Archive for the ‘Mold’ Category

TBI Diagnosis, Treatment & Link to UTI

http://  Approx. 40 Min

Tick-borne Infection: Diagnosis, Treatment & the Link to UTI

Live UTI Free
Nov 25, 2024
Greg Lee is the founder of the Lyme Research and Healing Center and LymeResearchCenter.com.
In this interview he shares insights around the following questions:
👉 What is Lyme disease and what other organisms can ticks transmit?
👉 Is it possible to have contracted a tick-borne infection without developing a ‘bullseye rash’?
👉 What are the symptoms of an acute or chronic tick-borne infection?
👉 Is it possible to have chronic Lyme disease despite initial antibiotic treatment?
👉 Are there other medical conditions with symptoms similar to those of chronic Lyme disease?
👉 What is the relationship between biofilms and tick-borne infections?
👉 How do you test for Lyme disease?
👉 How is chronic Lyme disease treated?
👉 What is mold toxicity, and what are the symptoms?
👉 How can you test for and treat mold toxicity?
Go here to get your FREE report on the top 5 essential oils for chronic UTIs.
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Category:

Biofilm, Lyme, Mold, Testing, Treatment

The Hidden Dangers of Mold Exposure

https://petermcculloughmd.substack.com/p/the-hidden-dangers-of-mold-exposure?

The Hidden Dangers of Mold Exposure

Expert Insights from Dr. Alfred Johnson on Risks and Effective Treatments
Nicolas Hulscher, MPH
1/15/25

Unhealthy levels of mold may be present in 18% to 50% of buildings. Exposure to mold fragments, spores and mycotoxins can lead to infections, toxicity, allergies and inflammation. This can result in a wide range of symptoms, from asthma and rhinitis to brain fog and sleep problems.

Please enjoy my interview with Dr. Alfred Johnson, a doctor of internal a…  (See link for article and video)

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Category:

Mold

Revolutionizing Lyme Disease Care for Patients

https://www.globallymealliance.org/blog/ravel-health?

Ravel Health: Revolutionizing Lyme Disease Care for Patients

by Admin at Global Lyme Alliance on October 4, 2024

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Ravel Health is revolutionizing Lyme disease care with affordable, virtual, and personalized treatment options for chronic illness patients.

Perhaps you’ve been diagnosed with Lyme or other tick-borne illness. Maybe you’ve been suffering with chronic symptoms for years but have yet to receive a diagnosis. In either case, you want to see a Lyme literate medical provider (often referred to as LLMD), but you find yourself up against several barriers: wait-lists are months to years long. Providers don’t take insurance, and their rates are prohibitively expensive. You can’t find a provider in your area, and don’t have the energy or the means to travel. Sound familiar?

Chronic Lyme patients Kevin Williams and Jaime Intile know first-hand the frustrations that patients face in gaining access to treatment, so they’ve created a better way. Global Lyme Alliance is proud to partner with Williams and Intile’s company, Ravel Health, which specializes in matching patients with affordable, virtual care for Lyme, mold, and complex illness.

Available in ten states with the hope to be nationwide by 2025, Ravel Health offers subscription-based services that quickly match patients to vetted care teams who provide personalized telehealth including testing, treatment plans, prescriptions, and supplements.

“Ravel Health aims to simplify the Lyme journey from start to finish…”

“It can take a long time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, and then getting a diagnosis is only half the battle,” Williams says. “We wanted to build something that we would have loved to have.” Unlike traditional medical practices, Ravel Health aims to simplify the Lyme journey from start to finish:

  • No medical gaslighting or saying “it’s all in your head”
  • No waitlists to see a vetted Lyme-literate provider
  • Personalized provider/patient matching
  • Conventional, Functional, and Integrative treatment options
  • Affordable 30, 60, or 90-minute monthly appointments with ability to upgrade or downgrade on a monthly basis
  • Significant discounts on labs and supplements
  • Everything done from the comfort of home

How does it work?

Ravel Health providers, including MDs, NDs, and NPs, go through a strict screening process. Each has at least six years of experience treating Lyme and chronic illness and is vetted through Williams and Intile themselves, and then through Ravel’s Chief Medical Officer.

After filling out a short questionnaire, patients are matched with up to three Lyme-literate providers in their state. Williams and Intile review initial questionnaires with the Chief Medical Officer to figure out the best possible fits based on individual patient preferences. Patients then choose from up to three providers. “We want patients to select providers based on fit, such as a provider’s specialties or treatment philosophy,” says Williams.

Patients also choose between affordable monthly subscription plans that offer different appointment lengths and intervals based on individual need. No matter the subscription, patients will always have ready access to providers, with guaranteed monthly appointments and guaranteed portal responses within three business days. “We believe deeply in continuity of care,” says Williams. “When a patient is having a flare, they need to be able to contact their provider or get an appointment booked. We want to make sure patients aren’t left hanging.”

Providers use evidence-supported labs and treatment protocols, personalizing them for each patient. Recommended test kits, lab orders, medications and supplements are sent directly to patient’s homes, with the option of mobile blood draws in certain areas. And Ravel Health’s simple model doesn’t just benefit patients. “We provide wraparound services so providers can focus on treatment,” Williams notes. Providers have a built-in community with whom they can share complex cases and ask questions.

What are patients saying?

Ravel Health ran a pilot from October to March with seven providers and thirty patients. The results were incredibly positive. Knowing that providers are vetted and curated, and knowing that they wouldn’t be medically gaslighted, put patients at ease. Patients know that Williams and Intile understand what they’re going through and have been through it themselves, so they trust they’re in good hands. “That piece is key for patients,” says Williams. He adds that having everything streamlined was refreshing for patients, as well as having options to choose from. Since Lyme and chronic illness strips patients of so much agency, Williams says, “We want to give patients as much choice as possible.”

Why Ravel?

Besides offering affordable, streamlined, and timely care from knowledgeable providers, Ravel focuses on the patient journey to health, as evidenced by the company’s name. With Lyme disease, life often unravels as patients fight for diagnosis, treatment, validation, and their health. Ravel Health helps patients ravel their health back together. “We are changing the way Lyme patients are treated,” says Williams.

To learn more about Williams and Intile, watch their episode on The Tick Chicks.

To learn more about Ravel Health, visit ravel.health

Ravel is available in CO, CT, IA, MN, MT, NE, PA, TX, WA & WI. To become a patient, go to https://ravel.health/get_started.

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Category:

Activism, Lyme, Mold, Treatment

Rejuvenate Cells & Combat Chronic Illness With a Fasting Mimicking Diet

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/fasting-mimicking-diet

Rejuvenate Your Cells and Combat Chronic Illness with a Fasting Mimicking Diet

By Dr. Marty Ross

Sept. 2024

If you’re grappling with chronic Lyme disease, Bartonella, Babesia, or mold toxicity, the term “fasting” may seem hard to think about. However, the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) offers a scientifically backed, less intense method that promises significant health benefits. Imagine rejuvenating your injured cells and potentially alleviating symptoms without the extreme measures associated with traditional fasting.

Interested? Let’s explore how FMD may be the game-changer you need.

What is the Fasting Mimicking Diet?

The Fasting Mimicking Diet is a revolutionary dietary protocol that mimics the effects of fasting while still allowing some nutrient intake. Developed by Dr. Valter Longo and his team at the University of Southern California, this diet aims to provide the health benefits of fasting without the hardship of complete food deprivation. It’s a five-day plan that involves reduced calorie intake, typically between 750 to 1,100 calories per day, mainly from plant-based foods, while ensuring that your body enters a fasting-like state.

Understanding Cellular Rejuvenation

Cellular rejuvenation refers to the process of renewing old or damaged cells. This concept is critical for those with chronic illnesses like Lyme disease, Bartonella, Babesia, and mold toxicity, where cellular damage and inflammation from oxidation damage could lead to ongoing symptoms. FMD has been shown to trigger autophagy, a crucial cellular cleanup process where the body removes damaged cells and regenerates new ones. This process not only helps in maintaining cellular health but also stimulates the production of stem cells, which are essential for repairing and regenerating tissues and can help remove senescent zombie cells. By doing so, FMD promotes cellular regeneration and can lead to improved overall health for people living with chronic tick-borne infections and mold toxicity. FMD also potentially enhances longevity and reduces the risk of various age-related diseases.

Key Health Enhancing and Anti-Aging Pathways Affected by the Fasting Mimicking Diet

  • Autophagy Pathway: FMD induces autophagy, a critical process for cellular cleanup and renewal. This promotes the removal of damaged proteins and organelles, supporting longevity and overall health, and may help reduce cellular debris linked to chronic infections like tick-borne diseases and mold toxicity.
  • Cellular Senescence: FMD aids in addressing cellular senescence, where cells lose their ability to divide and function optimally while often developing a pro-inflammatory secretory profile known as the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP). Chronic infections are a cause of early cellular senescence. By removing these senescent cells and fixing the effects of SASP, the diet may reduce inflammation and tissue damage, contributing to healthier aging, an extended lifespan, and improved health for people with chronic infections and mold-related issues.
  • Improvements in Immune Function: FMD enhances immune function by promoting the regeneration of immune cells and supporting a balanced immune response. This can lead to a more robust defense against infections and a reduction in inflammation, benefiting individuals with chronic illnesses such as tick-borne diseases and mold toxicity. Enhanced immune function contributes to healthier aging and improved resilience against stressors, ensuring better overall health and longevity.
  • mTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin): FMD reduces signaling through the mTOR pathway, which is closely linked with cell growth, aging, and immune function. Inhibiting mTOR activity can enhance cellular stress resistance, longevity, and may aid in managing chronic infections by improving immune response.
  • IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1): FMD lowers levels of IGF-1, a hormone that promotes growth and has been associated with aging and cancer. Reducing IGF-1 can lead to decreased cellular proliferation and increased autophagy, which may benefit those dealing with persistent infections and inflammation.
  • AMPK (AMP-Activated Protein Kinase): By activating AMPK, the diet enhances energy metabolism and promotes the breakdown of fats. This pathway is associated with improved longevity, protection against age-related diseases, and could also support detoxification and energy balance in individuals facing mold toxicity and chronic infections.
  • Sirtuins Activation: The diet stimulates sirtuins, a family of proteins that regulate cellular health and longevity. Activation of sirtuins is linked to improved DNA repair, enhanced stress resistance, and extended lifespan; these functions may also aid individuals with chronic tick-borne infections and mold toxicity by bolstering cellular resilience and repair mechanisms.  (See link for article)

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Category:

Babesia, Bartonella, diet and nutrition, Lyme, Mold

Control Cytokines – A Guide

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/cytokines

Updated: 8/8/24

By Dr. Marty Ross

About Cytokines in Lyme Disease and Related Conditions

Lowering inflammatory cytokines made by the immune system is essential for persistent infections, like Lyme disease, and related conditions recovery. In this article, I discuss why this is so and lay out a nutritional support plan using supplements to lower cytokines. I also recommend adequate sleep.

Cytokines are proteins made by various types of white blood cells to turn on the immune system to attack invaders like:

  • bacteria (for example, Lyme germs and the co-infections),
  • intestinal yeast,
  • parasites,
  • viruses like Covid,
  • mold toxins,
  • environmental toxins, and
  • heavy metals toxins, like lead and mercury.

In the video found in the top link, Dr. Ross discusses cytokines plus two of his favorite supplements to address cytokine excess. For dosing information see the Treatment Approach in the article.

Cytokines are Good, Right? Well, Yes and No.

In the right amount, cytokines promote healing. In excess, they cause most of the major persistent infection and mold toxicity symptoms and dysregulate the immune system. The problem in persistent infections and mold toxicity is that cytokines are usually made in excess. Fortunately, there are some great steps you can take to lower cytokines.

Good: The Right Amount of Cytokines
  • make antibodies work more effectively,
  • increase active white blood cells,
  • recruit white blood cells to where they are needed,
  • turn on white blood cells, and
  • decrease viral and bacterial replication.
Bad: Too Many Cytokines
  • dysregulate the immune system,
  • cause pain,
  • decrease hormone production from organs, like the thyroid and the adrenal glands,
  • disturb sleep,
  • decrease brain function,
  • increase fatigue and tiredness,
  • waste muscles,
  • cause depression, and
  • decrease the function of various organs throughout the body, resulting in many other symptoms and medical problems.  (See link for article and video)

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Category:

Lyme, Mold, Treatment