Most Excellent Lyme Info - Townsend Letter

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MOST EXCELLENT LYME INFO - TOWNSEND LETTER

Posted By: Daystar <Send E-Mail>

Date: Tuesday, 29 June 2004, 8:39 p.m.

I was so heartened to see this article in The Townsend Letter for Doctors

and Patients. It confirms what I've written about in the past and know in my

heart to be true. Please pass this on to doctors and anyone afflicted with

these chronic illnesses. We desperately need to spread the word

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

New Ideas About The Cause, Spread

and Therapy of Lyme Disease

by Dr. Howenstine

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, July 2004

Lyme Disease was initially regarded as an uncommon illness caused by the

spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). The disease transmission was thought

to be solely by the bite from a tick infected with this spirochete. The Bb

spirochete is able to burrow into tendons, muscle cells, ligaments, and

directly into organs. A classic bulls-eye rash is often visible in the early

stage of the illness. Later in the illness the disease can afflict the heart

nervous system, joints and other organs. It is now realized that the

disease can mimic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease,

multiple sclerosis, Bell’s Palsy, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, neuritis,

psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, chronic fatigue, heart failure,

angina, irregular heart rhythms, fibromyalgia, dermatitis, autoimmune

diseases such as scleroderma and lupus, eye inflammatory reactions, sudden

deafness, SIDS, ADD and hyperactivity, chronic pain and many other

conditions.

Biology professor, Lida Mattman, author of Cell Wall Deficient Forms:

Stealth Pathogens, has been able to recover live spirochetes of Bb from

mosquitos, fleas, mites, semen, urine, blood, and spinal fluid. A factor

contributing to making Bb so dangerous is that it can survive and spread

without having a cell wall (cell wall-deficient CWD). Many valuable

antibiotics kill bacteria by breaking down the cell wall. These antibiotics

often prove ineffective against Bb.

Lyme Disease is now thought to be the fastest growing infectious disease in

the world. There are believed to be at least 200,000 new cases each year in

the US and some experts think that as many as one in every 15 Americans is

currently infected (20 million persons). Dr. Rowen knows a family

where the mother’s infection spread to 5 of her 6 children1 all of whom

recovered with appropriate therapy. It is difficult to believe that these

children were all bitten by ticks and seems more plausible that person to

person spread within the family caused this problem. Dr. Mattman states “I’m

convinced Lyme disease is transmissible from person to person.” In 1995 Dr.

Mattman obtained positive cultures for Bb from 43 of 47 persons with chronic

illness. Only 1 of 23 control patients had a positive Bb culture. Dr.

Mattman has subsequently recovered Bb spirochetes form 8 out of 8 cases of

Parkinson’s Disease, 41 cases of multiple sclerosis, 21 cases of amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis and all tested cases of Alzheimer’s Disease. The complete

recovery of several patients with terminal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

after appropriate therapy shows the great importance of establishing the

diagnosis of Lyme Disease.

Some very important information has recently become available about the

spread and magnitude of the problem with Lyme Disease. The severity of the

Lyme illness is related to the spirochete load in the patient. Few

spirochetes produce mild and asymptomatic infection. A study from

Switzerland in 1998 pointed out that only 12.5% of patients testing positive

for Bb had developed symptoms. A German boy developed Lyme arthritis 5 years

after his tick bite. Often mycoplasmal infections remain without symptoms

until the victim suffers a traumatic event (stress, injury, accident, etc.).

These stressing events enable the mycoplasma to begin consumption of

cholesterol and symptoms may begin to present. The mechanism of this

deterioration is thought to be suppression of the immune system secondary to

stress.

Many patients with LD have concomitant infections with other parasites

(Ehrlichia in white blood cells and Babesia in red blood cells). Some

patients have all 3 parasites. Each requires a different therapy with

Babesia being particularly difficult to eradicate. Recently, Artemisinin

appears effective in Babesia infections. All co-infections must be

eliminated to obtain a successful result.

Dr. Joanne Whitaker relates that nearly every patient with Parkinson’s

Disease (PD) has tested positive for Bb. Dr. Romero reports that 3

patients with PD are 99% better after TOA-free cat’s claw (Uncaria

tomentosa) therapy. When Dr. Mattman cultures 25 patients with fibromyalgia

all subjects had positive cultures of the CWD Bb, which causes LD. She

relates that Bb can be found in tears and could thus easily appear on the

hands where touching could spread LD. Several families are now documented

where nearly every family member is infected. How sick the individual

patient becomes probably relates to their initial spirochete dose, immune

system, detoxification capability and stress levels.

Transmission of the disease has been clearly documented after bites by fleas

mites, mosquitos and ticks. There is compelling evidence that Lyme disease

(LD) can be spread by sexual and congenital transfer. One physician has

cared for 5000 children with LD: 240 of these children were born with the

disease. Dr. Ray , the leading pediatric specialist on Lyme

Disease, has found 12 breastfed children who have developed LD. Miscarriage,

premature births, stillbirths, birth defects, and transplacental infection

of the fetus have all been reported. Studies at the University of Vienna

have found Bb in urine and breast milk of LD mothers.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have reported that dairy cattle

can be infected with Bb, hence milk could be contaminated. Bb can also be

transmitted to lab animals by oral intake such as food.

The Sacramento, California blood bank thinks that LD can be spread by blood

transfusions. The CDC (Center of Disease Control) in Atlanta, Georgia states

that their data indicates that Bb can survive the blood processing

techniques used for transfusions in the US.

Lyme Disease is the fastest growing epidemic in the world. LD is grossly

under-reported so there may be far more than the 200,000 cases reported

annually in the US. Drs. Harvey and Salvato estimate that 1 billion persons

in the world may be infected with LD. LD is thought to be a contributing

factor in 50% of patients who have chronic illness.

Dr. Joanne Whitaker, a Lyme disease victim from childhood, has developed a

reliable test for the presence of Lyme disease. This test looks for the Bb

organism, not antibodies, and is able to identify the cell wall deficient

(CWD) form of the spirochete as well as the actual Bb organism. The test is

called Q-RIBb which stands for quantitative rapid identification of Bb. Dr.

Lida Mattman has confirmed that Dr. Whitaker’s test is sensitive because

there has been a 100% correlation between a positive culture of Bb by Dr.

Mattman’s lab and a positive Q-RIBb test from Dr. Whitaker’s Laboratory.

Case Reports Illustrating the Critical Importance of

Establishing the Diagnosis of Lyme Disease.

Case 1: Larry Powers, a former Mr. America in 1962, became ill with the

symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease in 1990. Sinemet therapy was taken for eight

years but he gradually became worse. He became confined to a wheel chair and

required help with eating. After learning that Lyme Disease might be causing

his symptoms of PD he started taking TOA-free cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa)

Within three weeks he was out of his wheelchair and fishing for 100 pound

tarpon.

Case 2: Tom Coffey at age 34 developed diplopia, severe hypertension

uncontrolled by drugs, and impaired balance. A diagnosis of amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis was made. Surgery was performed to correct the diplopia.

By June 2001 he was unable to swallow saliva and feeding tube nutrition was

begun. His weight had fallen by 100 pounds. Nutritional support from the

tube feedings produced slow resolution of the swallowing problem.

Consultation with a Lyme expert uncovered the history of a bulls-eye rash

after a tick bite. Therapy with Rocephin led to complete recovery.

Case 3: A young male college student developed such sever cognitive

difficulties he was forced to drop out of school. A Q-RIBb test was positive

for LD and he resumed a normal life after receiving 4 months of antibiotic

therapy.

What Causes Neurone Death in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?

One of the most insidious mimics for Lyme Disease is ALS. The neurotoxins

released by the Bb organism are capable of causing neurologic dysfunction in

the central nervous system that produces symptoms typical of amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis. The pathological hallmark of ALS is motor neurone

degeneration and death.

Research performed by Dr. Harold and Dr. Garth Nicholson and

coordinated by W. 2 has resulted in a breakthrough in our

understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Mycoplasma was discovered in 1898. These are living particles of bacterial

nucleic acid which do not have a cell wall. In 1971 Rottem et al.3 learned

that most species of mycoplasma were absolutely dependent for their growth

on the consumption of pre-formed sterols including cholesterol obtained from

animal and human host cells. These mycoplasmas live harmlessly in host cells

until they are stimulated to activity by a stressing traumatic event (bullet

wound, bad fall, injury from accident etc.). The growth of the mycoplasma

consumes the cell’s cholesterol resulting in death of the affected cell.

Mycoplasmas have been identified in ALS using high resolution blood

morphology. In the November 9, 2001 issue of Science Dr. Mauch4 et al

revealed that the glial cells surrounding the motor neurone sully the extra

cholesterol needed to repair and replace aging synapses. If the repair does

not properly occur, the motor neurone cells proceed to die form overwork.

Glial cells are also heavily involved in gathering, processing and storing

glutamate. Elevations in glutamate have been found in brain tissue in ALS.

A mycoplasma species, probably fermentans, which was harmlessly sequestered

in a glial cell, becomes aroused by some traumatic stressful event. This

mycoplasma then consumes the glial cholesterol which makes up 40% of the

glial cell membrane, causing rupture and death of the glial dell. The death

of these glial cells releases large amounts of glutamate which becomes

elevated in brain tissue. Within the neurone some of the excess glutamate

accesses a urea molecule. The urea molecule gives up an ammonia ion which

converts a glutamate molecule into less dangerous glutamine. This leaves the

former urea molecule as a cyanate ion which damages the motor neurone’s

mitochondria. One of the consequences of the damaged mitochondria is a

decrease in the energy output available to the neurone. This produces the

severe weakness and fatigue seen in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

If the mitochondrial injury is severe the neurone dies. The death of motor

neurone stops message delivery to muscle tissue – a universal finding in ALS

This avid consumption of cholesterol may also contribute to the endocrine

dysfunction seen in ALS because it decreases the amount of cholesterol

available to produce estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, hydrocortisone,

and aldosterone. Patients with ALS, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue

syndrome often have hypothalamic dysfunction which may result in adrenal

insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and gonadal failure.

Lyme disease frequently exhibits neurologic abnormalities because the Bb

neurotoxins are drawn to the fatty tissue found in the brain and peripheral

nerves. As a consequence sudden deafness, Bells palsy, Parkinson’s Disease,

Multiple Sclerosis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, peripheral neuritis, and

chronic pain may appear.

The Influence of Toxins from Bb on the Symptoms and Course of Lyme Disease

Autopsy examinations of young persons (30s) dying from what appeared to be

Parkinson’s disease (PD) have frequently failed to confirm the basal

ganglion damage that would be expected in classic PD seen in the elderly.

Some patients with illnesses of many years’ duration misdiagnosed as

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Scleroris, and Parkinson’s Disease

have made incredible recoveries within periods as short as 24 to 72 hours

when placed on TOA-free Uncaria tomentosa (cat’s claw) for LD. This rapid

response could not rationally be attributed to improved immune function or

bacteriocidal effects on spirochetes. Bb is known to produce a group of

neurotoxins. The most sensible explanation for this recovery lies in turning

off or blocking the neurotoxins effects of Bb on the lipid containing

structures that the Bb neurotoxins are attracted to (central nervous system,

peripheral nerves, muscles, joints, etc.). This sudden improvement appears

to be the result of blockage and inhibition of the neurotoxins.5 The most

important example of a “Biotoxin Illness” appears to be Lyme Disease.6

Patients with symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease at a young age caused by

neurotoxins would not be expected to show permanent structural destruction

in the basal ganglia. These neurotoxins probably act at specific sites such

as neuro-transmitters-pre and post synaptic membranes, altering dopamine,

serotonin, GABA, and acetylcholine molecules, thereby blocking surface

membrane receptors of various kinds which would interfere with the proper

action of enzymes, coenzymes and hormones. This is only one of the damaging

mechanisms of action of the neurotoxins.

The Uncaria tomentosa may have three direct beneficial effects in humans

with LD:

Immune modulation (correcting immune dysfunction).

Direct broad spectrum anti-microbial effect on spirochetes. Quinovic acid

glycosides found in TOA-free cat’s claw are similar to the quinilones widely

used as antibiotics.

Blocking the adverse neurotoxic effects on cells, enzymes, and hormones.

Whether the serious lack of energy and fatigue seen in LD are similar to the

cyanate7 induced damage to the mitochondria’s ability to produce energy in

the motor neurone found in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or is due to

failure of proper calcium channel function is not clear.

Favorable Therapeutic Results with TOA-Free Cat’s Claw in Lyme Disease

A pilot study treated 28 patients with Advanced Chronic Lyme Disease with

TOA-Free Uncaria tomentosa. Conventional cat’s claw contains TOA alkaloids

that interfere with the desired immune modulation. The 14 person control

group was given antibiotic therapy. At the study’s termination 85% of those

receiving the cat’s claw preparation no longer had positive blood tests for

Bb. All 28 persons had experienced a dramatic improvement in their clinical

condition. No significant changes were seen in the control group. The Prima

Uña de Gato can be obtained from Allergy Research Group 800-545-9960,

Nutramedix (product name Samento Plus) 561-745-2917, and from Farmacopia at

800-896-1484. Dr. Whitaker’s lab can be reached by Internet at www.Bowen.org

or by calling 727-937-9077 to arrange blood Bb testing. Improving nutrition,

detoxifying and improving mental health all contribute to good results.

Removal of mercury amalgams and treatment of heavy metals may be needed.

Much of this information about LD was obtained from “Lyme disease:

Nutraceutical Breakthrough Using TOA-Free Cat’s Claw” published in Focus by

Allergy Research Group (October 2003) and from the November and December

2003 issues of Dr. Rowen’s Second Opinion.

Why Are We Experiencing an Epidemic of Lyme Disease?

I do not have a certain answer to this question. There are some facts that

may be relevant. Several US government scientists including Dr. Shuy-Ching

Lo, of the American Institute of Pathology, hold a patent on a Pathogenic

Mycoplasma (mycoplasma fermentans) which has been converted into a

crystalline form. In the patent application the diseases AIDS, chronic

fatigue syndrome, Wegener’s Granulomatosis, Sarcoidosis, lupus and

Alzheimer’s Disease were mentioned as related to this patented form of

mycoplasma fermentens. The crystalline form of mycoplasma fermentens

contains the part of the brucella bacteria that causes disease in patients.

In its crystalline form this mycoplasma can be transmitted into subjects by

intravenous administration or injections, spread as an aerosol, implanted by

the bite of an insect, or placed into food or water. There is no laboratory

evidence for infection by brucella in subjects who have received the

“crystalline pathogenic mycoplasma.”

When a nation is developing biologic warfare agents it is imperative that

these agents be tested on humans to evaluate the results. If an infectious

biologic warfare agent was able to produce person to person transfer it

would have to be regarded as a gigantic success.

In the Faroe Islands in 1943 British biowar researchers ran tests to see if

sheep could be infected by air-borne brucella. The brucella spread into

sheep dogs as brucella canis and then appeared to cause several humans to

develop multiple sclerosis.

In 1947 and 1948, approximately 1,100 school children in remote northern

Icelandic villages (Akureyri) became ill with a new disease that caused

severe burning pain in the limbs, profound muscle weakness, and severe

fatigue. Of these 1,100 teenagers who became ill, 5 of the students

developed an aggressive form of Parkinson’s disease and proceeded to die

(unheard of in teenagers not using methedrine-like drugs). The United States

had effective control of Iceland during these years and a research scientist

trained in plant and animal virology at the Rockefeller Institute (oriented

toward eugenics), Dr. Bjorn Sigurdson, was installed to start an Institute

of Experimental Pathology at the University of Iceland with $200,000 in

grant money from the Rockefeller Institute. In 1950 a group of American

physicians, microbiologists, and biologic researchers sponsored by the

Rockefeller Foundation arrived in Iceland to study the effects of the

mystery illness that had struck Northern Iceland. The appearance of a new

disease was of such great interest that Icelandic Disease was promptly

reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The Canadian government set up the Dominion Parasite Laboratory in

Belleville, Ontario in the 1950’s and 60’s to grow one hundred million

mosquitos a month. In late August of 1984, 500 persons in the St. Lawrence

Valley became ill with a mystery illness which had the profound weakness

seen in brucellosis without any laboratory evidence of brucella infection.

One woman was certain her illness came from a mosquito bite. She recalled

being bitten by a mosquito and woke up the next day with a target skin

lesion at the bite site (same skin lesion as seen in Lyme Disease) and such

profound weakness she was unable to get out of bed. Another woman recalled a

target lesion at the site of a mosquito bite. Both women remain ill 20 years

later.

Citizens in Punta Gorda, Florida woke up one spring morning in 1956 with a

cloud of mosquitos in their town. Calls to the Meteorological Service about

the mosquito influx were answered with the information that there had been a

forest fire thirty miles away in the Everglades and that these mosquitos had

fled the fire. The truth is mosquitos will not move from one side of a barn

to the other when a fire breaks out, let alone fly 30 miles. One week later

5 persons appeared in the local medical clinic with symptoms of chronic

fatigue syndrome.

In 1984 mycoplasma may have been transmitted by aerosol into a high school

in Incline Village, Nevada, where many persons suddenly developed chronic

fatigue syndrome. Children became ill with a similar mysterious illness in

1984 after drinking goat’s milk in Lyndonville, New York. The cities of

Adelaide, Australia 1949, West Otago, New Zealand 1984, and Royal Free

Hospital London, England 1955 have all been visited by mini-epidemics of

chronic fatigue syndrome.

These mycoplasmas, when activated by stress, are avid consumers of sterols

including cholesterol. A series of chemical reactions ensues culminating in

the creation of cyanate which causes failure of normal energy production by

the mitochondria of the cells. This could produce the profound weakness and

fatigue characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome. A 2 to 3 month trial of

300 to 500 mg. of CoQ10 daily might be able to improve energy output by the

mitochondria thus possibly alleviating the profound fatigue.

When the illness causes painful trigger points, it is best termed

fibromyalgia. These painful sites are located where blood flow is stagnant.

Chronic infections are known to produce high viscosity blood which tends to

clot a flow more slowly than normal.

Profound dysfunction of the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, thyroid glands

and gonads is very common in mycoplasmal, fungal, and anerobic bacterial

infections. The avid consumption of cholesterol by activated mycoplasma

could be a contributing factor to these endocrine disorders because

cholesterol is needed to create several important hormones (estrogen,

testosterone, progesterone, hydrocortisone, aldosterone).

Bacteriologist Dr. Arthur Kendall was able to produce 16 distinct bacteria8

by simply using different culture media to culture the same bacteria. Dr.

Royal Rife’s Universal Microscope could see organisms as small as viruses.

By using Dr. Rife’s microscope Dr. Kendall could actually see living

organisms change their characteristics as the culture media were changed. Dr

G.C. Gruner of McGill University used an asparagus media to grow a fungus

found in the blood of patients with cancer. When this fungus was grown in

Kendall’s medium it converted into the Bx virus which had been proven by

Koch’s postulates to cause cancer. These experiments proved that the fungus

that Dr. Gruner saw in the blood of cancer patients was actually the same

organism as the Bx virus that Dr. Kendall had proven causes cancer.

Obviously, biologic micro-organisms exhibit considerable pleomorphism which

may explain why observers do not find the same organisms in patients with

chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Lyme Disease as those being

found by other observers (HHN-G, CMV, EBV viruses, parasites Bb, ehrlichae,

babesia, bartonella, mycoplasma, Chlamydia, anerobic bacteria, yeast and

fungi have all been implicated).

There is considerable evidence that many patients with Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Lyme disease have an infectious disease. Lyme

disease needs to be considered in every patient with a chronic illness. LD

can produce every disease found in the Diagnostic Symptoms Manual for

psychiatric illness (attention deficit disorder ADD, antisocial personality,

panic attacks, anorexia nervosa, autism, Aspergers syndrome, etc.). Skilled

antimicrobial therapy should permit many of these unfortunate patients to

regain their health. TOA-free cat’s claw will be valuable for many persons

with Bb found by blood tests and culture. Sulfoxime and dioxychlor will

relieve the pain found in fibromyalgia. Dietary changes, correction of pH,

detoxification and stress reduction counseling can all be beneficial.

The United States maintains a biological warfare research laboratory on Plum

Island directly across Long Island Sound from the sites where Lyme Disease

and West Nile Disease were first encountered in Old Lyme and Madison,

Connecticut. Massive deaths of birds are common at the sites where West Nile

viral disease appears, suggesting that the illness may afflict birds before

entering humans. Dr. Warren Levin of Wilton, Connecticut states that 56% of

the families in Wilton have at least one family member with LD. Could

seagulls containing crystalline mycoplasma fermentens and West Nile Virus

have escaped or been released from Plum Island?

Much of this information about biowarfare agents and crystalline mycoplasma

fermentens is from an article written by biochemist W. and

published in the Winter 2003 edition of The Journal of Degenerative Diseases

Volume 5 Number 1. The publisher is Common Cause Medical Research Foundation

Box 133, Station B, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 4NR Canada.

Dr. Howenstine is a specialist in internal medicine. He is author of

the book A Physician’s Guide to Natural Health Products that Work, 328 pg.

$17.95. His book can be obtained from Amazon.com, naturalhealthteam.com and

by calling 1-800-416-2806. Dr. Howenstine can be reached at jimhow@...

cr and by writing Dr. Howenstine c/o Remarsa USA SB 37, P.O. Box 25292

Miami, Florida 33102-5292

References

Rowen, . If you have any chronic debilitating disease, you could be

the victim of a Monster Epidemic! Second Opinion Vol X111 No. 11 November

2003

, D.W., Crusader P.O. Box 618205, Orlando, FL 32861-8205

October-November 2002 pg. 26-32. Also see , D.W. and , W.L.C.

Amyotrophic LateralSclerosis: The Probable Cause; A Possible Cure 233

Government St., Suite 6E, , B.C. Canada V8T 4P4; 888-232-444,

ISBN 1-55395-214-6

Rottem, Pfend, Hayflick. Sterol Requirements of T-strain Mycoplasmas Journal

of Bacteriology 1971

H., Nagler, Goritz, Muller, Otto, Pfrieger. CNS Synaptogenesis

Promoted by Glia-Derived Cholesterol. Science Nov. 9, 2001

Romero, M.D.,PhD, Neurotoxins Focus, Allergy Research Group Newsletter

pg. 10 Oct. 2003

Shoemaker, C. M.D., Hudnall, , PhD. Focus, Allergy Research Group

Newsletter pg. 10 Oct. 2003

, W. Lou, Gehrig’s Disease is Not a Mistery Anymore Crusader pg.

31 Oct-November 2002

Montgomery, , The Rise and Fall of a Scientific Genius (video) Zero Zero

Productions, 3 Baldoon Rd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1B 1Vd;

www.zerozerotwo.org