Archive for the ‘Treatment’ Category

Letter to IDSA President: Why Do Guidelines Omit Treating Disabled Lyme Patients, Why Do You Discourage Routine Testing, & Why Are There No References to Failed Treatment & Persistent Infection?

**Comment**

Tuttle brings up many valid questions you may want to consider if you are planning on writing HHS on how best to address Lyme disease.

  • It needs to be understood that this complex illness started out historically through the myopic lens of a rheumatologist and has never expanded to include the many and varied symptoms that are experienced in reality and demonstrated through research.
  • Conflict if interest riddled public health ‘authorities’ still have not admitted the potential of sexual transmission and they still state that congenital transmission is ‘rare’ despite the fact nobody’s counting.  
  • They also continue to ignore the importance of other pathogens that research has shown cause more severe illness for a longer duration of time, and that require different medications.
  • Research has also demonstrated the different forms of borrelia that mainstream medicine continues to ignore, that also require different medications.
  • There is a sordid back-story (in which they took out the most specific band for Lyme) on current CDC-2 tiered testing which tests for ONE strain of borrelia, which misses a majority of cases.  They aren’t even looking for or testing for other pathogens.
  • They falsely continue to state that 60-80% obtain the EM rash, when research shows it’s highly variable and between 0-80%.  Only 25% had the rash in the first ever patient group.  The CDC has received a formal complaint on this false statistic in 2019.  Crickets.
  • Since obtaining a positive test and having the EM rash are requirements to enter research studies, it’s obvious that a HUGE subset of patients are not being studied.  This has been going on for over 40 years and needs to change.
  • The CDC also falsely states that only 10-20% go on to suffer persistent symptoms.  This only includes patients who were diagnosed and treated early.  There is a larger group of 40-60% of patients that are diagnosed and treated late. When you combine the two groups, perhaps over 60% of infected patients are chronically infected and struggle with severe symptoms. This distinction is extremely important because CDC statistics downplay the significance of the problem. Also, research dollars are limited and typically go to issues affecting the most people.

https://www.change.org/p/the-us-senate-calling-for-a-congressional-investigation-of-the-cdc-idsa-and-aldf/u/

Inquiry to IDSA President Barbara D. Alexander, MD

MAY 4, 2021 — 

Additional information to be shared with the public originating from the monthly NH Lyme Study Commission

Study Commission Website:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/statstudcomm/details.aspx?id=1515&rbl=1&txtbillnumber=hb490

I do not expect a response to the inquiry below so feel free to send a personal note to Dr. Alexander to remind her to answer my three questions.

———- Original Message ———-
From: CARL TUTTLE <runagain@comcast.net>
To: “alexa011@mc.duke.edu” <alexa011@mc.duke.edu>
Cc:  All members of the NH Lyme Study Commission
Date: 05/02/2021 8:19 AM
Subject: Inquiry to IDSA President Barbara D. Alexander, MD

May 2, 2021

Infectious Diseases Society of America
4040 Wilson Boulevard Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22203
Attn: Barbara D. Alexander, MD, MHS, FIDSA, President

Dear Dr. Alexander,

As a member of NH Governor Chris Sununu’s Lyme Disease Study Commission, I am forwarding the following three highlighted questions that were brought up during last month’s Zoom meeting. I am hoping that you can answer these questions which came to light after State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ben Chan reviewed your IDSA Lyme Treatment Guideline.

Question #1 refers to Lyme patients in wheelchairs as there doesn’t seem to be a section in your guideline focused on treating the disabled Lyme patient population.

I would also like to call attention to a statement from Dr. Ying Zhang, professor at the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health:

Standard antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease does not kill persistent Borrelia bacteria.
http://droopyyoupi.blogspot.com/2015/08/standart-antibiotic-treatment-for-lyme.html

Excerpt:

-What has tuberculosis and Borrelia burgdorferi in common? In the late stage of the disease occurs persistent (tolerant) bacteria, which essentially means that the bacteria lasts and lasts and lasts. They protect themselves against antibiotics and are difficult to treat.

– Both Borrelia burgdorferi and tuberculosis is relatively easy to cure in the early stages, even with the use of one antibiotic. In the late stage it is impossible to cure the disease with the same type of treatment in the acute phase, said Dr. Ying Zhang when he visited the year NorVect conference.
________________

Kindly hit “reply all” so all members of the NH Lyme Study Commission will see your response.
Respectfully submitted,
Carl Tuttle
Hudson, NH
 
Three highlighted questions that were brought up during last month’s Zoom meeting:

———- Original Message ———-
From: CARL TUTTLE <runagain@comcast.net>
To: All Members of the NH Lyme Study Commission
Date: 04/28/2021 11:04 AM
Subject: April 23rd meeting minutes

Rep Marsh and Commission members,
For the record here is a copy of the questions I asked during the last Zoom meeting which should be summarized in the minutes.

Question #1 Stages of Lyme disease 
Stage 3: Months later; Arthritis (from the March 2th minutes)

I would like to call attention to the 43-page document I sent to all members prior to the start of this study commission. [1] On page two of that document under the topic “Severity of Lyme Disease” (cases that actually made headlines) there are references to Lyme patients in wheelchairs, along with Dr. Neil Spector requiring a heart transplant after his Lyme went untreated for four years.

Untreated strep throat can progress to rheumatic fever, causing irreversible heart damage. Untreated syphilis leads to progressive disability and dementia, and untreated HIV infection progresses to AIDS with significant disability and death. So what happens to a patient with Lyme disease who goes months, years, or decades before diagnosis because of a false-negative serological test result, missing bulls-eye rash, misdiagnosis etc., etc.?

Why isn’t the disabling stage of Lyme disease recognized? I have never seen a public Service Announcement informing the public that you could become horribly disabled or die from Lyme disease yet we have all this evidence nationwide that Lyme is destroying lives, ending careers while leaving its victim in financial ruin.

Question #2 IDSA Treatment Guidelines discourage routine testing for Lyme disease in patients who have been diagnosed with the chronic diseases of our time. 

On page 5 of that 43-page document I sent to the group there is a link to the 5min extended trailer for the documentary “Under our Skin” From the Lyme patient interviews;

I was misdiagnosed with:

-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
-Lupus
-MS
-Fibromyalgia
-ALS

We also know that Kris Kristofferson was being treated for Alzheimer’s disease only to find out it was Lyme all along.

The 2020 IDSA Lyme treatment guidelines strongly recommend against “routine” testing for disease in patients with:

Typical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS),
Parkinson’s disease,
Dementia, or cognitive decline,
New-onset seizures,
Psychiatric illness, and
Children with developmental disorders.

Who in their right mind would not want to make sure that these patients are not suffering from an untreated Lyme infection; especially in a state with one of the highest rates of Lyme in the country?

Question #3 There are no references to failed treatment in the IDSA Guidelines so no acknowledgment of persistent infection. 

My letter to the editor published in the BMJ last June had a short list of failed treatment references; there are actually hundreds so why is the IDSA refusing to recognize this serious problem which is leaving hundreds of thousands if not millions worldwide in a debilitated state?

Letter to the editor of the BMJ:

Lyme borreliosis: diagnosis and management
https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1041/rr-1

Carl Tuttle
Hudson, NH

Reference

1. 43-page document I sent to all members prior to the start of this study commission
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cfgrq6m1y645q3b/NH%20House%20Bill%20490%20Lyme%20Disease%20Commission%20Oct%203%202020.pdf?dl=0

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Testing, Treatment

Bill Gates, China, 23andMe, And Your DNA

The purpose of this post is 3-fold:

  • Everyone should understand this for privacy reasons.  Medical care should be personal, confidential, and protected.
  • Lyme/MSIDS patients in particular often get DNA testing to discover if they have the MTHFR gene or other genes that may inhibit proper detoxification as well as information on their ability to handle certain medications.
  • To reveal, yet again, the importance of understanding the many conflicts of interest and the tangled web of connections that best exemplify the expression, “Things are not as they seem.”  These conflicts of interest/connections drive public health decisions which in turn affect all of us.

https://www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/bill-gates-china-23me-and-your-dna/

Gates

Bill Gates, China, 23andMe, And Your DNA

Posted on Author
Derrick Broze
Is there a connection between China, Bill Gates, YouTube, and DNA collection?

Recent reports reveal that a Chinese company with connections to the Gates Foundation is involved in COVID-19 testing and poses a potential threat to American privacy, particularly the medical and health data of those who have been tested for COVID-19.

In late January, CBS’ 60 Minutes reported:

“60 Minutes has learned Chinese company BGI Group, the largest biotech firm in the world, offered to build COVID labs in at least six states, and U.S. intelligence officials issued warnings not to share health data with BGI. 

The largest biotech firm in the world wasted no time in offering to build and run COVID testing labs in Washington, contacting its governor right after the first major COVID outbreak in the U.S. occurred there. The Chinese company, the BGI Group, made the same offer to at least five other states, including New York and California, 60 Minutes has learned. This, along with other COVID testing offers by BGI, so worried Bill Evanina, then the country’s top counterintelligence officer, that he authorized a rare public warning.”

“Foreign powers can collect, store and exploit biometric information from COVID tests” declared the notice. Evanina believes the Chinese are trying to collect Americans’ DNA to win a race to control the world’s biodata.”  (See link for article)

________________________

**Comment**

  • This information could be used to monopolize drugs and treatments.
  • Reuters reported in January that more than 40 publicly available documents and research papers show BGI’s regular partnering with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). They share a dozen patents for DNA tests.  A 2015 patent is for a “low-cost kit to detect respiratory pathogens, including SARS (Sever Respiratory Syndrome) and coronaviruses.  
  • BGI’s chief infectious disease expert is listed as an inventor on the patent while also being one of the 1st scientists to have sequenced COVID-19 samples from a Wuhan military hospital. Please remember; however, that China’s chief epidemiologist states the virus was NOT isolated.
  • Natalie Winter of National Pulse uncovered documentation of a relationship between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and BGI going back nearly a decade, with the Gates Foundation funding BGI projects relating to genome sequencing alongside Chinese Communist Party bodies such as the Ministry of Science and Technology and Academy of Agricultural Sciences.  Dr. Tadataka Yamada, former president of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s global health program, serves as the Chairman of BGI’s Scientific Advisory Board.
  • BGI, worth a market value of around $9 million and known for creating a cloned pig, has sold millions of their COVID-19 test kits around the world.

The article then switches to dangers posed by genealogy companies and that millions have voluntarily submitted their DNA for ancestry and health information.

A former counterintelligence officer told 60 Minutes that Chinese companies are investing in U.S. biotech companies which gives them access to health data. This officer ominously states that this genetic material represents “your past and your future as well as your children’s future.”

China is far from alone and most governments will seek to mine DNA information, which includes the U.S. government, military, as well as private companies.

The article then states 23andMe was discussed on 60 Minutes and that its CEO states the company plans to use DNA information to develop drugs.  The company announced in February it would become a publicly traded company with help from billionaire Richard Branson.

The article connects a spider-web which includes Branson, Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Gates and the BGI Group.  Another little known web includes the CEO of 23andMe, her sister who is CEO of Youtube, and her former husband – one of the founders of Google (which owns Youtube) and president of Alphabet Inc. until 2019.

These webs must be understood due to severe conflicts of interest to understand the wide censorship by Youtube labeling anything that doesn’t fit the COVID-19 narrative as “misinformation.” 

___________________

For more:

Category:

Activism, Testing, Treatment, vaccines, Viruses

May Lyme Awareness Talk, 2021

http://

May 5, 2021

Lyme Awareness Talk

According the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average number of Lyme disease cases has more than doubled over the last decade.  In this presentation, Alicia Cashman from the Madison Lyme Support Group discusses tick-born illness, why it’s so difficult to obtain help, symptoms, prevention, and real life experience of patients.  The program was made possible through funding from the Friends of the Oregon Library.

Slide 1: Lyme Disease a 21st Century Pandemic
Slide 2: Why should we care about Lyme disease:
Slide 3: The History of Lyme disease:
Slide 4:  What is Lyme disease?
  • The CDC/NIH/IDSA accepted narrative
  • Reality
Slide 5: Pleomorphism (Lyme shape-shifts)
Slide 6: Video of a spirochetal cluster grown from a sick patient’s blood
Slide 7: Polymicrobialism (There are often other infections involved)
Slide 8:  How is Lyme Transmitted?
  • The CDC accepted narrative
  • Reality
Slide 9:  Congenital Lyme – is real
Slide 10: How is Lyme diagnosed?
Slide 11:  Symptoms of Lyme disease
  • CDC accepted narrative
  • Reality
Slide 12: Lyme disease signs and symptoms explained by Dr. Aucott of Johns Hopkins
  • Patients can jump to stage 3 quickly and bypass the other stages.  I give the example of the little girl who went out to play, got a tick bite above her eye and within 4-6 hours couldn’t walk or talk.
  • Many never see the tick or the rash
  • While the rash is diagnostic for Lyme (if you have the rash, you have Lyme – no testing required), you may still be infected even if you don’t have the rash. Most doctors are uneducated, don’t know what the rash looks like, and mistakenly tell people they got a spider or other bug bite.  The rash can also be irregular: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/18/misdiagnosis-of-lyme-caused-rash-can-have-potentially-fatal-consequences/
Slide 13: Why are definitions important?
  • Organism
  • Transmission
  • Treatment
Slide 14:  Tick Prevention
Slide 15: Willy Burgdorfer, the “discoverer” of Lyme
Slide 16: New Treatments for Lyme disease
Please remember that most patients are infected with numerous infections.  Treatment should reflect this as research shows patients fighting numerous infections simultaneously have more severe symptoms for a much longer duration.
Slide 17: Hollywood Stars infected with Lyme

Category:

Activism, Babesia, Bartonella, Biofilm, Lyme, Prevention, Psychological Aspects, research, Testing, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment

How Long Does It Take For Herbal Supplements to Work?

https://vitalplan.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-for-herbal-supplements-to-work?

How Long Does It Take for Herbal Supplements to Work?

By Vital Plan Posted 01-25-2021

Reviewed by Bill Rawls, MD
Medical Director of Vital Plan

Questions Answered

Herbs have been used for thousands of years all over the world to address every imaginable health concern, and the amount of research supporting their powers grows every day. And yet their role in modern medicine is still minimized: Herbal therapy isn’t part of the curriculum in traditional medical school, and so most doctors don’t have the training to answer even the most common questions about herbs.

And if you’re new to herbs, or even if you’ve been taking them for a while but have a new health concern or circumstance like a new drug prescription, questions are bound to come up. “Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me how long it takes to get results from a certain herb, or if they need to worry about taking a too-high dose,” says Dr. Bill Rawls, medical director of Vital Plan.

So, we’ve asked Dr. Rawls to tackle these and other top herbal questions here to get you the intel you need to put herbs to work for you.

How Long Does It Take for Herbal Supplements to Work?

Hour glass on calendar concept for time slipping away for important appointment date, schedule and deadline

Herbs have some amazing capabilities — but they aren’t magic pills. “The amount of time it takes to see results is somewhat variable, but typically it’s much slower than a pharmaceutical,” says Dr. Rawls.

That’s because pharmaceutical drugs are generally designed to activate or block a dysfunctional process in the body that is triggering symptoms or illness, whereas herbal supplements work to resolve the dysfunctional problem itself. For instance, heartburn medications work by blocking the natural process of producing the stomach acids that are making you uncomfortable — they’re a stopgap, but not a true solution.

By comparison, herbs like slippery elm bark, berberine, and dandelion extract help stop the underlying causes of reflux by nourishing the lining of the GI tract, balancing the gut microbiome, and restoring normal communications between gastrointestinal cells. “With herbs, there’s more of a process of healing involved, and that takes time,” Dr. Rawls explains.

That said, some herbs — called effectors — have a specific targeted action, and alleviate symptoms within an hour or so, says Dr. Rawls. One example is lily of the valley; it’s often used for cardiovascular problems like heart failure or irregular heartbeat. (Note that lily of the valley should only be used under physician supervision to avoid toxic doses.)

Still, for the most part, herbs are restorative, which means patience and persistence is key to seeing significant and lasting results. “Restorative herbs may have a small immediate effect, but can take weeks or months to build up in your system enough for you to really notice that long-term healing process and longer-lasting benefits,” says Dr. Rawls.

Can I Take Herbal Supplements With Prescription Drugs?

Antibiotics and medication on a dark background

The short answer: Probably — with the caveat that you should always consult with your healthcare practitioner before taking any new herb or treatment. “But the potential for a bad interaction is pretty small,” says Dr. Rawls. That’s because most herbs and drugs function very differently and affect different parts of the body, so they’re not typically interacting at all.

On the contrary, herbs can sometimes be an effective complement to medications. Consider berberine, andrographis, garlic, and reishi mushroom, for example: They all help promote a balanced gut microbiome, making them a nice complement to antibiotics, which can throw the gut microbiome out of whack.

But as always, there are exceptions to the rule, and taking certain herbal supplements with prescription drugs can have some dangerous side effects, as well as impact the efficacy of the drugs, according to a small study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. “The biggest concern is if you’re on blood thinners, because most herbs are blood thinners as well,” says Dr. Rawls.

Other medications that might interact with herbs include SSRI antidepressants, prescription sedatives, sleep aids, anti-anxiety medicines, thyroid hormones, and diabetes medications. If you’re taking one of these — or any prescription drug — do your research carefully and consult with your doc before adding herbs to your regimen.

Which Is Better: Whole Herbs or Extracts?

Turmeric powder and fresh turmeric on wooden background

There’s nothing wrong with whole herbs, but you’re going to get more bang for your buck with herbal extracts.

“What we’re interested in with herbs is their phytochemistry, the natural chemical substances called phytochemicals that have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant powers, among others,” says Dr. Rawls. “We’re less interested in the stems, roots, and leaves. When they’re dried out and ground up into a fine whole-herb powder, a high percentage of what you’re getting is fiber, not phytochemicals.” That makes whole herbs less expensive, but also less potent.

With extracts, you’re removing the phytochemicals from the plant and leaving behind what’s unnecessary, says Dr. Rawls. Liquid extracts (aka tinctures) are made by soaking the whole herb in a solution of water and alcohol or another liquid like vegetable glycerine or apple cider vinegar; they’re taken orally and absorbed in the intestines. Powdered extracts are the most potent: They’re made by soaking the herb in a solvent that’s later evaporated and then packed into a super-concentrated capsule or tablet.

Can Herbs Cure My Illness?

Professional doctor writing a prescription for a female patient, medicine and healthcare concept

Federal regulations do not allow herbal supplement companies to make any medical claims. As such, herbs can’t be marketed as a treatment, cure, or any other kind of disease prevention.

But herbs’ actions can promote homeostasis, a healthy, stable internal environment within the body that allows for proper functioning, which may help an illness to be resolved, says Dr. Rawls. He explains that herbs do three big things that contribute to wellness:

  • Suppress microbes like bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are present in our tissues and compete with our cells for vital resources
  • Protect cells from damaging and inflammation-causing free radicals
  • Promote communication between our cells

“All three actions boost cellular function, and when your cells are functioning optimally, you’re more likely to avoid things like inflammation and bacterial overgrowth that contribute to a number of illnesses and diseases,” says Dr. Rawls.

Since Herbs Are Natural, Does That Mean Herbal Supplements Are Safe?

cruciferous vegetables capsules, dietary supplements for healthy eating

Yes, herbs are natural, and because they’re more like food, their potential for toxicity is extraordinarily low. That’s especially true when compared to synthetic pharmaceutical drugs, which have a higher potential for toxicity and side effects. (Note that plant-based supplements are very different from sports or performance-enhancing supplements, some of which have been found to contain banned or harmful substances.)

Even so, there are a few exceptions to be aware of. Effector herbs like kava kava and cannabis in the form of marijuana have more drug-like qualities, and so they can become toxic with chronic and heavy use.

Remember, too, that some herbs do interact with medications and cause unwanted side effects. St. Johns’ wort, for instance, which has been shown to be effective for easing mild to moderate depression and menopausal symptoms, can also reduce the effects of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications.

And some herbal supplement labels worn against taking the contents if you’re pregnant or nursing. That’s not because herbs are unsafe, but there are a few that should be avoided by certain populations because of the way they are processed by the body..

Ultimately, according to federal regulations, supplement companies are responsible for providing evidence that their dietary supplements are safe and for ensuring that product labels are not misleading. So do your research to find a company you trust, read the label so you know what’s inside the bottle, and ask your healthcare provider how it may react with any other supplements and medications you take.

Is It Possible To Take Too Many Herbs?

Alternative medicine tablets on a wooden spoon, green leaf.

Not usually. Even in large doses, few herbal substances can actually kill you. “Plants produce phytochemicals to protect their own cells, and the phytochemicals in herbs mesh particularly well with our own biochemistry,” says Dr. Rawls. “When we consume the herbal phytochemicals, our cells benefit from those protective mechanisms.”

The toxic dose for most herbs is very high, says Dr. Rawls — especially compared to pharmaceuticals, which can be lethal even in small amounts. However, you do want to be careful with certain effector herbs like St. John’s wort, which has more potential to cause issues such as agitation, anxiety, and insomnia in high doses.

If you do take too much of a restorative herb, though, you’re likely to get a stomach ache or feel a little nauseous, but it won’t otherwise hurt you, Dr. Rawls adds.

Are Herbal Supplements Regulated by the FDA?

front entrance of government building with roman columns

Yes, herbal supplements are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, but not in the same way drugs are. Instead, they’re considered dietary supplements — that means manufacturers don’t have to seek FDA approval before selling dietary supplements.

Companies can claim that their herbal supplements address a nutrient deficiency, support health, or are linked to body functions — if they have supporting research and they include a disclaimer that the FDA hasn’t evaluated the claim. But they aren’t allowed to make a specific medical claim such as that the herb “treats” or “cures” a medical condition.

The manufacturers themselves are responsible for following safety and quality standards, but the FDA does monitor dietary supplements that are currently on the market. If it finds a product to be unsafe, it can take legal action.

How Can I Tell if a Supplement Is Good Quality?

two hands in blue rubber gloves holding a petri dish with a small sprout of a leafy plant emerging from a clump of dirt, against a white background

Supplements require way less information on their labels than drugs do, and for good reason — they’re way less toxic. But the more information a company puts on the label, the better, says Dr. Rawls.

“Transparency is key to earning your trust. The label should clearly state which ingredients are in the supplement and the quantity of each, so you know what you’re putting into your body,” he says.

Ideally, you also want to know where those ingredients came from and how they were produced, Dr. Rawls says. That information should be on the label and/or the company’s website, along with their standards for ingredient quality, potency, and purity.

A few more ways to suss out reputable companies: Look to see whether a supplement carries the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) seal, indicating it was made in a facility that follows FDA regulations. And check whether it has been sent to a third-party lab, like U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, or NSF International, for independent verification of ingredient purity and label claims.

Does Insurance Cover Alternative Medicine?

Doctor taking medical insurance card from patient in office during scheduled checkup

Yes and no. Certain insurance companies are starting to cover some alternative treatments, like acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, and massage. But since there’s no across-the-board coverage, you should contact your insurance company directly to find out what your plan covers.

There are a few other ways to save on herbal therapy. If your employee offers a flexible spending account, you can use that to set aside pre-tax dollars (generally, each pay period) for health-related expenses; that money can then be used for herbal supplements and other alternative treatments. Similarly, a health savings account lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses, but you would set this kind of account up yourself, not your employer.

We hope the list above addressed all of your questions about herbal therapy, but if not, don’t stop here! Keep doing your research: explore the VitalPlan.com blog or other trusted resources, or take your questions to an integrative health practitioner — just don’t let a lack of information stop you from gaining the many impressive health benefits of herbs.

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References
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-st-johns-wort/art-20362212

_______________________

**Comment**

As always, I appreciate information provided by experienced doctors on any and all treatments for tick-borne illness, that said, please remember Dr. Rawls is in the business of selling an herbal treatment for Lyme/MSIDS.

Also, herbalists have differing opinions on what type of herb form is best.  From what I’ve read and gathered, Master Herbalist Stephen Buhner, a highly respected herbalist who has helped countless patients, believes the whole herb is best due to the way it works synergistically.  I’ve heard other herbalists state the same thing.

Tinctures and extracts can be very expensive.  One of the cheapest herbal treatments is getting the whole, ground herb.  Buhner’s books give excellent suggestions for dosage, sources, and many other details.  I highly recommend his books.

My husband and I have used everything under the sun for treatment, with variable results.  To be honest, we rarely if ever herxed on herbs – although we took plenty.  We always herxed on antibiotics and had near immediate results. This was my standard if a treatment was working or not.  Often out of desperation we did both herbs and antibiotics.  I’m not saying herbs didn’t help or play a role – only that I didn’t physically notice any effects, and when you are forking out thousands of dollars on treatment, we have to make tough choices.  It seems logical to me to choose the ones that are actively making a difference.

Anyone with this understands the desire to get well and the subsequent willingness to stick a needle in your eye if you thought for a second it might work!  This desperation leaves patients vulnerable to quackery and ineffective treatments.  This is why I believe it’s extremely important to have a Lyme-literate doctor helping you sift through fact vs fiction. Sometimes you need numerous doctors!  After all, it’s impossible to know everything and each patient presents completely differently.

On a final note: I rejoice with all patients who have success with treatments – even if I wouldn’t use them myself or question their effectiveness.  There’s much that is unknown about the effect of treatments upon the human body – as well as the synergistic effects of various treatments.  On the other hand, I commiserate with patients who are struggling with treatments.  Antibiotics, although effective for many, are extremely harsh on the body.  This is a fact, and I understand patients’ fears and reluctance to use them.  Personally, I hadn’t used antibiotics in over 20 years before I become infected with Lyme/MSIDS.  I would try ANYTHING before taking antibiotics and it usually worked – or my body handled it on its own.  But, getting tick-borne illness changed everything for us, forcing me to rethink my thoughts on them.

Healing is a powerful, complicated process.  One that I don’t claim to understand in its entirety.  We must remain open-minded but vigilant, making sure we are making forward progress (which sometimes means going backwards to go forwards!).  In the end we must all make tough choices.  I want to stand with you regardless of what treatment you choose.  I will never vilify someone’s treatment – I may respectfully question it out of concern, but in the end it’s your choice and your healing.  I’m here for everyone.

Category:

Herbs, Lyme, Treatment

Another Hit-Piece on Ivermectin in the Land of COVID Censorship Madness

**UPDATE Sept. 1, 2021**

The Chicago internist who administered ivermectin to Nurije Fype (the woman in the story below) testified at a court hearing that Fype was weaned off a ventilator & discharged after receiving small amounts of ivermectin for 20 consecutive days. True to form, the ‘authorities that be’ say she may have recovered on her own. The CDC reiterates its warning to doctors that ivermectin is not authorized or approved by the FDA for the prevention or treatment of COVID, but they are quite content the FDA approved the Pfizer COVID jab:

  • despite no oversight or control group receiving a placebo
  • when absolute risk is taken into account the “approved” Pfizer shot has an efficacy of just .84%
  • the Pfizer clinical trail study design warning against proximity and potential transmission of side effects of the “vaccine”
  • JFK and Dr. Nass state the FDA appears to be purposely tricking citizens into giving up their right to refuse an experimental product due to the bizarre way it was approved
  • leaked Pfizer indemnification agreement issue gives Pfizer complete indemnity, gives the purchaser no way of canceling the contract, demands countries put up sovereign assets including bank reserves, military bases, embassy buildings and more as collateral, and admits that long-term effects & efficacy are not currently known and there may be adverse effects.

Yet ivermectin, a drug on the WHO list of essential medicine that has been used for decades is now suddenly dangerous.  Think about that.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/92415?xid=nl_covidupdate_2021-

Judge Orders Hospital to Give COVID Patient Ivermectin

— Drug to be given to comatose Illinois patient after docs refused

by Jennifer Henderson, Enterprise & Investigative Writer, MedPage Today May 4, 2021

A box and blister pack of Ivermectin Tablets

Despite no evidence of efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19, an Illinois judge has ordered a hospital to give ivermectin to a comatose patient with few options left.

Judge James Orel of DuPage County ordered Edward-Elmhurst Hospital to allow 68-year-old COVID-19 patient Nurije Fype to receive the drug, even though it isn’t endorsed by federal health agencies, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Fox 32 Chicago reported that Fype, who has been in the intensive care unit since early last month and is currently on a ventilator, has since received her first dose.

Her daughter, Desareta Fype, enlisted the help of a New York law firm that has taken on other ivermectin cases to force the hospital’s hand after none of its doctors would agree to administer the drug, according to the local media outlets. The Tribune reported Tuesday that an outside doctor was granted credentials at the hospital to administer the ivermectin. (See link for article)

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**Comment**

The only reason this family member even heard of Ivermectin was due to another judge ordering a hospital to give it to a dying woman.  The family and attorneys believe ivermectin saved her life. 

You know it’s bad when the courts have to get involved for life-saving medical treatment.

The Medscape article states the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) posted its own review and analysis of ivermectin’s anti-viral/anti-inflammatory properties on its website, as if it’s a quack group publishing fake news.  

But this is where we are currently at – which is nothing new for Lyme/MSIDS patients.  We’ve been straddling this ugly polarized fence for over 40 years – understanding our public ‘authorities’ are biased, ignore world-wide research, and have vested interests (money and power), which make them untrustworthy and incapable of making public health policy.

These bought-out “Health regulators” caution its use as it is not “approved” for the prevention & treatment of COVID, and then lists truly “rare” side effects of nausea, vomiting, limb swelling, drop in blood pressure, and other adverse reactions. Ivermectin has decades of safe use.  Not to mention, the dosage for COVID is minuscule and typically consists of approximately 4 doses in total – hardly enough to cause any side-effects at all.

Evidently the FDA needs additional testing done to make up its mind – despite the plethora of research already done on its effectiveness for COVID.

For more:  

These public ‘authorities’ bad-mouthing, censoring, and banning Ivermectin, HCQ, and other treatments have severe conflicts of interest and should not be entrusted with public health.

Lastly, I’ve written this article to demonstrate how the CDC rigs treatment guidelines for their own purposes. This article reveals how the CDC insists upon their own faulty tests, again, for their own purposes, which is a threat to national security.  By controlling testing and treatment guidelines, they then effectively control the narrative about a disease and then play numbers games to frighten the public into taking whatever lucrative test, drug or vaccine they stand to profit from.  These public ‘authorities’ then thwart efforts at tracking severe reactions and deaths caused by their lucrative vaccines and injections.  It’s widely known that the VAERS vaccine reporting system only picks up 1% of adverse reactions/deaths  as it is.  Thwarting this system only makes this problem worse. Independent research on VAERS states the system is “utterly inadequate.”

Our conflict-riddled public ‘authorities’ have a lot to answer for.  We truly need a CDC/NIAD/FDA walkaway movement.

 

Category:

Treatment, Viruses