Monolaurin - Monolauroylglycerin - Glycerol monolaurate

Lauric acid is a 12-carbon medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) found naturally in human breast milk (6.2% of total fat) and coconut oil (47.5% by weight). Lauric acid was originally discovered when microbiologists studied human breast milk to determine the protective (anti-viral and anti-bacterial) substances which protected infants from microbial infections. Other fatty acids were also found to have antimicrobial actions but lauric acid was found to be the most active.

The esterification of lauric acid, that naturally occurs in our body, yields an amazing compound known as monolaurin (glycerol monolaurate). Monolaurin is a non-ionic surfactant¹, which possesses an even greater anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity than its precursor, lauric acid. Monolaurin, when given orally, at therapeutic doses between 2,500 – 4,500 mg/day is generally well tolerated, with loose bowels as the only negative concern. Monolaurin has been studied at medical research centers, including the Center for Disease Control (CDC), because of its high antimicrobial (anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-yeast and anti-protozoal) activity. These studies have provided information about the anti-viral and anti-bacterial mechanisms of monolaurin. Monolaurin was found to be effective against certain Lipid Coated Bacteria (LCBs) and Lipid Coated Viruses (LCVs) – enveloped DNA and RNA viruses.

¹Surfactant: Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lowering of the interfacial tension between two liquids, or between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as: detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.

Lipid Coated Virus

HIV-1, Influenza virus, paramyxoviruses, rubeola virus, bronchitis virus, and the herpes family of viruses (Epstein-Barr, cytomegalo, zoster, vericella-zoster and herpes type I and II). Sadly, monolaurin had no effect on diseases caused by non-enveloped viruses such as polio virus, coxsackie virus, encephalomyocarditis virus, rhinovirus, and rotaviruses.

Lipid Coated Bacteria

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori),  Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae.

The anti-viral and anti-bacterial action attributed to monolaurin is that of solubilizing the lipids and phospholipids in the protective envelope of these particular infective agents causing the disintegration of the lipid envelope. Recent publications have shown that monolaurin and lauric acid inhibit the replication of viruses by interrupting the communication and binding of virus to host cells and thus preventing the uncoating of viruses necessary for replication and infection. Other studies have shown that monolaurin is able to remove all measurable infectivity by directly disintegrating the protective bacterial and viral lipid envelop. Binding of monolaurin to the viral envelop also makes the virus more susceptible to degradation by host defenses, heat, or ultraviolet light.

Microorganisms Inactivated by Monolaurin

Ecological Formulas Monolaurin (600 mg’s – 90 caps) $34.00 or Lauricidin® The Original Monolaurin 227gr $40.00 Call to Purchase 714-639-4360

Excessive negative stress has become, over the last 25 years, as much a part of our daily lives as eating and sleeping. Excessive negative stress can be physical (chronic illness, lack of exercise, over-exercising, etc.), emotional (losing a job, winning the lottery, etc.), or chemical (bad diet, drugs, medicines, alcohol, pesticides, etc.).

Excessive negative stress is most likely to be the initial predisposing factor in the cause and prolongation of a disease or illness. Again, the greater the exposure and duration to these negative stressors the greater the susceptibility to acute or chronic illness or body dysfunction.

It is also important to note that not all stress is bad or has negative effects on our bodies. Some types of stress are actually beneficial for us and can increase our immune function, overall strength, emotional well being and longevity. The most beneficial form of stress is exercise, especially swimming and weight training. This type of stress can, in moderation, even negate some of the excessive negative stress’ we face.

When our bodies are exposed to any form of negative stress our organ systems innately responds with what is known as the “fight-flight response”. During this stress induced response, many different and potentially damaging physiological reactions occur. During the initial phase, which can last for seconds to years, digestion and absorption of nutrients are greatly reduced; body tissues begin to break down; the immune system is suppressed; our heart begins to overload and the aging process is significantly accelerated. These are but a sampling of what does occur.

Individuals who are exposed to excessive negative stress may also develop a condition known as adrenal exhaustion. This condition occurs when the adrenal glands work beyond their normal capacity thus eventually shutting down (no more Cortisol, a hormone, being produced). Adrenal exhaustion presents with symptoms similar to those found in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia and hypoglycemia (see table 1).

Table 1

An integrative medicine approach for the treatment of adrenal exhaustion or the effects excessive negative stress are identical. First, it’s crucial to reduce or eliminate as many negative stressors (individual stress factors) as possible.

Second, get plenty of rest, at least 8 hours, starting before midnight; engage in regular, but not excessive, exercise; greatly reduce your carbohydrates intake (bread, sweets, pasta, corn and potatoes); increase protein intake; increase fibrous vegetable intake; drink eight glasses of filtered water daily, and perform deep breathing exercises every morning and evening.

Third, nutritional and/or pharmacological support. To determine pharmacological support we must first determine thyroid and adrenal function via blood tests (thyroid panel including both thyroid antibodies and rT3), and (DHEA, cortisol and progesterone) levels. Nutritional support can be in the form of DHEA and/or Pregnenolone (10 – 50 mg daily) and/or glycerrhizin (25 – 100 mg daily – preferably in the morning). These two supplements safely support proper adrenal hormone levels. DMG (vitamin B15) and Siberian Ginseng have both been shown in Russian clinical studies to help regulate the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is the initial precursor, along with our LDL cholesterol to our adrenal hormones, whole C complex (Ester-C w/bioflavonoids) is an antioxidant for the adrenal and the highest concentration of vitamin C out side of the spinal chord and brain is found in the adrenal; and potassium are essential for proper adrenal gland function. Adrenal glandular preparations (Whole Desiccated Adrenal (short-term), Drenamin and Drenatrophin PMG) from Standard Process Inc. will also help to support the adrenal glands. These are but a few options that I have used to support the stress response of the body.

Additionally, antioxidants and supportive products like: CoQ10, glutathione, NAC, vitamin E, bioflavonoids, alpha lipoic acid, SAMe, Gabatone (Apex Energetics), L-tryptophan, magnesium and MSM, will also help reduce the overall oxidative burden placed on the body by the excessive negative stress.

With the above knowledge the road to well being and health is now a much shorter one.

My theory has developed over a 20 year period of time and holds credibility as a corollary to the long-standing law in anatomy and physiology known as – Wollf’s law.  Wolff’s law, in short, states that, “bone remodels according to the physical stress placed upon it.”  As an example: a pitcher’s, pitching arm (humerus, radius and ulna) will be denser than his non-pitching arm.  The opposite of this is, if we lived in outer-space our bones would dissolve (osteoporosis) because of the lack of gravity; no weight-bearing load on the bones.  All of the calcium supplementation, estrogen replacement (for women), and Fosimax (medication) in the world would not prevent this process from happening.

My theory takes Wollf’s law to the next level and states, “Our entire body remodels according to the stress placed upon it: invisibly, physically, emotionally and chemically.” All four of these stressors or outside influences/forces, will directly affect the remodeling of every cell, tissue and physiological function of the body.  This means that our inward and outward appearance and physiological state is in direct correlation to the (way, what and/or how) we sleep, eat, drink, act, exercise, think, deal with stress, or are exposed to stress’ or outside forces.

Physical stress makes-up the largest portion of the overall stressors we will be subjected to on a daily basis. The foods we eat and how often, our exercise level or lack of exercise, chronic postures (work, driving and sleep), chemicals, pesticides, excessive alcohol, medicines, drugs and our body’s own waste products, all influence how we remodel.

If we ingest all of the essential nutrients that our body requires, with all other factors aside, our body will remodel properly. The opposite can be said for eating devitalized food, such as fast food, boxed or canned food; as well as being exposed to drugs, medicines, alcohol, pesticides, toxins, etc… Examples: If we increase protein and weight bearing exercise, an increase in muscle mass and strength will be the result. If we increase fats and/or carbohydrates, combined with a lack of physical exercise, an increase in body fat, blood sugar, blood fats and blood pressure will be the result. This is called: diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and hypertension. Exposure to toxins, pesticides, molds, drugs or excessive alcohol, may lead to cancer, ADHD and many other diseases.

Emotional stress placed on the body will have similar effects. If we feel or are exposed to happiness, joy or generosity, all good stress’ will facilitate a positive remodeling (ex. neurotransmitter and hormone production). If we feel or are exposed to anger, expressed or unexpressed resentment, blame or shame, all negative emotions, this will facilitate our body to remodel in a non-optimum way (increased inflammation on decreased endocrine and brain function – Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s).  The negative remodeling can lead to everything we don’t want to have our body experience, such as cancer, autoimmune disease and body degeneration. The positive remodeling will help increase the immune system and overall strength of the body, leading to a longer, healthier and more vibrant life.

Invisible forces (electromagnetic waves [radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma rays], gravity and ionizing radiation) are constantly present and can affect us as much as the overt chemical, emotional and physical forces do. The invisible forces, most of the time, actually precede and initiate the physical, emotional or chemical stress’ that causes the remodeling of our body’s cells or, more specifically, the cell membranes.

It’s easy to see from this, that everything we do or don’t do, and everything that is done to us, sometimes unknowingly, affects how our body remodels. This means how we look and how we functions.  The point I am trying to make here is that we can at least be “cause” of over a very large part of this and be responsible for what we do on a daily basis (eat, exercise, rest…) and what we allow around us. If we do not learn from this then we can go through life at “effect” like a stick floating down a river, out of control. By ignoring this theory, negative remodeling will be the outcome and all the negative consequences that come with it. The choice is ours.

©06 January 2009 Marcus Ettinger and AdvancedHealing.Com. All rights reserved (no portion of this may be re-printed or used without permission)