all 16 comparisons and 15% declines in 11/16 comparisons.
Conclusions:While small benefits cannot be excluded, we do not find significant benefits on case growth of more restrictive NPIs. Similar reductions in case growth may be achievable with less restrictive interventions.
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**Comment**
We can be very thankful Sweden and South Korea stood up to the concerted bullying or there would have been no control group to compare lockdowns to!
New York Supreme Court Judge Saves 80-Year-Old Patient from Death by Ordering Hospital to Give Life-Saving Ivermectin
Jan. 15, 2020
Judith Smentkiewicz. Her life was spared when her family intervened, and a NY Supreme Court judge ruled against the hospital trying to murder her. Image Source.
by Brian Shilhavy Editor, Health Impact News
The genocide against the elderly is in full swing right now in the U.S. and around the world.
As we have recently reported, assisted living centers who are now injecting their residents with the experimental Pfizer mRNA COVID injections are killing off many of them, particularly the oldest residents above the age of 80.
The biggest tragedy in these deaths, which reveals crimes against humanity and the medical system’s low regard for the lives of our elderly, is that these experimental injections are not even needed, as there are effective and safe treatments for COVID already available, where doctors are reporting a near 100% success rate in treating their patients with early treatment.
These are older drugs already approved by the FDA (none of the mRNA COVID injections are approved by the FDA yet) for other treatments.
Another older drug that is already approved by the FDA that many doctors have had such success in treating COVID patients, to the point where they testified before Congress and called it a “miracle drug” because it was so effective, is Ivermectin.
Dr. Pierre Kory M.D., a pulmonary and critical care specialist who is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at St. Luke’s Aurora Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pleaded with members of Congress to have the NIH, CDC, and FDA look at the “mountains” of data that he and his colleagues have gathered on the drug Ivermectin, which is already approved by the FDA as an anti-parasitic drug, and their success in treating COVID patients.
Family Fights the Medical Industrial Complex to Save Their Mother – NY Supreme Court Judge Rules in Their Favor
NY State Supreme Court Judge Henry J. Nowak
The Buffalo News is reporting a story out of New York State where family members of an 80-year-old woman, Judith Smentkiewicz, did their own research after their mother was diagnosed with COVID and put on a ventilator, where she was only given a 20% chance to live.
They read about Ivermectin and convinced one of the doctors in the ICU of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital to let her try it.
“We did a lot of our own research, we read about Ivermectin … The results sounded very promising, and we decided we had to try something different,” Michael Smentkiewicz said. “We pressured the doctor in the ICU to give it to her. He finally agreed.”
On Jan. 2, Smentkiewicz was given her first dose of Ivermectin, and according to court papers filed by her family, she made “a complete turnaround.”
“In less than 48 hours, my mother was taken off the ventilator, transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit, sitting up on her own and communicating,” Kulbacki said in a court affidavit.
However, she was soon transferred to a different section of the hospital away from the ICU, and the doctors there refused to allow her to continue taking Ivermectin.
But after her mother was transferred to another hospital wing away from the ICU, doctors in that unit refused to give her any more doses of the drug, and her condition quickly declined, the family said in court papers.
“We were astounded when they refused to give her any more doses,” Michael Smentkiewicz said. “That’s why I called Ralph Lorigo and we took the hospital to court.”
Amazingly, the hospital did not back down even when faced with a fight in court. They defended their right to deny this woman life-saving medication so they could effectively kill her!
Kaleida Health, which operates the hospital, opposed the family’s request in court. Lorigo said Kaleida attorney Michael J. Roach argued to Judge Nowak that doctors – and not the courts – should be making decisions about medical care.
What about the patient and family members?? I am sure Ms. Smentkiewicz was in favor of the treatment her children had found for her which got her off of the ventilator and out of the ICU.
But this is how the Medical Industrial Complex works. They don’t think anyone should dare to question their alleged “authority.”
Fortunately, the Judge wasn’t persuaded, and basically saved this woman’s life.
On Jan. 8, Nowak ordered the hospital to “immediately administer the drug Ivermectin” to Smentkiewicz, court papers show.
“But the judge also told us verbally that Judith’s family doctor would have to write a prescription for Ivermectin, which he did,” Lorigo said. “In 46 years as an attorney, I’ve never seen another case where a family had to get a court order to continue a treatment that had already been started by a hospital.”
“This lady was on a ventilator, literally on her deathbed, before she was given this drug,” Lorigo told The Buffalo News about Smentkiewicz, a Cheektowaga resident. “As far as we’re concerned, the judge’s order saved this woman’s life.” (Source.)
The key here for everyone to note when advocating for a loved one to receive treatment from these older drugs, is what the Judge allegedly told the family verbally: get a prescription from your family doctor.
Then it is 100% legal, and the hospital cannot do anything about it, at least not legally, because medical physicians are allowed to prescribe drugs for “off-label” use.
The doctors in the hospital that decided to withhold this drug from Ms. Smentkiewicz are not named. They should be arrested and charged with attempted murder.
The reporter for The Buffalo News, Dan Herbeck, interviewed another doctor who gave his “reasoning” for withholding this treatment:
Dr. Thomas A. Russo, one of the region’s leading experts on infectious diseases, said he was glad to hear that Smentkiewicz is doing better, but he said people should never jump to conclusions about Ivermectin or any other drug based on one patient’s outcome.
“There are some indications that this drug may have some merit in treating Covid-19 … Yes, it is possible that it helped this woman,” Russo said. “But the trials and testing are ongoing. We don’t have definitive data yet to show it does help. Presently, it is not recommended as a treatment for Covid-19.”
Russo is the chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He has no involvement in the Smentkiewicz case.
This is the “official position” of the medical bureaucrats, which is obviously crafted to protect the FDA who has given emergency use authorization (EUA) to new experimental drugs, including the new mRNA COVID injections, which has resulted in literally $TRILLIONS in federal funding being awarded to them to develop these new COVID drugs and vaccines. Older drugs already approved by the FDA with decades of proven safety, and whose patents have long since ran out, are a threat to this new market that COVID is creating.
They also summarily dismiss all of the clinical experience and data that Professor Dr. Pierre Kory from Milwaukee, along with his group the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) have discovered.
Thanks to Dr. Meryl Nass and her blog which tipped me off to this story. If her blog is not part of your newsfeed, it should be!
If your doctor is afraid to prescribe Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine due to political pressure, Dr. Meryl Nass has a list of resources where you can find someone who can: How you can receive early effective treatment for Covid
The only difference is we don’t have a judge ordering doctors to treat us appropriately.
We have to hunt, peck, scratch up our pennies, and travel sometimes great distances to find a doctor with enough cojones to treat us properly as state medical boards come after them. There are many states were there isn’t ONE Lyme literate doctor. People in other countries have it even worse. For more: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/11/25/what-makes-a-doctor-lyme-literate/
For an excellent article on how there are no completed clinical trials on this experimental medical device, and should you get vaccinated, you are actually a test subject in a drug trial:https://theduran.com/what-vaccine-trials/
Stop calling it a vaccine, because it isn’t. Please see:
Isn’t it interesting that these ‘authorities’ have no trouble at all administering an experimental medical device with ZERO completed medical trials that has NEVER been used before and is causing serious adverse reactions and even death, but refuse to treat a dying woman who is requesting an ancient drug with an excellent safety record, a plethora of clinical data, and which already worked for her?
Ozone Therapy is a unique and integrative treatment that is used to increase the amount of oxygen in the body through the introduction of ozone. Ozone Therapy can provide many powerful and healing benefits with little or no side effects. Ozone suppresses infections by killing viruses, bacteria, and yeast, especially those hard-to-treat, resistant pathogens that can be found in chronic conditions, such as Lyme disease. Ozone therapy is also helpful in preventative healthcare. In preventative care, ozone may help strengthen the body’s natural defenses. Lastly, it improves circulation by enhancing the flow of blood.
Below are some of the benefits that can be obtained through Ozone therapy treatment:
Effective treatment of resistant pathogens found in chronic conditions
Improvement of circulation by enhancing blood flow
Stimulation of mitochondria to give your cells’ “powerhouse” energy
Improvement of immune function as Ozone IV therapy is a potent immune booster
Increasing antioxidant protection and capabilities by stimulating enzyme system
Decreasing the immune “overtime” response in autoimmune disease
Detoxification by neutralizing toxins processed in liver and kidneys
Who Can Benefit?
IV Ozone therapy is a very effective treatment modality yet should not be thought of as a magic bullet. The treatment can be an indispensable addition to any protocol’s success and is most effective when it is used as part of an integrative treatment plan. The number of treatments needed for therapeutic results are unique to each individual and should be discussed with your practitioner. Individuals experiencing success using Ozone IV therapy treatments:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Chronic hepatitis
Herpes
Chemical sensitivities
Macular Degeneration
Chronic bladder conditions Colitis
Crohn’s disease
Ozone therapy has been studied and used in treating patients for centuries. It is extremely safe when performed properly and under the proper care. Talk with your doctor regarding this treatment to see if it is a good fit for you.
Holtorf Medical GroupThe Holtorf Medical Group specializes in optimizing quality of life and being medical detectives to uncover the underlying cause of symptoms, rather than just prescribing medications to cover-up the symptoms. We are experts in natural, prescription bioidentical hormone replacement and optimization, complex endocrine dysfunction, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme disease. We’ve dedicated our practice to providing you the best in evidenced-based, integrative medicine that’s not only safe and effective, but provides measurable results.
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**Comment**
Ozone is a powerful oxidant and something you should learn about and consider, either as a primary treatment or an adjunctive therapy.
That said, in my experience it has NOT proven to be curative for Lyme/MSIDS. While people have improved, they need “tune-ups” or further treatments.
Both my husband and I used blood IV ozone for 2.5 months done weekly under UV light. I must say neither of us noticed anything. We were probably at our sickest and desperate to get help. That’s not to say it wouldn’t make a noticeable difference in someone else OR that it did something positive in us we didn’t feel.
Like any other treatment, one must consider cost – both in time and in money. Blood ozone requires you to use a practitioner which means travel to and fro and time for treatment. It is also recommended to be done weekly or even biweekly. Costs vary, but are approximately $150-$200 per treatment. Another variable is the machine being used as well as the dosage (type of ozone and amount). Ozonating a single pint of blood is called “Single pass” vs 10 pints of blood being called “10-pass” or even the “dialysis” type of ozone which makes a complete circuit and allowing blood to ozonated for an hour (strongest form). We used the single-pass. After talking with others, I believe the “dialysis” type to be the most effective for Lyme/MSIDS, but obviously costs more ($900-$1,000 per treatment) and takes longer.
While health authorities and mainstream media have ignored, if not outright opposed, the use of vitamin C and other supplements in the treatment of COVID-19, citing lack of clinical evidence, a landmark review recommends the use of vitamin C as an adjunctive therapy for respiratory infections, sepsis and COVID-19
According to the authors, “Vitamin C’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects make it a potential therapeutic candidate, both for the prevention and amelioration of COVID-19 infection, and as an adjunctive therapy in the critical care of COVID-19”
Oral vitamin C at doses of 2 to 8 grams a day have been shown to reduce the incidence and duration of respiratory infections
Intravenous vitamin C at 6 to 24 grams a day has been shown to reduce mortality, ICU admission rates, hospital stays and time on mechanical ventilation in patients with severe respiratory infections
An international vitamin C campaign has been launched in response to the landmark review
Regardless of what the mainstream media want you to think, many are starting to realize the truth, which is that both vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin D have an enormous amount of research showing they provide important immune function enhancements, and that your immune function is your frontline defense against all illness, including COVID-19.
As reported in the paper “Optimal Nutritional Status for a Well-Functioning Immune System Is an Important Factor to Protect Against Viral Infections,” published April 23, 2020:1
“The role nutrition plays in supporting the immune system is well-established. A wealth of mechanistic and clinical data show that vitamins, including vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate; trace elements, including zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, and copper; and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid play important and complementary roles in supporting the immune system.
Inadequate intake and status of these nutrients are widespread, leading to a decrease in resistance to infections and as a consequence an increase in disease burden.”
High-Dose Vitamin C Acts as an Antiviral Drug
As explained in the video above by Dr. Andrew Saul, editor-in-chief of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, at extremely high doses, vitamin C actually acts as an antiviral drug, effectively inactivating viruses.
His Tokyo presentation, “Orthomolecular Medicine and Coronavirus Disease: Historical Basis for Nutritional Treatment,” highlights the fact that when used as a treatment, high doses of vitamin C — often 1,000 times more than the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) — are needed.
It’s a cornerstone of medical science that dose affects treatment outcome, but this premise isn’t accepted when it comes to vitamin therapy the way it is with drug therapy. Most vitamin C research has used inadequate, low doses, which don’t lead to clinical results.
“The medical literature has ignored over 80 years of laboratory and clinical studies on high-dose ascorbate therapy,” Saul notes, adding that while it’s widely accepted that vitamin C is beneficial in fighting illness, controversy exists over to what extent. “Moderate quantities provide effective prevention,” he says, while “large quantities are therapeutic.”
Landmark Paper Puts Vitamin C on the COVID-19 Treatment Map
While health authorities and mainstream media have ignored, if not outright opposed, the use of vitamin C and other supplements in the treatment of COVID-19, citing lack of clinical evidence, we now have a landmark review2 recommending the use of vitamin C as an adjunctive therapy for respiratory infections, sepsis and COVID-19.
The review,3 published December 7, 2020, in the journal Nutrients, was co-written by Dr. Paul Marik who, in 2017, developed a groundbreaking vitamin C-based treatment for sepsis. Marik is now heading up the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance,4 which has developed a highly successful treatment for COVID-19.
The COVID-19 protocol was initially dubbedMATH+ (an acronym based on the key components of the treatment), but after several tweaks and updates, the prophylaxis and early outpatient treatment protocol is now known as I-MASK+5 while the hospital treatment has been renamed I-MATH+,6 due to the addition of the drug Ivermectin. Vitamin C remains a central component of this treatment, though.
(The two protocols7,8 are available for download on the FLCCC Alliance website in multiple languages. The clinical and scientific rationale for the I-MATH+ hospital protocol has also been peer-reviewed and was published in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine9 in mid-December 2020.) As explained in the Nutrients review abstract:10
“There are limited proven therapies for COVID-19. Vitamin C’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects make it a potential therapeutic candidate, both for the prevention and amelioration of COVID-19 infection, and as an adjunctive therapy in the critical care of COVID-19.
This literature review focuses on vitamin C deficiency in respiratory infections, including COVID-19, and the mechanisms of action in infectious disease, including support of the stress response, its role in preventing and treating colds and pneumonia, and its role in treating sepsis and COVID-19.
The evidence to date indicates that oral vitamin C (2-8 g/day) may reduce the incidence and duration of respiratory infections and intravenous vitamin C (6-24 g/day) has been shown to reduce mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays, and time on mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory infections …
Given the favorable safety profile and low cost of vitamin C, and the frequency of vitamin C deficiency in respiratory infections, it may be worthwhile testing patients’ vitamin C status and treating them accordingly with intravenous administration within ICUs and oral administration in hospitalized persons with COVID-19.”
International Vitamin C Campaign Launched
In a December 16, 2020, action alert,11 Rob Verkerk, Ph.D., founder and scientific director of the Alliance for Natural Health, announced the launch of an international vitamin C campaign12 in response to the landmark review, which “puts all the arguments and science in one, neat place.”
As noted by Verkerk, there are several reasons to take supplemental vitamin C. First, your body cannot make it. Second, most people do not get sufficient amounts from their diet and, third, your body’s requirement for vitamin C can increase 10-fold whenever your immune system is challenged by an infection, disease or physical trauma.
In fact, the Nutrients review13 points out that it’s common for hospitalized patients to have overt vitamin C deficiency, defined as a blood level at or below 11 µmol/L. This is particularly true for older patients and those hospitalized for respiratory infections.
According to the authors, “Vitamin C concentrations are three to 10 times higher in the adrenal glands than in any other organ. It is released from the adrenal cortex under conditions of physiological stress (ACTH stimulation), including viral exposure, raising plasma levels fivefold.” In his action alert, Verkerk notes:14
“Taking vitamin C as a preventative and then, upping your intake if you’re infected, is a no brainer.So is using vitamin C intravenously for those with acute respiratory infections, or sepsis, in critical care.
So much so, that we argue — given the now available evidence — that doctors and other health professionals who avoid recommendations on vitamin C in relation to COVID disease prevention and treatment, should be considered medically negligent …
There is ample evidence to show that supplements like zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D can help prevent and treat COVID-19, but we’re prevented from learning about these benefits by the federal government.
Because supplements are not, and can never become, FDA-approved, they cannot claim to have an impact on disease, even when we know they can. This nonsense has to stop.”
How Vitamin C Works
As mentioned, the Nutrients review15 details vitamin C’s mechanisms of action and how it helps in cases of infectious disease, including the common cold, pneumonia, sepsis and COVID-19. For starters, vitamin C has the following basic properties:
Anti-inflammatory
Immunomodulatory
Antioxidant
Antithrombotic
Antiviral
Beneficial antiviral effects apply to both the innate and adaptive immune systems. When you have an infection, vitamin C improves your immune function in part by promoting the development and maturation of T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that is an essential part of your immune system.
Phagocytes, immune cells that kill pathogenic microbes, are also able to take in oxidized vitamin C and regenerate it to ascorbic acid. With regard to COVID-19 specifically, vitamin C:16
Helps downregulate inflammatory cytokines, thereby reducing the risk of a cytokine storm. It also reduces inflammation through the activation of NF-κB and by increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione. Epigenetically, vitamin C regulates genes involved in the upregulation of antioxidant proteins and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines
Protects your endothelium from oxidant injury
Helps repair damaged tissues
Upregulates expression of Type-1 interferons, your primary antiviral defense mechanism, which SARS-CoV-2 downregulates
Eliminates ACE2 upregulation induced by IL-7. This is particularly noteworthy, as the ACE2 receptor is the entry point for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus’ spike protein binds to ACE2)
Appears to be a powerful inhibitor of Mpro, a key protease (enzyme) in SARS-CoV-2 that activates viral nonstructural proteins
Regulates neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis), a maladaptive response that results in tissue damage and organ failure
Enhances lung epithelial barrier function in an animal model of sepsis by promoting epigenetic and transcriptional expression of protein-channels at the alveolar capillary membrane that regulate alveolar fluid clearance
Mediates the adrenocortical stress response, particularly in sepsis
The graph below, from the Nutrients review, illustrates the key ways in which vitamin C ameliorates the pathology seen in COVID-19.
Nebulized Peroxide May Be Even Better
The beautiful graphic above makes it really clear that one of the primary ways that vitamin C works is through the generation of reactive oxygen species. Guess what the primary one is? If you guessed hydrogen peroxide give yourself a high five!
It is highly likely that the peroxide forms a very powerful signaling function that stimulates the immune system to defeat whatever viral threat it is exposed to. This is one of the reasons why nebulized peroxide is my absolute favorite intervention for acute viral illnesses. It is highly effective, inexpensive and has no side effects when used at the very low doses recommended (0.1%, which is 30 times less concentrated than regular drugstore 3% peroxide).
My video below discusses the details of how you can use this therapy. The key is to have your nebulizer already purchased and ready to go so that it is locked and loaded and you don’t have to go out and purchase anything if you or a loved one gets sick. You can still use vitamin C with the peroxide, as they likely have a powerful synergy and use different complimentary mechanisms.
Since you are not using full strength 3% peroxide and diluting it by 30 to 50 times, it is unlikely the stabilizers will present a problem, but to be safe, it is best to use FOOD-GRADE peroxide. Also, do not dilute it with plain water as the lack of electrolytes in the water can damage your lungs if you nebulize it. Instead, use saline or add a small amount of salt to the water to eliminate this risk.
Clinical Evidence
The Nutrients review17 also includes clinical evidence for the role of vitamin C in COVID-19, noting that early oral supplementation might help prevent a mild case from developing into something more serious. In patients with critical symptoms, intravenous administration of vitamin C has been shown to speed up recovery, reducing both ICU stays and mortality.
Interestingly, vitamin C deficiency and COVID-19 share many of the same risk factors, including male gender, darker skin, older age and comorbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure and COPD. All of these subgroups are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 and, according to the authors, all “have also been shown to have lower serum vitamin C levels.”
Commenting on the clinical evidence supporting the use of vitamin C in the treatment of COVID-19, the authors write:18
“There are currently 45 trials registered on Clinicaltrials.gov investigating vitamin C with or without other treatments for COVID-19. In the first RCT to test the value of vitamin C in critically ill COVID-19 patients, 54 ventilated patients in Wuhan, China, were treated with a placebo (sterile water) or intravenous vitamin C at a dose of 24 g/day for 7 days …
The more severely ill patients with SOFA [sequential organ failure assessment] scores ≥ 3 in the vitamin C group exhibited a reduction in 28-day mortality: 18% versus 50% in univariate survival analysis (Figure 2). No study-related adverse events were reported.”
Figure 2 below, from version 1 of the study,19 “High-Dose Vitamin C Infusion for the Treatment of Critically Ill COVID-19,” posted on the preprint server Research Square August 10, 2020 (updated September 23, at which point it was renamed20), shows the 28-day mortality rates between critically ill COVID-19 patients given high-dose IV vitamin C (HDIVC) compared to those given a placebo.
The Nutrient review also summarizes findings from other COVID-19 trials using vitamin C, as well as a few case reports:21
“In the UK, the Chelsea and Westminster hospital ICU, where adult ICU patients were administered 1 g of intravenous vitamin C every 12 h together with anticoagulants, has reported 29% mortality, compared to the average 41% reported by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) for all UK ICUs …
The Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Expert Group (FLCCC), a group of emergency medicine experts, have reported that, with the combined use of 6 g/day intravenous vitamin C (1.5 g every 6 h), plus steroids and anticoagulants, mortality was 5% in two ICUs in the US (United Memorial Hospital in Houston, Texas, and Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia), the lowest mortality rates in their respective counties.
A case report of 17 COVID-19 patients who were given 1 g of intravenous vitamin C every 8 h for 3 days reported a mortality rate of 12% with 18% rates of intubation and mechanical ventilation and a significant decrease in inflammatory markers, including ferritin and D-dimer, and a trend towards decreasing FiO2 requirements.
Another case of unexpected recovery following high-dose intravenous vitamin C has also been reported. While these case reports are subject to confounding and are not prima facie evidence of effects, they do illustrate the feasibility of using vitamin C for COVID-19 with no adverse effects reported.”
How Much Vitamin C Do You Need?
As detailed in the introduction of the Nutrients review,22 primates and humans are dependent on an adequate supply of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables. Gorillas need 4.5 grams a day, while smaller primates weighing around 7.5 kilos need about 600 mg per day. This gives us a clue as to what the human requirement might be, and it’s quite a bit higher than the daily recommended intake. According to the authors:23
“The EU Average Requirement of 90 mg/day for men and 80 mg/day for women is to maintain a normal plasma level of 50 µmol/L, which is the mean plasma level in UK adults. This is sufficient to prevent scurvy but may be inadequate when a person is under viral exposure and physiological stress.
An expert panel in cooperation with the Swiss Society of Nutrition recommended that everyone supplement with 200 mg ‘to fill the nutrient gap for the general population and especially for the adults age 65 and older. This supplement is targeted to strengthen the immune system.’ The Linus Pauling Institute recommends 400 mg for older adults (>50 years old).
Pharmacokinetic studies in healthy volunteers support a 200-mg daily dose to produce a plasma level of circa 70 to 90 µmol/L. Complete plasma saturation occurs between 1 g daily and 3 g every four hours, being the highest tolerated oral dose, giving a predicted peak plasma concentration of circa 220 µmol/L.
The same dose given intravenously raises plasma vitamin C levels approximately tenfold. Higher intakes of vitamin C are likely to be needed during viral infections with 2–3 g/day required to maintain normal plasma levels between 60 and 80 µmol/L. Whether higher plasma levels have additional benefit is yet to be determined, but would be consistent with the results of the clinical trials discussed in this review.”
While high-dose vitamin C regimens typically call for intravenous administration, if treating a viral infection at home (be it COVID-19 or something else), you could use oral liposomal vitamin C, as this allows you to take far higher doses without causing loose stools.
You can take up to 100 grams of liposomal vitamin C without problems and get really high blood levels, equivalent to or higher than intravenous vitamin C. I view that as an acute treatment, however. I discourage people from taking mega doses of vitamin C on a regular basis if they’re not actually sick, because it is essentially a drug — or at least it works like one.
Saul, who has worked with and recommended vitamin C for most of his professional life suggests taking “enough vitamin C to be symptom-free,” whatever dosage that might be. When you’re well, you typically don’t need more than the 200 mg to 400 mg recommended in the quote above.
This science won’t matter to our public health ‘authorities’ any more than the Danish Mask study showing masks don’t work. Both defy their narrative so they are shouted down or flatly ignored. So much for “following the science.” The Lyme/MSIDS world has lived in this “twilight zone” for over 40 years.
The information on Lyme disease presented on this web site has been reviewed and approved by one or more members of our Medical Leadership Board.
There is growing evidence that certain types of tick bites can trigger alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) a life-threatening allergy to red meat and meat-related products.
In some individuals, it appears tick bites can result in the sensitization to a carbohydrate known as galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, or “alpha-gal” for short. This sugar molecule is found in most mammals you might be likely to eat, but not in fish or fowl.
Most recognized food allergies, such as to peanuts or shellfish, will prompt an immediate reaction after being consumed. That’s not the case with AGS, however, which can take up to eight hours (or even more) after exposure to produce a reaction.
Note: exposure to alpha-gal via inhalation, injected drugs or vaccines can cause an immediate reaction.
Examples of commonly consumed mammalian meats that contain alpha-gal include beef, pork, lamb, goat, venison and buffalo. Common foods that are derived from mammals include lard, milk, cream, ice cream, and cheese—although the majority of AGS patients do tolerate dairy products.
Personal products that use ingredients containing “hydrolyzed protein” (gelatin), lanolin, glycerin, collagen, or tallow are particularly problematic.
Additional products that can bring on an alpha-gal reaction are jello, gelatin capsules, certain medications, pig or cow heart valves, surgical mesh, certain vaccines and unlabeled “natural flavorings” in foods.
Some people with AGS also react to carrageenan, a common food additive made from red algae, which also contains alpha-gal. (So even being strictly vegan won’t necessarily protect you from AGS reactions.)
How are ticks involved in alpha-gal syndrome?
Alpha-gal meat allergy has been reported all over the world including Asia, Australia, Central America, Europe, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
In the U.S., the tick species most often associated with AGS is the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) found throughout the South, East and parts of the Midwest. Recent research suggests that the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus) may also be implicated in alpha-gal syndrome.
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis), the primary trigger of AGS in Asia, has shown up in the US recently, but has yet to be implicated in AGS here. The Cayenne tick (Amblyomma cajennese) found in southern Texas and Florida has also been linked to AGS in Central America, but not yet in the U.S.
While no known pathogen has been linked to triggering AGS, more research is needed to understand the mechanism and the role that ticks play. Currently the thought is that the tick saliva plays a role in activating the allergy to alpha-gal.
Who’s at risk for AGS?
Alpha-gal syndrome is a much more common allergy in the U.S. today than it was a decade ago, with the number of laboratory-confirmed cases growing from 12 in 2009 to over 34,000 in 2019. Unfortunately, AGS has no insurance billing code (ICD code), nor is it a reportable illness to the CDC.
Experts agree alpha-gal syndrome is under-reported in geographic areas where tick bites are common.
Surveillance for IgE to alpha-gal. Percent positive rates are presented for IgE to alpha-gal within each of six regions in the United States, 2012-2013 (7300 samples). Diagonal white lines on the map represent the known geographic distribution of the lone star tick (Data and map, Viracor-IBT Laboratories; Tick Distribution, CDC).
For now, the biggest risk factor for AGS appears to be repeated bites by ticks that contain alpha-gal in their saliva and salivary glands. It is not understood why, but not everyone who is bitten by a tick containing alpha-gal will develop AGS.
While both children and adults can acquire AGS, most cases have been reported in adults.
Certainly, if a patient with recent tick exposure presents with sudden onset anaphylaxis and recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms, AGS should be considered.
Alpha-gal syndrome is a much more common allergy in the U.S. today than it was a decade ago, with the number of laboratory-confirmed cases growing from 12 in 2009 to over 34,000 in 2019.
What are the symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome?
The symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome are often delayed, making it much harder to pinpoint the trigger. Someone may wake up at 3 o’clock in the morning in the throes of serious allergic reaction, and have no idea it was brought on by a hamburger they ate the night before.
Symptoms can range from itching and stomach upset to breathing difficulty and full anaphylaxis. AGS reactions often start with itching of the palms of hands and soles of feet.
Common symptoms of AGS include:
90% have skin symptoms: itching “pruritus,” flushing “erythema,” hives “urticaria” (swollen, pale red bumps or “wheals” on the skin), angioedema (swelling in deep layers below the skin)
60% develop anaphylaxis (a potentially deadly reaction that can restrict breathing)
30-40% experience respiratory symptoms (wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath)
20% of patients will have GI symptoms alone (may present like irritable bowel syndrome)
3-5% develop mast cell activation syndrome
arthritis (rare)
mouth swelling, sores (rare)
How is AGS diagnosed?
If you experience symptoms after eating mammalian meat products, immediately notify your primary care physician or allergist. Unlike most tick-borne pathogens, the onset of AGS usually takes at least 4-6 weeks from the time of the tick bite. Complicating things further, about a third of patients do not recall a tick bite.
Your doctor should be able to determine if you have AGS based upon your clinical symptoms and a positive blood test: immunoglobulin E (IgE) to the oligosaccharide glactose-alpha-1,3 galactose (alpha-gal.)
In the U.S., Viracor is the main laboratory for AGS testing. The Viracor “specific IgE galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose” test can be taken at most commercial laboratories like Labcorp and Quest and shipped to Viracor.
Warning: The test for alpha-gal is often mistaken for “alpha-galactosidase” or “a-galactosidase A deficiency”—note these are the wrong tests! Because the test is so new, it is recommended to take the proper testing codes with you to the doctor and the laboratory. Click here to download and print a PDF on the proper testing codes for alpha-gal syndrome.
How is Alpha-gal syndrome treated?
There are currently no U.S. FDA-approved medications for the treatment of AGS. As with most allergies, the mainstay of management is avoidance of the allergen. Therefore, the best practice is to avoid exposure to:
Mammalian meats
Personal products containing mammalian derivatives
Medical products containing mammalian proteins, derivatives or parts
Medications containing mammalian proteins or derivatives
Knowing you must avoid mammalian products is only half the battle, as these products have worked their way into nearly every level of our modern life.
For instance, gelatin is the main ingredient of jellybeans, candy corn, marshmallows, puddings and the capsules of many medications. Chicken and turkey sausages may be stuffed in pork casings, lard (rendered pork fat) is found in many pre-made gravies, sauces, soups, candies, chips, fries, and more.
As with all serious allergies, it is important to have the proper diagnosis and be prepared with how to respond in the event of an emergency. Most allergists will recommend wearing a medical alert bracelet and carrying an EpiPen and an antihistamine with you at all times.
Avoiding alpha-gal hidden components
Mammalian proteins and parts can be found in many medications and medical products. . Because the source of many ingredients is not listed on product labels, your pharmacist may need to contact the manufacturer. Have your pharmacist ask specifically if it contains galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, alpha-gal, mammalian meat, or any animal by-products.
Ticks that carry alpha-gal are known to carry many other pathogens that can be simultaneously transmitted to humans. It is possible to acquire any of these other tick transmitted diseases and also have alpha-gal syndrome. It is also possible to have AGS alone.
The lone star tick, the primary source of AGS in the U.S., is known to transmit the following diseases:
human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (HME)
ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Panola Mountain ehrlichia)
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)
tularemia (Francisella tularensis)
Heartland virus
Bourbon virus
Q fever
tick paralysis
STARI, an illness similar to Lyme disease, caused Borrelia lonestari
With alpha-gal recently discovered in blacklegged ticks, we may also begin to see an increase in AGS in patients with Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, relapsing fever borreliosis, Powassan virus disease, and other diseases transmitted by these ticks.
How to prevent alpha-gal syndrome
For now, the best way to avoid getting AGS is to avoid tick bites. This means wearing tick repellent when working, hiking or playing in grassy or wooded areas where ticks are found. Protecting your pets and doing thorough tick checks after being outdoors is helpful.
If you are bitten by a tick, we suggest following these eight steps.
What to do if you have alpha-gal syndrome?
Learning you have an allergy to all mammalian products can be overwhelming. Because this is such a newly discovered condition there are few resources available.
When it comes to making medical decisions, it’s important to have a knowledgeable provider who understands the risks versus benefits of certain medications and procedures. Vaccines that contain gelatin are one of the riskier products, but if you need a rabies shot, for instance, your doctor may determine the benefits outweigh the risks and take the necessary steps to mitigate the adverse effects.
To learn more about the history, symptoms and how to diagnose alpha-gal syndrome listen to this interview with Dr. Scott Commins, of the University of North Carolina.
Commins SP, Satinover SM, Hosen J, Mozena J, Borish L, Lewis BD, Woodfolk JA, Platts-Mills TA. (2009) Delayed anaphylaxis, angioedema, or urticaria after consumption of red meat in patients with IgE antibodies specific for galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose. J. Allergy and Clin Immunol 123(2):426-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.10.052.
Commins, S. P., James, H. R., Kelly, L. A., Pochan, S. L., Workman, L. J., Perzanowski, M. S., Kocan, K. M., Fahy, J. V., Nganga, L. W., Ronmark, E., Cooper, P. J., & Platts-Mills, T. A. (2011). The relevance of tick bites to the production of IgE antibodies to the mammalian oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose. J. Allergy and Clin Immunol, 127(5), 1286–93.e6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2011.02.019
Commins SP (2020) Diagnosis & management of alpha-gal syndrome: lessons from 2,500 patients, Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, 16:7, 667-677, DOI: 10.1080/1744666X.2020.1782745
Fiocchi A, Restani P, Riva E, Qualizza R, Bruni P, Restelli AR, Galli CL. (1995) Meat allergy: I–Specific IgE to BSA and OSA in atopic, beef sensitive children. J Am Coll Nutr. 14(3):239-44. doi: 10.1080/07315724.1995.10718502. PMID: 8586772.
Hamsten C, Tran TAT, Starkhammar M, Brauner A, Commins SP, Platts-Mills TAE, van Hage M. (2013) Red meat allergy in Sweden: association with tick sensitization and B-negative blood groups. J. Allergy and Clin Immunol. 132(6):1431-1434. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.07.050. Epub 2013 Oct 4. PMID: 24094548; PMCID: PMC4036066.
Kuehn BM. (2018) Tick Bite Linked to Red Meat Allergy. JAMA. 23;319(4):332. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.20802. PMID: 29362779.
Mullins RJ, James H, Platts-Mills TA, Commins S.(2012) Relationship between red meat allergy and sensitization to gelatin and galactose-α-1,3-galactose. J. Allergy and Clin Immunol. 129(5):1334-1342.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2012.02.038. Epub 2012 Apr 3. PMID: 22480538; PMCID: PMC3340561.
Platts-Mills, TAE, Schuyler, AJ,Commins,SP, et. al ( 2018) Characterizing the Geographic Distribution of the Alpha-gal Syndrome: Relevance to Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and Rickettsia. J. Allergy and Clinical Immun 141;2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2017.12.470
Wilson JM, Schuyler AJ, Workman L, Gupta M, James HR, Posthumus J, McGowan EC, Commins SP, Platts-Mills TAE. (2019) Investigation into the α-Gal Syndrome: Characteristics of 261 Children and Adults Reporting Red Meat Allergy. J. Allergy and Clin Immunol Pract. 7(7):2348-2358.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.03.031.
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**Comment**
I feel compelled to share the experiences of others as often it’s the only way we move forward in ‘Lymeland.’ In this case, many patients have been using ivermectin and fenbendazole with success. Make sure to work with your practitioner who knows everything you are taking as there can be synergystic effects and counter-indications for taking certain things together and/or due to medications/supplements for your pre-existing conditions. As always: this is never intended as medical advice or diagnosis.
In this case, a patient followed the advice of Dr. Makis and did two weeks of ivermectin and fenbendazole and then waited two weeks. She then consumed a 100% beef hamburger with no reactions. Prior to this treatment her life was extremely limited in that she couldn’t go out to eat or even attend family gatherings as she suffered with violent vomiting and anaphylaxis after ingestion, topical application, and even inhalation of any animal product.
While she does not mention specific dosages, the treatment was based upon Dr. Makis’ success treating Lyme disease in a similar fashion but using ivermectin and doxycycline. The protocol for that is
Ivermectin (1mg per 1kg body weight, 7 days a week for 30-60 days)
The rest of this protocol may also be beneficial, but not crucial for Lyme and Lone Star:
Tocotrienol and Tocopherol forms (all 8) of Vitamin E (400-800mg per day, 7 days a week). A product called Gamma E by Life Extension or Perfect E are both great.
Bio-Available Curcumin (600mg per day, 2 pills per day 7 days a week). A product called Theracurmin HP by Integrative Therapeutics is bioavailable.
Fenbendazole (300mg, 7 days a week) or in the case of severe turbo cancers up to 1 gram — for prophylaxis one 150mg tablet once or twice per week
Hydroxychloroquine (10mg/kg/day 7 days a week) – for prophylaxis one 200mg tablet once or twice per week
ImmunX immune support which also greatly increases the bioavailability of both FenbendazoleandHydroxychloroquine (2 capsules per day) —for prophylaxis 2 capsules per day
Removing sugars and carbohydrates (cancer food) from your diet and replacing table sugar with a zero glycemic index, zero calorie, keto friendly rare sugar like AlluX
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 