Epidemiology:
- The village of Lyme in Connecticut (US) became famous in 1977 after an epidemic of arthritis broke out among the children and adults of the village.
- In 1982 the gram negative sprirochete was identified by Willy Burgdorfer.
- WHO figures show explosive increase in Lyme disease.
- More and more Borrelia species found. They spread 16 different diseases.
- Age related: peak ages between 5 – 15 years and between 40 – 55 years.
- Peak months: June and July.
- Susceptibility to chronification: existing fatigue before the tick bite.
- Also important is the quality of the intestinal flora, environmental factors, co-morbilities and lifestyle.
Which spirochetes cause Lyme disease?
- Borrelia Borreliosis
- B. Burdorferi Arthritis
- B. Afzelli Skin Disease
- B. Garinii Neuroinflammation
Interaction between host and Borrelia bacteria
Most pathogen infections initiate a classical defense response of the IS based on chelation of iron. Borrelia has circumvented this strategy by using manganese as the main “survival” metal.
Borrelia uses zinc and manganese for proliferation and to protect himself against oxidative pressure.
This strategy leads to IL10 formation and an immune suppressive status.
Not everyone is susceptible to Lyme disease.
Risk factors include:
- Lifestyle
- Age and Gender
- Vitamin intake
- Vitamin and mineral status = present deficiencies
- To smoke
- Present Low Grade Ignition (LGI)
- Present insulin, leptin and cytokine resistance
- Eating mammalian products by present Neu5gc
Borrelia can:
- Induce production of IL 10 via STAT 3
- Hunt for manganese and zinc
- Stimulate SOC 1/3
- Braking down the complementary system
- Altering immune system metabolism
- Steal phospholipid (especially choline)
- COX-2 and LOX-5 brakes
Virulence of Borrelia:
- He creates damage via immune system.
- He leaves a harmful reaction due to the wound he causes with his “screw”.
- He himself is not basically responsible for the immune response.
- It has no genes responsible for the production of nucleotides, amino acids, fatty acids and enzyme cofactors. He consumes these from us.
- By causing activation of our body’s own proteases, there can be a breakdown of connective tissue barriers, further infiltration in joints, infiltration in heart muscle, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. Algae inhibit the proteases that are activated by Borrelia or are produced endogenously.
Spirochete has a unique shape with its long and not round shape, more like a drill or screw. It has no LPS, hardly any lipoproteins, flagella on the inside (invisible), no toxin production, is so little or no immunogenic. It does not cause any damage by toxins but by invasion. His action in the body is to protect himself, he doesn’t want to be killed.
His speed makes him “unhuntable”. 6% of the total genome is related to mobility = movement. Like a formula one car! 0.28 cm/minute = 2x as fast as the fastest neutrophil. (an immune cell).
Inhibiting Borrelia is essential to master the disease. Make the bacteria heavy so that the immune system can reach it. If the bacteria slows down, neutrophils can kill it.
Many blood tests are negative, because the Borrelia moves better in viscous tissue and is therefore not present in the blood.
Blood tests are certainly not reliable in Post-Tratment Lyme Disease Syndrom (PTLS).
There is doubt about the presence or absence of the bacterium in patients who still suffer from borreliosis symptoms
The use of clinical test is necessary.
Treatments
The aim of the approach for an adequate treatment should be to counter-regulate the strategies by which borrelia evade the immune system as quickly as possible. Those who can’t are prone to Lyme disease. Of course, someone’s history and lifestyle also play a role here.
Regular treatment:
- In the acute phase, within 2 weeks after the bite, antibiotics for 5 to 28 days, depending on the type of Borrelia and antibiotics. This slows down the bacteria and when someone has an alert immune system, he is able to fend off the spirochete. Alert immune system? A person’s history is very important here.
- Not recommended interventions in Lyme borreliosis or PTLDS:
o Long-term antibiotic use
o Repeated course of antibiotics for the same infection
o Combinations of antibiotics
o Alternating dosing of antibiotics, alternating for a few days with a few days without.
o Cephalosporins, such as cephalexin, benzathine penicillin G, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems, vancomycin, metronidazole, tinidazole, trimethoptimsulfamethoxazole, amantadine, isoniazid, rifampin or fluconazole
o Medicines against Babesiosis (malaria-like parasite) or against Bartonella infection without evidence of active infection
o Ozone therapy, oxygen bars
o Herbs, such as burnt mugwort or glutathione
o Chelation and heavy metal therapy
o Intravenous immunoglobulin
o Stem cell therapy
o Medicines (such as cholestyramine), enemas, bee venom, various hormone therapies (such as thyroid hormone), lithium orotate, naltrexone or bleach (think of chlorine in drinking water)
Comprehensive Lyme Disease Treatment
Aimed at slowing down the spirochete and making its environment unpleasant.
His weakness:
- It has no own synthesis capacity for amino acids, nucleotides and fat.
- 100% dependent on carbohydrates
- Manganese dependent
- ph sensitive
- rest sensitive
Here are some tips. Do remember to tackle these with a PNI therapist, because it is very important to gain a good insight into which tips and in which dosage are relevant to you and why!
Anti-Borrelia agents:
Olive oil and coconut oil
Scutellaria Baicalensis
Oregano oil: strongest anti-bacterial effect
High dose lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is toxic to Borrelia bacteria. In addition, it captures the free iron released as a result of tissue damage by the “boron” of spirochete. Free iron is another risk factor for profiling any other pathogens and carcinogenic cells present.
High dose resveratrol, normal dose berberine
Cholesterol from the sea: Squalene necessary, further eating algae, sea creatures and fish MSC to make the beast so heavy and sluggish. You can also think of Perilla seed oil, amaranth oil.
The metabolism of Borrelia is 100% dependent on carbohydrates. This is a weakness of the spirochete that we can use. Diet should be ketogenic in calories, but not in volume! Omega 3 supplementation.
High dose of zinc as a natural antagonist of manganese in the Borrelia bacteria.
Also a good multi vitamins and a multi minerals
Most symptoms are caused by the immune system itself. Use curcuma and green tea in your diet for this.
Vitamin D = direct defense by innate immune system. At low levels of vitamin D, supplement these for anti-inflammation benefits.
NAC, breaks down biofilms. There are no studies yet on the effect of NAC in borreliosis, but it is recommended.
Breathing exercise: hypercapnia 5 to 8x 2 minutes per day.
Using food as medicine.
As mentioned before, as a practitioner you will also have to include the previous history in the approach. After all, it determines your immune response and disease course and recovery.
Have you been infected by Borrelia? Request a consultation. This can be live or online.