The Monster Inside Me: What it’s Like to Live With Chronic Lyme Disease

January 5, 2021

http://  Approx. 2 Min

The Monster Inside Me

A look into what it’s like to live with chronic Lyme.

The Monster Inside Me is a full length feature film about Lyme disease, its effects on everyday people, and their hard-fought relationships.

The film has been accepted at the Berlin Film Festival and the website mentions they are working on securing public distribution.

There is yet no release date, but coming soon.

Updates on Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/themonsterin…

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For more Lyme film documentaries:

BTW: There is a 2-for-2 sale going on for “Under Our Skin,” and “Emergence”.  Until Jan 8, if you buy 1 you get one free:  https://underourskin.com/store  (This is a great way to educate family and friends)

TV Specials on Lyme

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Lyme & Morgellons Disease: The Growing Connection

https://rawlsmd.com/health-articles/lyme-morgellons-disease-the-growing-connection

Lyme + Morgellons Disease: The Growing Connection

Lyme + Morgellons Disease: The Growing Connection

by Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio
Posted 12/21/2020

On the surface, it has all the makings of a medical drama episode on a mystery illness: unexplained skin lesions, a widespread set of symptoms impacting physical and mental health, and contested medical debates over its validity. In real life, it’s known as Morgellons disease, an illness that affects 3.65 in 100,000 people each year, according to research in the online, peer-reviewed medical journal PLOS One.

In other words, it’s quite rare by medical community standards, but it’s no less distressing or life-altering for those who endure it. And while the cause of Morgellons is a matter of hot debate, emerging research suggests ties to Lyme disease and common coinfections.

A Closer Look at Morgellons Disease

Morgellons often presents with puzzling dermatological symptoms. Patients describe a variety of unusual skin problems such as unexplained sores containing colored, thread-like structures or filaments, intense itching, and sensations of crawling or being stung by insects. Patients may also report other phenomena like flecks or particles emerging from the skin that resemble sand, seeds, or other tiny granules.

Currently, the cause of the illness remains unknown, and arguments about whether the disease is psychological or physical have ensued. Some healthcare professionals believe Morgellons is psychological — the result of a kind of delusion known as “delusional parasitosis.”

Medical doctor and patient discussing and consulting in hospital examination room

In a delusion such as this, patients may hold an unwavering belief they have been infested with parasites, fleas, worms, lice, or other types of organisms. The problem with this theory, however, is that Morgellons patients often have multi-systemic symptoms that parasites alone don’t explain such as fatigue, joint pain, fibromyalgia, and difficulty sleeping, as stated in a case report in the Annals of Dermatology.

Previously, some clinicians believed the filaments in the skin might have come from textile fibers or, worse, placed there by the patients themselves. However, a 2013 study sheds new light on the illness by evaluating colored filaments from tissue specimens gathered from the calluses of four female patients. The findings revealed the filaments weren’t comprised of textiles or synthetic materials at all. Instead, they were made up of substances in the body, including keratin, melanin, collagen, and other proteins.

Moreover, researchers discovered the presence of borrelia species of spirochetes in the participants’ tissue samples, indicating an infectious process might be one of the underlying mechanisms behind this illness. The multi-symptom illness overlaps with the symptoms of chronic Lyme disease and coinfections, but with only small-scale research on the topic, there are many layers yet to peel back.

“It bothers me on all the accounts that some physicians have blown off Morgellons patients or accused them of putting fibers into their tissues,” says Bill Rawls, MD, Medical Director of RawlsMD and Vital Plan. “When you look at how microbes like borrelia work and how they destroy collagen, it’s plausible that they are an underlying factor in this illness.”

Immune reaction. Admirable worried pretty girl visiting her doctor who carefully studying red spots on her skin while wearing medical gloves

In a 2016 study, researchers suggest the “dermopathy” (patches, spots, or lesions on the skin) of Morgellons is connected to tick-borne diseases, and they’ve discovered several species of borrelia in skin specimens: Borrelia burgdorferi (the predominant species causing Lyme disease), Borrelia garinii, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Borrelia hermsii.

“Morgellons may be a variant of Lyme disease that happens to affect the skin,” says Dr. Rawls. But it may develop in only a fraction of people who contract the tick-borne disease.

To date, there is no consensus on what causes Morgellons or why it affects some people and not others. Despite an association with borrelia, many health experts remain skeptical that the illness is brought about by an infection. Though Morgellons is a misunderstood and controversial illness, funding is needed for research, and awareness is of the utmost importance so that patients can get an accurate diagnosis.

Let’s explore some of the signs, symptoms, diagnostics, and treatment strategies for Morgellons.

Symptoms of Morgellons Disease

People with Morgellons can have a variety of symptoms, affecting multiple systems of the body. The symptoms include:

Diagnosing Morgellons Disease

Morgellons can be difficult to diagnose, notes Dr. Rawls, especially if healthcare providers don’t know enough about the illness to look for it. The Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation (CEHF), a nonprofit aimed at supporting awareness, education, and advocacy efforts, recommends seeing a Lyme-literate medical doctor (LLMD) to evaluate the presence of Lyme or other tick-borne diseases.

There isn’t a specific test to detect for Morgellons, but doctors may diagnose it if a person has slow or non-healing wounds, fibers in the lesions, or crawling or itching sensations of the skin. Skin samples may be tested for the presence of bacterial infections like Borrelia burgdorferi or Staphylococcus. Lyme specialists may also use testing from laboratories such as Igenex to confirm whether Lyme may be a factor in the illness.

Treatment of Morgellons Disease

There is no singular approach to the treatment of Morgellons that will work for everyone. Realistically, there’s a lot of trial and error to figure out what strategies will be most effective for the illness.

A good treatment approach focuses on comprehensive ways to improve multi-systemic symptoms and address pathogens such as borrelia and coinfections like bartonella and babesia. Treatment protocols may also include topical medications to address infections of skin lesions or referrals to mental health professionals if psychiatric manifestations of the illness occur.

Incorporating Herbal Therapy

Natural remedies might play a role in managing symptoms and helping you feel better as well. “Because borrelia may be a component of Morgellons disease, I think herbal therapy is an essential foundation to a recovery program,” says Dr. Rawls. Though there’s a lot we still don’t know about the illness, herbs suppress a variety of harmful microbes, balance the immune system, and improve energy — all of which will have a positive effect on symptoms.

Though herbs aren’t a proven method of treatment for Morgellons, they have a low risk for toxicity and side effects. So it might be worth discussing the benefits and risks with your healthcare provider to see if natural therapies could help restore your health. Some foundational herbs to explore include:

cats claw bark

Cat’s Claw

Cat’s claw is native to the Amazon region. The herb is a staple among Lyme disease protocols due to its antimicrobial qualities. It also contains immune-modulating properties to quiet an overactive immune system and reduce inflammation. It has historical use in alleviating the pain associated with arthritis, too.

Suggested dosage: 400-800 mg two to three times daily (inner bark standardized to 3% alkaloids or 10:1 concentrate inner bark is preferred). It is especially important to take this herb with food, as it is activated by stomach acid. If you take acid-blocking drugs, cat’s claw won’t have a significant impact on you.

Side effects: The herb is generally well tolerated, but occasional stomach upset has been reported.

andrographis white flower on green leaves

Andrographis

Native to India, andrographis has antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties to defend against a spectrum of microbes. The herb has immune-enhancing, cardioprotective, and liver-protective qualities. Like cat’s claw, andrographis is a staple among natural Lyme protocols.

Suggested dosage: 200-800 mg (extract standardized to 10-30% andrographolides) two to three times daily

Side effects: Approximately 1% of people who take andrographis develop an allergic reaction with whole-body hives and itching skin. This is a higher percentage than most other herbs. The reaction will resolve gradually over several weeks once the herb has been discontinued.

red berberine berries hanging from steam

Berberine

Berberine is an antimicrobial herb and helps to restore balance to the microbiome.

Suggested dosage: The dose will vary depending on the preparation used.

Side effects: In most cases, berberine is generally well tolerated. Side effects may include gastrointestinal discomfort and low blood pressure.

full garlic bulbs

Garlic

Garlic has been used for medicinal purposes since the beginning of recorded time. The active ingredient in garlic is called allicin, and it has antiprotozoal, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Also, it assists in supporting the immune system and balancing the flora of the microbiome.

Suggested dosage: 180-1200 mg of a stabilized allicin product two to three times daily (dosage is dependent on the garlic preparation used)

Side effects: Raw garlic may cause stomach upset, but stabilized allicin products are associated with few side effects and are generally well tolerated.

orange reishi mushrooms

Reishi Mushroom

As a medicinal mushroom, reishi contains adaptogen properties and is antimicrobial and immune-modulating. The herb reduces inflammatory cytokines and supports the immune system’s ability to combat pathogens. Reishi supports the liver and heart as well.

Suggested dosage: 1-2 grams (1000-2000 mg) whole mushroom powder or 150-500 mg standardized extract (minimum 20% beta-glucans preferred) two to three times daily.

Side effects: Reishi tends to be well tolerated with rare side effects and no known toxicity.

purple chinese skullcap flowers

Chinese Skullcap

As a multi-purpose herb, Chinese skullcap has antimicrobial properties, dampens cytokines, and supports immunity. It works synergistically with other herbal remedies to enhance their effectiveness. It also has naturally-occurring melatonin, which may help to induce sleep.

Suggested dosage: 400-1000 mg two to three times daily. Note that American skullcap does not offer the same antimicrobial properties and should not be substituted.

Side effects: Even at high doses, side effects are rare and often limited to gastrointestinal discomfort.

Helpful Resources

The following list provides further information about Morgellons and helpful organizations. (A special thank you to CEHF, who assisted in compiling these resources.)

  • Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation (CEHF): A nonprofit geared toward education, advocacy, and awareness of the illness
  • BCA Clinic: A clinic in Germany specializing in the treatment of tick-borne diseases, including Morgellons
  • Donovan Hair Clinic: A Canadian hair clinic led by dermatologist Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD, specializing in hair loss and Morgellons disease
  • Morgellons: The Legitimization of a Disease: A book aimed at separating fact from fiction regarding the condition and serving as a resource to patients and caregivers
  • Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences: Provides information and education and is advancing the knowledge of Morgellons through research
  • Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons: A documentary chronicling a nurse’s quest to discover the truth about the disease as she confronts skeptics in the medical community

Final Thoughts

“We don’t know that much about Morgellons yet, and our perception is that it’s not that common,” says Dr. Rawls. Therefore, he warns that many patients will likely see several doctors before finding one who is willing to investigate the root cause more thoroughly and try various treatment approaches.

“When physicians are confronted with something they don’t know, they have two choices: One is to look further into it. The other is to try to make things go away as fast as possible,” says Dr. Rawls. “I hope we can become the type of medical community who looks further into it and seeks to help Morgellons patients as best as we can.”

Dr. Rawls is a physician who overcame Lyme disease through natural herbal therapy. You can learn more about Lyme disease in Dr. Rawls’ new best selling book, Unlocking Lyme.
You can also learn about Dr. Rawls’ personal journey in overcoming Lyme disease and fibromyalgia in his popular blog post, My Chronic Lyme Journey.

Learn About Dr. Rawls’ Herbal Protocol »
REFERENCES
1. Delusional Parasitosis. Merck Manual website.
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/parasitic-skin-infections/delusional-parasitosis
2. Latest Information. Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation website. https://thecehf.org/
3. Middelveen MJ, Mayne PJ, Kahn DG, Stricker RB. Characterization and evolution of dermal filaments from patients with Morgellons disease. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2013;6:1-21. doi:10.2147/CCID.S39017
4. Ohn J, Park SY, Moon J, Choe YS, Kim KH. Morgellons Disease. Ann Dermatol. 2017;29(2):223-225. doi:10.5021/ad.2017.29.2.223
5. Pearson ML, Selby JV, Katz KA, Cantrell V, Braden CR, Parise ME, Paddock CD, Lewin-Smith MR, Kalasinsky VF, Goldstein FC, Hightower AW, Papier A, Lewis B, Motipara S, Eberhard ML; Unexplained Dermopathy Study Team. Clinical, epidemiologic, histopathologic and molecular features of an unexplained dermopathy. PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e29908. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029908
6. Savely VR, Stricker RB. Morgellons disease: Analysis of a population with clinically confirmed microscopic subcutaneous fibers of unknown etiology. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2010;3:67-78. Published 2010 May 13. doi:10.2147/ccid.s9520
 
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2020: The Lyme Year in Review

January 4, 2021

https://globallymealliance.org/2020-the-lyme-year-in-review/

Year-in-review-blog-graphic

by Jennifer Crystal

By any definition, 2020 has been a difficult year. When I considered writing my annual “Year in Review” post, I at first thought, can’t we just forget 2020 altogether? But from the Lyme perspective, there actually have been a lot of advances in 2020, and they’re worth celebrating. Below, I’ll outline some of the strides made in Lyme research, fundraising, and awareness in 2020.

RESEARCH

While many scientists have been focused on COVID-19 this year, Lyme disease researchers have still been hard at work during the pandemic. Here are some highlights of what Global Lyme Alliance’s research partners have been up to:

  • Brian Fallon, MD, MPH (Columbia University) and Michael Benros, MD, PhD (University of Copenhagen) conducted a study of all persons living in Denmark from 1994-2016 (~7 million people). They assessed the risk of mental disorders and suicidal behaviors among all individuals diagnosed with Lyme borreliosis (~17,000 patients). The authors unequivocally concluded that individuals diagnosed with Lyme borreliosis had increased risk of mental disorders, affective disorders, suicide attempts, and suicide. This study assessing the relationship between Lyme disease and psychiatric disorders (link: https://globallymealliance.org/the-quiet-desperation-of-chronic-and-mental-illness/) is the most statistically powerful ever conducted due the sheer number of patients evaluated. The results of this study are under review for publication by The American Journal of Psychiatry.
  • Monica Embers, PhD (Tulane University) is studying the relationship between dementia and microbial infection with bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Her continuing studies that include patients diagnosed by Dr. Brian Fallon with neurological Lyme disease have definitely revealed the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes by PCR and fluorescence microscopy in three Lyme disease patient autopsy samples. One patient was characterized by Lewy body dementia pathology and disease presentation. Although this latter patient did not meet a clinical definition of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), studies are underway to assess the diseased tissue of AD patient specimens for multiple microbes. These findings are incredibly important because they are the most carefully conducted studies, including hundreds of negative controls, to definitively prove that patient brains actually do contain spirochetes.
  • Klemen Strle, PhD (New York State Department of Health) is studying host genetic factors in the development of Lyme Disease and Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). The objective of this project is to better understand how an individual’s genetic makeup impacts the clinical presentation of Lyme disease. Dr. Klemen has identified a new group of genetic signatures that are found at higher frequency in patients with Lyme disease and appear to be a risk factor for chronic, antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis. Dr. Strle is now studying neurological Lyme disease patients to see whether they also have a unique genetic signature that could serve as a marker for genetic tests, to identify those individuals predisposed to neurological complications even before such symptoms develop.
  • Nicole Baumgarth, DVM, PhD (University of California-Davis) is studying long-term infections of Borrelia burgdorferi in mice. This work, as well as teaching and training of students, has continued remotely during quarantine.
  • Lise Nigrovic, MD, MPH (Boston Children’s Hospital), directs the Pedi Lyme net, a GLA-funded network of emergency room pediatricians in seven states. The network collects biospecimens from suspected tick-borne disease patients. These specimens will be used to develop new diagnostics and to understand Lyme and other co-infecting pathogens in children.

For more on research and publications, check out these previous blogs:
Lyme disease Research Remains Active During Pandemic
Why Good Science Is Crucial 

FUNDRAISING

Despite a tough year for our economy, Global Lyme Alliance and its partners are still working hard to raise money for Lyme disease research, awareness, education, and treatment efforts. In October, GLA and Avril Lavigne hosted a virtual #FightLyme With Avril and Friends concert, in which stars like Wilmer Valderrama, Rob and Marisol Thomas, and Alessia Cara raised funds for and brought awareness to this disease that impacts over 400,000 people a year.

Other organizations such as Ride Out Lyme and the LivLyme Foundation are working as hard as ever on financial support for Lyme disease patients. For more information on fundraising and resources, please visit https://globallymealliance.org/financial-assistance/. To support GLA’s continued efforts during these challenging times, please visit us here at our 2020 Year-End Appeal.

AWARENESS

In May, as the pandemic was raging, Lyme awareness month was still going on. This year Global Lyme Alliance ran a “One Bite is All it Takes” campaign. The goal of the campaign was to raise awareness about tick prevention, especially this year when people were spending even more time outside. Outreach efforts of this campaign reached over half a million people. The Bang the Drum Foundation matched up to $100,000 in this campaign that raised a total of $152, 680.

And while I’d never wish for a global pandemic-especially one that has taken the lives of so many people—to have to happen in order to bring awareness to Lyme and other illnesses, one silver lining of COVID-19 is that it has put complex illnesses on the map. Lyme patients often feel alone and misunderstood when their lives are on hold, but during the pandemic, the whole world has been paused for illness. People who are otherwise healthy have seen firsthand what life is like for the chronically infirmed, and this has created greater understanding and empathy. Words like “immunocompromised” and “long-hauler” have become part of the vernacular. The world’s eyes have opened to faulty diagnostic tests, restrictions, and the nagging question of, “when will this ever end?”.

As 2020 finally draws to a close, there is much to be grateful for in the Lyme world. I wish for a healthy 2021 for Lyme patients, their families, and the world.

For more blog posts, click here.

jennifer crystal_2

Opinions expressed by contributors are their own.

Jennifer Crystal is a writer and educator in Boston. Her memoir about her medical journey is forthcoming. Contact her at lymewarriorjennifercrystal@gmail.com.

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**Comment**

Please remember the only reason COVID-19 is classified as a ‘pandemic’ is due to the WHO changing the definition. It continues to have the same mortality rate as the seasonal flu.  Also, it is now a well known fact that testing for COVID-19 is designed to give positives to create a ‘casedemic’ – which is being used to perpetuate continued fear so people will submit to lock-downs, mask wearing and taking an extremely dangerous vaccine,  that thousands of medical professionals are warning the public against.

Now onto the latest Lyme/MSIDS research……

While not belittling the helpful work being done, I think it’s important to be honest.  

In my experience, those making forward progress in tick-borne illness research are nearly always independently financed.  They have zero ties to anyone who can pull strings for a pre-determined outcome.  Lyme/MSIDS research is riddled with bias and false assumptions that have ruled research for decades.  Most of the researchers have severe conflicts of interest.  This is a fact.  A fact that has played out for over 40 years and continues on. Any involvement with government and even university funding almost certainly dooms whatever Lyme/MSIDS research is being done.

Independent researchers barely get any recognition, and are often sanctioned, yet are changing the landscape with their work that defies the CDC/IDSA narrative.

Second, the Tick-borne Disease Working Group was a complete waste of tax-payer money.  While not mentioned in this article, it is a widely publicized group working at the federal level – supposedly for Lyme patients.  Patients watched with continued dismay at the shenanigans within this group.  While patients continue to hold their breath hoping for a new outlook for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme, the result of this group’s efforts is a more entrenched paradigm in the “New IDSA Lyme Guidelines”.  This article explains it well.

The resulting continued denial of chronic/persistent Lyme/MSIDS affects every single aspect of research.  The same mythology of the disease(s) and abysmal testing continue on unabated.  We need to STOP supporting research efforts that do not help patients.  

The quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” comes to mind.

We desperately need post-mortem work to settle the chronic/persistent issue once and for all:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/04/13/chronic-lyme-post-mortem-study-needed-to-end-the-lyme-wars/

Without this crucial, foundational work research will continue to be built around a false paradigm that continues to belittle and marginalize very ill patients who have to pay out of pocket and travel vast distances to see doctors who treat this appropriately.  Doctors who dare to treat this appropriately continue to be hunted down and crucified on the Lyme crucible.

 

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Artemisinin from Sweet Wormwood Inhibits SARS-CoV-2

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/01/04/artemisinin-from-sweet-wormwood-inhibits-sars-cov-2.aspx

Artemisinin From Sweet Wormwood Inhibits SARS-CoV-2

Analysis by Dr. Joseph MercolaFact Checked

January 04, 2021

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • An antimalarial treatment made from the plant Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood) shows promise as a COVID-19 treatment
  • The drug artesunate — which contains two compounds found in Artemisia annua: artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin — is a first-line treatment for malaria
  • In a recent in vitro study, both pretreatment and treatment with artemisinin extracts, synthetic artemisinin and the drug artesunate were able to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, artesunate was the most potent in terms of treatment, and from a clinical perspective may be the only one worth pursuing
  • Artesunate’s mechanism of action against SARS-CoV-2 is as yet unknown, but artemisinin does have confirmed antiviral activity
  • The World Health Organization has come out in opposition to artemisinin-based products, warning their use can bolster drug-resistant strains of malaria parasites. For this reason, people living in malaria-prone areas should be cautious about using this plant remedy

A second antimalarial treatment is now being seriously considered and evaluated for its efficacy against COVID-19. The treatment is made from the plant Artemisia annua, which most people know as Sweet Wormwood. Other names for this plant include Annual Sagewort and Sweet Annie.

Research over the past few decades has revealed multiple health benefits from this medicinal herb, which has a centuries-long history of use in folk medicine. In 2015, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou received a partial Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin,1 both of which have potent malaria-fighting properties.

As reported by the University of Kentucky,2 “The popular malaria drug artesunate was developed from those compounds and is still used as a first-line treatment for the disease today.”

Artemisinin — A Viable COVID-19 Remedy?

Interestingly, in addition to having a long-standing history of being used as a highly effective antiparasitic, it also has anticancer properties. Additionally, artemisia annua has antiviral activity that might be helpful against SARS-CoV-2.

In an April 8, 2020, press release Mateon Therapeutics reported3 that “Artemisinin is highly potent at inhibiting the ability of the COVID-19 causing virus (SARS-CoV-2) to multiply while also having an excellent safety index.”

After testing the plant’s antiviral effects in a laboratory setting for a couple of years, University of Kentucky researchers are also exploring its use for the treatment of COVID-19,4 as are researchers in Denmark and Germany.5 According to the University of Kentucky:6

“Surprisingly, results showed that the plant’s leaves, when extracted with absolute ethanol or distilled water, provided more antiviral activity than the actual drug itself — meaning that an Artemisia annua-blended coffee or tea could possibly be more effective than taking the drug.”

Based on these findings, researchers have decided to test artemisinin in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Some of the first human studies, set to investigate both the extract blended into coffee and tea, as well as the drug artesunate, were implemented by UK HealthCare.

University of Kentucky researchers have founded a company called ArtemiFlow to develop and manufacture the drug, in collaboration with the Kentucky Tobacco Research & Development Center.7 A sister company, ArtemiLife, is marketing Artemisia tea and coffee to raise research funds.

Mechanism of Action Remains Unknown

As for its mechanism of action, such details still remain to be discovered. C&EN explains:8

“When countering malaria, artemisinin exploits the parasite’s taste for hemoglobin in its host’s blood. As the parasite digests hemoglobin, it frees the iron-porphyrin heme complex from the protein.

Because this heme is toxic to the parasite, the organism normally converts the complex to a more benign crystalline form. ‘But artemisinin corrupts this heme-detoxification pathway,’ says Paul O’Neill, a medicinal chemist at the University of Liverpool.

If artemisinin does have any effect against SARS-CoV-2, though, it likely relies on a completely different mechanism than the one it uses against the malaria parasite, Harvard’s [malaria researcher Dyann F.] Wirth says.”

In Vitro Study Reports Positive Results

An in vitro study9,10 looking at the efficacy of artemisinin-based treatments against SARS-CoV-2, posted on the prepublication server bioRxiv, October 5, 2020, report promising results.

The study was a collaboration between researchers from Germany, Denmark and Hong Kong, led by Kerry Gilmore, Ph.D., from the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany.

Three artemisinin extracts, as well as pure, synthetic artemisinin, artesunate and artemether were evaluated. During the initial screening for antiviral activity, a German SARS-CoV-2 strain obtained from Munich was used.

Later on, during the concentration-response phase of the trial, they used a Danish SARS-CoV-2 strain from Copenhagen. These two strains are said to be “more closely related to the majority of SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating worldwide than the Wuhan strain.”11,12

In summary, they found that both pretreatment and treatment with artemisinin extracts, synthetic artemisinin and the drug artesunate were able to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection of Vero E6 cells and human hepatoma Huh7.5 cells. That said, artesunate was the most potent in terms of treatment, and from a clinical perspective may be the only one worth pursuing.13,14

World Health Organization Warns Against Its Use

While the world is eager to add another remedy to its COVID-19 treatment list, the World Health Organization has come out in opposition to artemisinin-based products. In a May 27, 2020, article, C&EN reported:15

“One of the most high-profile advocates for using the herbal remedy against the novel coronavirus is Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina, who has been touting Covid-Organics, a tonic containing A. annua that the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research developed …

But health officials are deeply concerned about the promotion and use of these herbal remedies for three principal reasons. First, no evidence exists that A. annua extracts can prevent or cure COVID-19 …

Second, A. annua preparations such as teas, tonics, or herbal capsules also contain a cocktail of bioactive compounds in addition to artemisinin that can have side effects such as dizziness, hearing problems, and vomiting.

Third, and perhaps most worrying of all, widespread use of A. annua herbal extracts could bolster drug-resistant strains of malaria parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum.16

For people living in regions where malaria is endemic, exposure to subtherapeutic doses of artemisinin in A. annua may be enough to kill off some of the parasites in their bodies, but not all of them. Clearing out weakling parasites leaves more room for drug-resistant siblings to proliferate, rendering vital ACTs [artemisinin-based combination therapies] ineffective.”

According to Pascal Ringwald, who heads up the drug resistance and response unit of the WHO Global Malaria Program, artemisinin resistance is a significant problem in Southeast Asia, where Artemisia readily grows and is commonly used.17

That said, this risk is bound to be slight for Americans and people in many other Western countries where malaria is exceedingly rare. According to C&EN,18:

“Scientists interviewed by C&EN agree that although this use is against WHO recommendations, it does not risk accelerating resistance because there are so few cases of malaria in the U.S.”

+ Sources and References
 
 
The antiviral activity of artemisinin, which is normally thought of as an anti-parasitic, is as amazing as the antiviral activity of ivermectin, which is normally thought of as a dewormer.  The very interesting aspect of artemisinin; however, is it’s ability to:
 
‘corrupt the heme-detoxification pathway.’  
 
The reason that this is interesting, is that within this video, Dr. Northrup describes how radiation from 5G (60gh) can adversely affect hemoglobin making it difficult to be oxygenated, and that this actually happened in both NY and China. The first case of COVID-19 occurred 1 month after the 5G rollout in Wuhan, China – people were actually blue from lack of oxygen.
 
Also, if you remember the post from April, a NY doctor describes how ventilators were harming COVID patients who were described as suffering “severe hypoxemia” and that the usual treatments were failing because they:
 
“result in severe hemodynamic impairment and fluid retention.” 
 
These details seem to continue to implicate 5G in this saga:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/25/coronavirus-science-policy-politics-5g/
Excerpt:

RF radiation and COVID-19 cause similar disease. In my last newsletter (“Is the Sky Really Falling?”), I noted some effects of COVID-19 that are similar to effects of radio waves. The list of effects in common has grown, and includes:

  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • digestive problems
  • muscle pain
  • tachycardia
  • hypotension
  • cardiac arrhythmias
  • strokes
  • seizures

As many as two-thirds of people who test positive for COVID-19 have lost their sense of smell, often without any other symptoms. Patients are presenting with mental confusion, without any respiratory symptoms at all. Patients are presenting with diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. When patients with any of these symptoms test positive for the coronavirus, their illnesses are being attributed to that virus. But these are all classic symptoms of radio wave sickness.

WHEN BOTH THE VIRUS AND RF RADIATION ARE PRESENT, THE DISEASE SHOULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO BOTH.

And RF radiation and COVID-19 both cause hypoxia. COVID-19 impairs oxygen absorption by the blood, and RF radiation impairs oxygen use by the cells. COVID-19 would not be so severe were it not for the radiation.

Recently, there is a new symptom that is being attributed to the virus that is exactly what one would expect to see from millimeter waves: a “fizzing” sensation throughout the body. It is being described as a “buzzing sensation,” “a burning feeling,” and “an electric sensation in the skin.” It is probably wrongly being attributed to the virus, and is due instead to 5G.

 

Category:

Herbs, Malaria, Treatment, Viruses

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WHO Changes Definition of ‘Herd Immunity’, Literally Re-Writing Hundreds of Years of Scientific Understanding Just to Push Vaccines

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/violating-science-who-changes-meaning-herd-immunity/

Violating Science, WHO Changes Meaning of Herd Immunity

In June 2020, the WHO changed its definition of herd immunity, stating the only way to achieve herd immunity is by vaccination. The new definition is inconsistent with long-established science which says herd immunity occurs when enough people acquire immunity to an infectious disease.

WHO has changed their definition of herd immunity

Story at-a-glance:

  • Herd immunity occurs when enough people acquire immunity to an infectious disease such that it can no longer spread widely in the community.
  • WHO’s definition of herd immunity long reflected this, but in Oct. 2020 it quietly revised this concept in an Orwellian move that totally removes natural infection from the equation.
  • Immunity developed through previous infection is the way it has worked since humans have been alive: Your immune system isn’t designed to get vaccines; it’s designed to work in response to exposure to an infectious agent.
  • This perversion of science implies that the only way to achieve herd immunity is via vaccination, which is blatantly untrue.
  • It’s all part of the Great Reset: The rollout of widespread COVID-19 vaccination coupled with tracking and tracing of COVID-19 test results and vaccination status are setting the stage for biometric surveillance and additional tracking and tracing.

(See link for article)

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**Comment**

Please note that the WHO is one of the most corrupt agencies in the world and a is prolific purveyor of “disinformation.”

Changing definitions is its MO (as well as the CDC’s)

One month before the H1N1 “pandemic,” the WHO declared H1N1 a Level-6 “pandemic” based on 20 cases.  There were only 144 deaths worldwide.  It conveniently changed the definition of “Level-6 Pandemic” so that severe destruction and widespread human death were no longer required, which simply means anything can now be declared a ‘pandemic,” resulting in gold rushes for pharmaceutical companies and corrupt public health, and mainstream media. The declaration of the 2009 swine flu “pandemic” triggered $18 billion in sleeping contracts to activate across the world and production of hundreds of millions of H1N1 vaccine doses.

Serious adverse like the narcolepsy epidemic —which many researchers tie to GSK’s Pandemrix vaccine are pushed under the rug.  GSK makes multimillion-dollar donations to the W.H.O.

Interestingly, the very same Wolfgang Wodarg (pulmonologist and epidemiologist) that declared  H1N1 a “false pandemic”  and “one of the greatest medicine scandals of the century.” (Forbes, February 10, 2010)  is also on record in 2020 stating:

“The corona hype is not based on any extraordinary public health danger. However, it causes considerable damage to our freedom and personal rights through frivolous and unjustified quarantine measures and restrictions. The images in the media are frightening and the traffic in China’s cities seems to be regulated by the clinical thermometer.  Evidence based epidemiological assessment is drowning in the mainstream of fear mongers in labs, media and ministries.” ~ Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg  

If only he would have been taken seriously.

For more:

Firstly, it was wrong to claim that this virus was novel.

Secondly, It was even more wrong to claim that the population would not already have some immunity against this virus.

Thirdly, it was the crowning of stupidity to claim that someone could have Covid-19 without any symptoms at all or even to pass the disease along without showing any symptoms whatsoever.

The WHO can not be trusted:

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses

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