Chronic infectious diseases as both the cause and result of mitochondrial damage
Dipl.-Med. Birgit Fleischer, Specialist in General Medicine
Correct functioning of the mitochondria is an important criterion for health and for preventing and overcoming disease.
Conventional medicine focuses almost exclusively on the topic of “mitochondrial disease” in connection with the most severe congenital disorders.
In my paper I would like to draw attention to mitochondrial damage which is acquired or can be influenced with therapy.
An issue which is becoming more widespread but, in my belief, definitely can and must be treated successfully!
I should like to briefly examine the evolution of these small cell components as this helps us better understand and protect them.
Around one billion years ago our mitochondria were bacteria living aerobically.
They were engulfed by archaebacteria. These were thus able to produce energy more efficiently and could evolve better from an evolutionary viewpoint.
This relationship between mitochondria and bacteria or their endosymbiotic origin explains many of their features and susceptibilities.
In his extremely interesting book “Netzwerk Mensch (The Human Network)” the versatile holistic medical practitioner Dr Ori Wolff from Berlin refers to mitochondria as “endosymbionts in living systems”.
Mitochondria are very small. The number per cell depends upon their function and energy requirements.
They have a relatively smooth outer and a heavily folded inner membrane with indentations.
This is where most enzymes of mitochondrial (mt-) metabolism are located and also where the respiratory chain is found and energy is provided.
This takes place in 4 stages and an additional complex V (5) to produce the energy molecule ATP.
They occur stored together as a supercomplex as only in this way are they robust and fully functional.
The complexes transport electrons through the membrane and pump protons into the interior. As a result energy is released gradually, hydrogen transferred to oxygen and water is formed.
We know this as the hydrogen-oxygen reaction. This energy is divided up into smaller amounts of energy in the respiratory chain and slowly dissipates at body temperature (Dr Bodo Kuklinski in “Mitochondria”).
Mitochondria have their own circular mt-DNA and their own mt-RNA and mitochondria! ribosomes. They are therefore capable of protein biosynthesis.
The repair capacity of mt-DNA is much lower than that of nuclear DNA. Mutations occur 10 to 20 times more often in the mitochondrial genome.
Mitochondria! DNA can be damaged by poisons, environmental toxins, inoculations, certain medication and all kinds of stress (02, NO, psychological).
The body can compensate for up to 20 % change in the mitochondria. At 40 % the body’s general resilience declines, alcohol tolerance is reduced, damage from nitrosative stress in turn leads to intolerance of foods containing nitrites, unexplained weight gain with no change in diet, fluctuating blood pressure, etc.
Individuals with an acute bacterial or viral infection often experience weakness, dizziness and a drop in blood pressure, even a brief loss of consciousness. This is the result of the additional NO produced to fight the infection with a resulting relaxation of the vascular muscles.
In turn I frequently noticed that, following an illness (e.g. acute viral infection), the patient’s blood pressure rose, an unaccustomed occurrence for them. This is now the result of increased consumption of arginine to fight off infection so that there was insufficient to regulate blood pressure. In this situation it helps to test arginine and lysine from the orthomolecular substances test set. Any existing deficiency should be rectified.
Caution: following a previous herpes infection always administer lysine as well as arginine. Otherwise herpes simplex will recur with typical blisters.
60 % damage to mitochondria! DNA leads to chronic fatigue — CFS, nothing works anymore, the patient’s energy reserves are only just sufficient for survival, but not for work, sports, hobbies, etc.
If the mitochondria are already damaged, relatively minor stresses, which in normal circumstances would be tolerated, are enough to overload the system. Decreased resilience is often misinterpreted as a lack of fitness and leads to complete exhaustion if the patient works out incorrectly.
ATP synthesis declines.
Normal daily ATP production roughly corresponds to the individual’s bodyweight in kg. This level may be exceeded many times over in top athletes. When confined to bed adults produce approx. 40 kg ATP/per day. This equates to the state during a violent acute viral infection e.g. influenza. In this case bed rest is the only option.
The good news: repair mechanisms can be effective.
Defective mitochondria can fuse with healthy ones. Diseased copies of the gene are split off and digested in a process known as mitophagy (Dr Bodo Kuklinski:
“Mitochondrien Symptome, Diagnose and Therapie” [Mitochondrial symptoms, diagnosis and treatment]).
We can help repair these changes with our bioresonance therapy.
Patients with general ill health which cannot be explained immediately often feel abandoned and that they are not taken seriously. There are not usually any “guidelines” for their symptoms and, in more serious cases, they are given antibiotics, antidepressants or beta-blockers and statins (“cholesterol-reducing drugs”) “as a precaution”.
Quite justifiably they feel misunderstood and are disappointed and look for alternatives.
In my practice I frequently see patients with chronic recurrent infections, often accompanied by allergies and food intolerances.
They often suffer from chronic Borrelia infection, recurrent herpes infections, severe and protracted bouts of Epstein Barr virus, frequent “colds” and fungal infections.
In most cases these people have been prescribed numerous courses of antibiotic treatment in the past and have also been vaccinated against all manner of conditions “as a precaution”. They are taking statins due to their usually high cholesterol levels. Unexplained skin lesions or inflamed mucous membranes of the airways are treated with cortisone. As they start to put on weight, they turn to sweeteners rather than sugar…
To combat frequent “contamination” with bacteria and viruses excessive amounts of disinfectants are used in the household environment. Many of these patients suffer from vasomotor headaches or even migraine.
These bouts frequently lead to exhaustion or CFS and depression due to physical causes. The LDF-program 3027.0 “Depression, pharmacogenic, somatogenic, endocrinal” has often proved effective.
What is happening here?
These developments are caused by recurrent damage to the mitochondria in various areas: immune system, muscles, vessels of the head, cardiovascular system…
In addition to pathogens they are often caused by well-meaning but misinterpreted and excessive or inappropriate treatment.
For example:
Antibiotics: damage bacteria – mitochondria still have bacteria-like properties
Vaccines: contain toxic substances, contaminants to prevent bacteria colonising
Statins: block the body’s production of coenzyme 010 and thus damage particularly active tissue rich in mitochondria and organs such as the muscles, heart and brain
Cortisone: suppresses the immune defence system again, increases susceptibility to infection, mycoses develop
Disinfectants: classed as xenobiotics, damage mitochondria. For example, chlorine used to clean swimming pools is inhaled and damages the mucous membranes
A vicious circle develops here if we don’t take action What should we do?
Thorough patient history, physical examination, lab tests for guidance, in parallel with bioresonance testing and therapy.
I like working with the BICOM BICOM optima® in my general medical and naturopathic practice and integrate it as a matter of course, especially when treating the following symptoms:
A diagnosis of suspected chronic infection can be made based on characteristic symptoms of infection.
Most clearly evident are general symptoms such as exhaustion, weakness, headaches, depressive mood, water retention, sleep disturbance, skin problems, hair loss, muscular pain, frequently blocked nose, fluctuating blood pressure, small quantity of alcohol produces intolerance and tiredness, new aversion to smells, foods, food intolerance, rapid onset fatigue, tendency to hypoglycaemia (with no diabetes) or similar general feelings of ill health and reduced vitality.
Patients consult their doctor more often and are frequently disappointed or even frustrated.
With the first case, a diagnosis of infection immediately suggests itself. This is assumed to be a bacterial or viral infection and the responsible pathogen is sought. Treatment should, however, also consider the complex range of factors affecting the patient. Why is the patient’s immune system unable to successfully fend off the attack?
Are there perhaps problems with the patient’s regulatory system? Are they deficient in something? Deficient in a vital substance, suffering from food intolerances?
Are environmental or other toxins affecting the body or are parasites stealing important vitamins such as vitamin B12, vitamin C?
With the second case, the deficiencies are obvious and we search for the cause of the typical signs of mitochondria! damage.
In both cases the cause and consequences must be identified and distinguished from one another.
As bioresonance therapists we are in the fortunate position of being able to make use of a cleverly developed diagnostic and therapeutic device geared to the human/animal holistic biological system.
It provides a method which allows and enables us to consider patients as interconnected cybernetic systems and treat them accordingly.
What does this mean in practice for infectious diseases and mitochondria! damage?
Actually it is the same way of thinking and of treating patients as usual, in other words: “biological”. We look for obstacles to healing and break them down. This is the first stage of therapy. At this point I should like to draw attention to prior inoculations. If we ask about foreign travel when taking the patient history then we learn more than just the inoculation schedule recommended by the Permanent Vaccination Commission (STIKO).
With the aim of preventing infectious diseases, the body is confronted with killed pathogens, their toxins or metabolic products or specific antibodies of other people or animals.
Moreover, the vaccine is enriched by adding substances such as formaldehyde and antibiotics, in the case of live vaccines; and thiomersal, in the case of dead vaccine, to protect against bacterial contamination. Yet preservatives such as polysorbate and foreign proteins are also introduced into the “human” cybernetic system via vaccines.
These are absorbed into the muscles as well.
The muscles need lots of energy in the form of ATP and consequently are rich in mitochondria.
Viewed like this, vaccines should be regarded as an obstacle to healing and treated. Another important step is to help regulate detoxication.
The Vaccinations CTT test kit contains all the vaccination ampoules and stress ampoules you need. You cannot forget anything or do anything wrong!
This is good for newcomers as well as “old hands”.
The BICOM BICOM optima® offers us many valuable opportunities to work with stored substance complexes. After selecting a program we are offered various options which can be included with the second channel.
I find it very effective to browse through the programs after selecting the category and find the appropriate or necessary program through tensor testing.
Where there are several options I then fine-tune the selection using kinesiology.
As well as removing harmful substances it is important to supply the body with mitochondrial protection. In stressful situations mitochondria consume particularly large quantities of ubiquinol (bioactive Q10) as well as vitamin B12. I prefer adenosylcobalamin subcutaneous or even sublingual. Methylcobalamin sublingual has proved better with primarily neurological symptoms, supplemented with vitamin B complex as well as vitamin E tocopherol, also as a complex.
In terms of electron transport and therefore unhindered ATP production in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, the type of fats needed for building up the inner mitochondria! membrane is crucial.
The substances we are talking about here are cardiolipin, lecithin, omega 3 fats EPA and DHA.
These highly important fats are sensitive to oxygen radicals, organochlorine xenobiotics, solvents and also surfactants.
Surfactants from dishwasher detergents have been detected in human mitochondria in laboratory tests!
What do we need to do? Detoxify with bioresonance, orthomolecular therapy and alert patients to the xenobiotics and surfactants in everyday use!
You soon obtain results with the Orthomolecular CTT test set. We can quickly and reliably identify and compensate for deficiencies.
In my experience this treatment allows us to prepare patients very well to have deficient vital substances substituted.
Patients are often initially unable to tolerate substances in which they are particularly deficient.
We can prepare and improve this tolerability and receptivity on the part of the body using bioresonance. So I combine the two and also test the dosage and treatment period.
The process of detoxication/cleansing must be continued further and intensified.
I’m referring to the matrix — the “Pischinger Raum” [Pischinger space]. The extracellular space must clean and be healthily charged with sufficient available electrons.
Programs 340.5 “Connective tissue treatment, acute” and 341.5 “Connective tissue treatment, chronic” are available.
These programs are often required. They are repeatedly tested and if necessary used in therapy.
“Activate detoxifying organs/open eliminating organs.”
This can represent a huge challenge for patients. We should not overexert them! Stresses found: toxins, heavy metals, inoculations, medicinal products, bacteria, viruses and fungi are eliminated in subsequent sessions, in stages if need be. Stabilising the “nutrient balance” has also proved effective. In this case I like to work with the system based on the “Sissi Karz’ method of testing the nutrient balance”. Deficiencies at her test points are revealed and treated. This allows us to prepare properly for orthomolecular substitution, to support it and then subsequently monitor it.
We look for causes of mitochondrial damage such as instability of the upper cervical spine at C1/C2, insufficiency in the kidneys, liver, immune system and hormonal regulation. We check allergies and intolerance, stress due to pathogens, bacteria, viruses and parasites.
Instability between the atlas and axis results in increased production of NO.
This surfeit of nitric oxide does not just affect bacteria. It damages mitochondria and blocks ATP production.
Evidence of this is frequently found in an intolerance of pickling salt.
This equates to “Preservative 7” in the “E numbers” test set. In this case the patient requires relief as well as clarification and the foodstuff in question should be avoided as far as possible.
Chronic infectious diseases often involve mixed infection.
Example Borrelia infection: as a medical practitioner I certainly treat acute Borrelia infection with a 3 week course of antibiotics together with a tried and tested probiotic.
Even at this early stage I make a start with bioresonance therapy and orthomolecular substitution as described.
I don’t treat chronic Borrelia infection with antibiotics however. This would weaken the mitochondria rather than the Borrelia. I have come across patients in my practice who were given antibiotics for 3 months and the antimalarial chloroquine for 9 months under the latest guidelines in “special consultations”. These people were totally exhausted and displayed the typical symptoms of mitochondriopathy.
According to Dr D. Klinghardt (“Die biologische Behandlung der Lyme-Borreliose” [Biological treatment of Lyme disease]), chronic Borrelia infection frequently involves pre-infection with Streptococcus and co-infection with various pathogens: Yersinia, toxoplasma, viruses such as EBV, cytomegaly and Coxsackie.
This corresponds to my experience from medical practice and from test results. Added to this are fungal infections due to antibiotics.
We can really do some good here with our methods — CTT, pathogen ampoules, the Borrelia infection set – as well as with the patient’s natural oscillations via material from the swab. I like to use programs 505.0 “Treating with patient’s own blood”, 506.0 “Treating with patient’s own urine” as effective and considerably more pleasant alternatives than the original: injection or sip from the glass.
Cistus tea has proved effective where patients have a prior infection with herpes viruses and EBV. Syrian rue “Harmal” can be used to treat toxoplasmosis. I add the plant or capsules to the input cup.
We are in the fortunate position of being able to test the efficacy and tolerability of these plants and their processing. I have these kinds of preparations in my practice and can use them not only to test but also treat patients. In my experience the combined effect of the energetic information from a therapeutic agent (plant or preparation) and actually taking that agent is greater than the oral dose on its own. No doubt we all have our own experiences and accumulated knowledge in this area.
Dr Klinghardt also mentions administering bacteria homeopathically in this connection but that he is not a homeopath!
I am cautious in the case of chronic infections however, especially with high potencies. I prefer our option of working with Ai-programs after thorough prior testing.
When making this kind of decision I test beforehand with the tensor. To make the final choice of the agent to use I test with kinesiology. This provides certainty and confidence for the patient and for me too as a therapist.
My aim is to demonstrate the connection and relationship between susceptibility to infection or chronic infections and mitochondriopathies. Mitochondria cannot “deny” their bacterial origin.
So it is sometimes quite general symptoms like exhaustion which point to weakened mitochondria.
Trauma in the cervical spine, inoculations, stress, recently prescribed medication or treatment with antibiotics not infrequently leads to susceptibility to infection or chronic infections. Information also need to be obatianed on the patient’s job and domestic habits. For example, which solvents do they use habitually, excessive use of disinfectants, what are their eating habits?
Holistic thinking and creativity are called for here!
With a thorough patient history and bioresonance testing we can identify many harmful influences, intolerances and stresses, reveal and treat orthomolecular deficiencies and offer patients personalised advice.
Only with a holistic approach and treatment strategy will we break the vicious circle of chronic infection and mitochondriopathies.