I once asked my mom for her secret recipe for barbeque steak. I would savor each bite as it filled my mouth with delicious flavor. I started salivating when I read her well-worn 3×5 card with the list of ingredients: steak, garlic (lots!), sugar, soy sauce, spring onions, rice wine, pepper, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. I felt like I discovered her hidden secret for flavor when I read: “poke holes in the meat with a fork and marinade overnight in the refrigerator.”

How can knowing about marinades help you to fight a persistent mycoplasma infection?

Mycoplasma infections can be found throughout into the body
Mycoplasmas are very small bacteria that can spread throughout the body and have been found especially in the lungs and heart¹, central nervous system², and the blood³. Mycoplasma infections have been linked to illnesses including: multiple sclerosis⁴, cancer⁵, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia⁶, arthritis and hepatitus⁷. Patients report a wide range of symptoms including: respiratory tract infections, fever, chest pain, neurological problems, meningitis, encephalitis, and hemolytic anemia. These symptoms may persist despite antibiotic treatment because mycoplasma can develop drug resistance.

Antibiotic resistant mycoplasma infections are being found across the world
In multiple studies, macrolide or tetracycline antibiotic resistant mycoplasma have been found in North America⁸, Asia^9,10, and Europe¹¹. These germs can also form biofilms¹², which can increase drug resistance up to five-thousand fold¹³. In addition to developing drug resistance, these germs can also hide inside cells¹⁴ which makes killing them much more challenging.

What else besides antibiotics can help you fight a persistent biofilm and intracellular mycoplasma infection?

Essential oils may help you fight a persistent mycoplasma infection
Fortunately, there are five essential oils that have anti-mycoplasma properties. These oils have been effective against multiple mycoplasma species. When these oils are formulated into a microparticle called a liposome, they may have a greater ability to penetrate deeper into biofilms and inside cells and kill mycoplasma in their hiding places. Fortunately, these essential oils have been used safely for decades for food preservation and in therapeutic treatments topically and internally.

Anti-Mycoplasma Essential Oil #1: Bergamot orange, Citrus Bergamia
The properties of this essential oil are cooling, refreshing, and astringent. It is recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)¹⁵. However, bergamot essential oils that contain furanocoumarins are phototoxic potentially carcinogenic, and can lead to blistering if exposed to UV light or sunlight after being applied to the skin topically. Fortunately, there are furanocoumarin-free oils, labelled as bergamot essential oil (FCF) which are non-toxic¹⁶.

In one experiment, bergamot essential oil and its major components (limonene, linalyl acetate and linalool were tested against forty-two strains of Mycoplasma hominis, two strains of Mycoplasma fermentans, and one strain of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. All strains were inhibited at 0.5% (M. hominis and M. pneumonia) to 1% (M. fermentans) minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels by bergamot essential oil. Linalyl acetate was highly effective against M. hominis and M. pneumonia with MIC levels of 0.015% and M. fermentan at MIC levels of 0.12%. Linalool had MIC values of 0.015% against M. pneumoniae, 0.06% MIC levels against M. fermentans, and 1% MIC levels against M. hominis. Limonene had MIC levels of 0.03% against M. pneumoniae, 1% against M. fermentans, and >4% against M. hominis¹⁷.

In other experiments, liposomal bergamot essential oil demonstrated anti-cancer properties¹⁸, the essential oil modulates intracellular calcium levels¹⁹, vaporized bergamot and orange essential oils remove methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus sp. (VRE) and their biofilms²⁰, lavender and bergamot essential oil mixture helps to reduce anxiety and depression²¹, and bergamot essential oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects²². Another essential oil derived from tea tree also has anti-mycoplasma properties.

Anti-Mycoplasma Essential Oil #2: Tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia
The properties of this essential oil are warming and fragrant. High doses, approximately a teaspoon to a half a teacup, of tea tree oil have resulted in ataxia, drowsiness, diarrhea, unconsciousness, and allergic reactions. Maximum topical dose is 15% when combined with other essential oils or carrier oils²³.

In two studies, tea tree essential oil demonstrated anti-mycoplasma effects at very low concentrations. Against M. pneumoniae, MIC was 0.006% for the wild type and 0.003% against mutant strains²⁴. In the second study, M. pneumoniae showed MIC values of 0.01%, M. fermentans, showed MIC values of 0.06%, and M. hominis was 0.12%²⁵.

In other studies, tea tree has been effective against drug resistant MRSA, streptococcus, and candida²⁶, reducing inflammation and stimulating pro-inflammatory cytokines²⁷, and preventing influenza²⁸. A combination of essential oils also demonstrated anti-mycoplasma properties in an animal study.

Anti-Mycoplasma Essential Oils #3: Peppermint, Mentha piperita combined with #4 Eucalyptus, species
The properties of peppermint essential oil are cooling, releases the exterior, and pungent. It is recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)²⁹. However, massive doses of peppermint essential oils, 4g/kg, produce neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, convulsions, and paralysis in animal studies³⁰.

In one animal study, a commercial combination of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils (Mentofin) helped to reduce the effects of a Mycoplasma gallisepticum and H9N2 infection in chickens by reducing mucus production and levels of intracellular infection³¹. In laboratory studies, peppermint essential oil combined with beta-lactam antibiotics reduces antibiotic resistance in drug resistant E. coli³², demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity against: Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa³³, inhibits candida and it’s biofilms³⁴., and peppermint combined with spearmint essential oil reduces chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting³⁵. Peppermint essential oil use is contraindicated in cases of cardiac fibrillation and in patients with a G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase) deficiency.

Anti-Mycoplasma Essential oil #4 Eucalyptus, spp
The properties of eucalyptus essential oil are cooling, disperses wind, and releases the exterior. This essential oil is contraindicated in patients with inflammatory disease in their gastro-intestinal tract and bile ducts, and in cases with severe liver disease³⁶. Multiple cases of acute toxicity have been reported in adults and children after ingesting 5 ml to 75 ml with signs of central nervous system depression, abnormal respiration, and pinpoint pupils. Other symptoms of acute toxicity may include: stomach pain, vomiting, weak legs, cold sweats, headaches, and even death.

In laboratory and animal tests, eucalyptus essential oil demonstrated anti-bacterial activity against E. coli³⁷, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), multi-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae³⁸, Streptococcus mutans³⁹, Candida albicans⁴⁰, and reduces inflammation⁴¹. In addition to peppermint and eucalyptus, cinnamon oil was also effective at inhibiting mycoplasma.

Anti-Mycoplasma Essential Oil #5 Cinnamon bark
The properties of cinnamon essential oil are hot and sweet. It is recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)⁴². In a lab study, cinnamon bark essential oil had antimicrobial activity against fifty clinical isolates of Mycoplasma hominis⁴³. In multiple lab studies, cinnamon bark essential oil has also been effective against drug persistent Lyme disease and it’s biofilms⁴⁴, drug-resistant Candida⁴⁵, Brucella abortus⁴⁶, and Aspergillus mold species and it’s toxins⁴⁷. In another lab study, liposomal cinnamon bark essential oil was effective at inhibiting drug resistant staphylococcus (MRSA) and it’s biofilms⁴⁸.

Caution: cinnamon oil has produced allergic dermatitis in some cases when placed on the skin. This oil may interfere with blood clotting. In one case, a boy drank 60 ml of cinnamon oil upon a dare and experienced symptoms of burning sensation in the mouth, chest and stomach, dizziness, double vision, nausea, vomiting and later collapsed. Microparticle essential oils may help enhance the fight against persistent mycoplasma symptoms.

Patients with mycoplasma report a significant reduction of chronic symptoms
After taking internal doses of microparticle “liposomal” essential oil mixtures containing one or more of the oils above, several patients have reported significant reduction in muscular and joint pain, headaches, insomnia, inflammation, fatigue, and mental fog, and confusion. In some cases, symptoms were aggravated due to a toxic die off Herxheimer reaction. Using essential oils in a careful, targeted strategy may help to reduce persistent mycoplasma symptoms.

The right essential oils can help you to fight off a persistent mycoplasma infection
Just like the right marinade, the proper anti-mycoplasma essential oils in a microparticle liposome may penetrate deeper into cells, under biofilms, and into the brain where mycoplasmas can cause troubling symptoms. These oils may help to significantly reduce the persistent pain, fatigue, and mental fog caused by these germs. Since these oils come with cautions and contraindications on their use, work with a Lyme literate essential oil practitioner to develop a safe and effective essential oil strategy for your condition.

– Greg

P.S. Do you have experiences where treatment or remedies helped you eliminate or reduce inflammation and fatigue from a mycoplasma infection? Tell us about it.

>> Next step: Come to our live evening lecture: Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday January 8th at 6pm to learn more about treatments and remedies for stopping treatment resistant mycoplasma, Lyme disease, drug resistant infections, neurological problems, inflammation, and pain: https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

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For people with recurring toxic rashes caused by mold and Babesia toxins
by Greg Lee

When I was a boy, I enjoyed making fires in our fireplace. One day, I had just lit a fire just before everyone in my family was heading out to the store. When we came back, the fire alarm was buzzing and the whole house smelled of smoke. In my haste to leave, I had forgotten to open the chimney to let the smoke out. Fortunately, the only damage was due to smoke and the fire was contained in the fireplace.

How are protozoa and mold toxins similar to smoke damage from a closed chimney?

Similar to smoke that spreads through a house, people can accumulate unhealthy levels of Babesia toxins
Blossom struggled for years with hot, red, itchy rashes that were diagnosed as eczema. Her allergist prescribed antihistamines which helped somewhat. Her dermatologist tried giving her multiple steroid creams and moisturizing lotions, some of which actually aggravated her condition. Her rashes looked like red dots from a ball point pen and were so itchy, she would scratch them until she bled. She would wear gloves to bed to prevent herself from scratching. She finally got an appointment with a dermatologist at a top medical school in the country.

More steroid creams did nothing to eliminate her rash
The top dermatologist prescribed more steroid creams which did little to relieve her symptoms. She went to a naturopathic physician who gave her supplements and changed her diet to eliminate foods which could cause an allergic reaction. For a while, her symptoms improved until a visit to a friend’s house made things much worse.

She had a huge flare up of her rash after visiting a friend
Unknown to Blossom, her friend had a leaky roof that produced a large mold problem in the basement. After visiting for several hours, Blossom felt like her skin was on fire. None of her medications or supplements helped to put it out. She was completely miserable and desperately searched for new ways to stop her eczema. Then she heard about a Lyme literate acupuncturist that had success treating unusual cases.

Rashes can be a sign that the body needs a lot of help in getting rid of toxins
Blossom’s aggravated rash presented with many small red dots all over her body which looked similar to a Babesia rash¹. Her skin was hot to the touch. At her first visit with the acupuncturist, she received an electrodermal scan that revealed many factors that could produce her rashes. First, the scan indicated a genetic problem with methylation detoxification. If she could not eliminate toxins through methylation, then the toxins could build up and come out through her skin as a rash. Multiple infections were also detected through the scan.

Electrodermal scans can help to identity the hidden sources of toxic rashes
Her scan detected elevated mycotoxins and reduced levels of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP)². Her scan also indicted Babesia, Streptococcus, and multiple fungal infections. Her lymphatic system also showed indications of being severely blocked.

What can help to remove mold and infectious biotoxins before they come out through the skin as hot, itchy rashes?

Here are five treatments and remedies that help to reduce biotoxins before they can lead to uncomfortable skin rashes
Rashes in the skin are often interpreted in Chinese medicine as an indicator of a deeper issue in the lungs and / or intestines. Detoxifying the skin and the deeper organs helps to address the surface and underlying causes of toxic rashes. As the toxins get reduced, then antimicrobial treatments and remedies can also be increased to address the infections that are producing the toxins.

Treatment #1: Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Blossom was treated with multiple microcurrent frequencies³ for killing fungal and protozoal infections and neutralizing their toxins in her skin, lungs, intestines, and lymphatic system. She also received a set of frequencies for treating eczema. After each microcurrent session, she remarked that her skin felt less hot and itchy. In addition to microcurrent, she also received acupuncture for releasing toxins and rashes out of the skin.

Treatment #2: Detoxification acupuncture
For decades, acupuncture has been used to treat addicts in the United States to help them to detoxify off of habit forming drugs⁴. Blossom received an acupuncture treatment for detoxifying and venting heat out of the skin layer called, “Aggressive Energy⁵.” After 30 minutes, she remarked that her skin went from being hot to feeling cold. In addition to acupuncture, she also received laser delivered homeopathic remedies.

Treatment #3: Laser delivered remedies
A cold laser can be used to drive the frequencies of homeopathic, colloidal silver, or essential oil remedies into a patient⁶. The remedy is placed in a clear glass vial which sits in front of the laser beam which then shines into the patient. Blossom reported significant temperature reductions when she received laser delivered homeopathic remedies for Epstein Barr virus, Herpes simplex, homeopathic detoxification, Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and Gc protein Macrophage Activation Factor (GcMAF) on her skin rashes. In addition to laser delivered remedies, she also received liposomal herbs for detoxifying and killing infections in the skin, intestines, lungs, and the lymphatic system.

Treatment #4: Liposomal herbal remedies
Herbs that are processed into a liposomes are more effective a penetrating and relieving symptoms of toxicity in the skin, organs, and the nervous system⁷. Liposomal herbs are constructed with an outer shell which is often made from lecithin with an inner core of an herbal mixture. Liposomes are usually processed to make a very small particle size which can be absorbed quickly and easily into cells. Blossom received a custom combination of liposomal herbs for moistening, cooling, and detoxifying the skin, lungs, and intestines which included:

• Glehnia, Chinese name Bei Sha Shen
• Ligusticum, Chinese name Chuan Xiong
• Lycii cortex, Chinese name Di Gu Pi
• Zedoraria, Chinese name E Zhu
• Sophora, Chinese name Ku Shen.

Other herbs were added to the liposomal mixture to kill fungal and protozoal infections, including:

• Dichroa root, Chinese name: Chang Shan
• Gentiana, Chinese name: Long Dan Cao
• Artemisia, Chinese name: Qing Hao
• Lapacho, Pau D’Arco

After taking this mixture every day, Blossom reported that her skin felt less toxic and cooler to the touch. She found that certain kinds of detoxification baths made her condition worse and others helped her to feel better.

Treatment #5: Detoxification baths
Blossom tried taking Epsom salt baths to detox, unfortunately they left her skin feeling drier and itchier. She was given a bottle of a specialty bath which uses charge particles to draw toxins out of her tissues. After taking several of these baths, her skin felt moister and less toxic. Fortunately, multiple treatments can effectively reduce the toxic heat rashes caused by fungal and protozoal infections.

Using multiple anti-toxin treatments can quickly reduce burning and itchy rashes caused by an accumulation of infectious toxins in the skin
Similar to opening the chimney flue to vent smoke out of a house, using multiple anti-toxin treatments of Frequency Specific Microcurrent, acupuncture, laser delivered remedies, liposomal herbal remedies, and specialty detox baths can relieve the itchy hot rashes due to excess toxins from fungal and protozoal infections. Since these treatments require specialized training to be applied safely, please consult a Lyme literate Chinese medicine practitioner to see if these are a good fit for eliminating your toxic heat rashes.

– Greg

P.S. Do you have experiences where treatment or remedies helped you eliminate or reduce toxic rashes from mold or Babesia? Tell us about it.

>> Next step: Come to our evening lecture: Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday January 6th, 2014 at 6pm to learn more about treatments and remedies for Babesia, mold, natural methods for reducing toxic skin problems, inflammation, and pain caused by Lyme disease. https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

1. Corson, A. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Tick-Borne Diseases. Lyme Disease in the Family Conference. Salisbury, MD July 9th, 2011.
2. Shoemaker, R. The Biotoxin Pathway. https://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/the-biotoxin-pathway
3. Frequency Specific Microcurrent Advanced Summary Protocols. https://www.frequencyspecific.com/faq.php#protocol
4. Shwartz M, Saitz R, Mulvey K, Brannigan P. The value of acupuncture detoxification programs in a substance abuse treatment system. J Subst Abuse Treat. 1999 Dec;17(4):305-12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10587932
5. Worsley, J. R. Traditional Acupuncture: Traditional Diagnosis, Vol. 2. pp. 175–178. https://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Acupuncture-Diagnosis-Vol/dp/1873272006
6. Cowden, L. Change the Terrain To Resolve Disease. 2012 Physician’s Round Table. January 28th, 2012. Tampa, FL.
7. Lee, Greg. Beyond Wack-A-Mole Lyme Treatment: What Has Helped People to Heal Lyme MCIDs Concurrent with or Post Drug Therapy. Integrative Lyme Solutions: The Evidence Basis Conference, Dallas, Texas, June 22, 2013.

Image courtesy of FlickrLickr / Robbie Sproule of Wikimedia Commons

For people with persistent eye problems due to Bartonella that are not resolving with antibiotics
by Greg Lee

When I was in Middle School, we were taught archery in physical education. I enjoyed learning how to hold, aim, and shoot arrows at a target many yards away. Part of our grade was seeing how close we could come to getting an arrow in the center bull’s-eye of the target. I am amazed at how no one got hurt with over twenty adolescent boys and girls shooting arrows all over the place.

How is archery target practice similar to a Bartonella eye infection?

Similar to getting an arrow in the bull’s-eye of the target, Bartonella has a similar way of impacting the eye
Andie’s eye felt hot, swollen, painful and itchy for many weeks. Warm compresses helped to temporarily relieve her symptoms. Her primary care doctor diagnosed her with conjunctivitis and gave her antibiotics, which did not help at all. Ice felt good, however the symptoms would return quickly. People can have chronic eye pain, swelling, and pressure that is related to a Bartonella henselae and quintana infection¹. Andie’s other symptoms indicated a possible Bartonella infection.

Bartonella can also produce symptoms of brain fog, burning in the extremities, and increased anxiety²
Given Andie’s other symptoms of brain fog, anxiety, and numbness, pain, and heat in her extremities, she was suspected of having a Bartonella co-infection. After 4 weeks of up and down painful eye symptoms, she decided to visit a Lyme literate acupuncturist. Fortunately, she was able to receive multiple treatments aimed at relieving her eye pain and inflammation.

There are multiple treatments that can treat a Bartonella eye infection
At the beginning of her appointment, Andie’s eye discomfort was at a level of 6 out of 10. One of the challenges is how to safely kill off an infection without damaging the eye. Fortunately, Frequency Specific Microcurrent uses minute amounts of electricity to kill infections, detoxify, and is a very safe.

Tx #1: Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Frequency Specific Microcurrent uses two pairs of frequencies which can be used to target infections like Bartonella anywhere in the body³. Andie received multiple pairs of frequencies in a single treatment. The first set of frequencies were used to kill Bartonella, neutralize bacterial toxins, and general toxins. The second set of frequencies were used to direct the microcurrent to the eye, rectus muscles, oblique muscles, eye socket, and eyelid. Electrical leads were placed on the back of her neck and over her eyes.

Result > After fifty minutes, her discomfort level decreased from 6 to 4 of 10

Next, acupuncture was used to aid in detoxification, reducing inflammation, and strengthening the immune system.

Tx #2: Acupuncture
Acupuncture points on the spleen and lung pathways were used to relieve inflammation, aid in detoxification, and support the immune system in fighting infection. As Andie’s acupuncture pulses improved, she was treated with laser delivered homeopathics.

Tx #3: Laser Delivered Homeopathics
A homeopathic remedy for treating Bartonella in a clear glass vial was used in combination with a 650 nm laser to treat Andie’s eye next. The laser was shone through the homeopathic solution in the vial to encode the frequencies of the remedy into the laser⁴. With her eyes closed, the laser was beamed around Andie’s eye brow, bridge of her nose, and upper cheek. Special care was taken to avoid shining the laser directly into her eye.

Result > After twenty minutes, her discomfort level decreased from 4 to 3 of 10

Given the success of thread moxabustion in treating localized Bartonella symptoms in other patients⁵, Andie was treated next with moxabustion around her eye.

Tx #4: Thread moxabustion
A common plant called artemisia argyii, also known as mugwort or moxa or by the Chinese name: Ai Ye, was used in Andie’s next treatment. A rare form of this plant uses only the underside hairs of the leaves, which is called ultra pure moxa. Four ounces of ultra pure moxa can cost several hundred US dollars. The ultra pure moxa was rolled into tiny threads and placed on Andie’s upper cheek, bridge of the nose, and on the eyebrow. Each thread was lit with an incense stick. As each thread grew hot, it was removed. After treating the area around her eye, Andie was astonished.

Result > After fifteen minutes, her discomfort level decreased from 3 to 0 of 10!

Fortunately, multiple treatments can reduce the pain and discomfort of stubborn Bartonella symptoms.

Using multiple anti-Bartonella treatments can quickly reduce the pain and inflammation associated with this infection
Just like shooting an arrow into the bull’s-eye of the target, using multiple anti-Bartonella treatments of Frequency Specific Microcurrent, acupuncture, laser delivered homeopathics, and ultra-pure moxabustion can target specific areas and relieve the pain, inflammation, and hot discomfort of a Bartonella infection. Since these treatments require specialized training to be used safely, please consult a Lyme literate Chinese medicine practitioner to see if these are a good fit for eliminating your Bartonella symptoms.

– Greg

P.S. Do you have experiences where treatment or remedies helped you eliminate or reduce Bartonella symptoms of eye pain, inflammation, or burning? Tell us about it.

>> Next step: Come to our evening lecture: Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday November 4th at 6pm to learn more about treatments and remedies for Bartonella infections, natural methods for reducing neurological problems, inflammation, and pain caused by Lyme disease. https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

1. Kalogeropoulos C, Koumpoulis I, Mentis A, Pappa C, Zafeiropoulos P, Aspiotis M. Bartonella and intraocular inflammation: a series of cases and review of literature. Clin Ophthalmol. 2011; 5: 817–829. Published online 2011 June 16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3130920/
2. Corson, A. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Tick-Borne Diseases. Lyme Disease in the Family Conference. Salisbury, MD July 9th, 2011. https://www.lymepa.org/LDAESMD_July_2011_Conference_Info___Registration.pdf
3. Frequency Specific Microcurrent Advanced Summary Protocols. https://www.frequencyspecific.com/faq.php#protocol
4. Klinghardt, D. A Deep Look Beyond Lyme. 2012 Physician’s Round Table. January 28th, 2012. Tampa, FL.
5. Lee, Greg. Beyond Wack-A-Mole Lyme Treatment: What Has Helped People to Heal Lyme MCIDs Concurrent with or Post Drug Therapy. Integrative Lyme Solutions: The Evidence Basis Conference, Dallas, Texas, June 22, 2013.

Image courtesy of Bcc cindy and Casito of Wikimedia Commons

For people with bloating, indigestion, or gut toxicity from Lyme and co-infections
by Greg Lee

Have you ever had a small flood in your basement? My washing machine leaked a lot of water from a burst hose. After reading about how people getting sick from moldy buildings, my worst fears were giving me nightmares after I found several square feet of mold growing out of sight under some shelves.

How is a hidden mold colony similar to recurring digestion problems?

Just like a spreading mold problem, inflammation in the gut can develop in people with Lyme disease
Similar to mold that grows slowly out of sight, digestion discomfort can evolve slowly over time until it creates significant symptoms. Bertie experienced bloating, gas, and indigestion when he ate carbohydrates, greasy or sweet foods. After most meals, his belly was swollen, tender to the touch, and felt excessively full. After feeling worse after eating, he decided to give up those foods that increased his Lyme disease symptoms. Not only food but also medications for Lyme disease made his symptoms worse.

His symptoms would worsen on his antibiotic protocol
Bertie’s gut problems were aggravated whenever he rotated antibiotics. The toxic die off from drug treatment dramatically increased the tenderness and swelling in his gut. Biotoxins from Lyme disease and other tick infections have also been shown to increase the production of inflammatory compounds called cytokines¹. Some days the swelling would spread down his legs. He felt that his immune system was over-producing inflammation in response to his infection. Unfortunately, over the counter medications did little to relieve his symptoms.

Over the counter medications weren’t much help either
Antacids like Zantac and Prevacid didn’t help him to feel better. Gas-X and Bean-o helped a little with the gas. Dietary changes helped reduce symptoms however they would flare up with trigger foods or randomly for unknown reasons.

What else can help to relieve gut problems from a Lyme infections?

Here are five strategies that can help with reducing gut inflammation and discomfort
A combination of supplements, herbs, and treatments can help to reduce infection, toxicity and inflammation in the gut from a Lyme infection.

Strategy #1: Increase HCL to fight off microbes in the gut
As people age, they produce less hydrochloric acid (HCL)². Supplementing with HCL helped Bartie to better digest his trigger foods and reduce bloating, gas and inflammation. With HCL, he noticed a significant decrease in his symptoms that normally flared up with these foods. Aloe vera gel also helped to relieve inflammation and soothe his gut. Herbs also helped him to reduce the tenderness and swelling.

Strategy #2: Take herbs for reducing gut inflammation and detoxification
The herbs cnidium fruit and sophora have been used for hundreds of years to help people with gut problems due to multiple chronic infections.

Cnidium fruit, Chinese name: She Chuang Zi³
The properties of this herb are acrid, bitter, and warm. This herb treats weeping, itchy skin lesions in the lower part of the body, eczema, fungal skin infections, trichomoniasis, genital itching, vaginal discharge, hemorrhoids, scabies, and ringworm. Cnidium also treats low back pain, impotence and infertility.

This herb is contraindicated in patients with deficiency and excess heat in the lower part of the body. Cnidium inhibits Trichomonas vaginalis and some dematophytes. At the time of publication, no cautions or contraindications with medications have been discovered.

Sophora root, Chinese name: Ku Shen Gen⁴
The properties of this herb are bitter and cold. This herb clears heat and reduces inflammation and discharge in the lower part of the body. Sophora is also used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, foul smelling leukorrhea, genital itching, bleeding hemorrhoids, jaundice, and bleeding disorders. This herb is also used to treat dematological disorders, including itching, seepage, abscesses, urticaria, genital sores, leprosy, dysuria, and burning and pain with urination.

In clinical and animal studies, Sophora has been helpful in reducing arrhythmia characterized by excessive adrenaline, 62% of patients with arrhythmia successfully treated in another study, the alkaloids of this herb dilate blood vessels and increase blood perfusion to the cardiac muscles, lowered blood pressure and protected the heart from ischemia in one rabbit study, injections of d-oxymatrine increased white blood cells in mice, insomnia patients treated with 20 ml of a syrup of this herb reported greatly improved sleep, and relieved asthma in as short as one hour by stimulating the beta receptors of the sympathetic nervous system which relaxed the bronchioli. Sophora inhibits Bacillus dysentery, E. coli, Bacillus proteus, B-hemolytic streptococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus, and trichomonas. This herb is contraindicated in patients with coldness in the stomach. At the time of publication, no cautions or contraindications with medications have been discovered. In addition to herbs, gentle hand-on manipulation of the abdomen reduced inflammation.

Strategy #3: Move the inflammation out of the cells through visceral manipulation
Developed by osteopathic physicians, visceral manipulation uses gentle hands on pressure in the abdomen and over organs to relieve swelling, tenderness, and pain. When Bartie received visceral manipulation on his abdomen, he felt a tremendous increase of heat where he was being touched. After several minutes, the heat subsided and the tenderness to the touch was greatly reduced. His stomach felt less inflamed and less bloated. Not only does manipulation help, so does microcurrent treatment.

Strategy #4: Use Frequency Specific Microcurrent to reduce toxicity and inflammation in the gut and intestines
Bartie received Frequency Specific Microcurrent treatment to help his stomach and intestines, along with frequencies for neutralizing toxins, killing spirochetes, and reducing inflammation⁵. The swelling in his abdomen reduced fairly rapidly during his Frequency Specific Microcurrent sessions. Adding probiotics also helped reduce inflammation and improved elimination.

Strategy #5: Increase the amount of healthy probiotics through retention enemas
Bartie’s least favorite and yet a highly effective form of treatment was to give himself retention enemas at home. Inspired by the success of increasing healthy probiotics and reducing inflammation in the colon using fecal transplants⁶, Bartie was instructed to take an over-the-counter saline enema and dump out half the contents. He would add into the enema bottle over fifteen strains of over-the-counter probiotics and waited till they dissolved before self-administering his enemas. He held the enema in his rectum as long as he could. Since antibiotic therapy tends to wipe out probiotics like acidophilus or lactobacillus, he also included probiotic strains of S. boulardi and pediococcus which survive much better during antimicrobial drug treatment. He would sometimes add freeze dried garlic and tinctures of anti-parasite meds like clove and teasel root. His stool moved much more easily after each enema and he reported significantly less abdominal discomfort and inflammation. Multiple approaches help clean out inflammation, toxicity, and infection that can produce gut symptoms.

Using multiple approaches, patients report a significant reduction of gut discomfort
Similar to cleaning up a basement mold colony, the proper combination of treatments and herbs can help you to relieve gut inflammation and discomfort. Since some of these treatments come with cautions on their use, work with a Lyme literate complementary practitioner to develop a safe and effective strategy for healing gut problems.
– Greg

P.S. Do you have experiences where treatment or remedies helped you reduce gut discomfort and inflammation? Tell us about it.

>> Next step: Come to our evening lecture: Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday September 9th at 6pm to learn more about treatments and remedies for digestion difficulties, troublesome infections, natural methods for reducing neurological problems, inflammation, and pain caused by Lyme disease, co-infections, and yeast. https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

1. Shoemaker, R. The Biotoxin Pathway. https://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/the-biotoxin-pathway
2. Payne, M. The Use of Bio-Photonic Modulation in Complex Conditions., Physician’s Round Table (PRT) in Tampa, Florida, January 26, 2012. https://lymebook.com/vogan-blog/?p=39
3. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 1055 – 1056. https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Medical-Herbology-Pharmacology-John/dp/0974063509
4. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., pp. 150 – 152. https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Medical-Herbology-Pharmacology-John/dp/0974063509
5. Frequency Specific Microcurrent Advanced Summary Protocols. https://www.frequencyspecific.com/faq.php#protocol
6. Kruis W. Specific probiotics or ‘fecal transplantation’. Dig Dis. 2012;30 Suppl 3:81-4. doi: 10.1159/000342611. Epub 2013 Jan 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23295696

Image courtesy Chuck Marean and Coyau of wiki commons

For people that have chronic joint pain, headaches, and inflammation that are not improving with Lyme disease treatment
by Greg Lee

On foraging trips with the local mushroom society, my mom would cringe as inexperienced newcomers would pick poisonous mushrooms that looked similar to edible ones. Fortunately on every trip, there were several mushroom experts that could teach the group how to distinguish between poisonous look-a-likes and their edible cousins. The embarrassed newcomers were extremely grateful learn the difference and avoid a trip to the emergency room for mushroom poisoning.

How is mistaking a poisonous mushroom for an edible look-a-like similar to a misdiagnosed Lyme disease infection?

Just like picking a poisonous mushroom that looks edible, there are infections that can produce symptoms very similar to a Lyme disease infection
Claire suffered with chronic migraines, back pain, joint inflammation, disturbed sleep, and high blood pressure. Her tests for all sorts of autoimmune disorders, infections, heart disease came up negative. She was prescribed high blood pressure and anti-inflammatory medicines for her symptoms. She was suspected of having Lyme disease due to living in an endemic area and her chronic recurring symptoms. Her Lyme Western Blot tests all came back negative.

Various medications, supplements and treatments gave her some relief for her migraines and joint symptoms
Chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, and anti-inflammatory supplements brought some relief, however symptoms would quickly return a few days later. After many months, her doctor gave her the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and a prescription for Cymbalta. This medication helped a little with the pain. For several years, Claire just lived with the side effects of the medication: nausea, fatigue, and sweats. Fortunately, she decided to get a new type of scan that checks for electrical frequencies of different infections.

Electro-dermal scanning technology can help to find the hidden causes of persistent symptoms
Claire received an electro-dermal scan that checked different systems of her body for illness, infections, and possible remedies. The scan identified an elevated frequency corresponding to a Streptococcus B hemolytic infection hiding in her sinus and in her intestines. According to the CDC website¹, “[One of] the most common problems caused by Group B strep in adults are: Bone and joint infections.” Neurological strep infections have been associated with Parkinson’s disease². Could Strep B be contributing to Claire’s joint problems also?

Here are four strategies for clearing a Streptococcus B infection that helped Claire feel better quickly
Given that the strep B infection could be systemic, Claire’s treatment and medicines were focused on clearing out her infection from her sinuses, intestines, and joints. Strep can move through the blood, so anti-strep treatments for clearing infection from her entire body were also used. Given her concerns about drug resistant infections, she decided to try a natural approach first before taking more antibiotics. A combination of treatment and anti-strep natural medicines brought relief quickly.

Strategy #1: Use sublingual essential oils to target sinus infections
Claire received a mixture of essential oils that have inhibited strep B and strep species in lab studies: cinnamon, lemongrass³, clove⁴, eucalyptus, and tea tree⁵. Every night, she held a few drops under her tongue to allow the oils to diffuse into her sinus cavities. Within a few days her headaches subsided. Claire also drank herbs processed into a liposomal mixture to target infections in her body.

Strategy #2: Take liposomal herbs to focus on system infections
Liposomal herbs are processed into a very small particle size and have a lecithin (lipid) covering which increases absorption. Claire took a customized liposomal mixture of herbs that inhibit or have anti-strep properties in different experiments: forsythia fruit⁶, artemisia argyii⁷, angelica root⁸, asparagus root⁹, buplerum¹⁰, scutellaria¹¹, coptidis¹², sophora¹³, tree peony¹⁴, honeysuckle flower¹⁵, and curcuma zedoraria¹⁶. Liposomal herbal formulas have been highly effective at relieving joint symptoms compared to herbs in alcohol tinctures, decoctions, or powdered herbs for patients infected with Lyme disease¹⁷. Frequency Specific Microcurrent treatments also help to target localized and systemic strep infections.

Strategy #3: Apply Frequency Specific Microcurrent to kill strep locally and systemically
Frequency Specific Microcurrent treatments uses a pair of low level electrical currents, labelled A and B, in the millionths of an amp range. The “A” current pair was used for killing strep B or eliminating strep toxins. The “B” current pair was used to target the entire body, sinuses, small intestine, large intestine, low back, and lower extremity joints¹⁸. Claire felt much more relaxed and energized after receiving microcurrent frequencies for killing and detoxing strep systemically and locally. Changing her diet also helped.

Strategy #4: Eat foods that help kill strep
There are foods that have inhibit strep in lab experiments. Claire added asparagus¹⁹, scallion²⁰, and drank chrysanthemum flower²¹ tea to her diet to fight strep. She felt a difference in her symptoms soon after getting treatments, taking her medicines, and changing her diet.

Claire felt a big difference in a few days
Three days after her first treatment, she felt a huge decrease in her joint pain.  She was excited to feel how treatment, the essential oils and herbs were working. The diet seemed to help also. A few weeks into her treatment, she increased her dose of essential oils and then felt worse from killing off too many germs too quickly. After backing her dose down of herbs and oils, she found that she was less symptomatic and more functional. A combination of four strategies can help you fight a systemic strep infection.

These four strategies can help to fight off a systemic strep infection
Just like being able to identify edible mushrooms versus poisonous ones, electro-dermal testing helps to identify which infections may be the biggest troublemakers. Antimicrobial strategies can then be selected to target the most troublesome infections. In Claire’s example, sub-lingual and oral essential oils, herbs, Frequency Specific Microcurrent, and dietary changes helped her to reduce the symptoms caused by a systemic strep infection. Since some of these herbs and essential oils have cautions on their use, work with an herbalist knowledgeable in antimicrobial medicines to develop a proper, safe, and effective strategy for your condition.

– Greg

P.S. Do you have experiences where electrodermal scanning helped you identify underlying infections? Which herbs, essential oils, or treatments helped you to reduce recurring migraines, inflammation, or joint pains? Tell us about it.

>> Next step: Come to our evening lecture:  Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday August 5th at 6pm to learn more about electrodermal scanning for hidden troublesome infections, natural methods for reducing neurological problems, inflammation, and pain caused by Lyme disease, co-infections, and yeast.  https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

1.        Group B Strep Infection in Adults. https://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/about/adults.html
2.        Gordon, Gary. LYME Could Be Called L. I. M. E. S. (Lowered Immune Metabolic Encephalo-arthropathy Syndrome). Integrative Lyme Solutions: The Evidence Basis Conference. Dallas, Texas. June 21, 2013.
3.        Warnke PH, Becker ST, Podschun R, Sivananthan S, Springer IN, Russo PA, Wiltfang J, Fickenscher H, Sherry E. The battle against multi-resistant strains: Renaissance of antimicrobial essential oils as a promising force to fight hospital-acquired infections. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 2009 Oct;37(7):392-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jcms.2009.03.017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19473851
4.        Fabio A, Cermelli C, Fabio G, Nicoletti P, Quaglio P. Screening of the antibacterial effects of a variety of essential oils on microorganisms responsible for respiratory infections. Phytother Res. 2007 Apr;21(4):374-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17326042
5.        Takarada K, Kimizuka R, Takahashi N, Honma K, Okuda K, Kato T. A comparison of the antibacterial efficacies of essential oils against oral pathogens. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2004 Feb;19(1):61-4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14678476
6.        Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 175.
7.        Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 601.
8.        Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 921.
9.        Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 947.
10.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 85.
11.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 139.
12.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 143.
13.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 152.
14.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 161.
15.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 172.
16.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 667.
17.      Lee, Greg. Beyond Wack-A-Mole Lyme Treatment: What Has Helped People to Heal Lyme MCIDs Concurrent with or Post Drug Therapy. Integrative Lyme Solutions: The Evidence Basis Conference, Dallas, Texas, June 22, 2013.
18.      Frequency Specific Microcurrent Advanced Summary Protocols. https://www.frequencyspecific.com/faq.php#protocol
19.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 947.
20.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 59.
21.      Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 76.

Image courtesy of Paffka from Wikimedia Commons

For people that have difficulty sleeping due to Lyme disease and co-infections
by Greg Lee

When I was growing up, we had an old tea kettle that we used for making hot water. When the water boiled, the whistle on the spout would make a really shrill noise you could hear throughout the house. Each time it whistled, our collection of over a dozen guinea pigs would squeak loudly with the teapot. The noise was so loud, it was impossible to hear oneself think.

How is a loud whistling tea pot similar to insomnia from Lyme disease?

Similar to a boiling teapot, people with Lyme disease can have too much mental noise or agitation which prevents them from sleeping
Just like a whistling tea kettle, Janey’s mind at night would bounce from one loud thought to the next about dealing with her Lyme disease and co-infections. Sometimes aches, pains, or buzzing in her legs would get in the way of finding a comfortable sleeping position. At some late hour, she would eventually doze off and get a few hours of restless sleep. The next morning, she’d wake up and feel like she had never slept. She tried lots of medication and supplements to get her mind and body to doze off.

Supplements and medications can help with insomnia from Lyme disease
Janey found that stopping all caffeine and taking melatonin helped a little. She found that Ambien and Lunesta also helped, however she wanted a more restful quality than drugged sleep. Whenever, she got a good night of sleep, she felt a huge difference in her energy levels, mental clarity, and emotional outlook the next day. However, her insomnia got worse whenever she switched to a new antibiotic. She began to dread getting a new prescription and the sleeplessness that followed. Her blood tests showed elevated inflammatory markers.

Increased inflammation can be measured in people with insomnia
In Intensive Care Unit (ICU) studies of patients, sleep deprivation increased immune system dysfunction, impaired wound healing, and changes in behavior¹. In one mouse study, sleep deprived mice had elevated levels inflammatory cytokines:  Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α), and Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)². In one human sleep study, patients with insomnia showed increased metabolism in multiple areas of the brain and elevated levels of cortisol and IL-6³. In another study on sleep deprived caregivers, elevated levels of a protein fragment called D-Dimer, which indicates increased hypercoagulation⁴. Unfortunately, Janey’s blood tests showed elevated levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β. There appears to be a clinical correlation between elevated toxins that can increase both hypercoagulation and insomnia.

Increased toxins can also aggravate insomnia
According to the Biotoxin Pathway, elevated biotoxins from Lyme disease and Babesia can produce symptoms that can increase insomnia: body discomfort, mental unease, and emotional agitation⁵. This pathway also describes how drug resistant staph germs that reside in nasal passages, called Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Coagulase Negative Staph (MARCoNS), produce toxins that get into the brain and can disrupt sleep⁶. These toxins can desynchronize or disrupt the electrical flow between the right and left hemispheres of the brain which also increases discomfort and insomnia⁷.

What strategies can help to clear toxins, reduce inflammation, and deepen sleep?

Combining multiple treatments can enhance and deepen sleep
When Lyme disease patients get improved sleep, they report increased vitality, mental clarity, and a more hopeful outlook. Here are several treatments and natural medicines which have helped many patients to eliminate infections and their toxins that disturb sleep and rest more deeply.

Strategy #1: Use sublingual essential oils for cutting through nasal biofilms and MARCoNS.
Janey was diagnosed with MARCoNS by her Lyme literate doctor. Her nasal medications helped to improve her frequent post-nasal drip, sinus congestion, and restless sleep. Her sleep dramatically improved soon after taking a customized combination of essential oils under her tongue before bed each night. She also adds these oils to a coconut oil mouth wash, called oil pulling, that she does every morning. Several of her essential oils have been shown to inhibit Staphylococcus and/or their biofilms in lab experiments, including: bay⁸, frankincense⁹, orange¹⁰, and peppermint¹¹. Thyme and oregano essential oil reduced IL-1β, IL-6, GM-CSF, and TNF-α in one mouse study¹². An herb like frankincense can also help with promoting sleep.

Strategy #2: Burn frankincense resin to help clear staph out of the sinuses
In ancient Mesopotamia, frankincense has been used to clean wounds of infections¹³. In animal experiments, a compound called incensole acetate in frankincense has demonstrated anti-depressant properties¹⁴, and inhibits TNF-α, IL-1β and TGF-β expression¹⁵. In lab experiments, frankincense essential oil inhibits formation of Staph and Candida biofilms¹⁶. Janey placed pieces of frankincense resin on hot charcoal to release the active compounds and inhaled a little of the smoke. Inhaling the smoke enables the compounds to travel into her sinuses to reach nasal Staph and biofilms. As a result of inhaling frankincense smoke, she reported greater mental peace and more restful sleep. Electro acupuncture can also help to reduce the electrical imbalances that disturb sleep.

Strategy #3: Use electro-acupuncture to improve the quality of sleep
In one study on breast cancer patients with hot flushes, electro acupuncture improved their quality of sleep¹⁷. Janey reported staying asleep longer in the days after receiving electro acupuncture for thirty minutes. Needles were placed on the right and left sides of the head in the back of her neck in acupuncture points along her Gall Bladder pathway (GB-30 and GB-17) using a dispersion wave setting on a KWD-808I electro acupuncture device with the intention of helping her right and left hemispheres of her brain to re-synchronize. In addition to electro acupuncture, low level microcurrent can help reduce inflammation and toxicity that can prevent deep sleep.

Strategy #4: Reduce Central Nervous System inflammation and toxicity with Frequency Specific Microcurrent
Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) uses a pair of very low electrical currents to work on a specific area and to promote healing¹⁸. In order to improve her quality of sleep, Janey was given multiple FSM treatments to reduce toxicity, inflammation, and protozoa infection in different areas of the brain: hippocampus, hypothalamus, brain stem, and thalamus. Not only does microcurrent help patients to sleep better, so does pulsed light therapy.

Strategy #5: Assist the brain to enter into a deeper sleep state using pulsed light therapy
In a traumatic brain injury study, an 810 nm laser pulsed at 10Hz helped with brain recovery and reducing depression better than other pulse rates¹⁷. Using an 810 nm pulsed LED light at 10 Hz in her nose, Janey immediately felt her brain relax. After a few minutes, she felt increased mental clarity and energy. Using the intranasal LED at night just before bed, helped her to experience a deeper state of rest. The intention of using a 10 Hz pulse rate is to help the brain to enter into an alpha wave sleep state which is 8 – 12 Hz. Multiple methods can deepen sleep by inducing an alpha state and eliminating the infections, excess toxins, inflammation that can drive insomnia.

Multiple methods and treatments can help reduce insomnia due to toxins and inflammation
Just like turning off the heat under a whistling teapot, using a combination of herbs, essential oils, electro acupuncture, Frequency Specific Microcurrent, and pulsed light therapy can help to reduce the mental noise and physical agitation that keep patients awake at night. These methods work together to reduce infections, toxins, and inflammation that can disturb sleep. Since some of these herbs and treatments are contraindicated with certain conditions, work with a Lyme literate acupuncturist and herbalist to develop a proper, safe, and effective strategy for your situation.

P.S. Do you have experiences where herbs or treatment helped you to reduce Lyme disease insomnia? Tell us about it.

>> Next step: Come to our evening lecture:  Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday July 1st at 6pm to learn more about natural methods for swelling, inflammation, and pain caused by Lyme disease, co-infections, and yeast.  https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

1. Patel M, Chipman J, Carlin BW, Shade D. Sleep in the intensive care unit setting. Crit Care Nurs Q. 2008 Oct-Dec;31(4):309-18; quiz 319-20. doi: 10.1097/01.CNQ.0000336816.89300.41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18815477
2. Kim JY, Lee YD, Kim BJ, Kim SP, Kim DH, Jo KJ, Lee SK, Lee KH, Baik HW. Melatonin improves inflammatory cytokine profiles in lung inflammation associated with sleep deprivation. Mol Med Rep. 2012 May;5(5):1281-4. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2012.814. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22377793
3. Riemann D, Kloepfer C, Berger M. Functional and structural brain alterations in insomnia: implications for pathophysiology. Eur J Neurosci. 2009 May;29(9):1754-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06721.x. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19473230
4. Wilde JT, Kitchen S, Kinsey S, Greaves M, Preston FE. Plasma D-dimer levels and their relationship to serum fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products in hypercoagulable states. Br J Haematol. 1989 Jan;71(1):65-70. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2917130
5. Shoemaker, R. The Biotoxin Pathway. https://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/the-biotoxin-pathway
6. Klinghardt, D. A Deep Look Beyond Lyme. 2012 Physician’s Round Table. January 28th, 2012. Tampa, FL.
7. Klinghardt, D.
8. Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV. Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and other plant extracts. J Appl Microbiol. 1999 Jun;86(6):985-90. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10438227
9. Schillaci D, Arizza V, Dayton T, Camarda L, Di Stefano V. In vitro anti-biofilm activity of Boswellia spp. oleogum resin essential oils. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2008 Nov;47(5):433-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2008.02469.x. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19146534
10. Muthaiyan A, Biswas D, Crandall PG, Wilkinson BJ, Ricke SC. Application of orange essential oil as an antistaphylococcal agent in a dressing model. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012 Aug 16;12:125. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-125. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22894560
11. Anghel I, Grumezescu AM. Hybrid nanostructured coating for increased resistance of prosthetic devices to staphylococcal colonization. Nanoscale Res Lett. 2013 Jan 2;8(1):6. doi: 10.1186/1556-276X-8-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23281840
12. Bukovská A, Cikos S, Juhás S, Il’ková G, Rehák P, Koppel J. Effects of a combination of thyme and oregano essential oils on TNBS-induced colitis in mice. Mediators Inflamm. 2007;2007:23296. doi: 10.1155/2007/23296. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18288268
13. R D Forrest. Early history of wound treatment. J R Soc Med. 1982 March; 75(3): p. 199. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1437561/
14. Moussaieff A, Gross M, Nesher E, Tikhonov T, Yadid G, Pinhasov A. Incensole acetate reduces depressive-like behavior and modulates hippocampal BDNF and CRF expression of submissive animals. J Psychopharmacol. 2012 Dec;26(12):1584-93. doi: 10.1177/0269881112458729. Epub 2012 Sep 26. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23015543
15. Moussaieff A, Yu J, Zhu H, Gattoni-Celli S, Shohami E, Kindy MS. Protective effects of incensole acetate on cerebral ischemic injury. Brain Res. 2012 Mar 14;1443:89-97. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.001. Epub 2012 Jan 9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22284622
16. Schillaci D.
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18. McMakin, Carolyn (2011-10-28). Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Pain Management (Kindle Locations 274-275). Churchill Livingstone. Kindle Edition.
19. Takahiro Ando, Weijun Xuan, Tao Xu, Tianhong Dai, Sulbha K. Sharma, Gitika B. Kharkwal, Ying-Ying Huang, Qiuhe Wu, Michael J. Whalen, Shunichi Sato, Minoru Obara, Michael R. Hamblin. Comparison of Therapeutic Effects between Pulsed and Continuous Wave 810-nm Wavelength Laser Irradiation for Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. Plos One. 6(10):e26212 (online). https://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0026212

For people that have inflammation, brain fog, or a lack of vitality due to Lyme disease and co-infections
by Greg Lee

Several years ago, one of my NASA colleagues had a memory lapse that almost ended in disaster. After moving into a new house, he hooked up a hose to fill up his waterbed. He soon got distracted with unpacking boxes and talking with other people. Over an hour later, he went back into his bedroom and his water bed had swelled up like a balloon to three times its normal size.

How is an overfilled waterbed similar to inflammation caused by Lyme disease and other chronic infections?

Similar to a ballooning waterbed, Lyme disease patients can have excessive inflammation
The immune system produces compounds called pro-inflammatory cytokines that can increase swelling in response to an infection. In the initial stages of an infection, this is a healthy response to an invading germ. In patients with chronic Lyme disease and/or co-infections, the immune system can over produce pro-inflammatory cytokines which can lead to persistent symptoms of swelling, pain, or mental fog.

Lyme disease and co-infections can trigger elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines
Excess interferon gamma (INF-γ), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been found in early Lyme disease patients with an erythema migrans (EM) rash. In patients with systemic symptoms, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor – alpha (TNF-α) were more frequent¹. In mice infected with Babesia WA-1 showed elevated levels of TNF-α and INF-γ². In animal studies on Bartonella henselae, these cytokines were elevated: INF-γ and interleukin – 4 (IL-4)³, TNF-α⁴, IL-1β, and interleukin – 6 (IL-6)⁵ in chronic and high levels of infections. Not only tick infections can increase inflammatory cytokines, so can secondary infections.

Secondary infections like staph and yeast can also elevate inflammatory compounds
Lyme disease patients that undergo lengthy antibiotic therapy are at a higher risk of developing secondary infections from yeast like Candida species, staph, and Clostridium difficile, In animal studies, Candida albicans has been shown to increase interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), IL-1β, interleukin-8 (IL-8), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), TNF-α⁶, and inducible cyclooxygenase (cox2)⁷. Staphlococcus aureus in rodent studies induces TNF-α, IL-1β, INF- γ⁸, and IL-1α⁹. Clostridium difficile in animal studies has been shown to elevate IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-1β, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-12 (IL-12)¹⁰. When cytokines are chronically elevated, they can produce stubborn symptoms of pain, swelling, and arthritis.

Elevated cytokines can lead to unhealthy side effects like joint pain and swelling
According to Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker’s Biotoxin Pathway, toxins from Lyme disease, babesia, mold and toxic algae can lead to elevated cytokine levels which can produce symptoms of inflammation. Inflammatory symptoms can include: flu-like symptoms, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, unstable temperature, concentration difficulties, and increased clot and arterial blockage¹¹. Lyme patients with chronic inflammation report additional symptoms of arthritis, bloating, distention, digestion difficulties, a lack of vitality, memory recall problems, a racing heart, and insomnia.

How can knowing about “dampness” from Chinese medicine help patients to reduce their persistent symptoms of inflammation?

In Chinese medicine, dampness is a keyword for inflammation
Dampness in Chinese medicine can indicate swelling, inflammation, and the effects of an infection. Dampness can interfere with healthy functioning of the tissues, organs, emotions, and also the clarity of the mind. When describing symptoms of the body, mind, or emotions, this is referred to as internal dampness. Damp weather, like humidity or rain, and environments with lots of moisture, like swamps, are classified as external damp conditions. When a person is exposed to external damp conditions, their symptoms of inflammation can increase. Similarly, “damp” foods can also increase swelling and joint discomfort. Reducing consumption of damp foods can also decrease symptoms of inflammation.

Method #1: Stop eating “damp” foods that produce inflammation
Reducing your consumption of sweet or high fat foods like dairy, wheat, and sugar, helps to reduce internal dampness. By increasing the intake of bitter or tart foods and spices that are classified as “drain dampness” foods, you can help reduce inflammation. Daily consumption of tart cherry juice reduced TNF-α¹² and IL-1β¹³. In one rat study, tart cherry powder reduced IL-6, cholesterol, and belly fat¹⁴. In another rat study, wild blueberry reduced the transcriptional nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-kB), C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and TNF-α¹⁵. Not only foods help to reduce inflammation, but also herbs.

Method #2: Increase herbs that reduce symptoms of inflammation
Just like foods, there are herbs that help to reduce inflammatory cytokines. Turmeric, Chinese name: jiang huang, activates circulation and eliminates blood stagnation. It is used to relieve pain and reduce swelling. Turmeric is to be used with caution in weak patients that do not have signs of stagnation and is contraindicated during pregnancy¹⁶. Turmeric has been shown to decrease IL-1, IL-8, and TNF¹⁷. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, has inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenases 1, 2 (COX-1, COX-2), lipoxygenase (LOX), TNF-α, IFN-γ, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and NF-kB¹⁸.

Polygala tenuifolia, Chinese name: yuan zhi, expels phlegm (dampness) that causes mental and emotional disorientation, seizures, hearing loss, and lung congestion. This herb reduces abscesses, dissipates swellings, pacifies the heart and calms the spirit. Polygala is used with caution in patients with heat symptoms or dryness. It is also cautioned in patients with gastritis, stomach ulcers, and during pregnancy¹⁹. Polygala has an inhibitory effect on IL-1, TNF, and IFN-γ²⁰. Highly concentrated essential oils that are extracted from herbs can also help to reduce cytokines.

Method #3: Use essential oils that decrease inflammatory cytokines
Tea tree essential oil reduces TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10 and PGE2²¹ in one lab experiment. Tea tree essential oil also has anti-microbial properties against fungal²², staph and E. coli²³ biofilms. Bergamot orange essential oil blocks INF-γ in one lab study²⁴. Apigenin, a flavonoid in German chamomile essential oil, inhibits IL-1a, TNF-α induced IL-6 and IL-8 production²⁵. These essential oils have been used safely internally and topically for years in patients diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. Not only food and botanical medicines can reduce cytokines, so can cupping with acupuncture.

Method #4: Get cupping and acupuncture to reduce inflammation
Another method for reducing cytokines in Lyme disease patients, wet cupping uses needles and suction cups to draw lymph fluid, blood, and toxins²⁶ from the body. In one study, cupping and acupuncture reduced IL-6 levels²⁷.

Patients report significant relief in their symptoms of inflammation, pain, depression, lack of vitality, and mental fog immediately after cupping. Cupping is cautioned in patients with weakness or anemia, and contraindicated in patients with bleeding disorders. A combined approach can help reduce inflammation from Lyme disease.

Multiple methods and treatments can help reduce inflammation due to abnormal cytokine production
Before his water bed could burst, my colleague quickly shut off the faucet and let the excess water drain out the window. Decreasing inflammation can be enhanced through dietary modifications and herbs that “drain dampness”, and essential oils and treatments that reduce excess pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since some of these herbs and treatments are contraindicated with certain conditions, work with a Lyme literate acupuncturist and herbalist to develop a proper, safe, and effective strategy for your situation.

P.S. Do you have experiences where herbs or treatment helped you to reduce Lyme disease inflammation? Tell us about it.

>> Next step: Come to our evening lecture:  Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday May 6th at 6pm to learn more about natural methods for swelling, inflammation, and pain caused by Lyme disease, co-infections, and yeast.  https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

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4. Kabeya H, Umehara T, Okanishi H, Tasaki I, Kamiya M, Misawa A, Mikami T, Maruyama S. Experimental infection of cats with Bartonella henselae resulted in rapid clearance associated with T helper 1 immune responses. Microbes Infect. 2009 May-Jun;11(6-7):716-20. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2009.03.008. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19348961
5. Musso T, Badolato R, Ravarino D, Stornello S, Panzanelli P, Merlino C, Savoia D, Cavallo R, Ponzi AN, Zucca M. Interaction of Bartonella henselae with the murine macrophage cell line J774: infection and proinflammatory response. Infect Immun. 2001 Oct;69(10):5974-80. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11553533
6. Schaller M, Mailhammer R, Korting HC. Cytokine expression induced by Candida albicans in a model of cutaneous candidosis based on reconstituted human epidermis. J Med Microbiol. 2002 Aug;51(8):672-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12171298
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8. Giese MJ, Sumner HL, Berliner JA, Mondino BJ. Cytokine expression in a rat model of Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998 Dec;39(13):2785-90. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9856792
9. van den Berg S, Laman JD, Boon L, Ten Kate MT, de Knegt GJ, Verdijk RM, Verbrugh HA, Nouwen JL, Bakker-Woudenberg IA. Distinctive Cytokines as Biomarkers Predicting Fatal Outcome of Severe Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in Mice. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59107. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059107. Epub 2013 Mar 8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23520553
10. Steele J, Chen K, Sun X, Zhang Y, Wang H, Tzipori S, Feng H. Systemic dissemination of Clostridium difficile toxins A and B is associated with severe, fatal disease in animal models. J Infect Dis. 2012 Feb 1;205(3):384-91. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir748. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22147798
11. Shoemaker, R. The Biotoxin Pathway. https://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/the-biotoxin-pathway
12. Martin, K.R., Burrell L. (2010) 100% tart cherry juice reduces pro-inflammatory biomarkers in overweight and obese subjects. FASEB Journal. 24 pp. 724.15 https://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/24/1_MeetingAbstracts/724.15
13. Schlesinger, N., Michael Schelesinger. Editorial: Pilot Studies of Cherry Juice Concentrate for Gout Flare Prophylaxis. J. Arthritis 2012. 1:1. www.omicsgroup.org/journals/JAHS/JAHS-1-101.pdf 
14. Seymour EM, Lewis SK, Urcuyo-Llanes DE, Tanone II, Kirakosyan A, Kaufman PB, Bolling SF. Regular tart cherry intake alters abdominal adiposity, adipose gene transcription, and inflammation in obesity-prone rats fed a high fat diet. J Med Food. 2009 Oct;12(5):935-42. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2008.0270. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19857054
15. Vendrame S, Daugherty A, Kristo AS, Riso P, Klimis-Zacas D. Wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) consumption improves inflammatory status in the obese Zucker rat model of the metabolic syndrome. J Nutr Biochem. 2013 Mar 1. pii: S0955-2863(12)00308-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2012.12.010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23465589
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23. Budzyńska A, Wieckowska-Szakiel M, Sadowska B, Kalemba D, Rózalska B. Antibiofilm activity of selected plant essential oils and their major components. Pol J Microbiol. 2011;60(1):35-41. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21630572
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Here are excerpts from the

“Beyond Wack-A-Mole Lyme Disease Treatment”

presentation given at the Physician’s Roundtable in Tampa Florida on January 27th, 2013:

Click on the link below to see the video from the presentation
Password: roundtable2013

Diagnosis and Rapport

Inflammation, cytokines, herbs and essential oils

For people that are abnormally cold due to their Lyme, Bartonella, or Babesia infections
by Greg Lee

When I was a teenager, I went on a month long Outward Bound training course with several other people. We would hike by day and at night we’d build a fire and cook dinner. One evening, our adventure was interrupted by an ominous gust of wind and then a rainstorm. Our efforts to keep the fire going worked at first. However, the rain kept coming and eventually put the campfire out. As I watched the last wisps of smoke from the fire, I imagined shivering that night to stay warm inside a damp tent.

How is a campfire that is drowned in a rainstorm similar to chronic tick infections that attack your immune system?

Just like rain on a sputtering campfire, multiple tick infections can dampen your immune system
Gerald noticed that he began to feel much colder in winter. It would take 30 minutes in a hot sauna for him to feel warm again. After the sauna, he felt as if he had sweated out of a bunch of toxins. Unfortunately, his chronic fatigue, feeling toxic, and brain fog would soon return along with being deeply cold again. He discovered that his house had a thriving mold colony caused by water damage in the basement. He was also diagnosed by his Lyme Literate Doctor with Lyme disease, Babesia, and Bartonella co-infections.

Toxins from Lyme disease and co-infections zap your ability to heat up and kill infections
The hypothalamus has organs that sample the blood stream and regulate changes in body temperature. When it detects the presence of infections, the hypothalamus induces a fever to heat up and kill off infectious germs. Unfortunately, toxins released by Lyme, mold, and co-infections can get absorbed by the hypothalamus and block its ability to induce germ killing fevers¹. When antibiotics, herbal medicines, and treatments kill off these infections, more toxins can be released and produce a Herxheimer reaction. These toxins can persist in some people lacking specific genes.

Toxins can be hard to eliminate in people who are missing anti-toxin HLA genes
Gerald is missing several Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes for eliminating toxins. After extended periods of time in his moldy home, many of his symptoms got much worse: irregular heart rate, insomnia, fatigue, and mental confusion. He would also have spikes in symptoms every four weeks which correlated with the lifecycle of his Lyme disease infection.

Cleaning the mold out helped Gerald feel better immediately
After an Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) test showed high levels of toxic mold, Gerald and his wife hired a remediation company to clean out their entire house. Most walls and ceilings were stripped down to the stud timbers. The entire heating and cooling system was either cleaned or replaced. Leaks in the foundation were sealed. After venturing back into his newly renovated home, Gerald did not have an immediate flare up of his symptoms. However, he still had a very low body temperature and recurring symptoms of insomnia, brain fog, and fatigue.

What else can help Gerald to boost his immune system in fighting his multiple toxic infections?

Warming herbs help boost the immune response against tick borne infections
Warming herbs, also called Yang strengthening herbs in Chinese medicine, help to raise your body temperature which can help kill off infections. For every 0.2 degrees Celsius that body temperature is increased, approximately 50% of your infections are killed off². There are three herbs that have been effective at heating up people with low body temperatures caused by their Lyme disease and tick borne infections.

Warming herb #1: Fructus Evodia, Euodia, or Bee Bee Tree Fruit, Chinese name: Wu Zhu Yu³
The properties of this warming herb are bitter, acrid, and hot. This herb is used to dispel cold, dry dampness, activate Qi energy circulation, and relieve pain. Dampness in Chinese medicine can be translated to mean infection and their effects. Evodia treats pain characterized by a cold, fixed, and stabbing nature. It has been used to treat epigastric and abdominal pain, hernial pain, dysmenorrhea, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea with undigested food, cold extremities, spasms, and headache at the top of the head. The classical Chinese character for this herb shows two hands lifting up on either side of a head.

Evodia has also been used to treat migraine headaches, acid reflux, “cocks crow” or early morning diarrhea, chronic dysentery, hypertension, mouth and tongue ulcers, eczema, and sores on the scalp. This herb is contraindicated in patients with excess heat and dryness. Short-term use and small doses are recommended due to its low level of toxicity.

In animal studies, Evodia prevents and treats stomach ulcers by reducing gastric acid secretions. In mice studies, this herb has antidiarrheal properties. It has a marked effect in decreasing blood pressure in several animal studies. In a rat study, it had a slight effect but not significant effect on raising body temperature⁴. This herb inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and some dermatophytes. It also inhibits the growth of the helicobacter pylori bacteria⁵.

Recent studies have focused on the anticancer properties of an alkaloid compound called evodiamine found in evodia. This compound has inhibited proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in the following cancer cells: breast, prostate, leukemia, melanoma, cervical, colon, and lung⁶.

Warming herb #2: Galanga or Alpinia, Chinese name: Gao Liang Jiang⁷
The properties of this warming herb are acrid and hot. It is used to dispel coldness from the middle of the body especially the spleen and stomach. This herb has been used to treat epigastric and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, food stagnation, intestinal cramps, and diarrhea. Galanga has also been used to treat sharp, stabbing pain in the chest or abdomen, intestinal cramps, acute and chronic diarrhea.

This herb has demonstrated analgesic effects on the gastrointestinal system. It has been effective at preventing and treating peptic ulcers and diarrhea. Water extracts of this herb have been shown to decrease intestinal peristalsis. Galanga has been effective at treating angina. It has an inhibitory effect on Bacillus anthracis, Corynebacterium diptheriae, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, B-hemolytic streptococcus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis. This herb also has a weak antimalarial effect in mice and is used topically for treating eczema and ringworm⁸. Due to its warming nature, this herb is contraindicated in patients with excess heat and dryness.

Galanga essential oil has many bioactive compounds including: Limonene, gamma-Terpinene, alpha-Terpinolene, 1-Undecene, Borneol, para-Cymen-8-ol, alpha-Terpineol, and Z-Citral. This essential oil was more effective at killing E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella typhi than gentomycin⁹.

Warming herb #3: Turmeric, Chinese name: Jiang Huang¹⁰
The properties of this spice herb are acrid, bitter, and warm. It is used to activate blood circulation and eliminate blood coagulation. This herb is used to treat stabbing, fixed pain caused by blood stagnation or hypercoagulation. Turmeric is also used to treat hypochondriac pain due to liver stagnation, abdominal pain due to blood stagnation, chest pain, epigastric pain, dysmenorrhea, and hepatitis with hypochrondriac pain.

It is also used to treat “painful obstruction syndrome” especially in the upper limbs. This herb reduces swelling from sores and lesions caused by toxic heat along with blood hypercoagulation. Turmeric is contraindicated during pregnancy.  This herb is also contraindicated in weak patients that do not have blood stagnation.

The main constituent of turmeric is the compound curcumin. Curcumin is being researched for its properties for fighting cancer, killing viruses, reducing inflammation, treating Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s Disease because of its anti-amyloid activities¹¹. In lab experiments, curcumin is highly effective at killing the malarial parasite¹². Another anti-malarial study demonstrated the efficacy of combining curcumin and artemisinin in mice¹³. Adding a black pepper extract called piperine significantly increases the uptake of curcumin¹⁴. Boiling curcumin for ten minutes increased its bioavailability twelve-fold in another study¹⁵.

What happens when these warming herbs are used by people with multiple infections?

Warming herbs helped Gerald to finally warm up his popsicle toes
Gerald’s average morning temperature hovered around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. After taking daily a mixture of liposomal herbs, his temperature began to slowly rise. For the first several weeks, he felt more fatigue and brain fog due to the die off of his infections. After four weeks of taking a daily mixture of anti-infection and warming herbs, his average morning temperature hovered around 97 degrees. His wife complained less about his cold feet. Then his symptoms shifted.

For the first time in many months, Gerald felt like a new person
He reported having a greater amount of energy and increased clarity in his thinking. Work tasks that required mental mental concentration and focus, became easier and easier for Gerald. He found that he had enough energy to restart exercising again. By increasing his dose of warming herbs, Gerald’s morning temperature was raised to around 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, his recurring symptoms were less frequent and less severe. Warming herbs can help the immune system to heat up and fight off multiple infections.

Warming herbs can help the immune system to cook off infections
My outdoor adventure had a happy ending. After the rain passed, we were able to find dry kindling, restart the fire and dry off. Similarly, warming herbs can help restart the immune system’s ability to heat up the body and kill off multiple infections. Since some of these herbs are contraindicated in people with excess heat or dryness, work with a Lyme literate herbalist knowledgeable in warming herbs to develop a proper, safe, and effective strategy for your condition.

Do you have an experience with heating up from the chill of Lyme disease or co-infections? Tell us about it.

>> Next step: Come to our evening lecture:  Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday February 4th at 6pm to learn more about natural methods for warming up and killing infections, relieving pain, insomnia, fatigue, and brain fog caused by Lyme disease, mold toxins, and co-infections.  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. Klinghardt, D.
3. Kano Y, Zong QN, Komatsu K. Pharmacological properties of galenical preparation. XIV. Body temperature retaining effect of the Chinese traditional medicine, “goshuyu-to” and component crude drugs. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1991 Mar;39(3):690-2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2070449
4. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 452 – 454.
5. Evodia Fruit – Wu Zhu Yu. https://www.acupuncture.com/newsletters/m_july09/wuzhuyu.htm
6. Jiang J, Hu C. Evodiamine: a novel anti-cancer alkaloid from Evodia rutaecarpa. Molecules. 2009 May 18;14(5):1852-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19471205
7. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 460 – 461.
8. Alpinia galanga. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpinia_galanga
9. Prakatthagomol W, Klayraung S, Okonogi S. Bactericidal action of Alpinia galanga essential oil on food-borne bacteria. Drug Discov Ther. 2011 Apr;5(2):84-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22466145
10. Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. 2004. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., p. 623 – 624.
11. S. Dharmananda. Neuroprotective Herbs and Active Constituents, Approaches to Preventing Degenerative Diseases. https://www.itmonline.org/arts/neuro.htm
12. L. Cui, J. Miao, and L. Cui. Cytotoxic Effect of Curcumin on Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum: Inhibition of Histone Acetylation and Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2007 February; 51(2): 488–494. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1797756/
13. Nandakumar DN, Nagaraj VA, Vathsala PG, Rangarajan P, Padmanaban G. Curcumin-artemisinin combination therapy for malaria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006 May;50(5):1859-60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1472230/
14. Mimche PN, Taramelli D, Vivas L. The plant-based immunomodulator curcumin as a potential candidate for the development of an adjunctive therapy for cerebral malaria. Malar J. 2011 Mar 15;10 Suppl 1:S10. https://www.malariajournal.com/content/10/S1/S10
15. Kurien BT, Scofield RH. Heat-solubilized curcumin should be considered in clinical trials for increasing bioavailability. Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Jan 15;15(2):747; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2693878/

For people that are fighting a stubborn toxic mold infection
by Greg Lee

My sister had over a dozen guinea pigs when I was growing up. They loudly squeaked every time a person walked by, hoping to get fed. They would consume massive amounts of greens, grasses, and vegetables. My chores somehow included cleaning out their pens. Cleaning often required a scraper and a hose to get the waste out of the hard to reach corners of their habitat.

How is cleaning out guinea pig pens similar to eliminating a toxic mold infection?

Just like encrusted guinea pig pens, toxic mold can accumulate in hard to reach corners of the body
Several species of toxic mold can grow in homes, schools, or offices including: Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Stachybotrys¹. These molds are a type of fungi that reproduce by producing spores. Attached to each spore is a toxin to prevent it from being eaten by another microorganism. Dark, moist environments with cellulose are perfect environments for these molds to grow. Unfortunately, over two hundred and fifty different kinds of molds can grow in the body and cause chronic illness².

Mold can infect your nasal passages
Breathing in mold spores can lead to your respiratory passages being colonized by these fungi. Mold infections have been found in sinus passages³, throat⁴, middle ear⁵, combat wounds⁶, brain⁷, skin⁸, lungs⁹, and meninges¹⁰. Mold also produces toxins which can create debilitating symptoms.

Mold toxins are small enough to get into remote places throughout the body
As mold grows, it produces spores and toxins. Mold toxins can wander everywhere in your body which can produce symptoms of brain fog, aches and pains, allergies, fatigue, and inflammation. These symptoms can migrate from one part of the body to the next. Unfortunately, some people are unable to eliminate these toxins because they lack the right genes.

Mold toxins accumulate faster in people who are lacking specific HLA genes
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes help your immune system to identify mold toxins and produce antibodies to eliminate them. Approximately 25% of patients are lacking the specific HLA genes to eliminate mold toxins¹¹. In this subgroup of patients, symptoms can appear quite rapidly due to elevated levels of toxins aggravating symptoms of pain, brain fog, and fatigue. Patients that have immune systems already burdened by other infections are especially vulnerable.

Patients with a compromised immune system are at much greater risk of contracting a mold infection
Patients with a weak or compromised immune system are at a greater risk of becoming very ill or possibly dying from an opportunistic mold infection. Patients diagnosed with an invasive Aspergillus mold infection can receive a variety of antifungal medications including: voriconazole, liposomal amphotericin B, posaconazole, itraconazole, caspofungin, or micafungin. Unfortunately, these antifungal medications can produce undesirable side effects like fever, rigors, chills, myalgias, arthralgias, bronchospasm, nausea, vomiting, headaches, hallucinations, kidney toxicity, and liver toxicity¹². Aspergillus can also produce slimy biofilms to become more drug resistant¹³.

What else besides antifungal medications can help patients overcome a toxic mold infection?

Concentrated spice oils are effective at stopping a mold infection
Kitchen spices contain many natural compounds that are effective at killing mold and inhibiting their toxins. Studies show that when these spices are distilled into essential oils, these compounds are much more effective at inhibiting mold and its toxins compared to the raw spice itself. The volatile nature of essential oils enables them to penetrate into the lungs, nervous system, and other hard to reach areas of the body where mold has taken hold. Here are four essential oils that have anti-mold and anti-toxin properties.

Anti-fungal spice essential oil #1: Sage (S. Officinalis L.), Chinese name: Shu Wei Cao¹⁴
The properties of this spice herb are bitter, acrid, and neutral. This herb is used to clear infection, promote circulation and regulate the menses. It has detoxification properties and reduces swelling. Sage is also used to treat jaundice, red or white diarrhea, vaginal discharge due to infection, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrheal, sores, swollen boils, and injuries from impacts. This herb is also used to improve memory, enhance mnemonic performance and helps elevate mood.

The whole herb contains these compounds: β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol glucoside, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, 2α-hydroxyursolic acid, tormentic acid, caffeic acid, maslinic acid, ethyl-β-D-galactopyranoside. The essential oil can contain α-thujone, camphor, and up to 2.5% ketone and borneol. Sage essential oil is best used externally because α-thujone can be toxic if taken internally.

In one study, sage essential oil is effective at inhibiting the growth of these mold/fungi: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Candida albicans, and Fusarium species¹⁵. In another study, sage essential oil at 2 mg/ml had a strong antifungal effect against Alternaria alternate and reduced Aspergillus parasiticus growth by 87% and inhibited aflatoxin production by 96%¹⁵. In another study, sage essential oil was highly effective at killing Penicillium verrucosum believed to be due to the compounds α-thujone and camphor¹⁶.

Anti-fungal spice essential oil #2: Thyme, Chinese name: Bai Li Xiang¹⁸
The properties of this spice herb are bitter, pungent, and warming. It is used to: transform mucus, strengthen the spleen, strengthen the lungs, warm the middle, and expel cold mucus. Thyme stimulates the production of white blood cells and strengthens immunity. This oil is very beneficial for the heart, valves, and is an anti spasmodic. It also reduces blood pressure. Thyme is widely used in food and is non-toxic¹⁹. This spice contains the following compounds, thymol, p-Cymene, myrcene, borneol and linalool²⁰.

In one study, thyme essential oil was highly effective at killing intracellular Candida albicans²¹. In another study, the essential oil was effective at killing Aspergillus species. and inhibiting aflatoxin production²², and inhibiting mold spore germination²³. A third study showed thyme essential oil as effective at inhibiting multiple Penicillum species²⁴. Thyme essential oil has been used internally safely and effectively with patients struggling with chronic mold infections.

Anti-fungal spice essential oil #3: Clove, Chinese name: Ding Xiang²⁵
The properties of this spice herb are acrid and warm. It is used to warm the abdomen and relieve pain. Clove is also used to treat hiccups, nausea, morning sickness, vomiting, and diarrhea. This herb is also used to treat impotence, and coldness in the body and extremities. It also promotes digestion by increasing bile and gastric acid secretions. Clove is also used topically to treat toothache. The essential oil has anti-asthmatic properties.

This herb is contraindicated in cases of fever and excess internal heat accompanied with symptoms of dryness. Side effects of this herb include dizziness, palpitations, chest oppression, headache, perspiration, decreased blood pressure, and skin rash. Clove has an inhibitory effect against Vibrio cholerae, Bacillus anthracis, Salmonella typhi, Corynebacterium diptheriae, Bacillus dysenteriae, E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphlococcus aureus.

Essential oil of clove contains these compounds: eugenol, caryophyllene, acetyleugenol, α- caryophyllene, and chavicol. In one study, clove essential oil inhibits Candida, Aspergillus, and some dematophytes including fluconazole resistant strains²⁶. In another study, the compound eugenol was effective at inhibiting Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus species, Mucor species, Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum gypseum²⁷. In a third study, clove essential oil increased the effectiveness of fluconazole and voriconazole against multiple Candida species²⁸. In another study, this essential oil was effective at inhibiting drug resistant Candida biofilms²⁹. Low doses of clove essential oil have been used safely and effectively for years with patients diagnosed with Lyme disease, parasites, and mold toxicity.

Anti-fungal spice essential oil #4: Cinnamon, Chinese name: Rou Gui³⁰
The properties of this spice herb are acrid, sweet, and hot. This herb is used to treat a wide variety of disorders including intolerance to cold, cold extremities, weakness, soreness and coldness of the low back and knees, impotence, lack of libido, excess urine production, and loose stools. It is also used to treat wheezing, asthma, labored breathing, swelling, and profuse phlegm. Cinnamon is also used for dizziness, flushed face, sore throat, and coldness in the lower extremities.

This herb also treats epigastric and abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, bloating, slow digestion, hernia pain, and spasmodic pain in the stomach and intestines. It is also used to treat hypercoagulation, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, postpartum pain, external injuries, trauma, deep rooted sores, psoriasis, and feelings of oppression in the abdomen.

This herb contains the following compounds: cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl acetate, phenylpropyl acetate, cinncassiol-A, -B, -C1, -C2, -C3, cinnzelanine, and cinnzeylanol.

Cinnamon is contraindicated during pregnancy and in patients with signs of excess heat, excess dryness, and excess bleeding. Excess amount of cinnamon can result in symptoms of flushed face, red eyes, dry mouth and tongue, bleeding, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, excess urination, anuria, burning sensations upon urination, excess serum proteins in the urine, dizziness, blurred vision, and numbness of the tongue.

Intravenous cinnamon reduced blood pressure, decreased heart rate, peripheral vasodilation, and decreased vessel resistance within 3-5 minutes. Subcutaneous injection of cinnamon in dogs increased the white blood cell count by 150 – 200%. This herb has an inhibitory effect on dermatophytes, pathogenic fungi, and many gram positive bacteria. In a rat study, essential oil of cinnamon has an analgesic and sedative effect.

Cinnamon bark essential oil was more effective at inhibiting more Aspergillus and Penicillium species than cinnamon leaf essential oil³¹. Cinnamon bark essential oil inhibits Aspergillus species and aflatoxin, aflatoxin-B1, and aflatoxin-G1 production. These toxins are inhibited because the essential oil binds to the DNA of aflatoxins. Also, this essential oil reacts with reactive oxygen species produced by aflatoxins, which has a protective effect on cells³². In another study, cinnamon bark essential oil was the most effective against oral isolates of Candida albicans³³. Another study demonstrated that cinnamon bark essential oil was more effective against fluconazole susceptible Candida species than against fluconazole resistant Candida species³⁴. Low dilutions of cinnamon essential oil have been taken internally by people diagnosed with mold toxicity safely with out side-effects.

The right combination of essential oils can help you to overcome a toxic mold infection
Just like cleaning out a guinea pig habitat with a pressure washer, a combination of anti-mold/fungal and anti-toxin essential oils can help you penetrate, kill, and detoxify a hidden mold infection. Since some of these essential oils come with cautions on their use, work with a herbalist knowledgeable in essential oils and chronic fungal infections to develop a proper, safe, and effective essential oil strategy for your condition.

>> Next step: Come to our evening lecture:  Getting Rid of Lyme Disease in Frederick, Maryland on Monday November 5th at 6pm to learn more about natural methods for relieving pain, insomnia, fatigue, and brain fog caused by Lyme disease, mold toxins, and parasites.  https://goodbyelyme.com/events/get_rid_lyme

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