I think what makes viral cause of cfs and lyme disease so controversial is the testing for both is quite poor and the symptoms overlap alot. Plus the longer one is ill with either, the more infections one can get from immune suppression. Lyme coinfections like mycoplasma are present in alot of cfs pts and for some the sole cause of cfs.
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i agree with a lot of this
but in my personal opinion there is an over emphasis on viral causes of CFS/ME in the CFS patient population - because of historical associations between viruses and CFS/ME and the lack of understanding of or belief in chronic bacterial infections in the medical community.
i do think immune suppression is part of the picture - and believe this is the main cause of viral reactivation - of things like EBV, CMV etc - when they are present ( and not a false positive due to cross reactivity as described above ) - and i put Mycoplasma in the same category - another common infection our bodies are normally able to deal with just fine - like all of these common viruses- unless there is something else in the way dysregulating and suppressing our immune system.
so i would frame real reactivated childhood viruses as a symptom, not a cause
likewise - a person who's immune system is coping with its current load of bacteria and viruses might have a collapse of immune function after another stressor - like acute virus infection - is added into the mix - and i think this likely explains the sudden onset of CFS after viral infections.
similar things are documented in cases of physical trauma or surgery or emotional trauma
all stressors to the immune system
and again adding to the idea the the virus is the cause - but in reality its more likely just the last straw that breaks the camels back
ref herbal lyme / chronic bacterial treatments - i have tried these myself over the course of the last 3years or so
the largely anti-inflammatory and immune regulating herbs described by Buhner - knotweed, cats claw, cordyceps etc were helpful to me - but not curative
similarly - the strong anti bacterial herbs like crypolepis also helped me - but also caused powerful reactions - so i had to start on low doses and step up very gradually -
i took a combination of cryptolepis, sida acuta, alchornea, houtuynia, teasel, berberis - all at around max suggested doses in tincture form - as per buhners books
but again - while these helped me get to near 50% recovered - when combined with the anti-inflammatory herbs and diet and lifestyle changes, exercise, sleep, etc it was still not enough to resolve the symptoms all together.
so while there is good scientific in vitro work backing up their effect at high concentration in vitro - in practice i do not think these herbs on their own are strong enough to treat most people successfully when taken orally - even in tincture form ( i really hoped they would be and stuck at them for 2 years at max doses but plateaued - so i just don't think they are enough on their own)
they clearly help though - so i think they have their place - and i think they helped me get to a place where i was better able to function and better able to tolerate further treatment - and they can be combined with pharma antibiotics - so no reason not to use them.
i am also in favour of fibrinolytic enzymes like bromelain, serrapeptase and lumbrokinase - these are known to increase the effectiveness of antimicrobials significantly and help break down both excess fibrin driven by inflammation / infection and microbial biofilms to some degree.
these drive significant reactions for me - when taken alongside antimicrobials
its a big commitment - some people feel there must be a quick fix and hold out for miracle cures - however, the reality seems to be that it just takes a lot of effort to turn this around when you have been sick for years - and for me its paying off