Topic: Alternative folks: "Novel Diagnosis of Lyme Disease: Potential for CAM Intervention"
Truthfinder
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Novel Diagnosis of Lyme Disease: Potential for CAM Intervention
Aristo Vojdani1, Frank Hebroni2, Yaniv Raphael3, Jonathan Erde4 and Bernard Raxlen5
1Immunosciences Laboratory, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, 2Department of Psychobiology, University of California, 3Department of Biology, University of Southern California, 4Department of Biochemistry, University of California and 5Raxlen Clinic, New York, NY 10024, USA
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is the most common tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere, producing a wide range of disabling effects on multiple human targets, including the skin, the nervous system, the joints and the heart. Insufficient clinical diagnostic methods, the necessity for prompt antibiotic treatment along with the pervasive nature of infection impel the development and establishment of new clinical diagnostic tools with increased accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.
The goal of this article is 4-fold: (i) to detail LD infection and pathology, (ii) to review prevalent diagnostic methods, emphasizing inherent problems, (iii) to introduce the usage of in vivo induced antigen technology (IVIAT) in clinical diagnostics and (iv) to underscore the relevance of a novel comprehensive LD diagnostic approach to practitioners of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).
(Table 1. CAM treatment of Lyme disease with a combination of different antibiotics, herbal remedies, and nutritional supplements, with pertinent references.)
Utilization of this analytical method will increase the accuracy of the diagnostic process and abridge the time to treatment, with antibiotics, herbal medicines and nutritional supplements, resulting in improved quality of care and disease prognosis..............
.....Conclusion
Researchers and practitioners of CAM understand the necessity for an all-inclusive diagnostic approach and treatment (as shown in Tables 1 and 2) and can bring new perspectives and ideas to this developmental endeavor. Antibodies against Borrelia-specific antigens and their cross-reactive microorganisms and target tissue antigens shown in Table 1 can be detected in blood long before people show symptoms of various autoimmune disorders.
We conclude, therefore, that tests that can detect these predictive autoantibodies could warn of the need to take preventive action by CAM practitioners.
CAM treatment of chronic LD, in addition to a combination of antibiotics, includes a variety of herbal and nutritional supplements. These herbal and nutritional supplements provide different intervention strategies for CAM practitioners (Table 2).
These actions of CAM (summarized in Fig. 3) show that different herbal and nutritional remedies are available to prevent the binding of tick to skin, to reduce bacterial load by enhancement of NK cell activity and phagocytosis, to down-regulate proinflammatory cytokines and inhibit the fibrinolytic system, and repair the BBB. All of these improvements can result in elimination of Borrelia from the tissue and decline in cross-reactive antibodies in the blood.
(Figure 3. Using CAM treatment could prevent different processes ranging from the attachment of the tick to the inflammatory process, CNS invasion, and the induction of neuroborreliosis. CAM can act through the enhancement of natural killer cell activity, macrophage function, inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, inactivation of the fibrinolytic system, and repair of blood brain barriers.)
This approach, which was recently covered in an article published in Scientific American, concluded that one day y-shaped molecules called autoantibodies in a patient's blood may tell doctors whether a patient is `brewing' certain diseases and indicate when the onset of symptoms will occur in the individual (97).
Applying this approach, CAM can make a difference in patients with active or chronic LD who have been given little hope by conventional medical doctors.
This tailored treatment for LD by CAM practitioners should be designed specifically for each patient, based on clinical findings and laboratory examination for neuroautoimmunity. In this regard the emphasis should be on immunoregulation and enhancement of cell-mediated immunity (microphage function, NK cell function) and not enhancement of humoral immunity and antibody production, since induction of antibody production may actually worsen the autoimmune reaction or autoimmune disease exhibited in many patients with LD.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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AliG
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This is really very interesting, tracy. Thanks for posting it!
I think I may bring a copy to the new LLIDMD and ask what he thinks.
Ali
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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AliG
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This is really very interesting, Tracy. Thanks for posting it!
I think I may bring a copy to the new LLIDMD and ask what he thinks.
Ali
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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Do you understand what this means? I'm confused by this!
It looks like a group of scientists are looking for a new method of Lyme diagnosis? But they want to take it further in terms of treatment modalities? I don't follow the logic on this...
Posts: 364 | From California | Registered: Sep 2005
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Truthfinder
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Correct, Anneke. I'll try to post more of the article about proposed testing techniques.
I'm trying to figure out how to post a couple of the Tables, also, which are quite interesting...
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
Wow!! If I understand what I'm reading (I'll re-read it a little later again) this is really big!!!
Thanks for posting it! I'm making a copy of this to give to my LLMD on this Thurs. when I go in.
I'm also making copies to hand out to those skeptics!!!
-------------------- May we all find peace one day and may peace prevail on earth ~ Traveler Posts: 66 | From traveling the U.S. | Registered: Aug 2007
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Truthfinder
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Darn, I can't seem to copy Table 1 or post it as am image.....
Table 1 shows the various abx used for Lyme, and the corresponding herbal remedies and supporting nutritional supplements across from each particular abx. Quite interesting.
And Table 3 shows what aspect of Lyme each abx or herb or supplement can help treat. Again, very interesting.
Perhaps someone with more computer savvy can post these Tables.
After reviewing more in the article about testing techniques, I have to confess that it is all pretty much above my head, and rather lengthy. I suggest that anyone interested in that aspect refer directly to the article.
I'm not familiar with all of the `players' in this study, but I have a great deal of respect for Bernard Raxlen (assuming it is the same B.R. I'm familiar with). I was fortunate to hear some of his ideas on a Connecticut Lyme conference DVD.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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Haven't read the entire article yet. Thanks so much for posting.
The lead author of the study (Aristo Vojdani) seems like a very smart guy. One of hubby's former ACAM docs spoke with him often. This guy is one of the head scientists at Immunosciences Lab.
Immunosciences has developed a Lyme and coinfections test which tests for many more strains and proteins etc than just the standard antibody tests from IGeneX and other labs. I previously posted hubby's test results from his Immunosciences test.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Greatcod
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"This tailored treatment for LD by CAM practitioners should be designed specifically for each patient, based on clinical findings and laboratory examination for neuroautoimmunity. In this regard the emphasis should be on immunoregulation and enhancement of cell-mediated immunity (microphage function, NK cell function) and not enhancement of humoral immunity and antibody production, since induction of antibody production may actually worsen the autoimmune reaction or autoimmune disease exhibited in many patients with LD."
I know I am not allowed to comment, being on the wrong side and everything. What I find stunning abou this article is that they are argueing that Chronic Lyme is in part autoimmune, and are suggesting the development of a test that would predict the development of autoimmune problems.
IDSA says that Chronic Lyme doesn't exist, ILADS say that it does because of the persisting infection, and this group says that its in part autoimmune.
Other then that, they are saying that certain herbs and supplements can help kill Bb, and reduce the inflamatory response.
I have no problem with that--only the arguement that says herbs and supplements alone are the equal of ABX in the overall treatment of Lyme Disease, and can be used as first line treatment.
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SForsgren
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In some cases, herbs may be used to aid recovery without antibiotics. I do believe that in many cases, maybe most, antibiotics are a necessary part of the recovery. However, I do know people that are treating their Lyme disease without antibiotics and believe they are doing quite well with that approach.
I think the information here is a good summary of potential interventions, though was a bit discouraged by a couple of spelling errors... One would hope that an author would spell-check such pretty pictures...
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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Is that better I think just the table 1 was causing problems? When I tried to resize it, it just got too fuzzy to read because the font size on it is small.
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SForsgren
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It is up to the patient and the doctor to make the decision.
I know there are some top LLMDs that are now using herbal protocols with some patients and not antibiotics...and yes, these doctors members of ILADS.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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Greatcod
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Of course there are treatment failures or only partial improvement with ABX, and a doctor might subsequently treat with herbs and supplements. But to use just herbs and no ABX as the firstline treatment is unnecesarily risky to the patients health. Beyond that why would any one go to a Medical Doctor for herbs and supplement treatment? Especially one of these $300 a visit guys. In a lot of places, you'd get your license yanked for that. Talking MDs here, and not ND's, I assume.
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Truthfinder
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Oh, my. Radfaraf, bless your heart, you did it!!
As much as I like having this Table available for viewing, it is just too disruptive to the thread at this size. Even if I change the text size to the smallest possible, it still won't fit on the screen properly.**sigh**
Radfaraf, if you are unable to make the Table smaller, could you please delete the table and perhaps put links directly to the Tables instead? I think that would make it a little easier than hunting them down in the full text article. Thanks so much for your effort on this.
Scott, I didn't even catch the spelling errors. I hope they corrected those before it `went to press'.
And it seems to be true that some people do not require antibiotics to recover from Lyme, while perhaps others may. Some of the case studies I've read about indicate that the relapse rate may be far lower and easier to treat when abx are NOT used, but that is just my impression.
GC, I'm not sure you are interpreting the `autoimmune' reference in the article correctly. Even my PCP understands that Lyme can often lead to autoimmune disorders, so the potential is there and the concern about it is certainly valid.
One thing that concerned me regarding the part about new testing techniques is that it sounded like perhaps an LP - lumbar puncture (spinal tap) - might be necessary for part of this new approach. Did I interpret that correctly?
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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oxygenbabe
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This thread is hard to read...
This article doesn't cite how or why these herbs are equally useful as antibiotics or nutraceuticals. It doesn't document any real research. It gives the impression of science by scientifically describing the spirochete and how it does its damage, and using footnotes, but then it lists herbs sold by Nutrimedix (Cowden protocol) and a quick google finds that Vodjani was interviewed and listed on Nutrimedical's radio show, and that Immmunosciences ceased all testing in July of 2007. It seems to give everything credence by also listing antibiotics.
I unfortunately don't see what the article really shows and it also leaves out the Buhner/Seven Forests herbs--like andrographis, coptis etc, which have a history of working with spirochetes.
I say this as someone who favors herbs as they don't cause fungal infections and who wishes the herbs would be more thoroughly studied.
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Truthfinder
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I've sent a PM and asked radfaraf to delete or edit the illustration. In the meantime, someone suggested to me ........
Go to the bottom-left corner of this page and click on the ``Printer-friendly version of this topic'', and you will be able to read the text of the thread. I guess you just click on the Back button to return to normal viewing, to post, etc.
Oxygenbabe, any `science' behind this article was done by the people cited in the references. Like many other Oxford Journal articles I have read, they often publish `compilation' studies; as in this case, the authors have reviewed nearly 100 other studies, articles, experiments, or trials and then make an effort to bring all of this information into once place to attempt a practical application of the combined information.
While I do not always agree with the overall conclusion of these `compilations', I do appreciate the attempt to gather this information together and present an overall impression of the various findings.
The Buhner herbs you mentioned may not have sufficient studies behind them to be included. Perhaps you know of such studies or experiments. Buhner's book didn't even come out until 2005 so perhaps it is just too new. I cannot know the criteria for inclusion in this article. I do know that there have been studies on the Cowden extracts and some laboratory work done on those herbals.
And lest anyone should be confused, Table 1 (which shows the various antibiotics and herbs/ supplements with references) appears to suggest that the herbs/ supplements are suggested as an `augmentation' the abx therapy, not necessarily as substitutes for abx.
***``The CAM treatment for LD, summarized in Table 1, combines intravenous antibiotic therapy, herbal medicine administration and nutritional medicine to enhance the immune system's ability to fight this intracellular microorganism (9-30).''***
Please take this article for what it is: perhaps a very good starting point for combined medicinal therapies, but not necessarily `the final word' on the subject.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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Truthfinder
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Yes, Cave - I think it is a good start. Especially if it could make the difference between success and failure, or reduce the time needed for treatment.
And I confess, the part of the article about `new' testing was pretty confusing for me, so I can't answer your question. It sure sounded like they wanted to test our CSF for something, so I wasn't sure I was on board with these new ideas at all.........
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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