Make ME Visible

Week 2 off Maraviroc - I got hit. Just the night after my last post, I started feeling dizzy, uncoordinated, and buzzy all over my body in a way I couldn’t control. The day after, I was feeling full-foot spasms again. They used to happen every day, but I haven’t noticed a single one since I got fully adjusted to Maraviroc. I knew something was up, and it wasn’t any chemical exposure this time. My dysautonomia was getting worse. On Tuesday, I woke up completely disoriented, shaky, nervous, and dreading that errand I was just about to go out and do. It’s like this electric current constantly permeated everything in my body now, no matter how I tried to stretch and move. Taking a beta blocker barely touched it. I left home hours later. Got on the bus and did a search for Maraviroc alternatives. Some people are born with genetic CCR5 inhibition, the same mechanism that makes Maraviroc anti-inflammatory. Surely there should be a natural compound that does the same? A forum thread popped out at me. There it was. A full paper! The herb is called Sanguisorba Officinalis and it seems to do something very similar to Maraviroc – possibly as an antagonist for the CCR5 receptor and virus bound to these receptors: sciencedirect.com/science/articl… Its other benefits include: (source: frontiersin.org/journals/pharm…) - Anti-inflammatory via reducing the production of cytokines - Reduces tumors via toxicity to cancer cells - Modulates neuroimmune signaling and neuroplasticity - Antioxidant effects - Antibacterial and antiviral effects across a broad range of species, including viruses such as Hepatitis B and coronavirus (and HIV) - Reduces chemokine inflammation, linked to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, via CCR5 inhibition - Promotes blood clotting - Increases white blood cells - Lowers lipids and blood sugar levels Some of these are very Maraviroc-coded, but some are extra goodies. Its potency is not as great as that of Maraviroc, but better than most other herbs that have been in-vitro tested for their antiviral properties. After my errand, and not having regressed enough to stop being able to walk much like before, I hit Chinatown. At least here, it seems that most herb shops have it – I snatched up about 10 days’ worth for $5 on my first try. I also picked up a herb grinder, then dug out my slow cooker at home, and let it do its thing for a few hours. I held my breath, crossed my fingers, and drank my first cup of the 3g decoction (a starter dose, on the lower end). It worked. Within two hours, I felt like I could control my body again. I could breathe, relax, and think clearly like I did just a few days ago. I would rate it as slightly less effective as half-dose/150mg Maraviroc. Same dosing schedule, likely a very similar half-life. Caveat: I’m using this as maintenance after the main repair was done. I’m not sure how good it would be for doing the intial Maraviroc protocol for Long Covid. I say it’s always best to go with something that has more research evidence, but when this is the best you can get... Just a heads-up: As an antimicrobial, it did give me SIBO die-off. It will be a lot of work, but I’m now feeling inspired to buy more herbs I take as supplements and prepare them myself instead of collecting plastic bottles. For me, there’s a beauty to this connecting with what heals you this way. P. S. I’m feeling very N=1 here. I can’t find a single account of anyone trying this – maybe someone else can try it, too, and share?