INSIGHTS & BLOGS
Information, treatments and resources on living healthier.
ALL POSTS
One of the reasons why Lyme may be so difficult to treat is that it can morph into various forms (spirochete) and persist in nongrowing forms in tissues (granules, cell wall deficient forms, and cysts or round bodies).1 We know that those who are treated with antibiotics, even combination therapies, may experience symptoms long after treatment has been completed. Persistence of infection with Borrelia has been demonstrated in a study where live spirochetes were found in culture of tissue and body fluids taken from antibiotic treated individuals.2 It is imperative that studies look at effective treatment against all forms of Borrelia, including these persister (stationary/latent) forms. Persistence of B. burgdorferi may also be due to another form in which it exists, and that is within biofilm. Biofilm with Borrelia have been isolated from human tissue.3 Below are some of the studies that looked at herbs and their activity against various forms of Borrelia species.
If you have Lyme disease a big question that you might be asking is what should I be eating? It may already be obvious to avoid foods known to cause disease, such as sugar, fried foods and processed foods. You may already be adopting a clean, organic diet, but that may not be enough. What foods or nutrients actually have antimicrobial properties against Borrelia species?
Lyme disease and ticks are often thought to be endemic to the east coast of United States. When I first started treating Lyme disease in 2003, my practice was located in Peoria, Arizona. I never thought that testing for Lyme disease should be on my radar. However, when I had a young patient who was experiencing joint pain that migrated between her wrists and knees, intermittent abdominal complaints, and a history of playing soccer, I ran labs ruling out juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory markers. We discussed dietary changes which seemed to moderately help the abdominal complaints. However, the migrating joint pain persisted. Recalling from my medical training that this key symptom can be associated with Lyme disease, I ran labs for Lyme disease and the results came back positive. I was puzzled. This particular patient had never traveled outside the state.
The word, Solidago comes from the latin word “solido” which means to “strengthen or make whole” and the latin word “ago” which means “to make.”
At Solidago Integrative Health, our goal is to make your health stronger so that you can feel whole.
About Dr. Terry Fong
Dr. Terry Fong is natural medicine doctor in Orange County of California who has helped many people heal from allergies, fatigue, digestive problems, chronic pain, chronic infections, and mental health conditions.
