Disorganisation and (Viral) Susceptibility
A happy New Year to one and all, let’s hope the climate of control and fear shifts somewhat in 2022. I only got around to penning one blog last year, so thought I’d better pull one’s finger out. I thought it would be useful to write about what is essentially my opinion on viral susceptibility, adverse events from interventions, and the idea that biological degradation is at the heart of most people’s lack of function, instead of what many perceive to be immunological naivety. It’s a mixture of anecdote, theoretical suggestions and observations from clinical researchers. So, don’t expect any meta-analysis or deep statistical dives into the data, just my thoughts.
Over the last two years we have seen an unprecedented suppression of science on a scale one might think is unknown. We have seen the mighty press release, the CEOs, figures of 95-100% effectiveness depose the scientific method, critical conversation and clinical decision making from well-respected doctors swatted like a fly by the newspapers and media outlets. Sources that cosy up to the industry that keeps them in the safe middle-class lifestyle that they’re accustomed to. Historically these aspects of distorted truths have not been isolated from different forms of medical iatrogenesis. Examples like thalidomide, use of the synthetic estrogen DES, hormone replacement therapy, Vioxx and opioid scandals were called out like rabid dogs in the press previously. But now any wrong doings, corporate malfeasance, and well documented crime reporting are being ignored like the tens of millions of funding from technocrats to universities that support researchers who drive a country’s policy (Yes I’m talking Gates, Imperial College and numerically challenged Sage member Neil Ferguson as a prime example, call me conspiracist if you like but it’s an uncomfortable fact that’s easier to ignore than call out bias and conflict of interest).
With all the molecular shenanigans going on, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the problems associated with mRNA technology, spike protein damage mediated by both infection and vaccine alike. Or the most obvious question of where in the hell did the current problem really come from and who should be hauled over the coals? However, now that I’ve got that load off my fingers, I want to focus on the problem of viral susceptibility and robustness. There have been many papers using critical reasoning (and downright ignorance by some so called medical professionals) of many agents, from repurposed medicines/hormones like Ivermectin, Cyproheptadine, progesterone and others to the lifestyle related components like vitamin D (or absence of light), zinc or fatty acid values (Shah, 2021). The idea of susceptibility ( for me at least) comes down to organization and ability to mount a response much like an experienced soldier understanding the battle field, and how to deal with an oncoming attack.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that I consider adequate thyroid function as an essential foundation to mount that response. The idea that thyroid function is adequately assessed in those who are experiencing even mild Covid infection to more advanced life threating issues which involve organ breakdown, sepsis and aggressive nitric oxide production, seems problematic. The most common feature of acute illness is suppression of thyroid stimulating hormone and often Triiodothyronine (T3 thyroid hormone). During viral illness inflammatory cytokines, hormones like cortisol, glucagon, adrenaline that are intimately involved in the stress response are ramped up. So too is serotonin, the neurotransmitter which is an integral part of the stress response and an additional player in suppressing thyroid values which might make a biochemistry test appear completely normal. Markers. like elevated cholesterol, malondialdehyde, iron values, red blood cell factors like hemoglobin, hematocrit (not ignoring the interleukins and other cytokines) and others might help as differential markers might give a clue here. A recent albeit small study, highlighted such a mechanism, detailing how lower thyroid hormone values of both TSH and total T3 were associated with worse disease (Chen, Zhou, & Xu, 2021)
One of the less obvious markers, at least in current medical prowess, is the measurement of body temperature (BT) and how it pertains to optimal thyroid function. Of course, when someone is ill, this is obviously problematic due to fever driving a protective response to infection. Tharakan et al suggested that BT correlated with covid severity in an observational study cohort of around 9000 subjects(Tharakan, Nomoto, Miyashita, & Ishikawa, 2020) . The most interesting observation? That those infected with Covid who presented with a BT below 35.5°C had much higher mortality than those with higher BTs.
“In contrast, almost half of the patients initially presenting with low BT (< 35.5 °C) died. Our results, therefore, suggest that poor BT control during the COVID 19 disease course is a marker of poor prognosis and BT can be used as an easily obtained prognostic indicator.”
They also note that those whose temperature progressed towards 39-40°C, one in three people also succumbed. These researchers don’t mention thyroid function here, merely temperature control, so let me expand mechanically. Optimal thyroid function is essential to both red and white blood cell production (haematopoiesis) both in the marrow and regulating thymus function (Klein, 2021), maintenance of mammalian BT of 37°C, optimal enzyme production, cholesterol conversion, blood sugar regulation and regulation of progesterone (another key factor in viral especially covid susceptibility. To be discussed). A recent response of this report by Drewry et al suggest that there are some issues with the temperature range postulated by Tharakan (Drewry, Hotchkiss, & Kulstad, 2020). However, they do cite additional studies showing that attempts to cool the body during fever do not improve outcomes.
Some researchers have promoted the idea that the current viral strain susceptibility and chronic or long covid could be affected by thyroid (Tsivgoulis et al., 2021). The lingering effects such as loss of smell and fatigue give a vague notion that decreased thyroid hormone and or selenium could drive those issues. The trouble with assessing thyroid function in symptomatic viral patients, much like any acute and chronic stress production is the suppression of thyroid stimulating hormone, the supposed gold standard of thyroid evaluation. I’ve written previously about how seasonal stress and seasonal affective disorder, and other mood states are mediated by a lack of light and coupled with decreased thyroid hormone, that might only present as a sub clinical state of hypothyroidism. In essence the same strategies that make us more robust biologically, serve to dramatically reduce these seasonal susceptibilities, and serve to diminish the likelihood of diabetes, hypertension and neurological decline (the most likely reasons folk tend to die with a virus rather than of it).
Anecdotally, I have seen clients and friends who experienced increased insulin resistance (who were diabetic), suffered from brain fog, gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual cycle irregularities and fatigue, post intervention. I have also seen people both improve these issues and those suffering from the virus both acutely and chronically, respond very well to the use of methylene blue, progesterone, aspirin, pregnenolone, Cyproheptadine orange juice and oysters. I realise I’ve gone on a bit already, so I’ll be discussing the implications of these protective compounds in part two. With what appears on paper to be one of the most robust inhibition mechanisms against viral replication and reduced sepsis (it also increases thyroid hormone values), it’s hard to understand how methylene blue hasn’t been used more in recent times (Bojadzic, Alcazar, & Buchwald, 2021) (Jang, Nelson, & Hoffman, 2013). Oh wait it has, it’s just most people have been ushered away from low cost protective interventions.
“‘Started yesterday 5 drops Throat cleared up No longer sweating like a priest in a school Phlegm gone from yellow to clear Aches gone Able to move Energy back”
“My temp went from 99° pre blue meth to 96.1° this morning .. no more body aches ++ cleared out the greenies etc ”
“Just wanted to update you on something you might find a little interesting. I tested positive for the virus at the start of the week. Was taking the oxidle and eating oysters, happy to say the worst of my symptoms was a tickle in my throat and a few sniffles. A lot of doctors and diabetes specialists had prior told me i would probably end up in ICU being a type 1 diabetic if i caught it, i found this quite interesting as i was not even unwell.
On another positive note, my most recent period was the of the most painless one yet, which is very exciting after having trouble after the jab, but looks like i’m getting back to normal.”
I write these blogs as I’m opposed to the over medicalisation of society and iatrogenesis. I’m motivated to empower people to understand their own biology. To become more robust in an increasingly stressful environment/society that appears to perpetually strive to break biology down, when profits are placed over people.
References
Bojadzic, D., Alcazar, O., & Buchwald, P. (2021). Methylene Blue Inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 Spike–ACE2 Protein-Protein Interaction–a Mechanism that can Contribute to its Antiviral Activity Against COVID-19. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.600372
Chen, M., Zhou, W., & Xu, W. (2021). Thyroid Function Analysis in 50 Patients with COVID-19: A Retrospective Study. Thyroid, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2020.0363
Drewry, A. M., Hotchkiss, R., & Kulstad, E. (2020). Response to “body temperature correlates with mortality in COVID-19 patients.” Critical Care. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-020-03186-w
Jang, D. H., Nelson, L. S., & Hoffman, R. S. (2013). Methylene Blue for Distributive Shock: A Potential New Use of an Old Antidote. Journal of Medical Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-013-0298-7
Klein, J. R. (2021). Dynamic Interactions Between the Immune System and the Neuroendocrine System in Health and Disease. Frontiers in Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.655982
Shah, S. B. (2021). COVID-19 and Progesterone: Part 1. SARS-CoV-2, Progesterone and its potential clinical use. Endocrine and Metabolic Science, 5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.endmts.2021.100109
Tharakan, S., Nomoto, K., Miyashita, S., & Ishikawa, K. (2020). Body temperature correlates with mortality in COVID-19 patients. Critical Care, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-020-03045-8
Tsivgoulis, G., Fragkou, P. C., Karofylakis, E., Paneta, M., Papathanasiou, K., Palaiodimou, L., … Tsiodras, S. (2021). Hypothyroidism is associated with prolonged COVID-19-induced anosmia: A case-control study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2021-326587