Practitioner Mentorship Module 1.1 Lyme-Borreliosis, Gu Disease & the UL Roadmap With Hillary Thing, MS, LAc., Cert. Herbalist
1.1: Lyme-Borreliosis, Gu Disease & the UL Roadmap Learning Objectives: Gain insight into the epidemic nature of Lyme & stealth pathogens. Learn about the ancient concept of Gu disease, and how this understanding can inform our approach to holistic Lyme recovery. Uncover the nature of Lyme-Borreliosis. Get oriented to the Uprooting Lyme Recovery Roadmap.
Gu Zheng (Possession Syndrome)
Gu Syndrome Caused by parasitic organisms. Complex presentation involving a mix of: GI symptoms Mental / cognitive problems Mood and nervous system involvement Understood to be a terrible calamity in the person s life the worst thing that could happen, highly destructive. Non-sensical / unexplainable symptoms. Medical exams turn up nothing. Gu pathogens act as a type of toxin (gu du). May cause virtually any symptom in virtually any combination. Super-infection with consumption of host s resources and chronic inflammation.
Gu Syndrome Treatment 1. Common, yet regular diagnostic and treatment practices will not be effective for Gu diseases. 2. Difficult to treat because it becomes very entrenched like oil seeping into flour. 3. Long treatment times are typically necessary. 4. Natural medicine has real solutions for these patients! 5. Need to mimic the behavior of the pathogen itself: be able to adapt to ever-changing symptom picture, and stay ahead of pathogen s ability to camouflage and transform itself.
Gu Syndrome: 3 Basic Take-Aways 1. Caused by pathogenic influences, that need to be properly addressed through treatment. 2. The patient is threatened with and may be experiencing deficiencies on all levels. Every successful approach to the tx of Lyme needs to have multiple building blocks that can be combined in flexible ways and that address both the excess and the deficiency aspects of the disease. 3. Both patient and practitioner need to be prepared for long-term treatment.
Borreliosis 101 Most common TBD in North America; Caused by a spirochetal bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi or a related species; 5 subspecies of B. burgdorferi, w/ over 100 strains in the US, and 300 strains worldwide;
Borreliosis: Transmission Many species of ticks, and possibly mosquitoes, fleas, and other blood sucking insects Across placenta Potentially via blood and body fluids Blood transfusions? Sexually-transmissable?
Acute Lyme Infection 1/3 have characteristic erythema migrans, the bull s eye rash at the site of the tick bite within 3-30 days. Within days to weeks a person may experience mild or severe flu-like sx chills, fever, lymph node swelling; Fatigue; Joint pains, muscle aches, headache, neck pain and stiffness; Facial nerve palsy. HOWEVER, patient may have no rash or a different type of rash or cellulitis. HOWEVER, patient may exhibit only 1 of these symptoms, none of these symptoms or a completely different set of symptoms.
Disseminated or Persistent Lyme Disease Over time, Borreliosis may invade the central or peripheral nervous system, the eyes, heart, brain, digestive system, and musculoskeletal system. Impair cognition Lead to mild to severe fatigue Degeneration of the joints, nerves, or other body tissues. Trigger auto-immunity. Known as the Great Masquerader
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Borrelia is a Stealth Pathogen Takes advantage of tick s saliva chemistry which suppresses local immune response; Long incubation periods; Carrier state is common; Cause chronic symptoms; Many strategies for immune system invasion; Manipulates the immune system; Periods of hiding out alternate with periods of growth and replication; Highly adaptable to different environments; Changes form under stress.
Borreliosis 3 routes of tissue damage Direct cell damage and apoptosis to all kinds of cells including neurons, microglial cells, and lymphocytes; The immune response causes collateral damage with a relentless production of cytokines that creates inflammation and stasis that is not easily turned off; Very complex genome, but none for nutrition so it s a parasite.
Why does persistent (chronic) Lyme occur? Co-infections Immune dysfunction and/or auto-immune developments Host depletion Antibiotic resistance Stealth survival mechanisms
Survival Mechanisms: Impairment of the Immune System Blocks antibody attachment; Suppresses immune response to acute infection; Promotes inflammation later in disease process; Reduces coordination of immune cells; Impairs function of natural killer and other immune system cells.
Survival Mechanisms: Evasion of the Immune System Changes clothes antigen variation Antigen concealment Favors immune protected sites collagen, biofilm, joints, eyes, CNS, inside cells Switches forms (changes gene expression) Blebs Cysts Round bodies
Step 1: Assessment & Reflection Diagnoses Current symptoms and top concerns History Evaluation of systems Responses to past treatments Emotional / cognitive status Lifestyle habits Patient intuition
Step 1: Assessment & Reflection You Are Here Direction moving forward Priorities Short-term next steps Long-term goals and prognosis
STEP 2: DETOXIFICATON Lyme / Gu is a disease of toxicity. Poor detoxifiers. Herxheimer responses to anti-microbial tx. Stagnation of the Life Force Energy flow. Major obstacle to recovery.
STEP 2: DETOXIFICATON Improve gut health. Reduce inflammation. Increase energy. Remove various obstacles to recovery. Assist in removal of infection. Eliminate toxins. Emotional and energetic alignment. Regeneration & tissue healing.
Step 3: Gut Health Major source of body inflammation; Prime location of pathogen load; Increases toxin load; Uncomfortable symptomology; Necessary for proper nutrient absorption; Leads to poor immunity; Linked to poor mood. Easily damaged by abx.
Step 3: Gut Health Decreased overall inflammation; Improved liver and bowel function; Diminished pathogen load and healthier microbiome; Stronger immunity; Less mucus; Better energy; Improved mood and brain function.
Step 4: Restore Proper Immune Function & the Innate Capacity To Heal Healing = regaining the advantage (over the microbes) so that the body is able to police itself. Chronic inflammation is a reflection of a chaotic and disabled immune system. Antibiotics are a bio-phobic approach, energetically cold, and generally not sustainable long-term.
Step 4: Restore Proper Immune Function & the Innate Capacity To Heal Overall approach must restore body s yang (warming, mobilizing, activating, protective, organizing) forces. Recharging the body s vital fire without tonifying the parasites is a primary therapeutic goal of holistic Gu / Lyme treatment.
Step 5: Manage Inflammation Cause of tissue damage, pain and symptomology; By-product of over-active immune system; Indicator of what is balancing and healing versus what is taxing on the body. Continually look to understand the sources of inflammation in each patient and eliminate them. True regeneration and healing isn t possible until inflammation is quelled.
Step 6: Endocrine Support Energy Immune function Metabolism Sleep and circadian rhythm Mood Nervous system baseline and function Insulin sensitivity and digestive function Fertility, libido, and other symptomology
Step 7: Manage the Mind & Emotions PTSD Pattern of emotional repression High stress Pre-existing anxiety or depression Psychological manifestations of Lyme Sympathetic over-activation and HPA axis dysfunction
Step 7: Manage the Mind & Emotions Recovery may require a new level of: Stress management Energy management Self-Mastery Bio-energetics: the practice of building a bi-directional highway between the mind and the body, and using it to harness power of mind and emotions to accelerate, rather than hinder the healing process.
Step 8: Eliminate Microbes & Biofilm Disease load of the body Multiple layers of infection Multiple life forms and stages Some are toxin-generators All generate inflammation and symptoms in the locations where they live inside the body Associated with darkness, decay, hopelessness and degeneration of life and life-affirming processes.
Step 8: Eliminate Microbes & Biofilm Decreased symptom frequency and intensity; Decreased inflammation Increased energy Less burdened Improved circulation Clearer mind Greater sense of self and well-being Greater capacity for repair and regeneration.
Anti-Lyme Way of Life Healing from Lyme means that your life has to change for the better so that your internal healing abilities will be stimulated to the highest level possible.
RESOURCES 1.1 Dr. Richard Horowitz Lyme Questionnaire http://lymeontario.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/horo witz-questionnaire.pdf Lyme Symptom Checklist Hillary s interview with Heiner Freuhauf from Spring 2015 ILADS Fundamentals Course & Conference http://www.ilads.org/lyme_programs/ilads-conferences.php