Editorial
by Richard Pitt
Lyme Disease is perhaps the largest chronic epidemic disease today in North America and also now in other parts of the world. Carried by ticks and spread to humans who wander through the countryside of New England and beyond, it first became apparent in 1975 in Old Lyme, Connecticut when people quite suddenly developed acute inflammation of the joints, which often followed a round erythematous rash on the body. Ticks have always been a presence in this region and are found throughout the world. It has been known for a long time that bites from ticks can carry diseases but something seemed to be different this time. More and more people started to develop arthritis type symptoms leading medical authorities to explore the causes for this disease. Eventually, the tick was found to be the culprit but it still didn’t explain how this “new” disease came into being. For a number of years, the medical profession showed great reluctance to accept the implications of this disease and there was much controversy surrounding it. One theory put forward in a book called Lab 257 made the case that a Department of Agriculture laboratory on Plum Island, a small island off Long Island, New York, was experimenting in using ticks as vectors of disease and these ticks escaped, jumping on birds that were on the island and then dropping off when getting to Old Lyme.
Whatever the cause, since 1975, the disease has inexorably spread and has developed from an acute inflammatory condition of the joints to being a possible cause or co-cause of a whole array of chronic diseases, from chronic fatigue, Epstein Barre, mental psychosis, heart disease and even multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
The elusive nature of the disease has confounded many in the medical profession as the diagnosis is not easy. The disease is spread through a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi, a spirochete similar in nature the syphilis spirochete. Blood work to ascertain infection with the borrelia bacteria is not easy. It will only test positive between 2-8 weeks of the initial bite and so anybody being tested after this is left without any knowledge that their condition may be due to infection with the lyme tick. This has led many in the medical profession to deny that chronic Lyme disease actually exists, leaving many people confused, distraught and wandering what is going on in their bodies.
The fact that the borrelia bacteria is similar to the syphilis spirochete reveals remarkable similarities in the nature of both diseases. Both have distinct phases of action, affecting joints, nerves, heart and the mind. Both are elusive in nature and for homeopaths, we can see that chronic Lyme disease is another expression of the broader syphilitic miasm.
As the medical profession has gradually accepted the connection between Lyme disease and other chronic, degenerative conditions, it has led to the development of long term antibiotic therapy to treat the bacterial infection. However, this treatment is highly controversial within the medical profession and in some states, doctors have been told not to apply such methods. It can require the use of multiple antibiotics for 1-3 years, as the bacteria lodges itelf in musculature and other inaccessible parts of the body. But long-term antibiotic therapy has its own problems and as homeopaths we know that the immune system can be deeply suppressed by such methods. Based on much of the evidence coming out now, it seems that antibiotic therapy alone is very limited in its efficacy. Unless it is also complemented with therapies that support the immune system, it can leave the body very vulnerable and perhaps does more harm than good.
For homeopaths and others working in holistic therapy, we know that unless one works on the terrain, simply struggling against the infectious agent does not work well. A study of chronic Lyme disease does reveal the all important question as to why some people seem to be much more seriously affected than others. The initial infection is simply the beginning and whether someone gets truly sick or not can depend on a multitude of factors, both physical and psychological. For homeopaths, a knowledge of miasmatic theory is helpful in exploring these underlying susceptibilities. Treating the acute disease is not that difficult, both allopathically and homeopathically. A 4-6 week course of antibiotics, if given within 1-2 weeks of infection can stop the disease in its tracks. However, even then, up to 30% of these cases can still develop more chronic conditions afterwards. Homeopathy can effectively treat this acute stage as well, either on its own or in conjunction with antibiotic therapy. It may be very useful to also prevent chronic complications developing.
Therefore, studying and understanding this disease is very important for homeopaths. We can be treating many conditions and not know that it may be Lyme disease we are seeing. That may not change the ultimate choice of homeopathic remedy but it can make a big difference in knowing why a person may be so sick and can also be helpful in giving patients reassurance that you know what is going on.
Most of the articles in this edition are given to exploring Lyme disease. One of the books reviewed is a great resource for studying the disease. Healing Lyme Disease Naturally, by Wolf Storl is a great study and philosophical enquiry into Lyme disease and the nature of illness in general and introduces us to the use of teasel as a great herbal medicine. Wolf explores both the broader miasmatic foundation of Lyme disease, showing a great homeopathic knowledge and then looks at the many herbal medicine possibilities that can be used as treatment. For homeopaths, this can be very useful information as an adjunct to homeopathic remedies. Treating Lyme disease is not always easy. When seeing patients with serious chronic symptoms of Lyme, looking at constitutional remedies is complicated and even identifying it as Lyme disease is not easy.
Kim Makris is a homeopath in New Hampshire who experienced chronic Lyme disease and for years did not know what was happening to her. Her story is a classic tale of what can happen to someone who gets Lyme disease, is not diagnosed properly and suffers chronic degenerative changes as a result. Her eventual diagnosis and natural treatment led to her recovery and she has now written a book, Out of the Woods, that tells her story. For homeopaths, her story is yet another reminder of how easy it can be to miss seeing this disease and how serious it can be. Kim is able to tell her story in a very personal and enlightening way that will become essential reading when exploring Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is a good example of how a complex disease requires serious study and for homeopaths, a need to understand how to look at this disease from many perspectives: constitutional, miasmatic and from a lesional or pathological approach. Similarly, looking at other natural health options can be useful in having a multi pronged approach to this condition.
We are happy that we have a couple of presentations from colleagues in different parts of the world and hope that more of these contributions are forthcoming. We also have a great article by Brigitte Essl, a homeopath living in California. She is experienced using Family Constellation Therapy, the work created by German therapist, Bert Hellinger. For many homeopaths, this therapy can be a great adjunct to homeopathy and Brigitte’s article explores this well.
We hope you enjoy this edition of the California Homeopath and we welcome your comments, letters and any articles you would like to submit.