Check out Geoff’s narration:
The GIST
The Blog
THE GIST
- Check out Geoff’s narration of the GIST at the top of the blog.
- Major Takeaway – researchers find a circuit in the brain that turns on and off the inflammatory response that characterizes so many chronic illnesses, including ME/CFS and long COVID. It could also explain how stress impacts inflammation.
- Twenty years ago, our idea of how the immune system works changed radically when Kevin Tracey discovered that an “inflammatory reflex” produced by the brain in conjunction with the vagus nerve. Instead of inflammation being produced locally, it quickly became clear that the brain was in control of how much inflammation was present in the body.
- Meanwhile, over in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia land, the low heart rate variability and dysautonomia found made the vagus nerve – the chief regulator of the parasympathetic nervous system – of interest.
- Recently, a widely lauded paper, “A body-brain circuit regulating body inflammatory responses,” identified a master immune switch in the brain that is able to turn off and turn on inflammation in the body. Yale immunologist Ruslan Medzhitov called the finding a “black swan event”; i.e. a rare and unpredictable event that made perfect sense once it was found. Medzhitov stated the study indicated, “there is a whole layer of biology that we haven’t even anticipated”.
- The study identified neurons associated with the vagus nerve in the brainstem that are able to turn on or off the inflammatory or innate immune response in the body. The authors called the circuit between the neurons the inflammation “rheostat” of the brain, which regulates the amount of inflammation occurring in the body.
- These neurons were found in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) in the brainstem – which transmits oceans of sensory, chemical, autonomic and immune data to the brain.
- Because the nucleus also integrates emotional data with the other data and has strong ties to brain organs like the amygdala and insular cortex – which regulate autonomic nervous system, movement and emotional data – the authors proposed that the finding could also illuminate psychosomatic symptoms which show up during stressful states.
- In short, the cNTS is the place in the brain where body and mind and physiological and emotional stressors meet. It’s been described as: “the brain’s primary sensory nucleus for visceral sensations relevant to symptoms in medical and psychiatric disorders and as “a key node in the “mind-body” characteristics of several medical and psychiatric diseases.”
- Finding a master regulator of the innate immune system was no mean feat and the study was widely hailed for the new possibilities it promises to rein in in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well mysterious conditions such as long COVID.
- Trinity College biochemist Dan O’Neil stated: “if we could target these circuits very precisely, then there’s great potential to block the inflammation response for many diseases”.
- Now that they have a starting place (specific neurons in the cNTS), researchers will track down how these neurons in the brainstem are able to affect the immune system across the body; i.e. what cells they’re interacting with and how they’re interacting with them to do that. That should open up more treatment possibilities.
- For its part, the brainstem seems more fraught with possibility than ever. I took part in a small study that assessed the effects of what I called the “zapper” on the brainstem. The device was designed to reduce inflammation in other parts of the body. I was only able to get in two sessions of the zapper, but after the second session, I felt distinctly clearer, calmer, and more focused.
- Plus, work on manipulating the vagus nerve continues. Kevin Tracey’s work has shown that invasive vagus nerve stimulators can have profound effects on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and billions of dollars have recently been poured into developing electroceutical devices that can stimulate the vagus and other nerves in the body.
- The study was done on mice – not humans – but the basic anatomy is similar. Given the toll the chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases take – not to mention diseases like ME/CFS, FM, and long COVID – finding a potential on-off switch for the innate immune system will undoubtedly unleash a torrent of studies to validate and broaden the finding and find new ways to treat disease.
Meanwhile, over in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia land, the low heart rate variability and dysautonomia found made the vagus nerve – the chief regulator of the parasympathetic nervous system – of interest. That nerve got even more interesting when eleven years ago, Michael VanElzakker proposed that infections of the vagus nerve were causing it to transmit signals to the brain, which resulted in a chronic case of “sickness behavior”; i.e. pain, fatigue, cognitive, and sleep issues in ME/CFS.
A “Black Swan” Event
Recently, a widely lauded paper, “A body-brain circuit regulating body inflammatory responses,” identified a master immune switch in the brain that is able to turn off and turn on inflammation in the body.
Yale immunologist Ruslan Medzhitov called the finding a “black swan event”; i.e. a rare and unpredictable event that made perfect sense once it was found. Medzhitov stated the study indicated “there is a whole layer of biology that we haven’t even anticipated”.
That switch was found in that complicated and vital piece of central nervous system real estate called the brainstem – another big area of interest in ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and long COVID.
First, the researchers infected mice with a bacterial toxin called LPS known to activate the immune system. (In a small study, Jarred Younger recently found that the same toxin, when given to people with fibromyalgia, may have triggered an abnormal neuroinflammatory response in their brains.) Using precise imaging techniques, they found that vagus nerve neurons in the brainstem lit up with activity as soon as the toxin was introduced.
It soon became clear that these neurons were controlling immune activity – not in the brain – but in the body. One set of neurons in the brainstem was in charge of damping down immune activity, while another set was in charge of amping it up. Turning off the first set of neurons resulted in a dramatic (300% increase) increase in pro-inflammatory activity and a similar decrease in anti-inflammatory activity was seen. Turning off the second set turned inflammation down by 70%.
Further testing indicated that glutamateric and GABA-ergic neurons found within the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) in the brainstem were controlling the immune response. The authors called this circuit the inflammation “rheostat” of the brain, which regulates the amount of inflammation occurring in the body. (A rheostat controls the flow of electrical current).
Plus, the researchers found a place where the vagus nerve triggers some of the flu-like symptoms found in “sickness behavior”. Immune factors called cytokines triggered sensory neurons in a part of the vagus nerve called the nodose ganglia.
The cNTS – an Inflammatory, Sensory and Psychosomatic Hub?
The nucleus solitarius (shown here in tan) is connected to the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract. (Image by Bhimj, Creative_Commons_NHCBI)
The caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (cNTS) is where it all happens. The solitary tract is so named because it consists of vagus nerve fibers that end in a bundle of nerve cells. The solitary tract connects the vagus nerve to the brainstem and tracks many different factors including sensory information, chemical changes (glucose, leptin and angiotensin II), changes in blood pressure, blood pH, breathing, heart rate and gut motility. (The team that authored this study came to it in part through their prior research linking taste sensations to the nCTS). In short, one review called it:
“the primary brain region to receive and process rapid, neuro-chemical information regarding the internal environment of the body.”
One of the lead researchers, Dr. Jin, made an interesting statement:
“A lot of psychosomatic effects could actually be linked to brain circuits telling your body something,”
That came out of the blue. How did a tract of neurons in the brainstem that are associated with inflammation get linked up with “psychosomatic symptoms ”.
To the public, psychosomatic connotes an illness that is made up, but the term psychosomatic does not necessarily define a made-up illness at all. Psychosomatic is defined as “(of a physical illness or other condition) caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict or stress” i.e. it could be construed as being caused by problems with the stress response.
The cNTS is where sensory information inflammation, autonomic nervous system functioning, and emotional states collide. In other words, it’s potentially an excellent place to explain diseases characterized by lots of strange body sensations and pain, dysautonomia, inflammation and psychological distress that often ramps up symptoms.
It’s all part of some very crowded real estate in the brainstem. (Image: Nadezdha_Wikimedia_Commons.)
It’s connected to regions of the brain that regulate autonomic nervous system functioning and the emotions. Neurons, for instance, from the insular and medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hypothalamus connect to the cNTS.
The insular cortex processes sensory information, coordinates movements, monitors the body’s internal state, and regulates the emotional response to situations. Sensations emanating from the throat, chest, and abdomen get translated by the loop from the insular cortex to the cNTS. Indeed, stimulating the insular cortex has been shown to produce sensations in the throat, chest, and abdomen (as well as altering gut motility and breathing). On its end, the medial prefrontal cortex is responsible for attention, concentration, motivation and movement.
Nerves going to the fear center of the brain, the amygdala, as well as the hypothalamus permeate the cNTS as well. Once again, we find this intriguing connection between parts of the brain involved in emotional states and autonomic nervous system functioning.
Interestingly, neurons in the cNTS are the only cells in the brain that respond to aldosterone – a part of the RAAS complex that maintains (or in the case of POTS and ME/CFS is supposed to maintain – see the RAAS paradox) blood volume. One review article proposed another way to mess with emotional regulation in these diseases – alterations in aldosterone. That’s an interesting finding given anecdotal reports that increasing blood volume in ME/CFS can reduce anxiety.
In short, the cNTS is the place in the brain where physiological and emotional stressors meet. It’s been described as:
“the brain’s primary sensory nucleus for visceral sensations relevant to symptoms in medical and psychiatric disorders and as “a key node in the “mind-body” characteristics of several medical and psychiatric diseases.”
Given the connections between the sensory system, inflammation, and the emotions, it’s no surprise that Dr. Jin proposed that this new finding could shed light on what’s going on with so-called psychosomatic symptoms.
Importance
Finding a master regulator of the innate immune system was no mean feat and the study was widely hailed for the new possibilities it promises to rein in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well mysterious conditions such as long COVID.
Trinity College biochemist Dan O’Neil stated:
“if we could target these circuits very precisely, then there’s great potential to block the inflammation response for many diseases”.
Now that they have a starting place (specific neurons in the cNTS), researchers can begin to track down how these neurons in the brainstem are able to affect the immune system across the body; i.e. what cells they’re interacting with and how they’re interacting with them to do that. That will open up more treatment possibilities.
For its part, the brainstem seems more fraught with possibility than ever. I took part in a small study that assessed the effects of what I called the “zapper” on the brainstem. The device was designed to reduce inflammation in other parts of the body. I was only able to get in two sessions of the zapper, but after the second session, I felt distinctly clearer, calmer, and more focused.
Plus work on manipulating the vagus nerve continues. Kevin Tracey’s work has shown that invasive vagus nerve stimulators can have profound effects on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
In 2011 Tracey proposed that conditions characterized by low heart rate variability – such as ME/CFS, POTS, fibromyalgia and now long COVID – might respond well to vagus nerve stimulation. Dr. Natelson – who is studying non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation – reported on an remarkable story of a woman with very severe fibromyalgia who responded well to invasive vagus nerve stimulation.
The NIH and the drug companies have caught on. From NIH’s SPARC initiative to major investments from pharmaceutical companies, billions are dollars are being invested in finding ways to electronically stimulate the vagus and other nerves to improve health.
Wrap Up
The study was done on mice – not humans – but the basic anatomy is similar. Studies will have to assess if the same inflammatory regulator is working in the same way in humans. Since we’re dealing with the most primitive part of the immune system which works similarly in many organisms – my guess is that a similar process is taking place.
This finding came about because of technical advances that allowed the research team to very precisely find where in these very small nerve passages the activity was occurring. This kind of very detailed work is being done across the vagus nerve and could provide much help in the future. The NIH’s SPARC Initiative, for instance, is focusing in precisely defining the anatomy and functional connectivity of the vagus nerve (SPARC-V), in order to support the development of neuromodulation devices and “facilitate the development of new best-in-class bioelectronic medicine therapies.” Let it be so – and as quickly as possible :).
Given the toll the chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases take – not to mention diseases like ME/CFS, FM, and long COVID – finding a potential on-off switch for the innate immune system will undoubtedly unleash a torrent of studies to validate and broaden the finding and find new ways to treat disease.
Thanks to Susan for the link to this most interesting finding!
Hi cort,
WOW !, This is very interesting. Here is how Dr. Teitelbaum basically explained the origin of CFS/ME and FM on his web site End Fatigue for many years.
”CFS/FMS acts as a “circuit breaker,” with the hypothalamus decreasing its function to protect the individual in the face of what is perceived to be an overwhelming stress (just like blowing a fuse/circuit breaker in a house). This center controls sleep, hormones, temperature, and blood flow/blood pressure/sweating/gut function. When you don’t sleep deeply, your immune system also stops working properly.”
By the way ”The hypothalamus is centrally located in the brain, and it connects to the brainstem via the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus”. Source NIH Library of Medicine on google
It looks like the real origin would come precisely from the ”blown” immune system switch (at least for mice). And, obviously, the list of factors able to blow-up that switch is probably as long as the arm.
Should we be able to control that switch – more easily said than done -, maybe everything would get back to normal.
Looks like we are slowly going somewhere…
Nice! Angus Mackay has proposed that the paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus is ground zero for ME/CFS and Lucinda Bateman has also asserted that the hypothalamus plays a key role in these diseases. I love it when all these things connect together 🙂
https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2020/05/27/neuroinflammatory-paradigm-chronic-fatigue-me-cfs/
Another thing I really like about this finding is that it appears to be a big one. It’s gotten quite a bit of press and will surely be the focus of a lot of research going forward. Imagine finding a single place that could get inflammation – probably the main driver of so many chronic illnesses under control. Pharmaceutical companies have to be looking really closely at this.
I agree with you that this finding appears to be a very major one that should awaken the interest of the pharmaceutical companies.
This finding would also explain very simply why so many people have so many different symptoms (although the main ones are similar). If this immune system ”switch” in the brainstem blows-up for a long list of reasons (different reasons for different people) and sends a weird signal to the connected hypothalamus which controls all the main functions in the body as per Dr. Teitelbaum’s explanation, no surprise to end up with an entirely dysfunctional body-brain system.
Wow this is really good news.
I really hope it means more research that leads to treatment for people.
Thanks for putting it so concisely Cort.
Cort, I am so pleased that you are presenting this finding! Hope my little hint (link) a week or so ago contributed to this!
Makes me want to fire up the old TENS unit and do some experimentation, not that is is exactly the same thing, but close enough for primitive research.
Yes, indeed. Nancy thanks for the reminder 🙂
Hi Cort, is there a test/exam that can check whether someone’s brain switch is funtioning properly or not, or do you they will develop one?
Hi Anderson! I’ll take a stab at answering your question; the research which demonstrated these two ‘immune switches’ was done on mice. Researchers do a lot of experiments (for humans) on mice because there are many similarities–but ultimately not exactly the same.
I too, wish I had access to the full published article (paywalled) so I could find out exactly how the researchers turned the vagus nerve ‘on and off’ (which reports to the brain), but alas, all of us will have to wait for further details. This is a very preliminary finding although doctors are currently using vagus nerve electrical stimulation for other issues. Cort has a number of articles about this and you can find tutorials on YouTube as well.
Of course there is various brain imaging, but results are not completely understood. We are at the beginning of figuring this out and all I can say is–patience…
I suppose if you have enough energy, and are feeling good, your brain switch is likely functioning well!
Ok, Nancy, thank you very much for your reply.
Pain in my brain stem area (after burning up too much energy) is my worse symptom.
It’s like a migraine. Light and sound make it worse.
One of the most interesting things about this area of the brain is how much sensory information gets poured into it. Lots of potential for things to go wrong I would think.
I remember reading the study on the vagus nerve (mouse model) and I went to try to find the original research. Could only find the pay-walled version; https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01259-2
Oh well, I’ll keep looking…
Found the link I was looking for!
https://www.donotpanic.news/p/scientists-just-made-a-stunning-biological?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=email
If it actually comes up, I’ve found the pre-print of that paywalled Nature article!!! At first glance, it’s very technical;
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rfVT_sXPK2AqVk92hqdEuaMOwE3P6cuQ/view
Also, I had an interesting ‘talk’ with pi.ai (your personal AI assistant). I was asking all kinds of technical questions about this stuff and getting some interesting answers. The site does say that the AI might ‘create’ information, but all in all, I think it was delivering some good stuff which I can cross check later.
Cort, what can you share with us about this “zapper”device?
I’ve got some nerve stimulation feedback. I don’t propose these experiences are representative, but for what it is worth, here they are:
1. I’ve used a conventional consumer medical vagus nerve stimulator. That didn’t do anything noticeable for me. They are expensive. I tried it for at least six months.
2. I recently conducted a “I did this so you don’t have to” experiment with an electric fence. I did a dozen shocks from an 8J (delivered, 12J stored) cattle fence energiser over four days. This hasn’t appeared to have made a great deal of difference. There have been some positive sleep effects, and my RMSSD (heart rate variability metric) has increased. Overall, it was significantly unpleasant to do and arguably only marginally less peculiar than baiting the local constabulary into tasering me. It has the potential to be life threatening.
WOW! You are one tough (or desperate) dude! We appreciate your “taking one” for research for us all but please be careful! The shock from my pathetically weak (too much fast growing grass) fencing doesn’t seem to have made any difference but I’ll check my HRV the next time to see what changes. 😉
Strikes terror into my heart. At age 12 standing in sopping wet grass, I mistakenly grabbed a hot livestock wire fence. The power was so strong I couldn’t let go. Someone had to turn off the fence to free me. Honestly, i can’t imagine doing this intentionally. I’m glad it didn’t turn out to be a remedy!
You’re sopping wet grass would have been the sole reason for the intensity of the shock and also the reason you couldn’t let go….the “sopping wet grass” completed the conducting loop
Thank you & God bless you! I have done some of experiments on myself as well-it just shows how desperate we are to have our lives back! 🙂
It’s crazy the stuff we’re willing to do to ourselves in our search for an elusive cure! I too try all sorts of crazy stuff. Nothing has worked yet…
I did it with an ME/CFS doctor and don’t know the name of the device and I want to talk to her about it before I post anything more. It was placed on the back of the neck – produced a series of loud clicks – and lasted for, I don’t know – 5 or ten minutes. The second time I tried it I really noticed something.
Sounds like TMS – transcranial magnetic stimulation, for those who want to search more into it. But it could be something else.
As a mother to a 17 year old daughter and a 19 year daughter who both suffer from a lolly scramble of ME/CFFS, POTs, FM…coupled with an anatomy and physiology focused, hyper-fixated personality, this makes so much sense to me. For 15 years, I have watched Ms 19 suffer an implosion triad of mind, body and soul. The HPA axis was hugely affected during a rough pregnancy, birth induced early due to maternal hypertension, caused by stress from domestic violence relationship. Fight or flight locked and loaded. Reflux baby and hot headed. Impaired emotional regulation. Soothed by floating in water. Multiple food, allergen, pharmaceutical adverse reactions. Suspected MCAS from early on. Peanut allergy…grew out of. Gluten/IBS issues, not celiac. Interstitial cystitis from 4 years, knees joints would give out when sick. Glandular fever at 4 years old, ongoing autoimmune type issues worsening when stress got more and more intense. Too much to mention but finally diagnosis ME/CFS at 15 years. Then medically gaslit for the next four. Has recently had additional diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, Eating Disorder and throw in an IgE level 100 x normal and that has been consistent for 8 years. Anyway, could list all day and still not cover her medical history. This research ties in everything I have witnessed in her journey. Especially that a head injury and whiplash injury seemed to immediately make all those issues combine into what I termed an autonomic shit storm. A major event that lead to irreversible crashing and the observable symptomology where inflammation at a junction of the immune, neurological and emotional systems had a compounding and devastating outcome. This research is giving a hypothesis to that junction.
It’s like a traffic accident at a major intersection. It can disrupt traffic for the rest of a day, affecting motorists and highways that were nowhere near the collision. This black swan was hit at this intersection…one black swan can affect the whole ecosystem.
I’m so sorry for both of you! Hopefully we”ll get some help on the way soon. I appreciate your taking the time to write this (very well I might add!) as I’m sure a lot of people can see themselves in this description. I know I can. Your explanation makes a lot of sense. I’m going to a NUCCA chiropractor soon. They take very specific xrays and then try and manually readjust the upper cervical spine/atlas/axis to relieve pressure on the vagus nerve/blood vessels/spinal cord /brain as needed. Concussions/whiplash injuries caused my issues too. Hope you find help managing her symptoms soon. Blessings!
T Allen
I had several concussions. A NUCCA chiro has helped me a Lot
Thanks! I’ve been kind of apprehensive about this.
Wow does this hit a nerve with me. I had a Chiari Malformation that pushed my Vertebral artery up against the brain stem at the NTS causing me to have a rare form of Dysautonomia called Baroreflex Failure. I had brain surgery x 2 to decompress the brain. However, the vertebral artery continues to indent the brain stem at the NTS. With each beat of the heart I get punched in the brainstem. I have ME/CFS I believe because of this. I have no gag reflex. Anyway, I too love it when all the dots connect to make sense of this strange affliction.
Keep the good work up Cort !!!
Kevin Tracey’s company SetPoint Medical has an RA trial in final leg of phase 3, and have announced the start of a trial for MS.
https://reset-ra.study/
https://setpointmedical.com/insights/press-releases/
Great to hear – thanks for relaying that 🙂
Here’s some mechanics on Covid’s brainstem impact by Prof. Mark Cooper
Paxlovid works for Covid if given early by stopping viral replication in the trigeminal nerve ganglia. It must be administered before the virus moves to brainstem, and then the brain. This takes 1 to 3 days post infection. Once these areas are infected it contributes to the neurological symptoms like cog fog in Long Covid.
Mucosal-to-Brainstem Covid-Infections
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH5pJbERTQ4
CoV-2 readily infects respiratory and digestive mucosal tissues. This YouTube describes how CoV2 infections can spread into many parts of the nervous systems, via peripheral and autonomic nerves (e.g. Vagus nerve).
CoV-2 infections can move directly from Cranial Mucosa (eyes, nose, throat), into the brainstem.
Covid Infections of the Brainstem (Part 1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXsCVwBhG_Q
This video discusses:
Covid-19 neurological manifestations
CNS infection routes (blood, CFS, cranial nerves)
Mechanism of Long Covid dysautonomia
In response to the comment about Paxlovid. The first time I had Covid in August, I took it early in the infection. It is a dreadful drug that causes your mouth to taste like a garbage dump. It also can result in rebound of Covid symptoms once you are off it. I thought it had, however, cleared my symptoms and I tested negative. One month later, I started having high blood pressure and A-fib, symptoms I had never had before.
I had a full cardiac workup the year before and had none of these symptoms so the heart problems were attributed to post-Covid by my cardiologist.
I was just starting to get better when my husband and traveled to Hawaii to see our daughter.
I got sick a day after returning and again it was Covid (no doubt a different strain). This time I am taking a different antiviral which seems to be working much faster to clear symptoms without the side effects of Paxlovid. Only time will tell if I have more problems later on.
Covid can cause many problems in the months after you have it…increases in strokes and heart attacks; muscle injuries (found in some professional athletes) and probably other things that haven’t even been considered. It is so much more than just brain fog and profound fatigue.
Can I ask What the other antiviral was?
Brandon, the antiviral I am taking is molupiravir approved for Emergency Use Authorization. I have two more doses and will be anxious to see if I have any post-Covid problems later.
Since the national news media has now announced this new Covid variant, I want to share the good news of the availability of BeeperMD in most states. You call, they set an appointment, in my case, the same day; send a nurse to your home to take vitals and a health history; perform Covid testing (also flu and RSV). Then they connect you with a doctor licensed in your state to discuss your case. If warranted, the doctor will call in a prescription and they will follow-up with another visit in three days. In my case, all of this including the antiviral were completely covered by Medicare.
And EDS, CCI etc … don’t forget!
Cort, what can you share with us about this “zapper”device?
I did it with an ME/CFS doctor who was testing it out and don’t know the name of the device and I want to talk to her about it. It was placed on the back of the neck – produced a series of loud clicks – and lasted for, I don’t know – 5 or ten minutes. The second time I tried it I really noticed something. I hope to get a blog up on it.
Cort, you mention having two sessions with a “zapper” device with beneficial effects. Can you tell us more ? How can you try the device ?
Is there any device which in your opinion is worth trying ? (There is facebook group specifically on VNS which you also reported some time ago. )
Thank you, Massimo
I did it with an ME/CFS doctor who was testing it out and don’t know the name of the device and I want to talk to her about it. It was placed on the back of the neck – produced a series of loud clicks – and lasted for, I don’t know – 5 or ten minutes. The second time I tried it I really noticed something.
I do remember that the device was not cheap and was probably something that most of us would get access to in a doctors office. I hope to get a blog up on it.
Thanks Cort. I have been experimenting with a few devices and believe that you have to find the right one for you given the complexity. I have a doctor who might be interested (he does VNS with implanted devices):
I wonder if my fish finder transducer would do the same….YES I said fish finder transducer.
The transducer is placed in the water and sends signals down to the bottom of the lake and then bounces off the bottom of the lake and back to the fish finder.
It also has a noticeable clicking sound.its actually an electrical current being sent down to the bottom of the lake and bounced back up
Keep in mind parasites can be killed by electrical current.
There was a lady that wrote a book about how to build a “zapper” to kill parasites.i still have the plans.Hulda Clarke was her name.her book title was/is “a cure for all diseases”
She was educated at our university here in saskatchewan, Canada.
Of coarse she fled to Mexico because the medical mafia threatened to jail her.
Gotta make one wonder who the real quacks are and what their motives are$$$$$$…it all comes from the top and down$$$$
I just keep wondering how people pull out of these illnesses by retraining their brain…..researchers can’t seem to find the smoking gun,…it’s all both fascinating, yet mind bogging
Brain Retraining is mindset. My analogy is it’s like jumping out of a plane with a parachute.
If terrified of heights, this act would set off a lot of stress in one’s system.
If you’re an adventurous type, this would raise your adrenaline & create excitement and good feelings.
(This is a bad analogy, lol)
Brain Retraining (I believe) you learn how to deal positively with your mind & body, instead of going into a stress response.
In keeping your stress low, you’re better able to stay at baseline without *flipping the switch* in the brain that sets off an inflammatory response making issues worse.
(Just my take on it!)
I haven’t tried brain retraining YET!
Love Hulda Clark
This is a subject close to my heart. A clear description of a complex medical subject. Well described, thanks Cort. It is understandable for the older ME/POTS patient, but it is difficult material for beginners, I think -:)
The receptors in the brain (cNTS)? pass on wrong information and/or receive wrong information. How come? There are several roads that can lead to this. Is it the receptors themselves? Or are these disrupted? By what?
My take is they can be disrupted by stress, infection & injury (just to name a few).
I’ve read it’s been quite some time since a truly new target has been discovered for psychotropic drugs. So, this could bring on a new class of medications.
I would think…
I’ve been suspecting a upper cerebral, atlas/ axis issue for some time now. Symptoms involving vagus nerve, blood and lymph flow to head/brain are numerous. Have had multiple concussions but the last one was most severe and CFS symptoms got worse after that. Getting help from mainstream medical has been difficult. Going to a NUCCA chiropractor soon to see what he thinks. I think this is a definite win for our community!
Many years ago, over 25, when I first started reading medical I came across an article (not USA) but it was a stress test on Rats (this one was on mice). Rats had a safe haven and they injected them with colored dye. They then stressed them by having to swim long distances to get to their safe haven. The colored dye had creeped into their brain, thus crossing the BBB. I believe it was Cheney who also mentioned talked of (infection) being a stressor to the body. Of course emotional has always been considered.
With all The news lately of AI, both pro and con, I wonder about things it may be able to improve eventually as it finds its footing in our world. I’d like to think you could feed all of the results of every study ever done on ME/CFS around the world, and similar, such as MS and Covid And it could find connections in so many ways and end up with a working cause and treatment or cure. 🙏
I so agree! What would a project that threw into the computer maw all we know about ME/CFS, FM, post-treatment Lyme disease, GWI, long COVID, etc. ? The post-infectious field is just calling out for that kind of analysis. It would hopefully pave the way for an NIH Center and eventually institute on post-infectious diseases.
We took a shot at proposing a bill to my Senator, Patty Murray
Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Act (ARMA)
Legislation to Address the National Emergency of Infection-Associated Chronic Conditions & Autoimmune Disease
Since IACC lead to autoimmunity and Long Covid has autoimmune features.
See this section:
The Effort to Create an NIH Office for Infection-Associated Chronic Diseases
Ryon Prior has been championing this for some time. In ARMA we suggest
to combine as NIH Office of Autoimmune and Infection-Associated Chronic Illness Research. This would address the IACC/autoimmune overlap and reduce research silos.
https://bit.ly/Accelerate_Regenerative_Medicine_Act
YES! Great idea.
This discovery could be major for us, and I hope research work is accelerated into treatment before too long. Hopefully, the fact that it could help many diseases will not leave ME/CFS at the bottom of the list, which usually happens. But, the terminology they use is what is keeping me from sharing the discovery with my family. For instance, it would have been nicer if the used the word ‘neurological’ instead of ‘psychiatric’. Also, they suggest it will help ‘psychosomatic’ symptoms. Even though there is a distinction noted in the article, naysayers will just read it as a ‘psychiatric psychosomatic’ illness. But, I can also see hope. It seems to me, this could tie in with Dr. Naviaux’ Cell Danger Response studies. I would be curious to know what Dr. Ron Davis thinks.
Me too!
Every time something new comes up, what my partner/caregiver and I really want to know is- What does Ron Davis think?
Maybe Cort could add a feature like “The Gist” called “Ron’s Corner” and get a short-ish (or not) reaction from Ron whenever new findings emerge…
When I read this article, it made me think of Ron Davis’ and Robert Phair’s hypothesis that the Innate Immune System isn’t turning off when it should. I think this discovery could join up so many dots. We know the ANS, the vagus nerve, the brain stem and inflammation are all factors in ME. Like some other people have said, it’s the most excited I’ve felt about a discovery for years! Thanks Cort for reporting on it.
This has always made the most sense to me. It’s the only way a disease can have so many symptoms that affect so many different parts of the body. I could literally feel it when it happened to me with Covid. I was Fine for 5 days then it felt like something hit my in my brain stem, and the dizziness started immediately and then the extreme sickness behavior. And I never Recovered. So all we need is someone to figure out how to shut the switch off. Seems simple enough to me! Feels like something like neurolink could actually cure us. At least we can dream…
YES! I felt it in my brain stem as well, I know exactly what you’re talking about (unfortunately).
I have a silly question: how did scientists decide that stimulating the vagus nerve was a good idea? How did they know it wouldn’t make things worse?
Marco did a 4-part series on Neuroinflammation shown on this site back in 2013 which basically brought up this same “black swan” idea of the importance of the Glutamate>>>GAD>>>GABA pathway as a source of ME along with many other neuro-inflammatory diseases. Research never seemed to push forward at that time, so hopefully this is a resurgence of this previous idea which I strongly agree is the basis for many of our ailments.
Going further, my theory is that GAD is the actual “blown circuit” in the pathway, which can be caused by various pathogens (EBV, HHV-6, Covid-19,etc) effecting GAD (which I have read somewhere to have been shown) So Stress, in it’s many forms, causes an accumulation of Glutamate without the GAD to complete the circuit and transform it into GABA. The excessive Glutamate then becomes the Neurotoxin to the brain in the areas noted to be effected in each disease.
Interestingly, the by-product of the functioning Glutamate/GAD reaction is alpha-ketoglutarate, which is one of the components needed in a functioning Kreb’s Cycle in the Mitochondria in order to produce Aerobic Energy. That could be a direct link to some of the Fatigue issues.
So I believe that we keep skating around the answers, but never follow through with the hints that we’ve all known for years. Hopefully this new research project will be funded and the researchers push through to finding a way to repair that broken circuit.
Hi Bryan,
I would agree there is lot of connection to glutamate – Gaba imbalances, resulting from various stressors. Please check Lucas Flamend work about restoring endorphin system and restoring receptor resistance . There is a premise that at the top of the hierarchy is endorphin system,that then influences hypothalamus, hpa axis etc downstream, including creation of cortisol resistance. KPNEI is on the track with cfs and similar syndromes.
Cort, Thank You. This is the best article yet.
I 100% agree that this is what’s going on.
This is a game changer. It may be late in the game (for me) but not too late for my 32 y.o. daughter.
We have ME/CFS made worse by Long Covid.
I’ve given up hope and stopped seeing Doctors 2 years ago.
Now, I’m excited about life again after reading this.
6 decades in, I honestly don’t know what it feels like to be healthy.
I DO KNOW most of my symptoms have to do with inflammation.
I have a lot of “itis” issues;
Osteoarthritis
Bronchitis
Sinusitis
Otitis Media
Cystitis
to name a few.
itis: Suffix meaning inflammation
Gaslightitis (ok, I made that up!)
Thank You Cort. This is a game changer.
Great job.
When I first read this article and The Gist I thought it was mentioned somewhere that a vagus nerve stimulation protocol would cost between $30,000 and $40,000. Now I cannot find that information in the article.
Does anyone have information about where in the article this is or where I can learn more about this protocol?
Thank you
BEST article I’ve seen yet! Thank you, Cort!
This is the most exciting news that I have seen!!!!! Thank you for sharing it.
I’m a 67 y.o. woman who was a patient of Dr. Martin Lerner for CFIDS/FM. He found that it was caused by Epstein-Barr, Cytomegalovirus, and HHV6. When I first saw him I was a 3 on the Energy scale and semibedridden but within 5 months he had me able to get out of bed. I was on Valcyte for 5 years.
I was doing well until getting COVID in Dec 2022. My husband died 2 years before and my stress levels have been high. I also have no family and have to do everything to keep my home and yard up and I have no income except Soc Sec.
With all that, I recovered from COVID but I am also a chronic pain patient having Chiari I Malformation and Syringomyelia and having had the surgery in 2003 and then a shunt placed in 2004. So my chronic pain from the brain/spinal condition worsened from the COVID but it got better over 7 months. Then last October I had another bout of COVID and haven’t felt well since then. I wish Dr. Lerner was alive. I need him badly. I have been sick again for 2 weeks and lost 12 lbs. I’m worried. I can barely function and I have no one to help me.
If anyone knows a doctor who can help me, please tell me. I live in Michigan.
Thank you.
Hi Suzette,
I’m so sorry you lost your husband, and don’t have family to take care of you.
My son has been ill with ME/CFS since 2005, and was also adversely affected by Covid, although he never tested positive or had symptoms.
He certainly was exposed to it, and suffered a major crash after I tested positive for COVID.
His Me/CFS specialist recommended the cytokine panel and antiviral treatment with Dr. Bruce Patterson.
Dr. Patterson met with us via zoom after the cytokine results came back, and the antivirals he prescribed for my son helped him get back up to his (low) baseline.
Certainly not a cure for his Me/CFS, but it seemed to be an effective treatment for the Covid that so forcerfully reactivated his Epstein Barr Virus and sent him into a downward spiral.
To get the treatment, you need your local doctor to collaborate with Dr. Peterson.
The cytokine panel was expensive, over $200, that we paid for out of pocket.
But the very expensive antivirals were paid for by my son’s medicaid, no doubt because of the cytokine panel results.
You can send your doctor to this site to get started: https://www.covidlonghaulers.com/
I hope this helps Suzette!
This is so fascinating Cort, thank you! I feel like it might be a good explanation as to why I’ve been able to get so much better at times over the past 30 years, but never felt more than 50% ‘well’. All the therapies and pills that I’ve found helpful have probably simply been helping my body cope with the ongoing effects of having a faulty master switch, but none of them have actually fixed the faulty switch… Fingers crossed there’s a fix on the horizon soon!
Would you be able to travel to CA?
No I’m in Sydney, Australia and not well enough to travel O/S
Interesting research with potential. I wish there had been much more research in this space, compared to viral and immune system research. My own view, for more than 13-14 years, has been that the key issue in ME/CFS lies in the brain, and it’s interaction with the peripheral immune system.