Concerns about contagiousness

The high rates at which the Th1 diseasesThe chronic inflammatory diseases caused by bacterial pathogens. aggregate in families as well as communities implies a strong contagious component. Given that the Th1 pathogensThe community of bacterial pathogens which cause chronic inflammatory disease - one which almost certainly includes multiple species and bacterial forms. are transmitted between people, patients naturally ask themselves, “How much am I making my family sick? How much is my family making me sick?”

The sharing of pathogens among family members may play a role in hastening disease, but it is ultimately only one of many factors in the onset of disease. The process by which a person accumulates bacteria and develops disease is a long one and starts sometimes decades before: even sperm and egg have been shown to be infected by bacteria. So insidious is the onset of disease that it is only when a person's immune system is more fully compromised by pathogens that a person or a physician becomes aware of it.

By some estimates, there are as many as 90 trillion bacterial cells in a human body, and, of course, many more in the world at large. Given the ubiquity of chronic bacterial forms, it is impossible that a single person is the exclusive vector by which another person accumulates pathogens. Chronic pathogens have been found in everything from food to drink to dirt to injectable medicines, and exposure to these substances can never be fully controlled. For this reason, it doesn't make sense to blame disease on a single person.

The best measure patients with Th1 disease can take to reduce contagiousness is to begin the Marshall Protocol. Each of the different components of the Protocol - discontinuing immunosuppressants, regular dosing with olmesartan (Benicar)Medication taken regularly by patients on the Marshall Protocol for its ability to activate the Vitamin D Receptor., use of low-dose antibiotics - decreases the chance a person will pass bacteria to family members of friends.

In particular, eliminating vitamin D from one's diet can improve the effectiveness with which the immune system fights pathogens. A simple blood test of 25-hydroxyvitamin D can confirm if a patient's levels of vitamin D are in a therapeutic range.

If other family members are positive for bacterial infections and/or symptomatic with Th1 disease, it is theoretically possible to pass these organisms back and forth if effective treatment is not begun.

Dr. Andy Wright, in his Chicago presentation, said he very rarely sees a family in which the spouses do not both have the L-formsDifficult-to-culture bacteria that lack a cell wall and are not detectable by traditional culturing processes. Sometimes referred to as cell wall deficient bacteria. in their blood. That is what I am seeing too. But the less ill a partner is, the less difficulty they will have throwing off the infection.

It is not known whether persons only mildly symptomatic will eliminate these bacteria with minocycline alone or whether the full MP is necessary.

However, intracellular bacteria grow very slowly. When you are on the MP, you will be killing them faster than they can multiply. Once the immune system is functioning properly, one should be able to maintain homeostasis with regards to environmental pathogens without disease.

Trevor Marshall, PhD

Some families have opted to go on the Marshall Protocol as a group.

If one is concerned about family members of a patient with Th1 disease, one can always do a minocycline probe (except for children under 8 years of age) and see if they experience immunopathology. I, despite elevated 1,25-DPrimary biologically active vitamin D hormone. Activates the vitamin D nuclear receptor. Produced by hydroxylation of 25-D. Also known as 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcitirol. and some annoying symptoms, was functioning at a high level prior to starting the MP. Subsequently, I realized how affected I was by the illness, now that I am experiencing improvements in health, especially with stamina, cognitive function and moods.

Greg Blaney, MD

If a family member is uninterested in doing the MP, it may be worth remembering the advice given by flight attendants before takeoff: “Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” People who are incapacitated themselves have trouble helping others. Sometimes the best way to convince other people is it to prove them.

My husband and I have been married for just three years now, together for five. We have been on the MP for over one year and had been doing several other protocols for fibro and cfs.

My husband and I have been blessed that most of the time we herx on opposite days and we are able to take care of each other. The beauty of the MP is that you can also modify it so that you can plan for your meds to herx at times that will work for both of you! We have had some pretty rough times and the emotional herxes are really hard, because you do not really understand it until afterwards. That is why it is really important to use this site and support often. There are a lot of good mentors here. And use your sense of humor!

FeatherRiver, MarshallProtocol.com