Lyme disease is transmitted by mosquitos and fleas, biting insects, blood transfusions, sexual intercourse, trans-placental to fetus, unpasteurized milk, breast feeding and food. Symptoms include:
- Severe headaches and neck stiffness
- Erythema Migrans (EM) rashes on the bite sight or other areas of the body
- Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face)
- Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints
- Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints and bones
- Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat - Lyme Carditis
- Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
- Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
- Nerve pain, shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
- Anxiety and restlessness. Attention deficit and hyperactivity.
- Difficulty with short-term memory, concentration, word finding and mood swings
- Daytime episodes of inappropriate fatigue and lack of zest or interest in activities
- Difficulty sleeping, waking unrefreshed
- Body aches and joint pains
- Sinus problems, sore throat, light sensitivity and “floaters”
- Strange neurological symptoms: inner vibration, sounds, tingling and numbness
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Alzheimer’s
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
- Fatigue Syndrome
- Thyroid Disease-Hypothyroidism
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Insomnia
- Autism
- Lupus- Autoimmune Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
- Bipolar Disorder
- Addison’s Disease
In general - knowing how it is transmitted leads me to believe we have all had the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi somewhere, at some time - just hidden away. It has been around since the time of the ice age, according to researcher Albert Zink and his team, who tested the DNA of the Ice Man, “Otzi,” found in Austria by hikers in 1991. The researchers analyzed a small specimen of Otzi’s pelvic bone and found about two thirds of the genome of Borrelia burgdorferi. This comes as no surprise to those who assess and treat Lyme patients each week and notice that at some point their chronically ill patients all test positive for Lyme either with blood work, or with using muscle testing methods. These patients come to be tested after they have already been to multiple specialists for the variety of symptoms with no positive lab work for Lyme, and no positive treatment outcomes or resolution of symptoms. People are searching for answers. Practitioners report to me that all of the people on the Autism spectrum and their Alzheimer patients they treat, test positive for Lyme disease at one time or another. This is also the case for their subset of patients with Parkinson’s, ALS and MS. This is not concluding that Lyme causes the illness - but acknowledges that Lyme is present and activated in patients with these conditions.
Lyme does not live in the blood, so why do we look for it there?
The Lyme spirochete has the shape of a corkscrew. It moves quickly through the bloodstream at the time of transmission and lives in the matrix tissue and other soft tissue, making it hard to diagnose with blood work. It may not be captured in the blood sample at the time of testing. It also seems to be drawn to areas of scar tissue, the brain, jaw, and joints where other opportunistic infections also hide.
Another common nesting place for Lyme and other infections is within parasites. Parasites require a host to live and they feed off the host body. Parasites also become an incubator for Lyme as well as viruses, bacteria and heavy metals. Finding the invaders location, baiting them out, and using the appropriate treatment in an order of priority is very challenging as an individual treatment plan is needed for successful remission. The team of practitioners I recommend use various strategies for treatment, but the preferred method is the bait then attack approach. Precision muscle testing methods are a guide to finding and treating the root cause of symptoms for these practitioners. I have witnessed and experienced positive treatment outcomes.
One of the biggest challenges of fighting Lyme disease is providing patients with accurate diagnostic tests.
- ELISA – enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- Western blot test
These are both standard in the USA and typically covered by insurance.
- IGeneX private lab Lyme panel – does IgG and IgM ImmunoBlot Test to detect more species
- ArminLabs does the ELISpot (enzyme-linked immune absorbent spot), which is highly sensitive and can detect even one single Borrelia burgdorferi-reactive T-cell and secreted proteins.
These are typically not covered by insurance.
- Precision muscle testing assessment methods can detect all varieties of Lyme and isolate the location of Lyme in the body along with other hidden infections dwelling together. An individual treatment plan can be put into action at the time of assessment.
I am an advocate of exploring all avenues of testing for Lyme disease. For those who believe they have false negatives, I would recommend the muscle testing method with an accomplished practitioner. Understanding how muscle testing works is vital before going in this direction. We teach a form of precision muscle testing at Discovery Health Solutions and would be glad to answer your questions and refer you to a practitioner to get to the root of your individual health concerns.
Antibiotics are the primary course of treatment for a new infection. The standard antibiotic prescribed is doxycycline. Most patients seem to do well when this approach is given quickly at the first sign of infection or rash (Erythema Migrans). Herbal treatments are best suited for the persistent infections, or when relapse occurs, many revert back to antibiotic therapy. The reason for relapse remains unknown, however, studies and clinical findings suggest the possible presence of antibiotic resistant persisters attached to biofilm forms.
From my experience, practitioners who are trained in muscle testing methods like Autonomic Response Testing, can pinpoint the area where Lyme is active. They will also find other hidden infections and are able to develop an individualized treatment protocol using herbals if possible, or will suggest antibiotics if necessary. Each patient is different and possible underlying conditions may actually be causing the symptoms and immune dysfunction. Many times, emotional distress, or other conditions, create an immune response that activates Lyme and/or may mimic Lyme. When treated appropriately, many patients go into remission with unique, non-pharmaceutical protocols, including a detoxification regime.
Herbal treatment is chosen based on the symptoms. Here are a few basic herbal options:
Make your own Lyme cocktail: contact Discovery Health Solutions for the full recipe and resources.
- Vitamin C powder
- Japanese knotweed (root)
- Red Root (root)
- Stephania (root)
- Cistus Tea- Rockrose Tea – are Biofilm Breakers
- Artemisinin
- Black Walnut
- Andrographis (aerial parts)
- Chinese smilax (root)
Why is detoxification important for patients with Lyme disease?
Microbes including intracellular parasites: fungi, viruses, and bacteria, establish themselves in a given system by secreting exo-and endotoxins. These toxins fool the body’s immune system in a multitude of ways and distort or prevent appropriate host-responses. For the microbes to co-exist in the host, they have to slow down or block the host’s enzymes needed for detoxification, because these would eliminate the biotoxins faster than the microbes can produce them.
The outcome: The host accumulates not only the biotoxins secreted by the microbes but also a plethora of man-made environmental toxins which can no longer be effectively processed.
- Lead in our water sources
- Mercury in our dental amalgams and fish
- Aluminum in our lungs from air or skin/food sources
- Glyphosate from food, air and soil (Roundup)
- Vaccines – a plethora of ingredients of unknown sources to the average patient
All toxins accumulate in the tissue and lead to increasing blockages in the complex protein machinery of the body. Chronic illnesses cannot be treated without cleaning the host matrix – the connective tissue or scaffolding of the body – and the collection of proteins in the cells and tissues.
I personally believe it is the accumulation of the toxins in the matrix wreaking havoc on our immune system. We are passed many at birth and accumulate more with living in our world today. Add a tick bite and some stress to the recipe and who knows what the tipping point actually is. The combination of it all creates the inflammatory response of putting more stress on the immune system.
Be aware of the source of environmental toxins. Watch and choose what you eat, put on your skin and in your body. Infrared light therapy, like with Sunlighten saunas, is a wonderful therapy along with dry brushing the lymph and moving the body.
The main take home points:
- Do not live in fear – too much information can lead to fear
- The fear sets in the illness and symptoms
- Know when to see a practitioner for help
- Spend time doing self-love and care at home
- Seek resources for home self-help support
- Clean up your spirit body – then your physical body will begin to release and heal as much as possible naturally
Please share your own tips and experiences with us via thehive.health
If you’d like to learn more, all are welcome at our Discovery Health Solutions Workshops.