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Seeds for Change Wellness
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Seven Aspects of Oxygen & Oxidation
Seven Aspects of Oxygen & Oxidation
Author: Majid Ali, M.D. Source: Aging Healthfully Magazine
1. OXIDOSIS
Oxidosis (oxi-do-sis) is excessive loss of energy through rapid loss of electrons. In the context of
aging, oxidosis causes disease and premature aging. Oxidation is loss of electrons. In chemical
reactions, electrons are transferred from one atom or molecule to the other. The donor
substance loses electrons and is so oxidized. The recipient gains electrons and so is reduced.
The gainer becoming reduced seems strange but that is the awkwardness of the scientific
terminology.
People see electrons every day. There is a spark when the plug on an electric appliance is pulled
without first turning the unit off. That spark is a storm of electrons. In this example, a running
appliance gains electrons from the source in the power company and uses it to produce energy
for its function. That is exactly what happens in oxygen-driven oxidative reactions in the body.
Oxygen first gains (steals) electrons from other substances and so begins the process of
generation of energy. Those substances, in turn, are oxidized. Light is produced by a light bulb in
a similar way. A high-energy beam of electrons loses some energy as light particles called
photons and turns into a low energy beam of electrons.
Butter turns rancid, a flower wilts, meat decomposes—that is oxidation. A person develops a
cataract and loses his eyesight. That happens when the proteins in the lens become oxidized.
When a heart fails after a heart attack, that is because oxidosis in the heart muscle cells
interferes with their function. In all tissues, excessive oxidation means a rapid breakdown in
tissues. Thus, I see the hand of oxidosis at autopsy in each and every case, regardless of
whether the death was caused by cancer or by chemotherapy, by coronary artery spasm or by a
cardiologist's stent, by hepatitis or by pneumonia.2
Oxidosis leads to dysfunctional oxygen metabolism, which is the basis of all symptoms of
fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.2 It is the molecular basis of pain, fatigue, and brain
fog in those syndromes.
2. DYSOXYGENOSIS
Dysoxygenosis (dys-oxy-gen-o-sis) is my term for dysfunctional oxygen metabolism.2 It is not
merely lack of oxygen due to heart disease or asthma, nor poor transport of oxygen due to
anemia. The scientific term for that is anoxia. Dysoxygenosis is the failure of cellular oxygen
metabolism due to damage to the enzymes of oxygen metabolism. Thus, dysoxygenosis threatens
the health of every cell, every tissue, every body organ.
Dysoxygenosis in muscle cells causes severe fatigue. In brain cells, it causes problems of mood,
memory, and mentation. In the skin and eyes, it causes advanced dryness. In the cell membrane,
it causes leaky membrane dysfunction, so that what is inside the cell hemorrhages out and what
is outside floods the cell innards. Thus, the cell becomes dehydrated, shrunken, and loaded with
toxins. Such a cell cannot function well.
3. ACIDOSIS
Acidosis (acid-o-sis) is excess acidity. Acidosis slows or blocks the enzyme systems of the body,
including those involved with energy, digestion and absorption, detoxification, muscle function,
and neurotransmitters. Enzymes are catalysts that facilitate life processes. Acidosis fans the
flames of both oxidosis and dysoxygenosis which, in turn, cause more acidosis. As in the case of
dysoxygenosis, acidosis in muscle cells causes severe fatigue.3 In brain cells, it causes problems
of mood, memory, and mentation. In the skin and eyes, it causes advanced dryness. And so on.
4. OXIDATIVE COAGULOPATHY
Oxidative coagulopathy (co-ag-u-lop-athy) is the process by which clean blood turns into "dirty"
blood.
In health, the red blood cells are rounded, smooth in outline, and do not stick to each other. The
hunter immune cells have irregular but sharp boundaries and move around like amoebae,
searching for microbes to kill and digest. The antibody-forming immune cells are also smooth,
rounded, and free of debris stuck to their surfaces. The plasma (fluid part of the blood) is clear
and without any areas of congealing. There is no microclot or microplaque formations.
In 1997, my colleague, Omar Ali, M.D., and I introduced the term oxidative coagulopathy to
describe a range of abnormalities in the blood of patients with coronary heart disease.4 We
observed the following changes in blood slides: deformities and clustering of red blood cells,
death of immune cells, zones of congealed plasma, and microclot and microplaque formation.
The blood clots and unclots all the time. However, in oxidative coagulopathy, microclot formation
occurs at a rapid rate and unclotting cannot keep pace with clotting. Thus, microclots and
microplaques accumulate in the blood and get stuck to the inside of small arteries in the heart
and brain, causing heart attacks and strokes.
Later I described similar changes in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.5 Adding bacterial
culture to milk turns it into yogurt. Lemon juice squeezed into milk curdles it. That happens
because microbes and certain acids solidify the proteins in milk, the same way microbes and
certain acids entering the circulating blood curdle it. In health, such curdles (microclots) are
readily dissolved by clot-busting enzymes. In fibromyalgia, a large number of microbes and large
quantities of toxic oxidants enter the blood from the bowel, causing excessive microclot formation.
5. OXIDATIVE LYMPHOPATHY
Oxidative lymphopathy (lym-phop-athy) is my term for a process by which lymph becomes
oxidized, rancid, thick and gluey. Lymph is the pale fluid that drains toxins from tissues. Such fluid
stagnates in muscles and other tissues, preventing the free flow of oxygen-rich blood, causing
soreness in tissues, and producing trigger points in muscles. I introduced this term in 1998 to
focus on issues of stagnant lymph in tissues4 and described its clinical significance in
fibromyalgia in 1999.6
Blood and lymph channels exist in all body organs. Thus, damage caused by oxidative
coagulopathy and oxidative lymphopathy quickly spreads to all cells of the body. 3M oxidopathy is
my term for oxidative damage to cell membranes, matrix, and mitochondria. Matrix is the cement
that holds cells together. Membranes are coverings of cells and their inner structures.
Mitochondria are tiny power batteries of the cells. Since all three are continuously exposed to
oxidized (rancid) blood and lymph, it should not surprise us that the oxidative coals in the blood
and lymph (microclots) will also sear the 3M (matrix, membranes, and mitochondria).5
6. OXIDATIVE-DYSOXYGENATIVE DYSFUNCTION (ODD)
ODD is a state in which: (1) oxidosis is caused by oxidants of all three types (metabolic, microbial,
and man-made) that threaten health; (2) oxidosis leads to dysoxygenosis (abnormal oxygen
metabolism), which slows or blocks all life processes; (3) oxidosis and dysoxygenosis together
cause acidosis; (4) all three elements (oxidosis, dysoxygenosis, and acidosis) feed upon each
other and together fan the flames of oxidative injury. In fibromyalgia, an oxidative-dysoxygenative
(OD) state leads to injury to every microecologic cellular and macroecologic tissue-organ
ecosystem of the body.6
7. OXYEOLOGY
Oxyology (oxy-olo-gy) is the study of oxygen, just as pathology is the study of diseases.7 A sound
knowledge of oxygen metabolism in health and of dysfunctional oxygen metabolism in dis-ease
and premature aging is of fundamental importance. Indeed, I believe neither health nor the aging
process can be understood without such knowledge. In this volume, I present many aspects of
oxygen that seldom, if ever, are discussed in medical textbooks.
Author: Majid Ali, M.D. Source: Aging Healthfully Magazine
1. OXIDOSIS
Oxidosis (oxi-do-sis) is excessive loss of energy through rapid loss of electrons. In the context of
aging, oxidosis causes disease and premature aging. Oxidation is loss of electrons. In chemical
reactions, electrons are transferred from one atom or molecule to the other. The donor
substance loses electrons and is so oxidized. The recipient gains electrons and so is reduced.
The gainer becoming reduced seems strange but that is the awkwardness of the scientific
terminology.
People see electrons every day. There is a spark when the plug on an electric appliance is pulled
without first turning the unit off. That spark is a storm of electrons. In this example, a running
appliance gains electrons from the source in the power company and uses it to produce energy
for its function. That is exactly what happens in oxygen-driven oxidative reactions in the body.
Oxygen first gains (steals) electrons from other substances and so begins the process of
generation of energy. Those substances, in turn, are oxidized. Light is produced by a light bulb in
a similar way. A high-energy beam of electrons loses some energy as light particles called
photons and turns into a low energy beam of electrons.
Butter turns rancid, a flower wilts, meat decomposes—that is oxidation. A person develops a
cataract and loses his eyesight. That happens when the proteins in the lens become oxidized.
When a heart fails after a heart attack, that is because oxidosis in the heart muscle cells
interferes with their function. In all tissues, excessive oxidation means a rapid breakdown in
tissues. Thus, I see the hand of oxidosis at autopsy in each and every case, regardless of
whether the death was caused by cancer or by chemotherapy, by coronary artery spasm or by a
cardiologist's stent, by hepatitis or by pneumonia.2
Oxidosis leads to dysfunctional oxygen metabolism, which is the basis of all symptoms of
fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.2 It is the molecular basis of pain, fatigue, and brain
fog in those syndromes.
2. DYSOXYGENOSIS
Dysoxygenosis (dys-oxy-gen-o-sis) is my term for dysfunctional oxygen metabolism.2 It is not
merely lack of oxygen due to heart disease or asthma, nor poor transport of oxygen due to
anemia. The scientific term for that is anoxia. Dysoxygenosis is the failure of cellular oxygen
metabolism due to damage to the enzymes of oxygen metabolism. Thus, dysoxygenosis threatens
the health of every cell, every tissue, every body organ.
Dysoxygenosis in muscle cells causes severe fatigue. In brain cells, it causes problems of mood,
memory, and mentation. In the skin and eyes, it causes advanced dryness. In the cell membrane,
it causes leaky membrane dysfunction, so that what is inside the cell hemorrhages out and what
is outside floods the cell innards. Thus, the cell becomes dehydrated, shrunken, and loaded with
toxins. Such a cell cannot function well.
3. ACIDOSIS
Acidosis (acid-o-sis) is excess acidity. Acidosis slows or blocks the enzyme systems of the body,
including those involved with energy, digestion and absorption, detoxification, muscle function,
and neurotransmitters. Enzymes are catalysts that facilitate life processes. Acidosis fans the
flames of both oxidosis and dysoxygenosis which, in turn, cause more acidosis. As in the case of
dysoxygenosis, acidosis in muscle cells causes severe fatigue.3 In brain cells, it causes problems
of mood, memory, and mentation. In the skin and eyes, it causes advanced dryness. And so on.
4. OXIDATIVE COAGULOPATHY
Oxidative coagulopathy (co-ag-u-lop-athy) is the process by which clean blood turns into "dirty"
blood.
In health, the red blood cells are rounded, smooth in outline, and do not stick to each other. The
hunter immune cells have irregular but sharp boundaries and move around like amoebae,
searching for microbes to kill and digest. The antibody-forming immune cells are also smooth,
rounded, and free of debris stuck to their surfaces. The plasma (fluid part of the blood) is clear
and without any areas of congealing. There is no microclot or microplaque formations.
In 1997, my colleague, Omar Ali, M.D., and I introduced the term oxidative coagulopathy to
describe a range of abnormalities in the blood of patients with coronary heart disease.4 We
observed the following changes in blood slides: deformities and clustering of red blood cells,
death of immune cells, zones of congealed plasma, and microclot and microplaque formation.
The blood clots and unclots all the time. However, in oxidative coagulopathy, microclot formation
occurs at a rapid rate and unclotting cannot keep pace with clotting. Thus, microclots and
microplaques accumulate in the blood and get stuck to the inside of small arteries in the heart
and brain, causing heart attacks and strokes.
Later I described similar changes in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.5 Adding bacterial
culture to milk turns it into yogurt. Lemon juice squeezed into milk curdles it. That happens
because microbes and certain acids solidify the proteins in milk, the same way microbes and
certain acids entering the circulating blood curdle it. In health, such curdles (microclots) are
readily dissolved by clot-busting enzymes. In fibromyalgia, a large number of microbes and large
quantities of toxic oxidants enter the blood from the bowel, causing excessive microclot formation.
5. OXIDATIVE LYMPHOPATHY
Oxidative lymphopathy (lym-phop-athy) is my term for a process by which lymph becomes
oxidized, rancid, thick and gluey. Lymph is the pale fluid that drains toxins from tissues. Such fluid
stagnates in muscles and other tissues, preventing the free flow of oxygen-rich blood, causing
soreness in tissues, and producing trigger points in muscles. I introduced this term in 1998 to
focus on issues of stagnant lymph in tissues4 and described its clinical significance in
fibromyalgia in 1999.6
Blood and lymph channels exist in all body organs. Thus, damage caused by oxidative
coagulopathy and oxidative lymphopathy quickly spreads to all cells of the body. 3M oxidopathy is
my term for oxidative damage to cell membranes, matrix, and mitochondria. Matrix is the cement
that holds cells together. Membranes are coverings of cells and their inner structures.
Mitochondria are tiny power batteries of the cells. Since all three are continuously exposed to
oxidized (rancid) blood and lymph, it should not surprise us that the oxidative coals in the blood
and lymph (microclots) will also sear the 3M (matrix, membranes, and mitochondria).5
6. OXIDATIVE-DYSOXYGENATIVE DYSFUNCTION (ODD)
ODD is a state in which: (1) oxidosis is caused by oxidants of all three types (metabolic, microbial,
and man-made) that threaten health; (2) oxidosis leads to dysoxygenosis (abnormal oxygen
metabolism), which slows or blocks all life processes; (3) oxidosis and dysoxygenosis together
cause acidosis; (4) all three elements (oxidosis, dysoxygenosis, and acidosis) feed upon each
other and together fan the flames of oxidative injury. In fibromyalgia, an oxidative-dysoxygenative
(OD) state leads to injury to every microecologic cellular and macroecologic tissue-organ
ecosystem of the body.6
7. OXYEOLOGY
Oxyology (oxy-olo-gy) is the study of oxygen, just as pathology is the study of diseases.7 A sound
knowledge of oxygen metabolism in health and of dysfunctional oxygen metabolism in dis-ease
and premature aging is of fundamental importance. Indeed, I believe neither health nor the aging
process can be understood without such knowledge. In this volume, I present many aspects of
oxygen that seldom, if ever, are discussed in medical textbooks.