Sep 28, 2007
Slowburn Treatment for Chronic Disease
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For years, the notion that bacteria could cause ulcers was brushed aside, until the work of Robin Warren, who “rediscovered” the gut microbe Helicobacter pylori, was finally accepted. More recently, periodontal disease, a bacterial infection of the gums, has been implicated in heart disease, it’s the toxins released by the bacteria that are to blame. And in a recent discussion with one leading researcher about the genetics of obesity, he told me that he considered it more likely that a bacterial infection was more likely to be to blame for some cases of obesity than genetics and conversely there may be bacteria that make some people thin.
Interestingly, Amy Proal of the Bacteriality blog also contact me to tell me that she believes doctors and the medical community are slow to warm to these very new ideas that bacteria might be to blame for chronic disease and obesity. “The evidence is overwhelming if you connect the dots,” Proal, a Biology graduate and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) sufferer told me, “Particularly interesting is the work of biomedical researcher Trevor Marshall who is using molecular modelling software to reveal many of the ways bacteria can interact with our innate immune system. Marshall is most famous for his eponymous Protocol, which uses low doses of antibiotics to apparently treat chronic health problems including CFS, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Key to
the
Protocol is
the concept of
“L-form bacteriaKey to the Protocol is the concept of “L-form bacteria. Bacteria that develop from classical bacteria, lose their cell walls, and then secrete themselves within white blood cells and biofilms, undetected. The Marshall Protocol is said to target these L-form bacteria and there are said to be thousands of patients with a variety of chronic illnesses undergoing this form of treatment and reportedly seeing serious improvement and even resolution of their symptoms.
David Bradley
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October 7th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Thanks for your comment Bonita, good luck with the Protocol.
October 6th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I have been on MP for 2 yrs and 10 months (now Phase 3)………..I am healing and able to do things I have not been able to do for years. I no longer suffer from migraines, MCS, osteoprosis pain, asthma and mainly sarcoidosis….which has made me lose my right kidney, all female organs just to name a few things. Nothing is better or works as well as MP. I would never hesitate to do MP.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:04 am
According to the BBC site today, chocolate high in cocoa solids could be good for treating chronic fatigue syndrome – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7018055.stm
Tom
September 28th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Hi Chuck,
You are right. The MP antibiotics do cause a rise in symptoms after each dose. The process results from changes in the patient’s immunopathology. But to describe the process as horrible is not accurate.
I found this on Amy’s website Bacteriality:
“Immunopathology refers to the changes in the immune system that result from bacterial death (another term sometimes used is the Jarisch-Herxheimer or “Herx” reaction). Dying bacteria release toxins into the bloodstream, stimulate the production of inflammatory cytokines, and generate temporary hormonal imbalances. This means that once a patient begins the MP, each dose of antibiotic will cause them to feel bad for the period of time it takes their immune system to deal with the consequences of CWD bacterial die-off.”
Very few people, if any ,would describe the hexing or immunopathology on the MP as horrible or extremely debilitating. If they do feel horrible they are not correctly dosing their antibiotics. The beauty of the MP is that patients can control the level of symptoms that result after each dose of medication. If symptoms are intolerable, the dose can easily be lowered until the patient is experiencing only tolerable symptoms.
Many people on the Marshall Protocol are able to work and are able to manage fine despite the immunopathology. Even in the toughest cases, the immunopathology starts to tone down after the first year or so as the patient’s bacterial load begins to decrease. Most people on the MP welcome the feeling of immunopathology to a certain extent. It is an indication that their bodies are killing bacteria and that they are regaining their health. It’s pain with gain.
The “mysterious” phase two you speak of is simply a period where patients begin taking other antibiotics besides minocycline in combinations of three at one time. These different combinations target different species of bacteria.
You’re right…Trevor Marshall is brilliant!
All the best,
Paul
September 28th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
This is a tough protocol, but for those that
September 28th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Chuck you are right, someone else also pointed this out to me, but I was trying to play on the relative nature of the terms – quick as in 3-5 years compared to the decades associated with some chronic conditions. I’ve amended the title to reflect more accurately the nature of the disease.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Though posted as “Quick Fix for Chronic Disease” The Marshall Protocol is NOT a quick fix. It is a long and painful regimen consisting of minocycline, benicar and a mysterious phase II. “Herxing,” which is best described by the Marshall Protocol persons, is horrible and makes the patient desperately ill as the body tries to rid itself of the dead organisms. Yikes. Those interested please read Dr. Marshall’s official website. It is fascinating. Dr. Marshall, right or wrong, is no crank. Regards, Chuck