What is Post-viral Syndrome?
Many people easily recover from viral infections, where as others may experience effects that may last well after the body has eliminated the virus from the body. Symptoms of this may include:
- headaches
- brain fog/trouble concentrating
- joint stiffness
- muscle pain
- memory/concentration problems
- sleep abnormalities
- recurring symptoms of viral infections, such as sore throat, headache and swollen lymph nodes.
These can last anywhere from days to years after infection and can impact a person’s daily life greatly. Chronic fatigue and myalgic encephalomyelitis are two conditions that appear to have similar symptoms to post-viral syndrome and there is some debate as to whether viral infections are the cause of these also.
What causes Post-Viral Syndrome?
There is not enough evidence to indicate how post viral syndrome comes about. One theory is that post-viral syndrome may result from an overreaction of the body’s immune system, inducing widespread inflammation. This is highlighted by elevated levels of immune messengers called cytokines, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and potentially cause long-term toxic brain changes affecting the whole nervous system.
There are a number of viruses that appear to be more often related to post- viral sydnrome symptoms. these include Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus, enteroviruses, Lyme disease, Covid-19 and more.
There are no biological markers to diagnose any of these conditions. Therefore, it is wise to contact a professional to rule out any other serious health conditions that it may be before treating it as such.
How can kinesiology help?
There are no treatments of PVS, CFS and ME. The focus for most professionals is managing the symptoms. Kinesiology can offer a holistic approach to recovery after a viral infection or management of symptoms of PVS, CFS or ME.
Now, it’s important to note that we don’t treat, diagnose or prescribe for any named diseases or infections. What a kinesiologist does is support your body to be more balanced state, making it easier to activate its own innate healing abilities and allowing it to function in a more balanced way. As Kinesiology works holistically AND communicates directly with the bodies systems through muscle testing, we can get great insight into a clients specific needs.
In this way we are able to support with:
- Immune System Support: With our immune system being our best defence against viral infections, making sure that it is functioning in a balanced and optimal way. Kinesiology may help to identify factors that support immune system functioning.
- Reducing stress: Helping an individual to lower stress can improve the bodies response to pathogens and supports the body to be in a better state to heal. Stress can be more than just mental. Physical, biochemical and environmental stresses can also have an impact on the bodies stress response. Kinesiology can easily help to identify these stressors as well as the factors that can build resilience.
- Identifying nutritional imbalances: Our nutrition is one of the vital aspects of our complete wellbeing. Without optimal nutrition our immune system may not have the resources it needs to do its job. Foods that create imbalances in our energy, cause inflammation or immune responses can take resources away from protecting us against pathogens and dis-ease. Furthermore, there are studies that suggest that nutritional deficiencies can create environments that may allow viruses and other pathogens to mutate to more easily get into cells.
- Reducing pain and inflammation: In TCM and Kinesiology, pain and inflammation are signs of over energy. Inflammation can be a beneficial thing in the instance of acute injury and infection as it is the bodies defence systems doing their job. But, when the pain and inflammation stays well after the damage has healed or the danger has been eliminated it is no longer needed. PKP has a number of techniques devoted to helping reduce pain and inflammation.
- Activate’s Healing: Kinesiology helps to activate the bodies own innate healing abilities. The body already knows what it needs in order to function at its best. sometimes, it needs a little bit of help to clear out things blocking that healing process and identify the resources it needs in order to cary it out.
- Improving energy & vitality: With a PKP balance, the focus is always on helping you to reach beyond “well” towards high energy wellness and vitality. Every balance and technique is to bring you closer to having the energy and vitality you need to be functioning at your best. In PKP we are balancing your Meridian system, when all of your meridian system is in balance, your body is more in alignment and this allows energy to flow freely.
The metaphysics of viral infections
When dis-ease show up in our life, I like to consider the idea that there is a doorway in our experience of life that is allowing the imbalance to take hold more readily.
Therefore, with active viral energy, it may show up in your life if you are letting an outside influence take over your energy and resources for its own purpose and we are feeling like this is detrimental to us. (like a virus does)
If you are frequently having viral infections ask yourself how this might be showing up in your life.
If you are suffering the long term effects of a viral infection or looking for ways to boost your recovery book yourself in for a session with Jess today. (our students may not have the tools to work in this capacity yet)
About Viruses
What is a virus?
A virus is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that contains genetic material for its own reproduction. It is debated as to whether it is a living organism because a virus doesn’t have the ability to replicate or reproduce on its own. It is essentially inert until it comes into contact with the right cells. These cell’s (known as host cells) with its complex machinery, help the virus produce RNA from their DNA (a process called transcription) and to build proteins based on the instructions encoded in their RNA (a process called translation).
How does a virus get into our body?
- Touch: touching a surface with virus particles which transfers onto their hands. They then touch their nose, mouth, or eyes, the virus can enter the body.
- Respiratory droplets: Some viruses can be present in respiratory droplets. A person produces these when they talk, cough, or sneeze.
- Direct contact: Some viruses may spread through direct contact with infections.
- Bodily fluids: The exchange of semen or blood. Can
- Contaminated food or water: Eating contaminated food or water.
- Insects: Insect bites can carry the virus from one person to another.
- During childbirth: viruses can be passed on to an unborn child.
How do viruses affect our body?
There are many different types of virus’s, that affect different organisms in different ways. When a virus comes into contact with a suitable host cell, it will connect with the receptors on the outside of the cell and start to make its way into the host cell. Once inside the host cell, viruses disrupt or hijack various parts of the complex machinery inside. Viral genomes direct host cells to produce viral proteins, and this often stops the synthesis of any RNA and proteins that the host cell can use for its own purposes. This can kill, damage, or change the cells and make you sick.
The capacity to cause disease varies between the different viruses. Different viruses have different affinities for different types of tissues, this is due to the cells receptors, physical barriers, and environmental factors. Most viral infections do not result in disease, but a small number can cause extensive damage. This can be either because of the virus action against the cell, or the immune response to infection, and both can lead to symptoms.
How does the body fight off a virus?
When the body’s immune system detects a virus, It starts taking action against the virus.
A virus isn’t often seen by the body until it enters a host cell. It is the special T cells, known as cytotoxic T cells that can recognize cells that contain viruses, and release substances that kill those cells. There are some viruses that can escape detection by cytotoxic T cells, but other immune cells called natural killer cells can also cause the cell containing the virus to die. In addition, body cells that contain a virus emit proteins called interferons, which warn other cells that a virus is present. This gives healthy cells a chance to defend themselves by changing the molecular makeup of their surface. Antibodies can also help fight a virus before it enters a cell. They do this by neutralizing or damaging the virus or by changing its features so that it can no longer enter healthy cells.
What treatment is available for viral infections?
Your own immune system
For many viral infections, if you have a healthy immune system, your body is able to fight off the infection and remove the virus from its body on its own.Vaccinations can sometimes provide the immune system with a head start on recognising viruses before they start to do major damage.
Antivirals
Antiviral drugs can ease symptoms and shorten how long you are sick with certain viral infections. Some viral infections are chronic and never leave the body With these viruses, antiviral medicines can make the virus latent (inactive) so that you have few, if any, symptoms. Symptoms that develop while you take antivirals may be less severe or go away faster.
How can I protect myself from viral infection?
Many of us have been vaccinated as children against certain viruses and other disease causing pathogens that can cause devastating and sometimes lethal outcomes. This helps to tell our immune system what to look for before it ha a chance to infect us.
Having a healthy immune system can provide our body with a good defence against viruses and other disease causing organisms.
Practicing wise hygiene is also a great way to protect yourself.
See what other Benefits of kinesiology you can experience
BOOK IN FOR A SPECIAL POST VIRAL RECOVERY SESSION
