Is Vitamin C an Ebola Cure in Megadoses?

An interesting report can be found on the VitaminCFoundation.org website, written by Dr. Robert Cathcart. According to him, ascorbate-producing animals do not usually catch or die from Ebola. The animals that do not make ascorbate in their bodies include: man, monkey, guinea pig and the bat.

"Since these species do not make vitamin C, it is easier for these diseases, by making massive amounts of free radicals which destroy vitamin C, to induce acute systemic scurvy and its resulting high fever, hemorrhaging, etc. (all the symptoms of scurvy).

"It is interesting that man, higher monkeys, guinea pigs, and some bats do not make vitamin C so these hemorrhagic fevers would kill them more rapidly and they have relatively poor resistance to them. Dogs do make vitamin C so these diseases do not kill them as rapidly and they can be a long term host." - Dr. Robert Cathcart

Dr. Robert Cathcart says that Ebola symptoms are nearly identical to acute scurvy, which is a serious vitamin C deficiency. Apparently such extreme deficiency produces bleeding all over the body.

He also states that both Ebola and Marburg virus "kill by the way of free radicals which can be neutralized by massive doses of sodium ascorbate intravenously". Sodium ascorbate is one form of vitamin C.

Can Vitamin C Cure Ebola?

Orthomolecular.org reports in their article: Can Vitamin C Cure Ebola? that:

"People need to know that vitamin C is an option for fighting Ebola, and how it works. [...] Get the illness and, it is said, you have at best 50-50 chance of surviving without vitamin C-based therapy. [...] The clinical reports of vitamin C in viral infection are that if you get the dose right, you will survive. Vitamin C is known experimentally to inactivate viruses."

Steve Hickey and Hilary Roberts report on the same article:

• Taking a gram or so of Vitamin C daily will not protect you from anything except acute scurvy. [Presumably it only protects you from scurvy if you are otherwise healthy.]
• "Clinical reports suggest that taking vitamin C almost to bowel tolerance every day (in divided doses) will help to protect you against all viruses." But the dose and the way you take it must be right or it will not work.
• "Massive doses [of Vitamin C] have been reported to have helped against every virus it has been pitched against", including Polio, Dengue and AIDS.
• Vitamin C is the primary antioxidant in the diet and most people don't take enough to be healthy. "Ignore governments telling you that you only need about 100mg a day and can get this amount from food."
• "A normal adult in perfect health may need only a small intake, say 500 mg per day, but more is needed when someone is even slightly under the weather. Similarly, to prevent illness, the intake needs to be increased."
• 8-10 grams per day for an otherwise healthy person to prevent a cold.
• To get rid of a common cold, you may need anything between 20-60 grams per day.
• With influenza the need may be as high as 100g per day.
• High dose of vitamin C causes loose stools. A healthy person might be able to take a couple of grams without this becoming a problem, but when a person becomes sick, they can take far more without this side effect, as much as 20-100 grams per day, in divided doses.
• For high doses of vitamin C, the period between doses has to be short, a few hours at most.
• Each ascorbic acid molecule has two antioxidant electrons, which it can donate to protect the body.
• There is a threshold of dosage above which vitamin C becomes highly effective, but each individual needs to experiment with increasing the dosage gradually to achieve this level.
• Straightforward, low-cost ascorbic acid is the preferred form of supplement. Vendors may try to sell you 'better absorbed forms' but many of these are irrelevant and may be counter-productive for high intakes.
• Mineral ascorbates are salts and do not carry the same number of antioxidant electrons. Ascorbic acid has two electrons to donate while a salt typically has only one. Mineral forms in high doses are ineffective in combating illness.
• Capsules are better than tablets because tablets are packed with fillers. You want to take ascorbic acid and very little else. Bioflavonoids are alright and the capsules may be made with gelatine or vegetarian equivalent.
• The cheapest way to take ascorbic acid is as powder, dissolved in water. Use a straw to drink it to avoid getting it into your tooth enamel, as its slightly acidic.
• You will need a set of accurate electronic scales to monitor the dose. If you don't weight it carefully it will be difficult to keep close to bowel tolerance.
• Continuous intravenous (IV) drip of vitamin C would be ideal for infected people. In this case sodium ascorbate is better. This option will not be possible for most people in an Ebola outbreak, however, as the procedure needs to be performed by a doctor.
• Medically supervised rectal administration of sodium ascorbate can be used in emergencies where IV drip is not available. Nurses can mix 15-30g of socium ascorbate in 250-500ml of clean water, and give it by enema.
• Liposomal vitamin C results in higher blood levels of vitamin C in healthy people than ascorbic acid. However, in acute illness liposomal vitamin C is NOT more effective. It is basically nanotechnology, more expensive and may have side effects. Liposomes may be preferable treatment for chronic infections and cancer, however (but not for acute infections).
• To have a reasonable chance of avoiding a major viral infection, a daily intake of at least 10 grams of ascorbic acid is needed. Start low, taking 500-1000 mg four times per day and build up the intake to close to bowel tolerance. Increased wind and soft stools will occur before diarrhea to signal that the tolerance has been exceeded. Reduce the dose a little to comfortable level.
• At a first hint of infection, i.e. feeling unwell, itchy throat, fatigue, etc., take more ascorbic acid. If the hint of impending illness is mild, take perhaps 5 grams every half hour or even more frequently. Anything more than a hint of infection, take as large a dose as you feel could be tolerated and follow this by taking 5 grams every half hour. The rule is to take as much as you can without going over the tolerated level.
• The most important thing is to start the treatment early. The longer a person waits after the initial symptoms, the less effective the treatment will be.
• Sugar interferes with the uptake of vitamin C. If you are using vitamin C to combat a viral infection do not eat any sugar or carbohydrates (long chain sugars) or the vitamin C will not be absorbed properly. No sugar and no carbs, at all.
• Smokers need much more vitamin C generally, because of the oxidants and free radicals created from smoking, and in case of Ebola, smoking will stop vitamin C from keeping you alive.
• Chelated magnesium supplements (e.g. magnesium citrate) should be taken as well, as well as selenium, but do not overdose. Alpha-lipoic acid and vitamin K may be helpful as well. Refer to the original article (link below) for dosages and consult your doctor.
• High doses of vitamin C may not be suitable for people with kidney disease, iron overload disease, or glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency.

"The mechanism of action of high dose vitamin C is known and understood. In normal healthy tissues it acts as an antioxidant. In other tissues, it generates hydrogen peroxide [...] This happens in sick and inflamed tissues, for example in a malignant tumour. [...] The oxidation and free radicals arising from the hydrogen peroxide kill bacteria and inactivate viruses. In other words, vitamin C acts as a bleach and antiseptic.

"Vitamin C is unique because it has low toxicity and can be taken safely in massive amounts. Other antioxidants and supplements will not have a similar effect. Do not be confused and think that Echinacea, for example, will help. Yes there may be supplements and herbs that provide a little immune system support, but this is Ebola we are talking about - get real!"

- Steve Hickey and Hilary Roberts on Orthomolecular.org

Additional Ebola-Fighting Methods, as Reported

Although there is no proven Ebola cure, natural ways of improving your chances of surviving Ebola are popping up in various media sources.

First of all, there is much debate about whether Ebola can travel through air or not, and PontiacTribune.com reports that it can survive in air for a short distance.

You may also want to research the benefits of the following in fighting Ebola: CBC cannabinoids, colloidal silver, garcinia kola, estradiol, cinnamon and black light (UV light).

In addition, Beforeitsnews.com reports that a Liberian doctor has used Lamivudine, an antiviral medicine to reportedly to cure 13 out of 15 of his Ebola patients.

I don't know if these sources are trustworthy - you can decide for yourself by reading the original articles, as referenced below, and by performing further research.

Further important information on how to increase your chances of safety in the case of an Ebola outbreak here: Ebola Virus Information.

Update: Oxidative Therapies

Dr Mercola published an article on Oct 26th, 2014, announcing that Dr. Robert Rowen had been invited by the President of Sierra Leone to treat ebola victims with a combination of oxidative therapies, including ozone, ultraviolet blood irradiation, and high doses of vitamin C. Dr. Rowen says that he is confident that they will cut the ebola threat rate but in another sentence says that he does not yet know whether the treatment will be effective, since ebola is a virus unlike his ever seen before.

He also states that if the treatment is effective, it may not make the news because there are financial interests from large companies who will suppress the information.

Ozone is extraordinary in terms of its anti-infective and anti-viral action, Dr. Rowen says. It fights both viruses and bacteria. It inactivates viruses 10 times faster than chlorine, he says. It can be hard on the lungs, however, so the methods of administering should avoid this problem.

Ozone water purifiers can be used to make ozonated water which can then be administered rectally "for whatever condition you have", Dr. Rowen says. "Ozone is the most powerful natural oxidant in the world."

Apart from ozone, other oxidation therapies include hydrogen peroxide, intravenous vitamin C, and ultraviolet light. (6)

Ozone works by "modulating" the cytokine storm your body releases as a response to the virus, and it also enables more energy to get into your cells. "Oxygen is one of the most important things your body needs for tissue healing when you are riddled with infection", Doctor Mercola writes.

While vitamin C is an antioxidant, it promotes the production of superoxidase dismutase (SOD), which gets converted in the body into hydrogen peroxide [which is an oxidant]. (6) SOD also is a type of super-antioxidant.

So, confusingly, both oxidants and anti-oxidants are helpful in fighting disease, when used correctly.

Ozone Solutions website writes: "Ozone, (O3), sometimes called 'activated oxygen', contains three atoms of oxygen rather than the two atoms we normally breathe. Ozone is the second most powerful sterilizer in the world and can be used to destroy bacteria, viruses and odors. Interestingly ozone occurs quite readily in nature, most often as a result of lighting strikes that occur during thunderstorms. In fact the 'fresh, clean, spring rain' smell that we notice after a storm most often results from nature's creation of ozone." (Ozonesolutions.com)

Disclaimer: Note that I am not personally making any claims about cures for Ebola or other viruses and diseases but providing material from others for readers' consideration. Please refer to the original articles to ensure accurate and complete information. This summary is for informational and news purposes only.

Sources:

(1) Orthomolecular.org: "Can Vitamin C Cure Ebola?"
(2) VitaminCFoundation.org: "Ebola and Marburg Virus"
(3) PontiacTribune.com: "CDC Criteria for Ebola Transmission: 'Being Within 3 Feet' or 'In the Same Room' Can Lead to Infection"
(4) Naturalsociety.com: "What They're Not Telling You: Natural Ways to Fight Ebola"
(5) Beforeitsnews.com: "Liberian Doctor Curing 86% of Ebola Patients! ..."
(6) Dr Mercola: Ozone Therapy: A Possible Answer to Ebola?

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