Bed Bugs and glutathione?

What do bed bugs and glutathione have in common?

If you know anything about glutathione, the answer may give you a chuckle!

I remember, as a child, reciting for fun, this night time poem:

Bedbugs are something those of us born and raised in the United States, after the 1940's and 1950's, didn't have to worry about. In fact, I have yet to see a live one! (I hope I never do!)

Recently, a very close friend of mine, shared with me how his family was waking up everyday with some weird bites. After several doctor visits and research, my friend and his family realized they were infested with Cimex lectularius or C. lectularius!

The C. lectularius were nicknamed "bed bugs" or "bed mites" because they feed at night on human blood and so are commonly found on bedding and beds.

It was then that I learned that these parasites are now back in America.

In talking to pest control professionals, Cimex lectularius, pretty much disappeared in the USA after World War II. These six-legged insects though, have always existed in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Higher immigration from infested countries is one very possible theory for the reappearance of these annoying blood sucking bed mites. (Interestingly, my friend lives in an area where our government, increasingly under Obama, has brought in a lot of immigrants from Africa.)

And now, in America, these blood feeding insects are back! Infestations are now being reported in hotels, motels, homes, apartment complexes, college dorm rooms, homeless shelters, retirement homes, and even our children's schools all over the United States!

In fact, the Entomology (Study of Insects) Department in the University of Sydney, tells how C. lectularius infestations have increased worldwide by over 5000% since the year 2000!

C. lectularius infestations are hard to get rid of and because of the growing number of reported infestations, researchers at the Ohio State University Entomology Department have been recently studying these insects and have discovered something quite interesting:

There are some bedbugs that are being killed by pesticides and insecticides and then there are others that seem "immune" to the chemical poisons!

They learned that the stronger of these bedtime parasites carried two enzymes: cytochrome P450 (CYP9) and Glutathione S-Transferase (GST).

The study (published on January 19, 2011--see sources below) reveals that the enzymes of P450 and Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) are actually protecting the bed bugs by detoxifying and helping to break down the chemical, toxic compounds, and poisons found in the pesticides or insecticides!(1)

Can you believe it? These little critters may be resistant to the very powerful "bug sprays" because they are carrying a tiny, hardly known, glutathione enzyme!!

I had to chuckle at that one! Now if a bug is being protected from powerful chemicals through glutathione, shouldn't you be protecting yourself through glutathione from the toxic modern environments we live in?

Now although that gave me a giggle, for those with parasitic infestations, it is no laughing matter.

If you have a bed bug infestation, a chemical-free, effective and NATURAL solution is Human Grade Diatomaceous Earth (or DE for short). Thankfully, bed mites/bugs CANNOT develop an immunity to DE or protect or "detox" themselves from DE like they can from pesticides, insecticides, or any chemical spray!

Incidentally, in households, where infestations are prevalent, not all household members are being bit. It seems that the ones with the healthier immune systems are bit less or are even "bite free". The bed bugs seem to go after and enjoy biting on the people with weaker immune systems as they are "easier prey" if you will.

Glutathione (GSH) feeds the immune system, thus strengthens it like nothing else will!! To increase your glutathione levels there is nothing like the most potent glutathione accelerator

Also, eating raw garlic daily and/or ingesting a few teaspoons of raw, organic, apple cider vinegar in a glass of water daily, helps your blood to taste "yucky" to bed bugs, fleas and other blood-sucking parasites! (I found this out when we got infested with fleas from our new kitten.)

Good Night, Sleep tight! Now you know how NOT to let the bed bugs bite!

Sources:

(1)Transcriptomics of the Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius),
published January 19, 2011: Plos One published study