Thanks Chris for explaining it for me. Saved a few neurons, and I need them all!
Pesky parasites is correct. I think they were eating my supplements for years. Lately several CFS docs have come to appreciate the part gut permeability plays in all this, and the protozoans, fungi, worms, etc. have to be dealt with in order to improve. Or that is my experience.
My best result was with Chinese medicine. But the DOM advised me to go off valtrex and other pharmaceuticals which were apparently holding some of the viral infections back somewhat. It's so hard to figure out how to treat this combination of immune dysfunction, toxins, and critters.
Wormwood was part of the successful (for a time) Chinese medicine approach, and you have reminded me, it was alternated with another formula (pulsatilla with other stuff). It seemed like the approach was to make the parasites move around so that they would get caught by the immune system.
At the moment, I'm on minocycline and metronidazole for Lyme, and I'm trying a supplement made from avemar to try to support immune function. I'm a long-time whey user, but re-thinking that one in light of freddd's info and Cheney's. I take lactoferrin and immunolin, tons of probiotics (maybe not the best strains), and sometimes Pro-Boost. I'm trying to give the avemar 2 months and see if it will replace valtrex 1000 mg.
I might have kicked the HHV-6 if I could have taken enough valcyte, as I had a big improvement right after the loading dose. But then I started getting bacterial infections and my liver doesn't like large quantities of medicine.
Have you heard of ImmunExtra? It's pine cone extract (as opposed to pine bark). My HHV-6 antibodies went from 1:640 to 1:10,240 when I took that. If the avemar works for me, I might try that one again, the avemar might protect me from the autoimmune flare I got in the past.
I have not tried immunovir. To be honest, I keep forgetting what it does. If it's cell signaling, I'm interested in that.
The other big thing I need to work on is getting the garbage removal system up and running. I have several SNPs on liver detox enzymes that are used for an overlapping set of chemicals/toxins/hormones. Not sure how to get Mr. Liver to work better. I'm taking fiber, and making green juice when I have the energy. LiverCare, and a milk thistle tincture.
Are you asleep yet

Thanks for listening! And for the artemisinin info.
Kelly