“A Treacherous Epidemic needs our Allied Forces”
by Katina I. Makris, CCH, CIH
Thousands of people are afflicted with chronic Lyme disease. Thousands more are wrongly diagnosed with illnesses such as fibromyalgia, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, parkinson’s and more, when in actuality the Lyme bacterials are at the root of their problems. Mysterious symptoms, alarming fatigue, and an unexplained ability to get well accompany these omnipresent struggles. Lyme disease can be a misleading and devastating illness when neglected or misdiagnosed, leading to sometimes life altering effects. Once considered to be a short term infectious illness, the past two decades of patient results and clinical findings have illuminated that chronic Lyme disease is a multifaceted, complex, systemic illness of a treacherous nature. Recovery is often only partial, if not addressed thoroughly.
This country, especially the eastern seaboard, is currently in the throes of a swiftly moving explosion of Lyme disease. Hundreds of cases are contracted weekly and the tick population, the primary carrier, is multiplying in greater proportions than what has been historically normal. Many compare Lyme’s rapid growth to that of the polio epidemics of the last century. Immediate attention, funding, research, and treatment need to be put into stepped up action mode regarding Lyme disease. Homeopathy could be a pivotal player if we can unite on this matter.
A big problem is that large sectors of the health care community are uninformed about the extent of chronic Lyme, its various forms, and even proper laboratory diagnostic and treatment routes, as controversy abounds surrounding the symptoms of the chronic form of Lyme disease. The Center for Disease Control has yet to establish a criteria for long term infections, leaving many physicians in the dark about making a proper diagnosis. The conventional ELISA and Western Blot Lyme test panels will not necessarily identify a case of chronic Lyme disease, merely early onset ones.
Lyme disease is a vector-borne infection caused by a bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi. There are also three variant Lyme co-infections caused by similar microbes, ehrlichia, babesia, and bartonella. Borellia is a spirochete, or corkscrew, bacteria, which are in the same family as syphilis, yet is considered to be stronger and more virulent. Like syphilis, Lyme initially starts out with seemingly mild symptomology, but over time, if untreated, it can cause devastating effects to the central nervous system, heart, kidneys, skeletal and immune system with sometimes permanent repercussions.
The bacterium is spread by a blood transfer. It’s most commonly transmitted by the bite of a very tiny insect, the deer tick, found nationwide. Sexual relations may transmit a milder form of the disease also. Pregnant mothers may transfer the bacteria to the fetus, as Lyme bacteria is capable of passing through the placenta, as well as in breast milk in an estimated 33% of mothers. Some mothers whom are infected with Lyme disease, do not necessarily spread the actual bacteria to the fetus, but the baby may be affected with central nervous system issues, ADHD, food allergies, Tourrette’s syndrome or other syndromes. The miasmatic influence from the mother sets up a host of sensitivities or imbalances in the offspring.
Lyme disease is a rampant epidemic. Over 20,000 diagnosed cases are reported annually, the Center for Disease Control themselves estimates that well over 300,000 people are infected yearly, yet these cases are not actually diagnosed or treated in acute onset form due to faulty testing and ignorance of symptoms. Accordingly, 89 countries of the world report Lyme disease.
The most telltale sign of a new Lyme infection is the “bull’s-eye” rash or bite from the tick. This target-shaped rash may be as small as a dime or as large as a softball. Sometimes it’s a pale pink color, other times it’s a vermillion red, even inflamed to a swollen, sore, black and blue degree. Ledum 2000 or 1M, three doses per day for three consecutive days should be immediately administered. However, unfortunately, only approximately 50% of infections exhibit this visible symptom.
Other early symptoms of a Lyme infection can include an aching, flu-like feeling, often noted in the limbs and neck, mild chills and nausea. Some individuals will exhibit a frank swelling or pronounced pain in their joints (the left knee being the most common). A slight fever, headaches, often severe, dizziness, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen glands may all manifest, as well. Depression is not atypical.
Any constellation of the above mentioned symptomology tends to linger beyond a few days without blossoming into the customary respiratory or gastrointestinal pathway of influenza. What later sets in is the heavy malaise and pronounced fatigue, often accompanied by a “cottony” head sensation, and mental dullness. Individuals with very strong immune systems, often including youngsters, may get these flu-like symptoms for only a few days, to relapse again weeks or even months later.
Because children so frequently experience mild fevers, sore throats, and tiredness associated with a touch of some passing viral infection going through their school or daycare, we tend to just ride out their discomforts for a few days or a week, assuming it will all pass, as their active immune system capably arrests the microbe invasion.
If a child or teen complains of headaches, is unfocused in school, is showing anxiety or restlessness, has a knee or other joint that hurts, or just doesn’t seem to have his or her usual energy, a few weeks after a seemingly mild cold of flu-like episode, have them tested for Lyme disease, from one of the Lyme speciality labs.
Chronic Lyme disease is a very evasive condition, defying a clear black and white set of diagnostic keynotes, making it the ideal illness for homeopaths. It may attack one or more primary system of the body, creating a broad variety of symptoms, dependent to particular constitutional type traits. i.e. Silica, Causticum and Calcarea phos can all show joint, neck and neurological symptomology readily, while Sepia and Natrum mur will produce chronic fatigue and migraines initially. Lachesis and Naja quickly highlight heart palpitations and arrythmias. Sulphur and Calcarea carb can become lazy and arthritic.
Various types of palsy, MS, manic-depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, hallucinations, peri-carditis or valve problems and occular blindness are all possible. Lyme takes the physical, mental and emotional stuffing out of so many people and their caregivers. Tending to a broken spirit is just as critical to me as mending a broken body. This rampaging illness of the 21st century has showed us its very ugly face. Thousands of people are suffering at many levels because of it.
As homeopaths we are currently placed in a very important position. Lyme disease is potentially the epidemic of this century where, as practitioners, authors and pharmacists, we can showcase the stunning capabilities of our profession. Lyme disease could be our “shining hour” if we can all band together, collect case data and statistics, collate our knowledge and hold symposiums on Lyme treatment protocols.
I recovered from an advanced and entrenched case of chronic Lyme disease. This is not the norm. Homeopathy, employed in a very aggressive clinical manner, along with constitutional back-up support was a cornerstone of my healing, and is a tool tens of thousands of people do not even know exists.
Having worked with dozens of Lyme cases, I am a strong proponent of nosode use, as well as simillimum prescriptions. However, entrenched cases, years in duration, with pathology such as pericarditis, Parkinson’s and constant migraines, will not respond well to a purist classical approach of a “one dose and wait” method. In our famous peeling the onion layer model, complementary functional level remedies, often employed in a daily 6c-30c potency range, for weeks in succession (ie Bryonia, Eup perf, Kalmia, Kali phos etc.) can help the client move through the true restrictive pathology levels of Lyme, while background constitutional support is fostered. Chronic Lyme is a serious, decimating, aggressive bacterial infection, it requires strong, clinical homeopathic work..
As homeopaths we must step up to the plate, hone our clinical skills to their razor-fine best, and not be afraid to roll up our sleeves in the murky mess of this trench warfare with a raging illness. Those practitioners on the east coast will resonate with the magnitude of this outbreak. Peter Alex, in his book “Homeopathic Treatment of Lyme Disease” has identified Aurum arsenicosium as the genus simillimum in parts of Germany. It could very well be so, yet we need clinical homeopathic ‘trials’ regarding this in the US.
I share my personal story in my new book “Out of the Woods”. My experience as a practitioner and my plea now, as a Lyme advocate, is to band together as a profession and let us demonstrate to the long-doubting world at large just how resourceful and capable Homeopathy can be. At the bare minimum, a Borrelia nosode used as a widespread “immunization” is a safe ticket for those living in frank fear in Lyme disease states in this country.
As follows in an excerpt from my new book “Out of the Woods; Healing Lyme Disease, Body, Mind and Spirit.” It is simple to see how these well-schooled medical physicians and prestigious hospitals such as Dartmouth-Hitchcock all missed the Lyme diagnosis. Please do not let this happen in your office. Igenex, Clongen and SUNY Stoneybrook labs are the foremost Lyme disease testing facilities in the USA, with much more specific testing protocols than standard labs. Help yourself and your patients by testing properly.
Katina I. Makris is a homeopath of 26 years, a certified Intuitive Healer, sat on the CCH board for seven years, and currently focuses on Lyme disease in her practice. More information from her book “Out of the Woods; Healing Lyme Disease, Body, Mind and Spirit” can be seen at www.outofthewoodsbook.com