SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATIONS: VIRAL INFECTIONS (COLDS, FLU, CFS)
Viruses are tiny agents that cause infectious disease. They are the smallest known living bodies. They comprise a strip of DNA or RNA encased in a protein coat. They cannot reproduce themselves in the free state and so seek out a living cell to provide them with both the energy and the chemical building blocks needed for reproduction. Viruses are parasites whose protein coat makes contact with the cell wall and injects the strip of DNA or RNA into the cell to float through in its free state. The protein coat eventually drops away from the cell wall. Once inside the cell the DNA heads for the nucleus to try and reorganise its DNA to make the cell’s metabolism conducive to the virus reproduction. In this way the virus acts as an independently existing gene. The viral RNA latches onto the cell’s messenger RNA to try and change the messages it’s giving to the cell’s organelles and so change the cell’s metabolism. Viruses are pirates whose aim is to take over a normal cell, alter its function and take from it what they can.
If the cell is strong and energetic the virus’ effect is minimal— the cell is able to resist it. Control of the cell’s nucleus and messenger RNA is minimal and although the cell is infected little or no harm is done to it. Healthy, energetic people can have many of these silent, unapparent viral infections and be totally unaware of the fact, as no energy is lost and no tissue damage is done. Once the virus has invaded the cell it is there for good and as long as the cell stays strong the virus will not be able to reproduce itself.
If the cell becomes weak the virus is able to gain the upper hand. It gets into the nucleus and changes the genetic instruction to the cell. The cell then yields up energy, proteins and enzymes for the manufacture of millions of more viruses whose numbers swell to the point where there is not enough room for them all. Many of this new generation of viruses emigrate to new susceptible cells where by sheer weight of numbers they have a good chance of taking it over. As this process continues the definitive symptoms of viral infection begin to manifest in the host. These symptoms differ slightly from virus to virus. The wart virus produces warts which look different to the herpes lesion of the herpes virus. The symptoms of polio are different to the symptoms of colds and ‘flu, yet all these are caused by viruses.
Because all viruses rely on the host cell’s energy supplies to live and reproduce they all have one thing in common: they are energy suckers and the more of them there are in your body the more energy they suck from it. Fatigue is a symptom of all viral infections.
Because there are no really effective medicines to kill viruses and because close contact between humans makes it so easy to contract them the secret is to keep the body so strong that there’s enough energy to allow a few to live in your cells without detracting from the, body’s overall energy reserve.
The rules that apply to gaining and maintaining high energy levels are the same rules for fighting off viruses. The following should be maintained:
• adequate nutrition, which these days means a diet supplemented with a complete multi-vitamin and mineral formula;
• adequate oxygen intake;
• adequate sleep;
• adequate rest and recreation;
• adequate warmth—an even warm body temperature is imperative for keeping viruses at bay (chilling slows the metabolic rate of cells allowing resident viruses to gain the upper hand; colds aren’t called colds for nothing);
• containment of all allergies and yeast infections.
You’ve achieved adequate rest, sleep, oxygen and fluid intake and nutrition when you’re feeling energetic. Especially when you’re feeling energetic on rising in the morning. You’ve achieved adequate warmth if you’re not catching head colds.
The best treatment for a viral infection is rest and warmth. Rest allows the body to direct all its energies to the task and warmth raises the metabolic rate of the cells, which gives them the heat and energy needed to contain the virus. A balanced diet, comprising three meals a day and supplementary vitamins and minerals, is needed to provide the fuel for the high metabolic rate.
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Tags: Allergies