I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and let you know what I've been studying. I've been down about
a week due to a Herx but every time I Herx, I learn something. I brought this one on by eating way too much chili. I feel the increase in sulfur and my CBS issues lead to excessive sulfite formation and this ties up immune system resources. Add in the fact that Protomyxzoa has a 100 fold increase in biofilm production in the presence of fats and it is a bad combination for my health. I've spent the week fighting everything off.
When I ask myself the question "What is a Herx?", I have come to the conclusion that it is a complicated intracellular dehydration due to increased intracellular potassium. The reason for increased intracellular potassium is because of increased intracellular acidity. Potassium and bicarbonate pass together readily through the cellular membrane and sodium is transported extracellularly at the same time. The bicarbonate is the intracellular pH neutralizing agent that is needed to normalize intracellular metabolic processes and the elevated intracellular potassium is just a consequence of normal biochemical functioning. This link indicates that our zinc and copper concentrations are important for normal functioning and we know those levels are skewed because of our illness. I would hypothesize that over 90% of the people on this forum has SOD1 issues as well.
www.jbc.org/content/275/19/14038.shortSo what does this mean? Maintaining adequate cellular components in adequate concentrations is essential for normal cellular functioning. In regards to Herxes, maintaining adequate sodium, water, and chloride are all vital. Zinc appears to be a major player as well. In addition, reducing CO2 would be beneficial as it effects intracellular potassium levels. Reducing other biological pathway dysfunction which may cause free radical formation would also be beneficial. In my case, don't eat so much sulfur that it produces excessive free radicals. In other cases, it may be increasing copper or zinc levels or it could be decreasing copper or zinc levels. Eating the correct foods could be beneficial and shorten the length of the Herx but eating the incorrect foods can increase/prolong your issues. I guess this is why I prefer to limit food choices to a bare minimum until you learn what effect they have on your system. Some individuals may be like me and have already down regulated their immune response. We will respond differently than someone who hasn't decreased their functioning capacity.
If it were this simple, an oral alkalizing agent would be beneficial. The fact that the localization of carbonic anhydrase can catalyze plasma bicarbonate dehydration complicates the issue. My eyes sure did hurt a lot this past week and I seem to remember a lecture where a professor mentioned the important role of carbonic anhydrase in the eyes. I don't think anyone will ever know everything that is going on, but to decrease Herxes, correct whatever is going wrong. It seems to all focus on acid/base reactions and nutrient insufficiency.