ChronicNeurotoxins, Inc.


This website provides information on chronic human illness caused by exposure to toxins produced by living organisms (biotoxins). Many biotoxins are neurotoxins in that they adversely affect neurologic function. Registered users will be able to complete questionnaires on exposure history, medical history and current symptoms. Users can also take a vision screening test that helps determine whether or not their health problems are likely to be caused by biotoxins. Deficits on the vision test, visual contrast sensitivity, have been associated with chronic illness caused by biotoxin exposure (1-8). If the data suggest biotoxin-induced illness, users can obtain a treatment protocol that has been used to successfully treat many people. This paradigm for diagnosing and treating chronic, biotoxin-mediated illness is based on research by Ritchie C. Shoemaker, MD and on the clinical experiences of Dr. Shoemaker (1-8).

Organisms that Produce Biotoxins
Many types of organisms produce substances that are toxic to humans. These include dinoflagellates found in estuaries and the ocean, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) found in fresh water, fungi (mold) found in indoor air and outdoors, and some types of bacteria. Our initial research on acute and chronic, biotoxin-induced illness associated a complex of non-specific symptoms and deficits in visual contrast sensitivity with exposure to estuaries inhabited by the fish-killing dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, and other toxic dinoflagellates in the toxic Pfiesteria complex (1-8). Treatment for this illness, called Possible Estuary Associated Syndrome (PEAS) by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 9), according to our protocol was associated with recovery of vision and resolution of symptoms. Subsequent research indicated that this paradigm generalizes to chronic illness thought to be caused by toxins from a marine dinoflagellate, Ciguatera (Chronic Ciguatera Seafood Poisoning), cyanobacteria such as Cylindrospermopsis and Microcystis, various species of fungi such as Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium, and by spiders such as the Brown Recluse. Our research also suggested that toxins from tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease organism) and Babesia microti may cause chronic illness even after the spirochetes or intracellular protozoa (also called apicomplexans) have been killed by antibiotics. People who cannot naturally eliminate biotoxins develop chronic illness. The toxins can be eliminated, however, by using our treatment protocol, and good health can be restored.

Previous Diagnoses
Chronically ill patients successfully treated by Dr. Shoemaker and others using our treatment protocol had many previous diagnoses, including Depression, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Sick Building Syndrome, Bell's Palsy, learning disability, endometriosis, sensory-neural deafness, low vision, Chronic Soft Tissue Injury (usually from an automobile accident) and Post-Lyme Disease . The diagnosing physicians did not realize that their illness was caused by biotoxins. Some other diagnoses were thought to involve biotoxins, including Chronic Ciguatera Seafood Poison, Possible Estuary Associated Syndrome (PEAS) , spider bite and Mycotoxicosis, but there was no objective indicator like the vision test to assist in diagnosis, and no treatment like cholestyramine (CSM) to greatly enhance toxin elimination rates. We have also successfully treated people with the rare genetic disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. This is a condition in which toxins are produced within the body, causing chronic illness.

Chronicneurotoxins.com
About Ritchie Shoemaker, M. D.