The heart of my blog posts thus far has been explaining where toxins can be hiding in your home and environment, and how to limit or reduce your exposure with non-toxic swaps. My next several blog posts will be explaining why those toxins are so dangerous and how we can rid our bodies of the toxins we have already been exposed to. Unfortunately, we live in a toxic world and many toxins are unavoidable, so learning how to detox properly and safely is more important than ever.
What I believed prior to finding the medical medium information is that most of the chronic conditions I was suffering from, (severe allergies, asthma, eczema, fatigue, blood sugar problems, etc) had no cure, only medication to manage symptoms. Rather than learning the root cause of my ailments, I was told my body was attacking itself (autoimmune) or that I had bad genes. I wasn’t ready to accept either of these theories. Thankfully I was introduced to the Medical Medium information a few years ago and I have been able to learn not only the root cause of my chronic illnesses, but how to heal.
I believe whole heartedly, that ALL chronic illness is caused by exposure to a combination of the following four key factors. As Anthony William, the Medial Medium calls them, the unforgiving four. The unforgiving four are (1) pathogens such as viruses and unproductive bacteria, (2) radiation exposure (which can be a trigger for every illness), (3) pesticides/DDT/other toxins (feed pathogens), and (4) heavy metals (feed pathogens). This information is compilation of Medical Medium books, podcasts, YouTube videos, and blog posts.
I have spent the last three years detoxing from toxins, pathogens, radiation, and heavy metals. Thankfully I have healed almost completely from many of the symptoms I was experiencing. One thing I keep reminding myself is, it took me 40+ years to accumulate all these toxins and pathogens so I have to be patient with the amount of time it will take to get them out, in order to be completely symptom free. I know I can heal and I know others can too, which is why I feel compelled to share this information.
The Unforgiving Four
Let’s break down the unforgiving four, starting with pathogens (viruses and bacteria). What most people don’t realize is that viruses don’t just go away once your immune system fights off the active infection. They move into a dormant state and find a home in one of your organs (usually your liver because this is where it will feed off toxins and heavy metals that have accumulated), where they wait for an opportunity when your immune system is compromised enough, to be reactivated and cause symptoms. Think of a “cold sore”, a virus in the herpetic family. It lies dormant in your body until your immune system lowers (more about these triggers later). Hence the nickname “cold sore”. When you are coming down with a cold, your immune system is busy fighting the cold, and the herpetic virus is able to come out of dormancy and cause you to get a “cold sore”.
Shingles
The shingles virus is another one that can be reactivated when your immune system is down. There are shingles infections with rashes and without (neurological shingles). The Shingles virus is behind conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, frozen shoulder, ulcerative colitis, many cases of neck pain, jaw pain, gum and tooth pain, tongue pain, burning sensation inside the mouth, burning sensation on the skin, pain in the back of the head, migraine related pain, mystery sciatica, mystery lower pain, and neuropathy).
Streptococcus
Streptococcus (Strep) is a bacterium that grows stronger with each decade, it’s becoming a superbug. Symptoms of strep can include sinus pain and congestion, UTIs, irritable bowel syndrome (strep in the colon), Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (overgrowth of strep in the gut), sore throats, styes, cystic acne (strep in your lymphatic system), and more. The activity level of strep depends on the state of the person’s immune system. Strep often first shows up in childhood as a sore throat, ear infection, or tonsilitis. Unfortunately, strep is becoming antibiotic resistant and any antibiotics you may have taken in the past have likely strengthened the strep. Antibiotics are necessary in some cases like a bad UTI etc, but are often over used when unnecessary.
If you have a chronic illness (symptoms all the time) this means your viral load is high and your immune system can no longer keep them in a dormant state. One of the more problematic viruses is the Epstein Barr virus, and nearly everyone has one variety of it. EBV is behind many mystery illnesses and symptoms people are dealing with today, such as: endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, ovarian cysts, Hepatitis C, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Tinnitus, Vertigo, Lupus, Hypothyroidism, asthma, insomnia, anxiety and more.
The Epstein Barr Virus
When you initially catch the Epstein Barr virus (EBV) it goes through a dormant period (stage 1), slowly replicating and waiting for an opportunity when your immune system is down to cause a more direct infection. When it finds the opportunity and becomes stronger it enters stage 2 (Mononucleosis). Popular among college students who lower their immune system with late night partying, stressful exams, studying all night etc. This stage is when the virus is most contagious, and your immune system goes to war with it. Stage three is when the virus finds a long-term home in one of your organs (again- typically your liver). A test will no longer find EBV presently active in the bloodstream. Tests cannot detect the virus when it is living in your organs. Your body thinks it has won the war and your immune system returns to normal. During stage three and four the virus can create three types of poisons:
- EBV excretes toxic waste matter, or viral by product. As the virus grows more cells, and its expanding army keeps eating and excreting poisonous byproduct. This waste matter can also trigger false positives on tests such as lyme titers and lead to a false diagnosis of lyme.
- When a cell of the virus dies- which happens often, as the cells have a six-week cycle- the corpse that is left behind is toxic and further poisons your body. As the virus gets stronger, it can create fatigue.
- The poisons EBV creates through these two processes could generate a neurotoxin (a poison that disrupts nerve function and confuses your immune system).
If you have a more aggressive variety, you may have the following symptoms:
- Your liver performs sluggishly- doing a poor job flushing out toxins out of your system.
- Hepatitis C (EBV is the primary cause of hepatitis C.
- Your sluggish liver leads to low hydrochloric acid in your stomach and making your intestinal tract toxic. This leads to food not being fully digested and instead putrefying in your intestinal tract, resulting in bloating and/or constipation.
- You develop sensitivities to foods that never caused your problems before. This happens when the virus consumes a food it likes, such as cheese, and transforms it into something your body doesn’t recognize.
Stage four EBV
This is when the Epstein Barr virus leaves your thyroid and inflames your central nervous system. This is a major source of mystery illness because blood tests, x-rays, and MRIs will all look normal. If you get into an accident or have surgery, or other physical damage your injured nerves trigger an “alarm” hormone to notify your body that the nerves are exposed and need repair. Stage four EBV will detect that hormone and latch onto those damaged nerves, which can keep that area inflamed for years. This can lead to muscle pain, joint pain, painful tender points, back pain, tingling and/or numbness in the hands and feet, migraines, ongoing fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, unrestful sleep, and night sweats.
People with these issues are often diagnosed as having:
- Fibromyalgia- Which inflames both the CNS and nerves throughout the body, which creates ongoing pain, sensitivity to touch, and severe fatigue among other issues.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome- EBV creates a neurotoxin that inflames the CNS, weaken adrenals and digestive system and creates the feeling that you have a low battery
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)- This is caused by EBV getting in the inner ear’s nerve channel and inflaming and vibrating the labyrinth and the vestibulocochlear nerve.
- Vertigo and Meniere’s disease- This is caused by EBV’s neurotoxin inflaming the vagus nerve.
- Rheumatoid arthritis- EBV gets into connective tissue, joints, and ligaments causing inflammation.
Cleansing your body of pathogens
Many people believe that exposure to viruses strengthens your immune system, when actually as I have detailed in this post they lower your immune system. The good news is there are steps you can take to cleanse your body of pathogens by eliminating certain foods and toxins in your body that they feed off of. You can lower your viral load enough to eventually eliminate symptoms. You can never get rid of viruses completely , but the goal is to lower your viral load to 10% to keep them in a dormant state. When you decrease your viral load, you will no longer have symptoms, but because the virus is still in your system you will still have the antibodies that protect you from catching that same strain again.
Anti-bug cleanse
In the book “Cleanse to Heal” you can find an anti-bug cleanse which details a specific cleanse you can do to assist your body in flushing out toxins and starving bugs such as viruses and unproductive bacteria. It has your start by drinking 16 ounces of celery juice first thing in the morning which helps kill viruses and flush out toxins (refer to my “Morning routine” blog post for details on the benefits of celery juice. You also eliminate certain troublemaker foods for two weeks to one month. I have personally eliminated all of the ”troublemaker” foods from my diet permanently, but he recommends eliminating them for a minimum of two weeks because that is how long it takes to get these foods out of your blood, lymph, and gut (90 days to get rid of the particles in your liver).
Trouble Maker Foods to avoid
Eggs
- Eggs were used in scientific research laboratories as food for microorganisms. Unproductive bacteria and viruses (streptococcus, Epstein Barr virus, herpes simplex 1 and 2, shingles etc) were all raised in labs using eggs as the pathogens’ food source.
- Eggs are especially bad for those with endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, cervical and ovarian cancers). When we cook eggs, we destroy and denature the omega 3 and protein so our bodies can’t utilize it anyway.
- The naturally occurring hormones in eggs disrupt our endocrine glands, causing our own hormones to become imbalanced. These hormones feed pathogens and cysts in the reproductive system.
- Eggs cause insulin resistance because they have both sugar and fat together.
- The younger generation is dealing with more viral mutations than the older generation. Many older people have fewer pathogens and can get away with eating a few eggs here and there, but the younger generation is dealing with more viral mutations than the older generation.
Dairy
- Every time diary is consumed, it clogs up the liver in an acute manner.
- Dairy slows down the absorption and assimilation of the other foods in your gut at the same time.
- Healing foods such as fruits, vegetables, and herbs get caught up in dairy’s film and lose their vitality and value before they can be brought into the bloodstream through the walls of the intestinal tract and brought to the liver.
- Dairy clogs up the digestive freeway, allowing pathogens to thrive in our small intestinal tract and colon.
- Dairy doesn’t breakdown, digest, or leave the system easily which slows down liver function making it stagnant and sluggish.
- When your liver becomes clogged toxins can escape your liver and enter your body. This causes an increase in histamine compounds which feed and form more mucus. This is leading to an increase in the number of babies and small children exhibiting allergic reactions, digestive disturbances, and constipation when consuming dairy products.
- Lymphatic vessels also become clogged with dairy products.
- Viruses and bacteria in your body feed on the natural hormones and protein in dairy and release their own toxins that cause a mucus response.
Gluten
- Gluten feeds pathogens that create autoimmune conditions, that lead to inflammation in the body.
- There are two sources of inflammation 1) Physical injury (by force or toxic exposure) and (2) pathogenic activity in the body.
- Pathogens can cause inflammation either by entering organs or tissue (which can cause its own cell injury), or by eliminating inflammatory poisons and byproduct after feeding on trouble maker foods.
- This is why older generations can eat gluten with no problem- it is not the gluten that causes inflammation- but the pathogens they are feeding. If you don’t have certain pathogens present, you will not have the inflammatory response.
- Pathogens are behind celiac disease, not gluten.
MSG (food additive)
- It is no longer required to be on food labels. Some hidden MSG is in “natural flavors”, “flavors”, yeast, nutritional yeast, corn starch, soy protein, soy sauce, etc
- Used in tens of thousands of products and restaurant dishes.
- Builds up in your brain where it can cause inflammation and swelling.
- Kills thousands of your brain cells.
- Disrupts electrical impulses.
- Weakens neurotransmitter.
- Burns out neurons.
- Make you feel confused and anxious.
- Can lead to micro-strokes.
- Weakens and injures your central nervous system.
- Especially harmful if you have an illness that involves your brain or central nervous system.
Corn
- Feeds viruses, bacteria, and fungus.
- Just about all GMO at this point, even if advertised as non-GMO it can still cause issues and might still be GMO.
- Corn products and byproducts create substantial inflammation.
- Hidden sources in soda, gum, toothpaste, herbal tinctures that have alcohol (corn grain alcohol).
Soy
- Just about all GMO.
- Canola oil.
- Mostly GMO.
- Creates a great deal of inflammation.
- Damaging to your digestive system.
- Could potentially scar the linings of both your small and large intestines.
- Major cause of irritable bowl syndrome.
- Can feed viruses, bacteria, fungus, and mold.
- Has an effect similar to battery acid on the inside of your arteries, creating significant vascular damage.
- Used in many restaurants and products as a low-cost alternative to olive oil.
- If you are dealing with a mystery illness or health condition, try to avoid canola oil at all cost.
- Processed beet sugar (different from organic beets).
- GMO beets are used to make processed beet sugar.
- Feeds cancers, viruses, and bacteria.
Pork
- High fat content.
Farmed fish
- Due to algae, parasites, and other diseases- breeders often give the fish antibiotics and treat the water with toxic chemicals.
- Best fish to eat is wild salmon, halibut and haddock (all fish has mercury).
Natural Flavors
- Hidden MSG.
Artificial Flavors
- Can represent any of the thousands of chemicals that were birthed in a lab.
- Artificial sweeteners.
- Most artificial sweeteners act as neurotoxins because they contain aspartame.
- Can disrupt your neurons and your central nervous system.
- Long-term can cause neurological breakdowns and stokes in your brain.
Citric Acid
- Very irritating to the linings of the stomach and the intestinal tract, which can cause inflammation and discomfort if you are sensitive.
Healing foods to include in your diet
- Wild blueberries- help restore the central nervous system during and after toxic heavy metal exposure; flush EBV neurotoxins out of the liver, removes toxic heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum, and copper. One of the most adaptogenic foods on the planet and have powerful antiviral properties.
- Bananas- Help rid viruses and bacteria from the intestinal tract; contain antiviral and antibacterial compounds.
- Celery juice- strengthens hydrochloric acid in the gut and provides mineral salts to the CNS.
- Potatoes- creates an easy, sustainable form of glucose that helps stabilize adrenals, feeds the nervous system, restores glycogen in the brain, and is antiviral and antibacterial.
- Sprouts- high in zinc and selenium to strengthen the immune system against EBV.
- Asparagus- cleanses the liver and spleen; strengthens the pancreas.
- Spinach- creates an alkaline environment in the body and provides highly absorbable micronutrients to the nervous system, contains trace mineral salts that provide critically needed electrolytes to the brain.
- Cilantro- removes heavy metals such as mercury and lead, which are favored foods of EBV.
- Parsley- removes high levels of copper and aluminum, which feed EBV.
- Coconut oil- antiviral and acts as an anti inflammatory.
- Garlic- helps with nutrient assimilation and relives spasms associated with EBV.
- Ginger- helps with nutrient assimilation and relieves spasms associated with EBV.
- Raspberries- rich in antioxidants to remove free radicals from the organs and bloodstream.
- Lettuce: stimulates peristaltic action in the intestinal tract and helps cleanse EBV from the liver.
- Papayas: restore the central nervous system; strengthen and rebuild hydrochloric acid in the gut.
- Apricots: immune system rebuilders that also strengthen the blood.
- Pomegranates: help detox and cleanse the blood as well as the lymphatic system.
- Grapefruit: rich source of bioflavonoids and calcium to support the immune system and flush toxins out of the body.
- Kale: high in specific alkaloids that protect against viruses such as EBV.
- Sweet potatoes: help cleanse and detox the liver from EBV byproducts and toxins.
- Cucumbers: strengthen the adrenals and kidneys and flush neurotoxins out of the bloodstream.
- Fennel: contains strong antiviral compounds to fight off EB.
- Tomatoes- gentle on the digestive system, especially when it comes to sensitive nerves caused by EBV; high in a very absorbable, assimilable form of vitamin C. Also hydrating on a deep cellular level.
- Red Pitaya (dragon fruit)- helpful in cleansing a stagnant, sluggish liver; also supports liver immune function.
- Thyme- Can kill viruses and bacteria on contact. Knocks down viral load in the body. Destroys EBV, Strep, Herpes, and flu virus.
Healing Supplements
Check with your Dr. to see if any of these supplements are right for you. Vimergy is a very clean supplement company that tests their products for contaminants like heavy metals and do not contain any alcohol or preservatives.
- Cat’s claw- helps alleviate almost any symptom, from neurological to digestive, important herb for Lyme disease. Fights EBV, shingles, herpetic viruses, CMV, and other pathogens. Antibacterial, anti-parasitic, fights strep, candida, and UTIs. Can help with Pandas, ALS, strep throat, MS, and aches and pains.
- Zinc- Kills pathogens, essential for all chemical functions of the liver, supports skin, nails, and hair health. Boosts your immune system, fights colds and flus, supports the pancreas, adreanal glands, and endocrine system. Helps with autoimmune diseases
- Vitamin C (as Micro-C)- Strengthens the entire immune system, detoxifies and cleanses the liver, restores the central nervous system from neurotoxin damage, helps reduce nodules, tumors, and cysts. Supports and restores adrenal glands.
- B-12- Critical for methylation of many nutrients, strengthens immune system, vital for liver function, helps protect and restore brain and nerve tissue. Protects against damage caused by pathogens. Important for neurological conditions.
- Lemon Balm- Calms nerves and stress, helps digestive issues, reduces inflammation from pathogens, conserves body’s B-12. Fights flus, EBV, shingles, herpes family, and all other bugs. Antibacterial and antiparasitic. Detoxifies the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Helps with tonsilitis, interstitial cystitis, bladder inflammation and UTIs. High in silica and trace minerals.
- L-lysine- Strengthens immune system. Aids in liver function. Anti-inflammatory to entire nervous system. Helps with autoimmune disorders, liver disease, TMJ, Bell’s Palsy, Sciatica, lyme disease, fibromyalgia, eczema, and more. Inhibits and deters EBV, shingles, and other pathogens.
- Goldenseal (2 weeks on 2 weeks off)- Suffocates and destroys pathogens such as strep, EBV, E. Coli, Staph, shingles and more. Inhibits pathogens in liver and lymphatic system. Gently purges and expels bacterial debris, pathogen byproduct, neurotoxins, and other pathogenic waste
- Spirulina- Strengthens the immune system and helps stop viral growth. The natural iodine content in spirulina is very effective at acting as an antiseptic against viral cells.
- Licorice- Weapon against EVB, Shingles, herpes family, and other bugs. Helps with fibromyalgia, CFS, Lyme, thyroid conditions. Important for autoimmune conditions. Helps push pathogens out of the body. Incredible for low blood pressure. Most important adrenal restorative. Helps stop pathogens from procreating.
- Elderberry syrup- One of the most effective remedies for viral and bacterial infections such as colds and flus and can substantially shorten the duration of your illness if you get sick. Elderberries contain special proteins and bioflavinoids that have the ability to destroy viruses on contact that infect cells in the body.
Tips on how to avoid viruses and bacteria
- Avoid using public bathrooms- if you MUST use one, flush the toilet once or twice before using it. Flushing it before using it is important because often times strep bacteria or viruses can be left behind in the toilet bowl (it doesn't all go down after the first flush). If any of the water splashes up while using it, it is very easy to pick up a new strain of strep or a virus. You may want to consider wearing a mask while in the stall to avoid the toilet plume (the rapid upward dispersal of microscopic urine, feces, vomit, and menstrual particles as a result of flushing a toilet). Gross, I KNOW!
- This may seem obvious, but you share bugs when you share bodily fluids like saliva, so avoid sharing food, plates, cups, silverware with others.
- When ordering food at a restaurant, order the hottest thing on the menu. This will kill and virus or bacteria that may have been passed onto the food during the preparation process.
- When eating out, avoid ordering salads during flu season, and avoid salads all together unless you are at a vegan restaurant (uncooked animal protein spreads very easily in a kitchen and you can cause food poisoning).
- Consider wearing an N-95 mask while traveling (crowded airports and while on the airplane).
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Wipe down grocery cart handles.
Articles linking Epstein Barr to chronic illness
Link to Lupus: https://lupus.net/clinical/epstein-barr-virus
Link to several serious illnesses- https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/news/release/2018/mono-virus
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