EBV is considered an opportunistic infection. An opportunistic infection is one that awaits a failure in your immune system to take hold and make you ill. The "failure" is not a temporary one but one more chronic, lasting weeks or months. This type of "failure" is caused mostly by a combination of drugs, poor diet, stress, damp climate or other viral or bacterial disease. These can also cause the illness to come back if you recover. EBV is a member of the Herpes family, although it does not cause the sores, as would the more well known forms of Herpes. 90% of adults have come in contact with EBV. EBV causes "mono" once called the "kissing disease". It lives in the salivary glands and in the B-Lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cel. The virus causes the cells that produce antibodies to attack tissue cells that results in autoimmune disease; autoimmune means to attack oneself.

Swollen lymph nodes, fevers, chills, weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, sore throats, influenza, pneumonia, chronic candidiasis are all possible symptoms of EBV. EBV is the virus largely credited with causing chronic fatigue. Everyone with EBV has chronic fatigue; not everyone with chronic fatigue has EBV. Chronic fatigue can be caused by low thyroid or adrenal function, copper toxicity, other viral conditions, hypoglycemia, parasites, nutrient deficiency etc.

The common course goes like this. Someone had mono many years ago. They had swollen glands, sore throats, swelling or enlargement in the liver or spleen, flu?like symptoms etc. The mono reduced, they recovered and went on with life. Years later, due to any of the previously mentioned circumstances, the EBV that caused the mono reactivates. The person then begins to experience some or all of the mono symptoms again to a greater or lesser degree. These symptoms now appear in cycles, every few weeks or months. Eventually hypoglycemia begins, memory and concentration become poor. Fatigue is obvious. Allergies may then begin as the immune system weakens. Chronic Candida in any form may begin. The weakening in the immune system will allow Candida to overgrow and spread. This is a case of EBV causing Candida. Thyroid hormone may start to decrease, anemia may appear and the immune system may start to really fail. At this point, allergy skin tests may fail torespond to the inability of the body to produce any real immunoglobulin production; blood cortisol levels may decrease showing adrenal exhaustion. (Cortisol is an adrenal hormone.) This is now full-blown EBV. Encephalitis, myocarditis, pneumonitis, pancreatitis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, transverse myelitis may occur. These "itis" illnesses are examples of the inflammation EBV can produce in the body. The end stage of EBV is associated cancers, originally associated with EBV's discovery. This cycle can take many years and is not predictable.

EBV growth is within the soft lining of the throat and transmitted by saliva. It can be found in 100% of those who are immuno-suppressed, but even if exposed to the virus, a healthy person has a harder time getting it.

To correctly treat EBV or any opportunistic infection, we must first use non toxic germicides to eliminate or reduce the virus. Many times the approach first used is to stimulate T cells, white blood cells and interferon. This is unwise as these cells are diseased and are carriers of the infection. Stimulating these cells can cause a rampant spread of the infection. In the case of the opportunistic infection, we must bypass the body's own immune system because it has already failed. Stimulating can cause a spreading of the infection as mentioned. So we must reduce or eliminate the infection using the modern protocol. The modern protocol consists of around 30 remedies. Some would be familiar to you, others would not be. They are non toxic so they can be taken for long periods of time to eliminate large amounts of the infection without altering the natural flora or causing damage (side effects) to glands or organs.

In "Phase I" we want the pH of the body alkaline as it inhibits opportunistic infections. The remedies from the protocol that we choose based on the person's history, health complaints and lab results must be rotated to be effective. After 7 days of taking any remedy, it will lose effectiveness as the environment within the body adjusts to it. The infection also adjusts. Therefore, we take each remedy 4 days, then move to the next one. When we have used them all, we repeat them again. When this phase is complete, we then go to Phase II.

Here, we cleanse the bowel, rebalance the bacteria, tone the digestion and repair the intestinal tract from damage the infections may have caused. The infection creates more toxins, so to cleanse before the infection is gone will not produce lasting or complete results. Specific for EBV on this Phase, we must support the liver as it can be attacked by the virus.

By now the person will have experienced great improvements but can still relapse unless he completes the last 2 phases. On Phase III we test the person for vitamin, mineral and overall nutrition imbalances. With digestion improved, he can now get full benefit from taking supplements rather than having them not absorbed. Here is normally when the energy systems of the body can be rebalanced. Adrenal, thyroid, pituitary and reproductive functions can be addressed. In the EBV case, a return of energy is very much noticed in this phase. Since the nervous system also stimulates the immune system, Phase III gives the EBV sufferer the balance needed for immune stimulation to work well.

Now Phase IV, the last phase, is begun. At this point it is now safe to stimulate the immune system since the virus has been eliminated or greatly reduced. Substances ranging from sunlight which stimulate interferon response, to T and B cell support formulas which help regulate T and B cells, are now used. As many as 25 substances can be used to enhance immune function on this phase. At this point, the body's own defenses are able to handle the EBV on its own from this time forward. If EBV is found with other infections, the four phases may take longer to run through.

It is important that when the person reaches Phase IV that he continue to take his supplements and diet so the body can heal. he purpose of the program is to get to Phase IV so that energy and nutrients that can repair, rebuild and heal the body can be utilized. The first, second and third phase are setups for the last.

The fatigue and other symptoms caused by EBV are amongst the most horrible I've ever heard. Mainstream medicine offers no hope. Most holistic practitioners can offer as high as 30% improvement, in some cases higher. With this protocol as high as 80% of EBV cases can be handled in an average of 24?30 weeks. The key is the proper sequence of treatment.

Avoidance of viral activators or inducers is also important. Nickel, hydrocortisone, hydrogen peroxide and some traditional Chinese herbs have been reported to activate EBV. Factors that increase calcium retention which include Vitamin D, copper, estrogen, insulin and para?thyroid hormone have also been indicated as potentially vital inducing and activating agents. Avoidance of these would be important during the program.

References:
1. Holistic Protocol for the Immune System, by Scott J. Gregory, M.D.
2.Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, by Jesse A. Stroll, M.D. and Charles R. Pellegrine, Ph.D.
3. Clinical Management of EBV, by Rodrigo Rodriguez. M.D., Robert Bradford. D.Sc., Robert Tapia, M.D. and Henry W.
Alien
4. David Watts, Ph.D.

I have found that many people are lacking a protective layer in their intestinal tract, which is naturally there, and which would prevent them from becoming sensitive or irritated by even their friendly, normal, natural intestinal bacteria. Without this natural protective coating or layer in their intestinal tract (even friendly bacteria which should be there to help you produce vitamins, keep harmful germs out of your system, and many other benefits) horrible reactions will occur and send someone running to the doctor.

Recently I've discovered substances which are natural and found in plants which, when taken orally, help to build up this protective layer and de-sensitize someone to acidophilis and also in general to most food allergies, chemicals, and toxins in their environment.

It seems that in most people who are chemically sensitive or allergic to anything, the very first flaw in their system is in the intestinal tract. The intestinal tract, lacking this protective coating, or worse yet, having intestinal permeability (which is also called "leaky gut syndrome") are the underlying flaws in most people who are allergic. When someone lacks this protective coating in their intestinal tract, foods, chemicals, and microorganisms such as parasites, bacteria, yeast and viruses can then begin irritating the lining of the intestinal tract. What will happen next is that the immune system will start reacting at the line of the intestinal tract in order to fight
back. This creates inflammation, swelling, and further irritation of the intestinal lining. This in itself, besides causing intestinal pain,
intestinal cramps and irritation, will begin allergic reactions throughout the body. It seems that these allergic reactions begun in the intestinal tract trigger skin reactions such as itching, hives, rashes, etc. As this continues for a length of time, the next step is that the intestinal lining becomes further degraded and starts to actually develop barriers which are leaky. The normal villi in the intestinal tract which are hairlike structures that help absorb vitamins, minerals, and different nutrients from your food become damaged.
These tiny hairs are not able to absorb the nutrients from your food that are passing through your intestines and then send them into your bloodstream so your cells, glands and organs can use them.

Instead, holes or leaky patches develop at different points of the intestinal tract where large particles of foods, pollens, chemicals, microorganisms, whatever, then fall between the cracks and into your bloodstream. It is only the presence of these larger holes or leaks that allow these substances that would have never normally gotten into your bloodstream, to enter. Being in your bloodstream, they now create havoc. Bad reactions, allergies,environmental allergies are soon to follow. This is how the person then becomes an "allergic to everything" type of person.

One of the major differences discovered in someone who is HIV positive as opposed to someone who has full-blown AIDS is the person with full-blown AIDS has developed this leaky gut syndrome. Naturally, due to that, he is much more susceptible to
contracting other infections and other problems. The person who is merely HIV positive who doesn't have this leaky gut syndrome has more protection, as his intestinal tract is not allowing these things to pass through.

It would be correct in saying that most likely all people suffering from any type of skin rash or sensitivity have, to some
degree, this syndrome of leaky gut, or a weakened protective lining of the intestinal tract.

The good news is that this situation can be remedied. Using some of the substances I mentioned earlier, the plant substances
which are called mucins, to rebuild the friendly protective coating of the intestinal tract and then using other specific nutrients which have been found to be able to rebuild the actual lining of the intestinal tract itself and strengthen it so as to repair the leaky patches, this problem can be resolved in a matter of a few months.

The first step in handling this problem would be to ascertain exactly what's happening in the person's digestive system. A new test has been developed which enables a practitioner to determine the total amount of friendly and harmful bacteria, the amounts of yeast, parasites in one's intestines, whetheror not one is missing the substances in the intestines which protects the lining of the
intestines, and whether or not the intestinal tract has become leaky. This test also would scan the digestive system and absorption system, to see if one is digesting and absorbing everything correctly from their food. It also tells a great deal about how well the immune system is functioning in the intestinal tract. This is the ideally suited test to determine exactly what's needed on someone suffering from this syndrome it is called a CDSA Test.

After the testing, the first step would be to put the person on a program to clear out any harmful bacteria or harmful microorganisms which are living in the intestines. Once they're eliminated, we then can begin building up the friendly bacteria in the system, and then we can begin repairing the intestinal tract.

In some cases, even though harmful organisms are present in the intestines and would continue to break down the intestinal tract, causing the same problem all over again, it is necessary to strengthen and heal the intestinal tract a bit before one even begins to clear away these harmful organisms. This is true in cases where people are so chemically sensitive or so allergic that they can no longer even tolerate taking the natural substances which might be able to clear away the harmful bacteria or microorganisms from their system. If this is the case, the person would first need a round or so of these substances to strengthen his intestinal tract so that he would be able to tolerate the substances that remove the harmful bacteria or harmful parasites.

Once this is accomplished, the person would naturally be then able to tolerate friendly bacteria. So, for those who are very, very sensitive, they have to actually begin the entire program by correcting as best as we can the weakness of the intestinal lining that causes the bad reaction before beginning the program to totally and completely correct the problem.

This is permissible because after the person has cleared away the bad microorganisms and then started to establish friendly
bacteria, they can then go back on the substances that then heal the intestinal tract for a longer period of time, so as to obtain a
complete and thorough regeneration of the area.

We are having fantastic successes and in some cases almost miraculous results in our own practice. We hope this information
benefits you.

Call to set up a nutritional consultation so that tests can be performed and a comprehensive strategy of lifestyle, dietary modification and nutrient supplementation can be implemented to aid you in reversing this disorder.

For an appointment, contact our office at: 800-956-7083 and visit our web site www.completehealthinstitute.com go to lab tests and click on appropriate test for information.

Dr. Rispoli, Ph.D., L Ac. has had a clinical practice for over 20 years. Her programs work because she is so thorough in testing and providing a nutritional approach. Remember that the body can heal itself if given the proper nutrients.

The information herein is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or a cure. Should you have a medical condition please seek the advice of your medical doctor. .