In the movie Ground Hog Day, Bill Murray plays a TV reporter sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover their Ground Hog Day events. He wakes up one morning to find that time has regressed 24 hours and he has to repeat the previous day’s events over again. This same regression in time happens again and again. At first, he dreads repeating the same day’s events all over. At one point, he decides to make better choices with the same events. Because of these choices, he is finally able to break free of the rut of repeating the same day over.

How is being stuck in a loop of living the same day over and over similar to having Lyme disease biofilms?

Similar to repeating an endless Ground Hog Day, people with Lyme disease can experience the same symptoms over and over
Angie has good days and bad days. On good days, she can take care of the kids and work on her farm. On bad days, she can’t even get out of bed because of pain, fatigue, and feeling toxic. She feels constant anxiety because her symptoms can quickly switch into becoming much worse. Her number of bad days also increases when she gets a new antibiotic from her Lyme literate doctor. After several weeks of good days, she thought she had eliminated her infections. Then the bad days returned. One cause of her returning bad days is probably biofilms.

Unfortunately, Lyme disease and co-infections can create recurring symptoms when they re-emerge from slimy biofilms
Biofilms are basically a protective “slime” made by microorganisms which can consist of polysaccharides¹, extracellular proteins¹, magnesium², pathogens³, or extracellular DNA⁴. Biofilms act as a shield against antibiotics^5,6, herbs⁷, and the immune system⁸. Under a biofilm, many different species of pathogens⁹ can work collaboratively together¹⁰ to survive anti-microbial treatment and re-emerge to create symptoms over and over again. Biofilms can contribute to a roller-coaster of symptoms that wax and wane. Angie wanted a new way to end her roller-coaster of Lyme pain and fatigue.

She tried different enzymes to try and reduce her recurring symptoms
Angie took fermented vegetable and earthworm enzymes to cut through biofilms to try and relieve her recurring symptoms of pain and feeling toxic. When she started these supplements, her pain, fatigue, and feeling toxic actually increased. She described the increase of symptoms as similar to a toxic Herxheimer reaction. After feeling horrible again and again from taking these enzymes, she sought another way to reduce her recurring pains.

Special “blood” herbs help to prevent recurring pains by preventing biofilms from forming
Bacteria use a complex chemical pathway called the Heme-Nitric Oxide/Oxygen (H-NOX) binding domain¹¹ to form biofilms. Bacteria use chemical regulators on this pathway to affect biofilm gene expression and to activate biofilm chemical messenger molecules. Using herbs to interrupt the nitric oxide pathway can disrupt how bacteria form biofilms. Fortunately, there are many Chinese herbs that inhibit the nitric acid pathway¹² which were used to help Angie to prevent biofilms and reduce her recurring pain and fatigue.

Here are three anti-biofilm herbs that also help to remove painful toxins and protect vital organs
In animal and human studies, these herbs have been shown to reduce nitric oxide production, neutralize toxins, and relieve pain and inflammation. These herbs have been used for hundreds of years to treat pain, chronic illness, and fatigue. These herbs have also been used extensively to treat problems in the blood like blood stagnation, anemia, and high blood pressure. In ancient Chinese medical texts, two of these herbs have also been used to treat chronic infections caused by multiple pathogens¹³.

Herb #1: Angelica Root, Angelica Sinensis, Chinese name: Dang Gui¹⁴
The properties of this herb are sweet, acrid, and warm. With over three-hundred references on Pubmed, the medicinal properties of this herb have been researched for its antimicrobial, neuro-protective, anticancer, anticoagulant, and liver-protective properties. This herb blocks how bacteria are able to make biofilms by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide synthase^15,16. In Chinese medicine, angelica is used to strengthen and replenish the blood. It is used to treat anemia, pale complexion, brittle nails, dry hair, dizziness, blurred vision, post-partum fatigue and weakness, palpitations and abdominal pain.

This herb is also used to increase circulation and relieve pain. Angelica along with other herbs is used to treat menstrual disorders including irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, pre-menstrual discomfort, early menstruation, bloating with menstruation, irritability, fatigue, and weakness. During pregnancy, it is used with other herbs to treat abdominal pain, restless fetus, lower back soreness, diarrhea, and breech presentation. After delivery, this herb with other herbs is used to treat post-partum bleeding, spontaneous sweating, fever, shortness of breath, back and leg pain accompanied by the inability to turn from side-to-side, lower abdominal coldness, insufficient milk production, and pain and muscle spasms.

It is commonly used in Chinese hospitals with other herbs to treat traumatic injuries, bruises, fractures, broken bones, and swollen or injured tendons. In the limbs or extremities, Angelica is also used to treat coldness, numbness, pain, painful joints, soreness and weakness of the low back and knees. Topically, it is used with other herbs to treat sores and abscesses, reduce swelling, expel pus, relieve pain, and heal slow-healing sores.

Angelica also moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels. It is used to treat constipation and dry stools. This herb is also used to stop coughing, reduce phlegm, and to relieve shortness of breath. It has also been used to treat arrhythmia, stroke, migraine, nephritis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, liver disease, bed wetting, uterine prolapse, insomnia, blocked blood vessels in the hands and feet, herpes zoster, alopecia, psoriasis, dermatological disorders, deafness, anal fissure, chronic hypertropic rhinitis, and chronic pharyngitis.

Herb – drug interaction: It is suggested that concurrent use of angelica with wafarin may potentiate the effects of wafarin, anti-platelet, and anticoagulant drugs. This herb reduces scopolamine and cycloheximide induced amnesia in rats. Angelica also treats acetaminophen-induced liver damage.

Angelica has an inhibitory effect against Salmonella typhi, E. coli, Corynebacterium diptheriae, Vibrio cholerae, Alpha-hemolytic streptococcus, and Beta-hemolytic streptococcus.

Herb #2: White Peony Root, Paeonia lactiflora Chinese name: Bai Shao¹⁷
The properties of this herb are bitter, sour and cool. This herb is also effective at blocking how bacteria can produce biofilms by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide¹⁸. White peony is used to strengthen the blood and moisten dryness in the body. This herb treats a dull and pale complexion, dizziness, tinnitus, and brittle, pale nails. White peony regulates menstruation and helps to alleviate pain. It is used to treat these conditions: irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, uterine bleeding, breast distention, pre-menstrual symptoms, mood swings, restlessness, and gestational and post-partum disorders. Other conditions treated by this herb include: night sweats, spontaneous sweating, and excessive perspiration.

White peony is also used to treat long standing pathogenic illnesses with symptoms of muscle spasms, twitches, tremors, alternating flexion and extension of the extremities, tonic-clonic spasms, and convulsions. It is also used to treat excess heat conditions marked by dizziness, tinnitus, flushed face, red eyes, irritability, bad temper, headache, vertigo, poor balance, delirium, burning diarrhea, burning upon urination, and loss of consciousness. White peony is also used to treat numbness, spasms, and pain in the muscles, tendons, sinews, and extremities. It is also used for epigastric, intercostal, flank, hypochondriac, and abdominal pain.

This herb is contraindicated in patients with eczema or rashes that are aggravated by wind. It is also contraindicated in post-partum patients with stabbing fixed pains or who are still bleeding. White peony may cause drowsiness or sedation. People who operate heavy machinery need to exercise caution.

White peony has an inhibitory effect against Bacillus dysenteriae, E. coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudonomas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Diplococcus pneumoniae, and some dematophytes.

Herb #3: Tree Peony, Paeonia suffruticosa Chinese name: Mu Dan Pi¹⁹
The properties of this herb are acrid, bitter, and cool. This herb is effective at blocking how bacteria can produce biofilms by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide²⁰.Tree peony clears heat and cools the blood. This herb is used to treat symptoms when the bones feel like they are “steaming”, nighttime fevers, the absence of perspiration, thirst, and menopause.

Used to cool “heat” in the blood, Tree peony has been used to treat maculae, bleeding related blotches on the skin, purpura, hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematuria, hypermenorrhea, early menstruation, and epistaxis. It is also used for night fevers accompanied by morning or daytime chills, hypertension, irritability, redness of the face and eyes, and a short temper.

Tree peony also invigorates blood circulation and disperses blood stasis or “thick blood.” This condition is analogous to hypercoagulation in western medicine. This herb is used to treat severe pain, amenorrhea, abdominal masses like fibroids, tumors, abscesses, and masses. It is also used to treat bruises, broken bones, inflammation, swelling, and pain associated with traumatic injuries. In laboratory and animal studies, Tree peony has strong anti-inflammatory effects, increases blood perfusion, decreases cardiac output, anti-hypertensive effects, and protects that heart from ischemia.

Tree peony is contraindicated in pregnancy and patients that have excessive bleeding during menstruation. This herb has an inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Diplococcus pneumoniae, and Vibrio cholerae.

The right herbs can help you to alleviate recurring Lyme symptoms by preventing biofilms from forming
Just like finding the right course of action to break out of an endless Ground Hog Day loop, the proper combination of anti-biofilm herbs can help you to get free of a rut of recurring Lyme disease symptoms. By interrupting the nitric oxide cycle used to make biofilms, these herbs, along with other medicines and treatments, helped Angie to finally relieve her rollercoaster symptoms of fatigue and pain caused by her Lyme disease and co-infections. Since some of these herbs come with cautions on their use, work with a Lyme literate herbalist to develop a proper, safe, and effective herbal strategy for your recurring Lyme disease symptoms.
Next step: Come to our evening lecture:  Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday June 4th at 6pm to learn more about natural methods for stopping biofilms and recurring Lyme disease symptoms. https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

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2. Song B, Leff LG. Influence of magnesium ions on biofilm formation by Pseudomonas fluorescens. Microbiol Res. 2006;161(4):355-61. Epub 2006 Mar 6.
3. Chemistry of biofilm prevention. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemistry_of_biofilm_prevention#Composition_of_biofilm
4. S D Goodman, K P Obergfell, J A Jurcisek, et. all. Biofilms can be dispersed by focusing the immune system on a common family of bacterial nucleoid-associated proteins. Mucosal Immunology (2011) 4, 625–637; doi:10.1038/mi.2011.27; published online 29 June 2011 https://www.nature.com/mi/journal/v4/n6/full/mi201127a.html
5. Matin, A. Biofilm Studies. https://www.stanford.edu/~amatin/MatinLabHomePage/Biofilm.htm
6. Stewart PS, Costerton JW. Antibiotic resistance of bacteria in biofilms. Lancet. 2001 Jul 14;358(9276):135-8.
7. Wong RW, Hägg U, Samaranayake L, Yuen MK, Seneviratne CJ, Kao R. Antimicrobial activity of Chinese medicine herbs against common bacteria in oral biofilm. A pilot study. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2010 Jun;39(6):599-605. Epub 2010 Apr 24.
8. Goodman et al., p625.
9. M. L. Grbic, I. Vukoievic, G. Simic, I. Krizmanic and M. Stupar. Biofilm Forming Cyanobacteria, Algae, and Fungi on Two Historic Monuments in Belgrade, Serbia. Arch. Biol. Sci, Belgrade, 62 (3), 625-631, 2010 DOI:10.2298/ABS1003625L
10. Nadell CD, Xavier JB, Levin SA, Foster KR (2008) The Evolution of Quorum Sensing in Bacterial Biofilms. PLoS Biol 6(1): e14. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060014
11. Lars Plate, Michael A. Marletta. Nitric Oxide Modulates Bacterial Biofilm Formation through a Multicomponent Cyclic-di-GMP Signaling Network. Molecular Cell – 26 April 2012. https://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/abstract/S1097-2765%2812%2900260-2
12. Shan-Yu Su1 and Ching-Liang Hsieh. Anti-inflammatory effects of Chinese medicinal herbs on cerebral ischemia. Chinese Medicine 2011, 6:26 doi:10.1186/1749-8546-6-26
13. Fruehauf, H. Driving Out Demons and Snakes, A Forgotten Clinical Approach to Chronic Parasitism, Journal of Chinese Medicine, no. 57, May 1998. p. 14
14. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 918 – 924.
15. Han C, Guo J. Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Traditional Chinese Herb Pairs, Angelica sinensis and Sophora flavescens. Inflammation. 2011 Oct 6.
16. Su YW, Chiou WF, Chao SH, Lee MH, Chen CC, Tsai YC. Ligustilide prevents LPS-induced iNOS expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages by preventing ROS production and down-regulating the MAPK, NF-κB and AP-1 signaling pathways. Int Immunopharmacol. 2011 Sep;11(9):1166-72. Epub 2011 Mar 30.
17. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 930 – 934.
18. He DY, Dai SM. Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of paeonia lactiflora pall., a traditional chinese herbal medicine. Front Pharmacol. 2011;2:10. Epub 2011 Feb 25.
19. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 160 – 162.
20. Lee SJ, Lee IS, Mar W. Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 activity by 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose in murine macrophage cells. Arch Pharm Res. 2003 Oct;26(10):832-9.

Image credit Jopparn from Wikimedia Commons.

For people with recurring Lyme disease fatigue and brain fog despite taking antibiotics and herbs

by Greg Lee / Two Frogs Healing Center

Imagine you are at a lively dinner party. As you look around the room, the guests are chatting with each other, enjoying food and drinks. In one corner of the room, you see a live elephant scooping up snacks with it’s trunk into its mouth. The guests are totally ignoring this elephant as it happily munches away.

How is an elephant at a dinner party similar to Lyme disease symptoms that are not responding to medications?

Just like an elephant at party, a cause of persistent Lyme disease symptoms is often overlooked
Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt at the Physician’s Roundtable conference reported that big parasites¹ are a commonly overlooked reason for persistent symptoms in Lyme disease patients. In the US and other advanced countries, he made the case that parasites are more widespread than commonly believed. International travelers, imported produce, and migratory animals can introduce parasites and their cysts into our environment. Unfortunately, these parasites can mimic symptoms of Lyme disease.

Just like Lyme disease and co-infections, parasites produce toxins which trigger symptoms
Helminth parasites are worm-like organisms that can be found in the lymph, organs, and the blood. Protozoa are smaller than helminth parasites and have names like babesia, malaria, amoebas, or protomyxzoa. They are capable of producing toxins1 which disrupt your immune system and make your body more parasite-friendly. These toxins can produce similar symptoms to Lyme disease and co-infections. Unfortunately, parasite infections are often misdiagnosed in Lyme disease patients.

Phoebe struggled for years with fatigue, brain fog, and digestion problems
Phoebe loves traveling to developing nations and helping to build schools. After returning from each of her trips, she requires months to recover her stamina and heal up her digestion. Her doctors diagnosed her with stress, depression, and menopause. Her Lyme disease blood tests came back CDC negative. Parasite tests came back negative. She had some relief with herbal parasite cleanses, enemas, and anti-parasite treatments. Then she got bit by an infected tick.

After a tick bite, her symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, and inflammation got much worse
Fortunately, her primary care doc was willing to give her a few weeks of antibiotics to address her aggravated symptoms. However, her symptoms did not improve much despite the medication. Her doctor referred her to other specialists who eventually diagnosed her with intestinal parasites. Despite taking anti-parasitic medications, she still felt very sick. Then she discovered some custom-made herbal formulas that were tailored to her parasites.

Specially prepared anti-parasite herbs helped to reduce Phoebe’s symptoms
The inflammation in Phoebe’s digestion could limit how well herbs get absorbed. In order to maximize absorption, her herbs were blended with lecithin and water. This mixture was then processed to make small particles which could be absorbed more easily. The resulting liquid looked similar to a latte from a coffee store. Which anti-parasite herbs helped her reduce her symptoms?

Here are three anti-parasite herbs that helped Phoebe improve her fatigue and brain fog
In animal and human studies, these herbs have been effective at killing and expelling parasites.

Herb #1: Rhizoma Dryopteridis, Chinese name: Guan Zhong²
The properties of this herb are bitter, and cool. Guan Zhong is used kill various intestinal parasites such as: hookworm, ringworm, and pinworm. This herb is used to treat bacterial and viral infections like colds, flu, measles, encephalitis, viral pneumonia, infectious bronchitis, and parotitis because it is effective at clearing heat and eliminating toxins. It also stops bleeding in conditions like hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, and excess uterine bleeding.

Caution: this herb is not recommended for people with excess dryness, or coldness in the stomach. This herb is to be taken separate from fatty or greasy food. This herb is not to be used with infants, people with a weak constitution, or people with ulcers in the gastrointestinal track. It can stimulate the contraction of the uterus and should be used with caution during pregnancy.

Filmarone is an active component in Dryopteridis which has a marked antiparasitic effect against tapeworms. In other studies, Dryopteridis kills roundworms in pigs and liver flukes in humans. This herb has a mild to moderate inhibitory effect against Bacillus dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, E. coli, Pseudonomas aeruginosa, Diplococcus meningitidis, and Staphlococcus aureus. It has a strong inhibitory effect on the influenza virus, adenovirus, encephalitis B, and herpes simplex virus. This herb also has an antineoplastic effect.

Herb #2: Fructus Mume, Chinese name: Wu Mei³
The properties of this herb are sour and neutral. This herb is effective at helping to expel parasites and relieve abdominal pain. It has been used effectively against parasitic roundworms, hookworms, and the ascaris worm. This herb treats chronic respiratory diseases that have a dry, feeble cough and a low voice. It also binds the intestines, treats bacterial dysentery, chronic diarrhea and rectal prolapse. Fructus mume relieves thirst and generates body fluids. It is used to treat symptoms of thirst, weight loss and irritability. This herb is used also to treat diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and overheating.

The charred form of fructus mume is also used to treat chronic uterine bleeding. When soaked in salt water and then mixed with vinegar to make a paste, this herb is used to treat ulcers, sore, corns, and warts. It has an anti-aging effect. Fructus mume is also used to treat internal hemorrhoids, viral hepatitis, increased liver enzyme levels, jaundice, chronic cholecystitis, and infantile diarrhea. A mixture of one part Fructus Mume and two parts vinegar that is mixed for 24 hours was 96% effective in treating a billiary ascaris infection.

The sole usage of this herb is cautioned for treating acute diarrhea, or diarrhea caused by food poisoning or infections. It is normally combined with other herbs to treat the above causes of diarrhea. This herb is contraindicated in patients with excess heat or signs of stagnation. Fructus Mume has an inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus dysenteriae, E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and some dematophytes.

Herb #3: Agrimony, Chinese name: Xian He Cao⁴
The properties of this herb are acrid, bitter, astringent, and neutral. Agrimony treats various parasitic infections including malaria, tapeworm, roundworm, and trichomonas vaginitis. It is used to stop bleeding conditions including treat epistaxis, hemoptysis, hermatemesis, hematuria, hematochezia, profuse menstrual bleeding, and thrombocytopenic purpura. This herb also relieves diarrhea and dysentery especially if there is pus and/or blood, white mucus, or gastrointestinal bleeding. Agrimony is used for treating fatigue especially in people with a normal appetite, dizziness, lightheadedness, weak knees and weak low back. This herb also reduces swelling, eliminates pus, breast abscesses, sores, hemorrhoids, nodules, and ulcerations.

This herb may cause palpitations and flushing. It can be taken internally or applied topically as an herbal wash or paste. In one rabbit study, agrimony reduced bleeding time. Water extracts of this herb lower blood pressure and has an inhibiting effect on the heart. Alcohol extracts of this herb increase blood pressure and has a stimulating effect on the heart. Water extracts of this herb at low dosages has a stimulating effect on the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, high dosages inhibits these smooth muscles. In one study, this herb was effective at stopping upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Agrimony has an inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Pseudonomas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This herb has marked antiparasitic effect against roundworm, tapeworm, and schistosomiasis. In mouse studies, this herb is effective against tumor cells. This herb contains vitamin K which may reduce the anticoagulant effect of wafarin and should be used with caution to avoid the formation of clots.

The right herb combination can help you to kill parasites and relieve their symptoms
Just like discovering the elephant in the room, the proper combination of anti-parasite herbs can help you to expel large parasites. These herbs helped Phoebe to finally relieve her fatigue, brain fog, and digestive problems caused by Lyme disease and an intestinal parasite infection. Since some of these herbs come with cautions on their use, work with a Lyme literate herbalist to develop a proper, safe, and effective herbal strategy for your infections.

Next step: Come to our evening lecture:  Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday June 4th at 6pm to learn more about natural methods for stopping parasites and Lyme disease symptoms. https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

 

1. Klinghardt, D. A Deep Look Beyond Lyme. 2012 Physician’s Round Table. January 28th, 2012. Tampa, FL.

2. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 554 – 555.

3. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 988 – 990.

4. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 578 – 580.

Image credit Jopparn from Wikimedia Commons.