Lynn Capehart Wellness Project

The following letter was delivered to Mayor Bill de Blasio yesterday at City Hall.

Dear Mr. Mayor,

Thank you for the tremendous job you are doing as the City’s leader in these dangerous, uncertain times. You have shown your true grit and it is remarkable.

I am going to make claims in this letter regarding the current Corona virus/Covid-19 pandemic. You will perhaps be unacquainted with this information but will find it helpful. For the sake of lives that could be saved I ask that you read this letter in its entirety. Nothing more. I thank you for doing so. I have included a few short lines at the end about myself.

There Is A Better Approach Than Waiting For A Vaccine

 Let’s Start With A Comparative Analogy of Effect: 

All life forms have something in common that helps explain how we can quickly defeat Covid-19 virus. They all have a limited span of viability. Crucial to their survival is the ability to make copies of their DNA, to pass it on as they breed new generations. Or in the case of a virus, as they replicate new generations. You could eliminate any species by simply preventing individuals from making copies of themselves, from breeding a new generation of offspring. This can be said for any life form, including Covid-19:  Stop the copy process and you eliminate the life form.

Lucky for us Covid-19, like all viruses, has a short life span: “. . . a generation time of between 10 and 14 hours in cells in tissue culture.” (“Requirement of Arginine for the Replication of Herpes Virus,” Valerie B. M. Inglis, (1967) Bacteriology Department, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Scotland.)

This means that every 10-14 hours there is a chance to stop a virus if you can prevent it from replicating the next generation. If it can be stopped in this time period, it is finished. (Ibid.) The virus will die inside the host body as the last viable generation ends without having made a copy of itself. Without that backup, there is no more virus.

Without the ability to replicate properly, the Covid-19 virus lacks enough of the hereditary basics to pass on instructions for creating the proteins that are vital for birth and survival of a new generation. Like trying to make cherry pie without the cherries.

Now Let’s Look Closer At Two Amino Acids: L-Arginine And L-Lysine:

You’ve heard of bad cholesterol and good cholesterol; one harms you and the other gives great benefit. There is a similar relationship between these amino acids. As it relate to viruses, they are opposing forces; one will harm you, the other will help:

The Harm: Arginine Supports The Spread of Viruses In The Body, Including Covid-19:

“Some evidence suggests that high levels of Arginine can make symptoms of herpes worse, potentially leading to outbreaks or cold sores. This is because the herpes virus needs Arginine to multiply. Also, absorbing more arginine may indirectly cause cold sores by disrupting the body’s balance of Arginine and another amino acid called Lysine. [Lysine] can treat and prevent cold sores, and it shares an absorption pathway with Arginine. If more Arginine is present, the body may not be able to absorb enough Lysine.” (“Which Foods Are High In Arginine?” Medical News Today, Medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo, LDN, RD, specialty in nutrition, on October 4, 2018, Written by Jenna Fletcher.)

(See, Addendum at the end of this blog for a list of foods higher in Arginine than Lysine that should be avoided when you have a virus.)

A clinical study found that “Based on tissue culture studies, it is thought that a Lysine/Arginine balance may affect herpes simplex virus (HSV) expression. Arginine-rich proteins are required for reproduction of HSV, whereas Lysine competitively inhibits their synthesis.” (“Lysine For Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of The Evidence,” Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, Venthan J. Mailoo, BSc(Hons), MBBS, and Sanketh Rampes, National Institute of Health, Integr Med (Encinitas). 2017 Jun; 16(3): 42–46. PMCID: PMC6419779, PMID: 30881246.)

“HSV-1 requires Arginine . . . in order to grow. Lysine helps prevent the body from absorbing Arginine, making it difficult for HSV-1 to grow and reproduce.” (“Lysine For Cold Sores: Does It Work?” Medical News Today, Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, PharmD, MS, FASCP on December 17, 2018, Written by Danielle Dresden, Article 324696, March 13, 2019.)

Meaning that Lysine prevents the spread of a virus in the body by preventing Arginine from helping the same virus to breed and grow, and therefore stopping it from replicating a new generation.

The Help: Lysine Blocks Arginine, Prevents Virus Replication, And Lowers Infection Rate:

Lysine helps by impeding all viruses, stopping Arginine from helping any of them, including corona. “[Lysine] hampers the activity of Arginine, an amino acid that promotes the growth of herpes simplex virus. This suggests that increasing Lysine intake might work against HSV infections.” (“By the way doctor: Does Lysine prevent cold sores?” Harvard Women’s Health Watch, Celeste Robb-Nicholson, Former M.D. Editor-in-Chief.)

The Covid-19 virus is simply unable to make a viable copy of itself as long as there are sufficient amounts of Lysine in the body, saturating the tissue for a specified time period. The necessary levels are higher than those used in any clinical trials of Lysine.

Lysine will work as a preventive for someone not tested positive. It will end Covid-19 even if the subject is in the full throes of the disease when it’s first taken. Naturally the bout will weaken a subject, who won’t feel completely better for a couple of days. But the symptoms will abate quickly. Proper dosage is essential for recovery.

I shared the info about using Lysine to prevent Covid-19 virus with my vet at Westside Veterinary in Manhattan. She took to the idea immediately, saying that it made sense because vets routinely use it to treat animals with herpes. She reasoned that since it works on one virus it might work on another. That was a correct intuitive guess, and she is now taking it.

There Are Studies That Show Lysine Works On Herpes Simplex Virus In Humans As Well:

There was a recent study with the primary objective, “To summarize the research evidence for use of Lysine to prevent herpes simplex virus disease recurrence, a use not widely recognized by doctors . . . .” (“Lysine For Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of The Evidence.”)

In this study oral Lysine supplements were taken daily. The results were that in doses of less than one gram daily, Lysine was ineffective. However, given “in excess of three grams daily, there was improvement to patients’ subjective experience of the disease.” (Ibid.) The problem with this study and all Lysine research is that they didn’t use high enough doses to have a real effect on the disease. It takes a specific threshold of Lysine saturation to be able to destroy a virus’s ability to replicate and infect.

“As a result, Lysine supplements may reduce the number and frequency of cold sore outbreaks, for which the herpes simplex type-1 is responsible . . . . It can also help with the treatment of genital herpes. Some sources recommend that people with a history of herpes infections take 1,000-3,000 mgs of Lysine supplements a day.” (Lysine For Cold Sores: Does It Work?)

Lysine Has The Ability To Stop The Covid-19 Pandemic In 30 Days If Administered Properly:

Lysine is an essential amino acid that renders Covid-19 sterile and unable to proceed with its attack. Lysine is “essential” because your body can’t produce it, and you must ingest sufficient amounts through food and supplementation. It is easily available and inexpensive as an oral supplement. One of the best vitamin companies in the U.S. is located in upstate New York. Puritan’s Pride could be called upon to concentrate major efforts on producing Lysine until the crisis is over.

(See Addendum at the end of this blog for a list of foods higher in Lysine than Arginine that help slow down a virus’s growth.)

Lysine can be used without harm by all—child, adult, elderly, asymptomatic, prior condition. It is easy on the stomach and can be administered orally or by drip. It won’t interact harmfully with other medications. It is a simple nutritional supplement bought as you would food, without a prescription. I’ve seen it used safely by people all over the world. It is a substance the body readily recognizes and accepts without rejection, because Lysine is only nutrition, but more powerful than any drug against Covid-19.

Some Google research shows side effects listed from diarrhea to kidney inflammation, but this is inaccurate. “Doses of up to 3 grams a day [of Lysine] are thought to be harmless, as oral toxicity has not occurred in humans.” (“Lysine For Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of The Evidence.”) The only side effect of taking a therapeutic crisis dose is runny bowels. Not true diarrhea in that you are having to run to the bathroom all the time. It’s just that when you do have to go, the product will be loose.

Lysine Works On Other Viruses; It Will Work On Covid-19

Clearly, physicians and medical researchers have decided there is evidence Lysine is good for dealing with some viruses, like those that cause mouth sores and genital herpes, but they have been unable to make the intellectual leap to understand that Lysine works on other viruses just as well. It has never even occurred to them to try Lysine on Covid-19. Much to the world’s detriment.

There has been speculation for some time regarding Lysine’s ability to effectively treat and control any virus. “There may be benefits that have not yet been proven through research. Lysine may slow or stop the growth of [all] viruses. It may protect against sexual transmission of the herpes virus. It may prevent cold sores (herpes sores) from coming back . . . .” (“Health Encyclopedia, Lysine,” University of Rochester Medical Center, Medically reviewed by Diane Horowitz, MD; Raymond Kent Turley, BSN MSN, RN, and Rita Sather, RN.)

I worry Mayor that when you run this past your health commissioners, which I know you must, they will dismiss this information as not relevant, when it is the answer to our global nightmare. They will point to the fact that I extrapolate from research about herpes to support claims about a new virus. They will tell you these viruses are unalike and can’t be lumped together and treated the same. They will point to the fact that there are no clinical trials to support exactly what I say here.

It seems to me that doctors, the medical industry generally, have lost the ability to think and strategize about a disease. They sit and wait obediently for clinical trial results before proceeding. Maybe it’s the high cost of negligence lawsuits and malpractice insurance that has made them so fearful, but physicians are loath to try anything new, to even think about new ways independent of what they are told by clinical trials.

Trials are fine, but doctors can’t abandon the use of thought, imagination, and professional analysis to solve new health problems like Covid-19. This lack of curiosity is one reason Covid-19 managed to get ahead of us. Doctors have to open their minds to new ideas, maybe even come up with a few on their own. Waiting for pharmaceutical trial results without also exploring other ideas was addressed by a Lysine study:

“Lysine supplementation is not expected to significantly improve public health or generate sufficient profit to attract the funding required for randomized controlled trials. There is therefore a bias in research toward pharmaceutical as opposed to nutritional management of herpes simplex. This bias may extend to other diseases that are affected by nutritional imbalance, and it transfers power from patients to pharmaceutical companies.” (“Lysine For Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of The Evidence.”)

This elevation of the profit margin over the well being of patients is another reason Covid-19 managed to get ahead of us. It can be said now that but for that lack of research, Lysine could have been available to prevent many deaths much sooner. (Ibid.)

Above I cite to a clinical trial where patients given in excess of 3000 mg of Lysine daily reported they felt better. The question then becomes: Why did they drop it there? If it was found that 3000 mg daily worked better than 1000 mg daily, why didn’t they try 5,000 mg daily? They found confirmed improvement by increasing the dosages; why not continue that therapy and see what could actually be cured with nutrition? (“Lysine For Herpes Simplex Prophylaxis: A Review of The Evidence.”)

The answer is because there is no money in nutritional supplement research. (Ibid.) Add that to doctors’ intellectual paralysis when confronted with new information not specifically supported by clinical trials, and you have preventable disasters like Covid-19.

Here is an email from an RN in Chicago that sheds more light on the fact that doctors have continually failed to heed new information right in front of them. She was on the front line and self-quarantined after she came down with Covid-19 symptoms two weeks after testing negative. It took her five days to feel like herself again on Lysine:

“I have reached out to many colleagues. I don’t understand why no one will listen or even try L-Lysine. Even though I am a nurse unfortunately I don’t hold much weight . . . . I’m thinking of leaving the profession entirely due to most of what I’ve said [in these emails] . . . . I will definitely try to reach out more . . . . Your treatment can save lives. It worked for me.”

The research cited herein is public domain. If I can find it, so can Dr. Fauci, but since there are no clinical trials that support my exact conclusions they will be dismissed. There is enough research available and supported to suggest to the medical industry that it should be working with Lysine. I do not mean to cast dispersion, but there would be many fewer deaths from Covid-19 if Lysine were made accessible to everyone. Our lives would not be in such turmoil now.

Let’s Recap:

1. There is evidence certain viruses can’t replicate and grow without the amino acid Arginine.

2. There is evidence the amino acid Lysine blocks Arginine from providing this assistance to certain viruses.

3. There is evidence Lysine is effective on certain viruses, such as those that cause cold sores and genital herpes.

4. There is evidence higher doses of Lysine work better on certain viruses than lower doses.

5. There is evidence Lysine is not toxic when taken orally in excess of 3000 mg daily.

6. There is evidence of an industry-wide bias against clinical trials for nutritional supplements.

7. There is evidence this bias stems from the low profit margin of nutritional-supplement research, simple greed.

8. There is evidence this greed bias prevents Lysine from being fully vetted as a treatment for Covid-19, despite its effectiveness against certain other viruses.

9. There is evidence it’s highly possible Lysine will also work on Covid-19 when administered correctly.

10. There is enough evidence of Lysine’s success treating certain viruses to warrant review of it’s efficacy in treating Covid-19.

11. Therefore, based on the above, Lysine should be considered for those with Covid-19.

I wrote a blog on Covid-19 on February 13, predicting where we are now, because I knew that without Lysine there was no hope we would stop the disease. I further predict it could take years to wipe out—it will keep bouncing back—if we don’t try more effective measures now. “Viruses are able to effectively hide from the immune system, and reactivate just enough to start up a new generation.” (www.cdc.com)

I write to you, Mayor, because you are at the epicenter. I also write because I have watched you, and you are a steadfast man with strong values who can hold his ground when he believes in something. And do it without rancor or anger or alienation. You are also a thinker. That’s what we need now more than ever. Someone who can think independent of the crowd, someone who can break from the norm to forge a new path. Even one untried. We need intellect now, not rote.

If there is any chance to save lives with this therapy, how can we not at least try it? Lysine won’t hurt anyone—the worst it could do is not work—so why not give it a chance? I hope this letter helps you understand that with this information you now stand, literally, one degree from saving the world. What New York City does successfully the world will follow. I beg you to investigate more with your own mind. This crisis never should have happened.

Call me if you like. Let me explain further. I can answer any questions you have. Dr Fauci says, “There is no magic bullet that can end this pandemic.” He’s wrong Mayor, and just as misinformed as the others. Lysine is the answer.

Respectfully,

Lynn Capehart

BA Columbia University, with Honors

JD University of Michigan

Blog: Lynn Capehart Wellness Project, started 2011, read in 146 countries

Relevant Book: Vitamin Remedies That Really Work!

ADDENDUM

To Fight or Prevent Covid-19: 

AVOID FOODS HIGH IN L- ARGININE, which promotes virus growth:

Nuts like peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts

Pumpkin and sesame seeds

Chocolate

Coconut

Oats

Wheat products

(“Which foods are high in arginine?” Medical News Today, Medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo, LDN, RD, specialty in nutrition, October 4, 2018, Written by Jenna Fletcher.

EAT MORE FOODS  HIGH IN LYSINE, which inhibits virus growth:

Eggs

Dairy products like milk, yogurt, most cheese but especially Parmesan

Fish especially flounder, sardines, cod, and shrimp

Red meat, poultry, and pork

Fruits like apples, pears, and especially dried apricots

Veggies like avocados, beets, tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes

Soy-based products like tofu and soybeans

Beans like kidney, navy, black, chickpeas, and hummus

Nuts like cashews and pistachios

(“40 Sources of Lysine To Add To Your Plate,” Healthline.com, Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, RD, LD on May 24, 2018, Written by Kathryn Watson.)

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