Because of the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance, I think it's important that we seriously consider alternate antimicrobials — especially ones that have established records of safety.
One agent to consider is intravenous hydrochloric acid (IV HCl).
Used primarily in the treatment of severe metabolic alkalosis as an alternative to sodium or potassium chloride injections, intravenous HCl has a long track record as an immunostimulant.
Historically used as early as the 1920s, the therapy seemed to gain traction in the early 1930s (prior to the widespread use of antibiotics). Pioneered by two doctors, Dr. Burr Ferguson MD and Dr. Walter Bryant Guy MD, they published their findings in The Medical World journal. Dr. Guy also wrote a book on the same subject, Hydrochloric Acid and Mineral Therapy, published in 1935. A further review article was later published in JAMA in 1934.
It was understood at that time that HCl acted as a germicide, altering oxygen content in the red blood cells (RBCs) and increasing white blood cell (WBC) activity. What we know now is that when HCl is given intravenously, small signalling proteins called cytokines are released that ultimately trigger this increased immune response.
HCl has a long, safe history as an immunostimulant — and in an age of antibiotic resistance, that history deserves another look.
Some of the published uses for the therapy at that time included HCl as a germicide for tuberculosis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, acne vulgaris, neoplastic diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
How we use it today
Today, we use HCl to boost and support the immune system for a wide array of conditions including influenza and viral infections, staph, strep and pneumonia (in concert with antibiotics), chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Some doctors are also using it as part of their adjunct or supportive treatment for certain cancers.
This therapy is contraindicated in autoimmune conditions, for patients taking immunosuppressive medications, and in leukemia and lymphomas.
I use it in the office primarily for colds and flu, pharyngitis, sinusitis, and non-resolving infections. I think it's an interesting adjunct for cases of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia, especially if these conditions are due to a latent infection. One clue to the latter might be the persistence of a slightly elevated basal body temperature.
As far as supportive cancer therapies go, I will typically defer to mistletoe as an immune-stimulating agent, but would consider HCl in cases where mistletoe is poorly tolerated.
