Symptoms:
The symptoms are first seen in very small children. Large amounts of thick mucous develops in the lungs, blocking lung passages and causing difficult breathing, chronic coughing and wheezing, and lung infections.
There are digestive problems, inadequate absorption of fats, after-meal stomach pain, and thinness. Body sweat will have very large amounts of sodium, potassium, and chloride salts. Any, or all, of these symptoms may occur.
Cause:
In 1938, this physical problem was named "cystic fibrosis" because it was mistakenly thought that abnormal changes in the pancreas were true cysts (tiny pockets of fluid lined with normal tissue). But it was later discovered that those spots were just part of the shrinking process of the pancreas, as the disease worsened.
There are three views of the cause of cystic fibrosis (CF):
1 - CF is an inherited disease, which the sufferer must learn to live with.
2 - CF is caused by inadequate absorption of selenium, zinc, essential fatty acids, and other minerals (including trace minerals) as a result of subclinical celiac disease. (Celiac disease is the inability to digest wheat and some other foods.)
3 - Dr. Joel Wallach, a veterinarian, who in 1978 was the first to diagnose CF in a laboratory animal, by noting characteristic CF changes in the pancreas and liver of baby monkeys, says he was fired when it was discovered that he could reproduce those CF changes in the body by giving or withholding the element, selenium. He had shown that CF was a nutritional problem which could be solved if caught early enough. (See Let's Play Doctor, J.D. Wallach, D.V.M., N.D., pp. 109-110. See order sheet.)
"The prevention of CF has been accomplished in pet, farm and laboratory animals by the veterinary profession by assuring adequate levels of selenium and essential fatty acid nutrition to the pregnant and nursing mother. This is not as easy as it sounds because of malabsorption problems (i.e., celiac disease and Crohn's disease) in a percentage of women. All things being normal, a supplementation of 200 mcg selenium per day and 5 gm of flaxseed oil, three times a day [to the pregnant and nursing mother], would be adequate to prevent CF.
"Treatment of CF is very basic: treat the infant as early as possible with selenium IM [given intramuscularly] at 10-25 mcg per day."—Op cit., p. 109.
He adds that it is vital that it be determined if the infant is allergic to wheat, cow's milk or soy milk, so as to avoid what he is allergic to.
We might conclude that all three theories are correct; in that, if you give the mother and infant proper supplementation, the disease can be eliminated at the beginning of the child's life.
But if this is not done, he will thereafter not be able to absorb nutrients properly, will exhibit the symptoms of CF, and will have to cope with the problem the rest of his life.
However, Wallach says that, even later, the person can lead a more normal life if he regularly receives essential fatty acids, intravenously, and selenium, intramuscularly.
"The lungs of CF patients are normal at birth and only develop bronchiectasis after chronic essential fatty acid and copper deficiencies have taken their toll."—Ibid.
"CF . . is preventable, 100% curable in the early stages, and can be far better managed in chronic cases than it is currently managed by `orthodox' medicine."—Op. cit., p. 108.
Treatment:
• In addition to the above instructions, the CF patient should consider the following:
• Eat a nourishing diet, high in raw fruits and vegetables and with adequate amounts of carbohydrates, protein, and vitamin/mineral supplements. A problem is that those with CF do not absorb food properly. They need to eat more than other people, in order to absorb the needed nutrients.
• Include germanium (found in garlic and onions), selenium, and vitamin E.
• Drink plenty of liquids and an adequate amount of salt in hot weather.
• Do not eat processed or junk food of any type. Avoid tobacco, alcohol, etc.