How to recover from Glandular Fever, naturally.

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Sick and tired of being tired and sick? You may want to do some investigating, especially if you are noticing symptoms persisting for longer than a few days. Glandular fever or mononucleosis (mono), often transmitted through saliva, is commonly known as the kissing disease. It is a potentially debilitating illness that is most commonly seen in young adults and adolescents.  The most common cause of Glandular Fever is the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). 

Surveys indicate that more than 90% of adults worldwide test positive for EBV (1).    30 – 50% of young adults exposed to EBV develop symptomatic Glandular Fever. The symptoms may not appear for 30-50 days and then continue for 2-3 months, with ‘post-viral fatigue’ being present for up to 6 months.

So what can you do about it? First, it pays to get a proper diagnosis and then rest is the primary prescription. Having an experienced naturopath and nutritionist is essential for herbal and supplemental support in order to speed your recovery time, as well as prevent any relapse.  

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Symptoms

Glandular Fever may present with a variety of symptoms, and each case can vary from mild to severe. The symptoms typically present as the common flu, in which case most people will still go about their daily lives unaware they have Glandular Fever and potentially delay their recovery. Below are some of the common symptoms experienced(2):

  • Fever 

  • Enlarged neck lymph nodes

  • Sore throat 

  • Body aches 

  • Extreme fatigue 

  • Enlarged spleen 

  • Rash 

Although some of these sound very similar to the common cold, Glandular Fever will have a few telltale signs it presents with which typically separates it from other viruses. The symptoms tend to persist longer, i.e. the fever may last anywhere from 11-14 days. The swollen neck lymph nodes are another characteristic unique to Glandular Fever, and these are typically located along the anterior cervical chain. The most common complaint with Glandular Fever is characterized by extreme fatigue. The fatigue can persist for up to 6 months, making it impossible to go to work and do your usual day to day activities.

If you are noticing flu-like symptoms that seem to be persisting for a while, along with extreme fatigue, it is best to see your practitioner and get blood work done. 

Boost your immunity with naturopathic support

People presenting with Glandular Fever have lower levels of immune system regulating cells such as IgA. Some activities such as intense exercise and high amounts of stress can suppress immune system activity and reduce IgA. Below are some of the herbs and nutrients I utilize with my clients who have Glandular Fever These are focused on enhancing their immune system and support energy production as they recover from this illness. 

Shitake Mushroom:

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Mushrooms have antiviral activity that have been found to be effective towards Glandular Fever. The thing that makes Glandular Fever so difficult to beat is that it envelops itself inside a shell made of proteins (known as a capsid), which makes it hard for your immune cells to access the virus and attack it. Whilst your immune system is breaking down the capsid, the virus works quickly to replicate itself so that it can infect more of your cells. This puts a lot of pressure on your immune system to control the spread of the virus.

Active hexose correlated compound AHCC, a compound sourced from shiitake mushrooms, has been shown to improve your ability to eliminate the virus EBV (a common cause of Glandular Fever) by increasing your immune system’s antiviral activity. In fact, AHCC helps outsmart EBV by increasing your immune system’s production of powerful anti-viral proteins, which improves your ability to eliminate viral infections (3). These proteins can block the mechanisms that the virus uses to infect your cells, weakening the tactics it uses to overpower you (4). Want to know more? To find out where to source quality AHCC get in touch below.

Siberean Ginseng:

This herb has shown to be very effective in recovering from fatigue and malaise associated with Glandular Fever. Traditionally, it is an adaptogen and immune modulator, uplifting and balancing the endocrine and immune system. It supports the production of natural killer and T helper cell and reduces inflammation. Depression can be a side effect of glandular fever due to the way it can cause a deep seated exhaustion that completely stops people from doing what they love on a daily basis. Siberian ginseng due to its uplifting action can support the mood during this time.

Andrographis: 

This herb is an antiviral and an immune stimulant, thus reducing the viral load of Glandular Fever. It is a strong bitter herb and has been traditionally used for a range of viral conditions, most commonly the common cold and upper respiratory infections. It has been shown to reduce the severity and duration of viral conditions. In glandular fever it stimulants the immune system to overcome the infection. Due to the length of time the illness can be experienced for, the immune system can require that extra stimulus to overcome the virus. It also reduces fever a common symptom in this illness and works as an antioxidant to reduce free radical effects, specifically in the liver.

A blend of herbs that are indicated in this condition is a core part of a protocol for glandular fever. Speak to a qualified herbalist to have a herbal formula made for you.

Seaweed:

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Seaweed was found to substantially speed up the recovery from Glandular Fever. The study uses wakame 2g a day of powdered wakame (5). I recommend to my clients to use nori sushi sheets if they can not find wakame. These are high in the mineral iodine which due to depleted soil levels, most of us do not get enough of in our diets.

Zinc

It is well known that zinc plays an important role in the immune system. It activates immune cells and affects the development and integrity of the immune system. The dosage of products can vary a lot from 5mg to 24mg. Thus it pays to talk to a practitioner about the right dosage for you.

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 Rest, Rest, Rest

One of the hardest parts of contracting Glandular Fever is slowing down. Often it affects high achievers and the “go getters”. It’s important to dramatically reduce activity for a minimum of two month, and have a supportive practitioner who will remind you often that you will get better. Nothing is more important than allowing yourself time to convalesce, which means fully recovering before you ease back in to your regular routine. Exercise should be very light such as walks and yin yoga. Social activities require reduction too. Many clients report how exhausting talking to someone for even 30 minutes can be. Below my colleague Dr Stephanie Peacock goes into detail on what rest really means when you have Glandular Fever and why it's so important. 

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For the first 3 -4 weeks after showing symptoms of Glandular Fever, it’s important to prioritize rest. Physical rest is a must, as Glandular Fever tends to wear down our mitochondria and really deplete our cell’s energy. In order to heal as quickly as we can, rest is very important and will allow our body to focus its energy toward removing the virus from our system. Another reason that rest is absolutely vital, especially in the beginning stages, is risk of rupturing an already enlarged spleen. Physical activity can place stress on this organ, which is located in the upper left quadrant of your abdomen (6).

During this time, it’s also important to take care in reducing social engagements. This includes anything from physical meetups to even talking on the phone. A simple 30 minute conversation can leave you exhausted, and make you feel you have expended all your energy for the day. This is why it’s important to let your loved ones understand that a critical part of your healing isn’t just physical rest, but emotional rest as well. Every individual will be unique in their healing journey, and you may need to retreat for some time until you feel you are ready for socializing. 

After about a month, you may notice each symptom starting to decrease. This doesn’t mean you should get back to physical or emotional exertion just yet. As previously stated, this virus depletes our mitochondria, therefore you must focus on slowly implementing any activity back in. Start with small conversations with loved ones and note how it makes you feel. Did it give you energy, or make you feel depleted? Same thing with physical exercise, did a 10 minute walk leave you feeling great or exhausted? 

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An individualized naturopathic protocol forms the foundation of a program to recover from Glandular Fever and prevent relapse. Recovering can be a long and arduous journey by yourself. Creating a team around you of experienced healthcare professionals supports an effective and speedier recovery. 

 

About the co author:

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Stephanie Peacock is a holistic health coach and chiropractor, specializing in plant based nutrition to help people live their most optimal lifestyle. She works with clients on helping their transition into a plant based diet, fine tuning nutrition to meet their specific needs, and with athletes on promoting optimal performance. She is a former competitive swimmer who has won a national championship, two US Open Gold Medals, and five international medals. Dr. Peacock is currently working at TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California where she clinically supervises fasting for patients with a variety of health conditions. Find her at https://www.stephaniepeacock.com .

References:

1. Luzuriaga K, Sullivan J. Infectious mononucleosis. New Engl J Med. 2010;362(21):1993–2000.

2."Infectious Mononucleosis | Johns Hopkins Medicine." https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/infectious-mononucleosis. Accessed 9 Mar. 2021.

3. Smith JA, Mathew L, Gaikwad A, Rech B, Burney MN, Faro JP, et al. From bench to bedside: Evaluation of AHCC supplementation to modulate the host immunity to clear high-risk human papillomavirus infections. Front Oncol. 2019 Mar 20;9:173. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00173.

4. Smith JA, Mathew L, Gaikwad A, Rech B, Burney MN, Faro JP, et al. From bench to bedside: Evaluation of AHCC supplementation to modulate the host immunity to clear high-risk human papillomavirus infections. Front Oncol. 2019 Mar 20;9:173. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00173.

5. Cooper, R., Dragar, C., Elliot, K., Fitton, J. H., Godwin, J., & Thompson, K. (2002). GFS, a preparation of Tasmanian Undaria pinnatifida is associated with healing and inhibition of reactivation of Herpes. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2(1), 1-7.

6. "Epstein-Barr Virus Infectious Mononucleosis - American Family ...." 1 Oct. 2004, https://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/1001/p1279.html. Accessed 9 Mar. 2021.