I have been researching the work of Dietrict Klinghardt, MD, PhD, for months now, seeking to understand his overall approach and underlying assumptions.  He has been synthesizing traditional and alternative medicine for over 30 years.  He has studied medicine, psychology and spirituality with an over-reaching high level of integrative intelligence .  He has studied the effect of heavy metals, environmental pollutants and electromagnetic effects on the human body. He seeks to understand the underlying factors of dis-ease and share his wisdom with us all.  His work is comprehensive, broad-reaching and at times, erudite.

Dr. Klinghardt is a neurobiologist, an integrative physician and is a leading proponant of holistic treatment. He studies the nervous system in an interdisciplinary way that involves other disciplines such as psychology, computer science, statistics, physics, philosophy and medicine.    He is a fierce advocate for patient self-care; he publishes and teaches his approach in America and Europe to educate us about prevention and natural treatments  so that we all have access to the means of cleansing, balancing and healing ourselves.   His work is , in many respects, consistent with other naturopathic physicians in that he seeks to assist the human body to function optimally through the use of herbs, homeopathic medicine and lifestyle changes.  He has added an energy medicine component for both diagnosis and treatment and is in the forefront in proposing this ancient, and at the same time, newest and most promising approach to healing.

The foundation of his approach is based on his understanding of the five levels of healing. While in India about 30 years ago he went to a lecture given by a Guru (wise man) who talked about an ancient  (12,000 years old) Tibetan philosophy based on an understanding of humans as beings comprised of five different levels: the physical, the electromagnetic, the mental, the intuitive body, and the spirit body.  All but the physical are invisible to the human eye, although some people can “see”, feel or sense fields of energy relating to the other, usually invisible aspects.

The premise that is most fascinating for our purposes is that in order to be well, all levels of the human being must be healed.  This is so because the physical aspect of us is the materiel manifestation of all the other components.  The other four layers interpenetrate with the physical and affect the health of the physical being.

Let’s reference each of these layers and briefly touch on how each of these layers relate to illness.  Let’s say that a person has been diagnosed with Lyme disease.  On a physical level it means that bacterial organisms are multiplying in the body, moving to different parts of the body, generating neuro-toxins which cause symptoms in their own right.  It may be that the physical body has been diagnosed with heavy metal toxicity, for example, mercury, and that the toxins need to be cleared so that the body may more effectively fight it’s battle against the bacterial invaders.  This is the world of orthomolecular and allopathic medicine.  On this level antibiotics may be prescribed to kill off the unwanted organisms, detoxifying herbs given for clearing out the neuro-toxins and by-products of the die-off.

On the second level, the electromagnetic level, it may be seen that the patient has developed an inflammatory response (physical level) that produces inflamed, painful energy in response to the direct effect of the bacteria, or the by-products of their living and dying. This energy may be present in the physical mass of muscles, joints,or organs.  Since pain causes us to contract, resist or avoid, that energy may become stuck or constricted.  Within this model, healing energy work, such as Reiki, Hands on Healing, acupuncture, reflexology, or (in Dietrict Klinghart’s lexicon) Autonomic Response testing may be used.  Through the movement and clearing out of painful, inflamed energy the void is then filled with the natural life force within all human beings; it then has a chance to flow and heal.  Note:  according to this model, the layers below (in this case the physical) are affected positively.

On the third level, the mental body, unresolved emotional conflict creates a disturbance in (what is known in neuroscience as) the bio-photon field which surrounds the body, and is generated by the DNA.

Neuro-science tells us that short term memory is tracked in brain circuitry (first level); according to this way of understanding the human, long term and extrasensory perceptions reside in the energy field that surrounds the body- the physical brain is seen as a “tuner” for memory storage. 

Fritz-Albert Popp, a German physicist pioneered research about the vibrational nature of our cells, and is reported to have confirmed the existence of biophotons which emit tiny quantities of light.  We are beginning to understand how these invisible entities communicate complex information and orchestrate metabolic function.  For details about this go to mercola.com to see an interview of Klinghardt on the subject – fascinating!)

If this Lyme disease patient were to enter into psychotherapy there may be found traumatic, unresolved issues in their own life history, or in the family history that may have been passed on.  This unresolved history is held in the field of energy that surrounds the physical body.  By facing and resolving this (conscious, unconscious or sub-conscious) pain, that then allows a flow and healing of the energy body that would otherwise weigh down or inhibit full healing.

The forth level of healing is identified as the Intuitive body.  It is realm of the shaman, the religious, the spiritual, and your metaphysical experiences.  Dr. Klinghardt postulates that on this level unresolved conflict and trauma from a person’s past and from their history can generate physical illness.  Unless these traumas are faced and resolved, they may act out these unresolved issues in spite of a medical approach dealing only with the physical body.

So for our purposes, with this same Lyme disease patient, if this person, for example, had parents or grandparents who were sexually or physically abused, the unresolved trauma may be carried on the the person’s memory/field of energy;  unless faced, mourned and the associated feelings of anger, rage and despair are released, the effects of the trauma are played out in the present.  Klinghardt developed something he calls Family Constellation work to delve into the family history and therapeutically identify and resolve the trauma.

Our Lyme patient may receive the best treatment for the physical components of Lyme disease, but, according to this model, the patient will be vulnerable to continued illness unless this “contaminating” emotional disability is healed through psychotherapy, family therapy or other uncovering and healing teahniques.

The fifth level of healing, the individual’s connection to the divine, is deeply personal, and is the most important and largest part of the human being.  This is the level of self-healing and relates to the “highest self”.

Klinghardt’s premise is that illness can originate on any of the four lower levels and unless the source of the illness is healed disease will be resistant to healing, or it may transform into another form of disease.  Illness that is treated symptomatically but that does not treat the actual cause of the illness is short-sited and will likely be unsuccessful.

This concludes my summary of Dr. Klinghardt’s work.  I hope you have found it as stimulating and as interesting as I have.  Please let me know what your thoughts are, and send along any questions you may have!

Cynthia

Hello everyone,

Beginning on Thursday November 19th, 2009 a new support group will be held at the Old Lyme Town Hall.  Meetings will be held the third Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM in the beautiful new setting of Town Hall.  Meetings will be chaired by Cynthia M Chase, MSW, LCSW and Kelly Smith, Lyme Advocate.  We welcome all of you to come and share your stories, bring your questions and bring your loved ones.  If you are a caregiver, friend or relative of someone with Lyme, you are welcome.  this disease affects everyone who comes in contact with the one who is ill.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment that my friend, Kelly Smith offers to the Lyme community.  It is though her review of current publications, her attendance at numerous meetings, and her tireless research that I am able to offer to you the best information available on this website.  Thanks Kelly!

BIOFILM:  A NEW HIDEOUT FOR BORRELLIA BURGDORFERI

It is as though Dr.Eva Sapi is on a Safari in the deepest jungle in Africa.  She is mapping out a totally unknown area of the world filled with dangerous animals, new forms of life never seen by man (or woman) and she is armed only with her microscope.  She is in this reality Eva Sapi, Ph.D., assistant professor of cellular and molecular biology at the University of New Haven, Connecticut.  Her brand new article in the Lyme Times summarizes her research on an entity called biofilm.  A rather dry word, but an amazing concept.  For those of us lay persons interested in Lyme disease and co-infections and why it appears that some people have chronic infection the concept is revolutionary in its possibilities.

Here is how it works:  the research shows that when enough microbes gather they begin to adhere to each other or to living or inert surfaces.  These organisms then communicate to each other and start a change in “gene expression” that allows the cells to produce something called “exopolysaccharide” which becomes a “protective matrix“.

Like a moat which surrounds the castle it provides protection from attacking forces – like phagocytes or antibacterial agents!  Not only that, German scientists  using  marine bacteria identified that this biofilm actually is capable of  releasing a paralyzing agent.  “It appears that biofilm is not just a defensive fortress, it can also fight back.”

Dr. Sapi in conjunction with Dr. Alan MacDonald has recently worked “in vitro” to study biofilm formation of Borrelia burgdorferi. In her words:  “In summary, if we can demonstrate that biofilm structure of Borrelia burgdorferi renders them resistant to antibiotics, it could provide a logical explanation as to why extensive antibiotic treatment for patients with a tick-bite history could fail.  The end result from our study could provide novel therapeutic approaches for Lyme literate physicians to explore for chronically ill patients”

Please go to lymetimes.org for the above-reviewed article in its entirety and join to receive the most up-to-date research and support.

Cynthia

Here is Dr. Sedita’s second newsletter.  It is informative and actually, I find it to be most amazing and helpful in the treatment of the deepest layers of this microbes- so smart and insidious!  By “zapping” the microbes, then clearing the toxins from the death of the microbes, we are enhancing our bodies own ability to heal itself.  The immune system has a fighting chance to do the job it was intended to do:  fight aliens!  Check out her fascinating description of how this treatment(s) work:

_{By Dr. Jessica Sedita, ND}

Lyme disease is a complicated condition to diagnose and treat correctly. Treating Lyme is so much more than just taking an antibiotic for a few weeks to rid the body of the Lyme spirochete. First, any present co-infections need to be treated as well, to have any chance of a full recovery. The co-infections are what truly complicate the situation, because each one is a distinctly different type of organism. Ehrlichia is bacterial, Bartonella is similar to cat scratch fever, Babesia is parasitic and Mycoplasma is an anaerobic bacteria. Each one of these has its own pattern and life cycle that it follows. Each organism needs a distinctly different form of treatment that is specifically designed to target that particular organisms make up. There is no one single type of medication that can be used to treat all the co- infections. Multiple medications need to be administered at various times during the course of treatment to attack all of the co-infections as well as the Lyme.

What are the treatment options for Lyme disease? There are many choices that are available to treat Lyme disease some options are antibiotics, herbal formulas, homeopathic remedies and Rife Frequency therapy. Antibiotics are usually used as the first line of defense and if prescribed at the correct point during a course of treatment they can be effective. Antibiotics are most useful if used quickly after contracting Lyme and/ or while it is still active in the blood stream. Once Lyme has changed into the cystic form and left the blood stream the antibiotics are on longer effective. Antibiotics have the highest effective concentration circulating in the blood stream and cannot leave the blood stream. If the diagnosis of Lyme disease doesn’t happen for months or years after initial infection, antibiotics may not be as useful at this stage. Another common situation is when someone is on antibiotics for months or years continuously they will often reach a plateau in recovery. They often feel they are not progressing and that the antibiotics are not working anymore. They are correct; after a certain time the Lyme becomes resistant and can evade the antibiotics. So antibiotics are useful if given at the correct stage and used for a certain time period.

In addition to antibiotics there are many herbal remedies that are effective for Lyme disease as well as for all the co-infections. Some of the herbs that are capable to of killing Lyme are Venus flytrap, Oregano, Samento, Andrographis, Polygonum and Artemisia. All of these herbs can be administered in all stages of Lyme treatment. They can be used one at a time or in conjunction with one an other. All of these herbs can be taken alone or along with antibiotics. The best way to combine the two is to start herbal remedies along with antibiotics then when antibiotics are stopped continue with the herbal supplements. This combination will often be able to prevent a relapse or aggravation in symptoms and break the cycle of having to go on and off antibiotics.

Homeopathic remedies are also useful in the battle against Lyme disease. They are used most often in the latter stages of a treatment plan when severe symptoms have subsided. Homeopathic remedies can draw the Lyme out from deep within the body and can also stimulate the immune system to seek out and attack the Lyme.

Another important treatment for Lyme is Rife Frequency therapy. Rife is a machine that utilizes electromagnetic frequencies to rid the body of harmful pathogenic organisms. It can destroy bacteria, parasites, yeast, fungus, Lyme (both active and cystic forms) and all the co-infections. The Rife is based on the phenomenon that every organism has its own unique vibrational frequency. When an organism encounters its own vibrational frequency from an outside source it will explode resulting in death. It is similar to the opera singer that can break the wine glass when the frequency of her voice reaches the same frequency as the glass. A typical treatment with Rife first involves scanning with an F-scan machine to determine the exact frequencies of the organisms. Those specific frequencies are then entered into the Rife machine to be treated. Since the treatment is so targeted to kill only the desired organisms, the frequencies will just pass through the rest of body without harming anything else. Rife can reach cyst colonies that have traveled deep with in the body where antibiotics or herbal remedies could not access. Rife is usually used in addition to herbal remedies and/or antibiotics to finish off the organisms that were able to survive  and hide from previous treatments. By adding Rife Frequency therapy into a treatment plan the recovery time can significantly be reduced over just using antibiotics and/or herbal remedies. Most every patient that has chronic Lyme has a high chance of cyst colony formation in various areas of the body. These patients would benefit greatly from destroying the colonies with Rife.

If left untreated the cysts will lay dormant until the immune system is compromised or weak, so they can become active again. The key to any successful treatment is to change and rotate various modalities to avoid mutations and resistance to any one treatment. Lyme spirochetes are very good at adapting to their environment to maintain survival. Due to this adaptability any one treatment alone is just not strong enough to kill off Lyme completely. It is like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water: it just isn’t enough. Lyme needs to have everything thrown at it, including the kitchen sink! No matter what course of treatment is chosen a patient should be constantly monitored by a physician to check the effectiveness of treatment and to check toxicity and detoxification capabilities of the body. The key is to check the functioning of organ systems such as the adrenals and the thyroid, due to the extra stress that is placed on these systems during the treatment process.

^{Guilford Holistic Health Practitioners}

^{5 Durham Rd Bld 2, Suite B-6}

^{Guilford, CT 06437}

^{(203) 453-1906}

Send any questions, or topic suggestions for future issues to: drsedita@gmail.com

Reference

Rosner, Bryan. When Antibiotics Fail…Lyme Disease and Rife Machines.2004.

This is news:

Dr. Jeffrey Klass and Dr. Jessica Sedita of Madison Connecticut offer to those of us fortunate enough to live in this area a holistic, complementary healing approach that works at both killing off the microbes (whether they be Babesia, erlichiosis or the Lyme spirochete), but also focuses on clearing and cleansing the toxins that create symptoms as debilitating as the diseases themselves.  (For those of you in other areas of the country, please check internet sources for the same or similar resources, or check with me.)  The area of “vibrational medicine” is a “new” and exciting adjunct to the healing of the person with Lyme disease (and the coinfections).  When combined with the principles of naturopathic medicine, it offers a powerhouse of tools to add to the wellness approach that is at the foreforont of the treatment of Lyme and other coinfections.  Here is a newsflash from Dr. Sedita that I am sure you will find enlightening and helpful:

_{Dr. Jessica Sedita, ND}

Just a few years ago Lyme disease was only heard about once in a while; today the situation is much different. Today the chance of contracting Lyme disease has significantly increased, putting everyone in the northeast at great risk. This condition is becoming much more common than anyone could have ever imagined. Anyone afflicted with Lyme needs to fully understand the condition and its progression. Lyme is an organism in the spirochete family that is similar to syphilis. It is transmitted through a bite by an infected deer tick. Once infected, a person will experience flu like symptoms as the immune system attempts to fight off the invader.

One could assume that they would be sick for a few days or a week while the immune system fights of the infection then leading to a full recovery. Unfortunately this is not how the events unfold at all. The Lyme spirochete is able to evade the immune system so most of the time it is not completely killed off. This allows the Lyme to roam free and proliferate in the body undetected for years. The longer it is present in the system the more time it has to set up colonies all over the body. Once it has left the blood stream and traveled to multiple areas it is said to have progressed from acute to chronic Lyme. During periods of stress, physical or emotional, the immune system becomes suppressed and the Lyme is able to further advance and colonize new areas of the body. This is why many patients will notice a flare-up in symptoms during or shortly after even small periods of stress.

The array of symptoms Lyme can produce are so numerous and constantly changing many people think they are imaging it. Lyme can imitate almost any disease that exists and should be considered as a possible diagnosis of any condition that is not resolving with treatment. Lyme can mimic various conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, bells palsy, ADD, MS, ALS, RA, migraines and any other autoimmune diseases. Lyme produces a significant amount of inflammation in numerous areas and organ systems of the body. The majority of the inflammation is due to the secretion of a neurotoxin produced by the Lyme that travels around the body which puts stress on all organ systems. The Lyme and its neurotoxin can pass through to the brain with the potential to cause encephalopathy and meningitis, which is swelling and inflammation of the brain. The exposure to the neurotoxin over time can cause liver dysfunction, fatigue, headaches, mental confusion, muscle and joint pain. These symptoms can indicate possible dysfunction in other regulatory organs such as the thyroid, hypothalamus and adrenals. All of these symptoms can come and go just a quickly as they appeared or they may persist and there could even be periods that are symptom free. Many people think the symptom free periods are when they have finished their battle with Lyme and won. But that is not correct. Often when there is a remission in symptoms it can mean the immune system is not actively fighting off the Lyme. This leaves it free to travel around the body causing inflammation, dysfunction and then ultimately hiding so the immune system can not destroy it.

Many patients are lead to believe that after being infected with Lyme all that needs to be done is take antibiotics for a few months or even a few weeks and then they will be cured. This may have been enough to treat Lyme in the past but currently for most patients this often is not effective enough to provide a full and complete recovery. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed in all stage of Lyme disease. They can bring a person from acutely ill to a stable point. There are however a few drawbacks to treatment with antibiotics alone. They are often unable to kill off the disease completely. The presence of the antibiotics stimulates a defensive mechanism causing the Lyme to become dormant and will avoid being killed. This change to the dormant state is called the cystic form of Lyme. In this form, a protective coating is formed around a group of spirochetes. This coating protects the Lyme by not allowing the antibiotics to penetrate.

They are also only able to kill the Lyme when it is in the active form in the blood stream.

In the cystic form it is able to move deeper into the body and wait until it senses the absence of the antibiotics. Once the antibiotics have left the body the Lyme will become active again and move back into the blood stream and begin multiplying again. This migration

back to the active form can cause a sudden spike or relapse of intense symptoms. While the Lyme is in the cystic form a person can be symptomatic or still extremely ill. Since antibiotics are not able to access other areas well outside of the blood stream the cysts are left to hang out all over the body producing symptoms. The specific symptoms that are experienced are often dependent on what areas in the body the cysts have traveled to.

As if Lyme alone is not enough there are a myriad of other organisms that the tick can be harboring and transmitting during the bite. These other organisms consist of Mycoplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia and Bartonella, known as the co-infections. The co-infections are commonly present in people with Lyme disease. They can add to the array of confusing symptoms by further stressing the immune system and increasing the overall number of pathogenic organisms in the body. In a large number of cases antibiotics are not able to eradicate any of these organisms from the system completely. They are able to hide in the body, mutate and evade the antibiotics and the immune system. Having all or even just one of these co-infections in addition to the Lyme can complicate the case significantly.

Guilford Holistic Health Practitioners

^{5 Durham Rd Bld 2, Suite B-6}

^{Guilford, CT 06437}

^{(203) 453-1906}

Send any questions, or topic suggestions for future issues to: drsedita@gmail.com

Reference

Rosner, Bryan. When Antibiotics Fail…Lyme Disease and Rife Machines.

2004.

Untreated or delayed treatment of  Lyme disease or coinfections can lead to spirochete involvement in the brain. Some researchers believe that bacteria may migrate to the brain even early on in the infection.

Many psychiatric  and neurological conditions can manifest in degrees ranging from mild to severe.  It is critical that treating professionals and patients themselves understand that this medical condition may be at the bottom of clinical manifestations of conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings that may mimic bi-polar disorder, sleep disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism-like disorder, rage and impulse disorders, psychosis, seizures and cognitive losses.

Dr. Robert Bransfield, a Lyme-literate psychiatrist from Red Hook, New Jersey has developed an amazing and comprehensive neuropsychiatric evaluation.  What makes it ground-breaking is that he understands what happens to the brain and mind from the inside-out.  He tracks common neurological and psychiatric conditions that can be associated with Lyme and associated illnesses.

This is not a blaming, as in “It’s all in your head.”  This is a validation and understanding that bacterial invasion into the body and brain can produce unusual and unexpected effects that color the way we feel, sense and experience the world.

By discretely and in a detailed way tracking the inner world, he allows the patient to understand how these strange and seemingly unconnected pains, feelings, thoughts and experiences are tied to a physical illness that demands healing – not just one-dimensional medical treatment.

Here is a description of Dr. Bransfield’s evaluation:

Cognitive symptoms that are commonly associated with Lyme disease and other coinfections are associated with:

A.  Attention span:

• Is sustained attention possible?
• Can attention be prioritized and allocated in an effective way?
• Is attention easily distracted by frustration?
• Is attention distracted by excessive sensitivity to auditory stimulation?
• Is attention distracted by visual stimulation?
• Is attention distracted by tactile stimulation?
• Is attention distracted by olfactory stimulation?

B.  Memory

• Can information be kept in the mind long enough to complete problem solving?
• Can awareness be maintained of structures in surrounding space?
• Can information be recalled that was learned in prior years?
• Is information stored correctly in the mind?
• Is memory retrieval slow when retrieving:

1.  words

2.  numbers

3.  names

4.  faces

5.  motor sequences

6.  geographical and spatial data

• Is there a decreased ability to spell correctly?
• Is there a tendency to reverse the sequence of letters in words?
• Is there a tendency to insert opposite, closely related or incorrect words in a sentence?
• Is there a tendency to reverse numbers when writing a number?

C.  Processing

• Is there a decrease in the ability to understand what is read?
• Is there a significant decline in the ability to understand spoken language?
• Is the ability to track where a sound is generated from reduced?
• Is the ability to track spatial awareness of the environment reduced?
• Is there an increased difficulty targeting movements through space (for example, bumping into doorways)?
• Is there a loss in the ability to rotate something 180 degrees in your mind?
• Is there a tendency to confuse left and right?
• Have calculation abilities declined?
• Does speech flow fluently, or is there a tendency to it to be interrupted?
• Has stuttering increased?
• Is speech slurred at times?
• Can thoughts be put down in writing, or has that ability declined?
• Has handwriting deteriorated?
• Is there at times a feeling of loss of connection with physical existence?
• Is there a loss of the feeling of reality?
• Is there a loss in the ability to recognize familiar objects?
• Is there a loss in the ability to perform skilled tasks?

D.  Imagery

• Is there a loss in the ability to visualize an image in your head?
• Do images intrude that may be aggressive, sexual or in other ways disturbing?
• Is there a tendency to dream even when awake?
• Is there a tendency for vivid nightmares?
• Are objects  in peripheral vision sometimes distorted?
• Is there evidence that you may hear, see, smell or feel things that are not there?

E.  Thought processing and Executive Function

• Memory impairment or loss – also called Lyme fog
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Inability to absorb information
• Tangential thinking – that is, starting in one direction then going off in a different direction
• Difficulty in planning and prioritizing multiple tasks
• Difficulty in performing multiple simultaneous tasks
• Racing thoughts
• Obsessive, repetitive thoughts that cannot be controlled
• Mental apathy, or lack of spontaneous thought, ideas or initiative
• Lost ability for abstract reasoning

F.  Mood Symptoms

• Decreased frustration tolerance
• Sudden abrupt mood swings
• Hypervigilance
• Paranoia

G.  Behavioral Symptoms

• Lack of normal inhibition (disinhibition)
• Exaggerated Startle Reflex
• Explosive anger
• Suicidal
• Homicidal
• Accident Prone
• Decreased social functioning
• Decreased Job or school performance
• Marital or family problems
• Substance abuse
• Legal difficulties
• Dissociative episodes (feeling separate from your own self)
• Compulsive behavior to compensate for feeling of failure
• Dropping objects
• Crying spells

H.  Psychiatric Syndromes

• Depression  (this and all other conditions not previously experienced)
• Manic depression rapidly alternating between depression and mania
• Panic disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (not previously experienced)
• Social phobia
• Generalized anxiety

I.  Maintenance of Life functions  (also called Vegetative Functions)

• Impaired sleep wakefulness cycle

This can vary from not feeling well-rested in the morning to initial, mid and late insomnia.  It may also be that one sleeps too much (called hypersomnia) or looses the 24 hour cycle altogether.

• Eating disorder

Newly diagnosed anorexia, weight loss,  or overeating not motivated by hunger; there may be weight gain with increased food intake and at times there may be weight gain even without increased food intake.

• Sexual disorders

There may be decreased or increased libido; there may be decreased capacity for arousal or orgasm or pleasure.  There may be a change or alteration in sexual imagery.  Menstrual irregularity may occur as well.

• Disturbed temperature control

There may be body temperature fluctuations, flushing, night sweats, low grade fevers and chill, intolerance to heat and cold.

J.  Neurological Symptoms

• There may be a variety of headache types:  general, cervical radioculopathy, migraine, or orgasm migraine.  It is also possible to have headaches associated with TMJ (temperomanidbular joint syndrome), tension, cluster or sinus headaches.
• Cranial nerve involvement

1.  Olfactory nerve

There may be loss of the sense of smell altered sensation of smell or hypersensitivity as well as altered taste.

2.  Opthalmologic involvement

When this nerve is affected there may be blurred vision, aversion to light , either bright, florescent or flickering light (photophobia).  There may be excess floaters, light flashes, conjunctivitis, eye pain or dry eyes.  There are sometimes blind spots, night blindness, peripheral shadows, inflammation of the iris, inflammation of the uvea, optic neuritis and papilledema (swelling of the optic disc).  There may be double vision or the eye may drift when tired.  There may also be drooping of the upper lid.

3.  Sensory Loss; what this means is that there may be areas of numbness.  It can feel both without sensation, or painfully numb.

4. Bell’s Palsy (facial paralysis)

5.  Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness or sound-induced vertigo, dizziness, nausea and/or eye movements (tullio’s syndrome)

6. Episodic loss of speech, choking on food, difficulty swallowing

7. Paresis is partial loss of movement, or impaired movement. It usually refers to the limbs, but it also can be used to describe the muscles of the eyes and stomach.

8.  Tongue veers off to one side

• Seizures
  

1.  There may actually be Tonic-clonic seizures (previously called Grand Mal Seizures) which are a type of generalized  electrical firing or overstimulation affecting the entire brain.

2.  There may also be complex partial seizures. Complex partial seizures take place in a discrete part of the brain, usually in the temporal or cortical part of the brain and cause impaired consciousness. What this means is that there may be decreased responsiveness and awareness of the self and surroundings. It may be difficult to communicate, respond to commands or remember events.   During a complex partial seizure, the patient may not communicate, respond to commands, or remember events that occurred.

• Other Neurological problems

1. Numbness
2. Tingling
3. Sensory Loss
4. Burning
5. Static electric sensation
6. Crawling sensation under the skin
7. Stabbing sensations
8. Partial loss of movement (paresis)
9. Tremors
10. Twitching
11. Muscle tightness
12. Muscle discomfort (like restless leg)
13. Myoclonis – brief, shock-like jerks of muscle or group of muscles.jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles.
14. Torticollis, or wry neck, is a condition in which the head  is tilted toward one side, and the chin is elevated and turned toward the opposite side.
15. Tourette’s syndrome - that is, a complex of symptoms that include multiple involuntary muscle movements called tics, and impulsive verbal (sometimes in the form of swearing or insulting) tics.
16. Ataxia, that is  gross lack of coordination of muscle movements
17. Fainting
18. Herniated disks
19. Spasticity
20. Meningismus – that is an intolerance to bright light and headaches

• Musculoskeletal

The joints may be painful, there may be swelling, tightness; there may be bone thinning or fractures, bone pain, inflammation of the elbow, plantar fascitis (heel pain), muscle pain (chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia (chronic widespread pain), inflammation of the cartilage – it may turn red and be warm to the touch (of the ear and nose for example), tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome (painful wrist/s)

• Cardiac

Microbial involvement in the heart may manifest as chest pain, mitral valve prolapse, racing pulse, episodes of rapid and slow heart rate, inflammation of the pericardium, cardiomyopathy (that is, the heart muscle becomes inflamed and doesn’t work as well as it should), heart murmur, hypertension, or hypertensive crisis.

• Pulmonary/Upper Respiratory

Complication in this system may include shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, swollen glands, or asthma.  There may be upper gastro-intestinal distress, chronic or recurrent indigestion, irritable bowel, abdominal bloating, delayed gastric emptying (the vegus nerve may be impaired, which gives direction to the intestines to promptly move digested food out of the bowel), hepatitis, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel, inflammation of the gall bladder, gall stones or fecal incontinence.

• Genitourinary Problems

There may be genital pain, breast pain or tenderness, inappropriate lactation, irritable bladder, interstitial cystitis – this is a painful condition of the bladder, urinary incontinence, atrophy of the genitalia, numbness of the genitalia or recurrent urinary tract infections.

• Autoimmune Symptoms

Since Lyme disease affects the body’s ability to defend itself, there are a multitude of possible repercussions.  Here are some of the symptoms or syndromes that can result:  alcohol intolerance, hair loss, thyroid dysfunction. There may develop a syndrome called Wilson’s Syndrome which is an alternative medical diagnosis (controversial) in which the syndrome’s manifestations include  fatigue, headaches, premenstrual syndrome, hair loss, irritability, fluid retention, depression, decreased memory, low sex drive, unhealthy nails, easy weight gain, and other symptoms, in the absence of a blood test indicating hypothyroidism.

A condition called adrenal insufficiency may develop in which the adrenals,  located above the kidneys, do not produce adequate amounts of steroid hormones (chemicals produced by the body that regulate organ function), primarily cortisol, but may also include impaired aldosterone production  which regulates sodium, potassium and water retention. Craving for salt or salty foods due to the urinary losses of sodium is common^.

Hypoglycemia is a medical condition in which the blood contains lower than normal glucose levels.  Hypoglycemia can produce a variety of symptoms and effects but the principal problems arise from an inadequate supply of glucose as fuel to the brain, resulting in impairment of function. Symptoms can range from vaguely “feeling bad” to coma, seizures and (rarely) permanent brain damage or death. Hypoglycemia can arise from many causes and can occur at any age.

Vasculitis may occur.  This is a condition referring to destructive inflammation of the arteries and veins.  Sometimes abnormal buildup of fluid is found in the ankles, feet, and legs called peripheral edema.  Tooth pain and periodontal disease is sometimes associated with Lyme disease.  Nose bleeds and multiple chemical sensitivities may develop along with severe allergies.  Enlargement of the speen has been observed in chronic Lyme patients, and easy bruising has been observed as well.  Chronic pain may be experienced in bone or muscle, or other locations, sometimes roving.

A condition called Lymphocytoma may co-occur:  this is a circumscribed mass of mature lymphocytes.

The overview here is that since immune function is compromised and the body is not able to protect itself fully, many unrelated conditions may develop.

• Fluctuation of Symptoms

To be continued!

This is the final chapter reviewing the amazing work of Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano Jr., M.D. This one is about Lyme Disease Rehabilitation.

Unless an exercise program is added, antibiotic treatment will not produce complete remission for the patient with chronic Lyme disease.  Clear and simple. That having been said, I understand personally how hard it is to move when you feel exhausted and in pain.  Yet, unless this ennui is challenged a more complete “healing” cannot occur.

Theories abound as to how this works:  exercise may provide sufficient oxygenation to promote organism die-off, and then again, it may be the increase in core body temperature which promotes killing off the Bb, in combination with the antibiotics.  A third factor may be the mobilization of lymph fluids which enhance immune functioning.

There is evidence that regular exercise promotes T-cell function.  However, aerobic exercise depresses t-cell functioning for 12 to 24+ hours, then rebounds.  Aerobics is therefore not recommended.

Goal:  intermittent exercise alternating with rest and quality sleep.  In the beginning if you are severely ill it may be effective to exercise one day then rest 3 to 5 days, reducing the days of rest as stamina increases.  It is recommended that you do not exercise two days in a row in the beginning!

In severe cases the protocol may begin with physical therapy involving heat, massage, ultrasound and simple range of motion exercises. Ice and electrical stimulation should not be used!

The program should evolve into a graduated, ultimately strenuous program consisting of a specific regimen of not-aerobic conditioning.  An hour of gentle exercise, hot bath or shower and a nap until stamina returns.

A cardiac stress test may be neessary prior to instituting the protocol to ensure safty.

I hope you found this series helpful.  If you have any comments, please feel free to leave them in the comment section.

Blessings,

Cynthia

Sixth Installment

Important News!

For patients with chronic illness such as Lyme and Chronic Fatigue, studies have shown that some symptoms are “related to cellular damage and deficiencies in certain essential nutrients.” What this means is that this opens the pathway to other forms of treatment to reduce and eliminate chronic Lyme disease symptoms!  Dr. Burascanno reports that these studies we conducted double-blinded and placebo controlled and in one case with direct examination of biopsy specimens.  These studies have given us a grounded understanding of supplements which may be helpful.

Use a pill organizer!

With multiple medications and supplements that need to be taken at different times of the day it is critical to organize to promote compliance.

Use Quality Supplements

What this means is that you are urged to get what is called “pharmaceutical grade” supplements so you can be sure of getting active, regulated amounts of the active ingredients that you seek.  Among others, Dr. Burrascano has found that Pharmanex, Researched Nutritionals and Nature Made products fit this criteria.  See Dr. Burascanno’s website for specifics as to how to order from these companies on line.

Basic Daily Regimen

In order of importance:

• Probiotics (required)

Products such as kefir, acidophilis and bifidis (the refrigerated ones tend to maintain high potency) and yogurt are recommended.  These healthy bacteria repopulate the intestinal tract to make up for the mass killing-off of biological organisms from the anti-biotics used to treat the spirochetes.

• Multi-vitamin (required)

Dr. Burascanno recommends a product called Life Pac through Pharmanex. This product is pharmaceutical grade and USP certified and has been rigorously tested.  They have developed  specific protocols depending on your age and sex.

• CO-Q10 (required, but do not take when on atovaquone (which is Mepron,Malarone).

Deficiencies in this enzyme have been shown to relate to poor function of the heart, limitations of stamina, gum disease and poor resistance to infections.  Heart biopsy studies actually indicate that many Lyme patients should take between 300 to 400 daily.  Dr. Burascanno recommends this product from Researched Nutritionals.

• Alpha-Lipoic Acid (required)

This facilitates the entry of CoQ10 into the mitochondria.  This is so important, otherwise CoQ10 is not as effective.  Dose is 300 mg twice daily.

• Vitamin B (required)

Clinical studies have demonstrated that supplemental vitamin B in infections with Borellia help heal neurological symptoms. The recommendation is to take one 50 mg B-complex daily, or if neuropathy is severe, a second one can be taken later in the day.

• Magnesium (required)

This supplement is very important as a muscle relaxant:  it is very helpful for tremors, twitches, cramps, muscle soreness, heart skips and weakness. It may also help with energy level and cognition.  Dr. Burascanno specifically recommends  magnesium L-lactate dehydrate (Mag-tab SR sold by Niche Pharmaceuticals – 1800-677-0355 and is available at Wal-mart).  Isn’t it helpful to know that we can take charge of parts of our care to enhance the support provided by our medical team!

• Essential Fatty Acids (required)

When taken regularly studies have shown that EFA’s statistically improve fatigue, aches, weakness, vertigo, dizziness, memory, concentration and depression.

There are two broad classes of essential fatty acids:

One:  GLA – Omega-6 oils derived from plants:

It is recommended that you use a refrigerated liquid product of mixed omega oils obtained from the local health food store.  Take one to two tablespoons daily or it can be mixed with food or put on salads.

Two:  EPA (Omega-3 oils) which are derived from fish.   Dr. Burascanno recommends Marine Omega by Pharmanex; take 4 daily on a full stomach.  This is recommended because it is made from krill- the plankton which fish eat – (not from the fish itself) and is certified to be free of any measurable amounts of heavy metals and organic toxins.

• NT-Factor

This is a product that addresses the mitochondrial damage thought to underlie the metabolic dysfunction associated with chronic diseases which manifest as fatigue and neurologic dysfunction! This is huge, if  it works. the amazing thing is that Dr. Burascanno touts this as “the single most reliable agent I have found that can give noticeably increased energy levels.” Effects may be noted within two weeks, especially if combined with supplements known to support neurological function (below.)

Optional Supplements for special Circumstances:

A.  For Neurologic Symptoms

Dr. Burascanno has three goals here:  1.  Supply the metabolic needs, 2. replenish what has become depleted and 3.  protect the neurons and their supportive cells.

• Acetyl-L Carnitine is taken along with SAM-e.  This combo can result in noticeable gains in short term memory, mood and cognition. This is good news for chronic Lyme patients suffering from these symptoms.  Doses:  1500-2000 mg.  Positive results may appear in as little as two to three weeks.
• Methylcobalamin (methyl B-12)

This a prescription drug derived from vitamin B-12 and can help heal the central and peripheral nervous system, improve immune function and help to restore more normal sleeping patterns.  It must be taken by injection for absorption and the dose in usually 25 mg (l c.c.) daily for 3 to 6 months.  Long term studies have not shown any side-effects.  There are special directives that apply to this prescription so go to Dr. Burascanno’s  site for details.  It must be ordered from a special compounding pharmacy.

• Green Tea

You do not need a prescription for this product!  Green teas is very high in anti-oxidants.  For anyone with “degenerative changes to the central nervous system” this is a must.  At least four cups daily are needed to reap the benefit.  Dr. Burascanno recommends decaffeinated green tea of good quality.

• Cordymax

This herb is from Tibet and it has been studied clinically; results have shown that it improves stamina, fatigue, and enhances lung and antioxidant function.  It does something else that is so important in cases of  neurological Lyme:  it raises the “superoxide dismutase levels.”  In effect this prevents lesions in the central nervous system.  Dr. Burascanno raves:  “The positive effects can be dramatic.”  It is recommended that the product should be used long term to maintain progress and that it should be USP (as in the Pharmanex product CordyMax.”)

• Citicholine

This supplement has been well studied and the studies support its use for improving cognition, especially memory when used long term.  Dose is 500 to 1000 twice a day.

B.  For Immune Support

• This product is made from the Reishi mushroom and in clinical studies it has been shown to augment  the function of what is called the Natural Killer Cells and macrophages.  If your CD-57 count is less than 60 it is recommended that you take four a day (available only at Phamanex.)
• Transfer Factors are the body’s natural signals meant to activate the pathogen-killing effects of the cellular immune system.  This little-heard-of treatment was personally put on a limited trial in what Dr. Burascanno refers to as “personal experience.”  He says he is a “believer” and has found these supplements to be surprisingly effective in making the very ill respond better to treatment.  He recommends Transfer Factor Multi-Immune and Transfer Factor Lyme-Plus produced by Researched Nutritionals.

C.  For Joint Symptoms

• Glucosamine can be of long term benefit to the joints.  Dr. Burascanno does not believe that adding chondroitin adds anything except expense.  He recommends Cartilage Formula by Pharmanex.
• Vitamin C is important in maintaining healthy connective tissue. High doses are recommended – 1000 to 6000 mg a day as tolerated.  Ester-C is non-acid and longer acting or C-salts are also well tolerated.  Start low and increase.
• Flex Cream is an “amazing liniment-like products that “really works”.  Spread it on thick for body pain - do not rub in.  It takes 30 to 60 minutes to work, then lasts for many hours.  A Pharmanex exclusive.

If this is getting to sound like a Phamanex commercial, so be it.  I would be interested in feedback about the use of these products or others that serve the same purpose.  Obviously Dr. Burascanno has had exceptional success with their products.  Tell me what you think.

Other Optional Supplements:

• Vitamin D deficiency can cause Lyme patients diffuse body aches and cramps that are not responsive to magnesium or calcium supplements.  It may assist with normal immune and hormone function as well.  It is urged that you have a fasting blood level drawn; levels should be in the upper half of the range.  If it is not, 2000 to 4000 units daily are needed for several weeks, then a lower maintenance dose based on repeated blood level monitoring.
• Creatine has been shown to benefit in neuromuscular degenerative diseases such as Lou Gherig’s Disease and can help in supporting low blood pressure. It may also help with strength, stamina, and heart function.  To take this safely you must hydrate regularly..  Details on his website.
• Milk Thistle for liver function – 175 mg daily.

Well, that’s it.  It is an exhaustive, if not exhausting list.  Hopefully you will approach this all one step at a time.  Do not allow this all to overwhelm you.  These are all options.  My recommendation is to prioritize your symptoms, then to add a short list of supplements to try one at a time so you can see what works for you.  The good news is that there are breadcrumbs ahead so you aren’t blazing the path alone!

Blessings,

Cynthia