The Reality of Lyme Disease Infectiousness

Building a Strong Immune System 

“You’re number 80,” the middle-aged woman said mournfully as she walked in.

“You’re exaggerating.” I stated matter-of-factly.

“No,” she replied, “I’m counting!”

For the previous seven years Jane had been to 79 doctors for an illness that nobody could figure out.  She was having chest pain and difficulty breathing, but nobody could find anything wrong with her heart or lungs.  Nothing turned up on blood tests, x-rays, and other investigations.  She continued to get worse over time, including fatigue, weakness, and joint pains. We finally determined that she was suffering from a very elusive infection – Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease Discovery

The story of how Lyme disease was discovered is fascinating.  Lyme disease was unknown until 1973 when a group of people became ill with a mysterious disease in Lyme, Connecticut.  Due to the persistence of mothers of several sick children, an investigation was conducted. The disease was named “Lyme disease.” At the time, it was considered a tick-borne disease. However, the exact cause was unknown until 1981 when the spirochete organism was found in ticks in Colorado.  Dr. Willy Burgdorf was studying another illness caused by ticks when the bacteria for Lyme, called spirochetes, were found.

Spirochetes are not like other types of bacteria or viruses.  They have unique characteristics that allow them to infect any cell or tissue in the body.  They can also evade the immune system, both by hiding inside cells and by producing a protective coating.  For this reason, they can cause any type of problem and disguise as many illnesses. This is why syphilis, another spirochete-like Borrelia, was called “The Great Imitator.”  It could imitate any disease because it can infect any tissue. Its symptoms are like those of many other diseases, from rashes to schizophrenia.  One researcher on syphilis noted:

“In two-thirds of untreated people, spirochetes and host will live amicably together until the patient dies of other causes, in about a third, however, the organism will continue to act upon the host to cause a variety of mischief.”[1]

These exact words could be used to describe Lyme disease today. The “variety of mischief” means it could infect any organ or tissue, causing any sort of problem. Indeed, Lyme disease could be “The Great Imitator” of the 21^st Century!

A Stealthy Disease

Even though Lyme disease was only recognized 40 years ago, new discoveries found the Lyme bacteria in a fossilized tick from the Dominican Republic, indicating that it existed before humans walked the Earth.[2] The oldest known human to have Lyme disease was a mummified body found in a glacier in the Italian Alps that may be as old as 5300 years![3]

Lyme Disease Symptoms

The symptoms of Lyme disease are as variable as the people who have it.  It is a slippery condition to diagnose because nothing defines it, except a known tick bite. Subsequently, the tick bite produces a rash known as erythema chronicum migrans (EM) days to weeks later.

These rashes typically look like a “target,” but are actually highly variable. The CDC states that up to a third of people with Lyme disease never get, or see, a rash. In some cases rashes may spread beyond the original bite, and persist for years.

Other common symptoms include:

(3 to 30 days after tick bite)

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle and joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

Later Signs and Symptoms

(Weeks to years after tick bite)

• Severe headaches and neck stiffness
• Additional EM rashes on other areas of the body
• Severe fatigue
• Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints
• Facial or Bell’s palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face)
• Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones
• Heart palpitations or an irregular heart beat (Lyme myocarditis)
• Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
• Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
• Nerve pain
• Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
• Problems with short-term memory[4]

Lyme Disease Testing

Jane had visited so many doctors who weren’t able to find a diagnosis because there is no accurate way to know if she had Lyme disease. The tests for Lyme look for antibodies, but the organism doesn’t always produce antibodies. Many people have little or no immune response to the presence of the spirochete. If you test positive, there is a good chance you have it. However, if you test negative, that doesn’t rule it out. Twenty years ago doctors were told that in order to have Lyme disease four criteria had to be met:

1. The patient had to be in the Northeastern United States
2. The tick had to be attached for more than 36 hours
3. There had to be an EM rash
4. There had to be a positive blood test

It turns out that as more research is done, some people with Lyme disease may have only two, one, or even none of these. Unfortunately, most doctors still only know these four criteria, and fail to recognize many cases of Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease is Increasing in Numbers

In January 2014 Lymedisease.org reported,

“Last summer the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that Lyme disease is much more common than previously thought, with over 300,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States. That makes Lyme disease almost twice as common as breast cancer and six times more common than HIV/AIDS.”[5]

We’re not sure that there are that many black-legged tick bites every year! In spite of this, the CDC continues to assert that the disease can only be acquired by ticks. Clearly, these numbers are much greater than can be explained by only tick bites.

Lyme Disease Transmission

It is important to know how Lyme disease is transmitted to avoid the illness. Avoiding ticks, as they seem to be the primary carrier and vector of the disease, is clearly the place to start.  However, the organism is found in body fluids of all types so it could be transmitted from person to person.

We know that the Lyme organism can be passed in mice through blood transfusion.[6] Also, 100% of women with Lyme disease tested positive for the spirochete in their vaginal secretions, but not all of the men had it in semen samples.[7] Thus, it is possible that, in spite of the official CDC statement that Lyme disease only comes from ticks, it may be acquired in all the same ways blood-borne infections are spread. This may also explain why the increase in Lyme disease has become much more than an increase in tick bites.

The best way to avoid Lyme disease is to remain chaste, and avoid blood products – all the same ways we were told to avoid HIV, for example.

Co-infections

For those who have had a tick bite, there are other tick-borne diseases that may be associated with Lyme disease. Rickettsia, Bartonella, Babesia, and Anaplasma are all organisms that are also transmitted by ticks. Since a single tick may have more than one of these, the bite could transmit more than one infection. Those who test positive for Lyme disease should also be tested for these infections. Although, the treatment for Anaplasmosis is the same as for Lyme disease so it may not be essential. Babesia, however, is a parasite that requires different treatment so it would be important to know about this.

Lyme Disease Treatment

There are two important parts to treatment of Lyme disease.

1. Kill the organism
2. Support the immune system

Number one is the primary treatment by medical doctors and other professionals. It consists of three antibiotics to which the organism is known to be sensitive:

1. Doxycycline
2. Amoxicillin
3. Cefuroxime

This treatment is continued for about four weeks, and has been considered curative. In other words, it was previously thought that once treatment was completed, the infection was cured.

However, several studies have indicated that the spirochete is still present, but in a different form.[8] Treatment just makes it dormant for a time. Killing the organism is more difficult than previously thought.

This organism is capable of transforming into a cyst when it feels its life is threatened. While in cyst form, Borrelia obtains immunity from antibiotics. Ultimately, the organism hides the way many viruses and bacteria do. When conditions within its host become more favorable, it will transform back into its spirochetal form.

Thus, the second part of treatment is probably the most important. Just like with syphilis, there are probably two-thirds of people who have been infected by the Borellia burgdorferii organism who don’t contract Lyme disease because their immune system keeps it at bay. The way to “cure” the infection, then, is to have an intact immune system.

How to Maintain a Great Immune System

There are ways to keep your immune system functioning at peak effectiveness. The immune system is controlled primarily in the brain. So anything that diminishes brain function can have a devastating effect on the immune system. Most don’t consider that the brain controls each part of the immune function:

• Cells called macrophages are controlled directly through the vagus (cranial) nerve to the spleen[9]
• Cytokines that cause inflammation are generally controlled and balanced by the brain[10]
• The brain controls the lymph system that carries immune cells.[11]

So, besides caring for our immune system, we also need to consider our brain function. Since they are interconnected, the treatment is the same as with any chronic disease.

Avoid Toxins

Toxins that decrease energy function or damage tissues often affect the brain first, leading to behavior and cognitive problems. By far, the majority of toxins are from food. While warned about the chemicals around us, what we willingly and purposefully put in our own mouths do the most brain damage:

• Sugar
• Artificial sweeteners
• Alcohol
• Too many calories

Remove Inflammation

Chronic inflammation creates universal cell damage.   This is partly from our normal energy production. But inflammation also results from infections, nutrient imbalances, drugs, medications, and other toxins.  Reducing inflammation will mean avoiding things to which you are sensitive.  Some people have reactions to food, for example, like chocolate, milk, eggs, or wheat.  If we eat things we are sensitive to, then we create more inflammation.

Adequate Nutrition

If there are deficiencies in nutrients, the immune system is often the first part of the body affected. Numerous mental and neurologic illnesses are known or thought to have an immune component.

The brain is exquisitely sensitive to nutrient supply. The blood-brain barrier lets nutrients slip into the blood vessels and keep out unwanted invaders like bacteria and virus. But when something is missing, it simply slows the brain function in ways that depend on so many factors of the individual. The effect of certain foods on brain development, mood disorders, thinking, disease states and aging is clear.

Nutrients should come from high-nutrient-and-low-calorie foods such as greens, nuts, fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish, and not from chemical nutrient pills.

Stress Reduction

It cannot be over-emphasized how much of an impact stress has on the immune system. Stress can have a devastating effect over time. Since all change causes stress, it is impossible for us to live and not have any stress. So, instead of trying to avoid stress, we should be flexible, and accepting of changes in our lives.

Emotional Peace

I asked a Lyme disease specialist how much of the illness is emotional. Her immediate answer: “80%.”

Our emotional state is what determines how our bodies function. It is essential that we forgive all hurts we have experienced from others. We must express gratitude for everything we have, for everyone we know, and for everything we experience.

Our passions need to be taught to respond appropriately.

• We tell our emotions what is appropriate, and what is not.
• We act only on those feelings that improve and promote growth.
• We avoid all those feelings that hurt or destroy.

Over time, this brings peace – and improved function of the immune system.

Hormone Balance

It is more common for women during pre- or post-menopause to have a suppressed immune response. Commonly, women who have been exposed to the Lyme organism in youth, have no symptoms – even through several pregnancies – until they start into menopause. This may be because of the emotional support offered by their hormones to the brain.

Men are also more susceptible to immune, and brain, dysfunction if they don’t have good hormone balance. This mostly happens when their testosterone is being made into estrogen, and they don’t have enough progesterone to balance it.

Hormone balance is improved by good nutrition and a diminished stress response. Some people need treatment with hormones, herbs, or supplements.

Isn’t it interesting that all of the same things we already know to take good care of our bodies are the same things to prevent and treat Lyme disease?

• Eat high-nutrient-and-low-calorie foods
• Avoid toxins – especially in your food
• Exercise regularly
• Decrease stress
• Balance hormones
• Avoid inflammation
• Forgive everyone of everything
• Love
• Be chaste
• Be thankful for everything

These are the mainstays of all health. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Health is the first wealth.”

The Future of Lyme Disease

It is obvious that we have not heard the end of this disease.  It is growing rapidly. As more people are infected, more people are exposed – but don’t know it.   It has the potential to become a bigger epidemic than any other disease. Lyme disease may spread through body fluids, from casual or intimate contact, or blood products since they are not tested for this disease.  The CDC is not using the most current research, and isn’t warning the country or world about the reality of its infectiousness.  The best way to manage Lyme disease is to treat it the same way we were taught to avoid HIV, or any other blood-borne disease… and keep our immune system optimal.

There are very few doctors who are educated on the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. They are called, “Lyme Literate Doctors.” If you suspect Lyme disease, it is important that you seek out a professional who is current on this disease. Since most medical schools are using 20-year-old information, most doctors are unaware of its existence, and have no way to help with either diagnosis or treatment.

Jane is still being treated for Lyme, but she has improved a great deal in six months. She took antibiotics for several months, and is working on her immune function in many different ways, as described above. She is able to exercise without palpitations or shortness of breath. As she improves, she is learning a great deal about herself, and the world around her.

 

If you liked this article, then you’ll love these:

• 10 Tips For A Natural Immune System
• Top Foods for A Strong Immune System
• 7 Steps To Immune System Recovery

 

Sources:
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1272769/?page=3
[2] http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2014/may/amber-discovery-indicates-lyme-disease-older-human-race
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease#cite_note-ngautopsy-202
[4] http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/
[5] https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-sexual-transmission-2/
[6] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16995409?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
[7] http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/454866-1390261507-lyme-disease-may-be-sexually-transmitted-study-suggests.html
[8] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2346637/
[9] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080721173748.htm
[10] http://www.cytokines-and-depression.com/chapter3.html
[11] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/06/25/brain-immune-system-connection.aspx