Page 40 - IMCJ April 2020

CONVERSATIONS

Conversation With Christopher W. Shade, PhD: Immune

Support

Interview by Dick Benson

Christopher Shade, PhD, founder and CEO of Glutathione is really big for keeping your immune
Quicksilver Scientific, continues to be the driving force of system well directed, in fact, when you’re low on
development and innovation. Dr. Shade’s vast depth and glutathione, your body stops making enough interferon
breadth of knowledge, passion for healing, and intuitive and then instead shifts to making more allergic-type
understanding of chemistry and biology are reflected in cytokines; this is called a Th2 shift.
Quicksilver Scientific’s well-designed detoxification protocols, So, interferon is one of the most important antiviral
unique supplement delivery systems, and patented mercury cytokines that we make, and so keeping glutathione levels
speciation test. Dr. Shade earned his PhD from the University high is essential for keeping that immune response up.
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his undergraduate One of the big things that there’s big demand for, but also
degree in Environmental Chemistry is from Lehigh great research around for upper respiratory and viral
University. infections is elderberry, and in fact we have developed a C
Dr. Shade is a recognized expert on mercury and elderberry, and then a broad immune supplement that was
liposomal delivery systems. He has lectured and trained C, elderberry, A, D, K and E. And we weren’t going to
doctors in the United States and internationally on the release these products until Q3 and we fast forwarded
subject of mercury, heavy metals, and the human them to right now and we’ll get those out within the next
detoxification system. Dr. Shade's current focus is on the three weeks.
development of cutting-edge, lipid-based delivery systems Those are most of the things that we’re using for immune
for nutraceuticals, such as liposomes and micro-emulsion support right now, and then they’re flying off the shelves.
systems, to address the growing need of high-quality, Then there’ll be a transition as the practitioners have to deal
affordable detoxification solutions. with more treatment of these cases, and you’ll see a lot of
papers going around. Right now we are seeing feedback from
COVID-19 or as referred to the Coronavirus is the all of the acupuncturist who are sharing everything that they
primary focus of the conversation that I had with found in China in terms of the herbs that they are using for
Dr. Chris Shade. As of talking with Dr. Chris Shade the this. So you see a lot of reference to artemisinin and
virus had infected over 50 000 US citizens. This has forced Andrographis and similar herbs, which are referred to as
quarantine efforts in many parts of the country and shut bitter detoxifying and antimicrobial herbs.
down much of the US economy. So, there’ll be some of that, but because is a virus and
not a bacteria, a lot of it is just helping to corral and control
Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ):To the body’s immune response to the virus, because what they
kind of kick off our discussion, there is a big immunity found is the biggest damage around it are runaway
issue with the COVID virus. What are you seeing? inflammatory conditions. And these are the worst in people
with underlying issues already, and the big underlying
Dr Shade: Yeah, it’s huge. There are a few discussions. The issues are cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure and
first one is how do we build up the immunity? diabetes. And this ties to the way the virus actually enters
Now you’ll see that everybody’s go to in immune the cell – it attaches to the ACE2, angiotensin converting
health is vitamin C and demand for vitamin C is through enzyme 2, which is part of the Renin-Angiotensis System
the roof; all the providers of raw vitamin C are out of it, (RAS, a system for controlling for blood pressure and
and waiting to get more in. We’re selling five times more electrolyte balance). ACE and ACE2, are a forward and
than usual; and so what are all the players that work in negative modulators, respectively for RAS. When it’s not
immune building? Well, vitamin C is big, vitamin D is controlled well, usually by underactive ACE2, the
huge, vitamin A, vitamin E and K, the other fat solubles. inflammatory reactions get very intense and is a key part of
So, those are part of it. these sensitive underlying conditions. And inflammatory

38 Integrative Medicine • Vol. 19, No. 2 • April 2020 Shade—Immune Support