Summary: Dr Marshall cured himself of Sarcoidosis
Dr Trevor Marshall cured himself of Sarcoidosis by identifying the causal factors and the functional changes from normal cell activity. This led him to a series of antibiotic and anti inflammatory protocol components that attacked and eliminated various bacterial infection microbe-forms that were causing many of the symptoms. Since the infections were polymicrobial, his protocol has more general utility than just a treatment of Sarcoidosis. It applies to Inflammation, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, CFS, ALS, MS, etc.
Macrophages are immune system cells that normally eat invading foreign microbes and digest them. However, microbiologists have discovered that certain microbes have evolved ways to invade macrophages, to take over their cellular machinery, to form colonies inside the macrophages, and to slowly replicate themselves and form new colonies. See another Overview of the MP.
Macrophage colonies are an important causal factor in
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Fibromyalgia (FMS), and Sarcoidosis inflammation. It
appears that the hidden locations of the suspected RA and FMS bacterial
inflammation generators have at last been recognized and made visible.
Pleomorphic (shape-changing) microbe elements (1/10th to 1/100th
the size of the blood-borne forms of the bacteria) have been identified in
colonies inside the cytoplasm of more types of blood cells. Pictures of the
macrophage intracellular colonies related to Sarcoidosis are found at: www.sarcinfo.com/remission.htm.
Dr. Trevor Marshall states, “Emil and Barbara Wirostko
produced stunning electron microscope photographs of immune phagocytes each
containing hundreds of tiny bacterial forms, around 0.01 - 0.025 microns in
diameter, living in colonies within the very cells (phagocytes) which are
supposed to kill these bacterial parasites.” One Wirostko
photograph.
This invasive
capability is well known in viruses, bacteria, certain yeasts (fungal forms)
and even larger microbes like the more complex Malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. The presence of these colonies is suggested
as the root cause of many (perhaps most) so-called chronic “autoimmune”
diseases of so called “unconfirmed etiology”. The colonies contain exogenous
DNA and RNA that codes the generation of pathogenic bioactive molecules such as
hormones, toxins and enzymes.
Unbalanced
Active/Inactive D ratio is an indicator of infection
The colonies of macrophages manufacture vitamin D (1,25-D), resulting in a surplus of this active molecule which poisons and can paralyze muscles, which have a D3 receptor for it. Excess blood concentration of the active form of 1,25-D has shown to be linked to inflammation in Sarcoidosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lyme Disease, FMS and other autoimmune illnesses. [Reference: J. C. Waterhouse, Ph.D. ]
The D-ratio is the concentration in the blood of the 1,25-D hormone form of
vitamin D (picogram/ml) divided by the concentration of the 25-D inactive,
precursor-molecule form (nanogram/ml). If the D-ratio is greater than 1.3, this
indicates an abnormal equilibrium excess of the active hormone. This excess is
strongly correlated to both the presence of latent, intracellular (macrophage)
parasite Cell Wall Deficient (CWD) bacteria and to the associated TH1 cytokine
initiation of the so called “autoimmune cascade”. The 1,25-D stimulates
hematopoietic conversion of stem
cells into new macrophages, which become targets for colonization. Dr. Marshall shows a Table
of Sarcoidosis patients’ D-ratios versus the 1,25-D concentration
Jarisch-Herxheimer
reaction and the inflammation cascade:
In severely
colonized patients, attacking the parasites may trigger severe Jarisch-Herxheimer (JH) reactions.
Suppressing vitamin D and minimizing sunlight exposure may be beneficial in
moderating the inflammation cascade. Vitamin D supplements may accentuate so
called “allergic” reactions.
Angiotensin II blockers also have beneficial effects in mediating JH attacks by blocking the production of inflammatory T1 cytokines, especially TNF-alpha. In Sarcoidosis, the offending metabolite is most likely 1,25-(OH)2-D and the synthetic source is the disease-activating macrophage. About 50% of hypercalcemic patients with lymphoma harbor frankly elevated or inappropriately high serum 1,25-(OH)2-D concentrations. [Reference: Marshall TG, Fenter B, Marshall FE: Putative Antibacterial Mechanisms for Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers. JOIMR 2004;2(2):1]
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have wider applicability moderating other types of inflammation in addition to the heart related inflammation. However, blocking the inflammation cascade without eliminating its source, the latent bacterial colonies will not have any long-term effectiveness. [Reference: Adams JS: Vitamin D metabolite-mediated hypercalcemia. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1989 Sep;18(3):765-78.]
Dr Marshall’s summarizes
the effects of ARBs on the Bacteria
According to Dr Marshall’s: (Complete Text)
“The two hormones critical to this inflammatory process are Angiotensin II and the seco-steroid 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D.
“We use the Angiotensin Receptor Blocker 'Olmesartan Medoxomil' (Benicar/Olmetec/Votum), dosed approximately every 6 hours, to blockade the Angiotensin II receptors in the inflamed tissue.
“The seco-steroid 1,25-D is the active hormone resulting from sunlight on our skin, and the Vitamin D we ingest. Both these sources of 1,25-D have to be attenuated if these bacteria are to be killed.
“Blockade of Angiotensin II weakens these bacteria to the point where they can be more easily killed, and reducing the 1,25-D makes it harder for the bacteria to slip in and out of the cells they have infected.”
Vitamin C blocks
the process of macrophage invasion:
The enzyme
hyaluronidase plays a part in the invasion, acting as a penetrating factor in
dissolving the cell wall by unlinking the hyaluronate part of the cell wall or
membranes. Vitamin C (AA) acts to disable the hyaluronidase enzyme, to some
degree protecting the target cells. Dr. Aristo Vojdani (ImmunoSciences Lab) has found a daily
ascorbic acid intake of > 5 g/day to have normalized leukocyte production,
where levels were depressed. Other studies have demonstrated “an
antioxidant-induced increase in macrophage phagocytosis. Ascorbate
depletion results in an impaired mitogen response and reduction in IL-2
production, which is restored with vitamin C repletion.” Inflammation oxidizes AA. The oxidized form
of AA, in the absence of sugars, preferentially enters the infected cells where
it oxidizes the mitochondria, leading to the death of the infected cells.
Classic
tetracycline antibiotic treatment is phase II of the three-phase Marshall
Protocol:
Parts of the Marshall Protocol are similar to the combined anti-inflammation plus tetracycline treatment advocated first by Dr. Thomas McPherson Brown in The Road Back (1988). An updated Minocycline protocol for RA and FMS is also described in Appendix II of Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Infection Connection. This protocol is an effective long term slow-recovery treatment to suppress the intracellular parasites.
Phase I of the Marshall Protocol includes a combination of Benicar (an angiotensin II receptor blocker, or ARB), vitamin D avoidance/control, sunlight avoidance, shielding the eyes from bright light, weaning from prednisone and hydrocortisone, quercetin for anti-inflammation, and especially initial cessation of DMARDS (Sulfasalazine, Plaquenil, Methotrexate, antibacterials, anti-malarials, quinolones, Erythromycin, etc.)
Later, long term, low dosage antibiotic (Minocycline is preferred over Doxycycline), administered with a short 48 hour periodicity, ~25 mg dosage along with the continued Benicar used to control the cytokine cascade related to the continuing Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. Probiotics and acidophilus supplements will act against yeast and dysbiosis. Minocycline dosage is gradually increased to higher levels to act against the correspondingly reduced concentration of these bacteria, their L-forms, and their colonies.
Still later, other antibiotics are introduced to target specific residual microbes that may remain.
Phase II and III protocols are available to medical professionals. QA forums are actively moderated.
Vitamin C (>5 gm/day/180#body weight) blocks the hyaluronidase enzyme spreading factor of bacteria, viruses, and tumors because C helps to block cellular invasion, leading to intracellular colonization, especially by Streptococcus pneumonia, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma penetrans, etc. Vitamin C has an effect of increasing phagocyte production, which in Phase I of the Marshall Protocol may not be the desired effect. However, later, if macrophage invasion can be effectively blocked, phagocytes at normal levels can be beneficial.
If the patient is hyperglycemic (diabetes) some sources have indicated that from 5 to 10 grams more of intake is needed to overcome the antagonism between sugar and the actions of ascorbic acid.
Dr. Marshall links excess vitamin D with muscle paralysis due to the D3 receptor in skeletal muscle. [Reference 1: Ashizawa, et al, “Hypertension due to vitamin D intoxication with clinical features mimicking acute myocardial infarction” and Reference 2: Bischoff, et al, “In situ detection of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in human skeletal muscle tissue.”] Both citations note the paralysis effect of excessive hormone vitamin D form on muscles.
(References 1 and 2 above are from the cited Bibliography in the article by Marshall TG and Marshall FE: The Science Points to Angiotensin II and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. JOIMR 2003;1(2):3.)
One wonders if this possibly infection-localized effect is the cause of the relaxation of muscles which support adjacent joints, spine, etc., and the feeling of fatigue in those muscle areas. Work needs to be done to determine the D-ratio when these symptoms are communicated, especially in the case of spondylitis, spinal stenosis, CFS, FMS, and osteoarthritis. However not all cell invading microbes affect the D ratio. Many cell invading infections compete in side cells for energy molecules, leading to a feeling of lethargy and tiredness.
Th1 diseases and other conditions that have been treated using the Marshall protocol:
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s),
Ankylosing Spondylitis, Asperger’s, Back pain, Barrett’s esophagus, Bipolar
disorder, Candidiasis, Cardiac Arrythmia, Celiac disease, CFS / CFIDS / ME,
Chronic Lyme/Borreliosis, Crohn’s Disease, Diabetes insipidus, Diabetes type I,
Diabetes type II, Dementia, Depression, Epilepsy, FM (Fibromyalgia),
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, IBS (Irritable Bowel
Syndrome), Interstitial cystitis (IC), Inflammatory bowel disease, Irritable
bowel syndrome, Kidney stones, Lofgren’s syndrome, Lupus In ‘Overlap’ With
Other Connective Tissue Diseases, Mania, MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity),
Migraine headache, Morgellon’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia gravis,
Neuropathy, OCD(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Osteoarthritis, Panic attacks,
Parkinsons, Pervasive Developmental Disorders- Not Otherwise Specified, POTS
(Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), Prostatitis, Psoriasis, Psoriatic
arthritis, Raynaud’s syndrome/phenomenon, Reactive Arthritis (Reiter Syndrome),
Restless leg syndrome, RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy), Rheumatoid
Arthritis, Sarcoidosis, Scleroderma, Sinusitis, Seasonal affective disease (SAD),
Sjogren’s, Ulcerative colitis, Uveitis, Vertigo ,
Other Th1
diseases which should respond to the Marshall Protocol:
Alzheimer’s, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulbous pemphigus, Cystic fibrosis, Macular degeneration, Polymyalgia rhuematica, Polymyositis, Schizophrenia (5)
Science Based Medicine…Not vs. Marshall
Protocol: Mark Crislip’s Overview
Despite the successes reported by the Marshall protocol’s team at their
website, a Science Based Medicine, Crislip-authored web page is unduly
dismissive, almost arrogantly so. I
believe the SBM
site author is engaged in ‘evidence stacking’ by selecting out evidence
of the Marshall protocol’s case histories.
The snide tone is suspect and there are some subtle ad hominem slurs,
which hint that Dr Marshall is unqualified to profess on any medical subject
based on his education, experience and his original study. The SBM author comes across as pretentious
but still narrow minded and ignorant of some of work because Dr Marshall’s
website has defined and used words in ways that were not taught in the
reviewer’s experience.
He does provide a concise summary of Dr Marshall’s protocol, which is useful in understanding its features. For example:
“He [Marshall] refers to
these infections as TH-1 infections, “after T-helper Type 1 (Th1) immune
response. The T-helper Type 1 (Th1) immune response is usually defined as one
which generates significant quantities of the cytokine Interferon-gamma
(3).” The Th1 is the humoral immune
system, Th2 is the B cell, or antibody wing of the immune system. Many infections are attacked with both Th1
and Th2 and to call pathogens Th1 is false dichotomy and a term only used by
Dr. Marshall et. al. It does sound nice
and sciency, although no one in the closed minded field of infectious
diseases has ever used the term Th-1 infections around me that I can
remember.”
Mark Crislip seems
to be calling himself closed minded, which from his tone appears
to be his own frame of mind.
Conclusion: An ignorant critic, posing as an expert, is confounded by his own lack of scholarship.
Dr Marshall has discovered some useful ways to heal sick people, and
this is due to his being open to learning from his own experience and that
of others. See the comments
section, especially all of those by a person Edj2001, who
provides URL citations and simply shows that Crislip’s claims of no proof of
effectiveness and science for the MP are simply false based on Crislip’s
ignoring a body of evidence. He practices “Science Based Medicine”….Not.
Few would argue that there is a gap of ignorance by clinicians of
comprehensive microbiology and infection related immunology. The practitioner
clinicians are failing to find and to treat almost all persistent parasitic
infections in an effective, conclusive manner.
The Infectious Disease specialists that we have encountered do appear to
be narrowly trained and highly competent but for only a tiny fraction of all
the microbes that are long-term pathogenic.
On the other hand, Dr Marshall’s team is trying to treat the wider range
of microbial cell invading parasites that cause the maladies called “autoimmune
diseases” The ones that conventional
medicine persistently claims have no known cause, despite much evidence to the
contrary from the scientists who are ignored.
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