Flexner Report and Who are the real quacks again?; Poynter Institute and "Fact-based expression"; and Why do smart people believe dumb things?

Fact based evidence has accumulated regarding the benefits of pomegranate uice or extract as an antiviral. H5N1 seems to be our latest "Disease X" to be fear-mongered about. Eat pomegranate instead...

*Long post, too long for email. Scroll ahead if you are interested in the H5N1 and pomegranate information.

A documentarian, Justin Smith, was part of an FLCCC webinar along with Dr Paul Marik and Dr. Joe Varon. Justin Smith has a new documentary called In the Shadow of Flexner. (official trailer video) The interview was moderated by Betsy Ashton, creative director at Frontline Covid19 Critical Care Alliance.

“Dr. Paul Marik and Dr. Joe Varon were joined by Independent filmmaker and author Justin Smith to discuss the Flexner Report and his new documentary - In The Shadow Flexner.” - Flexner Report and Rise of Big Pharma, FLCCC Weekly Update, March 28, 2024, (odysee.com)

The discussion is about the history of traditional health care and the modern takeover by Rockefeller which was helped by the Flexner Report and what the doctors have experienced or seen happen to other doctors who treat with nutrition instead of pushing the suggested medications. Doctors in the UK can face legal charges if they don't prescribe the standard care and provide holistic care instead. Some are giving up their medical license to just treat holistically because the harassment from medical circles was so bad. (odysee.com)

The gist was that any physician who didn’t fully support the petroleum based pharmaceutical market that was growing larger at the time should be labeled “a quack” and should not be allowed to train others in their methods that did not use petroleum-based medications. In the Shadow of Flexner. (official trailer video)

The Carnegie Flexner Report, ‘Medical Education in the United States and Canada, by Abraham Flexner, was written by a non-physician, an educator was chosen to try to prevent suggestions of bias. It was a major turning point in health care in the US and Canada. The report is 364 pages long and viewable on the funding site of the Carnegie Institute. (pdf) The two page chapter on ‘Negros’ as physicians or patients is extremely racist in tone and may have led to the closing of medical schools that trained people of color as physicians. (review article, pdf)

“Flexner carefully placed words such as pretense and ignorance within the context of shoddy medical schools to warn against blacks in possession of medical degrees. However, this statement revealed the understanding among white academicians that blacks could not attain the intellectual skills to pursue all aspects of the practice of medicine.7

The issue of black inferiority stood out when more sophisticated medical practice was considered. Flexner implied that blacks were not to be trusted in surgery or in research by virtue of their ignorance. Even so, blacks pushed for greater access to adequate preparation in these areas. As a result, overt hostile and skeptical attitudes grew to enormous proportions and effectively limited black participation in medicine throughout this century.5

"Make-believe in the matter of negro medical schools is therefore intolerable." The term makebelieve was used by Flexner to justify recommendations to close five ineffective black medical schools (Flint, Leonard, Knoxville, Louisville, and Memphis). Unfortunately, "make-believe" alluded to more than those five schools.”

THE FLEXNER REPORT AND BLACK ACADEMIC MEDICINE: AN ASSIGNMENT OF PLACE, by Susan Hunt, EdD, (review article, pdf)

Other schools of complimentary or alternative care and psychiatric care were also closed after the 1910 report.

“America experienced a genuinely vast development of biomedical science in the early decades of the twentieth century, which in turn impacted the community of academic psychiatry and changed the way in which clinical and basic research approaches in psychiatry were conceptualized. This development was largely based on the restructuring of research universities in both of the USA and Canada following the influential report of Johns Hopkins-trained science administrator and politician Abraham Flexner (1866-1959). Flexner's report written in commission for the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in Washington, DC, also had a major influence on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in psychiatry throughout the 20th century. This paper explores the lasting impact of Flexner's research published on modern medicine and particularly on what he interpreted as the various forms of health care and psychiatric treatment that appeared to compete with the paradigm of biomedicine. We will particularly draw attention to the serious effects of the closing of so many CAM-oriented hospitals, colleges, and medical teaching programs following to the publication of the Flexner Report in 1910.” (Stahnisch and Verhoef, 2012) (pdf in my sync file)

Flexner Report and the Rise of Big Pharma: FLCCC Weekly Update, (odysee.com)

“Fact-based expression” is the new little black dress of censorship via the Poynter Institute - more info here: Poynter’s Creepy “Fact-based expression”, by Thomas Buckley, April 5, 2024. (brownstone.org)

Poynter is a company that has grown a lot in the CoV era and is used by Google, Meta (Facebook) and TikTok to limit reach of posts that don’t support the current administration’s definition of “truth”. It also runs Politifact, a fact checking site and they were hired by the American Medical Association to make a training webinar for local health care workers regarding the CoV injections - the goal was to increase acceptance of the jab, and the second jab. The webinar roll-out included both topics as of Dec. 4, 2020 - before many people had got the first dose.

• “(And you can watch a rerun of the webinar here.)” (brownstone.org)

• The Poynter Institute report with the new speech-is-not-free phrase can be viewed here: “read the institute’s annual and recently released “Impact Report,”.” (brownstone.org)

Was the Flexner report “fact-based expression”? - probably it would be deemed such in today’s era of even worse ‘pharma’ products.

This is a cute video, Why Smart People Believe Stupid Things. In it we learn that smart people are more likely to fool themselves into believing wrong information, possibly because we believe our own belief in it. The solution is try to retain a sense of humility - “I can be wrong,” and a sense of curiosity to encourage seeking more information to further evaluate whether you might be right, wrong or lacking complete info.

Ehden commented in his private Telegram chat group: "While unintelligent people are more easily misled by other people, intelligent people are more easily misled by themselves. They are better at convincing themselves at things they want to believe than things which are actually true". [Quote from the video.] Or, as Saul Bellow has stated, "a great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep". The only solution to it is... humility and curiosity.” (Telegram group, you would have to ask to join)

The video suggested humility and curiosity as our tools to combat the tendency to believe what we believe because we trust our own beliefs.

The video includes an odd assumption about why intelligence evolved - he totally missed the problem solving point of intelligence. How did monkeys learn to poke a long stick into an ant hill? From watching an anteater stick its long tongue in for a meal of insects. How did the monkeys learn to wash their sweet potatoes? by watching other monkeys do that. Intelligence is about problem solving and is shared through imitation.

Our today trending “Disease X” on X.com (Twitter) is H5N1 - Avian flu, which has led to killing millions of chickens in factory farming settings (the big risk for quasiswarm mutations of RNA virus) and the new variant seems to be able to infect cows, cats, and humans. We’ll see it this is fear-mongering or another way to reduce the food supply and add to hardship and desperation. Test Confirms Avian Flu - New Mexico Dairy Farm Probe Finds Cats Positive, (cidrap.umn.edu) via (x.com/catladyactivist).

And dead penguins are suspected of having died of avian flu (x.com/spectatorindex) however, mass animal population deaths have been occurring for unknown reasons for a while. Geological upset of Earth’s crust can cause methane leaks that poison animals in a narrow region where the leak was. Inhaling too much methane gas can cause respiratory distress and hypoxia and requires immediate medical help. (Jo, et al., 2013)

Fact based expression of truth about the efficacy of pomegranate peel extract against flu strains:

“This study demonstrated that the antiviral effect of PPE on influenza virus is most probably associated with inhibition of viral adsorption and viral RNA transcription.” (Malviya, et al., 2014)

“Results: The crude pomegranate peel extract and its n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions had the highest inhibitory effect against influenza A virus with IC₅₀ value of 6.45, 6.07 and 5.6 μg/ml in MDCK cells, respectively. Our results also showed that, the production of virus was significantly reduced upon treatment with crude extract, n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05).” (Moradi, et al., 2019)

“Because of the alarming emergence of resistance to anti-influenza drugs, there is a need to identify new naturally occurring antiviral molecules. We tested the hypothesis that pomegranate polyphenol extract (PPE) has anti-influenza properties. Using real time PCR, plaque assay, and TCID 50% hemagglutination assay, we have shown that PPE suppresses replication of influenza A virus in MDCK cells. PPE inhibits agglutination of chicken red blood cells (cRBC) by influenza virus and is virucidal. The single-cycle growth conditions indicated that independent of the virucidal effect PPE also inhibits viral RNA replication. PPE did not alter virus ribonucleoprotein (RNP) entry into nucleus or translocation of virus RNP from nucleus to cytoplasm in MDCK cells. We evaluated four major Polyphenols in PPE (ellagic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin, and punicalagin) and demonstrated that punicalagin is the effective, anti-influenza component of PPE. Punicalagin blocked replication of the virus RNA, inhibited agglutination of chicken RBC's by the virus and had virucidal effects. Furthermore, the combination of PPE and oseltamivir synergistically increased the anti-influenza effect of oseltamivir. In conclusion, PPE inhibited the replication of human influenza A/Hong Kong (H3N2) in vitro. Pomegranate extracts should be further studied for therapeutic and prophylactic potential especially for influenza epidemics and pandemics.” (Haidari, et al., 2009)

A combination of cranberry and pomegranate juice was also found effective against virus. (Howell and D’Souza, 2013)

“Pomegranate extracts have also shown antiviral effects against influenza virus, HIV-1 and poxviruses [52, 53, 76].

»> Influenza virus continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality each year with 31,000 deaths reported yearly in the US, despite access to vaccines [52].” (Howell and D’Souza, 2013)

The facts suggest that vaccines are not really that effective at preventing illness while pomegranate and cranberry juice and pomegranate peel extracts all seem fairly effective at preventing viral entry into cells. (Haidari, et al., 2009; Howell and D’Souza, 2013; Malviya, et al., 2014) And it helps in a dose-dependent manner - more is more potent. (Moradi, et al., 2019) Punicalagin (Haidari, et al., 2009) may be the polyphenol that prevents cleavage of the gp-120 protein which allows fusion to a cell membrane and entry of viral genes into the cell. (Neurath, et al, 2004)

“Sundararajan et al. [78] also showed that the acidity of pomegranate juice and concentrated liquid pomegranate extract (POMxl) solutions contributed to rapid anti-influenza activity, whereas pomegranate polyphenol (PP) powder (POMxp) did not. A 5-minute treatment at room temperature with 800 μg/mL PP was shown to result in at least a 3 log titer reduction of influenza viruses PR8 (H1N1), X31 (H3N2), and a reassortant H5N1 virus derived from a human isolate. Loss of hemagglutinating activity was reported to accompany the loss of influenza infectivity, with decreased antibody binding to viral surface molecules after treatments with PP. Viral structural damage was also reported using electron microscopic analysis of PP-treated viral particles. However, they found that the antiviral activity was less against avian isolates of one coronavirus and reassortant H5N1 influenza viruses. Kotwal [54] suggested that pomegranate juice can neutralize the infectivity of diverse enveloped viruses and a number of subtypes of a given enveloped virus, indicating potential for development as a treatment option that can be broadly effective against pandemic viruses like HIV, potentially pandemic viruses like influenza, and some carcinogenic viruses.

»>It was shown that influenza A/HK/x31(H3N2), influenza A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1), and a reassortant x31 containing the NS gene segment of an H5N1 isolate were inactivated when treated for 5 minutes at 37°C with pomegranate juice [54].” (Howell and D’Souza, 2013)

If five minutes in pomegranate juice can kill H5N1 virus, then why are we supposed to be super afraid and kill off millions of chickens?

Please explain these facts to me Poynter Institute.

Pomegranate peel extract is also potent against SARS-CoV-2 and protects bifidobacterium, needed for butyrate production & urolithin-A.

Not coincidentally, pomegranate peel extract has also been found to be protective against ‘SARS-CoV-2 novel virus’. It prevents entry at that humanized mouse ACE2 receptor. Urolithin-A was found to be involved in the antiviral activity of pomegranate extract on SARS-CoV-2. (Suručić, et al., 2021; Tito, et al., 2021) That means that it would be important to also have protected your gut bifidobacterium from spike effects in the gut, as they are a species type that might be able to form urolithin-A as a postbiotic from ellagitannins/ellagic acid/gallocatechins.

“Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum INIA P815 was the only strain able to produce urolithins A and B from ellagic acid.” (Gaya, et al., 2018)

Adequate resistant starch and generous zinc in the diet help give bifidobacterium the food that need. Pomegranate products also support growth of the butyrate producing species and improves the Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio by reducing Firmicutes species. (George, et al, 2019) Only about 40% of us may have the microbiome species that are needed to form urolithin-A. And only 12% of study participants had urolithin-A present at baseline - meaning they had both the necessary species and a source of ellagitannins/gallocatechins in their diet. (Singh, et al, 2022) Green tea is a source. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is an example of a gallocatechin.

A dietary recommendation has been made by an advisory panel of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics for flavanols from foods of 400/600 mg/day for cardiometabolic health. Tea, apples, berries are mentioned as sources. (Crowe-White, et al, 2022)  Pomegranate is a source of flavanols, and was a better source of gallocatechins than other Spanish foods tested. (de Pascual-Teresa, et al, 2000)

Colon Cancer rates are increasing (along with other turbo-cancers) - please note the fact that our colon cells need butyrate producing microbiome species for their food supply and immune support.

Incidentally, I have also heard there has been a dramatic increase in colon cancer rates these days - our butyrate producing species are also feeding our colon cells and butyrate activates immune functions which would help against cancer or other inflammatory problems for the colon cells.

Those butyrate producing species need about a third of our dietary zinc - so we need plenty of zinc and many of us may not get enough - particularly older adults (>65) who need about double the current official recommendation. It is the same recommendation for all ages of adults and fact-based research has found that to not support thymus gland function in older adults.

Zinc for Senior Citizens

Senior citizens may need twice as much zinc for thymus function as younger adults, yet the official recommendations do not reflect that. Lack of zinc and reduced or lack of thymus function is common among the elderly and higher dose supplementation can help (~50 mg/day). (Kodama, et al, 2020) Extra zinc supplementation has been found to improve age related loss of thymus gland function in animal-based research. (Haase, Rink, 2009) Zinc supplementation may help increase T-cell type of immune reaction and reduce NF-kappa B inflammatory activity. (McCarty et al, 2021)

Additional comment from TwXtter:

Reminder that #H1N1 affords decent cross-immunity against #H5N1. Also, L-lysine prophylaxis blocks the hospitality of L-arginine to viruses. ‘Cross-immunity and age patterns of influenza A(H5N1) infection’, (Kucharski and Edmunds, 2015) via @MiriWood.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of Fair Use and is not intended to provide individual health care guidance.

References

(Gaya, et al., 2018) Pilar Gaya, Ángela Peirotén, Margarita Medina, Inmaculada Álvarez, José M. Landete, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum INIA P815: The first bacterium able to produce urolithins A and B from ellagic acid, Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 45, 2018, Pages 95-99, ISSN 1756-4646, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2018.03.040. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464618301324

(Haidari, et al., 2009) Mehran Haidari, Muzammil Ali, Samuel Ward Casscells, Mohammad Madjid, Pomegranate (Punica granatum) purified polyphenol extract inhibits influenza virus and has a synergistic effect with oseltamivir, Phytomedicine, Volume 16, Issue 12, 2009, Pages 1127-1136, ISSN 0944-7113, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2009.06.002. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711309001652

(Howell and D’Souza, 2013) Amy B. Howell, Doris H. D'Souza, "The Pomegranate: Effects on Bacteria and Viruses That Influence Human Health", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, Article ID 606212, 11 pages, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/606212

(Jo, et al., 2013) Jo JY, Kwon YS, Lee JW, Park JS, Rho BH, Choi WI. Acute respiratory distress due to methane inhalation. Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul). 2013 Mar;74(3):120-3. doi: 10.4046/trd.2013.74.3.120. Epub 2013 Mar 29. PMID: 23579434; PMCID: PMC3617131. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3617131/

(Kucharski and Edmunds, 2015) Kucharski AJ, Edmunds WJ. Cross-immunity and age patterns of influenza A(H5N1) infection. Epidemiol Infect. 2015 Apr;143(6):1119-24. doi: 10.1017/S0950268814001976. Epub 2014 Aug 13. PMID: 25115493; PMCID: PMC4411649. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4411649/

(Malviya, et al., 2014) Malviya S, Arvind, Jha A, Hettiarachchy N. Antioxidant and antibacterial potential of pomegranate peel extracts. J Food Sci Technol. 2014 Dec;51(12):4132-7. doi: 10.1007/s13197-013-0956-4. Epub 2013 Feb 22. PMID: 25477693; PMCID: PMC4252460. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4252460/

(Moradi, et al., 2019) Moradi MT, Karimi A, Shahrani M, Hashemi L, Ghaffari-Goosheh MS. Anti-Influenza Virus Activity and Phenolic Content of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel Extract and Fractions. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol. 2019 Oct-Dec;11(4):285-291. PMID: 31908736; PMCID: PMC6925405. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6925405/

(Stahnisch and Verhoef, 2012) Stahnisch, Frank & Verhoef, Marja. (2012). The Flexner Report of 1910 and Its Impact on Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Psychiatry in North America in the 20th Century. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012. 647896. 10.1155/2012/647896. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235368754_The_Flexner_Report_of_1910_and_Its_Impact_on_Complementary_and_Alternative_Medicine_and_Psychiatry_in_North_America_in_the_20th_Century (pdf in my sync file)

(Suručić, et al., 2021) Relja Suručić, Maja Travar, Miroslav Petković, Biljana Tubić, Miloš P. Stojiljković, Milkica Grabež, Katarina Šavikin, Gordana Zdunić, Ranko Škrbić, Pomegranate peel extract polyphenols attenuate the SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein binding ability to ACE2 Receptor: In silico and in vitro studies, Bioorganic Chemistry, Volume 114, 2021, 105145, ISSN 0045-2068, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105145. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045206821005228

(Tito, et al., 2021) Tito A, Colantuono A, Pirone L, Pedone E, Intartaglia D, Giamundo G, Conte I, Vitaglione P, Apone F. Pomegranate Peel Extract as an Inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Binding to Human ACE2 Receptor (in vitro): A Promising Source of Novel Antiviral Drugs. Front Chem. 2021 Apr 28;9:638187. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2021.638187. PMID: 33996744; PMCID: PMC8114579. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8114579/