Has anyone tried Cortef? (low dose cortisol)

[Guest guest]

Here's a snippet of an article about why low dose cortisol helps some

with CFIDS http://isthereacure.info/?p=119

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Here is part or the article by Mark Konlee:

Cortisol has a reputation for being immunosuppressive. Why would

anyone with Candidiasis, Cancer, HIV/AIDS, allergies, rheumatism and

CFIDS want to use low-dose hydrocortisone or " Cortef " ??? Why?

The answer is that like a teeter-totter, the TH1 arm of the immune

system is on one side and the TH2 is on the other. When the TH2 arm

is over-active, it depresses the TH1 arm. Lowering the TH2 arm of the

immune system raises the TH1 arm. In the middle is, in theory, the

TH3 balance point with TH3 being the digestive tract. When food

allergies and sensitivities develop and a person develops leaky gut

syndrome, these conditions will lead to inflammatory reactions by

increasing IL-6 and antibody production.

IL-6 is an essential TH2 cytokine needed to support the function of

humoral immunity ‚ particularly antibody production, although

researchers have reported neuroprotective effects as well. The

problem of imbalance occurs when levels of IL-6 do not return to

normal and as a result depresses TH1 cytokine function. Several

factors appear to contribute to elevated interleukin-6. They are:

1. Chronic infections

2. Chronic oxidative stress and free radicals

3. Insomnia

4. Toxins in food, water, air and environment

5. Stress from multiple causes ‚ noise, strenuous exercise as in

weight lifting, emotional and electromagnetic pollution (microwave,

cell phone relay towers, violence on television and movies, rapid

scene changes on TVs and computers without EMF blocker screens etc).

Researchers have found that in acute stress, both cortisol and IL-6

levels increase. With lower levels of stress, cortisol and other

glucocorticoids reduce IL-6 secretion. IL-6 has been found to

stimulate the pituitary to release ACTH, the hormone that then

stimulates the adrenals to produce more cortisol. Over time, the body

has evolved a unique set of checks and balances to control the

effects of stress and immune challenges. It is now very evident that

proinflammatory cytokines like TNF and IL-6 influence the functioning

of the HPA (Hypothalamus, Pituitary and Adrenal) axis.

There are several components to any successful program to balance the

immune system including a hyper allergenic diet and anti-inflammatory

supplements including cortisol have a supportive role.

By helping to normalize IL-6 levels, low-dose cortisol along with low

dose thyroid therapy has many benefits to offer. Besides reduced food

allergies and chemical sensitivities, these benefits include reduced

replication of HIV, candidiasis, CMV, HHV-6, CMV, EBV, herpes, less

fatigue during the day and more restful sleep at night along with

improvements in Natural Killer cell function and macrophage function.

Now, I am about to show you through published scientific research

that one of the main side effects of low levels of free cortisol and

adrenal exhaustion is elevated levels of interleukin 6. In so doing,

I propose that it is elevated IL-6, not estrogen, that was the

primary cause of immune dysfunction in Plechner's 30,000 pets that he

successfully treated with low dose thyroid and cortisol. The correct

use of low dose cortisol may also help restore normal circadian

cycles of cortisol (high in the morning and low at night) essential

to restore normal sleep patterns.

The use of low-dose cortisol would probably not be needed if we

learned how to get the liver to convert cortisone (the inactive form)

to the active form of cortisol. In immune-compromised patients,

levels of bound cortisol ( called cortisone) will sometimes be high

while levels of free cortisol - the active form - will be low. In

persons under the stress of chronic infections, the need for free

cortisol will be higher than in the normal population. Normal or

lower cortisol levels should not necessarily be considered good news

for this group while elevated cortisol levels should not necessarily

be considered bad news.

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Dom