Ending Fibromyalgia with Natural Options

Aloha,

I feel it is important for us to take a moment and recognize how amazing our bodies are when they function at full capacity. Unfortunately, our bodies are not perfect and I feel it is worst when we know something is wrong and cannot do anything about it. In previous blog posts, I have talked about copper toxicity and fibromyalgia, however, I wanted to share my own experience on this topic.

A few weeks ago I had terrible bone pain, so I went into my oncologist for scans to determine what it could possibly be. In my mind, I thought cancer had returned and began preparing for this reality. As each scan returned one by one, every one was was negative only showing arthritis and a bulging lumbar (which I knew about for many years). I think I was in complete shock that no hidden issues were found! Fortunately, I made plans for the worst, but hoping for the best. It was such a relief to have these clear results. But my question then became, what was causing this amount of pain?

After talking with my aunt (since she experienced similar pain), I learned I may have too much copper in my body resulting in copper toxicity. Generally, copper toxicity causes fibromyalgia flare-ups so I started to take Copper Balance along with VARS Glutathione. During the first few days, I felt so much better as the pain became barely an ache and later was completely gone. After such a great improvement in a few days, I now understand my body is very sensitive to foods high in copper (basically my entire diet). 

Fibromyalgia is a widespread illness that can be improved and controlled with diet. For this reason, a Facebook group ‘End Fibromyalgia with Natural Options’ (Private Group & Open Group) is being launched to help those who experience struggle with fibromyalgia. On these pages, there will be recipes to choose from, support groups to interact with, and communities to share ideas.

I hope my story, along with these new Facebook Groups, will help you find answers and support to ease the pain you face on a daily basis. I applaud you for not allowing fibromyalgia to to control your life and always remember someone is there to help live a happier life!

Keep going, you got this! 

Melissa

The Role of Glutathione in Disrupting Biofilms

Glutathione is a natural antioxidant found in every cell of our bodies. It has many uses within the cell from clearing free radicals to disabling toxins secreted by harmful bacteria. Ongoing research is constantly revealing all the amazing benefits that glutathione is able exert within our bodies. One of the major up-and-coming discoveries is that glutathione is able to disrupt bacteria-made biofilms.

Biofilms

A depiction of antibiotic resistant bacteria in a biofilm

Biofilms are a thin, slimy film of bacteria that are able to adhere to a surface. One of the most commonly known biofilms is dental plaque that forms on the surface of teeth. They are often found in wet or liquid places commonly called pond scum. It is advantageous for bacteria to form biofilms as they give the colony more resistance to external environmental factors such as lack of water and presence of antibiotics.

Biofilm formation is a constant concern in hospitals as it is a major cause of hospital acquired infections (nosocomial infections). When a bacterium finds itself in an appropriate environment, it starts a colony that will form into a biofilm. Some common places these biofilms can be found in a hospital include: implants, catheters, IVs or ventilator tubes. Once a biofilm is formed, it becomes nearly impossible to get rid of, even with the use of heavy antibiotics. Due to the dangers of biofilms in hospitals, constant research is performed to learn how to effectively, and efficiently, remove them.

Cystic Fibrosis

Biofilms not only grow on hospital instruments, but can grow in, and on, living things (such as teeth mentioned earlier). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas) is one of these bacteria that is known to develop a biofilm within the lungs of patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Pseudomonas is naturally antibiotic resistant on its own, and when it develops a biofilm, it becomes nearly impossible to treat with antibiotics. Therefore, patients who have CF and contract Pseudomonas have a higher chance of morbidity.

Treatment of Pseudomonas for CF patients is very limited and generally the best option is a lung transplant. We are beginning to see glutathione may be a key treatment for CF patients and Pseudomonas.

Pseudomonas and Biofilms

Lung infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that leads to the creation of a biofilm

Bacteria grow a biofilm in many ways, however, for now we will focus as to how Pseudomonas makes one. When Pseudomonas finds a place to latch and form a biofilm, it starts to release extracellular DNA. This DNA is used as an anchor to attach itself better on a surface while holding the colony together. When attached, Pseudomonas starts to release pyocyanin, a toxin helping form a stronger biofilm. Pyocyanin can act as an oxidative agent (i.e. a free radical) within the lungs. When pyocyanin is secreted inside a host, such as a CF patient, it can make its way inside the cells of the host and start to cause oxidative stress. This oxidative stress will cause the cells to undergo cellular distress and lead to apoptosis, or programmed cell death (under extreme conditions). Pseudomonas is able to cause such distress in cell since it so hard to remove or stop it.

Not only does pyocyanin create oxidative distress, it completely depletes the intracellular glutathione cells contain. As mentioned earlier, one of the main jobs of glutathione is to remove anything capable of causing oxidative damage; Pseudomonas can excrete enough pyocyanin to overcome the body’s ability to replenish glutathione in time. Consequently, the cell is unable to remove pyocyanin fast enough and becomes overrun with the toxin.

Glutathione and Biofilms

Glutathione has been shown to help remove pyocyanin toxin from inside cells effectively while neutralizing it from inside the biofilm. When excess glutathione is added to a site of biofilm, glutathione is able to neutralize the toxin in addition to disrupting the extracellular DNA holding the biofilm together. This disruption helps the biofilm become susceptible to removal from whatever type of surface it is attached on. Ultimately, at a high enough concentration, glutathione is even able to kill bacteria on its own.

Several studies show when glutathione is used along with antibiotics, it is able to effectively, and synergistically, remove even the most antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas biofilms.

Conclusion

One major factor that has reduced the effects of glutathione products on the market is the reactive nature of glutathione. Glutathione is a highly reactive antioxidant known to react with oxygen in the air. From this reaction, glutathione loses its potency and is unable to exert any antimicrobial properties.

For this reason, VARS Glutathione was created as the first functional glutathione without oxidation for at least one year. The stability of VARS Glutathione by avoiding oxidation makes it more effective than any other glutathione product exposed to oxygen. Try VARS Glutathione today and start feeling the difference today!   

REFERENCES

Alharbe R, Almansour A, Kwon DH. 2017. Antibacterial activity of exogenous glutathione and its synergism on antibiotics sensitize carbapenem-associated multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. International Journal of Medical Microbiology 307:409–414.

Aquilano K, Baldelli S, Ciriolo MR. 2014. Glutathione: new roles in redox signaling for an old antioxidant. Frontiers in Pharmacology 5.

Das T, Simone M, Ibugo AI, Witting PK, Manefield M, Manos J. 2017. Glutathione Enhances Antibiotic Efficiency and Effectiveness of DNase I in Disrupting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms While Also Inhibiting Pyocyanin Activity, Thus Facilitating Restoration of Cell Enzymatic Activity, Confluence and Viability. Frontiers in Microbiology 8.

Dietrich LEP, Teal TK, Price-Whelan A, Newman DK. 2008. Redox-Active Antibiotics Control Gene Expression and Community Behavior in Divergent Bacteria. Science 321:1203–1206.

Giamarellou H. 2006. Treatment options for multidrug-resistant bacteria. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy 4:601–618.

He L, He T, Farrar S, Ji L, Liu T, Ma X. 2017. Antioxidants Maintain Cellular Redox Homeostasis by Elimination of Reactive Oxygen Species. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry 44:532–553.

Klare W, Das T, Ibugo A, Buckle E, Manefield M, Manos J. 2016. Glutathione-Disrupted Biofilms of Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Exhibit an Enhanced Antibiotic Effect and a Novel Biofilm Transcriptome. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 60:4539–4551.

Muller M, Merrett ND. 2015. Mechanism for glutathione-mediated protection against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa redox toxin, pyocyanin. Chemico-Biological Interactions 232:30–37.

Omalley YQ, Reszka KJ, Spitz DR, Denning GM, Britigan BE. 2004. Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanin directly oxidizes glutathione and decreases its levels in airway epithelial cells. American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 287.

Pal S, Ramu V, Taye N, Mogare DG, Yeware AM, Sarkar D, Reddy DS, Chattopadhyay S, Das A. 2016. GSH Induced Controlled Release of Levofloxacin from a Purpose-Built Prodrug: Luminescence Response for Probing the Drug Release in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Bioconjugate Chemistry 27:2062–2070.

Schairer DO. 2013. Evaluation of the antibiotic properties of glutathione. J Drugs Dermatol12:1272–1277.

Lotus Life - Melissa Soria

Aloha cherished Friends & Guests!

My name is Melissa, and I am excited to share a little of my story and how Dr. Purser’s passion for preventative care continues to improve my overall life and well being! I am a 33-year-old (Island girl at heart) living in the city. My loves include family, Leilani (my corgi/lab puppy), and the beach! I am a former Division 1 collegiate water polo athlete, coach, breast cancer survivor. I have worked in education for nine years after completing my master’s degree in Teaching & Learning. It wouldn’t surprise me if you think, “She doesn’t have any experience or background in the medical field.” But I believe my experience will be relate as they are real-life experiences.  I have extensive knowledge of experiences with doctors from sports injuries, life-threatening infections, and Stage 3 breast cancer. You will be able to read about my own journey and experience with what is discussed each week as my story unfolds and how truly amazing life can be when you get your mind and body balanced appropriately. Just like a lotus flower, we all continue to rise from the ‘mud’ of life, bloom in the dark, and continue to be vibrant and beautiful. Our paths may all be different, but we are all here to find ways to better our well being. There is so much advice to share and I look forward to sharing the wealth of knowledge Dr. Purser’s research. He truly is compassionate and vested to help us all live a long, cheerful, healthy, and vibrant life. I invite you to follow along each week to see what new healthy lifestyle changes you can incorporate into your life.

Glutathione, is it the cure all? I’m not sure about that, but I do know that the antioxidant benefits of ensuring you have enough glutathione in your system will help prevent many symptoms. NIH (National Institution of Health) still doesn’t know if it should be classified as a hormone, vitamin, or supplement. For now, it is considered a vitamin/supplement. I’ve been raving about glutathione and how amazing it is, and it surprised me to have a reaction from Rebekah Thompson as she loves it as well! I was able to visit with Rebekah and I want to share a little of what she told me.

She is currently going to school to be a Certified Clinical Herbalist she has a strong passion for the realm of holistic healing, Shamanic Traditions and Native healing. She first heard about glutathione when she was working for a chiropractor who had a herbalist and would advise every patient, “Take this forever!”. Rebekah uses glutathione everyday and said, “My body likes it, it helps support tissue regeneration, repairing body matrix, and helps with the root of a lot of other symptoms.”

I was able to share my own experiences about glutathione and why I started to take it. The intense cancer treatments completely destroyed my body, I didn’t feel like me anymore. Glutathione has been helping me to recover to former self and is healing the neuropathy in my feet and legs (one of my biggest hardships). Being an athlete and experiencing the depletion of my body through chemotherapy was the hardest physical, mental and emotional set back I have gone through. Not being able to move around and be as active as I once was left me feeling depressed and feeling unattractive. Adding glutathione into my regimen accelerated my healing process. No one would ever guess a year after treatment I ever went through cancer. I like to refer to glutathione as our family’s ‘Windex’ (I am a huge My Big Fat Greek Wedding fan). We use it for everything from a bug bites, illnesses, sunburns, to neuropathy.

As Rebekah mentioned there are many benefits of glutathione, in fact thousands of ways this vitamin/supplement helps heal and protect your body. You may have watched Dr. Dan Purser in one of his YouTube videos explaining what glutathione does including supporting the Immune System Functionality. Glutathione covers your white blood cells (resembling a porcupine or blow fish) and these spikes protect white blood cells from viruses trying to kill them off. Viruses such as HIV, Shingles, Herpes, Hepatitis that try to turn off your ability to reduce glutathione to its functional state in your body.

If that doesn’t help you start using glutathione everyday, understand how important and refreshing glutathione is. It helps remove and detox heavy metals, relieve burns (especially with summer time approaching!), improve neuropathy, reduce arthritis and osteoarthritis, stimulate anti-aging properties, reduce cell damage, lower cholesterol, protect heart. Glutathione also lowers the risk of stroke, coronary artery disease, kidney disease, and chronic renal failure. If one of these symptoms you would like to prevent, adding glutathione into your daily routine is going to have you glowing like the sun and have a rejuvenated spring in your step.

Keep smiling,

Melissa Soria

Contact us at (801) 796-7667 or info@danpursermd.com for help. Check back often for the newest updates!

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If you would like to try our newest version of Glutathione – VARS Mint Burst * GASP *  follow this link: physiciandesigned.com

New Products Coming!

Just Some HUGE ANNOUNCEMENTS!

Four NEW or super IMPROVED PRODUCTS!

Our incredible improved all natural VARS MINT BURST LIPOSOMAL GLUTATHIONE — works great and tastes AMAZING! Available this week...

Our new MTHFR SUPPORT PLUS is almost (nothing’s perfect— right?) for A1298C MTHFR or Compound Heterozygous MTHFR. This contains FOLINIC ACID and not the Quatrafolate that the C677T errors need. Great stuff. Try the PLUS with the MTHFR SUPPORT.

MTHFR SUPPORT is available now from us with our Physician Designed label (me). Try it if you have MTHFR — BEST BASE product out there for MTHFR especially the C677T error. Super good (but start low go slow).

More METALLOTHIONEIN SUPPORT for those who suffer from metal toxicity or fibromyalgia. Supports your copper levels (and other metals) and makes them normal. Don’t believe? Try it — again start low and go slow but build up to 4-5 a day and see what happens. Ask others who take it.

Contact us at (801) 796-7667 or info@danpursermd.com for help. Check back often for the newest updates!