Re: Buhners Herbal protocol mentions Cats Claw, Astragalus and Andrographis

[Guest guest]

Good post. It's Brad, right? Add to the tissue possibilities epithelial walls

of gallbladder; definite possibility. Buhner is excellent. One note,

sarsaparilla is a species of smilax but is either smilax officinalis (Jamaican),

or smilax medica (Mexican). The smilax noted is a Chinese herb, also known as

Chinese greenbrier. All can be used interchangeably most likely, but not for

sure. Smilax glabra is the one I go to for infectious natures to begin with.

Case in point: Late twenties girl, thought she was bitten by a spider while

cutting a Christmas tree (Western Washington, temperate climate). Classic bull's

eye rash at site (left calf). Swelling all over her body and lymph nodes in

left groin (half a soft ball) especially. Treated with antibiotics which helped

to some extent but lymph nodes still very swollen, pain in various locations.

Within 2 weeks of herbal treatment, symptom free, lymph nodes normal. Lyme's

is not necessarily a life long sentence... -D

Buhners Herbal protocol mentions Cats Claw, Astragalus

and Andrographis

Page 1

HEALING LYME:

Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Co-infections by

Harrod Buhner, Raven Press, 2005.

Reviewed by lind Michahelles, Health Counselor

Spiky fever.Achy shoulders.Achy left arm.Persistent dry cough..

I had this flu imposter last summer and it took a while to realize it must be

Lyme disease. Without the usual telltale bull's eye rash, many who get it Lyme

disease don't know it. The symptoms are

many and so varied among individual, that doctors can be fooled. Is it

osteoarthritis or is it Lyme? Is it M.S. or is in Lyme? Is it flu or is it Lyme?

Fortunately, Harrod Buhner, an experienced herbalist, has written an

intensely informative book on how to

manage Lyme disease - its prevention, the onset, and development of later

stages. He details the usefulness of antibiotics, referring to studies that show

them to be 70%-95% effective, but with a 35%

relapse rate. To cope with this shortfall, he then gives dose-specific

recommendations for many herbs and other supplements to support the immune

system both in general and for the particular symptoms that occur over the

course of the disease, e.g., repeated flu-like

feelings, headaches, stiff neck, fevers, revolving muscle aches, deep fatigue,

severe brain-fog, neurological symptoms, as well as arthritis, Bell's palsy and

bladder problems.

Buhner's core protocol includes:

. Andrographis (andrographis paniculata) for general immune support, a

powerful anti-toxin, used for " heat-and-damp clearing, " and has been shown to

alleviate pain and swelling.

. Japanese knotweed (polygonum cuspidatum) for anti-inflammatory effects and

protects the body against neurotoxin damage, so that central nervous system

Page 2

symptoms are reduced, at the same time that it increases blood flow and

transport of Lyme treatments to hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as the

eye, heart, skin and joints.

. Cat's claw (uncaria tomentosa), a powerful anti-inflammatory that also

reduced the secondary bacterial toxins.

. Astragalus (astragalus membranaceous),

an herb that is used for immune enhancer, a restorative, a stimulator, and a

modulator. It has anti-viral and anti-

bacterial properties, adaptogenic-rebalancing properties and is an

anti-inflammatory agent.

. Sarsaparilla (smilax glabra), found useful in the treatment of LD for the

infection and resulting inflammation.

Buhner describes half a dozen available tests for Lyme, listing their

shortcomings and explaining why no test can yet give a truly definite diagnosis.

Without the bull's eye or an autopsy, you can never be

absolutely sure. Why is it so hard to diagnose? That is the truly

fascinating part of the book.

Positively fascinating to me is the description of the spirochetes

themselves. First they infect us thanks to a tick bite, a mosquito

bite, or a fleabite. Make no mistake -- these spirochetes -- of

ancient lineage, much older than mankind -- are brilliant.

Somewhere between bacteria and protozoa in complexity, they have

many tricks up their sleeve, so to speak. It has been shown that the

spirochetes

. They can alter their DNA to suit the challenge posed by

their host's immune system

. They can exchange information with each other in order

to baffle the host

. They have an outer coat which they can shed to further

obfuscate the situation

. They can hide inside our cells by constructing what's

called a 'shielding membrane.' That last trick is known as

'intracellular sequestering.'

The Bull's Eye Rash

So what hope is there for us? Buhner points the way to symbiosis. If we

strengthen our immune systems in ways he recommends, we can probably live

happily with a few spirochetes sequestering themselves somewhere inside us.

Page 3

Where are they likely to be hiding? Apparently, unlike bacteria, they prefer a

viscous environment, not a fluid one. They only use the blood as a highway to

get to their destination. Some favorite spots are soft tissue in the knee (feels

like arthritis) the aqueous humor (eye problems), myelin sheaths (nerve damage,

Bell's palsy), and

soft tissue around the heart (carditis).

Assuming you don't already have active Lyme disease, what should you do to

prevent it?

That depends where you live. If it's in a tick-infested area, astragalus all

year long is the recommendation with andrographis

and cat's claw during tick season.

Homeopathic

remedies are also mentioned. For each remedy, Buhner gives what seems a very

thorough run down of its properties and its treatment in scientific journals and

in traditional lore.

Apparently, Lyme disease isn't new. The ancestors of today's

spirochetes infected our ancestors. Other spirochetal diseases,

of which syphilis is the most famous example, have also

been around.

Incidence of Lyme disease per 100,000 population, by county of residence

-United States, 2002. (Source: www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/lyme.htm)

Why is Lyme increasing? Probably because we have disturbed the ecology: fewer

predators, resulting in more deer; more suburbanites, thus more tick-bites. So

look for that bull's eye rash and, if you get one, find a copy of Healing Lyme

by Mr. Buhner.

NB-- To read further about tick behavior, tick-borne diseases, and personal

protection you can go to the web for a copy of the Tick Management Handbook,

authored by

Kirby C. Stafford, PhD, Chief Entomologist, the Connecticut Agricultural

Experiment

Station:

http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf<http:\

//www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf>

lind Michahelles is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor in Cambridge.

For questions about this essay or related issues please email

rosalind@...<mailto:rosalind%40nutrition-matters.info> or

call 617-491-3239 or visit www.nutrition

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the knowledge on herbs Dave.

Yep I've got those swollen lymph nodes though they are much better now since

I've improved so much.

Its not a life long sentence if its caught early enough which it sounds like she

did. I know this disease can be beaten but, a majority of us have more of a

rough time esp since many go undiagnosed (including me for Lyme for 18 years).

At that point its disseminated late stage Lyme with neuro manifestations for

most.

But all that means is that it will take longer to recover. I'm already 85%

recovered Dave Slowly getting strength back and numbness is going away as

well.

I have to post how these bamboo bed sheets reversed my cerebral and spinal

edema. They emit 3 frequencies which are known to heal the body. Interesting

how that works as I know bamboo has internal benefits as well when ingested. Do

you know much about the herbal use of bamboo Dave?

Also if you don't mind me picking your brain a bit (i'll give it back promise

If I take DMSO can that be utilized as MSM within the body? I don't know much

about DMSO only that it's one of the most powerful antioxidants that one could

take. I got 100% liquid which I dilute with water.

have a good one guys,

Brad

--- In gallstones , " Dave Shelden " <wholehealthawareness@...>

wrote:

>

> Good post. It's Brad, right? Add to the tissue possibilities epithelial

walls of gallbladder; definite possibility. Buhner is excellent. One

note, sarsaparilla is a species of smilax but is either smilax officinalis

(Jamaican), or smilax medica (Mexican). The smilax noted is a Chinese herb,

also known as Chinese greenbrier. All can be used interchangeably most likely,

but not for sure. Smilax glabra is the one I go to for infectious natures to

begin with. Case in point: Late twenties girl, thought she was bitten by a

spider while cutting a Christmas tree (Western Washington, temperate climate).

Classic bull's eye rash at site (left calf). Swelling all over her body and

lymph nodes in left groin (half a soft ball) especially. Treated with

antibiotics which helped to some extent but lymph nodes still very swollen, pain

in various locations. Within 2 weeks of herbal treatment, symptom free, lymph

nodes normal. Lyme's is not necessarily a life long sentence... -D

> Buhners Herbal protocol mentions Cats Claw, Astragalus

and Andrographis

>

>

>

>

>

> Page 1

> HEALING LYME:

> Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Co-infections by

Harrod Buhner, Raven Press, 2005.

> Reviewed by lind Michahelles, Health Counselor

> Spiky fever.Achy shoulders.Achy left arm.Persistent dry cough..

> I had this flu imposter last summer and it took a while to realize it must

be Lyme disease. Without the usual telltale bull's eye rash, many who get it

Lyme disease don't know it. The symptoms are

> many and so varied among individual, that doctors can be fooled. Is it

osteoarthritis or is it Lyme? Is it M.S. or is in Lyme? Is it flu or is it Lyme?

Fortunately, Harrod Buhner, an experienced herbalist, has written an

intensely informative book on how to

> manage Lyme disease - its prevention, the onset, and development of later

stages. He details the usefulness of antibiotics, referring to studies that show

them to be 70%-95% effective, but with a 35%

> relapse rate. To cope with this shortfall, he then gives dose-specific

> recommendations for many herbs and other supplements to support the immune

system both in general and for the particular symptoms that occur over the

course of the disease, e.g., repeated flu-like

> feelings, headaches, stiff neck, fevers, revolving muscle aches, deep

fatigue, severe brain-fog, neurological symptoms, as well as arthritis, Bell's

palsy and bladder problems.

> Buhner's core protocol includes:

> . Andrographis (andrographis paniculata) for general immune support, a

powerful anti-toxin, used for " heat-and-damp clearing, " and has been shown to

alleviate pain and swelling.

> . Japanese knotweed (polygonum cuspidatum) for anti-inflammatory effects and

protects the body against neurotoxin damage, so that central nervous system

> Page 2

> symptoms are reduced, at the same time that it increases blood flow and

transport of Lyme treatments to hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as the

eye, heart, skin and joints.

> . Cat's claw (uncaria tomentosa), a powerful anti-inflammatory that also

reduced the secondary bacterial toxins.

> . Astragalus (astragalus membranaceous),

> an herb that is used for immune enhancer, a restorative, a stimulator, and a

modulator. It has anti-viral and anti-

> bacterial properties, adaptogenic-rebalancing properties and is an

anti-inflammatory agent.

> . Sarsaparilla (smilax glabra), found useful in the treatment of LD for the

infection and resulting inflammation.

> Buhner describes half a dozen available tests for Lyme, listing their

shortcomings and explaining why no test can yet give a truly definite diagnosis.

Without the bull's eye or an autopsy, you can never be

> absolutely sure. Why is it so hard to diagnose? That is the truly

> fascinating part of the book.

> Positively fascinating to me is the description of the spirochetes

> themselves. First they infect us thanks to a tick bite, a mosquito

> bite, or a fleabite. Make no mistake -- these spirochetes -- of

> ancient lineage, much older than mankind -- are brilliant.

> Somewhere between bacteria and protozoa in complexity, they have

> many tricks up their sleeve, so to speak. It has been shown that the

spirochetes

> . They can alter their DNA to suit the challenge posed by

> their host's immune system

> . They can exchange information with each other in order

> to baffle the host

> . They have an outer coat which they can shed to further

> obfuscate the situation

> . They can hide inside our cells by constructing what's

> called a 'shielding membrane.' That last trick is known as

> 'intracellular sequestering.'

> The Bull's Eye Rash

> So what hope is there for us? Buhner points the way to symbiosis. If we

strengthen our immune systems in ways he recommends, we can probably live

happily with a few spirochetes sequestering themselves somewhere inside us.

> Page 3

> Where are they likely to be hiding? Apparently, unlike bacteria, they prefer

a viscous environment, not a fluid one. They only use the blood as a highway to

get to their destination. Some favorite spots are soft tissue in the knee (feels

like arthritis) the aqueous humor (eye problems), myelin sheaths (nerve damage,

Bell's palsy), and

> soft tissue around the heart (carditis).

> Assuming you don't already have active Lyme disease, what should you do to

prevent it?

> That depends where you live. If it's in a tick-infested area, astragalus all

year long is the recommendation with andrographis

> and cat's claw during tick season.

> Homeopathic

> remedies are also mentioned. For each remedy, Buhner gives what seems a very

thorough run down of its properties and its treatment in scientific journals and

in traditional lore.

> Apparently, Lyme disease isn't new. The ancestors of today's

> spirochetes infected our ancestors. Other spirochetal diseases,

> of which syphilis is the most famous example, have also

> been around.

> Incidence of Lyme disease per 100,000 population, by county of residence

-United States, 2002. (Source: www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/lyme.htm)

> Why is Lyme increasing? Probably because we have disturbed the ecology:

fewer predators, resulting in more deer; more suburbanites, thus more

tick-bites. So look for that bull's eye rash and, if you get one, find a copy of

Healing Lyme by Mr. Buhner.

> NB-- To read further about tick behavior, tick-borne diseases, and personal

protection you can go to the web for a copy of the Tick Management Handbook,

authored by

> Kirby C. Stafford, PhD, Chief Entomologist, the Connecticut Agricultural

Experiment

> Station:

http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf<http:\

//www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf>

> lind Michahelles is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor in Cambridge.

> For questions about this essay or related issues please email

> rosalind@...<mailto:rosalind%40nutrition-matters.info> or call 617-491-3239

or visit www.nutrition

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Called Vamsa rockna (sp?) in Ayurveda bamboo is prized as a general tonic to the

ohas (best thought of as what the Chinese refer to as jing or " vital essence " )

This would include endocrine secretions as well as bone, sinew, joints etc.

Most likely from the high mineral content amongst other things. As Elan has

pointed out in a recent post, MSM os derived from DMSO. DMSO is about the most

effective solvent known. Found almost by accident here in the great Northwest.

DMSO is made from lignin, the cellular glue in plants. It is a by product of

the paper pulp industry (hence it's discover in Washougal Wa. at a paper mill).

Very high in sulphur, and that is why it stinks so bad. because it is a solvent

it will penetrate anywhere in the body. Rub it on your calf and you will smell

it on your breath in 20 seconds. Very anti inflammatory. You can drive just

about anything into the interior of the body by mixing it with DMSO. and here

in lies the caution. Applicator must be clean as well as the applicant surface.

if you clean auto parts (major use) with it and bare skin you get to " eat " those

petro-chemical compounds. Technically illegal in the US to use by the way.

Long ugly governmental intrusion story. So the sulphur compounds are both anti

oxidant (what do they put on dried fruit, or use to on the salad bar greens?),

and " nutritional " to joint tissue (high sulphur content). Fantastic stuff, but

again illegal (do you care?). MSM is a derivative. Great for joints and

digestive mucosa, Anti inflamm., anti oxidant, etc. -D

Buhners Herbal protocol mentions Cats Claw, Astragalus

and Andrographis

>

>

>

>

>

> Page 1

> HEALING LYME:

> Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Co-infections by

Harrod Buhner, Raven Press, 2005.

> Reviewed by lind Michahelles, Health Counselor

> Spiky fever.Achy shoulders.Achy left arm.Persistent dry cough..

> I had this flu imposter last summer and it took a while to realize it must

be Lyme disease. Without the usual telltale bull's eye rash, many who get it

Lyme disease don't know it. The symptoms are

> many and so varied among individual, that doctors can be fooled. Is it

osteoarthritis or is it Lyme? Is it M.S. or is in Lyme? Is it flu or is it Lyme?

Fortunately, Harrod Buhner, an experienced herbalist, has written an

intensely informative book on how to

> manage Lyme disease - its prevention, the onset, and development of later

stages. He details the usefulness of antibiotics, referring to studies that show

them to be 70%-95% effective, but with a 35%

> relapse rate. To cope with this shortfall, he then gives dose-specific

> recommendations for many herbs and other supplements to support the immune

system both in general and for the particular symptoms that occur over the

course of the disease, e.g., repeated flu-like

> feelings, headaches, stiff neck, fevers, revolving muscle aches, deep

fatigue, severe brain-fog, neurological symptoms, as well as arthritis, Bell's

palsy and bladder problems.

> Buhner's core protocol includes:

> . Andrographis (andrographis paniculata) for general immune support, a

powerful anti-toxin, used for " heat-and-damp clearing, " and has been shown to

alleviate pain and swelling.

> . Japanese knotweed (polygonum cuspidatum) for anti-inflammatory effects and

protects the body against neurotoxin damage, so that central nervous system

> Page 2

> symptoms are reduced, at the same time that it increases blood flow and

transport of Lyme treatments to hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as the

eye, heart, skin and joints.

> . Cat's claw (uncaria tomentosa), a powerful anti-inflammatory that also

reduced the secondary bacterial toxins.

> . Astragalus (astragalus membranaceous),

> an herb that is used for immune enhancer, a restorative, a stimulator, and a

modulator. It has anti-viral and anti-

> bacterial properties, adaptogenic-rebalancing properties and is an

anti-inflammatory agent.

> . Sarsaparilla (smilax glabra), found useful in the treatment of LD for the

infection and resulting inflammation.

> Buhner describes half a dozen available tests for Lyme, listing their

shortcomings and explaining why no test can yet give a truly definite diagnosis.

Without the bull's eye or an autopsy, you can never be

> absolutely sure. Why is it so hard to diagnose? That is the truly

> fascinating part of the book.

> Positively fascinating to me is the description of the spirochetes

> themselves. First they infect us thanks to a tick bite, a mosquito

> bite, or a fleabite. Make no mistake -- these spirochetes -- of

> ancient lineage, much older than mankind -- are brilliant.

> Somewhere between bacteria and protozoa in complexity, they have

> many tricks up their sleeve, so to speak. It has been shown that the

spirochetes

> . They can alter their DNA to suit the challenge posed by

> their host's immune system

> . They can exchange information with each other in order

> to baffle the host

> . They have an outer coat which they can shed to further

> obfuscate the situation

> . They can hide inside our cells by constructing what's

> called a 'shielding membrane.' That last trick is known as

> 'intracellular sequestering.'

> The Bull's Eye Rash

> So what hope is there for us? Buhner points the way to symbiosis. If we

strengthen our immune systems in ways he recommends, we can probably live

happily with a few spirochetes sequestering themselves somewhere inside us.

> Page 3

> Where are they likely to be hiding? Apparently, unlike bacteria, they prefer

a viscous environment, not a fluid one. They only use the blood as a highway to

get to their destination. Some favorite spots are soft tissue in the knee (feels

like arthritis) the aqueous humor (eye problems), myelin sheaths (nerve damage,

Bell's palsy), and

> soft tissue around the heart (carditis).

> Assuming you don't already have active Lyme disease, what should you do to

prevent it?

> That depends where you live. If it's in a tick-infested area, astragalus all

year long is the recommendation with andrographis

> and cat's claw during tick season.

> Homeopathic

> remedies are also mentioned. For each remedy, Buhner gives what seems a very

thorough run down of its properties and its treatment in scientific journals and

in traditional lore.

> Apparently, Lyme disease isn't new. The ancestors of today's

> spirochetes infected our ancestors. Other spirochetal diseases,

> of which syphilis is the most famous example, have also

> been around.

> Incidence of Lyme disease per 100,000 population, by county of residence

-United States, 2002. (Source: www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/lyme.htm)

> Why is Lyme increasing? Probably because we have disturbed the ecology:

fewer predators, resulting in more deer; more suburbanites, thus more

tick-bites. So look for that bull's eye rash and, if you get one, find a copy of

Healing Lyme by Mr. Buhner.

> NB-- To read further about tick behavior, tick-borne diseases, and personal

protection you can go to the web for a copy of the Tick Management Handbook,

authored by

> Kirby C. Stafford, PhD, Chief Entomologist, the Connecticut Agricultural

Experiment

> Station:

http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf<http:\

//www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf><http://ww\

w.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf<http://www.ct.\

gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf>>

> lind Michahelles is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor in Cambridge.

> For questions about this essay or related issues please email

> rosalind@...<mailto:rosalind%40nutrition-matters.info> or call 617-491-3239

or visit www.nutrition

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well looks like I'll keep taking it then Amazing how powerful of a

penetrator DMSO is. I've tried to take it with both oxidants and anti oxidants,

DMSO seems to carry both deeper into the tissues. And considering how bad my

circulation has been I think thats important.

Also using it close to my ozonated water (I have my own machine).

Dave do you think that the bamboo vinegar in the japanese foot patches would

make them more potent detoxifiers?

I've tried the foot patches for 3 days in a row, on and off. If I go more than

3 days I get a terrible splitting migraine (probably just detoxing). So I'm

doing the sauna and ionic foot baths as well seems to help.

Thanks for the sea of knowledge Mr Dave!

Brad

> >

> > Good post. It's Brad, right? Add to the tissue possibilities epithelial

walls of gallbladder; definite possibility. Buhner is excellent. One

note, sarsaparilla is a species of smilax but is either smilax officinalis

(Jamaican), or smilax medica (Mexican). The smilax noted is a Chinese herb, also

known as Chinese greenbrier. All can be used interchangeably most likely, but

not for sure. Smilax glabra is the one I go to for infectious natures to begin

with. Case in point: Late twenties girl, thought she was bitten by a spider

while cutting a Christmas tree (Western Washington, temperate climate). Classic

bull's eye rash at site (left calf). Swelling all over her body and lymph nodes

in left groin (half a soft ball) especially. Treated with antibiotics which

helped to some extent but lymph nodes still very swollen, pain in various

locations. Within 2 weeks of herbal treatment, symptom free, lymph nodes normal.

Lyme's is not necessarily a life long sentence... -D

> > Buhners Herbal protocol mentions Cats Claw,

Astragalus and Andrographis

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Page 1

> > HEALING LYME:

> > Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Co-infections

by Harrod Buhner, Raven Press, 2005.

> > Reviewed by lind Michahelles, Health Counselor

> > Spiky fever.Achy shoulders.Achy left arm.Persistent dry cough..

> > I had this flu imposter last summer and it took a while to realize it must

be Lyme disease. Without the usual telltale bull's eye rash, many who get it

Lyme disease don't know it. The symptoms are

> > many and so varied among individual, that doctors can be fooled. Is it

osteoarthritis or is it Lyme? Is it M.S. or is in Lyme? Is it flu or is it Lyme?

Fortunately, Harrod Buhner, an experienced herbalist, has written an

intensely informative book on how to

> > manage Lyme disease - its prevention, the onset, and development of later

stages. He details the usefulness of antibiotics, referring to studies that show

them to be 70%-95% effective, but with a 35%

> > relapse rate. To cope with this shortfall, he then gives dose-specific

> > recommendations for many herbs and other supplements to support the immune

system both in general and for the particular symptoms that occur over the

course of the disease, e.g., repeated flu-like

> > feelings, headaches, stiff neck, fevers, revolving muscle aches, deep

fatigue, severe brain-fog, neurological symptoms, as well as arthritis, Bell's

palsy and bladder problems.

> > Buhner's core protocol includes:

> > . Andrographis (andrographis paniculata) for general immune support, a

powerful anti-toxin, used for " heat-and-damp clearing, " and has been shown to

alleviate pain and swelling.

> > . Japanese knotweed (polygonum cuspidatum) for anti-inflammatory effects

and protects the body against neurotoxin damage, so that central nervous system

> > Page 2

> > symptoms are reduced, at the same time that it increases blood flow and

transport of Lyme treatments to hard-to-reach areas of the body, such as the

eye, heart, skin and joints.

> > . Cat's claw (uncaria tomentosa), a powerful anti-inflammatory that also

reduced the secondary bacterial toxins.

> > . Astragalus (astragalus membranaceous),

> > an herb that is used for immune enhancer, a restorative, a stimulator, and

a modulator. It has anti-viral and anti-

> > bacterial properties, adaptogenic-rebalancing properties and is an

anti-inflammatory agent.

> > . Sarsaparilla (smilax glabra), found useful in the treatment of LD for

the infection and resulting inflammation.

> > Buhner describes half a dozen available tests for Lyme, listing their

shortcomings and explaining why no test can yet give a truly definite diagnosis.

Without the bull's eye or an autopsy, you can never be

> > absolutely sure. Why is it so hard to diagnose? That is the truly

> > fascinating part of the book.

> > Positively fascinating to me is the description of the spirochetes

> > themselves. First they infect us thanks to a tick bite, a mosquito

> > bite, or a fleabite. Make no mistake -- these spirochetes -- of

> > ancient lineage, much older than mankind -- are brilliant.

> > Somewhere between bacteria and protozoa in complexity, they have

> > many tricks up their sleeve, so to speak. It has been shown that the

spirochetes

> > . They can alter their DNA to suit the challenge posed by

> > their host's immune system

> > . They can exchange information with each other in order

> > to baffle the host

> > . They have an outer coat which they can shed to further

> > obfuscate the situation

> > . They can hide inside our cells by constructing what's

> > called a 'shielding membrane.' That last trick is known as

> > 'intracellular sequestering.'

> > The Bull's Eye Rash

> > So what hope is there for us? Buhner points the way to symbiosis. If we

strengthen our immune systems in ways he recommends, we can probably live

happily with a few spirochetes sequestering themselves somewhere inside us.

> > Page 3

> > Where are they likely to be hiding? Apparently, unlike bacteria, they

prefer a viscous environment, not a fluid one. They only use the blood as a

highway to get to their destination. Some favorite spots are soft tissue in the

knee (feels like arthritis) the aqueous humor (eye problems), myelin sheaths

(nerve damage, Bell's palsy), and

> > soft tissue around the heart (carditis).

> > Assuming you don't already have active Lyme disease, what should you do to

prevent it?

> > That depends where you live. If it's in a tick-infested area, astragalus

all year long is the recommendation with andrographis

> > and cat's claw during tick season.

> > Homeopathic

> > remedies are also mentioned. For each remedy, Buhner gives what seems a

very thorough run down of its properties and its treatment in scientific

journals and in traditional lore.

> > Apparently, Lyme disease isn't new. The ancestors of today's

> > spirochetes infected our ancestors. Other spirochetal diseases,

> > of which syphilis is the most famous example, have also

> > been around.

> > Incidence of Lyme disease per 100,000 population, by county of residence

-United States, 2002. (Source: www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/lyme.htm)

> > Why is Lyme increasing? Probably because we have disturbed the ecology:

fewer predators, resulting in more deer; more suburbanites, thus more

tick-bites. So look for that bull's eye rash and, if you get one, find a copy of

Healing Lyme by Mr. Buhner.

> > NB-- To read further about tick behavior, tick-borne diseases, and

personal protection you can go to the web for a copy of the Tick Management

Handbook, authored by

> > Kirby C. Stafford, PhD, Chief Entomologist, the Connecticut Agricultural

Experiment

> > Station:

http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf<http:\

//www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf><http://ww\

w.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf<http://www.ct.\

gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1010.pdf>>

> > lind Michahelles is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor in

Cambridge.

> > For questions about this essay or related issues please email

> > rosalind@<mailto:rosalind%40nutrition-matters.info> or call 617-491-3239

or visit www.nutrition

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >