From Fatigued to Fantastic!

by Jacob Teitelbaum

  Antiviral Agents

  See also the article “Treating Respiratory Infections Without Antibiotics” in Chapter 5.

  ____33.

  Colloidal silver (Argentyn 23, available at www.vitality101.com, or wholesale from www.natural-immunogenics.com or 888-328-8840): For acute infections or aggressive treatment, take 2 tablespoons by mouth in the morning, 1 tablespoon before lunch, and 1 tablespoon twenty minutes before dinner. Silver should be taken on an empty stomach (at least ten minutes before eating or drinking). If you get a die-off reaction (flaring up of symptoms) as the infection is killed, lower the dose to 1 teaspoon a day and increase more slowly. Although the higher dose (a 240-ounce bottle is an eight-day course) can be taken safely for at least a year, 1 teaspoon a day is a good maintenance dose (a 240-ounce bottle lasts forty-eight days) after the infection resolves.

  ____34.

  Valcyte (Rx): 450 milligrams, two a day for six months. See “Infections” (Chapter 5) for more detailed information.

  ____35.

  *AntiViral (by Ultraceuticals): Three to six capsules twice a day. This contains a mix of milk thistle extract (80 percent silymarin), phylanthus amarius, phylanthus uraria, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, L-lysine, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, astragalus herb powder, lactoferrin, olive leaf extract, dionea (Venus flytrap extract), and selenium (Selenomethionine).

  ____35A.

  Monolaurin (Rx): 300-milligram capsules: Nine capsules once a day on an empty stomach for one week, followed by six capsules once a day for twenty days. Take lysine 1,500 milligrams twice a day while on Monolaurin.

  Anti-Yeast Treatments

  For a nonprescription approach, use #36, 38, and 40.

  ____36.

  **Avoid sweets—this includes sucrose, glucose, fructose, corn syrup, or any other sweets—until your doctor says that it is okay to include them in your diet again. Also, avoid fruit juices, which are naturally sweet. Having one to two fruits a day (the whole fruit as opposed to the juice) is okay. Stevia is a great sugar substitute.

  ____37.

  Stevia is an excellent herbal sweetener. A great-tasting one is by Body Ecology (800-478-3842). Use all you want.

  ____38.

  **Acidophilus milk bacteria—Acidophilus Pearls form (by Enzymatic Therapy/Integrative Therapeutics): Take two twice a day for five months. Then consider one a day to help maintain a healthy bowel. Do not take within six hours of taking an antibiotic (i. e., take it midday, if you take the antibiotic morning and night). The Enzymatic Therapy/ITI Acidophilus or Probiotic Pearls form contains about 2.4 billion units per pearl even though the box says only 1 billion.

  ____40.

  **Anti-yeast (Ultraceuticals) or Phytostan (ITI) are excellent natural antifungal mixes. Take 1 to 2 twice a day for three to five months.

  ____41.

  Mycelex oral lozenges (Rx, for thrush and/or painful “in the mouth” sores): Suck on one lozenge five times a day for one to four days (as needed). After sucking on the lozenge for a while(i. e., ten minutes), put pieces of the lozenge up against the sore(s) until you are tired of them being there.

  ____42.

  *Nystatin (Rx): 500,000 units, two tablets two to four times a day. Begin with one a day and increase by one tablet a day until you are up to the total dose. Your symptoms may initially flare up as the yeast die off. If this occurs, raise the dose more slowly, or stop for a while if die-off is still severe. The Nystatin is usually taken for five to eight months. If nausea occurs, take two twice a day and/or switch to the Nystatin powder in capsules or mixed in water (available from Kronos Pharmacy; 800-723-7455, in 1-million-unit capsules, which are much less expensive and better tolerated but need to be refrigerated). Repeat Nystatin for four to six weeks anytime you take an antibiotic or have recurrent bowel symptoms.

  ____43.

  **Diflucan (fluconazole): 200 milligrams a day, or, if not effective, Nizoral 200 milligrams a day. Take it for six weeks. Important: Begin taking the Diflucan four weeks after starting the Anti-Yeast herbal or Nystatin. See the paragraph below.

  Begin taking the Diflucan or Nizoral four weeks after beginning the Anti-Yeast herbal or Nystatin. If the symptoms have improved and then worsen when you stop the antifungal, refill the prescription for another six weeks. If your symptoms flared when you began the Nystatin, begin with one-quarter to one half of the above dose for the first week. Do not take Mevacor family medications with Diflucan or Nizoral. If you need to stay on these medications more than three months, check liver blood tests (ALT, AST) every three months. If you feel well and symptoms (especially bowel symptoms) recur over time, consider re-treating yourself with Acidophilus Pearls anti-yeast and Diflucan for six weeks as needed.

  Immune Stimulants

  ____44.

  **Thymic protein (Pro Boost): Dissolve the contents of one packet under your tongue—any that is swallowed is destroyed. Take it three times a day for twelve weeks, then one a day for six weeks. Also take it three times a day at the first sign of any infection until the infection resolves (it is approximately two dollars a packet). It’s available from our office (800-333-5287 or www.vitality101.com) and works in the first twenty-four hours for acute infections but takes two to three months to work for chronic infections.

  ____44A.

  *Leuko-Stim (by Ultraceuticals). This mix mostly stimulates immune function, but the olive leaf may also have antiviral properties. It contains olive leaf extract; Beta 1, 3; glucan; maitake mushroom extract; and arabinogalactan (larch).

  ____44B.

  Maitake D-Fraction 30: Take with 330 milligrams of maitake mushroom and extract—an excellent immune stimulant (by Ultraceuticals).

  If a chronic viral infection is suspected, consider three months of AntiViral (#35), with Leuko-Stim or maitake, plus Pro Boost. Adding the silver solution (#33) may also help. These can be taken on their own or with the antivirals. For suspected bacterial infections, consider Leuko-Stim or maitake plus Pro Boost and perhaps the silver solution, again on their own or with the antibiotics. Though these are more expensive than many natural supplements, they can be helpful in fighting these infections and are well tolerated. It can take three months to see the effects.

  Water Filters

  ____45.

  *Multi-Pure Water Filter: Most other filters except those that use reverse osmosis are not optimally effective. Available from Bren Jacobson (410-224-4877). Decreases the risk of reinfection and removes chemicals and contaminants from your water.

  Treatment for Bacterial, Mycoplasma, Chlamydial, Bladder (E. coli), Sinusitis, Chronic Lyme, or Other Infections

  These infections usually take months to years to eradicate. It is common for your symptoms to flare (from the infection die-off) the first two to six weeks of treatment. Take the antibiotics for six months and, if better, then repeat six-week cycles until your symptoms stay gone. Antidepressants, Neurontin, and/ or codeine may block the antibiotics’ effectiveness. Be sure to take anti-yeast or nystatin (two tablets twice a day) and acidophilus while on the antibiotics. If you have occasional low-grade fever (i.e., over 98.6°F), check your oral temperature occasionally to see if the antibiotics reduce or eliminate the fever. If so, stay on those antibiotics. See Dr. Nicholson’s Web site (www.immed.org) for more information. You can use #33 and 44 instead of or with antibiotics.

  ____46.

  Cipro (ciprofloxacin): 500 milligrams twice a day for six months (adults only). Do not take magnesium products (e. g., FibroCare, some antacids, Energy Revitalization System) within six hours of Cipro or you won’t absorb the Cipro.

  OR

  ____47.

  *Doxycycline (a tetracycline): 100 milligrams two times a day for six months (adults only). If symptoms recur when the doxycycline is completed, keep repeating six-week courses until the symptoms stay resolved. Take anti-yeast or nystatin (at least two twice a day) while on the antibiotic. Birth control pills may not work while on doxycycline. Do not take any doxycycline tablets older than their expiration date (dange
rous).

  OR

  ____48.

  Zithromax (azithromycin): 250 to 600 milligrams, one tablet a day (take with food if it bothers your stomach). Don’t take magnesium-containing products within six hours of the Zithromax.

  CHRONIC AND ACUTE SINUSITIS

  ____49.

  **Sinusitis nose spray (Rx, by prescription from ITC Pharmacy, 303-663-4224). It contains Sporanox, xylitol, Bactroban, and beclamethasone. Use one to two sprays in each nostril twice a day for six to twelve weeks. If it irritates the nose, use nasal saline spray just before using the prescription. Use with silver spray below.

  ____50.

  Nasal silver spray: Five to ten sprays in each nostril three times a day for seven to fourteen days until the sinusitis resolves (from www.vitality101.com). Can be used with #49.

  E. COLI BLADDER INFECTIONS

  ____51.

  D-mannose: 1 teaspoon (2 grams) stirred in water every two to three hours while awake for two to five days for acute bladder infections (may use up to one to two times a day long term if needed for chronic infections) caused by E. coli (this causes approximately 90 percent of bladder infections). If not much better in twenty-four to forty-eight hours, get a urine culture and consider an antibiotic. Continue taking D-mannose for two to three days after the last symptom resolves. Taking 1 teaspoon an hour before and immediately after intercourse can also prevent bladder infections. D-mannose is available from BioTech (800-345-1199) or from www.vitality101.com.

  Other Treatments

  Antidepressants may help treat NMH and decrease pain as well as helping energy.

  Food and Other Sensitivities

  ____52.

  **NAET: Wonderful for elimination of sensitivities/allergies (see www.naet.com for more information). In Kona, Hawaii, you can contact Laurie Teitelbaum at 410-266-6958.

  ____53.

  Food Allergy Elimination Diet (instruction sheet is available at www.vitality101.com).

  IV NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

  ____54.

  **Myers cocktail: IV nutritional therapies (very helpful). They are called the Standard IVs at the Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers (see www.fibroandfatigue.com). In the D. C./Virginia/Maryland region, I recommend having them given by Rhonda Kidd (443-994-0126).

  *DETOXIFICATION

  There are several simple things you can do that are helpful:

  ____55.

  Sweating can remove toxins—especially if you shower immediately after—and can be very helpful for health. Many of the newer saunas are what are called “far infrared,” and thirty to sixty minutes three to seven times a week can help detoxification. I use the one from High Tech Health at www.hightechhealth.com. Heating your body can also decrease pain.

  ____55A.

  Some of you may be more comfortable with hot baths, which help a lot with general muscle aches and pains. This is one recipe for a detox bath that was given to me by a wonderful practitioner, Anette Mnabhi, D. O. in Montgomery, Illinois: 2 cups Epsom Salt, 1 cup baking soda, and? cup hydrogen peroxide. Fill tub with hot water and add above ingredients. Soak for twenty to thirty minutes. You will sweat in the tub and lose toxins (which causes you to lose some water as well). It is important to drink plenty of water while you soak. You can squeeze fresh lemon juice and mix with water and drink, or drink plain water, but it is essential to drink while you take the bath. If you have a tendency to get light-headed easily, be cautious when getting out of the tub, or have someone nearby the first time you take a detox bath. Take a lukewarm to cool shower after getting out of the tub to rinse off the salts or you may itch. Rest for thirty minutes after the bath.

  ____56.

  **Bone Health (Ultraceuticals) for improving bone density. Bone Health has calcium, magnesium, strontium, boron, and many other key nutrients. Studies suggest that it is much more effective than Fosamax, without the toxicity.

  NMH AND/OR ENERGY BOOSTERS AND ANTIDEPRESSANTS

  ____57.

  *Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine): 5 milligrams, one to two tablets in the morning, plus half to one and a half tablets at noon, as needed for energy. Dexedrine is an amphetamine-family stimulant similar to Ritalin and may be addictive. Take less if you have caffeinelike shakiness. Most patients use one to three tablets of Dexedrine in the morning and half to two at noon. If appetite suppression and/or weight loss is a problem you can add 4 milligrams Periactin (cyproheptadine; antihistamine and antiserotonin) up to five tablets a day.

  ____58.

  Happiness 1–2–3! from Health Freedom Nutrition, In Harmony from Ultraceuticals, or similar mixes are outstanding for depression (the effect increases with six weeks of use). Contains Hypericum (Saint-John’s-wort), 5-HTP, magnolia, and more (takes six weeks to see the full antidepressant effect). Take one to three capsules one to three times a day. Do not take with other prescription antidepressants without your doctor’s okay.

  ____59.

  Effexor (venlafaxine): 37½ to 75 milligrams one to three times a day.

  ____60.

  Loss of libido and sexual dysfunction can be treated with Desire in women and Potency Plus in men (both from Ultraceuticals). Other helpful treatments for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction include ginkgo biloba 120 milligrams twice daily, Dexedrine 5 to 25 milligrams each morning, or Symmetrel (amantadine) 100 milligrams twice daily, or switching to Wellbutrin.

  CONSTIPATION

  Adjust these as needed to have one soft bowel movement a day. Increasing your water, fiber intake (e. g., 1 bowl of whole grain cereal in the morning), and magnesium intake is also helpful.

  ____61.

  MiraLAX laxative (Rx): 1 heaping tablespoon a day in 8 ounces of water (comes in 14-and 26-ounce bottles).

  ____62.

  Prunes and/or prune juice.

  Pain Treatments

  The natural treatments can be substituted for or added to the prescription pain medications. If side effects occur, they can often be avoided by starting with a low dose and raising it every three to seven days as your body gets used to the medication. It may take two to six weeks for a treatment to start working.

  NATURAL PAIN THERAPIES

  ____63.

  Rolfing, Trager, myofascial release, chiropractic, other bodywork and manipulation modalities, and/or acupuncture.

  ____64.

  **End Pain or Pain Formula or similar products. Both contain willow bark, boswellia, and cherry. Take two to four tablets three times a day. It takes two to six weeks to see the full effect. At that time, you can often lower the dose to one tablet three times a day or two twice a day. From Enzymatic Therapy and ITI (available at www.vitality101.com).

  ____65.

  NF Joint Gel (Integrative Therapeutics): Simply roll it on and rub it in. For best results, massage Joint Gel into your skin until absorbed. You can use Joint Gel up to three to four times daily (available at www.vitality101.com).

  ____66.

  Lipoic acid: 200 milligrams three times a day for neuropathic pain. Benefit usually begins to be seen by two to three months. It has been shown to be helpful for diabetic neuropathy and burning mouth syndrome (200 milligrams three times a day for five months).

  ____67.

  Glucosamine sulfate: 750 milligrams two times a day (for arthritis). Takes six weeks to see if it helps. When the maximum benefit is seen, you can decrease to the lowest dose that maintains the effect.

  ____68.

  MSM (methyl sulfanyl methane): 3 grams a day for arthritis.

  Osteoporosis or Osteopenia (Loss of Bone Density)

  ____69.

  Bone Health (Ultraceuticals). Contains strontium, calcium, magnesium, silica, and more. Excellent. Do not take it within three hours of your thyroid dose (take it at dinner and bedtime).

  PHARMACOLOGIC PAIN TREATMENTS

  If you are not clear about the source/type of your pain, there are many sequences in which to try the medications. One reasonable order to try them in is the one listed below. It can take two to six weeks to see the full e
ffect of the medication. When there are several medications with the same number (e. g., 73A, 73B, and 73C), if the first medication helped but was not tolerated because of side effects, go to the next medication of the same number. If it simply did not help significantly, go to the next number. If you get partial benefit from a medication, continue it and add the next medication as needed to get pain free. IV lidocaine or narcotics may be appropriate early on for severe pain while trying other therapies.

  ____70.

  **Ultram (Rx; tramadol): 50 milligrams, one to two tablets up to four times a day as needed for pain. Side effects are less with four or fewer tablets a day. May cause nausea/vomiting. Caution: May very rarely cause seizures or raise serotonin too high when combined with antidepressants.