I have found several articles relating Epstein-Barr to chicken pox, herpes, Lyme disease, and various other ailments attributing a reemerging of the virus. The enlightening article related that people with Herpes usually had had a version of the virus as a kid in the form of Chicken Pox. But again, very little true research.
In researching Christmas wishes, of all things, I found the Medical Medium, a book by Anthony William and published by Hay House. I read the online version of the free chapter on Epstein-Barr and decided that was on my must have list. For the first time I read a confirmation of all that I had in theory regards the relationship between these ailments and Epstein-Barr. And I found someone who had pretty much described what I have been going through health-wise for many years - with a suspect as to the source.
http://www.medicalmedium.com/
He describes Epstein-Barr in detail and how it reeks havoc on the body. He also relates all of the illnesses that can be attributed to EBV, including mono, a false positive for Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. I felt like I hit the jackpot!
Not only does he describe in detail how this virus affects the body in stages over time, but he gives you tips on healing foods and herbs to get rid of the virus once and for all. It has alluded the medical industry, and, as we know, there is not suppose to be a cure for Herpes, so it pretty much leaves us hanging if we have had that diagnosis.
Fortunately, I had intuitively been eating some of the things that he recommends for people with Epstein-Barr, so that was also encouraging. And other than my constant skin rash and itching, and periods of fatigue, I haven't had many other complications associated with the dermatomyositis in the last year. I haven't had the joint pain for several years, so have felt lucky like I am on the mend.
But the itching and the skin rash have been almost unbearable. I even take Benedryl when I can't take the itching, and it calms the itching - and me - down for a moment of reprieve. My topical meds don't seem to be working anymore, so I decided to go "gung ho" in the EBV detox as Williams prescribes.
I've read the chapter over several times, made notes and a grocery list. I did my shopping and loaded up with celery and papaya and ginger for my initial detox as recommended. My first day was ok. I was juicing celery all day and drinking nothing but that with lemon water and herbal teas in between. This, as he states, is an excellent gut flush and reestablishes the hydrochloric acid in your stomach for good digestion. And, as I have previously blogged, you must have a clean gut to detox effectively without causing greater harm to the body. You can't send it down the pipes if the pipes are clogged.
The juicing was fine, I didn't feel hungry or tired, but I started to notice some joint pain in my low back. I went to the gym with my partner and sat in the sauna. The heat usually relaxes me and starts a good skin detox. I even did dry brushing to stimulate the skin to help me out with the detox. After I did low impact slow cardio on the elliptical machine so that I simply gave my lymph system a flush after the celery juice and sauna. As I said, I started to notice some joint pain and discomfort - first in the sauna. That was Sunday. By that night I was so uncomfortable that I tossed and turned and did not sleep hardly at all. My low back and hips were so stressed and painful, I finally got out of bed because lying down was killing me.
Part of the detox routine is to drink herbal teas. I chose Lemon Balm as the main tea because it kills EBV. I had been drinking it throughout the day. I must have triggered a response to the dying EBV that caused it to panic - usually described as a healing crisis. You feel worse before you feel better. I'm not unused to that when detoxing. I have had the detox headaches before. But nothing like the pain that has continued to develop in my low back and joints.
If I could tell Mr. William anything, it would be that he forgot to mention the pain you will be in when you try to detox EBV when it has reached Stage 4 in your system. Based on his description of symptoms of Stage 4, which include heart palpitations (for no reason and the doctors say you are healthy), and other stuff that escapes me right now, I have definitely reached Stage 4. Part of the problem in Stage 4, he says, is that the virus is intent on infiltrating your central nervous system and attaches to nerve endings so that it can control the flow of hormones it feeds on, specifically hormones associated with pain. Yeah. So the virus is panicking and attached to my nerves and sending LOTS of pain signals so that I will generate the hormones to feed it so it can reproduce while I'm actively trying to kill it. I just don't know how long this merry-go-round is going to last.
I did slow down on the teas that are supposed to be killing it until I can get a handle on the pain. As I said before, I am reading and re-reading the chapter for clues, but HE FAILED TO MENTION THE PAIN AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT (emphasis purposeful).
I went to his website this morning (it's now Wednesday at 4:00am) to see if I could blast him a message. No, consultations are now by lottery because he is so requested. I did sign up for the free booklet on the 10 best foods. Bingo! Ginger is for pain management. Therefore, I have grated my ginger and it is steeping as I write. There will be lots of ginger in my teas today.
I will keep you posted, but check out the book if you are ailing. He is way ahead of his time and has an insight to things the doctors are not yet aware of. If you are an intuitive, it will all make sense. If you are skeptical, keep dealing with your pain. I'm in pain, but tired of being tired. I've given over almost 7 years of my life to not being able to perform at my normal pace. I just turned 50 and I refuse to live the rest of my life as I have for the last 7 years. Pain will pass, and so will my life. I just don't want to miss the best parts, which are yet to come. Cheers!!
Later in the day ... I've been drinking the fresh ginger tea since waking this morning in this terrible pain. I woke up from a nap unbelievably changed!! I am grateful for the advice on fresh ginger tea and for my miracle workers!! Grate fresh ginger, steep in purified water, add lemon and honey ... amazing!
