Grouppe Kurosawa: HIV - Letters From Blanche Vol. 1, Part 3 (print)

Letters From Blanche
Vol. 1, Part 3

Blanche,
I figured there was a deeper meaning to the remark. Thanks for setting me straight. I told you that you would eventually turn yellow. Curcumin is a dye. You know the first chemo agents were industrial dyes also. It's interesting, at least to me, that we've come full circle and are now using natural dyes to treat diseases like AIDS.

Steve

Hi again, Dr. Steve,
I forgot to mention that I made a four-serving batch last night and this morning all I had to do was reheat it gently, pour in some juice to thin it, and toss it down. I think it will be easier to wrestle with more capsules on fewer occasions, cutting down on the orange on counter, hands, utensils, etc. I've used turmeric all my life and know that it turns light-colored plastic utensils a fetching orange-yellow.

The concoction (technically a decoction, I guess) really doesn't taste all that badly, at least in 1/2 dosage on the EGCG. As I mentioned previously, the next batch will be 3/4 strength and the next full. If the EGCG proves too bitter I'm sure there is something I can do to fix it.

This is going to work fabulously. I am a weird person, and have made a habit of listening to my body. Sometimes I will get a craving for something and find out later it had whatever I was short on at the time. I've reached the conclusion that my stomach (elbow, pancreas, whatever) often knows more about what's good for me than does my brain. Weird person.

Well, last night, about half an hour after taking the first glass of the Kocktail, I got this warm sensation in my stomach. It felt... well... sunny. And good, healthy. Now I know turmeric can be heating, but this was not hot; it was just nice. It was more than pleasant. It felt like it belonged there. I'm having trouble with this description because there really aren't proper words in English. If I spoke Chinese or Sanskrit, perhaps I'd have the right terminology.

In English, then: I'm sure I'm doing the right thing with this. I'm going to finish off my nasty drugs because they're here, but when they're gone I'll frankly be glad. I'm looking forward to watching the side effects fade. – (Blanche)

Hi, Dr. Steve,
Well, today's Saturday and I'm up to full strength on the Kocktail and have seen the last of the meds. I got a blood test Wednesday, and should have my baseline numbers sometime next week. The EGCg does get a bit bitter at a gram per dose, but diluting it in more coconut milk helps. Also, that V8 Splash I mentioned helps a lot; it seems to compliment the coconut while masking the EGCg. Plus, it's orange; a nice bit of color coordination.

Here's an FYI: While shopping, actually for bulk 70% EGCg (didn't find any in that concentration), I came across this site: www.shfnatural.com. They carry turmeric extract (95% curcumin standardized) powder, 500g for $65. This seems a better price than the capsules, and I wouldn't have to get yellow fingers opening an average of ten per day, which would be a small blessing; I can tell that I'm gonna get real tired of yellow as this wears on. Have already started wearing rubber gloves because my nails were turning... yes, yellow. I was starting to look like a terminal nicotine addict who held her cigarettes in a very strange way.

Question: Since I'm not very bright nor especially metric, how much is 5 grams in teaspoons?

Unless I've lost my final marble, this works out to $65 for over three months. I think this price beats any capsule prices I have seen. I'm currently paying about $45/month (and getting yellow fingers). Also, I thought perhaps you might want to pass this on to other yellow-fingered people. – (Blanche)

Dear Blanche:
One woman figured out that dumping whole capsules of curcumin in the boiling coconut milk works great because you don't get yellow fingers. The gelatin capsule dissolves in the hot coconut milk. The EGCG capsules should dissolve in the same way. Progress.

The bulk source sounds ideal. I would say that a rounded, but not heaping, teaspoon of curcumin is five grams. The only way to tell is to open ten caps and put them into a spoon. Actually, open five caps. From this, you should be able to guess how much of the spoon ten caps would occupy.

I'll check out the site. I'll pass on the V8 splash tip also.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Don't know if any of this is of any use, but I for one could use a cheap source of EGCg and curcumin; lower prices on the rest wouldn't hurt either.

Oh, on the "drop the caps in the boiling stuff." Yeah, I thought of that, but was concerned that the cold gelatin might be the last straw, and make it impossible to get the stuff out of the container without a

jack hammer. I make up four doses at once, and already have to mix in the "fat cap" before decanting. This does save unencapsulating and cooling time on hurried mornings, however. Heat, dilute, drink, wash all the

orange color off of everything and skip out the door. – (Blanche)

Hi, Dr. Steve:
Got the results of my 4/7 blood test: viral load under 50; CD4's 694. The CD4 count is somewhat better than usual, and may be the result of the overlapping treatments. I'll be getting another test in three months which will, for better or worse, probably skip over any possible spike due to dropping the meds.

So far no ill effects from the Kocktail Note that dissolving caps in boiling coconut milk is not as effective; curcumin tends to clump and it takes a lot longer to emulsify. I think I'll go back to playing with the orangies. I plan to get bulk curcumin when this batch runs out.

Dear Blanche:
What do you mean the CD4 count is better than usual. What is usual? No cryptic messages, Blanche. Detail is good. What was the CD4 count while you were taking the meds?

It turns out that curcumin binds tightly to phosphatidylcholine, a fatty acid that is highly concentrated in egg yolks. You might try this...

Put one egg yolk per coconut milk/supplement dose in the coconut milk. Mix thoroughly and add the curcumin, etc. Mix thoroughly again. Boil and let cool and dilute with 1/2 and 1/2. This might bind the curcumin more tightly to the lipids and improve uptake. On the other hand, it might do nothing at all.

Steve

Hi, Dr. Steve:
CD4's usually around 550. I said somewhat because the count tends to wander, but in my memory has never exceeded 650. This count is still "when I was taking the meds." It represents a crossover point where I had barely started your protocol but was not yet out of the old medication. "Barely started" means I had been taking the supplements for about a week, and had taken two doses of 1/2-strength Kocktail. That's about as specific as it gets.

"Normal CD4's" are around 550, as I said. Not long before contacting you, I had a brief viral "bloom" where the count went 80; 60; 1500+; undetectable. During that time the CD4's went up, up, argggh! and back to about 500. I regret I did not keep the exact numbers; my CD4's have bobbled since first reaching "non-AIDS" levels four years ago, and I admit my total attention was on the viral load, which was an item of some concern for a while. The viral load had been undetectable for the last two blood tests (6 months), but the CD4's were down in the high 400's to low 500's during that time. The 694 represents a small but significant improvement which may be attributable to the beginning of your protocol. I'm really sorry I can't be more specific; the time frame makes tracking rather difficult.

Coconut Kocktail Hollandaise? Hoo, boy. Will the egg yolk be a problem if I refrigerate? Remember, I make four doses at a time 'cuz I'm lazy. FYI: I think that shf site also sells phosphatidylcholine in bulk, but I could be wrong. "I swan, Colonel, all those long names are too much for my pretty little head!" Actually, I only have a few more times to wrastle with the orange capsules from Hell, as I'll be ordering bulk from here on. Will also be looking into the 40% EGCg.

Crazy? I'm not crazy... crazy... crazy... – (Blanche)

Blanche,
This is good background information. Thanks. Yes, you can refrigerate the egg concoction. I know you can buy semi pure phosphatidylcholine but why bother. An egg yolk serves the purpose and it’s cheap. And you get to keep the whites for another occasion. Such a deal.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Blanche? Lawks, Colonel; you _do_ go on!

Since I eat a basically healthy diet, may I assume that my rather high cholesterol (180-210; yes, it also bobbles) has been caused by the P.I. (nelfinavir) and should no longer be a problem? I hesitate to throw two egg yolks a day at cholesterol hovering around the 200 mark already, which is why I suggested the phosphadiddly stuff.

As an aside, does the PI have a darned thing to do with all these damned lipomas? I've got lumps on my bumps and I hate 'em. And yes, I've had 'em checked and they're just lumps of fat. Still, it would be sooo nice if they were a side effect and would just go away! One of the things I am hoping for is a return to a normal fat metabolism. (The other is a normal sugar metabolism. That was the NRTI's; all my mitochondria are permanently off drinking beer). Whadayasay? -- Blanche

Blanche,
The lumps will now go away. Please make a note how long it takes and when you notice something happening to them. The majority of cholesterol in your body is caused by stress pumping it out of the liver. The eggs won't hurt a thing.

And you can now drink Beer. Just take it easy.

The Colonel

Hi, Dr. Steve:
Boy, that's eggy! Since I don't particularly like Angel Food cake, I need 1,001 uses for the white half of all these eggs. I can see it now: The Kurosawa HIV/Cancer patients' leftover eggwhite cookbook. Probably not going to be a bestseller.

Incidentally, I don't drink beer any more. It was my mitochondria that ran off to a bar somewhere and didn't show up for work. Darned hitchhikers anyway; I certainly never asked to be eukaroytic! Actually,

this may be wishful thinking on my part, but I think I have slightly more energy than I had while taking the Pills From Hell. Seems a little soon, but I don't mind.

Please don't ask me what slightly means. It means slightly; that's the best I can do.

This might, however, be a good time to tell you that I am the control drug companies have nightmares about; I do as well or better on placebo as do the folks who are taking the expensive and nasty drugs. I've often been amused by the fact that here we have proof that the mind can affect health and body functions, and we dismiss it as interference. Ah, the profit motive!

I'm looking forward to losing the lumps. – Blanche

Blanche Dear,
Haven't you ever heard of egg white omelets. Really, egg whites can be used in damn near everything and you can freeze them. The egg albumin is a great binder for other foods. Be happy.

You are getting like some of my other clients. They are paranoid about reporting to me because I insist on precise reports. They don't really like it when I start bombing them with email that say in effect "What the hell does that statement mean?"

In Science, precision is good. Even little things, like your renewed energy, can be meaningful.

Your lumps will go away. They are caused by a dysfunction in the fat cells caused by the drugs. ALA , NAC and inosine will take care of the problem.

Steve

Hi, Dr. Steve:
Not paranoid, my friend. More like guilty. I know I am using a recently-updated protocol. Also, I have gotten the impression from you that I am the first person you have advised who is coming off the meds. This puts a certain obligation on my punkin' head to report fully and accurately, because it may be of critical importance to someone else somewhere down the road. So when I have to say, "sorta like that," I feel like I'm letting people down.

I suspected the PIs were responsible for the lumping, and I'm sure my liver is now happy as a pig in a puddle. However, the increase in energy, however slight, is far more exciting from my point of view. I have spent the last five years draggin' my ass around. It is my understanding that NRTIs (Combivir, in this case: AZT and epivir) are notorious for impeding the function of mitochondria and sugar metabolism in general. I run out of "up" very quickly, and easily suffer from lactic... acid... buildup. Ouch! I'm tired of being tired.

Tuesday I had a grilling day; the bus schedules were all messed up and I did a lot of rapid walking to keep my schedule. At the end of the day I should have been trashed. The problem is that sometimes an absence goes unnoticed. It wasn't until much later that it dawned on me that I hadn't staggered through the door and collapsed. Wow!

Speaking of Tuesday: I would like to take this opportunity to recommend Tai Chi to the HIV+, and also suggest that cancer sufferers give it a try. There have been some studies that indicate it helps alleviate depression. Even if you're not depressed it helps with physical conditioning, which is how I got into it. I had a body when I came in, and I want it back! There is stuff you can do in a chair if that's the best you've got. I think it can make a difference for those who are not overly attached to martyrdom. (Of course, if ya really wanna roll in it, there's nothing anybody can do). – Blanche

Blanche,
You are the first person I've helped who is coming off meds. And yes, you do have a certain responsibility to others. Think of all the others who would like to come off meds but are afraid of the rebound in HIV synthesis. If we can prevent the rebound, kill off the viral reservoirs, and rebuild the CD4 count, everyone would be ecstatic. Of course, the pharmaceutical industry would freak out, but who cares. Glad to hear about the renewed energy.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Cool. I'm used to being a blockbuster. The pharmaceutical industry can go get stuffed. – Blanche

Dear Dr. Steve:
The eggs tend to make everything clumpy, especially after storage (I make several doses at once 'cuz I'm lazy). The sulfur also makes the Kocktail taste funny (odd, not amusing).

Question: Do the yolks have to be cooked, or can I just mix a raw egg yolk into the Kocktail after it's thinned and cooled?

Right now, I'm adding two yolks to four servings, and the result is still pretty yucky. (Yucky is a technical term meaning thick, gooey and tasting of sulfur compounds.)

Strangely, until I added the yolks, I really liked the taste of the Kocktail, EGCg and all. I believe I mentioned previously that many of my body parts (especially my taste buds) seems to have better sense than my brain. These selfsame taste buds seem distressed over the egg yolk, for some reason. Nobody says this stuff has to taste good, but I prefer to suffer as little as possible. What's a mother to do? -- Blanche

Blanche,
Just forget the egg yolks. And yes, they were supposed to be added raw. It really isn't an important issue. Good feedback.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Feelin' good so far. One weirdo: This is not serious, but I'm breaking out in little bumps in spots. Itchy rather than painful. (And no, it's not shingles; been there, done that). They pop up and subside without any problem, but it's strange. Sounds kinda like an allergy, but since I've never had one I wouldn't know. If it's a side effect of the protocol, I'll live with the spots. As I said, they don't last long. I was just wondering about the link between allergies and immune systems and all.

My fine collection of lipomas may be getting smaller, but that could be wishful thinking. Energy still getting better; very nice. It's wonderful to have functioning mitochondria! Any advice on the itchy bumps? Yeah, I know, be specific. They start out more or less like incipient pimples, although they don't get as red. Itch a little. Then they just go away.

Sent for some bulk curcumin. The darned place is in Arizona , too, so I have to pay sales tax. Darn. Still, screaming deal, three months for $75 (and 38 cents). Caps were costing about $45/month, and gave me the Curse of the Yellow.

I figure why pay to have somebody put stuff in capsules so I can just take it out again? -- Blanche

Blanche,
The melatonin decreases the ability of hydrocortisone to bind its receptor. That's why we are using it. We don't want any HIV virus that leaks out to start an immunosuppression all over again. I'll look up the company that sells the 40-50%. Good info.

Question, Did the curcumin cause a yellowing in your eyes? It is a dye. I have one guy who has yellowing and I am afraid he has liver damage. This guy isn't telling me something. Please answer right away.

Steve

“The guy who has yellowing” is our own Adam. Follow the links to see his story…

Dear Dr. Steve:
Nothing turned yellow but my fingernails, and that was from handling the straight dry curcumin. I'm now using rubber gloves. I have a partial denture and that is not turning yellow. Tell the guy with the yellow eyes to add milk thistle for his liver. I'm sure you know many people with HIV also have hepatitis. (Not me, thankfully!)

I think you're saying that the business with melatonin and hydrocortisone receptors means that I may have allergic or pseudoallergic reactions. Any topical relief, or just ignore it? It is not a major problem, just an annoyance. – Blanche

Dear Blanche:
Yeah, this guy has hepatitis and doesn't know it. This is a real wrench in the gears.

When your hydrocortisone levels go down or when sensitivity decreases, the level of inflammatory hormones increase. This is fine for our purposes, but it can make you sensitive to allergens that weren't a problem before. Use a little topical hydrocortisone for relief. The topical stuff won't affect what we are doing.

I bought some of the 95% curcumin and it is orange. At first, I thought they sent me turmeric powder, which is only about 4% curcumin. No, this stuff is 95% curcumin by analysis. The 5% stuff I guess contributes to the orange color, in contrast to yellow.

It has a bland taste.

You are proving to be a good detective. Keep it up.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Glad topical hydrocortisone is okay; I hate itching.

On the guy's liver business: Milk thistle, honest. Check out silymarin (active ingredient) on the web. Also found some indication silymarin is used against cancer. You'll have to wade through lots of "Milk Thistle is Great! Read the testimonials! Send us money!" stuff, but there are serious articles out there on the effects of silymarin if you dig deeply enough. I didn't see anything right offhand that was contraindicated in HIV+ cases, either.

I ran into the use of silymarin for reversing liver damage in a community college course on Western herbalism. There has been some actual research done on this, so it's not all old wives' tales. – Blanche

Dear Dr. Steve:
What's a gram in teaspoons? It may be more confusing than I thought. Read on...

I got my curcumin from SHP. I think the reason it is soooo orange is because it has a higher moisture content than the stuff in capsules. The certificate shipped with it indicate <6% moisture, but I have no idea

what the moisture content of the stuff in the caps is.

I do know that it handles somewhat differently. The capsule stuff tends to be a bit more "flyaway" than the bulk. This leads me to suspect that using the contents of the capsules as a guide to dosage may be

misleading. I made up a batch using that yardstick and came out pretty close on color, but the taste is more bitter (a mark of the turmeric) than the encapsulated stuff.

I noted that the stuff in the capsules matches the shade of the bulk when exposed to only a little moisture. I dumped a cap on top of the coconut milk, and just the contact moisture instantly darkened the

yellow to a matching orange tint. Also, the bulk doesn't get that much darker when mixed in with the coconut milk (probably because of the moisture content).

This does leave me a bit confused about the gram/teaspoon conversion. Also, if this stuff does have more moisture, perhaps a slightly larger dose is called for? I think that since a gram is a measure of weight, a gram of "heavy" doesn't have the same amount of curcumin as a gram of "light" I don't know whether or not that's a measurable difference.

How much bulk curcumin (in teaspoons) per dose?

Note: did you get that email on the EGCg? 500g for $45 (plus a dollar for the optional bottle). Good deal! -- Blanche

Blanche,
Yes I got the EGCG info. Good work.

My balance is presently packed away so this is what you do. Take one level teaspoon of the bulk stuff and put it in a little Saran wrap. Then take a rounded teaspoon and do the same. Take it to the post office and have it weighted on their electronic balances. Tell them you are sending spice samples to customers in envelopes so you need some idea of the weight. I've done this many times with heavier products. The post office doesn't care. Also keep in mind that exact measurements aren't an issue. Curcumin has no known toxicity at all. But this info will give us a ball park estimate of the weight.

Good observation about the moisture. I hadn't thought of that.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Ordered a 500g jar of the 40%+ EGCg; we'll see how long this takes to arrive.

Using the curcumin powder saves a lot of time and mess, although I suspect I'm using more than I need. I'm on foot and haven't made it to the post office yet; looking for a cheap scale in the meantime. Since

I'm just starting on the Kocktail and just off the meds and therefore concerned about backlash, I'm definitely erring on the side of caution, which leaves me feeling a trifle orange. (Better than feeling blue). You said the curcumin had no known toxicity, and I'm banking on that.

My energy level is definitely up. The only problem I have now is I'm gaining weight, and I was too heavy already. I know the coconut milk is loaded with calories, but decided to just ignore that because it is so

crucial. Other than that, I think my calorie intake is correct for my age, height and activity level. I'm not sure what to do about this.

I had already put on weight, probably because I quit smoking last September. Since going off the meds and onto your protocol I've put on another 10-12 pounds. Is that normal? Where will it stop?

I'm 58 years old, five-eight and shrinking, and weigh 190 lbs. I don't want to have more energy and be too fat to enjoy it. I am hoping this is a temporary metabolic readjustment and will go away; please tell me

that's right. I'm not eating all that much and my activity level is rising. What's up? Am I doomed to be a healthy fat person? Is that an oxymoron? -- Shamu

Blanche,
Boy are you demanding or what? Make certain to write all this down because it’s interesting. Curcumin is definitely non-toxic. Don't worry. The NAC and ALA combo makes insulin more efficient. Yes, coconut milk has lots of fat but it’s primarily lauric acid and that’s a good fat. Also, melatonin reduces hydrocortisone and that also makes insulin more efficient. Cut down on the carbs. Pure and simple, and walk as much as you can.

Steve

Dear Dr. Steve:
Demanding AND fat. That's me. I'll try to reduce the carbs. Just so long as I'm not suffering from sudden withdrawal explosion or something. Hey, I like that! -- Blanche

Dear Dr. Steve
Great news: my legs hurt! This is probably the first time in five years I have had enough energy to work myself to the point where my muscles really bugged me. Yes! I went to an outdoor event on Saturday (which was Earth Day and also Taiji/Qigong Day), and did some taiji. I then walked around for hours and never... yes never... got lactic acid buildup in my muscles. (My mitochondria were stunned by the drugs and weren't doing their job; now they are apparently working as designed!) Sunday I was a little stiff, and today (Monday) I really feel it. Ouch! This is wonderful.

I've had problems with pain before, but it was different; this appears to be all "you really overdid it and now I'm pissed! pain" – the mumbling muscle pain; the best kind; proves things are working.

You also asked me to keep you advised on my lipomas. It's hard to tell on my legs because they are unfortunately rather chubby at this point. They may be receding, but that may also just be wishful thinking. I probably won't be sure on these until there is an overall weight loss.

There is one on my right elbow, however (yes, it's a weird spot for a lump), that appears to be withdrawing the way it came. It's getting narrower and firmer and may indeed be on its way out. It started out long and narrow, then got wider and softer as it grew. Now it's reversing. That's nice. This is the one I asked the doctor to check on, because it was in such a weird place. It's just a lump, but I would like to see the last of it.

Moving right along -- Blanche

Blanche,
Congrats on your pain. All the lipomas will eventually go away. Since melatonin is controlling the hydrocortisone levels to some extent, take some DHEA pills to see if it speeds up the process. I just got some scientific articles on the origin of these lipomas. Worth a try and don't cost much. 30 mgs a day.

Steve