Lyme Disease Holistic Approach Elizabeth Markovich, MSN, NP Integrative Healthcare
Dec 22, 2015
Integrative Healthcare
Holistic Primary care - considers the whole person - Science-based approach
Use 11 outside labs for special testing Advise and assist patients with lifestyle
changes - Utilize high quality supplements Offer Prolo injections, hypnosis and
acupuncture, nutritionist, massage
Lyme Controversies
Endemic area – outside the northeast?
• Prevalence – how common is it?
• Vector – ticks or also sexual transmission?
• Adequate testing – the expanded VS regular western blot, other tests and sensitivity?
• Adequate treatment – 10 days or up to a lifetime of antibiotics?
• Chronic illness status – does it cause persistent infection or autoimmunity?
Why all the confusion?
Lyme organism borrelia burgdorferi can move inside host tissues and cells and avoids detection by testing.
It has evolved to avoid the host's immune system attack – cell wall deficient form
It weakens the immune system. Protects itself with a slime biofilm Difficult to culture
My observations and thoughts Very clearly present in our area – have seen
some classic cases Veterinarians test for and treat it locally Good results with treating within a few weeks
after exposure Some people become ill again after antibiotic
treatment and usually improve with re-treatment
Intravenous antibiotics pose a considerable risk
Approach to Testing Igenex – the expanded western blot is the original test & is more sensitive Central Florida Lab – flow cytometry Fluorescecing tags on the organism. May be a better test in immune suppression Local western blot – more false negatives “indeterminate” tests – repeating, use of antibiotics or supplements to enhance testing Testing for co-infections – babesia, bartonella,
Navigating treatment
Early treatment - fairly straightforward and usually successful
Chronic cases present many challenges Dr. Cowden's protocol – uses herbal tinctures Dr. Burrescano's guidelines – middle of the
road? Rife, “salt and vit C”, diflucan, Marshall
protocol.
Challenges in Chronic Lyme
Co-infections – especially babesia and bartonella difficult to treat
Biofilms – a protective layer the organism produces
Other toxins such as heavy metals suppress immunity
Immune suppression, Adrenal and hormone dysfunction
Holistic approach needed
Support the body systems Testing for adrenal stress, and hormones
Detoxification regimen
Support the immune system - Remove burdens on the immune system test for food allergies
Important for the person to have a purpose in life, spiritual connection and social support.
Neurological problems, autism connection
Wide variety of neurological problems associated with Lyme disease
Many kids with autism test positive for Lyme and improve with antibiotics
Autistic people may have immune problems and toxic problems and may have inborn susceptibility
Detoxification profile or genomic profile Heavy metals testing