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Frequently Asked Questions About Lyme Disease
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How does Chinese Medicine work?
In contrast to Western Medicine, which concentrates on killing or eliminating the pathogen directly, Chinese Medicine approaches disease with a twofold strategy: (1) attack the pathogen directly (similar to Western Medicine), and (2) support the body's natural defense by building up the immune system and restoring the body's inner balance. Chinese medical treatment of Lyme Disease adopts this twofold strategy by utilizing (1) herbal anti-pathogens which attack the Lyme spirochetes, and (2) constitutional and supportive treatments which suppress autoimmune reactions, increase infusion of blood to the brain and affected tissue, and enhance cellular immunity.
What are the advantages of using Chinese Medicine?
The anti-pathogenic agents used in Chinese Medicine have a wide anti-microbial spectrum and as such can fight the co-infections which often accompany Lyme Disease. The main agent--allicin--has a very small molecular weight and can therefore penetrate the blood-brain barrier in order to combat infections of the central nervous system, something that conventional antibiotics are unable to do. Use of herbal agents does not lead to fungal overgrowth, as with antibiotics, and toxicity and adverse reactions are minimal. The constitutional and supportive treatments afforded by Chinese herbs assist the body's power to heal and balance itself. Chinese herbal treatment is not only safe and effective, the cost is usually only a fraction of the cost of conventional treatment with antibiotics.
What is the specific treatment protocol?
The standard protocol for Chinese medical treatment of Lyme Disease calls for approximately six months use of three basic formulae: (1) Allicin Capsules. Allicin, a highly purified and concentrated garlic extract, has a very wide anti-microbial spectrum and a very low molecular weight, allowing it to easily cross the blood-brain barrier and attack infections of the central nervous system. (2) HH Capsules. The main herb used in these capsules is Houttuyna cordata, which complements the allium in that it also has strong anti-spirochete effects and a wide anti-microbial spectrum. Its molecular weight is also small and it can pass through the blood-brain barrier. (3) Circulation No. 1 Capsules. The formula used in these capsules improves microcirculation in the joints and promotes blood infusion to tissues, relieving the joint pain that is symptomatic of Lyme and aiding the body's immune response to the disease.
In addition, various other formulae are prescribed depending on the symptoms displayed by each patient. In case of severe fatigue, Cordyceps Capsules are added to the standard protocol. Patients suffering from connective tissue diseases, such as arthritis, vasculitis, fibromyalgia, etc., are recommended to add AI # 3 Capsules to the standard protocol. And when central nervous system symptoms are present, such as cognition and concentration problems or memory loss, Puerarin Capsules are added to the standard protocol.
What about co-infections?
It is estimated that more than 65% of Lyme Disease patients suffer from Babesiosis, the most prevalent among a cohort of possible co-infections. The pathology of Babesiosis is similar to that of malaria, and the herbal remedy prescribed--Artemesiae Capsules--is effective in the treatment of both Babesiosis and malaria. Cost of the capsules is less than 1/20 of the cost of conventional treatments.
What is the treatment course?
Because of the slow dividing cycle of the Lyme spirochete, the herbal treatments need to last a relatively long time. The overall treatment course should last at least six months. Within the first one to two weeks of the herbal treatments, the majority of patients experience what is known as Herxheimer's Reaction? Lyme Disease symptoms are temporarily aggravated, similar to those in patients who undergo antibiotic treatments. This reaction, however, is an indication of the herbs?efficacy in killing the spirochetes. Sometimes this reaction is quite strong and patients must reduce the herbal dosage only to gradually build it up again. Anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory herbs, such as AI # 3 Capsules, can help reduce the severity of this reaction.