The Forum for Integrative Medicine: Integrative Approaches to Chronic Infections

Details: Created: May 30, 2017; Last Updated: October 14, 2017

The Forum for Integrative Medicine hosted their 2nd annual event April 27-29, 2017 in San Francisco, CA. The event had some of the best practitioners in integrative medicine speaking on some of the most important topics for health recovery - at least in my opinion.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this text is intended to serve as medical advice. All medical decisions should be made only with the guidance of your own personal licensed medical authority.

Disclaimer: This information was taken as notes during the conference and may not represent the exact statements of the speakers. Errors and/or omissions may be present.

Note: As this information may be updated as any errors are found, I kindly request that you link to this single source of information rather than copying the content below. If any updates or corrections are made, this will help to ensure that anyone reading this is getting the most current and accurate information.

Michael Payne, MS presented "Life at the Cell and Below" and shared:

Families of children with autism have higher levels of MS, Parkinson's, and other neurological diseases.
He worked with a stem cell practice using the ZYTO to identify why their stem cells were not having the expected effect, identified CMV as a potential reason, and the result was a more effective procedure.
He has done 30,000 ZYTO sessions for 6,000 people in 27 countries. One person rode 7 miles on a bike to an internet cafe to be able to do their ZYTO session.
He wrote his ZYTO scan initially for autism, but autism looks very much the same as an adult with a chronic illness.
These conditions are mitochondrial diseases; most of the mitochondria are in the brain.
In SIBO, he has seen issues with the ileocecal valve and with microbes such as Campylobacter and H. Pylori.
Mitochondria are the blueprint of life. They are impacted by photons and light.
DHA is needed for the mitochondria to create transactions.
Vaccines may lead to inflammation in the mid-brain in susceptible people.
He sees the cerebellum, pons, and medulla impacted the most in ASD. The substantia nigra is impacted in Parkinson's.
Lyme, vaccinations, and environmental toxins lead to impairment of self-regulation.
Mitochondrial disease may be the 21st-century diabetes.
P53 and MTOR pathways are important for pruning cells in the brain.
He no longer chases microbes, but instead focuses on improving mitochondria.
NIDS is Neuro-Immune Dysfunction Syndrome.
The cell is 99% physics and 1% of biochemistry. 99% of what most people do to regain health is focused on the 1%.
EMF radiation, environmental toxins, and disturbed biorhythms disturb physics.
Ammonia, aldehydes, metabolic waste, stealth pathogens, and oxidative stress impact chemistry.
EMF dysregulate.
He has worked to create a device called the QuBit which is a grounded, shielded environment that supports organizing of the blood and allows for better oxygen, nutrition, and waste reduction. It may improve the absorption of other IV therapies due to the organization at the cellular level.
Glyphosate impacts gut permeability.
Vaccines may be a tipping point for certain predisposed individuals.
When cell-signaling is disrupted, you aren't expressing your genetic code in terms of issues such as MTHFR.
We are more habitat than human; more bug than "us".
Intestinal dysbiosis leads to intoxication of the matrix.
Patients with chronic illness don't have the energy to get better.
They find that NAD with B12 or methylfolate may be helpful.
Homeodynamic T5 remedies may help to start neuroimmune communication.
QuBit is a quantum bio-infusion technology. It includes rife, Tesla, digital homeopathy, vibration, amethyst bed, sound, and you (doing some emotional work while you are close to zero point to allow the body to reset).
REM sleep increases from 45 minutes to 3 hours and 45 minutes.
He finds HBOT can be a helpful complementary therapy.
Aluminum and mold may impact the sinuses and he has a treatment approach for addressing this which includes light and photon therapy.
There really isn't a blood-brain barrier.
Neurophotonics is the recovery of the subtle energy systems.
Herbals deliver biophotons and a microbiome of their own.
Resetting the neuroimmune system is a key to recovering health in complex patients.
Photodynamic therapy floods the body with photons.
The glymphatic system includes the brain shrinking and growing to detoxify.
Melatonin may be a detoxifier of the glia.

Marie Matheson, ND presented "Clinical Diagnosis of Lyme and Co-infections, Herbal Protocols and Diet Selection for Complex Chronic Illness" and shared:

We all live in endemic areas for Lyme disease.
Infections can lie dormant for decades and then activate after trauma.
"Absence of proof does not mean proof of absence" was something she learned from Dr. Charles Ray Jones.
There have been up to 237 bacterial genera in one tick sample.
There are lots of actors in the theater but treat the one that is shining.
It is possible to have a negative Lyme Western Blot when Bartonella is present.
You need to treat all of the gang members at once; though maybe not initially.
Babesia can lead to shortness of breath, night sweats, brain fog, frontal headaches, numbness and tingling, heart palpitations, dizziness, and temperature dysregulation.
Bartonella can lead to anxiety, twitching, OCD, panic attacks, lumps and bumps, temporal headaches, skin issues like pimples that are red and don't heal well, mottling, spleen and lymphatic issues, and seizures in children.
She has seen Bartonella transmission during pregnancy to the child.
Anaplasma and Ehrlichia can lead to flu-like beginning, Fibromyalgia, lymphatic issues, puffiness. Aconite can often be helpful.
Chlamydia pneumoniae can lead to arthritis, muscle pain, neurological involvement, Alzheimer's-like symptoms, and cough. It is hard to get rid of Chlamydia when heavy metals are present.
There is an herbal cough remedy that she uses as a diagnostic tool; if they don't have the cough stop with the remedy, it may be Chlamydia pneumoniae that is causing the cough.
Mycoplasma can lead to crawling sensations, cough, and inflammation.
Mold can lead to fatigue, depression, numbness and tingling. May feel worse when the snow melts, around rain, or humidity. People with mold issues often cannot put two words together. Allergic shiners, chronic congestion, snoring, sensitivity to odors and chemicals may present.
If you are positive for bands 18, 23-25, 31, 34, 39, 83-93, these suggest Borrelia exposure. You cannot be a little pregnant. IND is not negative. Dr. Charles Ray Jones takes IND under consideration even though they are not officially counted.
When there are several + on band 41, she has correlated this to a higher possibility of parasites.
80% are CDC and IGeneX negative; she looks for bands, not positive overall results.
Cross-reactivity with band 31 can happen with viruses and there is an epitope test to confirm the positive was from Borrelia. If negative, consider viruses.
Eva Sapi did a study in 2013 on the topic of sexual transmission.
IgM is "active" not necessarily "recent" when it comes to Borrelia. An infection with Borrelia from 30 years ago can still be IgM positive.
She spoke about diets. Ketogenic is mostly fat. GAPS is a diet she is a fan of. AIP is stricter than Paleo and allows no eggs, nuts, seeds, or nightshades. It may be lacking in some nutrients. Low FODMAP is good when bloating and gas are present as it reduces saccharides in those with dysbiosis.
Gluten free, sugar free is the minimum; stevia is acceptable. Low oxalate diet is good for kidney and bladder issues. Paleo is generally best; stevia and xylitol only.
Stevia may also reduce Borrelia; she finds it does help clinically. Gluten and dairy impact can take 8-12 weeks to feel major changes once removed.
Want pasture chicken, not grain fed.
Vegans have weaker methylation pathways.
Butter provides vitamin A, vitamin D, and butyric acid.
Great Lakes gelatin is grass fed; gelatin heals the gut.
Obstacles to cure include: Mold, EMR/EMF, KPU, Diet/Allergies, Metals, Detox Pathways, Yeast/Parasites/Virus, Biofilms, Emotional Trauma, Dental Health, and Adrenal Fatigue.
Use anything you need to in order to get the bowels moving. Colonics and coffee enemas are valuable tools.
She uses a number of the formulas from Beyond Balance to support the body against microbial stressors and to support detoxification.
She loves RESTORE for Gut Health and puts in smoothies. It is like a firewall for the gastrointestinal system. She finds it helps with depression and anxiety. Finds it works far better than glutamine. When people have food sensitivities, she may also use LDI.
She never starts two antimicrobials at once. Starting them separately can provide useful information and may support a diagnosis of a particular pathogen.
When Babesia is treated first, she finds patients improve faster.
When emotional trauma is not treated, there will be no improvement.

A forum was held with various case presentations given by Dr. Kristine Gedroic, Dr. Raj Patel, and Dr. Dave Ou. The panel consisted of the presenters plus Ruth Kris, Dr. Tom Moorcroft, and Dr. Marie Matheson.

Dr. Gedroic shared:

Adults don't have a label like PANS or PANDAS but deserve one as they can be just as clinical.
There is a symbiotic relationship between mold and Mycoplasma.
Candida in the gut host strep and staph.
Aspergillus in the lungs can host Mycoplasma. Chronic Mycoplasma patients are mold patients with biofilm in the lungs.
Profound demyelination is a mold pattern.
Drainers, enzyme, antimicrobials, nutrition (minerals, fatty acids), and binders are all needed.
IV phenylbutyrate is one of the strongest antifungals; it impacts the growth phases and is often profound for chronic mold patients.
Mold patients may not do well with glutathione; she doesn't add methylation agents in mold patients or in those with anxiety.
IV Phosphatidylcholine lifts infections to the surface. The layers are bacteria on top, then protozoa, then fungi, then parasites on bottom as the PC unlayers.
Heavy metals are bound to molds; need more binders when treating molds or may result in my psych symptoms.
CD57 increases commonly with the IV PK (Patricia Kane) protocol.
As 25 and 1,25 vitamin D come together, this is an indicator of intracellular burden clearance (fewer microbes).
She may pause treatment if the patient is in the middle of a remediation.
Glutathione and PC can be helpful mixed together as PC Pudding in a NutriBullet for a period of about a month in a supervised detoxification.

Dr. Patel shared:

Rotating treatment options can help to avoid becoming sensitized to something; similar to what happens when you regularly eat the same foods.
One of his favorite options for viral support is Beyond Balance IMN-V-II.
Antiviral treatments open the methylation cycle and unload toxins.
Inflammation should be managed before going after antimicrobial therapies.
Inflammation can be a key factor that contributes to sleep issues.
A big viral issue is almost always associated with VDR mutations.
Narrowband UVB light therapy has been researched (check Pubmed) and found to stimulate methylation, promote TReg cells, improve mitochondrial function, restore cellular redox potential, reduce inflammatory interleukins, and more. Viral activity starts to come down.
When you are taking a small number of drops of an herbal product held in the mouth, it is largely absorbed before it gets to the gut and is generally not a problem relative to the timing of Cholestyramine impacting it. If an item is swallowed, then one should wait at least 15 minutes before taking Cholestyramine.

Dr. Ou shared:

Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM) leads to increases in the immune system and less need for antimicrobial therapies (though these are still often utilized).
FSM works with two frequencies - that of the organ that the treatment is directed to and that of the issue that is being supported.
Note: These were comments from the workshop case studies. To see my notes from Dr. Ou's main talk, see additional comments below.

The main conference was held over two additional days, and the items below were what I captured from those discussions.

Tom Moorcroft, DO presented "Optimizing Brain Detoxification – Applying Cutting Edge Research in Clinical Practice" and shared:

The anterior portion of the nose and neck is important for drainage and detoxification.
The vagus nerve has body-wide anti-inflammatory effects.
Spirochetal infection is 10 times more likely in Alzheimer's. Chlamydia pneumoniae is five times more likely.
MARCoNS lowers MSH and increases inflammation as well as leading to lower TReg cells.
Some with PANDAS seem to make great strides when treating MARCoNS and nasal microbial overgrowths.
Naso-sinus fungal biofilms lead to the production of mycotoxins within the body.
Almost all of the glymphatic flow happens during sleep. When there is no sleep, there is no brain detoxification.
60-70% of growth hormone production is related to slow-wave sleep and decreases with age.
Sleep regulates endocrine function. Less sleep leads to elevated levels of coritsol.
If you lose sleep tonight, tomorrow night, your cortisol will spike.
Hormone deficiencies can be related to traumatic brain injuries; even minor ones. Growth hormone, thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal deficiencies may result.
Melatonin drops after puberty.
Light at night impacts melatonin production which impacts sleep.
Blue light decreases melatonin production twice as long as green light and shifts the circadian rhythm twice as long.
Fluorescent bulbs and LED are high in blue light. Incandescent is better.
Blue light blocking lenses are a good investment to keep melatonin up and optimize circadian rhythm.
Melatonin may actually help to reduce some infections such as Trypanasomes and malaria.
Chronic sleep deprivation accelerates amyloid levels in the brain.
26% of adults 30-70 years old are affected by sleep apnea.
Night sweats can be a sign of sleep apnea.
Cranial osteopathy can optimize lymph drainage, decrease sympathetic activity, improve oxygenation.
Buteyko Breathing Method increases nitric oxide, opens nasal passages, increases erythropoietin, and improves oxygen utilization. It can help to drain the sinuses. Read the book Oxygen Advantage from Patrick McKeown. This may help to reduce MARCoNS and similar sinus overgrowths via increase of nitric oxide.
There are many sleep medicines but none improve slow-wave sleep. LDN and melatonin help some people. Get the noses open and get people sleeping.
The Samina bed system helps the spine but also helps by reducing or eliminating exposure to dust mites and to mold. There is a Lokosana grounding pad option for the sleep system, as well.
EMFs lead to roleaux and hypercoagulation. Grounding pads are more lasting than PEMF.
Radio-frequencies are WiFi, cordless phones, smart meters, etc. Minimize these to maximize sleep.
AC electric fields wear us down; unplug things in the wall near sleep location.
Incline of the bed is important. Ideal to have the head elevated as this helps to pull toxins out of the head. It can lead to detox reactions and feeling worse initially.
Brain detoxification consists of treating infections, decreasing inflammation and toxins, minimizing EMF and mold, detoxification support, proper nutrition and hydration, breath and movement, sleep, and love and compassion.

Michelle Perro, MD spoke on "The Toxic Child: Healing with Homeopathy" and shared:

Even insulin is genetically-modified.
95% of kids she sees have leaky gut.
Hyperplasia is a precursor to dysplasia and to cancer. Glyphosate is a carcinogen.
Watch the movie Scientists Under Attack about Pusztai and GMOs.
Glyphosate looks like glycine. When she sees children that are hypotonic and have no muscle tone, this could be that they have glyphosate instead of glycine in their collagen.
An organic diet rich in sulfur and manganese and probiotics can help protect against glyphosate.
Researchers believe that glyphoaste is a major factor in the autism epidemic.
Gelcaps may have glyphosate in them. The MMR vaccine is high in glyphosate.
Cotton tampons are sprayed with GMO and glyphosate and can lead to cervical dysplasia.
Vertical ridges on the nails are normal; horizontal ridges are not.
Kids on the spectrum are some of the sickest children she has seen and are different from children with chronic Lyme alone.
Lycopodium is a homeopathic that may help bloating.
She likes products from Brainchild Nutritionals.

Ann Corson, MD spoke on "Treatment Approaches to Vector Borne Disease and Environmental Illness in the Pregnant and Breastfeeding Patient" and shared:

First, Dr. Corson generously shared here slides from this event. They are loaded with amazing information and insights. Thank you, Dr. Corson!
The thyroid is the canary in the coal mine for toxicity.
She sees autoimmune thyroid issues in 8-9 year old children.
Miscarriages are often associated with autoimmune thyroid issues.
1 in 4 people are HLA prone to biotoxin illness.
1 in 5 people are prone to hypercoagulable states.
These are the chronic illness patients.
Lyme can infect the fetus at any stage of a pregnancy.
Maternal antibiotic therapy does not guarantee the the fetus will be free of infection.
Breastfeeding poses unclear risks.
Borrelia survives cryo-preservation; survives better than sperm.
Both Lyme Borrelia and relapsing-fever Borrelias can be transmitted.
Babesia and Bartonella can both be transmitted during the pregnancy.
Mold toxin exposure during pregnancy is worse than the infections; especially trichothecenes. If mom has a history of mold exposure, the mold toxins are dumped to the baby.
These children often have horrible reactions to vaccinations.
You will never get rid of infections unless you deal with the mold.
Sometimes, your SNPs don't matter. If you are metal toxic, these aren't generally the primary issue. Fix the headwaters, and the delta will fix itself.
Nothing beats Pekana for drainage support.
Mold exposure is like sparks on a silk scarf in terms of its impact on leaky gut.
Never give D3 without K2.
It may be helpful to load up on phospholipids during the period prior to conception.
Many people saw many docs before her that failed treatment and the issue that they haven't generally addressed is binding of the toxins.
Glycine is replaced by glyphosate in collagen and gelatin.
You want to detox before the pregnancy but not mobilize toxins after you are pregnant.
Charcoal and Microchitosan combination works very well for mold toxins. Confirmed with urinary mycotoxin testing from Realtime Labs.
She does use antibiotics during the entire pregnancy in many cases.
She may use Zithromax and Vital Guard Supreme during pregnancy.
She has been unable to stop the biofilm communities from going to the baby thus far.
Transfer factors may be a link for those that do not have the ability to recognize biotoxins due to their HLA predisposition.
She tends to encourage moms to breastfeed with the known risks; as there are also many benefits.
Don't bother with antibody testing for a new baby. The baby won't create antibodies to things that were present during the pregnancy.

Amy Derksen, ND spoke on "Approaches for Immune Dysregulation and Inflammation Control in the Autistic and Allergic Child: Treatment Ideas to Repair a Broken System and Restore Balance" and shared:

Coffee enemas and colonics are in the top three list of things that help her patients.
Flooding the body with minerals floods the receptor sites to that metals don't need to stay around in the body.
Lack of muscle tone may be the result of mitochondrial dysfunction.
Microbial and biofilm treatment are done only after building a foundational program first.
Cod liver oil can be very helpful if the source is clean and some need up to 4,000 mg daily.
MTHFR is not a focus if we don't have gas in the car. If you don't have gas in the car, it doesn't matter how fancy your car is.
This is mitochondrial dysfunction; not true mitochondrial disease.
Ammonia levels are often high in those with brain fog; yucca tincture may help.
Assume mitochondrial damage is present in adult patients with chronic illness.
One thing she has learned is that you have to dose high enough for mitochondrial issues and often need a loading dose; supplements that are to support mitochondria don't work if you don't provide an adequate amount.
Generally doses mitochondrial support in the morning and at lunch.
Exercise increases the number of mitochondria.
ATP Fuel from Researched Nutritionals can be a good tool; requires a loading dose of 10 pills per day for three months.
Methylation concerns are present regardless of gene status; it is the expression of the gene that matters.
Some children may need high levels of zinc; as much as 90-120 mg per day with supervision.
Magnesium glycinate or malate are better for tissues; citrate or oxide for pooping.
Magnesium citrate can be helpful for those with oxalate issues.
Low homocysteine tends to be associated with malabsorption, gut issues, parasites; these people don't tolerate methylation support.
High MCV on a blood test can be the result of low B6, B12, and folate.
She has been very pleased with the Transfer Factor Enviro from Researched Nutritionals for those patients dealing with mold illness.
Klaire micellized vitamin A drops may be used to support the body against viruses; some do a high dose protocol for a couple days but long-term, Vitamin A can be toxic.
Bioimmersion LactORN powder may help to support turning on the immune system of the gut for chronic gut infections; used twice weekly.
Baking soda can resolve issues with histamine even before they start.

Amy Joy Smith, NP spoke on "Integrative Approaches to Understanding and Treating PANDAS/PANS" and shared:

Each subsequent PANDAS/PANS flare increases brain inflammation.
It takes over 3 years for 35% of cases to get diagnosed.
There is often a sudden, dramatic change in neurological function.
PANDAS is PANS when Strep is the trigger. PANS is similar but the trigger can be something other than Strep.
Can be infectious or non-infectious.
Microbial triggers may include Strep, Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma, EBV, Coxsackie, Candida, and more.
Environmental triggers may be mold and heavy metals.
Strep can find intracellular sanctuaries and participate in biofilm communities.
Most have some amount of OCD.
The condition is often post-infectious meaning that there is not always an active infection. The trigger can trigger the condition but then no longer be present in the body for the condition to persist.
The brain is on fire in kids with PANDAS/PANS. Behavioral therapy is wasted.
Reduce brain inflammation and address the immune regulation.
Bartonella and Babesia are both triggers of PANS.
IVIG works better than anything for modulating the immune response; she has used it regularly and never had a single problem with a child that has used it under her care.

Dave Ou, MD spoke on "Beyond Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI): Use of Isopathy in the Management of Chronic Complex Illnesses" and shared:

Isopathy is the idea that same cures same.
CEASE therapy is a set of serial dilutions using isopathic remedies for every vaccine that is given to a child that expresses on the autism spectrum.
Oscillococcinum, the common homeopathic flu remedy, is homeopathic duck liver.
LDI is relatively inexpensive and seems to help many people. The challenge is getting the right microbe and the right dilution.
There are variable responses to LDI; it does not consider layers, it ignores multi-factorial causes of illness, it does not support or reboot weak organs, it does not address the cause of the reactivity, and the long-term outcome is still unknown.
Historically isopathy alone does not resolve infections.
If hypersensitivity to a microbe is the primary issue, LDI may be helpful. Dr. Klinghardt says that Lyme is not the primary cause of most of his Lyme patients symptoms.
With Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM), this can be used to reset weak organs and tissues and in so doing, reactions to microbes may no longer be observed. Thus, he no longer sees a need for LDI. Additionally, he has found that patients generally need shorter courses of antimicrobial therapies once he incorporates FSM into his patient work.
We must reboot the structure and function of the body and not just kill bugs.
Lyme disease is generally a symptom of an unhealthy terrain.
You can correct organs and tissues with Neural Therapy, FSM, CAMS (Crosby Advanced Medical Systems), osteopathic work, auriculotherapy, and energy psychology.
FSM was created by Caroline McMakin and has two frequencies. The first is the frequency or address of the tissue or organ and the second is the instruction for the tissue.
The tonsils are the toilet of the brain.
CAMS is gemstone therapy with Schumann resonance. It corrects interference fields and acts as an amplifier for interference fields in ART.
You can run FSM frequencies to find a source of a problem like a given organ.
Treating pain improves immune function.
FSM or CAMS can decrease allergic hypersensitivity or allergic response. He has stopped using LDI and FCT; though he does use LDA. He can then user shorter courses of antimicrobial therapies.
Fewer supplements are needed when interference fields are corrected and there are more rapid improvements.
Patients feel less pain and improved mood; some get an endorphin rush.
The downsides of FSM and CAMS is less supplement sales, new layers appear more rapidly, can developer adverse effects to supplements that are no longer needed, can become hyperthyroid or hyperadrenal as supplements may no longer be needed.
In ART, do your testing before FSM or CAMS. You often won't find resonance after FSM or CAMS. Some of the remedies may still test, but the stressor frequencies generally won't. The body is now adapting to the environment. Supplements found before FSM or CAMS should be retested after to ensure they are still needed.
It is difficult to be sick with optimized organs.

Ruth Kriz, APRN spoke on "The Role of Genetic Mutations Contributing to Detoxing Difficult and Chronic Illness" and shared:

False assumptions include: 1) we all metabolize medicines and toxins the same, 2) boosting the immune system can successfully fight infections, 3) fighting infection just needs bigger guns, and 4) chronic infections don't exist.
If you are CYP1A1, you don't want to use Tylenol.
Artemisinin with grapefruit juice enhances the effectiveness.
Glutathione precursors include methionine, NAC, magnesium, glutatmine, glycine, and B6.
The body may not make it and may need to go with liposomal gluathione directly.
High ammonia can be a factor in interstitial cystitis and most have CBS mutations leading to higher levels of ammonia.
85% of her patients have MTHFR issues.
100% of her interstitial cystitis patients have VDR mutations.
1,25 Vitamin D fights infection and triggers inflammation.
The normal ratio is 1:1.7 of 1,25:25 Vitamin D but in chronic illness it may flip to 2:1 with twice as much 1,25 as 25.
PCOS may be an issue in Lyme and interstitial cystitis. D is shunted to cortisol and they don't make enough progesterone.
Hydroxy-B12 and Adenosyl-B12 are often better options than Methyl-B12.

Steve Fry, MD spoke on "Genetic Evidence of Biofilm Eukaryotes in Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disease by Next-Generation Sequencing" and shared:

Prokaryotes are bacteria.
Fungus participate in biofilms as well.
Autoimmune diseases are a big business.
Of the top 5 drops, 4 of them are for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Toxoplasmosis is found in some cases of RA.
Fungal antibodies are observed in RA as well.
Most believe that CFS/FMS are viral and bacterial.
Some patients developed CFS after a Giardia outbreak.
Some research shows that protozoa may the the underlying factor in MS.
Plaquenil is a drug of choice for Lupus.
CCSVI results when eukaryotes create biofilm communities obstructing blood flow in the arteries and veins; possibly also releasing toxins.
We can only culture about 2% of all bacteria known today.
Protomyxzoa rheumatica is an organism whose identification is credited to Dr. Fry's work. When they recently looked at this organism compared to 56 million sequences in the international database, the closest is Adriana peritocrescens.
There are 30,000-200,000 protozoans in the environment.
Funneliformis mosseae is one of the organisms they see in chronically-ill individuals; formerly referred to as Glomus mosseae.
PCR testing is no longer used as it is often negative. They use sequencing.
Doxycycline has fungal antibiofilm activity; research is emerging.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is found in osteoarthritis frequently.
CFS patients may show Funneliformis mosseae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae which are both fungal issues.
There is some observation that clearing fungus may then unlayer H. Pylori.
In one case of ALS, they identified several different marine organisms.
There is a very tight cluster of microbial patterns in ALS vs. CFS/MS and normal controls.
Perkinsus is a shellfish parasite that has been identified in some sicker CFS patients as well as Spumella which is an algae.
In ALS, they see alphaproteobacteria, deltaproteobacteria, Clostridium, and Flavobacterium. It may be eukaryotic in nature and may be a vascular disease as some patients have short-lasting improvement with angioplasty.
Most common organisms identified with their DNA sequencing in chronically ill patients include: Funneliformis mosseae, Perkinsus, Hydrurus foetidus, Spumella, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Toxoplasmosis.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae can become pathogenic.
His approach is to identify the organisms, use clinical experience, explore genetic resistance markers, implement an antibiofilm approach, and consider host immune factors. This would include agents that are antibiofilm, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and antialgal.
Clarithryomycin may be an antifungal synergizer.
Ivermectin has antifungal properties and is generally a safe medication; though can have some elevated liver enzymes.

Neil Nathan, MD spoke on "Mold Toxicity: Current Evaluation and Treatments" and shared:

Mold is not just mold, it is fungi, Actinomycetes, Mycobacteria, VOCs, and other compounds that are found in water-damaged buildings.
Molds make toxins to protect themselves.
The outside world is generally safe for people as it has checks and balances that are not present in indoor environments.
Lyme and mold make a person predisposed to the other.
Mold triggers MCS; most with MCS have mold as a trigger though there can be other triggers.
Mold can trigger EMF sensitivity and food allergies.
Mold makes everything else worse.
Mold is a major trigger for mast cell activation and porphyrias.
If some pains are electrical in nature, think mold or Bartonella.
Internal vibrations or tremors that are not visible from the outside may be present.
There is increased sensitivity to virtually everything.
Mold illness is treatable but complicated.
CIRS is the bigger picture; the inflammatory process is out of control.
Mold toxins profoundly impact the HPA axis.
MARCoNS is a theoretical reason for low MSH in biotoxin illness patients; it does not cause any symptoms itself. You can treat MARCoNS as aggressively as you want and it is almost impossible to eradicate it. It is not a central component required for healing in his experience.
Get the mold toxins out and fix the environment.
He has done hundreds of HLA-DR tests and is not convinced clinically that it matters.
Highly recommends the VCS testing; can be positive from mold, Lyme, and mercury.
Mold plates from Immunolytics can be set out for 2 hours and then evaluated. 50% of what grows is not toxic so there is no immediate cause for alarm. He looks for Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Alternaria as molds that grow on the plates that indicate a problem is present.
Air sampling is the worst method of testing for mold.
With the Mycometrics ERMI, he prefers using the vacuum canister method over the swipe cloth.
He has found testing urine or nasal washings for mold toxins with Realtime Labs to be very helpful.
Mold toxin patients are poisoned and have difficulty getting the mold toxins out.
With Realtime Labs urinary mycotoxin testing, he generally recommends 500mg of liposomal glutathione twice daily for 7 days and then collecting the urine on the seventh day after a 30 minute sauna, hot tub, or hot bath. If someone starts to feel worse on the glutathione, then they can take the sample and stop; they do not need to push to make it for seven days.
70% of the time, the repeat RTL will show higher levels of mycotoxins after treatment has been underway for a few months.
He is open to better testing options in the future, but finds that this is the best test he has available now.
You could get a negative test and still have mold toxicity.
When they kill mold in the sinus or gut, levels of mold toxins in the body will increase.
Excessive binding of toxins can be a concern; toxins are loosely bound but not permanently bound to binders. If you take more binder than you can handle, toxins may drop off and redistribute.
Treatment consists of 1) ensuring the environment is safe and the exposure is removed, 2) use of binders, 3) treating biochemical markers per the Shoemaker protocol.
VIP is good, but it won't work if there are still mold toxins in the body.
C4a, TGFb1, and MMP9 are seeing in Lyme as well as mold. They fluctuate a great deal and may not be great for tracking treatment.
Realtime Labs testing can both help to make a diagnosis and to determine next steps for treatment based on the mycotoxins that are found.
Likes high protein and low carb for most patients.
Cheese, vinegar, mushrooms, etc. seem fine even with Candida.
Mold toxin may be made in the sinuses, gut, possibly lungs and dental cavitations.
Cholestyramine or Welchol work best for Ochratoxin; activated charcoal helps.
With Trichothecenes and Aflatoxin, charcoal, clay, and chlorella are used.
For nasal colonization, biofilm may be treated with BEG spray or EDTA spray while the mold colonization itself may be treated with Amphotericin B (strongest), Ketoconazole, or Nystatin (weakest) with/without the addition of Argentyn 23.
For the GI tract, biofilm may be treated with Interfase Plus or Beyond Balance MC-BFM-1 while the mold colonization itself may be treated with Itraconazole or Ketoconazole with/without the addition of Argentyn 23.
50% of his mold patients have mast cell activation.
Gliotoxin comes from Aspergillus and probably Candida.
If a patient has an immediate response to any food, it could be mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) or porphyria.

Amanda Chan, DC presented "Emotional Considerations for Complex Chronic Illnesses" and shared:

The world gets smaller and smaller when you have a chronic illness.
Some have a victim mentality.
Some approach illness by searching for someone to fix them.
Pain is a signal for needed change.
The same patterns will result in the same illness.
What happens when you are sick vs. not sick? Do you get more love from your family when you are sick? Do you get other accommodations that the body doesn't want to lose if you are well?
Getting well is change and change is hard for sick people.
Some people feel that God is punishing them.
She did a meditation of breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth, thinking about their illness, and seeing if there is an area of the body that reacts; chest or stomach are common. Acknowledge the emotions they have been feeling about their illness.
People need to be heard.

Christine Schaffner, ND spoke on "Aluminum, Glyphosate, and EMF-Effective Protocol Strategies to Help Your Patients Heal" and shared:

Melatonin supports the body in removing metals, mycotoxins, chemicals, and pathogens.
Glyphosate impacts so many systems in the body.
Glyphosate is patented as an antibiotic.
It is a mineral chelator that depletes iron, cobalt, manganese, zinc, and more.
Glyphosate has been found in vaccinations.
It triggers zonulin and intestinal permeability.
Melatonin makes the pineal gland less impacted by aluminum.
It is good to provoke the system for both the glyphosate testing and the Lyme PCR testing (deep tissue massage, Rolfing, or newer RK protocol method).
Charcoal and humic acid reduce the body burden of glyphosate.
There is no biological use for aluminum in the body.
Sources are food, water, air, medications, and personal care products.
Aluminum is used to purify water. It is in antacids, buffered aspirin, vaccines, composites, porcelain fillings, most food dyes.
Deodorants are an exposure to aluminum; as are many toothpastes.
Aluminum and fluoride bind together and make a more toxic toxicant.
Chris Exley has suggested that aluminum is more biologically active when inhaled through the nasal passages and lungs.
Aluminum is a neurotoxin, excitotoxin, damages mitochondria, pro-oxidant, and inflammagen.
Chronic infections create low iron situations but aluminum also impacts iron levels.
Aluminum is a contributing cause of neurovascular inflammation.
Aluminum is high in brains of patients with Alzheimer's.
Melatonin protects the brain from aluminum.
Ionic foot baths support detoxification of heavy metals; research shows this is an effective tool.
Drink 1 liter per day of silica rich water; 30mg per day. Volvic has 30, Fiji has 91, Evian 15.
Exclusion zone water increases in the body with exposure to infrared. This is Gerald Pollack's work.
Blue light reduces melatonin production.
Healthy light is incandescent, halogen, or xenon.
Increase Melatonin Production: Liposomal melatonin may be used with 3-20mg or higher, decrease blue light exposure, use tools like f.lux for your computer, use UVEX or TrueDark Glasses (biohacked.com), blackout shades, and reducing EMF exposure.
If patients are toxic, they may feel groggy with melatonin. Using DMSA often gets rid of the hangover.
Improve the Glymphatic System: cranial compressions, lymphatic drainage (BioPure DEO, Physica Lymph 1, 2, 3), address tonsils, teeth, TVAM, therapeutic ultrasound, Vibrant Blue and Well Scent Oils, neural therapy with procaine/ozone/Viatrexx/San Pharma, LDI strep or auto-nosode, Physica GALT Fortifier, RERUM, or Bravo.
Support the Microbiome: MegaSporeBiotic and can use in sinus rinse or nasal spray bottle with saline and one capsule of MegaSporeBiotic and using 2 sprays twice daily, Bravo, RESTORE.
Detoxification Support: ionic foot bath twice per week (A Major Difference, Platinum Energy Systems), infrared sauna, castor oil packs, coffee enemas, dry skin brushing, vibration plates, water filtration to remove aluminum and fluoride such as the Berkey.
Glyphosate Detox: avoid GMO foods; upregulate PON1 with BioPure Deep Purple, selenium, and Vitamin E; homeopathic remedies such as PHP Addex or other glyphosate homeopathics; binders such as humic acid (similar to BioPure Matrix Minerals) and charcoal; address nutritional deficiencies with CORE-S.
Aluminum Detox: silica (water and Enterosgel), Desferal, Sophia Al Detox, cilantro, malic acid, curcumin. Do not give cilantro if amalgams are still present.
EMF Reduction: no Wifi, no cordless phones, cleanup dirty electricity with Stetzer or Green Wave filters, create a sleep sanctuary, nothing plugged in in the bedroom, no smart meters (takebackyourpower.net), Y-Shield paint, and grounding.
Light As Medicine: exposure to sun, UV sunlamp from sperti.com, red LEDs over computers to balance blue light, infrared (such as sauna, Biomat, 850nm infrared light), Physica Pineal Code.
Resources on light/EMFs: Dave Asprey's Head Strong, Mileana Simeonova at liteheal.com, Magda Hava at magdahavas.com, lessemf.com.

Neil Nathan, MD spoke on "The Cell Danger Response: A New Paradigm for Understanding and Treating Chronic Illness" and shared:

The world has become increasingly toxic at a rate we never dreamed of.
We will see more sick people unless we fix the environment.
Cell Danger Response (CDR) is a protective mechanism to protect us from things that are trying to hurt us.
It is an attempt to deprive invading microbes of what they need to reproduce.
Cells will apoptose (kill themselves) to prevent the spread of an organism, if possible.
Cells intentionally shut down methylation to keep viruses from replicating.
100% of his patients can't methylate and making methylation better is against what the cell wants; don't mess with mother nature.
MTOR is the master sensor of the cell in summer months. It facilitates protein synthesis and growth. In the winter, AMPK is the master fuel sensor. Occurs during sleep and with fasting. We should pig out in the summer and eat less in the winter, but we no longer do this. We have an endless summer cycle in our diet. This cycle occurs to a lesser extent each night and during fasting. Fasting can be helpful to make the shift occur.
ATP shifts from energy molecule to a signaling molecule for danger.
Lower vitamin D is a natural consequence of the cell danger response.
The cell creates more histamine to fight off invaders, but this backfires.
Histamine is broken down by methylation which is downregulated in CDR.
Porphyria and pyroluria are more common; disaltered heme metabolism is common in CDR.
Lysine opposes CDR.
When CDR is active, sequestration of metals emerges.
The danger may be gone, but the alert is still going.
Antioxidants have been talked about as the solution, but we need to work with oxidation and not neutralize it.
Chem panels look good in sick patients. If you are measuring the same 18 things over and over, it is crude and does not tell us what is really happening. More comprehensive profiles will show more of what is really happening.
They did a study with Gordon Medical Associates patients that showed there are measurable metabolites in chronically ill patients; it is not in your head. It is as real as it can get.
Chronic fatigue is a hypometabolic pathway.
The testing has 94% diagnostic accuracy in males with 8 metabolites and 96% in females with 13 metabolites. You can not only identify CFS, but what is wrong for them in which pathway.
Sphingolipids are a primary determining material.
Men and women do not behave the same metabolically.
There is no single evaluation or treatment that will work for all patients.
Sphingolipids and ceramides are decreased in CFS and not able to do the signaling they need to do.
IV PC would likely be helpful in this arena.
This testing is all research at present and not commercially available.
It will be the most specific testing available for those with CFS when it is available.
Naviaux believes that CDR can be reversed by reversing the purinergic receptor blockade that is the problem.
They just finished a second study with Paul Cheney to replicate and add more data.
Suramin is a drug available in South America and Africa for Trypanosomiasis or Cysticercosis that reverses the purinergic receptor blockade but is not available.
Suramin or similar compounds could change the highway in autism in the future as well.
Specific purinergic therapies along with D, Lysine, Methylation Support, P5P, treatment of metals and other toxicities, KPU treatment will likely be key parts of CDR reversal.

Kristine Gedroic, MD spoke on "MICROBIOME VS MYCOBIOME: The Inter-Kingdom Signaling within the Gut and its Impact on Chronic Disease" and shared:

Microbiome depends on geography, age, diet, breast-fed vs. formula-fed, vertical transmission, C-Section vs vaginal delivery, and medications.
Microbiomes are found orally, armpits, genitals, and gut; they are the first line of defense and protection. Our microbiome produces various antiviral, antibiotic, antifungal, and antiparasitic compounds.
Some suggest that we should bank our microbiome as we destroy it before we really understand it.
The microbiome is being affected by environmental pollution just like we are.
Biofilms are the slime on a rock.
SCFA (short-chain fatty acids) are the gatekeepers of the gut.
The immune system is supposed to go on and then off. Pathologies are due to the system not getting turned off properly.
Fungus is a more evolved organism and our ability to tolerate it is more evolved than bacteria. It deadens our immune system to its presence.
Aspergillus can host Mycoplasma in the lungs.
We need to get Candida to go from a hyphal form to a diploid form.
Chronic bacterial infections are often chronic mold or fungal infections underneath them.
We are not mounting an organized response to the fungi.
Lactobacillus reuteri impacts IL-22 which improves the brush border in the gut and protects our mucousal surfaces.
Chronic skin inflammation like eczema often responds to antifungals. When fungus is exposed to IL-17 for 24 hours, it encourages hyphal formation vs. if only 4 hours, IL-17 initiates autophagy of the fungus.
In PANS, IL-17 pathway may be a catalyst for autoimmunity and the production of MMPs and damage to tissues.
Mycotoxins are poisoning by natural means; symptoms depend on the amount of mycotoxin and other factors.
There is a fungal layer underneath hosting a bacterial layer leading to chronic inflammatory TH17 response which leads to the production of mycotoxins inside the body.
A German test is showing trehalose, which is produced by molds, showing up in some patients.
Dysregulation goes up the vagus nerve and into the brain.
When you kill fungus, there will be a dump of heavy metals. Always add heavy binders when going after fungi or parasites or the clinical picture will be mixed.
What next? Restore PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) balance on the cell membrane, reduce lipids rafts to control inflammation, regulate the microbiome and mycobiome, and support the enterohepatic circulation.
Inflammatory states resolve when cell membranes become healthier.
Fungal blooms may lead to reflux and constipation. The body is pulling long chain fats and reduced bile output which is anti-inflammatory for the gut. Ox bile may be helpful.
SIBO is the worst example of reduced bile flow.
Castor oil packs, bile, colonics, and cholagogues may be used.
If they don't have a gallbladder, they still need the same thing.
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) represents 90% of the lipids on the membrane of the gut. If it is not present, there is additional breakdown.
A disturbed mucosal barrier leads to more inflammation.
PC reduces TNF-alpha and is anti-inflammatory.
Lipid rafts are like a big pontoon in the ocean. A flotation device made of long chain fats with stiff toxic fats. Viruses remain chronic. Viruses and fungi make long chain fats.
Butyrate (oral or IV) can be used to break them up.
We need to oxidize long chain fats. Fever is the natural way to burn up long chain fats. Antioxidants are often counter-productive.
Lyme has lipid rafts.
Fungi are hijacking our materials for themselves.
Prometol may be used to help the body re-myelinate.
Molds produce a lot of anxiety. They are threatening our life.
Pain can come from oxalic acids. Kidney stone patients are often mold patients.
Mold patients don't tolerate methylation support until later in treatment.
Active sinus issues are often a clue for present mold exposure.
They hold on any IV treatments when remediation is underway.
Parasites sit under the molds. When molds go dormant, parasite symptoms show up. Rectal itching, skin rashes, getting out of bed at 5am to poop; parasites are showing up.
Worms are commonly seen in colonics.

Ruth Kriz, APRN spoke on "How Chronic Infection and Genetics Contribute to Hypercoagulation and Biofilm Formation" and shared:

Viruses can contribute to hypercoagulation.
CRP does not need to be elevated for the patient to have significant inflammation.
EDTA capsules can be helpful for biofilms.

A few more pearls from the Q&A sessions:

A Cunningham Panel can be very useful for PANS as well as for PANDAS; it does not have to be triggered by Strep.
Dr. Fry finds that people do better limiting fats and magnesium as fats seem to support Protomyxzoa and magnesium supports biofilm formation.
Dr. Corson has observed that Protomyxzoa is a significant issue in patients and treating it does lead to higher ground.

Disclaimer: While I attempted to accurately represent the statements of the various speakers, it is possible that the above contains errors or inaccuracies. If you have any corrections to the content listed above, please Contact Me.

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BetterHealthGuy.com is intended to share my personal experience in recovering from my own chronic illness. Information presented is based on my journey working with my doctors and other practitioners as well as things I have learned from conferences and other helpful resources. As always, any medical decisions should be made only with the guidance of your own personal medical authority. Everyone is unique and what may be right for me may not be right for others.