Urocanic acid is a major chemoattractant for the skin-penetrating parasitic nema

[Cindi]

http://www.med.upenn.edu/micro/whats...ms/item19.html

The research suggests that topical application of calcium, magnesium or manganese creams could diminish the lure to parasites and greatly reduce the risk of disease to people in developing nations across the world.


Cindi

[jonsi]

ok

this makes sense. sometimes when I "tape" I get sparkly stuff from my pores, meaning the sparkles are coming out of me. When I first started noticing the bites about two years go the black "specks" (actually a long fiber wadded up) were trying to get in, thus the biting sensation. Anyways, the specks and glitter were always there together... Is the glitter coming out attracting the black specks going in?

note: we know that the glitter is a glob of brownish iridescent fiber-ish looking blob that reflects the light like a sharp piece of metal (1. footnote go see Chester's beans and things in her last escapade under the scope sad but true, people with Morgellons will understand "I know").

More thoughts later cuz I have strained my brain, but this does make sense to me.

For new members here, just know that each of us are still trying to explain the strange ways Morgellons affects our bodies. There is no "right" or "wrong" way in the way we describe what is going on within or upon our bodies!


Please jump in and join our discussions! Here or over there...wherever you can help. The more info we share the faster we can figure this out.

I.t.W.L.

~jonsi

[Jo]

Good find Cindi,

Just read the full doc which said that nonspecific host seeking cues for Strongyloides stercoralis, include body warmth, carbon dioxide and sodium chloride as well as the specific cue;Urocanic acid.

Urocanic acid is a histidine metabolite, particularly abundant in mammalian skin and skin secretions. Urocanic acid is known to bind metal ions. All three of these physiologically important metals inhibited chemoattraction: the response of larvae to urocanic acid was reduced by 50% by equimolar magnesium and by 75% by equimolar calcium or
manganese.

We carry more urocanic acid in the skin on the soles of our feet - Maybe another reason why walking barefoot can increase incidence of infection.

___________________________________

A few thoughts -

We secrete urocanic acid from pores, which could help explain why we witness 'fibres' being attracted to hairs.

A number of us experimenting on 'fibres' have witnessed them moving towards a direction of breath (CO2), not away, which appears unusual due to the force of that breath. If CO2 is a cue for the parasite, this now makes sense.

Also, can the parasite cause the host to produce more urocanic acid, as a survival mechanism?

Some people talk about smelling of ammonia - I wonder if its the urocanic acid?

THanks muchly,

Jo xxx

[Kritters]

Good find, Cindi~ The U of P Library will be great to peruse as well!

Jo, where did you find the complete article?

interesting side note (for me anyway) after taking the anti-fungal for a few days, the ammonia smell in my urine was almost unbearable! I've NEVER experienced that in my life before.

Kritts

[Cindi]

Could deficiencies be adding to the level of Urocanic acid in the skin. There are many things that can lead to deficiencies in these key minerals.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/magnesium-000313.htm

malabsorption can be brought on by leaky gut syndrome which can be caused by food allergies, Candida and parasites.


This one gives a lot of information regarding it.

http://www.photobiology.com/photoiup.../urocanic.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12685654

These cover a little different aspect of it but bring to mind the correlation of Tanning beds having a potential negative impact on the immune system.

Your liver is also key in this.

[Cindi]

Here is something of interest. hmmm.....

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/104/5/1447.pdf


Cindi

I wonder if Milk of Magnesia mixed with aloe would be a could cheap alternative. I also found a link to a magnesium lotion that was reasonable at Amazon.com but not sure about posting it here. It is only 18.00 for a pint. If anyone would like the link pm me. I myself made a batch up with aloe and powdered magnesium and applied to my scalp overnight. It feels better today but could be anecdotal to soon to tell.

[Unclear3]

Thanks for the PM sorry I did not respond as I have had Migraines all week, I think I need to cut my hair again as there maybe too much pressure from all the goo in my head. I take 800 MGs of oral Mag a day. I wonder if you chrushed that and put that in my head tonight if that would help. I am getting desperate, I still have the migraine. I know mine is from the fungas Gnat for sure. But getting rid of them is nearly impossible. I was going to go to California, now I can't even think why put out all that money when as soon as I come home I am just going to get re-infested again. Here in Hawaii, it still gets hot in the afternoon, and I have bad sinuse's to begin with, so I can't live without Air Conditioning, and that is how they are getting into my bedroom, when I take a bath I get in the tub and shake my clothes off and I find the Fungas Gnats fall out of my clothing. Thanks for the Info, to everyone else that has PM me, sorry I have not written back also. For the same reason, okay really need to get off the computer or I am going to end up in the ER with this Migraine. Aloha to all, Unclear

[Cindi]

I hope you feel better soon. Hang in there.

Cindi

[Jo]

What a great thread Cindi!!

I hear what you're saying - Parasites in the GI tract, cause poor absorption of nutients from food. This nutrient deficiency can cause an increase in urocanic acid...causing us to be more attractive to the parasites - inducing a cycle of reinfection.

interesting about the effects of UV rays on urocanic acid. Apparently, some sunscreen manufacturers previously included urocanic acid in their formulas as sunscreen. But these guys discovered that urocanic acid absorbs UV, and sends a signal to the spleen and lymph nodes that reprograms immune system cells from being attacker cells to being suppressor cells. Stopping our bodies from fighting...again

http://www.gwu.edu/~magazine/archive...t_sunlight.htm

Your magnesium link, shows how important it is for our bodies in sooo many ways. I do think that overcoming nutrient deficiencies is key in this battle.

I know some kinds of magnesium can be absorbed through the skin - like magnesium sulfate. This could be a useful alternative to help prevent magnesium deficiency.

I just picked out a couple of useful points from it:

- Levels of B6 determine the level of magnesium in the body
- Magnesium competes with calcium, so need to consider calcium intake, with mag supplements
- Magnesium interferes with antibiotics
- Recommended magnesium supplements include magnesium citrate, magnesium gluconate, and magnesium lactate which are more easily absorbed than magnesium oxide. (I've been taking oxide - will check next time before buying!!)

Kritts, here's that full doc - http://www.med.upenn.edu/micro/docs/Schad.pdf

Cheers Jo xxx

[Jo]

Hi,

Thought I'd add that there are a number of threads on the board that talk about helpful foods when dealing with leaky gut or malabsorption. Protease enzymes are a winner; found in papaya seeds (papain) and pineapple (bromelain). Also oats and of course probiotics.

http://www.enzymestuff.com/conditionleakygut.htm

I've started taking 3 papain enzyme tablets after a big meal....too early to know its effectiveness yet. Also pineapple in my morning smoothie.

Jo xxx