We are petri dishes. Complex chronic illness is a community of unwanted guests.

If you only pull out one weed from the garden, you make room for the others to thrive.   You must get all the various weeds gone and replace with wanted plants. 

I don’t really subscribe to germ theory.  I always felt that the terrain was more important (our bodies).  And I still do! But many of us have very dysfunctional terrain because of the world we live in.  It’s very easy to cure somebody of a virus if they are in good health to begin with. But over the past 50 years peoples bodies and the environment we live in has changed drastically. And its not our fault!  Our air & our food are so different and our mental and emotional systems are taxed in ways we are not supposed to live. 

We are increasingly out of balance. Today’s environment has made us sicker than ever before. Our immune systems work tirelessly to keep infections at bay, but when they become overwhelmed, our bodies struggle to cope. Toxins in our environment have made human bodies function differently than they did 150 years ago. Many of us carry infections without even realizing it—until our health deteriorates.  For some, COVID-19 was the breaking point. Others might experience mold or toxin exposure that triggers a cascade of symptoms, revealing a broader range of health issues and numerous ‘causes’ for our illness.

To restore balance, we must address and eradicate a large portion of harmful infections/toxins. These pathogens disrupt immune function, often suppressing immune activity to the point where we don't get sick but feel chronically fatigued and worn down for years.

Why Is This Worse Today?

Over the last century, several factors have caused an imbalance in our health:

• Overuse of antibiotics has disrupted the microbiome, leading to poor immune function and the rise of superbugs.

• Increased exposure to toxins like lead, plastics, and solvents interferes with cellular function.

• Poor Food - Our diets no longer support a healthy, antimicrobial microbiome.

  
  

Modern testing for infections is not always reliable. Innovative labs with advanced microscopes are beginning to detect bacteria, parasites, and biofilms that were previously undetectable in "normal" samples. Experts agree that stool testing fails to catch parasites up to 80% of the time. Similarly, standard Lyme disease testing misses the bacteria about 80% of the time. Many parasites, never enter the intestines and therefore would not even appear in stool samples. A large portion of bacteria hide in biofilms or inside organs, making them even harder to detect.  And many doctors still don't recognize mold illness as a real condition.

How Do We Acquire Pathogens?

We can acquire pathogens from a variety of sources: insect bites, flea or tick exposure, cat scratches, dust mites, or even walking barefoot.  Most of us acquired quite a few in our youth!   And there is not much support for finding the deeper cause of our illness.  While we are encouraged to deworm our pets and livestock, this is largely ignored when it comes to humans.  We are given a short dose of antibiotics and a steroid and told to go on our way.  In the United States, 80% of buildings have water damage, providing an ideal environment for mold growth.

While pathogens like parasites, viruses, bacteria, and mold are rarely fatal, they cause immune system dysregulation. Parasites, for instance, trigger up-regulation of TH1 immunity, which down-regulates TH2 immunity. TH2 is responsible for recognizing and eliminating bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When TH2 is compromised, you may find yourself catching every bug that goes around. Mold triggers TH17 activity, which, if prolonged, can lead to autoimmune diseases. Those with both bacterial and parasitic infections face the challenge of managing two classes of pathogens that generate conflicting immune responses, often failing to resolve either.

The Role of Biofilms

Biofilms are protective barriers that pathogens create to shield themselves from the immune system. Addressing biofilms is crucial to allow the immune system to recognize and fight infections.  When biofilms begin to dissolve, the immune system may react to the most obvious infection, potentially making you feel worse. This immune response, driven by cytokines (messenger molecules), is known as a Herxheimer reaction, or "Herx," and often results in flu-like symptoms.Some researchers are now pointing to thick biofilms (and the infections they harbor) as the cause for atherosclerotic plaques, Alzheimers, cancers,  and numerous other diseases.  

The Defense Systems of Pathogens

As we begin to kill pathogens, they fight back. For example, molds release mycotoxins, which poison our cells and further disrupt the immune system. When bacteria die, they release lipopolysaccharides (LPS), tiny particles that can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause brain fog, neuropsychiatric effects, gastrointestinal distress, and even puffiness in the fingers.

Our modern environment, rife with toxins and pathogens, has created an imbalance in our health. We must address the infections and imbalances that are disrupting our immune systems. With more advanced testing and awareness of biofilms and the defense mechanisms of pathogens, we can begin to understand and address the root causes of many chronic health issues. 

Healing from this complicated mess is not easy or quick. But it IS getting to the root cause of disease and therefor there is a brighter future on the other side.