Category: Lyme Disease

It has been well established that up to 30% of patients who are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease experience post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). PTLDS is characterized by persistent symptoms that can last for months or years. These symptoms can include fatigue, cognitive impairment, joint and muscle aches, and neuropathy, among others. There are a few factors that contribute to the development of PTLDS and one of them is the ability of the bacteria to hide beneath biofilms and evade any attempts to eradicate it. Dr. Eva Sapi published results of her research in 2016 demonstrating that the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, can form biofilms in the body which help them persist despite treatment. What Are Biofilms? Biofilms are a community of micro-organisms that live together in what can be visualized as a slimy matrix. The slimy matrix is made up of proteins, polysaccharides, and eDNA or genetic material shed by organisms. Plumbers understand biofilms due to their ability to form when micro-organisms persist in plumbing systems and damage pumps and the water system. Biofilms can spread pathogens, such as Legionella bacteria, through water distribution systems. The World Health Organization estimates that 15% of hospital patients contract infections...

Since 2007 a significant portion of my practice has been focused on Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. When I first started, I was limited to using mainly herbal and homeopathic remedies, supplements, and IV therapy. However, most people that I diagnosed wanted antibiotics and believed that only antibiotics could treat Lyme disease. Thanks to books by Stephen Buhner, Dr. Horowitz, Dr. Rawls, and others, we know that there is a path to recovery using herbs as a natural Lyme disease treatment. Studies on Herbs and Lyme Disease There are very few studies published on herbs directly against B. burgdorferi and all studies have been in-vitro. Looking at the action in a petri dish is a good start and may be a good way to decide which herbs to study further, however relying on the results of these studies is not ideal for clinical application. A petri dish is a controlled environment including the medium to grow the bacteria, the temperature, and the length of time. How the herbs act in a human body can be much different. A 2023 review article published in Integrative Medicine summarized the results of studies on the effects of herbs against growing and non-growing...

May is Lyme disease awareness month and it’s perfect timing to think about prevention as the weather warms up and people spend more time outdoors. Before you go out in the woods this spring and fall it’s important to take measures to prevent tick bites and to always check yourself thoroughly once home. What is Lyme Disease? Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected blacklegged ticks (deer ticks). It is the fastest growing vector-borne infectious disease in the United States according to the CDC. A vector-borne disease is one that results from an infection transmitted to humans and other animals by blood-feeding anthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. While Lyme disease occurs in Colorado, it’s underreported. This is because it’s not mandatory to report Lyme disease and there is a belief by the medical community that it does not exist in Colorado. Lyme Disease: Getting the Facts In the last ten years, deer ticks have significantly expanded their range. Forty-three states within the continental US have established or reported blacklegged tick populations. Blacklegged ticks are also native to Europe, northern Asia, northern Africa and South America. Lyme disease is transmitted mostly by the nymphal...

Disulfiram Exhibits Antibacterial Activity Against Borrelia Burgdorpheri in Two Studies In 2016 a researchers at Stanford University published research showing disulfiram, also known as Antabuse, as having antibacterial activity against Borrelia burgdorpheri, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The paper, Identification of New Drug Candidates Against Borrelia Burgdorferi Using High-Throughput Screening, identified disulfiram as its top candidate as having promise in treating Lyme disease and babesiosis infection. The in vitro study and others since then have shown that disulfiram is effective at killing both the actively replicating and the more quiescent persistent forms of Borrelia burgdorferi. In a paper published in May 2019 in the journal, Antibiotics, the author, Dr. Leigner, reported on three patients that he treated with disulfiram for Lyme disease.  Each patient had required intensive antimicrobial therapy for control of the symptoms of chronic, relapsing, neurological Lyme disease and relapsing babesiosis. Each was able to discontinue treatment and remain clinically well for periods of observation of 6–23 months following the completion of a finite course of treatment solely with disulfiram. One patient relapsed at six months and is being re-treated with disulfiram again. What is Disulfiram and Why is it Effective Against Lyme Disease? Disulfiram is a...

Do You Think You May Have Lyme Disease?   Check out the following signs and symptoms to see if any match for you: Do you have fatigue and brain fog that started years ago and has gradually worsened over time? Do you have cyclical bouts of malaise, fever, fatigue and body aches? Do you have joint pain and swelling that persists without a diagnosis of rheumatoid or osteoarthritis? If so were you given a "catch all" diagnosis of mixed connective tissue? Did you have a summer flu that persisted and was diagnosed with mononucleosis but you developed persistent fatigue, weakness, headaches and dizziness? Do you have non-specific symptoms that are dismissed by your primary care physician or you are told that you have fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome? Did your symptoms improve or even clear up after a round of antibiotics, just to return when you stopped taking them? Did you suddenly or over time develop neurological conditions that include dizziness, headaches, numbness and tingling in your arms or legs, or pain in your hands or feet? After experiencing a trauma such as a car accident, emotional loss, or even childbirth, did you find yourself with persistent fatigue,brain fog, and...