You probably carry this virus, along with up to 85% of the people in the United States. The cytomegalovirus, or CMV, may present no symptoms for years but become activated by some trigger. If that happens, you may experience uncomfortable or serious symptoms in multiple parts of your body. Medications can help, but they carry serious side effects. This is why it is helpful to know how to manage CMV naturally.
The virus called CMV is closely related to the herpes virus. It does not typically cause any symptoms in basically healthy adults. At most, they may develop flu-like symptoms or symptoms similar to mononucleosis.
However, in those with weakened immune systems, it may bring on serious symptoms and lead to significant illness. Those with Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS), for example, whose immune systems are weakened, find themselves at risk of the consequences of this virus. Those with AFS whose CMV becomes triggered need to know how to manage CMV naturally because of the significant side effects of medications used to manage it.
One of the results of this virus is what professionals call a "latent" infection. In other words, the virus can infect several body systems and remain dormant for years. Then, later in life, something may trigger the virus into becoming active again.
If a woman carries the dormant CMV and becomes pregnant, the CMV can sometimes become activated. As a result, the virus can be passed on to the infant and at birth the child will carry the congenital form of the virus. If this infection occurs early in pregnancy, it may result in complications for the baby. Such an infection can also bring on a miscarriage.
Scientists have identified several causes of CMV and ways it can spread.
People get this virus through body fluids such as blood, urine, semen, vaginal fluids, saliva, and breast milk. It also can spread by touching surfaces contaminated with these body fluids and then touching the inside of your nose or mouth.
Most of the time, children become infected at daycare centers, nurseries, or other places where they come in contact with other children regularly. However, because young children’s immune systems are more developed by this age, the infection does not prove serious.
On the other hand, adults with weakened immune systems find themselves unable to fight off recurring infections with CMV. People with HIV, those taking chemotherapy, those who undergo transplants, or those who take oral steroids for three months or more run the risk of their usually dormant CMV becoming active again. These people can benefit most from knowing how to manage CMV naturally.
The type of CMV determines the kinds of symptoms you may experience. Knowing how to manage CMV naturally will prove beneficial no matter which type of the virus you may experience.
Acquired or primary CMV describes the first-time infection with the virus. Symptoms typically present as mild if they even occur. Typically, these symptoms resolve on their own within two weeks. Some of the typical symptoms include:
Recurring CMV occurs once a person contracts the virus, it goes dormant, and then becomes triggered by something later in life. Symptoms vary, depending on the body system which becomes affected. Infected areas most likely to show symptoms include the eyes, digestive system, and lungs. If your immune system becomes weakened and you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention. Usual symptoms include:
Currently, scientists do not know of a cure for CMV. However, those with the acquired type of the virus typically use over-the-counter painkillers to reduce pain along with drinking plenty of fluids to deal with the symptoms.
On the other hand, those with the congenital or recurring types of the virus often take prescribed antiviral medications to decrease the spread of the virus. Significant side effects often come with taking these medications.
These side effects are a good reason to manage CMV naturally. Natural ways of dealing with the virus do not bring the serious side effects of prescription medications.
However keep in mind that it is very hard to truly get rid of the CMV, as it likes to burrow deep into the nerves and stay dormant. So most of these methods don't actually rid you of CMV. They merely help control it and keep it dormant.
In order to understand how to manage CMV naturally, you first must understand how your immune system works and the difference between naïve immune cells and memory immune cells.
Naïve, or innate, immune cells respond to new threats to your health whether those threats come in the form of infectious agents or malignancies. Memory immune cells, or part of your adaptive immune system, respond only to the antigens already experienced. When your naïve immune cells become depleted, you no longer can fight off the infections you could when younger.
Research shows CMV to deplete these much-needed naïve immune cells. Instead, you build up a greater number of memory immune cells. So, when CMV becomes activated after lying dormant for years, your immune system can no longer deal with it. These memory cells, once they become senescent, emit inflammatory signals that can lead to serious damage. In the case of people suffering from adrenal fatigue, any added inflammation increases the burden on already overwhelmed adrenals.
In addition, in many cases the Inflammation circuit of the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response will become dysfunctional, leading to more inflammation. This circuit contains the immune system, the microbiome, and the gut.
With some of the symptoms of CMV affecting the gastrointestinal system, with a weakened immune system, and with the inflammation factor, this circuit can suffer a great deal from CMV infection.
Problems with the gut and microbiome ultimately lead to conditions such as ‘leaky gut’. This condition allows foreign particles access to your bloodstream. When this occurs, your immune system tries to attack and remove them because they are threats to your health. If the amount of these foreign particles overwhelm your weakened immune system, it may go into overdrive, becoming hyperactive and identifying healthy cells as threats and attacking them. This leads to increased inflammation and the beginning of autoimmune conditions.
With the immune system in overdrive, you might wonder whether it produces sufficient naïve immune cells to deal with CMV. The answer is no.
Your body can only produce a limited number of naïve immune cells. CMV continually produces viral proteins that set up secondary infections with different strains of CMV. This process causes continuing stimulation and depletion of naïve cells and an accumulation of memory cells. In addition, these memory cells become dysfunctional and reach senescence quickly. This adds to the inflammation overload and accelerated aging.
Knowing how to manage CMV naturally can help decrease inflammation and slow the aging process.
Minerals, vitamins, and herbs can all help control CMV naturally. While they may not attack the CMV virus specifically, those discussed below all play a vital role in dealing with viruses. Remember that if you are suffering from AFS, managing the CMV might make your condition worse. It depends on how sensitive your body is and how much reserve your body has. Therefore it is imperative you find an experienced practitioner who can help guide you through the recovery journey so you don't end up in an adrenal crash.
Zinc, magnesium, and selenium seem to provide the most help in addressing CMV naturally. Research shows zinc to potentially inhibit the proliferation of some viruses by interfering with RNA replication. It also works to boost your immune system. Taking too much zinc, however, can lead to chronic and acute side effects.
Other research indicates magnesium helps you fight off viruses and helps reduce inflammation. Potential side effects can come with taking too much magnesium. It also can interact with some medications.
Selenium works to inhibit the replication of viruses by acting on their RNA and DNA. It also helps to decrease the ability of a virus to mutate into a more aggressive form. In addition, it helps increase the possibility of keeping a virus in an inactive state. Some side effects of selenium come from overdoses. Exercise care in taking this supplement. In addition, it can interact with some medications. Always consult your healthcare professional before taking it.
Some vitamins also help control CMV naturally.
Vitamin C in large doses up to 10,000 mg daily may prove beneficial. however, taking this high dose of vitamin C daily may lead to an increased risk of kidney stones and severe diarrhea. Children and adolescents especially may see an increased risk of side effects with large doses.
B vitamins help support the immune system. Possible side effects of B vitamins include high blood sugar due to interference with diabetes medications.
Vitamin A in high amounts may prove useful against viruses. Keep in mind that taking more than 10,000 mcg per day can lead to diarrhea, nausea, thinning bones, liver damage, and headaches. Pregnant women should take extra care with this vitamin.
Some herbs can help you get rid of CMV naturally.
St. John’s Wort can work to deal specifically with herpes-type viruses. Laboratory and animal studies show this herb to work against CMV through oxidation. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, sleeplessness, and restlessness.
Lemon balm also works to fight herpes-type viruses. It contains tannins and caffeic acids that actively target viruses. Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, increased body temperature, stomach pain, headache, and dizziness.
Echinacea also works against viruses. Research shows echinacea to help boost your immune system. Taking excessive amounts of this herb may lead to liver damage, an autoimmune disorder, asthma, and other conditions.
Astragalus, Phyllanthus, and reishi mushrooms can also bring some help in dealing with CMV naturally.
With CMV so wide-spread, it is fortunate that the majority of people will experience few, if any, symptoms. However, a significant number of those infected will experience more serious symptoms. The fact that therapy consists of antiviral medications with many side effects makes knowing how to manage CMV naturally more important.
Some natural remedies exist and can successfully deal with the virus. However, these natural remedies also can bring side effects, some significant, with high doses. At times, however, the high doses prove necessary to obtain the desired antiviral effects. Keep in mind again that even if you manage to control it once, the CMV might come back later, so it's important to keep your immunity strong throughout your lifetime.
If you are suffering from CMV, here are a few things you can do to help alleviate the situation.
If you would like to know more about or need assistance with how to manage CMV naturally, the team at Dr. Lam Coaching can help. We offer a free** no-obligation phone consultation at +1-626-571-1234 where we will privately discuss your symptoms and various options. You can also send us a question through our Ask The Doctor system by clicking here.
You certainly can learn how to manage CMV naturally. There are several minerals, vitamins, and herbs that may not target CMV specifically, but which all work to deal with viruses. All have some side effects when taken in the high doses which may be necessary for fighting viruses, however, so it's important to talk to your doctor first.
