When you think of a virus, what comes to mind is probably something like a cold, stomach bug, or the flu.

Easy to contract, recovery in 1-2 weeks, and then you’re good to go.

What you might not know is that there are certain types of viruses that can stay in the body for life.

The most common of these come from the herpes family of viruses. These include –

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Humanherpes Virus 6 (HHV-6)

Unlike most viruses, they’re not spread in the air or on surfaces. Instead, they’re transmitted through saliva (kissing, sharing food and beverages), sexual intercourse, and even in utero.

After the initial infection, they remain inactive in the body until a trigger reactivates them. Some triggers include stress, a weakened immune system, and hormonal fluctuations.

Frequent reactivations can cause chronic symptoms that make the affected’s life miserable.

This sometimes results in a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome, due to the extreme fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, swollen glands, sore throat, intermittent low grade fevers and chills, and chronic pain these individuals often experience.

In fact, reactivating viruses from the herpes family are one of the top probable causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

If you’ve experienced occasional or frequent symptom flare ups following a Human Herpes Virus infection or have a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it’s possible one or more of these viruses are contributing to your ongoing symptoms.

Let’s explore the symptoms of Cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr Virus in depth.

CYTOMEGALOVIRUS SYMPTOMS

During the initial infection, Cytomegalovirus causes flulike symptoms.

(It’s an extremely common infection in babies, and most will recover with no complications. The worst complications occur when the baby is infected in utero.)

But individuals, especially the immune compromised, can develop complications that include –

• Encephalitis
• Myelitis
• Seizures
• Coma
• Psychosis
• Dysphagia
• Weakness
• Numbness in the legs
• Retinitis
• Visual impairments
• Pneumonia
• Gastritis
• Enteritis
• Colitis
• Diarrhea
• Ulcers in the GI tract
• Hepatitis

After the initial infection, during Cytomegalovirus reactivations, people may experience the following symptoms.

• Unrefreshing sleep
• Extreme fatigue
• Exercise intolerance
• Memory problems
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Sore throat
• Headaches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Muscle and joint pain
• Mouth sores

EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS SYMPTOMS

Epstein Barr Virus causes Infectious Mononucleosis (Mono) at first, which involves symptoms like severe fatigue, low grade fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, headache, and body aches.

Rarely, severe complications like splenic rupture or hemorrhage, meningitis, peripheral neuritis, and pneumonia can occur.

Similar to Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr Virus reactivations can cause symptoms resembling the following.

• Unrefreshing sleep
• Extreme fatigue
• Exercise intolerance
• Memory problems
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Sore throat
• Headaches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Muscle and joint pain
• Mouth sores

How can you tell if you have CMV or EBV reactivations that are causing or contributing to your symptoms?

In addition to comparing your symptoms to the ones above, it can be helpful to get some lab work done.

We get a lot of our lab work done independently through Walk-in-Lab. They offer affordable lab tests from Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp that you can order yourself and fulfill at your nearest Quest or LabCorp location.

CYTOMEGALOVIRUS TESTING

CMV IgM
CMV IgG

Positive IgG only indicates an inactive virus with the possibility of reactivation, especially if antibody levels are high. It’s also telling if your most recent IgG result is higher than the result before it.

Alternately, positive IgG and IgM indicates a current virus reactivation.

Positive IgM only indicates a first time infection.

EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS TESTING

Early Antigen
VCA IgM, VCA IgG, and EBNA

If EBNA and/or VCA IgG only are positive, that indicates a dormant virus with the possibility of reactivation, especially if antibody levels are high. It’s also telling if your most recent results are higher than the results before.

Positive Early Antigen and/or VCA IgM in addition to positive EBNA and/or VCA IgG means a current virus reactivation.

Finally, positive Early Antigen and/or VCA IgM only mean a first time infection.

CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AND EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS REACTIVATION TREATMENT OPTIONS

Unfortunately at this time, there is no FDA cleared or approved antiviral treatment for Human Herpes Virus reactivations that cause or contribute to chronic symptoms, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome.

Often, these patients often wonder if they’re going to stay sick forever or even become permanently disabled, as their symptoms grow worse with time.

That’s where complementary and alternative therapies become of use.

In his book Herbal Antivirals, herbalist Stephen Buhner discusses botanical medicines that have been shown to help, both traditionally and in clinical studies. His herbal protocols include –

– Antiviral herbs to reduce viral load.
– Support for the mitochondria that are ravaged by the viruses – to restore mitochondrial function and increase energy.
– Immune modulating and cytokine reducing herbs – to downregulate inflammatory cytokine cascades and in turn reduce symptoms.

Please don’t hesitate to order a copy of Herbal Antivirals. It includes six in-depth chapters. In the first section, you’ll find the details of how emerging, drug-resistant viruses infect the body. Then, in section two, you’ll find Buhner’s targeted, evidence-based herbal protocols for each of the viruses included in the book. Lastly, in section three, you’ll learn the details about the most powerful herbal antivirals we have for use today.

On to the herbal protocols.

Note: Under each of the below herbs, I will include links to the prepared tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, and powdered versions. Mountain Rose Herbs has the best prices, so whatever Buhner herbs I can find there, I order. For more rare herbs, I order from Herbie’s Herbs. Hawaii Pharm sells a wide range of glycerin extracts.

Prepared tinctures are best for people who have no alcohol sensitivity and have more money to spend on treatment than time to make their own tinctures.

Bulk dried herbs are best for making tinctures or glycerin extracts at home, for people who have limited funds (this is 90% cheaper than purchasing prepared tinctures).

Glycerin extracts are best for people who have alcohol sensitivity but can tolerate trace amounts of alcohol and have more money to spend on treatment than time to make their own extracts.

Powdered herbs are best for people who have severe alcohol sensitivity and cannot tolerate trace amounts in glycerin extracts. The dose for powdered herbs is approximately 2x the dose for tinctures and glycerin extracts, so keep that in mind as you read the below protocol.

The herbal protocols are designed to be followed until all symptoms resolve.

The Buhner Protocol for Cytomegalovirus

1. Core protocol – formulation including equal parts of Bidens Pilosa, Houttuynia, Isatis (do not take for more than 3 weeks), Licorice Root, and Lomatium, 1/4-1/2 tsp of the tincture combination 3-6x daily depending on the severity of infection

We created our own custom blend based on Buhner’s recommendations, including more herbs at higher dosages, which has been very effective for Jonathan. It includes –

• Houttuynia, 1/2 tsp 3x daily
  Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  
  
• Astragalus, 1/3 tsp 3x daily
  Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  
  
• Licorice Root, 1/2 tsp 3x daily
  Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  
  
• Lomatium, 1/4 tsp 3x daily
  Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract
  
  
• Bidens Pilosa, 1/4 tsp 3x daily
  Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  
  
• Nettle Leaf, 1/2 tsp 3x daily
  Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  

2. For GI symptoms, if present, add a berberine-containing plant tincture such as Barberry, Oregon Grape, or (sustainably harvested) Goldenseal, 1/4-1/2 tsp 3-6x daily depending on the severity of symptoms (the Licorice Root should help with any ulceration that might have occurred)

Barberry – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
Oregon Grape – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
Goldenseal – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
Berberine Complex (capsules)

The Buhner Protocol for Epstein Barr Virus

1. Antiviral and immune modulation – Tincture combination of Chinese Scullcap, Isatis (take in a cycle of 3 weeks on, 10 days off), and Licorice Root, equal parts, 1/2-1 tsp 3-6x daily depending on the severity of infection
   Chinese Scullcap – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   Isatis – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract
   Licorice root – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
2. Antiviral – Fresh ginger tea, 3-6x daily (you can find fresh ginger root at the grocery store)
   
   
3. Antiviral – Andrographis capsules or tablets, 1200 mg 2x daily for 30 days
   
   
4. Mitochondrial support – Tincture combination of Motherwort and Passionflower, equal parts, 1/4-1/2 tsp 6x daily
   Motherwort – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract
   Passionflower – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
   
5. Immune modulation, energy, and mitochondrial support – Tincture combination of Cordyceps and Rhodiola, equal parts, 1/4-1/2 tsp 3x
   Cordyceps – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   Rhodiola – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
   
6. For spleen enlargement, if present, use Red Root, and for liver enlargement, if present, Milk Thistle Seed
   Red Root – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered

For neurological symptoms of either (ie. encephalitis) –

• Stimulation of lymph/spleen system – Red Root, 1/4-1 tsp 6x daily depending on severity of condition
  Tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  
  
• Regeneration of damaged neuronal structures – Chinese Senega Root, 1/4 tsp 3x daily for 30 days, and Lion’s Mane, 1 tsp 2x daily
  Chinese Senega root – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  Lion’s Mane – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  
  
• HMGB1 inhibition – Tincture blend of equal parts Angelica and Red Sage, 1 tsp-1 Tbsp up to 10x daily depending on the degree of inflammation occurring
  Angelica – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  Red Sage – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract, powdered
  
  
• For headache, if present, Indian Pipe, 1/4-1 tsp every few hours is the best, or Coral Root, 1 tsp every few hours, or equal parts Motherwort and Pedicularis, 1/4-1 oz, every 4 hours or so.
  Indian Pipe tincture (normal supplier is out of stock, in the meantime check Etsy)
  Coral Root tincture
  Motherwort – tincture, bulk dried, glycerin extract
  Pedicularis tincture

Reference: Herbal Antivirals, Stephen Buhner

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