Latency and Long-Haul Syndrome

How TCM Treats Lingering Disease

Long-Haul Syndrome has gained traction in the news cycle recently due to Covid-19, but the coronavirus is by no means the first disease to cause lingering symptoms months or even years after initial infection. In fact, Chinese doctors recorded the idea of latent pathogens in one of the earliest medical texts ever compiled, the Huang Di Nei Jing, somewhere around 300 B.C.

In an earlier article I discussed how acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can treat what today we call Viral Fatigue Syndrome, Long-Haul Syndrome and suppressed immune function. In short it was found that acupuncture treatments and herbal medicine have antiviral and immune-regulatory effects that hastened recovery.

This article will go more in-depth about what latency means, how it presents and how it can be treated. As health remains in the forefront of our minds, this is a good opportunity for us to get a better understanding of how insidious these illnesses can be.

What is Latency?

A latent pathogen is one that is never fully eliminated. Through a combination of illness traits, patient weakness and the way our immune system is built, the problem is able to hide and persist. Examples are Lyme disease, shingles, herpes and other viral infections, but Chinese Medicine also includes any other issue that comes and goes like arthritis, gut problems and MS.

A defining ‘feature’ of latent pathogens is their opportunistic nature. Suffers can be perfectly fine then go for a walk on a cold day, or drink a little too much, or go on a long trip and suddenly that old problem flares up again. For this reason, latent diseases are common among aging populations and those with other chronic issues. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a good example; Western medicine has no answer as to its cause but the prevailing idea is it’s a consequence of long-term attack on the body from a pathogenic influence. A serious chronic illness, stress, or other challenge weakens the body and CFS settles in. Going forward, any time the sufferer ‘overdoes it’ their fatigue flares up.

How Does It Happen?

TCM identifies four main pathways in which a latent disease is created.

1.      An exterior pathogen invades the body, undetected by the immune system. Patients with immunodeficiency or suppression from other illnesses or medication experience this often, resulting in sudden and recurrent bouts of severe disease.

2.      An exterior pathogen invades and is treated with suppressive medicine and instead of curative medicine. Someone with a nagging cough, for example, is given a cough suppressant but no further effort is made to clear the respiratory infection. Sometimes the suppressive medicine isn’t even for the treatment of the main issue. A study found that patients who were prescribed anti-acid medication as a prophylactic for stress ulcers in hospital were 30% more likely to contract hospital-acquired pneumonia.

3.      An internal pathogen left unresolved that surfaces later. Returning to the Nei Jing it states: “Attack of Cold in Winter will lead to Wen Bing (seasonal febrile epidemic) in Spring; attack by Wind in Spring will lead to diarrhea in Summer; attack by Summer-Heat in Summer will cause malaria in Autumn; attack by Dampness in Autumn will cause cough in Winter.” Strange terminology aside, what it is saying is that pathogens which attack in the previous season but have no acute symptoms will reemerge in the next season. Latent pathogen attacks are usually more severe than new infections.

4.      Genetic and constitutional factors. Some people have naturally weak systems (like underdeveloped organs) or a strong family history of disease which predisposes them to developing a latent pathogen.

One large driver of latent pathogen creation is the excessive use of antibiotics. These harsh treatments are strongly draining on the body and if they don’t completely eliminate a pathogen, they create the perfect environment for latency to develop. Furthermore, 80% of infections are caused by something called biofilm – tightly packed colonies of bacteria which are highly resistant to antibiotics. In these cases, the treatment can actually contribute to the disease.

The typical presentation of a latent disease is more serious symptoms, no clear onset of disease, often triggered by external factors, sudden onset, and episodic flare-ups. This is to say if you are a person who gets many head colds, they may not necessarily be separate events but a continuation of an old disease. Below are some common symptoms:

·         Chronic fatigue

·         Irritability

·         Constipation

·         Weak limbs

·         Constant, low-grade discomfort with sudden serious flare-ups

The list of potential symptoms is expansive and require proper diagnosis to pinpoint which systems may be involved, but those listed above are most common.

Treatment and Prevention of Latent Diseases

Clearing a latent pathogen can be tricky, but not impossible. Often these issues are chronic over the course of many years. With the addition of biofilm they can also be self-perpetuating. Since the onset and even existence of a latent pathogen may be unclear, inappropriate lifestyle activities may be contributing.

There are general preventive steps we can take to protect against latent pathogens:

1.      Be aware of toxin exposure. If you suspect you might be suffering from latency, now is the time to begin taking stock. Examine your lifestyle, diet and environment closely for anything that may be a contributing factor. Pay close attention to potential flare-ups and their triggers. Eliminate, avoid or reduce whatever you can that may be causing issue.

2.      Keep your immune system strong. Eat appropriately, exercise and make sure you’re getting the proper nutrition to keep your immune system functioning at peak performance. Those activities which inhibit your defenses should be limited.

3.      Address conditions right away and with appropriate action. Don’t just cover symptoms, take the illness seriously and make sure any measures you take to heal are continued until well after the symptoms subside to make sure you’re back to full health.

4.      Use antibiotics sparingly, and treat parasites, biofilm and other latency drivers proactively. This will require the help and guidance of a healthcare provider you trust. Always consult a provider when making decisions about when to use or discontinue strong medications like antibiotics.

With roughly 10% of COVID infections resulting in long-haul syndrome, it’s important we are informed about what latency is and how we can combat it. Conventional treatment is to ‘wait it out’, but that may not be the best answer. Options exist to strengthen the body against persistent disease, thanks to the many generations of traditional doctors who treated epidemics before this one.