May 19 2009
Epstein Barr Virus Infection and Auto Immune Disease
Epstein Barr virus infection is a possible trigger for various auto immune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, lupus and Sjögren’s syndrome. Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system produces auto antibodies to an endogenous antigen. This causes inflammation and injury to body tissues.
Although Epstein Barr virus infection is usually self-limiting, auto immune disease is considered to be a permanent degenerative disease. Due to this permanent nature, long term therapy is necessary. Conventional medicine offers anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids, however the toxic side effects of these drugs may rival the disease in their degenerative effects.
Fortunately there is a lot that can be done with natural therapies for both Epstein Barr virus infection and for auto immune diseases.
The aim of auto immune natural treatment is to reduce the levels of auto antibodies, inhibit inflammation and repair tissues, without the adverse side effects of conventional medicine.
The first priority is to optimize digestive function with a good healthy diet and digestive enzymes like pancreatic concentrates and Betaine HCl. This will reduce antigen absorption commonly seen in patients with auto immunity.
Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine is associated with the development of auto immunity so normalizing microbial balance of the gastrointestinal tract is vital. Acidophillus and bifido bacteria plus a range of other probiotics are easily sourced from pharmacies and health food shops. Bowel and liver detoxification can be done regularly in order to reduce antigens and circulating antibodies.
The next step is to get onto some anti-inflammatory nutrients like high dose vitamin C, zinc, and fish oils. Foods like turmeric, rosemary oil, ginger and reishi mushroom are also powerful anti-inflammatories.
Lastly a low carb, high protein diet with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and pure water is important. A healthy diet will help with tissue repair and also minimize tissue inflammation.
If you or a loved one are suffering from an Epstein Barr virus infection, or the virus has triggered an auto immune disease, then natural therapies may offer you a solution. All these techniques discussed above are outlined in the e-book “Nature’s Amazing Mononucleosis Cures” by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble.
Elizabeth has recovered from chronic Epstein Barr virus infection herself, and treated thousands of people successfully through her clinics.
66 responses so far
Hi there,
Sorry to hear your husband has been so ill. It can be a very worrying time.
I would focus on treating your husband’s liver with a pure, fresh food diet which is low in fat, high in vegetables and fruit and adequate in protein. Liver herbs like milk thistle, artichoke, red root and dandelion can help cleanse the liver and prevent further damage to liver cells. I would also look at adding some anti-inflammatory and immune boosting nutrients like vitamin C, zinc and fish oils into his regime. Because of the complexity of his illness the advice of a good holistic doctor or naturopath should be sought.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
I’m 27 years old and have been experiencing a gradual decline in health starting in October 2008 until now. I had Epstein Barr Virus in Oct. recovered after about a month, then started having severe GI symptoms in Dec. Was tested for everything via colonoscopy/endoscopy just patching inflammation and a diverticulitis was found. By Oct of 2009 I was achey, could barely walk up stairs, I would return from grad school and just cry because my body hurt so bad. When I started having Raynauds I went to the rheum. who diagnosed me with Lupus, and Lupus anticoagulant and put me on Plaquenil and aspirin. I began eating Greek Yogurt every day, taking fish oil, Mag/Calcium/Zinc, B Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and digestive enzymes from Whole Foods, along with a list of about 10 presecription medications. I actually felt quite better in the Fall of 2010 when I ran a half-marathon. I LOVE RUNNING! I did sleep a ton while I was training, but other than that felt good. In Dec 2010 I started getting really sick, and finally in March 2011 got a bad case of bronchitis after running in the cold. I also work with small kids so there are lots of germs. I finally was diagnosed with active EBV again in April and have been off of work since. I am okay as long as I don’t exercise, go outdoors, and sleep a ton. OBVIOUSLY this is not REALLY okay. My rheum who I think highly of says there is nothing to do about the chronic EBV or the CFS associated with it. I have had several other blood tests that indicate Mixed Connective Tissue Disease as well as Lupus. Recently I have begun drinking salt water which seems to help my fatigue. I normally drink like 2 gallons of water a day and am constantly thirsty, but the salt water and gatorade helps this too. I also took coconut oil during the last EBV bout.
My question is this: even with herbal remedies will I still always have a decline in health because of the Lupus/MCTD? I can’t seem to accept that I will never be better. I really would like to have a baby, but given the Lupus Anticoagulant everyone thinks this is a bad idea. Lastly, and actually most importantly to me is it a bad idea for me to try to continue long distance running? I LOVE IT SO MUCH, but it seems like it’s just causing so much fatigue. I’m registered for a half-marathon in October and I want to do it soooo bad. I already missed one this spring due to the EBV activity.
Thanks,
Erica
Hi Erica,
Sorry to hear you have been struggling with your health. It can be a very frustrating time.
There is no reason why your health will continue to decline with the Lupus/MCTD. I would recommend you support your body with the supplements you mention above (plus some added vitamin C) and some anti-inflammatory foods like ginger, turmeric, quercetin and rutin. Doing some regular gastrointestinal and liver cleansing will optimise your results.
On the exercise side – if these work outs and half marathons are leaving you exhausted then they are probably not a good idea. Excess exercise is known to suppress the immune system. If you rest up now hopefully you will bounce back sooner and will be able to resume your exercise in the future. If you push yourself too hard now then you may end up with complications like CFS or fibromyalgia. With your history I would recommend you find a good holistic doctor or naturopath to work with.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
hi Elizabeth,
I have Epstein Barr, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Sclerosis. The most devastating of them all is i was just told I Have Herpes although i h ave not been with anyone for a long time. They are checking to see if its one or two. I cannot tell you how much pain I have been in for the past two months. my doctor presribed valrex, and Famvir. I am taking the Famvir although it does not seem to be working. my question is how do I know which disease or illness is causing the pain and what kind to doctor do i see about all this. I have been seeing my primary who is a D.O and i think she is very knowledgable however I am not getting any better. I am scared and in pain and very sad. please help
Thank you,
REBecca
i have had so many problems in the past 40 years that got worse as i got older and no doctor told me or could tell me if they were symptoms of something else. what the hell good are they if they don’t think of it as i mentioned it to any of them. what am i the only what that can figure things out for myself when they get paid the big bucks?
its almost like their politicains themwelves or work for them, which some do through the insurance companies.
total frustatration for me and the pain and agony of mental stress and physical pain that goes with all the symptoms.
fibro, ibs, headaches up the wazoo, aches,pains, fuzzy,dizzy, and god knows what else. they treat a symptom but they(doctors) don’t care where or why your having these things………oh yeah, big time depression and total bitternes with people. thanks.
Hi Sue,
Sorry to hear you have had such a rough time with the medical system. Many doctors are just taught to treat the symptoms (usually with drugs) – they do not look at the body holistically. I would recommend you find a naturopath or holistic doctor who specialises in immune disorders. I suggest you do a search on the
doctor’s list on : http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm. Alternatively there is a free forum at http://www.cebv.org where you could ask
other mono sufferers.
Keep your chin up.
Elizabeth
Hi, As a young adult I suffered a severe bout of Epstein Barr syndrome and while it took some time to fully recover I did so and have lived healthily ever since. However I am now in my 60′s and an arthritic, and frequently experience some of the same symptoms such as painful lymph nodes, headaches, aches in my limbs, even sweats. Could these be related to that infection I had so long ago? Thanks. Karen
Hi Karen,
Thanks for your post. The Epstein Barr virus is a latent virus that stays in your body for life and can be re-activated when your immune system is under stress. Symptoms like swollen glands, headaches, fever and muscle aches are typical of a re-activation so it is possible that what you are experiencing could be the
virus flaring up symptoms. These symptoms could also be caused by a low grade bacterial infection like mycoplasma so it is worth having some blood tests done to screen for other potential microbes.
Elizabeth
Hello Elizabeth,
Please help. I contracted Glandular fever/Epstein Barr seven years ago during pregnancy and life has been horrific ever since. I suffer with all of the usual and have never known what it is like to be a proper mum to my daughter. I have basically had to help myself as the medical profession have been an absolute waste of time and just written me off. I follow a strict healthy diet for years as you have detailed but my immune system just does not work properly. I pick things up easily and when I am ill it seems to take a lifetime to get rid of it. Upset stomachs are the worse. They drag on for two weeks at a time and I end up with sever cramps and lots of soreness and acid in my stomach. I now feel so desperate to find someone who can help me. I want to be normal like I used to be and live one day without crying and feeling ill.
Please reply,
Jayne.
Hi Jayne,
Thank you for your post. I’m sorry to hear you have been struggling with your health for so long. The Epstein Barr virus that causes glandular fever is a latent virus that can relapse when you are stressed or run down.
I would focus on the health of your gastrointestinal tract as this is the forefront of your immune system. Start by doing a gentle anti-parasitic cleanse followed by a course of probiotics like acidophillus and bifido bacteria. Boosting your immune function with vitamin C, zinc and selenium would also be a good idea. Keep on your healthy diet and factor in plenty of rest during the day. I would advise you get an experienced holistic doctor or naturopath on your side to run some more tests and investigate what is going on. Here’s a list of good doctors who specialise in immune disorders:
http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm
Please let me know how you go.
Elizabeth
Hello Elizabeth.
When I was in my late thirties I was diagnosed with EBV and then in my early forties I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and now in my late forties they have diagnosed me with Lupus and Rhematoid Arthritis and Diabetes. I have figured it out on my own that this has stemmed primarily from the EBV I had in thirties. Women that get the EBV should begin any kind of natural remedy formulas to help their immune system and slow the antibodies down before they get Lupus. I wish I had known this. I did not know anything about all of this natural remedies or even the fact that having EBV is directly linked to Lupus. I have spent over ten years of my life going to my doctor over and over again about fatigue- pain-painful swallowing everything you discussed. Why didnt my doctor tell me I needed to be careful or the things I could get from having EBV when I was in my thirties? I had ten years I could have gotten better..but now…I dont know if it is too late for me. I have to go to an internist soon to deal with my Lupus. I have allegic reactions now to any nsaid drugs and narcotics. I have been receiving Steroid shots and packs to take for the last month. I have been having horrible pain in my spine and back from degenerative diseases and car accidents I was in. What do you suggest that I do? Please help me with this!
Thank You
Elaine
Hi Elaine,
Sorry to hear you are suffering with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. EBV can be a trigger for these autoimmune conditions.
Fortunately there is a lot you can do with natural therapies to reduce the levels of pain and to inhibit the inflammation.
Your priority is to get onto some anti-inflammatory nutrients like high dose vitamin C, zinc, and fish oils. Foods like turmeric,
ginger and reishi mushroom are also anti-inflammatory. A low carb, high protein diet with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and pure water is important.
I also recommend you do a liver and bowel detoxification in order to reduce antigens and circulating antibodies. Taking digestive
enzymes like pancreatic concentrates and Betaine HCl will optimise your results. For your pain, high dose magnesium supplements
and Epsom salt baths are worth trying.
Because of the complexities of your conditions, working with a good holistic doctor or naturopath is advisable.
I hope this information gets you started.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth-
I started suffering after having my second child with extreme fatigue,migraine headaches, achiness and pure exhaustion . After 4 years my primary said I had had ebv sometime in my life. I don’t even know when I had it. I have gotten progressively worse with extreme stomach issues. Knots in my stomach , don’t eliminate but once every other day. I know you suggest a gi and liver cleanse . But what do you mean by that which brand and where can I buyit. I don’t think I detox easily because I never sweat. My dr said I have autoimmune hashimoto thyroiditis and have put on extreme weight . Please help I cannot get out of bed some days it’s awful!!!
Hi Andrea,
It does sound like your gastrointestinal tract is causing health issues. Having poor digestion and elimination puts a huge stress on the body’s immune system. I would look at eliminating gluten, sugar and dairy from your diet to see if it eases your discomfort. Doing a gentle gastrointestinal cleanse with some herbs like black walnut, barberry or citrus seed extract would be a good start. These should be available from your local health food shop or naturopath otherwise you can purchase them from an online distributor like Prohealth.com or iherb.com. When you have finished the herbs you can then re-introduce the healthy bacteria like acidophillus and bifido bacteria. If your symptoms persist then a liver cleanse is advisable.
For your extreme fatigue you need to treat the thyroid and look at adding some adrenal supplements like magnesium, vitamin C and the B complex. A low carb, high protein diet should help with your energy and weight.
I hope this helps.
Elizabeth
Does epstein barr effect the teeth? My teeth are starting to brake.I do take care of them like i should.Just wondering if it is posible for it to effect them. Thanks.
Hi Penni,
EBV can cause some mouth sores and lesions on the tongue. As far as I know it does not affect the teeth.
Elizabeth