The Truth About Monkeypox

Monkeypox has been all over the media recently, but it’s nothing new. In fact, it was first discovered in 1958 in two colonies of research monkeys. The first case of monkeypox in a human was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Monkeypox remains a rare disease and has stayed mostly confined to Central and West African nations. This past week, the WHO reported 257 confirmed cases in 23 countries outside Africa and around 120 suspected cases. This is not the first time monkeypox has been confirmed outside of endemic areas, and it has never had a very high mortality rate in countries with advanced healthcare.

Many media outlets have pointed out that monkeypox is related to the infamous smallpox. Though related, the symptoms of monkeypox are typically much milder and are much less likely to lead to severe or life-threatening illnesses.

The monkeypox scare is just that for now — a scare. Media outlets will use it to boost ratings and increase traffic, but this is not yet another pandemic. I’ll refer you to this article by Dr. Robert W. Malone for more detailed information on the history of monkeypox and the current outbreak. He notes that although the Bill Gates-funded GAVI and other sources quote a 10% death rate, WHO data shows a 3.7% death rate, and even that is based on suspected rather than confirmed cases, so it is likely overblown.

In a prior small US outbreak in humans, there were no deaths among 71 patients, which argues against the 3.7% death rate, as we would have expected to see at least two deaths if the actual fatality ratio was that high. Other heartening aspects of the historical monkeypox variants are that they spread very slowly and are only spread by symptomatic patients, so outbreaks can be stopped easily. So far, the current outbreak has been primarily in men who have sex with men.

However, veering into somewhat speculative territory, a more recent update from Dr. Malone argues that, based on sequencing data, the currently circulating variant of monkeypox may have been genetically modified in a lab. Strangely enough, there was a tabletop exercise about a year ago (similar to the Event 201 Coronavirus exercise a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic began) which described a monkeypox pandemic spreading around the world starting on May 15th, 2022, essentially the same time the current monkeypox infections were first reported. For the conspiracy-minded, we may be gearing up for another worldwide “plandemic.” At this point, it's too early to tell, but overall the idea seems far-fetched (then again, what about the last two years wouldn't have seemed far-fetched pre-pandemic?).

In the unlikely event that this spirals out of control and you do contract monkeypox, I recommend drinking plenty of fluids and taking general immune-boosting antiviral supplements like Vitamins C, D, Zinc, Quercetin, Bromelain, and K2, and antipyretics like Tylenol for fever. If symptoms become severe, please visit a hospital for supportive care like IV fluids and possibly antivirals.

Speaking of symptoms, based on the last US outbreak in 2003, nearly every patient had the typical rash (97%) - usually starting on the torso and spreading to the extremities, including the palms - and most also had: fever (85%), chills (71%), enlarged lymph nodes (71%), headache (65%) and muscle aches (56%). In the current outbreak, which has primarily affected men who have sex with men, some patients have presented with sores on the genital or perianal areas alone.

Drugs that work against smallpox should work just as well against monkeypox. The US Strategic National Stockpile has the oral medication TPOXX (developed for smallpox), which would likely work, but it is not available by prescription. Two IV treatments have been used against smallpox that could be repurposed for monkeypox. These are cidofovir, which is highly toxic to the kidneys, and IV immunoglobulins.

There may be one herbal option available right now to the general public. The Mi’kmaq people of Nova Scotia are thought to have been the first to use the purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia Purpurea) as a smallpox remedy. In the 19th century, during the smallpox epidemic in North America, infusions of the plant were used by many mainstream physicians, and a number of case reports of successful treatments were published in prominent medical journals like The Lancet and The British Medical Journal. In a 2012 lab study, a tincture of this plant worked as well as cidofovir against smallpox. It also inhibited monkeypox in human cells. It is not a common herbal remedy, so tinctures are quite difficult to find. Amishways.net had some on hand but appears to have run out for the time being. Still, it is supposed to be a widespread wild plant in the northeastern US, so you should be able to source it from a local herbalist if necessary.

As always, remain vigilant and stay safe by avoiding contact with actively sick people (especially those with the telltale vesicles), but don’t fall for the mass media fear-mongering! The most important things you can do to prepare yourself for anything are staying healthy and keeping your immune system strong. To that end, focus on eating whole foods, maintaining a healthy weight, getting restful regular sleep, staying active and connected socially (offline), getting some regular sunlight — and not worrying too much about monkeypox.