posted
Hello friends First, I will translate the words individually, then the paragraph as a whole.
Translations of words individually (Stedman's Medical Dictionary, plus I have some medical terminology background which I am drawing on. I could make a mistake or two however, if anybody has any corrections, by all means please post below!)
Parasitemia: Parasites found in blood (Bacteria, in this case)
Erythrocytes: Red blood cells
Inositol: A fatty acid found in lecithin
Inositol hexaphosphate: Inositol with six parts of phosphate attached
Hemolysis: Stedman's Medical Dictionary says: "Destruction of the red blood cells. In cultures on blood-agar plates there are two sorts of hemolysis, alpha h., in which the colonies are surrounded by a greenish ring; beta h., in which the colonies are surrounded by a transparent area of clearing".
Hypotonic: Stedman's Medical Dictionary says: Greek hypo, under + tonos, tension "Having a lesser degree of tension noting that one of two solutions which possesses the lesser osmotic pressure. H. salt solution: One having a lesser osmotic pressure than the blood.
In vivo: In the body (tested in it, which is a different chemical environment than in a test tube)
In vitro: In the glass (test tube, keep in mind that this is different from being inside the human body)
THE GYST OF THE TEXT:
Reduced blood parasites (ie, bacteria) observed with red blood cells containing inositol hexaphosphate.
(Abstract) Chemicals entrapped in red blood cells by low-tone-related red blood cell destruction can be assessed for antiparasitic activity both in the test tube and within the human body, regardless of whether they (the chemicals) are able to diffuse into the red blood cells readily. Inositol hexaphosphate, a highly charged compound,produced a dramatic lowering of the percentage of cells infected by Babesia microti in the human body and both B. microti and Plasmodium falciparum in the test tube. Several possible mechanisms for this observation are discussed.
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Carol in PA
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Conclusion: fewer Babesia in the red blood cells when Inisitol is in the red cells.
Therefore, Inisitol might help to kill Babesia in the red cells.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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chiquita incognita
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Hi Carol You are correct but to qualify, it is inositol *hexaphosphate* which they are talking about here.
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TerryK
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Inositol hexaphosphate can be purchased as a supplement called IP6. I haven't read the whole article yet but I think the problem is getting the inositol hexaphosphate or many other antiparasitics into the cells so they can do the job.
BTW - Babesia is not a bacteria. It is a parasitic infection caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia.
Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite, one of the species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans.
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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TerryK, I'll have to come back to this after I've done more reading also. But, where did you find it was a problem getting Inositol or IP-6 into the cell?
My understanding is Inositol is considered a vitamin of the b-class and an important one in the body. I am exploring the possibility that it could be hindered in the process of this infection to deficient levels, and therefore supplementing could beneficial.
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TerryK
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In it they explain the problem with getting drugs into the cells and how they use hypotonic lysis for that purpose. This allows them to study certain chemicals effects on parasites.
It's late and I need to try to get some sleep. Take a look at the full article link above for more..
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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When reading the full article there is one sentence that I found interesting. Since the article was originally published in 1987 I think the concept either did not work or maybe there was lack of funds to test the hypothesis.
Quote: "It is possible that IHP (inositol hexaphosphate) containing human erythrocytes will be available in the future as a new blood transfusion product."Endquote
It also states "We had anticipated that calcium chelators would have an antiparasitic effect, which was one reason why IHP was included as a test chemical...." But then it goes on and says the reason they think it works is due to "the allosteric effects of IHP on hemoglobin."
I recently posted another thread that said EDTA could prevent the entry of babesia into red blood cells. So there does seem to be some rationale for thinking chelators could be helpful in babesia treatment.
Years ago before tickborne diseases an ACAM doc suggested hubby take inositol for help with sleep -- I think the dose he used was either 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon. It was initially somewhat effective, but over time became less useful.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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chiquita incognita
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Here is what a naturopathic doctor advised about getting (other herbs in a formula) to slide into the cells to kill lyme:
Glycerin Mucillage (from herbs containing that constituent. Mucillage is a gel-like herbal constituent that slides things along its surface, and tends itself to be slippery). Good examples are marshmallow root---the highest source known---- mullein, and slippery elm, flax seed, fenugreek seed have smaller amounts. Mullein or marshmallow root would be the richest sources. Mullein also has the advantage of targeting lung tissue, could be helpful for lyme sufferers with breathing issues.
Keep in mind that putting something directly into the blood is very different than taking it by mouth. There is a whole different chemistry involved, and the effect is bound to be more subtle than when administered directly into the blood.
I react with some skepticism to the idea of a fatty acid floating around in the blood, but then again I have to qualify: I am a herbalist, and not a doctor. I could be wrong about this, and my word should not be taken as fact.
THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT INFO ABOUT THE PROTOZOAS/BACTERIA ET AL! I am still learning about the co-infections and really appreciate all this detailed information! Thank you so much.
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TerryK
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Good points Bea.
I've been taking inositol for years and I'm still fighting babesia however as was ponted out earlierm this is inositol hexaphosphate.
Looks like they are suggesting that innoculation with erythocytes containing inositol hexaphosphate might be a good prophylactic.
Res Vet Sci. 1988 Sep;45(2):262-3.
Effect of carrier erythrocytes containing inositol hexaphosphate on Babesia microti infection.
Deloach JR, Corrier DE, Wagner GG.
USDA, Agriculture Research Service, College Station, Texas 77841.
Abstract Erythrocytes containing inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) were administered to mice. Mice were then challenged with Babesia microti.
Mice receiving IHP carrier erythrocytes had significantly lower percentages of parasitaemias on days 3, 5 and 7 after infection.
Carrier erythrocytes containing IHP have altered P50 oxygen values. Thus, carrier erythrocytes containing IHP may be useful in treating naive animals before transporting into areas endemic for babesiosis.
PMID: 3194600 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
-------------------------------------------------
Apparently IP6 is being studied for cancer. Dosages look to be 6-8 grams per day range. I don't know IF supplementing with IP6 would be useful for babesia since the study that you posted uses transfusions of specially treated red blood cells rather than oral supplementation. At high doses, IP6 causes problems with mineral absorption.
IP6 is also touted as a heavy metal chelator by some so one would need to be very careful if that were true.
Looks like IP6 might inhibit HIV and it is readily metabolized but I'm not sure how that affects red blood cells. http://www.raysahelian.com/ip-6.html
I would not want to take this for babesia without doing a lot more research of my own and I would want to talk to my doctor first.
Terry I'm not a doctor
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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TerryK
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Interesting info chiquita. I may give one or more of those herbs a try.
I had a test done called a c3d immune complex and I was off the charts high. My doctor said we were killing lots of bugs but my cells were not releasing the debri. I *think* this may mean that my cell walls are damaged and don't allow my body to release debri from bugs that have died in the cells. I assume that means that my cell walls are probably not as permeable as they should be.
I *think* this is probably not unusual in lyme patients and partly why phospholipid exchange may help some people.
That said, I may be wrong as I have not carefully researched this area.
Terry I'm not a doctor
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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sammy
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Here's my summary of the study:
To get the inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) into the cells the researchers had to expose the erythrocytes to a hypotonic solution (low salt). This solution basically opened the cells allowing the IHP to enter along with a fluorescent compound.
Then the researchers used another solution to reseal the cell with the IHP inside. They reinfused the cells (injected them into mice). The total amount injected into the mice was a small percentage so that the course of infection would not be changed by this step.
They used Babesia microti infected mice and uninfected mice. They infused some of both mice with fluorescent erythrocytes (no IHP) and some with the IHP fluorescent cells. After 18-20hrs nearly the same percentage of fluorescent cells without IHP were infected as were the host cells (60% compared to 76% of the host cells).
A much lower percentage of the IHP containing cells were infected (10% compared to 67% of the host cells). The researchers proposed that if large numbers of IHP-containing cells were infused then the overall parasitemia should drop possibly saving the host by a partial or complete exchange transfusion.
Then they continued the experiment with human cells in culture to try to figure out how IHP worked to reduce the parasitemia.
They stated that the effect of extracellular IHP was probably due to chelation of calcium in the external medium. The effect of the entrapped intracellular IHP was not likely due to the chelation. They cited other studies to support their observations.
Since the parasites require low oxygen concentrations to grow in the test tube, They concluded that it was possible that the erythrocytes were protected by the enhanced oxygen affinity of IHP on hemoglobin.
This is an interesting study. Unfortunately after reading it carefully it does not sound like we would be able to expect similar effects by taking oral IHP.
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chiquita incognita
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Terry, if what you are hypothesizing is correct about cells being too impermeable, then mucillage is part of the solution. Mucillage from herbs softens the mucosal membranes (linings of organs) and makes them more flexible. Marshmallow root is the best source, but one important caution:
Theoretically, it will interfere with absorption of mainstream drugs. That's because it acts as a slide in the intestines, so whatever is ingested just slips along and is expelled too rapidly for absorption. The thing to do is to take the herb (available in bulk at most healthfood stores) about three hours apart from mainstream meds.
YOu can read more about it here: www.healthy.net go to the Herbal Medicine Center. This is written by David HOffmann, one of the world-top authorities in phytotherapy, the new science of herbalism in which constituents are identified, herbs are studied in the clinical setting/in test tubes, drug-herb interactions logged, etc. he has extremely in-depth and sophisticated knowledge that would impress any doctor not only in the herbal area, but in the area of pharmacology/physiology/chemistry as well. He is no slouch.
Jonathan Treasure is another world-ranking phytotherapist who co-authored the book Nutrient, Drug and Herb Interactions. I had a doctor preview some pages from the book to approve herbs for a family member with a serious illness going on: The doc was "wow'd" by the information, said her family member and was convinced to try the herbs. Jonathan Treasure has his own website, you can google him.
These are some of the best sources for in-depth, academic, researched and astute information. The cool thing is that none of these guys have any airs, whatsoever. They are extremely humble and really work with *people*. They also have been practicing for decades so theirs is not just book knowledge. Check them out.
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