Hi nanna1,
So basically, herpes virus (any form of the family, HSV-1, HSV2, Citomegalovirus, etc...) Is the original cause of suffering POIS?...Is that already proved?...Can be assured that POIS is herpes virus family (any of them) caused?
Hi fernab,
Science (the scientific method) doesn't allow us to prove something correct or true. Science only allows us to (1)
prove something false (disprove) or (2)
show a statistically significant correlation. Showing a statistically significant correlation requires large numbers test cases with a roughly equal number of cases in the control group. To the best of my knowledge, hypotheses involving infection, hormone or autoimmunity do not have sufficient test cases (POISer data) to reach statistical significance. But there are two cases that have reached statistical significance:
immune deficiency (positive) and IgE (negative). Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) has been ruled out as a cause of POIS by POISer data (see
post). If someone has MCAS, it is probably just an additional disease that needs to be treated. For other conclusions we need more data.
One POISer's timed blood test data show clear signs of chronic uncontrolled infection (high IL-8), post-orgasm anti-viral immune response (increased IFN-gamma), post-orgasm immune suppression (decreasing IL-2), and immune deficiency (low lymphocytes). Similar test would have to be replicated in order to establish statistical significance. But this data set was part of the reason I started investigating infection in relation to POIS.
However, stress (sleep deprivation, emotional stress, injury, extreme temperatures) induced illness has been known and shown to be real for a long time and is described even in ancient medicine. Basically, when people become stressed out, they also become sick. Stress-induced illness is caused by a reactivation of latent infections (viral, bacterial and fungal) in the body. Our immune system is always working to suppress latent infections and fight off new infections. It was only recently discovered that epinephrine and norepinephrine trigger stress-induced illness when the immune system is compromised and cannot suppress latent infections. Many viruses and several bacteria will increase replication during stress (including HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, EBV, CMV, etc...). So far this option (stress-induce illness) is consistent with all of the current POISer data and has not been ruled out by anyone's test. But we need more data from POISers to show statistical significance.
In the case HSV1 or HSV2 were responsable. Seems a possible vaccine even as a therapy (not only for those who have not yet contracted any of these two viruses) is near to be discovered:
http://www.virology.ws/2018/05/24/a-live-attenuated-herpes-simplex-virus-vaccine-candidate/
That is an interesting article. This is a similar way that the VZV (HHV-3) vaccine works. So I think a HSV-1/HSV-2 vaccine will be revolutionary! There are also treatments for herpes available today:
(1) intravenous vitamin C: Vitamin C (ascorbate, ascorbic acid) increases anti-viral and anti-bacterial immunity, but it also directly kills viruses and bacteria. In published human trials: the effects of IV ascorbate on both viral and bacterial infections are faster acting and longer lasting than any other known treatment of infectious disease (see post
intravenous vitamin C).
(2) Anti-virals and/or antibiotics: Anti-virals (for virus infection) and antibiotics (for bacteria infection) are the standard treatments partly because they have a low cost and health insurance companies are willing to pay for it.
(3) COX inhibitors: All herpes viruses require prostaglandins from the E and F series (i.e. PG
E2, PG
Falpha2) to trigger their activation and replication. Blocking the conversion of arachidonic acid to these prostaglandins effectively prevents viral replication for not just herpes replication but other human viruses as well (
Prostaglandin E2 As a Modulator of Viral Infections). From my experience, pharmacological POIS relief requires COX-1, COX-2 and NF-kB inhibitors. The
Betaherpesvirinae stack is basically a treatment-summary of what I have learned from the
Ideas on Herpes Induced POIS. I may be a professional scientist but I am an amateur pharmacist. Pharmacology is not my specialty, so don't take this as professional advice. Some people have benefitted from the Betaherpesvirinae stack but they won't share their experiences publicly. It seems that once people find relief, they stop participating and/or following the forum. I wish more people would share their experience with this stack because then we would not have so many discussions about theory and research papers. The results of the Betaherpesvirinae stack speak for themselves. The
timing (~2 hours) of the Betaherpesvirinae stack and the specific combination of drugs is critical to its effectiveness. The drug combination is synergistic and has
a combined effect that the individual drugs (taken alone) do not have.
A low arachidonic acid diet (vegan or mediteranian) coupled with omega-3 fatty acids (and CLA) also lowers prostaglandins and NF-kB, which is basically what I do.
I do not take corticosteroids. But for those who are interesting in how they works, here is some information:
"Steroid anti-inflammatory drugs act by inhibiting phospholipase A2 and the release of arachidonic acid from the cell membrane. They have the additional action of inhibiting expression of COX. These are the most powerful anti-inflammatory agents available and are used to treat a range of serious inflammatory disorders including arthritis, asthma, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, eczema and others. (e.g. hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, budesonide, beclamethosone)"-
Pharmacology in one semester: 11.02.5 Drugs that Inhibit Phospholipase A2What about other posibilities such us have been using 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (like proscar or finasteride?)
I don't know enough about 5-alpha reductase inhibitors to comment on them, but thanks for the suggestion!