Madison Area Lyme Support Group

Tacaribe Virus Found in Ticks

http://www.ocala.com/article/20150126/ARTICLES/150129735

University of Florida researcher, Katherine Sayler, found that about 10% of Lone Star ticks collected had the Tacaribe virus which causes hemorrhagic fever.  The virus was first isolated from bats and mosquitoes in Trinidad in the 1950’s.  

Symptoms include fatigue, fever, weakness, dizziness, and muscle pain.  More severe cases show bleeding under the skin, from bodily orifices, and in internal organs.  It can cause kidney failure and coma leading to death.  

What’s unusual about this event is that this virus was thought to have disappeared 40 years ago as well as the fact it seemed to jump from bats to ticks.  Sayler states that “No arena virus has ever been associated with a tick.”

Perhaps this article will help point out that the Emperor still has no clothes on.  Firstly, Lyme is a catch-all name for something that could potentially be hundreds of things.  Horowitz calls it MSIDS (multi infectious disease syndrome), which is a far better descriptor.  Secondly, authorities need to use the scientific method, unbiasedly.  If they did, they would discover that veterinarian, Dr. Breitschwerdt, strongly believes that each animal has its own strain of Bartonella and believes it’s a silent epidemic.  They would also learn that far more insects than thought are involved in spreading disease.  They would get over the notion that MSIDS has state and country borders.  (Tell that to the bird)  These pathogens have been here since the beginning of time.  Time to give them the respect and careful study they deserve and time to start listening to patients!

Meetings and repellents

Besides our June 6 meeting from 1:30-3:30 with Pharmacist Kathy Lynch from Women’s International Pharmacy, we have a simple group support meeting June 20 from 1:30-4:30.

Also, the following link has excellent information on repellents:

http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/mosquitosite/repellents-for-application-to-skin/

“Repellents with the best track records include the following: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD). The three non-DEET compounds each seem to work as well as or nearly as well as DEET when they are used at higher concentrations (20%).”

http://www.stopticks.org/prevention/

Excellent “natural options”: http://www.primallyinspired.com/favorites-how-to-make-a-homemade-bug-repellent-oil-easy-essential-oils/

Bug Blends

15 drops lavender + 5 drops eucalyptus

Bug Blend 1
10 drops rosemary
7 drops cinnamon
3 drops cedarwood
Bug Blend 2
12 drops lemongrass
6 drops eucalyptus
2 drops citronella
Bug Blend 3
20 drops rose geranium

Premixed Bug Blends
Many essential oil companies make premixed blends that you can purchase and use instead of blending your own. Just add 10-20 drops to your carrier oil and you’re good to go.
doTERRA’s TerraShield Repellant Blend
Plant Therapy’s Bug Off Synergy Blend
Eden’s Garden Four Thieves Synergy Blend

How To Make A Homemade Bug Repelling Oil:

The first thing you’ll need is to choose your carrier oil and put about 2 TBSP into a bottle or jar.

Next, choose the essential oils or blend of oils that you want to add to your carrier oil.
You want to get around 20 drops for 2 TBSP of carrier oil so that your oil isn’t too strong, but just right.

Slowly add your essential oils to your carrier oil.
Lastly, shake or stir your oil well to mix everything together and store it in a place that’s out of direct sunlight. To use your homemade bug repellent oil, just pour a bit of oil into the palm of your hand, rub it together, and massage it into your little ones skin before going outdoors.

The author of Primally Inspired puts 1 drop of Rose Geranium Oil in between her dog’s shoulder blades and a drop at the base of his tail each day.  She puts a drop on the insides of her wrists and a drop behind her ears.
 Homemade Flea Powder Recipe:

Homemade Flea Powder

Ingredients:
1 cup Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (find HERE)
1/2 cup Neem Powder (find HERE)
1/2 cup Yarrow Powder (find HERE)
20 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil* (find HERE)  *Leave out the essential oil if using for cats.

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and put in a shaker top container. I used a mason jar with a shaker top lid (I got my mason jar shaker top lid at Christmas Tree Shop, but you could make your own by drilling holes in a regular mason jar lid).
Apply from head to tail along your pets spine in dry conditions. Brush your pets fur going the opposite direction so the powder comes in contact with the skin. Avoid the eyes and nose. Rub the powder on the belly and legs. Try to get the flea powder on as much skin as you can.

How often to apply flea powder?
To use this as a general repellent (with no serious flea infestation), applying once a month during active flea season (end of spring/summer) is sufficient. If the pet gets a bath or gets wet, it will need to be reapplied.
If you have a flea infestation:
You will need to apply more often, depending on how bad of an infestation you are dealing with.

If you have a flea infestation, you will also need to apply this flea powder to your floors, windowsills, door sills, pet bedding, sofa, etc. Focus your efforts where your pet spends the most amount of time, since fleas and their eggs will be the most concentrated in those areas. Just apply a light dusting to the areas in your house and leave it there overnight. Vacuum in the morning or sometime the next day. Do this once a week for 4 weeks if you have a flea infestation.

You can also leave a little bit of this flea powder on your door and window sills to prevent spiders, ants and other bugs from entering.

Marijuana, the miracle herb?

Information derived from a Mercola article found at:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/05/16/research-supports-marijuana-benefits.aspx?e_cid=20150516Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20150516Z1&et_cid=DM74698&et_rid=955237506

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 controlled substance, a category reserved for the most dangerous drugs, along with heroin and LSD due to a “high potential for abuse” and “no accepted medical use.” Current research shows this to be completely untrue.

Interestingly, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) obtained a patent for marijuana as a “neural protectant,” in 2003. So much for the “no accepted medical use.”

The active ingredient, cannabinoids, has two subclasses important for medical use: THC (tetrahydrocannabinols) and CBD (cannabidiols). CBD comprises 40% of cannabis resin and interact with specific receptors in your cell membranes. THC is the most psychoactive, and is known for producing a “high.” Over time, some producers have bred plants with higher amounts of this compound. The downfall of this practice is lower medicinal value and adverse effects. Like all herbs; however, the plant works best as a whole plant with the CBD lessening the psychoactive effects of THC. Once again, it’s all in the breeding.

According to Dr. Mechoulam we have our own endogenous cannabinoid system within us, with our bodies making cannabinoids similar to those in marijuana, and are found on cell membranes throughout our bodies. The two that have been identified are CB1 which is in our brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and other parts. CB2 is in our immune system. This cannabinoid system is believed to assist regulating physiological processes and in maintaining homeostasis.

The most encouraging aspect for MSIDS (multi, systemic, infectious, disease) patients is the ability of marijuana to lower inflammation and an overactive immune system, increase energy, control appetite, help with nutrient transport, cellular communication, emotional balance, sleep, and memory, all of which we struggle with.

It is also pro-apoptotic, which means it kills cancer cells, but leaves healthy cells alone. It is also anti-angiogenic, which means it cuts off a tumor’s blood supply.

But perhaps the greatest benefit is its proven ability to control pain as well as or better than pharmaceuticals as demonstrated by the 2010 report by the Center for Medical Cannabis Research on 14 clinical studies which were FDA-approved, double-blind, and placebo-controlled.

According to Dr. Margaret Gedde, MD, PhD, cannabis is safer and less toxic than many prescription drugs. For instance, in states were medical marijuana is legal, overdose deaths from pharmaceutical opioids decreased by an average of 33% after five and six years of marijuana legalization. The main side-effect of cannabidiol is sleepiness which wears off after the patient gets accustomed to it.

For more information on optimal dosing and protocols, Gedde recommends looking into current clinical practice in states where cannabis is now legally accessible. Other resources include PubMed, cancer.gov, The Journal of Pain, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Mercola’s interview with Dr. Frankel. Found here:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/03/09/medical-cannabis.aspx

Transferred Elk die of Babesiosis

http://m.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/5-kentucky-elk-brought-to-wisconsin-die-from-tick-disease-b99496215z1-303303681.html  (Go to this web page for the entire article)

By Paul A. Smith of the Journal Sentinel

Five elk recently transferred to Wisconsin from Kentucky as part of a reintroduction effort died in mid-April because of a tick-borne disease, the Department of Natural Resources announced Monday.

The elk died over a period of about one week in a quarantine pen in Jackson County, according to the DNR. The dead elk included one adult cow, which carried an unborn calf, and four yearlings (three females and one male).

Necropsies on the dead animals revealed they died of acute Babesiosis, according to the DNR. The disease is caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells and are spread by certain ticks, including the deer tick.

State wildlife officials presume the elk were bitten by ticks after their arrival in Wisconsin. The dead animals were part of a shipment of 26 elk brought to Wisconsin in late March as part of a multiyear agreement with Kentucky wildlife officials. The plan calls for Wisconsin to receive up to 150 elk from Kentucky.

Although Babesiosis has also been isolated in white-tailed deer, it has only led to benign infections in the continent’s most abundant cervid, Ryan said.

The disease also affects humans. Wisconsin, Minnesota and states in the northeastern U.S. have the highest rates of Babesiosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The parasite that causes Babesiosis typically is spread by a tick in the young nymph stage of their life cycle, when they are most apt to be found seeking a blood meal during spring and summer.

Interview with Dr. Horowitz

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/05/06/lyme-disease-debate-can-condition-be-chronic/

Excellent interview with Dr. Horowitz.  In under 10 minutes he explains the nuts and bolts of why Lyme Disease or MSIDS (multi systemic infectious disease syndrome) is so hard to treat.

The ticks are out in force here in Wisconsin.  Please take precautions and use permethrin spray on your clothing and do tick checks often.  If you must put chemicals on your skin use Deet but be cautious as it is toxic.  Remember to remove ticks carefully by getting tweezers or a tick removal device as close to the mouth parts as possible and gently pulling without squeezing or twisting as those actions will enable the stomach contents to be released into you.