There are now 19 FDA approved drugs to treat HIV plus the two combos "Combivir" and "Trizivir" or 21 drugs total. A complete and objective report (47 pages in length) on all the HIV drugs and combinations can be found in the Fall 2003/winter 2004 issue of ACRIA or AIDS Community Research Initiative of America in New York. A copy of this report can be obtained by calling 212-924-3934. Information can also be found on their website at www.acria.org.

Some of the new drugs recently approved by the FDA include Fuzeon (T-20), the first fusion inhibitor. The new drug is injected and comes with a steep price tag. The two other new drugs are Emtrivia and Reyataz. Emtrivia has mild side effects like Epivir (3TC) and in one study was more effective than Zerit (D4T) in reducing viral load. Reyataz is a new protease inhibitor but without the adverse lipid side effects of the other protease inhibitors. For those of our readers who use the FDA approved drugs when they are not using immune-based treatments for HIV, the new drugs Emtrivia and Reyataz are worth considering.

In other news, Abbott Labs has quadrupled the price of Norvir, the most powerful of all the protease inhibitors. This is pure greed on the part of Abbott laboratories and will cause severe hardships for the uninsured. Norvir at a half dose six capsules daily is the only FDA approved drug that will remit KS lesions even in someone with end stage AIDS. Norvir has been effective against KS in a number of cases, even without adding the use of chemotherapy. More information about the use of pharmaceuticals and reports on their benefits and adverse effects and which combinations produce the most benefits and the least side effects can be found in a separate chapter in the Immune Restoration Handbook. (More info on our immune restoration handbook can be found on the last page of this newsletter.)

Structured Treatment Interruptions (STI's) can improve the immune response against HIV

STI's are known as Structured Treatment Interruptions and are also called "Strategic Treatment Interruptions or simply as "Pulsed Protocols." While there is no question that many lives have been saved with various drug combinations including the protease inhibitors, the list of side effects from taking various drug combinations for 5 or 10 years or longer has also grown. Side effects are far beyond neuropathy and lipodystrophy and now include heart disease and osteoporosis, which in some cases is so severe that hip replacement surgery is needed. Demand for a break in the continuous routine of taking the drug regimens daily has been growing in the past 5 years. The original doctrine of hit hard hit early has been replaced by a new realism ‚ the NIH now recommends holding off taking the meds until the CD4's decline to 350 or less.

Besides saving the government money, this policy reduces stress on the patient. Many patients have immune systems sufficiently functional to keep their CD4 counts high for many years. That is many years without the side effects from the drugs.

In the 1990's Dr Bernard Bihari MD found that giving his patients Naltrexone daily would stop HIV progression in his HIV + patients with more than 300 CD4 cells. Except for persons using morphine or certain other pain killers, Naltrexone has been devoid of side effects. The standard dose he used at the time was 3 mg, that has since been increased to 4.5 mg once daily. In Bihari's practice, about half his patients use Naltrexone as a stand-alone therapy. The other half use Naltrexone with HIV Drug combinations.

Medical Advisory Board

Keep Hope Alive Ltd is an IRS approved 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible. Keep Hope Alive publishes the Journal of Immunity quarterly.

To receive the Journal of Immunity, see the last page of this magazine. Interim reports of this journal that are 8 to 12 pages in length are published every 3 months with one annual report at year's end.

The Journal of Immunity supplements information in the new Immune Restoration Handbook that has now replaced How To Reverse Immune Dysfunction. All current and past newsletters can be accessed on our internet website at www.keephope.net that contains over 1000 pages of information on nutritional and immune-based therapies. Board Of Directors: Conrad LeBeau, Patrick Raess, Amy Westra.

The idea of using pulsed protocols and alternating between the pharmaceutical drugs to treat HIV and the immune-based therapies remains both logical and viable. However, among specialists who are researching and treating patients with HIV/AIDS, there is no consensus or agreement on how to do this.

In published reports, the camps seem evenly divided ‚ one group opposing any break in treatments for HIV claiming that viral resistance will occur while the other group finds little or no viral resistance with the treatment interruptions and theorize the treatment interruptions challenge an immune response leading to self-immunization ‚ that is teaching the immune system to keep the virus under control without the need for meds.

I am hearing from more and more long term patients that their physicians are changing their views on the HIV meds. The doctors who initially preached strict adherence are seeing the adverse effects of long-term use and more of them are telling their patients to take a break from the meds ‚ from several weeks to several months. From our perspective the persons who go off the meds and back on them several times are more often than not seeing lower viral rebounds indicating some kind of immune response is taking effect. The most logical part of any STI or pulsed protocol would be to use immune-based therapies when the HIV meds are not being used. The subject of STI's has been discussed at Project Inform, GMHC, POZ magazine and many other sites.

Fred Walters who directs the Houston Buyers Club is open as far as his HIV status is concerned. Recently he shared the results of a 3-month experiment pulsing HIV meds one week on and week off from December 2003 through February 2004.

Fred: I used a simple formula ‚ Viramune and Combivir. I took these two drugs for 7 days, then took 7 days off. This cycle went on for 3 months.

Fred: I used IP6, Beta Glucan, and a Ginseng product called CM4 and numerous vitamin and mineral supplements.

Fred: The CD4's increased from 350 to 650. The viral load decreased from 50,000 to 5,000.

Fred: No, I stopped this month in March. I am satisfied with the results and I am going to be off the drugs for a while. When the CD4's get into the 300 range again, I will resume the use of the HIV meds using either this combo or some other one.

Fred: IP6 and CM4, the ginseng product made by Omega NutriPharm in Birmingham, AL. I have followed 4 cases where CM-4 has increased the CD4 counts.

Fred: About 2000 mgs daily of calcium citrate will stop that in most cases. If there is too much stomach acid already ‚ acid reflux, calcium carbonate or coral calcium works best as it lowers the stomach acid at the same time. If the calcium supplements do not stop the diarrhea, they should ask their physician to check them for parasites.

Mark: Thank you for sharing this information with us. Fred can be reached during the day in Houston, Texas at 713-520-5288

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Dec 7;96(25):14464-9. >Institute for Advanced Study, Olden Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. wodarz@ias.edu

We used mathematical models to study the relationship between HIV and the immune system during the natural course of infection and in the context of different antiviral treatment regimes. The models suggest that an efficient cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) memory response is required to control the virus. We define CTL memory as long-term persistence of CTL precursors in the absence of antigen. Infection and depletion of CD4 T helper cells interfere with CTL memory generation, resulting in persistent viral replication and disease progression.

We find that antiviral drug therapy during primary infection can enable the development of CTL memory. In chronically infected patients, specific treatment schedules, either including deliberate drug holidays or antigenic boosts of the immune system, can lead to a re-establishment of CTL memory.

Integrative Medicine Center, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), there has been a dramatic decrease in HIV-related morbidity and mortality. Suppressing HIV replication by HAART can result in a restoration of the CD4+ T-cell count and, consequently, a diminished risk of opportunistic infections.

However, the degree of immune restoration that can be achieved with HAART varies from patient to patient. It is often incomplete and can be poorest in those patients who, because of their very low CD4+ counts, need it the most. Additional approaches are needed to increase immune restoration still further. Structured treatment interruptions, therapeutic immunization, and recombinant interleukin-2 are three such options that are currently being investigated.

Fagard C, Oxenius A, Gunthard H, Garcia F, Le Braz M, Mestre G, Battegay M, Furrer H, Vernazza P, Bernasconi E, Telenti A, Weber R, Leduc D, Yerly S, Price D, Dawson SJ, Klimkait T, Perneger TV, McLean A, Clotet B, Gatell JM, Perrin L, Plana M, Phillips R, Hirschel B; Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Arch Intern Med. 2003 May 26;163(10):1220-6.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospital, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: According to the "autovaccination hypothesis," reexposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during treatment interruptions may stimulate the HIV-specific immune response and lead to low viremia after withdrawal of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Many patients who started HAART earlier in their disease course than is currently recommended would like to discontinue, but it is unknown whether it is safe to do so. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether repeated treatment interruptions of HAART (1) stimulated the cytotoxic HIV-specific immune response and whether such stimulation correlated with low viremia off treatment, and (2) were safe with respect to clinical complications, development of viral resistance, and decline in CD4 cell counts.

SETTING: Outpatient clinics of university hospitals in Switzerland and Spain. PATIENTS: A total of 133 patients receiving HAART, with a median CD4 cell count of 740/ microL, and whose viral load had been undetectable for a median of 21 months.

INTERVENTIONS: HAART was interrupted for 2 weeks, restarted, and continued for 8 weeks. After 4 such cycles, treatment was indefinitely suspended 40 weeks after study entry.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HIV-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses were evaluated by interferon gamma enzyme-linked immunospot analysis. The proportion of "responders" (viral load <5000 copies/mL) was measured at weeks 52 and 96. HIV-related diseases and CD4 cell counts were recorded.

RESULTS: Seventeen percent of patients (95% confidence interval, 11%-25%) were responders at week 52, and 8% at week 96. Low pre-HAART viral load and lack of rebound during weeks 0 to 40 predicted response. HIV-specific CD8+ T cells increased between week 0 (median, 343 spot-forming cells per million peripheral blood lymphocytes [SFC/106 PBL]) and week 52 (median, 1930 SFC/106 PBL), but there was an inverse correlation between response and the number of spot-forming cells. Eighty-five (64%) of 133 patients stopped therapy for at least 12 weeks, and 55 (41%) for at least 56 weeks. The median CD4 cell count decreased from 792/ microL to 615/ microL during the first 12 weeks without treatment, but stabilized thereafter. One patient (0.75%) developed drug resistance necessitating salvage treatment. There were no AIDS-related clinical complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study do not favor the autovaccination hypothesis. Treatment interruptions did not provoke clinical complications, and there was little drug resistance. Comparative trials will have to show what benefit, if any, is associated with intermittent, as opposed to continuous treatment. END OF ABSTRACTS

EDITOR'S COMMENT: This Swiss study says that the results of the study do not favor the autovaccination hypothesis. However, the results of the study are more of a success than the authors admit considering that the average CD4 count in 12 weeks of no treatment following the study only dropped from 792 to 615 and "stabilized thereafter." The 40 week period of no treatments and stabilized CD4 cells and no side effects from the drugs is a higher quality of life than slightly better lab numbers and the serious side effects of continuous treatments.

I might add that the results would have been more favorable had immune-based therapies been used in the off periods and the long stretch of 40 weeks at the end of the treatment periods. Logic dictates that when the HAART drugs to treat HIV are stopped, that they be stopped long enough for the viral load to reach 10K or higher so the immune system can see the virus and attempt a response. There are three problems I see with many treatment designs. Either the treatment interruption is too short a period of time or too long and none have included the intervention of immune-based therapies.

The problem with too short a time period (i.e. one week or less) is that the viral load may not have sufficiently increased to challenge the immune system. The problem with too long a period off the drugs (i.e. several months) is that the immune system will in some cases be overwhelmed and over stressed by the virus and this will increase the interluken 6 levels that stimulate the virus.

For a more favorable time cycle in these pulsed protocols, I favor a two weeks off and then two weeks on repeated over and over again or one month on and one month off repeated over again for at least 6 cycle periods for self-immunization to be enhanced and possibly control the virus without the further use of the drugs. My rational for these time frames is as follows:

First, the off period of 2 weeks to a month is long enough for a viral rebound to challenge the immune system. The "On period" of drug treatment of 2 weeks to a month will then kill off billions of viruses that provide inactivated viral particles that will be in a lower stress environment (less IL-6). The immune cells can use the inactivated viral particles more effectively than live virus to prepare a better defense for when the live viruses return.

The model of using inactivated viral particles has a greater chance of increasing the cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) response of the CD8 cells. Continuous drug therapy will not stimulate a CD8 CTL response that the pulsed protocols or strategic treatment interruptions can provide. Pulsed protocols without but preferably with intervention of other immune-based therapies are a viable treatment option for management of HIV as well as other chronic infections like HHV-6 and viral hepatitis. The other great advantage of pulsed protocols is that side effects from the drugs can be reduced from 50 to 75%. Finally adding immune-based therapies to the treatment program can have a positive effect on the immune response and viral load.

This list of 20 immune-based therapies is not complete because it is a work in progress and so many factors can impact the immune response. Sugar, soda, hard liquor (but not beer), processed foods with corn syrup etc and some dairy products like milk, certain hard cheeses and ice cream, even wheat products can negatively stress and impact the immune response. Cooking foods in Microwave ovens and certain food additives including Aspartame (Nutrasweet), Carrageenan (suppresses macrophages) and food colorings can suppress immune responses. The choices people make as far as what foods they avoid or add to their diet or supplements they use can affect the bottom line of CD4 counts and viral load.

Searching for a herbal cocktail to treat HIV naturally

In 1996, Chang and Kong of Cornell Medical College in New York presented abstract no Mo.B.303 at the Int. AIDS Conf when nearly all the media attention was focused on the new protease inhibitors and triple drug combination therapy. With the passage of time, the need for effective treatments that do not have serious adverse effects as many of the HIV drugs do remains as important a goal as ever.

Chang and Kong researched all the published literature for the thousands of plant extracts that were tested for anti-HIV activity and found 70 compounds and 76 crude plant extracts inhibited HIV in vitro. The compounds were 29 terpenes, 29 flavinoids, 15 polysaccharides, 8 coumarins, 6 tannins, 4 lectins, 4 quinolones, 2 peptides and 7 other alkaloids. The mode or viral inhibition includes reverse transcriptase inhibition, protease inhibition, and interference of infection at the viral cell entry. They reported only a handful of these herbs were studied in uncontrolled studies and (these include ganoderma, momordica, Curcumin, Acemannan, glycyrrhizin, lentinan, hypericin, GLQ233 and PCK-4). The authors concluded that plants and herbs offered an excellent source for discovering low cost treatments for HIV that do not have serious side effects.

A search of the literature finds a variety of anti-HIV botanicals that may work on different angles to stop the viral cycle. These include

Prunella Vulgaris (HealAll): Extract of Prunella vulgaris inhibits HIV replication at reverse transcription in vitro and can be absorbed from intestine in vivo. Antivir Chem Chemother. 2000 Mar;11(2):157-64.

Red Sage Root (Salvia miltiorrhiza) aka Danshen; Tumeric (Curcumin) and Green Coffee Beans. Salvia miltiorrhiza was studied by Abd-Elazem, Chen, Bates and Huang at John Hopkins Univ. in Baltimore (1). Two integrase inhibitors were isolated from the roots of the plant that "exhibited potent effect against HIV-1 integrase activity in vitro and viral replication in vivo" according to the researchers who identified the two compounds at lithospermic acid and lithospermic acid B. They also stated "These two structurally related compounds are potent anti-HIV inhibitors and showed no cytotoxicity to H9 cell at high concentrations."

The two characteristics of these compounds that are critically important is that the product is a potent inhibitor of HIV and is not toxic to other cells. This means that Red Sage Root also known as Danshen or by its botanical name "salvia miltiorrhiza" is a herb worth considering in the search for a safe a effective herbal cocktail to treat HIV.

1. Isolation of non-toxic inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase from Salvia miltiorrhiza; Abd-elazem, Chen, Bates and Huang; Antiviral Res. 2002 Jul;55(1):91-106

Hyssop officinalis. "Mar 10" has been isolated from Hyssop and is a potent inhibitor of HIV as reported by Gollapudi S et al at the Univ. of CA in Irvine (2) Also significant is a lack of toxic effects on healthy cells. Hyssop was first looked at as a treatment for HIV in 1990 by Kreis w et al at North Shore Univ in Manhasset, NY. They reported good antiviral activity in a RT assay and inhibiting syncytia formation. In 2002, researchers in Spain, Bedoya et al tested 15 common herbals and found that Hyssop and Dittrichia viscosa both inhibited HIV at low concentrations and showed no cytotoxicity.

IL-6 is a cytokine or chemical messenger and is one of many found in the body. It is a TH2 type cytokine. IL-6 is to HIV and cancer what gasoline is to fire. Stress is a primary cause of elevated IL-6 levels as is candidiasis and insomnia. Stress reduction appears to be the key to reducing interluken 6 levels. Cayenne, Hops, Neem, Beta sitosterol (sterols, sterolins) Moducare?, calcium, magnesium, lecithin and the trace mineral lithium may help reduce IL-6 levels and thereby slow down the viral replication.

Various drugs and herbs with sedative or anti-anxiety effects (possibly valium) may also reduce IL-6 levels.

Lemon Balm is a sedative with potent anti-HIV effects but its use is limited as tests show in higher amount it also has toxic effects on normal cells. Toxicity is also a problem for the Mistletoe herb. In choosing herbs or drugs, it is best to find the ones that can be used in higher doses without adverse effects.

I have spoken with various persons treated for bi-polar conditions who are prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs. One person on lithium who has never taken an HIV drug or protease inhibitor reports a CD4 count of over 1000 three years after becoming infected with HIV and has no sign of immune system decline and no opportunistic infections and did I forget to mention a PCR viral load of less than 3000.

He told me the amount of lithium he took would be toxic to a normal person. However, can a person with HIV take higher than normal amounts of lithium and stop HIV progression without side effects from the lithium? Here is an area of research that is wide open for someone. Stopping HIV progression by normalizing IL-6 levels is long overdue and may yield low cost non toxic treatments that can go on working year after year without the fear of viral mutations or resistance as normalizing IL-6 levels is an immune-based therapy and the concerns of viral resistance is a non-issue.

Hops and Beer: In the 1990's we followed 12 case reports from the 1980's of long term HIV survivors who drank up to a 6 pack of beer daily for several years. As hops is used in beer, the herb would be consumed daily. Hops is known for gentle yet safe effects on the nervous system. It is a natural sedative. In the late 1980's and early 90's, it was in my opinion, a more effective treatment than AZT (Retrovir) monotherapy. However, the benefits of drinking beer did n

The hard liquor drinkers and those with a sweet tooth (sugar and soda addictions) progressed from HIV to AIDS rapidly. There are two cases, one of which I know personally, where long term daily beer drinking (3 to 6 beers daily) and also staying away from street drugs, liquor and sweets, this person actually sero-converted from HIV positive to negative after about 6 years. In another case I learned of, a long-term beer drinker became HIV negative after 7 years.

In one local case I followed, the person also rode a bicycle 5 miles each day year around. Who wants to fund a beer drinking study as a treatment for AIDS?

As for cayenne and hot peppers, we should not ignore the very low rate of HIV and AIDS in Mexico and in Korea, two countries that use lots of red pepper. In Korea, Kim-Chee, cultured cabbage and other cultured vegetables with added red pepper are widely consumed. Sauerkraut, salsa and certainly garlic can be part of any diet to help control and even treat HIV.

Neem is a bitter herb widely used in India for centuries for multiple health benefits. It is a strong inducer of TH1 cytokines, has natural sedative properties and strong anti-cancer effects. One reader with HIV taking 6 Neem leaf capsules daily recently told me a KS lesion disappeared in the first month of use.

Virucidal lubricant needed to help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Abstinence prevents STDs 100% and sex with condoms has significantly reduced (close to 99%) the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among the groups of people that will use them.

Today, it is not only teenagers and the youth with highly driven sexual urges and emotional needs that are in danger of transmissible diseases, but the elderly who use Viagra are now joining a growing list of persons taking HIV meds and other drugs to treat various STDs from HIV to hepatitis to herpes. This is not a pretty picture. Why are so many people refusing to use condoms?

One reason is that condoms are known to reduce the sensations of pleasure in sexual intimacy and are as often not used as used for this reason. This is an important issue and when the passions of intimacy are raging, people in love or lust will make spontaneous decisions to trust their partner and have unprotected sex and risk exposure to unknown pathogens. With condoms not being used by about half of the sexually active population (especially the very young and senior citizens), the STDs continue to spread. The question that no one is addressing is this:

Is it possible to create a virucidal foam and/or personal lubricant that will prevent the spread of STDs without the added need to use condoms?

I doubt that if such a product could be developed that it would ever be 100% effective in preventing the transmission of STDs. But what if it were 95 to 99% effective? It could prevent tens of millions of sexually transmitted diseases each year.

Published research on Medline/NLM finds that Nonoxyonol 9, a common Spermicide, actually increases the risk of HIV transmission. Yet, I have seen no warning labels that the use of this product may increase the risk of acquiring HIV.

One possible solution might be a foam spray and personal lubricant made with Neem. Neem extracts are potent anti-viral, anti fungal, and anti bacterial as well as natural spermicides. It would be a good place for researchers to start in developing a virucidal product to help prevent the spread of STDs. How such a product would be tested in humans would be an ethical quagmire to resolve but I have no doubt there would be plenty of volunteers.

Mixing Neem Seed Oil half and half with a personal lubricant might provide some protection against some of the STDs. However, oil-based lubricants like Neem Seed oil cannot be used with condoms without causing them to structurally weaken. Condoms do break sometimes which is why an effective water-based virucidal foam and lubricant needs to be developed and made available. A water-based Neem extract and lubricant is one possibility.

Santini R et al report that a survey questionnaire was conducted on 530 people (270 men and 260 women) living or not in the vicinity of cellular phone base stations on 18 non-specific health symptoms. Comparison of complaints frequencies showed a statistically significant increase as compared to persons living greater than 300 meters (325 yards) from the phone relay towers.

Women had more complaints than men. Both men and women who had side effects reported 1. Tiredness, 2. Headache, 3. Loss of memory, 4. Irritability, 5. Depression, 6. Dizziness, 7. Libido decrease, 8. Nausea, 9 Sleep disturbance and 10. Visual perturbations.

The five researchers concluded that because of symptoms in persons living near phone relay base stations that the minimum distance anyone should be from a cellular phone tower is 300 meters or about 325 yards. In addition to the dangers of living too close to a cellular phone tower, three local persons I know who are frequent users of cell phones acknowledge having short-term memory loss.

Cell phones and memory loss. There are several reports on the Internet of persons using cell phones who are having loss of short-term memory.

The following articles are excerpts from the Journal of Immunity Vol 1, No 2, 2003

Guaifenesin for Fibromyalgia and respiratory infections

In June 2003, I was in contact with a local person who told me he was HIV+ and had been for several years, actually since 1999. I will call him Bill, not his real name. I asked him how he was doing and he said "fine." I inquired about his T cells and he added: "The T cells (CD4) are over 600 and the viral load is about 9000 as of the last test." I asked him what drug combination he was taking and he said "none." I said "none?" and he said, "yes, none. The doctor says I am not ready to start the drugs yet as I am a non- progressor."

I told him the usual viral load of someone not taking an effective anti-viral cocktail is a viral load over 100,000 along with a steady decline in the CD4s. I began to wonder if he was infected with a weak strain of the HIV virus or has an unusual genetic makeup that stopped progression or the third possibility that some unknown factor in his life had stopped the progression, but what? I asked him to stop and think and tell me of any and all drugs, dietary supplements and OTC medications he has taken since 2000. At this time he said, let me start at the beginning.

"In 2000, before I knew I was HIV+, I had 5 strep (streptococcus) infections in the previous year. The strep infections had started in the fall of 1999 and were accompanied by sore and swollen lymph nodes. I took antibiotics for nearly a whole year. By mid-summer 2000, my doctor said I should have my tonsils taken out to prevent the reoccurrence of the infections. A second doctor whom I had been consulting with suggested that before the operation I try a prescribed daily dose of guaifenesin. I told him anything is worth a try. He prescribed 200 mg tablets and I took two daily (400 mg total each day) Within one month I was finally free of the Strep infections and swollen lymph nodes that had plagued me for a year. I was feeling good and back to normal. It was now October 2000. Later that month, I happened to be at an event where they were giving HIV tests, so I decided to take one. A few weeks later I got a call and the news that I was HIV+."

"After discussing my life style with my physician, we both agreed that I had most likely become infected in 1999, prior to those 5 strep infections that I battled for a whole year. The doctor ordered blood tests and they came back indicating the viral load was around 6000 and the CD4 cells were over 700. I have had tests every 3 months since then with little change the numbers."

I asked Bill if he had any symptoms like night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, thrush, herpes, fatigue, pneumonia etc. He said he had none in the past 3 years and that he still takes his Guaifenesin daily. I asked him about other supplements and he said he took a one a day vitamin tablet and that was it as far as supplements go. I told him that the vitamin tablet would not explain these results. I then began to wonder aloud if the guaifenesin had stopped his HIV progression. Bill was surprised when I brought up this theory.

Bill also told me that after that risky behavior in August of 1999 that he did not engage in any behavior that would put himself at risk of getting HIV until he took an HIV antibody test in October of 2000. Last of all, both he and his physician believe that during the year of the 5 strep infections (1999/2000) he was also HIV+. Bill credits the guaifenesin for preventing new strep infections in the past 3 years and is tantalized by the possibility that it might have contributed to slowing down the HIV progression.

Bill asked me if I knew of anyone else HIV+ who had used guaifenesin this long. I told him I did not. "You are the first, as far as I know." Certainly a single case does not establish this as a fact in reality, yet it is a starting point for further research.

Mark Konlee's comments on using Guaifenesin for sinusitis: My personal experience with guaifenesin this past summer is that when I started taking 400 mg twice daily in June and also eliminated certain milk products and lactose (milk, cheese and ice cream), that I have become very intolerant of, I remained completely free of sinusitis, a condition that has plagued me for many years. A tendency I have had toward symptoms of rheumatism, associated with the use of milk products, also went away.

Guaifenesin for Fibromyalgia

A search about Guaifenesin on the internet yielded some surprises. I read reports of some people with fibromyalgia (FM) recovering nearly completely by using 600 mg or more of guaifenesin 2 times daily. A lot of information about the use of guaifenesin for treating FM is available at a website called www.guaifenesin.com.

Dr Paul St. Amand recommends persons with fibromyalgia avoid products with salicylates when using guaifenesin to treat fibromyalgia. The need to avoid salicylates appears to affect persons with Fibromyalgia in varying degrees. Salicylates are found in Aspirin, similar products and many topical skin creams as well as some foods and herbs. Other conditions for which guaifenesin may be used might not be affected by the use of salicylates.

Over the counter cough syrups like Robitussin whose active ingredient is guaifenesin do not advise against using salicylates . The absence of the notice to avoid salicylates in cold remedies suggests that in treating health conditions that are not related to Fibromyalgia such as HIV/AIDS, sinusitis, respiratory infections, etc that the use of salicylates may not affect the treatment outcome in the same negative way as with Fibromyalgia.

Some people report that guaifenesin is the most effective treatment found for fibromyalgia to date and report complete recovery. However, some people obtain only partial relief and a few obtain no results at all. Very few treatments exist today for any condition that are 100% effective all of the time. This does not diminish the effectiveness of a treatment when it does work.

The substance originally came from the bark of a tree called "guaiacum." Immunesuport.com reports that the bark of this tree was used to treat rheumatism in the16th century. About 20 years ago, scientists learned how to synthesize the bitter substance from the guaiacum tree and it became known as guaifenesin. It has been widely used in cold medicines for the past two decades.

The standard dose in cold medicines is about 1200 mg daily of guaifenesin in a 24 hour period. While these OTC cold treatments recommend short-term use, if the condition does not clear up, see a doctor. This advice is usually standard for all OTC drugs. At 1200 mg daily, the best available information is that it could be taken for several years and no toxic effects have been reported even at doses up to 3600 mg daily. However there is no point in pushing this envelope. If 800 to 1200 mg daily solves a health problem, then stay at this level as long as you feel comfortable with it.

Note: www.guaifenesin.comn, there are several links to sites where you can obtain Guaifenesin.

Guaifenesin claim to fame is as an expectorant that loosens and thins mucus. That might suffice to help explain how guaifenesin helps overcome a sinus or respiratory infection as a treatment, but this alone does not adequately explain how quaifenesin can prevent strep and other infections of the sinus and lungs when taken as a preventative. What I have found lacking in the published literature are studies of the effects of guaifenesin on cytokines like IgA, IL-12, antigen presentation, DTH and other immune markers.

RH Buckley writes that "Selective absence of serum and secretory IgA is probably the most common form of human innumodeficiency. High frequencies of recurrent sinusitis, otitis media, pneumonia and atopy were noted among a group of 75 such patients all but 4 of whom were Caucasian." (1)

Numerous studies have linked IgA deficiency with sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, sore and swollen joints, anemia, low platelet count, food allergy and asthma. (2, 3)

Lizeng Q et all found that serum IgA suppressed the replication of HIV-2. Lizeng found 96% of all IgA samples reacted against whole HIV-2 antigen and 100% reacted with gp 36. (4)

Challacombe and Sweet state: "There is a paradox that profound HIV-induced immunodeficiency is present systemically, whereas the majority of infections associated with HIV disease are present or initiated at mucosal surfacesä. Considerable attention has been given to the possibility of mucosal immunization against HIV and there is evidence that secretory IgA antibody is neutralizing to different HIV strains." (5)

Medical Hypothesis:

Guaifenesin, with other factors (Vitamin A, silica, the probiotic B-longum etc) promote mucosal immunity and could inhibit HIV progression

As guaifenesin reverses many of the conditions associated with chronic IgA deficiency, studies are need to determine if, in fact, guaifenesin actually increases mucosal IgA levels. At this juncture, there does not appear to be any other logical theory as to why guaifenesin would have these protective effects on the mucus membranes other than improving the status of mucosal IgA.

Vitamin A is also grossly under used in the battle against AIDS, candidiasis and CFIDS. A and D from fish oil in capsules of 10,000 i.u of A and 400 i.u of D should be taken daily. Initially, 2 capsules twice daily for the first month then reduce to 2 capsules daily.

About NEEM, I don't know if I could praise it enough. We recommend it to all patients at Abha Light. We've had incidents of bedridden patients getting up after two-four weeks of using only Neem tea and returning to energetic & productive life. I should add that I don't know of any actual cures at this time. . Some people may discontinue using Neem prematurely when they start feeling better. Perhaps they should pulse the treatment ‚ one month on followed by one month off.

Neem (Azadirachta indica. Melia azadirachta indica. Nim or Neem. Margosa Bark) is a tree native to South Asia (India, Thailand) and has been used in India for thousands of years. It is extremely well researched & documented (mainly from India) see www.neemfoundation.org for more information.

It's been transplanted to Africa, where it grows plentifully. It's Swahili name is "muraurabaini" which means "cures 40 diseases" -- the "40" meaning "so many, all"

Its' traditional uses have been as anti-malaria and for skin. It is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Traditionally, in India, it is usual for a housewife to serve with a meal a spoonful or two of the leaves fried in ghee to her family at least once a week. The leaves, bark and seeds are used in medicine. All have similar properties and all can be used effectively for everything, but traditionally the leaves are primarily used for skin diseases, the bark as anti-malarial, and the seeds for everything & for birth control.

Neem is extremely bitter (like grapefruit seed extract). It is its bitterness that cleans the liver, spleen, kidneys & blood. The bitterness creates a negative environment for malaria & other parasites, killing them off or sterilizing them. Neem will temporarily cause sterility in eggs and sperm. That is why it's also used as an agricultural insecticide & fertilizer. It doesn't kill the pests, it makes them sterile. Therefore after a generation ( a few weeks in an insect's life), one's garden/farm becomes pest free.

Long-term use ‚ internally - of Neem will cause temporary sterility in men & women. One will harmlessly revert to fertility after stopping it. It's been used as a birth control for centuries in India.

Neem oil can be applied inside the vagina and it will work as a spermicide! That is, it will prevent birth. It will cure the vaginitis someone may be suffering from and it probably will prevent the transmission of STDs possibly including HIV. A real 3-in-1!

At Abha Light I make a tincture of the leaves and bark. I find this to be effective & economical for our patients. I would advise taking anything from 10 drops to 1 teaspoon a day. There is no known toxicity of Neem. (though don't be overeager and overdose yourself! It's not necessary & why go looking for toxicity levels!)

To make a herbal tincture you put the powdered leaves & bark with alcohol in a sterile glass jar for 2-4 weeks. Shake the jar daily. Then strain through a cheese cloth or coffee filter. Keep in a cool dark place. Vodka can be used in a pinch. Better would be pure alcohol- ethanol (NOT methanol!) but I don't know if that's available to the common folk. Use 300 grams of leaves (about 10 ounces) to 1 liter alcohol or vodka)

Alternatively, the Neem oil (nasty tasting & bitter!!!) could be put into capsules -- "1" "0" or "00" and 1-3 caps a day would be quite enough. You know, Mark, my clients live on the "lower" end of the economic scale, & we find 5-10 drops (a single "1" or "0" capsule) is plenty.

To make a home-made oil suitable for skin (but nasty smelling & tasting) you could put powdered leaves into ordinary oil (olive, coconut, sunflower, etc) and filter it out two weeks later. This homemade oil can be taken internally if you dare (yechh by taste). For external use, you can deodorize it by adding some tea tr

You can dilute pure Neem-seed oil with cooking oil by 50-70% (1:2 or 1:3 parts) and it will still be effective on the skin. This would be economical. or add it into a base-cream of any kind.

Alternatively, 5 -10 leaves a day either boiled as a tea or powdered in capsules (I'd guess about 6 "0" capsules?) daily would be enough. One could also lightly roast the leaves and eat it at the beginning of a meal (Ayurvedic -Indian way

Chinese way -- that is use 3 cups of water for 10 leaves (2 teaspoons powder) and gently boil it down to two cups. Drink one cup in the morning & one in the night.

Anybody with skin diseases should use Neem soap (surely available at health shops & Indian markets in USA). Tooth disease & gingivitis patients could use Neem toothpaste (also at health & Indian shops) or wash the mouth out with Neem tea.

Neem will purify the liver, spleen, kidneys, blood, skin. It's been used effectively to cure diabetes, high blood pressure, liver ailments and ailments of the pancreas, kidney and spleen too. It used against psoriasis, eczema, HIV septic eruptions. I will take a guess and say it can be effective against Kaposi's. It will destroy parasites of all kinds (through pH factor or sterility) where ever they may be found. I think there is no end to the number of diseases that Neem cures.

HIV+ persons should consider using Neem as a general prophylatic. That is, one could take it daily - for a period --say 1 month - in order to purify the blood.

(Note: unless taken daily don't count on it as birth control). For other questions, ask the Neem foundation (www.neemfoundation.org).

Editor's Note: Scientific research has found Neem to be a powerful inducer of TH1 cytokines. This was reported in Positive Health News, Report No 18. Didi gives a lot of recommendations on using Neem so as to almost be confusing. However, her email says that the Neem tea alone has revived bedridden AIDS patients as a monotherapy by drinking 2 cups of Neem tea daily. This is made by adding 10 Neem leaves or 2 teaspoons of Neem leaf powder and gently boil it down to two cups. Drink one cup in the morning & one in the night.

Didi also mentions using Neem bark or Neem seed oil. Neem leaf is widely available in capsules. Neemdirect lists over a dozen manufacturers of Neem capsules and markets several Neem products. One capsule three times daily is a standard dose on some bottles but is this enough or should this dose be about 6 capsules daily as Didi suggested?

For Neem powder or capsules, you can write to Neemdirect, 16776 Bernardo Center Dr, #209, San Diego, CA 92128 or check with your local health food store, supplement supplier or health care practitioner.

I have been unable to find any reports or information on adverse effects of using Neem. This herb long used in Indian medicine appears to be relatively safe.

One article on Neem is found at the NLM by Talwar Gp et al Immunol Cell Biol. 1997 Apr 75(2):190-2. I part Talwar states:

"A transient increase in CD4 and more significantly in CD8 cells in noticedä..a rise in TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma in draining lymph nodesäis observe. Another interesting property is their inhibitory action on a wide spectrum of micro-organisms, including Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, gonorrhoeae, drug-resistant Staphyloccoccus, e-coli, Herpes simplex and HIV-1."

Pregnant women should not use Neem, as it is known to induce abortions. It is a strong promoter of TH-1 cytokine responses (IL-12, IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and may help with many other TH-1 deficient conditions like cancer.

Karen, HIV+, with a viral load of 6000 and a CD4 count or 1282 on August 21st (2003) was advised by her physician to stop using her drug cocktail due to seriously elevated liver enzymes. By September 19th, Karen's viral load increased to 160,000.

The following week Karen began using 400 mg of Guaifenesin twice daily and Neem Leaf Capsules (3 twice daily) to her regimen that also included 800 mcg daily of plant-based selenium (Phytosel) and 1 tsp daily of Lauricidin (Monolaurin) pellets.

On Oct 31st, about 5 weeks after starting this protocol and without resuming the use of the HIV drugs, Karen's viral load dropped to 26000. Her CD4's were at 947 and CD8s at 1098 in her latest test. Karen says the results are interesting and thinks the Neem and the Guaifenesin may have had something to do with reducing her viral load while her doctor says that sometimes the immune system kicks in to control the virus when a person stops using a drug cocktail over an extended period of time.

In the first case I reported on the use of Guaifenesin for HIV, Bill had used 400 mg daily for about 3 years but has now doubled his use of Guaifenesin as a monotherapy and now uses 400 mg 2X. He also takes Wellbutrin for depression. He wants to find out in a few weeks if the increased use of Guaifenesin will lower his current HIV viral load of 15000. Update: the increased use of Guaifenesin did not decrease the viral load that stayed about the same, as did the CD4 cells.

While guaifenesin can be helpful in protecting the mucosal surfaces from various infections, its role in the treatment of HIV is yet to be more clearly defined. Further testing will help determine if the Neem has more therapeutic value than the Guaifenesin as an antiviral..

What Homeopathic research says about Guaiacum (the herbal equivalent of Guaifenesin)

HISTORY - Guaiacum, is best known as a remedy in gout and rheumatism and as a diuretic, but lately has also taken a place in old-school therapeutics as a remedy for tuberculosis.

HOMEOPATHIC - It acts on mucous membranes, muscles, joints and bones. Gouty nodosities on joints. Guaifenesins chief action is on fibrous tissue. It is especially adapted to the arthritic diathesis, rheumatism and tonsillitis. Guai. is very valuable in acute rheumatism and aggravation from local heat. Secondary syphilis. Contraction of limbs, stiffness and immobility. Feeling that he must stretch.

Tonsillitis with rheumatism. Muscles seem too short or feel sore. Short tendons. Unclean odor from whole body. Promotes suppuration of abscesses. Free foul, secretions, expectoration, sweat, etc. Hastens suppuration in abscesses. Burning heat in affected part. Muscles and tendons are contracted resulting in painful, rigidity and swelling of the joints. Gnawing or sticking pains in chest.

CLINICAL ‚ Bronchitis, Constipation, Contraction, Cough, Diarrhea, Diphtheria, Earache, Emaciation, Fever, Gout, Growing-pains, Headache, Hernia, Membranous dysmenorrhea, Mercury effects. Neuralgia, Osteomalacia, Otitis, Ovaries inflammation, Pleurisy, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Stomach disorders, Syphilis, Throat disorders, Tonsillitis, Toothaches, Torticollis, Tuberculosis and Vomiting.

Note: The above list of diseases mentions the sphere of activity of this herb. This does not mean that persons will be cured of all these conditions. It's interesting that to see the connection between "fibrous tissue" and sinus inflammations, etc.

Didi Ananda Rucira wishes to thank the people from outside Africa who have written her for information, but she suggests they contact Neem Foundation instead. Everyone is welcome to visit her web site at http://home.pacific.net.sg/~rucira/alf or write her at abhalight@eudoramail.com or PO Box 236-00515, Nairobi Kenya.

Neem oil can be applied inside the vagina and it will work as a spermicide! That is, it will prevent conception. For other questions, go to the Neem Foundation at www.neemfoundation.org

CA;Feb 10th. Eli who has self-treated for his HIV for the past 10 years with a current CD4 count of 350 and a viral load of 35K added 6 Neem leaf capsules and 2 guaifenesin capsules to his daily regimen in November, 2003. Within a month, a Kaposi's Sarcoma lesion of his leg began to shrink, change colors and then completely faded from view by Christmas. Because of research that indicates Neem to be a powerful inducer of TH1 cytokines, it most likely contributed to the KS remission.

Neem, Hyssop, the Maitake mushroom and DNCB have all been associated with past or current case reports that their use has resulted in KS remissions in persons with HIV but have not been tested in persons with full blown AIDS.

Among the FDA approved protease inhibitors prior to 2003 for treating AIDS, only Norvir (Ritonavir) has consistently remitted KS lesions, even in very advanced cases of AIDS.

An alternative combo that needs to be studied for treating HIV and CFIDS: Naltrexone, Guaifenesin and Neem and possibly including other factors that support IgA and mucosal immunity (i.e. Thyroxin, Vitamin A, plant-based Selenium, Silica and the probiotic B-longum). Then you could add Hyssop and an integrase inhibitor like Tumeric (Curcumin) or Red Sage Root. Who will fund this study?

Sutherlandia ‚ interest waning. IMPI and neuropathy

V> Sutherlandia may have some value in treating HIV and cancer but I feel the dose recommendations of 300 mg twice daily are insufficient to produce desired results. 1200 to 2400 mg daily might yield better results. One person with HIV taking 600 mg daily of Sutherlandia reported no improvement in the CD4's or viral load after two months of use as a monotherapy. In IMPI, 3 persons said they liked the formula but no one has provided any data on lab results. Also two other persons with HIV using IMPI report they developed neuropathy in their feet after using the African formula.

Goot - still good after one year - Garlic Oil Ointment

Sept., 2003. GOOT is a formula I came up with several years ago that continues to this day to have miraculous healing powers. The formula is described on page 273 of my book on Immune Restoration. It is made by blending raw garlic cloves with olive oil and coconut oil. It is blended in a coffee grinder or food processor until it turns into a paste.

In my book, I recommend it for both external and internal problems involving infections as garlic kills almost anything in its path ‚ bacteria, mycoplasma, fungus and viruses. It has not been tried on Lyme disease and I don't know why not. It knocks out athlete's foot, jock itch, anal itch, vaginitis, thrush, infections of the toe and fingernails, skin infections of any kind and chest colds and sinus infections. Just rub it in the skin near where the problem is. In the Immune Restoration Handbook, I had recommended making a new batch every 2 weeks, but no longer.

A surprise development has occurred within the past week. A batch of GOOT I made last summer, over a year ago, has been in my refrigerator all this time. A friend recently got a stomach flu. I gave him the bottle of GOOT. He rubbed some on his stomach before bedtime. In the morning he felt fine. Within the past two weeks, I came down with a flu and cold. I applied the one-year old GOOT on my chest and found the flu and cold on the wane the following day. I am truly amazed at its effectiveness after one year.

Didi on GOOT

Add a teaspoon of TUMERIC (yellow powder) - the stuff that's used to make Indian curries yellow into the recipe. Turmeric's herbal value is as a skin antiseptic and blood purifier.

The root is used in India as a daily blood tonic to clear out many ailments -rheumatism, liver weakness and on and on. Traditionally whenever there is a social gathering like a wedding or religious festival, people will ritually bath then smear turmeric over their bodies. This ritual is the ancient way of preventing the spread of disease in circumstances where sanitation may be a problem (such as holy gatherings of thousands of people) .

For that matter we add Neem powder into the Goot also.

Sincerely,

Didi Ananda Rucira

Director, Abha Light

visit: http://home.pacific.net.sg/~rucira/alf

Sept 2003 ‚ the Flu strikes

In a duplex where I live in West Allis, Dave who lives in the other apt and myself came down with a cold and muscle aches that resembled both a cold and the flu after a friend of Dave visited him early in September. The person later acknowledged that he had the Flu a few days earlier and did not realize it was still contagious.

It lasted more than 3 weeks and was quite stubborn in leaving. Possibly it was the same strain of flu that is now widespread in the United States and recently killed several children in Colorado. Here are a few pointers I learned in how to deal with it.

How I treated the Flu

Muscle cramps if they develop can be alleviated by taking 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salts (Magnesium Chloride) in a glass of water. This can be used once or twice daily. Along with this take a few spoonfuls of blackstrap molasses. If body temperature is unusually low, take cayenne capsules and kelp.

For respiratory congestion, pour 1/4th cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on a towel and lay it over the chest area. The peroxide can be heated up before placing it on the towel. Regular over the counter H2O2, the kind that comes in a brown bottle, will work fine. This treatment with the H2O2 can be done every 4 to 8 hours.

About a half hour after the H2O2 treatment, you can eat some slices of a raw potato. An enzyme in the raw potato called "catalase" will break down the hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. The catalase will meet the peroxide in the blood stream and the breakdown will occur there. The result of this two-part approach will be increased oxygenation of the blood and the destruction of viruses without the oxidative stress of too much H2O2.

In the process of this slow acting flu, we also discovered that rosehips could increase and even help normalize body temperature. We discovered that only raw rosehips extract or powder, not cooked or heated, had this effect. In addition, I found Zinc and Echinacea lozenges as well as Olive leaf extract capsules to be helpful.

What helped me battle the flu

Raw garlic or GOOT

Zinc ‚ 50 mg daily

Echinacea

3% H2O2 applied topically on the chest area or used sublingually.

Rose Hips powder (1/2 tsp every 4 to 8 hours) ‚ raises body temperature.

Quaifenesin (400 mg 2x)

Olive Leaf Extract ‚ 2 caps 2 X

Cayenne and Kelp capsules if body temp is low.

Sees-2000 (Lomatium Dissectum roots) ‚ 1 twice daily

Magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salts ‚ 1/2 tsp daily in water for muscle cramps) and lots of rest and water and homemade chicken vegetable soup.

Rosehips powder increases body temperature

I mixed one part raw dried rosehips powder with 4 parts Agave Nectar (although honey could also be used). Eating a spoonful of this and measuring the body temperature, both Dave and I observed a 1-degree increase in temperature in about 30 minutes. In my case, body temperature actually returned to normal. The most cost effective way to buy rosehips powder is by the pound or half pound. The "seedless" powder is easier to use. Mix 1/2 teaspoon with water, a shake, fiber drink or mix with applesauce or yogurt or premix it with honey or Agave Nectar and eat a spoonful or two daily as needed.

Note: I tested canned rosehips preserves and found them to not have this effect in raising body temperature. The heat of canning must have destroyed the thermogenic properties of this fruit. This leaves us with the choice of using either raw rosehips powder or a cold-processed extract.

It is of interest that a friend who has done research on the life of Nostradamus told me that he read the prophet had cured the Plague using Rose Hips.

Detoxi-pads remove toxins and heavy metals, improves well-being

After 3 people wrote or called me this past fall to tell me the benefits they were getting from foot pads that pulls toxins out of their body I decided to investigate further. Interestingly, dried vinegar and bamboo wood are the two main ingredients in the products. The pads are made in various Asian countries including China and the Philippines.

They are taped to the bottom of one or both feet before going to bed and then taken off in the morning. Toxins from the body are absorbed into the pads changing the color from a light tan to a dark gray or other colors. The pads act like a poultice and draw poisons out of the body. After trying the pads, I am convinced in their effectiveness. I found the pads so powerful that I only use one at a time on one foot ‚ not one on each foot.

The benefits I noticed are deeper and more restful sleep, better sense of well being the next day, joints feel more limber. Arthritic and rheumatic pains also totally disappear. I tend to get rheumatic pains in one or two fingers occasionally. (Note ‚ turned 60 this past August) I have observed that one's health is not like a bottle of wine ‚ it does not improve with age.

In doing an Internet search for these pads, I found mostly MLM companies marketing the products. There are a lot of fine, even extraordinary products sold through multi-level marketing, but they usually tend to cost more that direct marketed products. I opted to order the 10 pads from a source in the Philippines that sells the "Detoxi-Pad" product that costs about $25.00

Detoxi-Pad is a new product that detoxifies the body using a natural extract from certain trees called pyroligneous acid or wood vinegar. After many years of research inspired by the longevity and resilience of forest trees, it was discovered in Japan that wood and bamboo vinegar extracts have the unique property of adsorbing bodily toxins. Further research and the addition of other natural active ingredients produced the Detoxi-Pad Natural Toxin-Adsorbing Pads.

Detoxi-Pads are used by sticking it onto the soles of the feet just before bedtime. After 8-10 hours, results are immediately seen and felt. Detoxi-Pads turn from a dry yellowish-white powder to a damp, brownish-gray guck. This indicates the amount of toxins adsorbed from the body. A dark color means a large amount of toxins adsorbed. The user will feel energetic and relaxed and pains and aches related to bodily toxins are greatly easedãa great help to those suffering from arthritis, gout, and rheumatism! Indeed, Detoxi-Pad removes toxins while you sleep!

Effects of Detoxi-Pad

The primary effect of detoxification by Detoxi-Pad is improvement of blood circulation. As toxins are removed from the body, blood circulates more freely and bring with a host of health benefits such as easing of muscle and joint pains, improved immune system, and a more relaxed and restful sleep.

Ingredients Detoxi-Pad

Each Detoxi-Pad contains the following natural ingredients and the corresponding percentage of the final blend:

Wood & bamboo vinegar (72%)

Chitin & Chitosan (1%)

Loquat leaf (1%)

Houttuynia Cordata (2%)

Vitamin C (1%)

Dextrin (23%)

Diabetic claims to have been helped with the foot pad

"My mother had an infection in her leg caused by an open wound that would not heal due to her diabetes. Her feet and ankles were extremely swollen. We made an appointment to see her doctor but the soonest she would be able to see my mother would be 2 weeks from the date the appointment was set. During those 2 weeks, I used up about 4 (of the 10 boxes I ordered last) boxes of detoxi. I would place the pads on her feet and behind her ankles. In the morning, the pads behind her ankles would have all sorts of colorful guck. Anyway, today when the doctor saw her foot, she diagnosed that an infection was present ..... an infection that had somehow been treated WITHOUT the use of antibiotics! The doctor told us, "I don't know how you did it to ease the swelling and to restore the blood circulation to the leg since the purplish color on the skin is returning to normal, but keep doing it!"

Thank you! C. Zardinidis Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

Note: I ordered my Detoxi-Pads online at www.detoxi-pad.com or you could write to them at

Blue Sierra Enterprises

Mezzanine, 818 Building

169 Pasig Boulevard

Pasig City, Philippines 1600

Telephones (+632) 746-6384 or 6385

Miraculous Water from San Damiano arrives on Nov. 19th

The Miraculous water from San Damiano arrived before Thanksgiving on Nov. 19th. All requests for the water (close to 100) have now been filled. Our current contact lives in Rome, 600 miles from where the well is located and carries the jugs on a bus when he returns from visiting his relatives. There are two five-liter jugs in Rome waiting be sent over when we need more.

We have had so far an incredibly difficult time trying to find someone to ship us the water that lives closer to where the well is located in northern Italy. We are presently waiting to hear from a contact in Milan, Italy, who offered to obtain the water for us. Because so many unexpected obstacles have crossed our path (more details than I desire to publish here) in trying to obtain this water, we will believe it when it happens.

I have a local friend, Paul M, whose wife has used the water daily for 6 months and got rid of breast cancer as well as Papilloma virus infection in the cervix. She also said prayers daily while using the water.

For another local resident with a less serious condition, Asthma, I placed some of the water in a spray bottle (Nebulizer). Craig, who had used an inhaler daily for several years to treat the asthma, inhaled a mist of the Miraculous Water. Immediately, he felt a warm feeling in his lungs and bronchial tubes and then a great sense of relaxation as he could now breathe more easily. "The tension in my chest just left me," he said. Since then, he has also given up milk, cheese and ice cream and no longer needs the inhaler.

It is because I have seen what this water can do that I want to continue to make it available. I urge prayers from other "believers" that this water will somehow continue to reach us. I say "believers" because when it comes to Marian apparitions (appearances of the Virgin Mary) there are many more non-believers than believers.

Real Photographs of Jesus and Mary

Dozens of stunning photographs taken in the past 50 years by various persons from different parts of the world were posted at

http://www.jesusphotographs.

There are over 20 photographs of "Christ in the Clouds" taken by several different people from many countries. These photographs send us a signal that Christ is returning to the Earth in the not too distant future to fulfill the words written in prophecy. Surprisingly, many of these photographs of Jesus or those of Mary look the same while the background in the pictures vary from photo to photo. The locations where the pictures were taken are by persons in different continents, time zones and years.

Also, a photograph of a statue of "Christ on the Cross" taken at a church in the Philippines was developed and it shows the real wounds of Jesus that are not visible on the statue in the church. It shows lacerations all over the body. The picture is very disturbing as it shows that Christ was both tortured and crucified. There are also many pictures of the Virgin Mary at Medijorie and elsewhere on this website.

Update: Recently the jesusphotograph website can no longer be found on the internet. However, the Medjugorje site is still functioning and there are real photos there of the Virgin Mary. Go to http://www.journeysfortheheart.com/medjugorje-apparition-photos.htm

From the Message Board - Dr. Salvato's Regimen for CFS

Posted by PJ on December 31, 2003

Hi Maxdel,

Welcome to the board! There are a lot of kind people here who will tell you about their experiences. I have learned a lot here.

I am also a CFIDS patient for the past 14 years, and I have just recently seen some great progress in my condition. My first piece of advice to you (which Mark Konlee, the originator of this board, would also give to you) is to see an immunologist about your condition and treat him/her as your primary physician.

Whatever may cause this disease; it becomes a disorder of the immune system. The dis-regulated immune system permits the body to be attacked by various invading organisms without giving a proper immune response. The only doctor who will have the tools to monitor your immune system is an immunologist. If you are close or can travel, I recommend Patricia Salvato in Houston, Texas. An infectious disease specialist will not be able to run the same tests or know what to do about them.

Here is a summary of what Dr. Salvato has used to treat me. Below I will describe why.

Products:

Nitroplex / Immunocal/ ImmunePro whey supplement

Glutathione intramuscular injections

ATP-20 (douglaslaboratories.com)

Transfer Factor Plus (4-Life Products)

Now I will tell you what procedure my doctor follows and has followed with me. She begins by ruling out other causes for symptoms, causes such as heart disease, brain tumor, thyroid disease, EBV, CMV, lupus, Lyme disease, MS, HIV, etc. If all these can be ruled out or brought under control and the patient is still symptomatic, she would run a "cytolytic subset panel". This is a blood test which tells the count of your CD3, CD4, CD8, B cell, and Natural Killer cells. These are components of the immune system that ordinarily exist within normal ranges, and in normal proportions to one another.

Of these, the most important would be the NK cells, which should be above 300. CFS patients typically present with low values for this range of cells.

She may also run a test for cyclic AMP. This is a urine test that measures the amount of adenosine triphosphate in your system. ATP is cellular energy. CFS patients are typically low in this value.

If your values were abnormal, the doc's next goals would be:

1) raise the NK cell count to at least 300

2) raise the ATP

3) modulate the immune system so that the CD4:CD8 ratio would be somewhere close to 1.8.

Doctor Salvato has had success with improving NK cell count by improving glutathione through the use of whey supplementation. Glutathione is a liver anti-oxidant. Taking a glutathione pill will not raise glutathione levels. Taking whey supplements provides the precursors for glutathione, which work. She recommends Nitroplex, but okays the use of Immunocal or ImmunePro also. Please look up these products on the net.

She also uses Transfer Factor Plus made by 4Life (see 4Life.com). This product has been shown in clinical trials to improve NK cell count up to 248%. I have been taking it this year and have seen dramatic improvement. Transfer factors are proteins that provide the immune system information on what it ought to attack. The proteins are ordinarily provided from mother to child in the mother's first milk, colostrum. Transfer Factor Plus is made from bovine colostrum.

Dr. Salvato also uses ATP-20, made by Douglas Laboratories (see their website). ATP not only improves the patient's sense of energy, but also is used in critical metabolic pathways of all kinds. Of its many functions, one of the most significant for CFS patients is antigen presentation, which is dependent on having sufficient ATP. As part of its everyday functions, the immune system must decide which foreign proteins (e.g., viruses) to contain and mark for lysing or killing. These proteins must be "presented" by the cells that contain them, and they must have ATP to do it.

Additionally, Dr. Salvato recommends no aerobic exercise until the NK cell count rises, no sugar, caffeine, or alcohol, and no avoidable stress - adrenaline production lowers NK cell counts, so avoid it, even the adrenaline from watching a suspense story. Take a good multi-vitamin which will provide additional anti-oxidants such as vitamin C. Sleep at least eight hours a night if you are able.

When I raised my NK cells recently, I was also taking the whole lemon/olive oil drink described on keephope.net for one month and the following:

IP-6 - 4 capsules per day for 2 weeks

Olive leaf extract - 3 per day for 1 week

Compounded T3 for hypothyroidism

Heavy metal detox (naturopathic drops)

Magnesium - 400 mg. per day

Zinc - 100 mg per day

Beta-carotene

Multi vitamin

Sublingual B12 - 1 per day

Cayenne capsules

Kyolic garlic

HiO Silver oxygenated water - 6 per day, 3 days per week

I took these supplements while eating a Mediterranean diet, 3 meals a day.

Not everyone responds to the protocol Dr. Salvato has used with me. There are two other products that she would try if this combination does not work. But this is where she would start.

Wishing you all the best in this New Year,

Note: Patricia Salvato MD, Houston TX 713-961-7100

"Eat right for your (Blood) Type" Science or Fiction?

A popular book for several years, "Eat Right for Your Type" by D'Adamo discusses blood types and blood cell reactions to specific proteins in foods. There are 4 major blood types. They are Type A, Type B, Type AB and Type O.

The theory is that the blood cells of these 4 blood types react in a negative way to certain types of foods and a positive way to others. Blood types may have some individual differences in how they react to some specific foods but the rational to create a list of more than a 100 foods for each blood type to avoid needs a whole lot more research than I have seen thus far in this book.

Milk proteins are generally not well tolerated regardless of blood type although sour milk, sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese and feta cheese are better tolerated for most persons. On this aspect of advice I would have to agree with the author. However, one could find information on the adverse effects of drinking milk, eating cheese and ice cream, especially for adults, from several sources, without any reference to blood types.

The book contains a few research cites for avoiding certain foods for certain blood types. However, the majority of foods listed by the author to be avoided are not supported by specific research or references to this research.

By some magic leap of faith the reader is expected to assume because the author cites research that support the need to avoid about a half-dozen foods, that we should automatically avoid a list of 100 of more foods that the author adds on without any scientific references to support the author's recommendations.

I found the book interesting and while I believe some of what is recommended, it is apparent that research supporting the long list of "do not eat items" simply does not exist in this book.

I used a test from "dragondoor.com" and found my own blood type to be A negative. Except for the advice on milk, most of the other foods recommendations are not supported by any research and are not, in my opinion, credible, and should be ignored. If you are an avid reader and believer in this book and see foods listed that you have eaten and know from experience that you tolerate them well, then by all means, continue to enjoy them.

Many of the foods D'Adamo places on his avoid list are wholesome and nourishing. Anyone who attacks wholesome foods including many kinds of fish, legumes and even pumpkin seeds needs to put up the proof of their claims or stop frightening people unnecessarily. Good science will not support "voodoo medical advice" under the appearance of science. D'Adamo's book is, in my opinion, a mixture of both science and voodoo. D'Adamo divides the human race into 4 groups with around 100 foods for each group to avoid. Lab tests of food allergies do not support D'Adamo theories because there are literally millions of variations in food sensitivities that vary from person to person.

I would not recommend buying this book but I would recommend that individuals with food sensitivities get a blood test for food allergies and food sensitivities. In personal lab results you can place real confidence.

Frank Oski MD reports that Cow's Milk is linked to 30 illnesses.

My own personal experience is that hard cheese and ice cream contribute to bronchial congestion and rheumatism in my joints. When I avoid these milk proteins, the symptoms mostly go away. I know two people who used asthma inhalers daily who discontinued using them after they stopped consuming milk, cheese and ice cream.

A close friend tell me that 3 of his relatives have arthritis who are heavy users of milk products while other relatives who do not use milk and milk products have no arthritis or rheumatism.

While we all know the critical health and immunologic benefits of an infant drinking its mother's human milk, drinking cow's milk is not the same thing. Infants and small children can easily develop milk sensitivities and allergies. This will happen more frequently if the child has also received a lot of vaccinations and especially at an early age. Vaccinations in infants under 2 years of age have been linked to Autism in a number of cases and should be avoided. Rather, the mother who is breast-feeding should receive the vaccination. She can then safely transfer the immunity to her child via her milk. The child under 2 years of age should be spared the health risks of receiving vaccinations.

While the adverse effects of some vaccinations can last a lifetime, the drug makers of the vaccines are immune by acts of Congress from being sued. This is what big money can buy you ‚ which is corrupt influence and special favors. Before you cast your next vote, ask your Senator, Congressman or presidential candidate how much PAC money they have received from pharmaceutical companies. Depending on their answers, choose wisely how you will cast your votes.

GOT MILK? Got bronchitis and rheumatism yet?

In his book, "DON'T DRINK YOUR MILK'" Frank Oski MD writes and documents a litany of ailments directly attributed to the drinking of milk and milk products like cheese and ice cream. The list of adverse effects is supported by case reports as well as several articles from medical journals in his book and include the following -

1. Lactose intolerance (symptoms ‚ bloating and gas) ‚ especially affects persons of African descent and the elderly and immune compromised (auto immune, HIV, HHV-6, candidiasis, cancer, multiple sclerosis)

2. In infants with milk sensitivity side effects include colic, nasal congestion, chest infections, skin rash, diarrhea, anemia and vomiting.

3. Acne

4. Asthma

5. Arteriosclerosis

6. Bloated abdomen

7. Chest infections

8. Coronary Artery occlusion

9. Diabetes

10. Diarrhea

11. Eczema

12. Gas (flatulence)

14. Hay Fever

15. Heart Attacks

16. Hemorrhage

17. High Blood Pressure

18. Hives

19. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

20. Leukemia

21. Lou Gehrig's disease

22. Low blood counts

23. Multiple Sclerosis

24. Myocardial infraction

25. Nasal congestion

26. Nephritis (kidney disease)

27. Plaque buildup in the arteries

28. Pyroderma

29. Rheumatoid arthritis

30. Stroke

31. Tooth decay.

In addition to this, add chronic sinusitis and excess mucus formation. Oski reports on a study of 8 American cities where infants fed cows milk was compared to infants fed human mothers milk. The results are that infants fed cow's milk had a 20 times greater chance of dying in the first 6 months of life than infants fed mother's milk.

Oski reports on the research of Agranoff and Goldberg who studied milk consumption and MS in 21 countries and found a direct link ‚ the more milk that was consumed, the greater number of MS patients in the corresponding countries. How milk could cause MS was not explained but other factors were ruled out.

Osaki speaks more favorably of whey proteins, a byproduct of making cheese or fermentation and of yogurt. Other cultured milk products include Kefir and Buttermilk. In an Appendix, Osaki cites articles on the adverse effects of milk that were published in over 25 medical journals.

"Don't Drink your Milk" by Frank Oski MD is published by Teach Services, 254 Donovan Rd, Brushton, NY 12916 Price $7.95. The ISBN is 0-945383-34-7. Your local bookstore should be able to special order it for you or check with your local health food store.

Frank Oski received his M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1958. In 1985, he assumed the position of Director, Dept of Pediatrics, John Hopkins University and Physician in Chief, John Hopkins Children's Center.

While I am convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt there are multiple health problems with pasteurized milk, hard cheese and ice cream, I do believe organic cultured milk products like yogurt, kefir and cold processed whey proteins made though natural fermentation and not "rennet" have health benefits without the downside of the other milk products. Colostrum and transfer factors extracted from milk can also have specific therapeutic benefits.

I agree with the author that cow's milk is for calves and that milk period is for the very young and not for adults. However, naturally fermented products from milk (yogurt, kefir, low-temp processed cottage cheese etc) are different in many ways and may have health benefits instead of the adverse effects reported here.

Complementary Health Care Practitioners

Click Here

The following list is of health care practitioners who have purchased one of our current or past books on the immune system or are receiving other publications from Keep Hope Alive. The list is provided to make it easier to find a doctor with whom you can discuss complementary and immune-based therapies to be used alone or in combination with conventional therapies. This list is not an endorsement, however. The addresses provided are what was made available to us and could be home or office. The states are listed alphabetically. The listings within each state ascend according to the zip code. Foreign doctors are listed at the end of this file.

To help us keep the list updated, please notify us of any changes of address or phone number. Also let us know the name of a physician, you personally know, whom you think should be added to this list. Contact us at keephope@highstream.net

Thank You. Mark

Notes: MD=(Medical Doctor), DO=(Osteopath), L.AC = (Licensed Acupuncturist), DC =(Chiropractor), ND = (Naturopath), DVM =(Veterinarian), CNC (Certified Nutritional Consultant) Also check under "Holistic Practitioners" and "Alternative Medicine" in your local yellow page phone directory. Click here here to access the international list of health care professionals.

Immune Restoration Handbook

by Mark Konlee 1st edition

Table of Contents

Foreword, by Ron Klatz MD

Chapter 1 Theories on the Origin of Disease

Chapter 2 The Immune System

Chapter 3 Selenium in the prevention & treatment of chronic illness

Chapter 4 The Immune System Cure for Candidiasis

Chapter 5 The Role of HHV-6 in AIDS, CFIDS and Candidiasis

Chapter 6 Immune Response in AIDS and CFIDS

Chapter 7 Diagnostics ‚ Monitoring Immune health

Chapter 8 Balance your pH

Chapter 9 Adrenal/Thyroid hormonal imbalances and deficits

Chapter 10 Natural Remedies for Adrenal and Thyroid imbalances

Chapter 11 Free Radicals and Anti-oxidants

Chapter 12 Detoxification of the Liver and Colon

Chapter 13 Good and Bad Immune profiles

Chapter 14 How to heal a leaky gut and implant friendly flora

Chapter 15 Complementary therapies from China, Africa & America

Chapter 16 Immune-based therapies

Chapter 17 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and CFIDS

Chapter 18 Pharmaceutical drugs to treat HIV

Chapter 19 Bio-Oxidative Therapies

Chapter 20 Nutrition for immunity and weight gain

Chapter 21 Immune Enhancement Diet

Chapter 22 Symptoms and Remedies

Chapter 23 Cancer ‚ Complementary and Alternative therapies

Chapter 24 Prayers, Promises and Miracles

Appendix

Index

"the Immune Restoration Handbook is richly endowed with new insights on immune function and self-help protocols that get you the medical attention you need ‚ especially when you have exhausted all conventional' options."

Ron Klatz MD Chicago, Ilinois

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Journal of Immunity

Structured Treatments Interruptions (STI's) and self-immunization

STI's increase the immune response to HIV leading to long-term control with fewer drugs and less side effects

Interluken 6 inhibitors may hold the key to long-term control of HIV without viral resistance or side effects.

20 Immune-based therapies ‚ a partial list

Virucidal lubricant needed to stop the spread of STDS.

Guaifenesin in the treatment of respiratory infections, bronchitis and Fibromyalgia

Case Report - Neem and Guaifenesin for HIV

Africa ‚ Neem leaf tea used to treat terminal AIDS patients

Dr Salvato's protocol for treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Cellular phone towers and cell phones ‚ loss of memory and other symptoms reported

The Flu ‚ what you can do when it strikes

Detoxi-pads remove heavy metals ‚ improve well-being

Rosehips increase body temperature

Eat right for your Blood type ‚ Science or Fiction?

National directory of Complimentary health care professionals

Frank Oski MD reports that drinking Cow's Milk is linked to over 30 illnesses

HIV drugs ‚ when to take a break and why

There are now 19 FDA drugs to treat HIV/AIDS plus 2 combos (21 total)

Structured Treatment Interruptions (STI's) can improve the immune response against HIV

Medical Advisory Board

Fred Walters experiment with a Pulsed Protocol

Specific therapy regimes could lead to long-term immunological control of HIV

Immune restoration in patients with HIV infection: HAART and beyond.

A prospective trial of structured treatment interruptions in HIV infection.

A Summary of 20 immune-based therapies (a partial list)