TERRAIN Theory:
Why we can’t just kill an infection
Terrain theory states that it’s not just the germs or bugs that determine an infection, but the state of health of the whole the body. Terrain means a holistic and systemic view of the whole body.
Terrain theory makes a good distinction but needs to be mapped out better with key concepts that are clear and simple enough to work with. This is my understanding.
Terrain theory with respect to infection means two things:
First, many infections are just mutations of healthy bacteria or yeast that change to pathogenic forms when the terrain or whole condition, most notably, nutritional deficiencies.
Second, infection of external origin are considered parasites: worms and protozoans like malaria, giardia, etc. The terrain issue is a weak immune system, which may need to be boosted when things that kill infection (kill shots) do not work by themselves, which is often the case. And to prevent relapse after kill shots are finished.
Nutritional Deficiencies of the Terrain
Nutritional deficiencies can directly lead to mutations of healthy probiotics into pathogens:
Biotin deficiency into strains of candida.
Phosphorous deficiency into pseudomonas aeruginosa.
There are many more examples and there is a curious lack of interest in further understanding.
But it’s not limited to A causes B.
All kinds of deficiencies result in weak cells, organs and functions like immunity that can lead to many symptoms.
Causes of Nutritional Deficiency
Toxicity
It is often said that with a toxic load of mercury one cannot eliminate candida.
There are a few ways people say how this works.
More electrons is good and electron stealers are also good when targeted toward a necessary chemical reaction and to zap chemicals and pathogens by stealing electrons that breaks them apart, like hydrogen peroxide, ozone and mms do, but in a more balanced way. Metals cannot be broken up thus and must be neutralized with an electron, and, or, bound for excretion.
How the body regulates Antioxidants and Oxidation
Example: Vitamin C.
Vitamin C donates an electron to neutralize a toxin.
Once missing an electron it is an oxidant.
Then there are two options:
It can be recycled by having an electron donate back to it by polyphenol, flavoid antioxidants that are available in whole foods like fruit.
Or can be picked by white blood cells like neutrophils that can then target it toward a toxin or pathogen.
Neutropils are made of other nutrients like copper.
Neutrophil deficiency or neutropenia has been characterized by copper deficiency.
This is one way the vitamin C and copper work together as cofactors.
Copper has been a demonized mineral under the myth that it is dangerous and accumulates toxically like iron and, therefore, should not be supplemented directly. Copper is being supplemented successfully despite paranoia that it is harmful. Its success depends on cofactor nutrient balance. Reactions are just about the thing itself but overall balance and detoxification, which occurs with increases in any number of nutrients.
People who see reactions in isolation only do not know the theory and often paint themselves into a corner of avoidance that leads to further deficiencies and sensitivities. Weak links in their systems begat other weak links, like nutritional deficiencies.
Copper is also important in the whole terrain as part of important detoxifer metalothionine made from copper, zinc and selenium. This gets out metals and a metals load demands more of these nutrients.
Infection and Detox
Some people like to say that you have to detoxify first before killing infection. This is consistent with terrain theory but there is no simple formula or linear process.
The main thing is to identify nutrient deficiencies for all processes to work.
Detox and infection fighting are not a dichotomy.
The immune system consisting for white blood cells is often thought of as just working on infection, but it also works on all invaders: toxins, too.
The liver is thought of as just for detoxification, but its bile flow is also helps sterilize the gut. Some people think the root cause of SIBO is a bile flow deficiency and that makes sense.
Bile flow is stimulated by the entire detox process of the liver as well as its components like cholesterol and lecithin.
In addition to nutrients, pharmaceuticals may be used, too, but they are often not enough and there are tradeoffs.
Antibiotics can also kill good bacteria that make nutrients in our guts and communicate to white blood cells all across the body to signal where the threat is.
Antibiotics add the toxic load and drain nutrients to detoxify.
Even when they seem to work the immune system is usually not rebuilt to prevent relapse, which Lyme expert Richard Horowitz says happens 100% of the time when just this medical strategy is used exclusively.
Dewormers have the advantage of not killing bacteria, but worms and protozoa often develop resistance before the job is done. Then you may have a higher toxic load. Even if necessary, they don’t often work alone when the terrain is weak and immune system not boosted. Then relapse is more likely.
All of these complex relationships are examples of terrain theory that looks at how the whole system operates.
Terrain theory makes a good distinction but needs to be mapped out better with key concepts that are clear and simple enough to work with. This is my understanding.
Terrain theory with respect to infection means two things:
First, many infections are just mutations of healthy bacteria or yeast that change to pathogenic forms when the terrain or whole condition, most notably, nutritional deficiencies.
Second, infection of external origin are considered parasites: worms and protozoans like malaria, giardia, etc. The terrain issue is a weak immune system, which may need to be boosted when things that kill infection (kill shots) do not work by themselves, which is often the case. And to prevent relapse after kill shots are finished.
Nutritional Deficiencies of the Terrain
Nutritional deficiencies can directly lead to mutations of healthy probiotics into pathogens:
Biotin deficiency into strains of candida.
Phosphorous deficiency into pseudomonas aeruginosa.
There are many more examples and there is a curious lack of interest in further understanding.
But it’s not limited to A causes B.
All kinds of deficiencies result in weak cells, organs and functions like immunity that can lead to many symptoms.
Causes of Nutritional Deficiency
- Lack of input consumed.
- Lack of cofactor nutrients to utilize nutrients coming in, since nutrients work together, sometimes lacking in toxic accumulations as in the case of calcium and iron in the wrong places.
- Toxic load requires more nutrients to detoxify. The body has detoxification processes that run on nutrients. Detox is not just an external medical treatment or binder that works all by itself on the surface. Nutrients get insider the cells and target toxins with the body’s intelligent coordination.
Toxicity
It is often said that with a toxic load of mercury one cannot eliminate candida.
There are a few ways people say how this works.
- Candida are your friend holding the mercury. Maybe. But the toxic by products of candida are still excreted.
- Candida and other pathogens within biofilm shields use mercury to confront the immune system and neutralize it. Possibly.
- Mercury drains nutrients that the body throws at it to neutralize mercury and get it out. Mg++ is an electron stealer. Electrons are energy for the body. Antioxidants donate electrons to neutralize toxins, and are then not available for other things. There are many complex detox processes involving many minerals, vitamins, fats and proteins.
More electrons is good and electron stealers are also good when targeted toward a necessary chemical reaction and to zap chemicals and pathogens by stealing electrons that breaks them apart, like hydrogen peroxide, ozone and mms do, but in a more balanced way. Metals cannot be broken up thus and must be neutralized with an electron, and, or, bound for excretion.
How the body regulates Antioxidants and Oxidation
Example: Vitamin C.
Vitamin C donates an electron to neutralize a toxin.
Once missing an electron it is an oxidant.
Then there are two options:
It can be recycled by having an electron donate back to it by polyphenol, flavoid antioxidants that are available in whole foods like fruit.
Or can be picked by white blood cells like neutrophils that can then target it toward a toxin or pathogen.
Neutropils are made of other nutrients like copper.
Neutrophil deficiency or neutropenia has been characterized by copper deficiency.
This is one way the vitamin C and copper work together as cofactors.
Copper has been a demonized mineral under the myth that it is dangerous and accumulates toxically like iron and, therefore, should not be supplemented directly. Copper is being supplemented successfully despite paranoia that it is harmful. Its success depends on cofactor nutrient balance. Reactions are just about the thing itself but overall balance and detoxification, which occurs with increases in any number of nutrients.
People who see reactions in isolation only do not know the theory and often paint themselves into a corner of avoidance that leads to further deficiencies and sensitivities. Weak links in their systems begat other weak links, like nutritional deficiencies.
Copper is also important in the whole terrain as part of important detoxifer metalothionine made from copper, zinc and selenium. This gets out metals and a metals load demands more of these nutrients.
Infection and Detox
Some people like to say that you have to detoxify first before killing infection. This is consistent with terrain theory but there is no simple formula or linear process.
The main thing is to identify nutrient deficiencies for all processes to work.
Detox and infection fighting are not a dichotomy.
The immune system consisting for white blood cells is often thought of as just working on infection, but it also works on all invaders: toxins, too.
The liver is thought of as just for detoxification, but its bile flow is also helps sterilize the gut. Some people think the root cause of SIBO is a bile flow deficiency and that makes sense.
Bile flow is stimulated by the entire detox process of the liver as well as its components like cholesterol and lecithin.
In addition to nutrients, pharmaceuticals may be used, too, but they are often not enough and there are tradeoffs.
Antibiotics can also kill good bacteria that make nutrients in our guts and communicate to white blood cells all across the body to signal where the threat is.
Antibiotics add the toxic load and drain nutrients to detoxify.
Even when they seem to work the immune system is usually not rebuilt to prevent relapse, which Lyme expert Richard Horowitz says happens 100% of the time when just this medical strategy is used exclusively.
Dewormers have the advantage of not killing bacteria, but worms and protozoa often develop resistance before the job is done. Then you may have a higher toxic load. Even if necessary, they don’t often work alone when the terrain is weak and immune system not boosted. Then relapse is more likely.
All of these complex relationships are examples of terrain theory that looks at how the whole system operates.
Eat to energize, detoxify & immunize.
Move to circulate, align, & relax.
Primal Rejuvenation Health Coaching
Find out what you get in a
Free Assessment
See how I support you fully in
Health Coaching Steps
I work over video: Facebook, Zoom, Google, from Michigan, USA
Hess.PaulC@gmail.com
Follow me on FACEBOOK:
choose “See First” to get all notifications. blog posts
Primal Rejuvenation
Systematic
enough to make a difference
Simple
enough to implement
Sensitive
to individual needs
