MOULDS

MOULDS

Let’s deal with moulds first. This concerns everyone, not just those who suspect a stealth infection. Mould are everywhere; our houses, garages, sheds, shops, gardens and vehicles.

We must all be aware that mould spores are invisible and the most common source of mould infection is via inhalation of dead spores.

Mould infection may inhibit our progress towards robust health, so this class is for everyone who wants to be well.

Let’s get rid of as much mould as we can from areas we control:

1. Thoroughly clean any suspect areas using white vinegar plus, if needed scrub with water and baking soda (bicarb). DO NOT mix the bicarb with the vinegar – use them separately.

2. For more severe areas, use hot water, lemon juice, eucalyptus oil, or other citrus-based cleaners. Wear gloves and respirator. DO NOT use bleach as bleaches are neurotoxic.

3. For areas that are hard to reach/clean, such as behind kitchen sinks or bathroom wash basins, or inside drawers, use 6% Hydrogen Peroxide in a spray bottle and thoroughly soak the area concerned. Let the area dry, then brush any dried mould away if you are able to reach it. Again, wear protective clothing.

4. If you have indoor plants (and I hope you do), cover the surface of the soil with gravel mulch to stop mould spores drifting in air currents.

5. Make sure your house is well aired. Moulds thrive in warm, humid environments. Open windows whenever possible. During colder months, keep internal doors open to enhance air flow, and make sure to use extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchen.

6. If mould is forming on drywall (plaster, Gyprock), spray the area with Hydrogen Peroxide, wait until dry, then wipe with a clean cloth (wear protective clothing). If the mould returns, the drywall must be removed and replaced. It is best to hire professionals to do this as the mould infestation will be deep and dangerous when this occurs.

7. If you find mould behind tiles in your bathroom, toilet or kitchen, the tiles may need to be removed, the base material thoroughly cleaned, and the tiles replaced.

8. Add tea tree or eucalyptus oil to your clothes wash to kill moulds (and enhance the aroma of the clothes as a bonus).

9. Use a DIY mould test kit to detect hidden airborne mould spores. Check online for available kits in your country/area. If the DIY kit tests positive, it may be worth hiring a professional mould remediator to make further tests and evaluations, then recommend actions for remediation.

10. If you have any concerns about moulds in your home, hire professional mould remediators and leave the house while the work is done – it is worth the expense; it is an investment in health.

If you have tested positive to the VCS online test and choose to not consult with a mould-trained practitioner, you will need to self-treat.

Basic strategies: make sure you have modified your food intake in line with classes 3 and 4, plus are introduced the probiotics and supplements in classes 5 and 6, and the Aqua Hydration Formulas from class 7.

Essential Oils: oregano, thyme, cinnamon, co9ove, tea tree and eucalyptus are the best oils to use against moulds. Make sure the oils you purchase are at least 99.99% pure and “essential” oils, not fragrant oils. There are a number of Multi-Level Marketing companies selling essential oils and trumpeting that their oils are purer than any others, and you must join their network to get the best oils. Don’t believe that rubbish. There are some excellent, pure essential oils produced by companies that sell via the normal wholesale/retail marketing system and these provide you with fabulous oils at a much better price.

Use essential oils topically or in a vaporiser. Do not ingest them. Keep them away from your eyes and sensitive areas.

Cholestyramine – this is a drug often used to treat mould infection and must be prescribed by a doctor. I recommend you use this only as a last resort. This drug has a number of moderate to really severe adverse effects and was introduced to lower cholesterol levels. Now we need as much cholesterol a we can get to rebuild new cells and create hormones. 99.9% of cholesterol is GOOD (forget the good cholesterol/bad cholesterol garbage we hear on TV and radio) and we need it for cell membranes; without enough cholesterol, our body starts to, literally, fall apart.

If you have very, very severe mould infection, and you are desperate for symptom reduction, a short course may be worthwhile. But first talk to your doctor and at least 2 pharmacists about adverse effects, then consult with a naturopath or herbalist about alternative, less damaging strategies.

Herbal formulas: this is my preferred strategy for mould infection. Immune boosting herbs plus respiratory support and detox herbs in combination will help most people.

You may wish to consult a naturopath/herbalist who will prepare their own mix, or ask for a prescription for Byron White Formulas A-FNG drops. Byron White Formulas, based in California, make a wide range of fabulous herbal formulas for treating stealth infection and other challenging chronic disorders. Their A-FNG formula has been successful against most mould infestations and can be used orally (in drop doses) topically and in a vaporiser. As an aside, I have found this formula excellent at very low doses for post-chemotherapy (for cancer) fungal infestations.

Herbal formulas are, in my view, always preferable to pharmaceutical drugs whenever possible as they have few, if any, adverse effects, no long-term toxic effects, and are often as potent, or even more potent than the pharmaceutical equivalent.

For moderate mould infestations, there are some herbal preparations available online that work quite well.

Be persistent and take your chosen remedies/formulas for at least two weeks after symptoms disappear as mould spores can lie dormant for some time.

STEALTH INFECTIONS

To successfully treat any infections, especially a stealth infection, we must be diligent in all our general health strategies. Food choices must be excellent, physical activity consistent, self-love, laughter, meditation, singing and dancing a daily routine, and detox protocols thorough and a daily habit.

The next step is to define the pathogen(s) attacking your nervous system. The most likely contenders are Borrelia (one or more of several species, Bartonella (one or more of three species), reactivated Epstein Barr virus or one of a number of rickettsia species that are opportunistic. There may be other opportunistic infections being “a nuisance” but these are the major ones to investigate.

If you have followed through from class 17, you have, most likely, already defined your likely infection with the help of a Lyme Aware Practitioner or by your distinct symptom pattern. If still in doubt, seek help.

A few (very few) patients have been unable to find a helpful practitioner within reasonable reach or anyone who will offer Skype assistance. If this is so in your case, I can be reached via my clinic email on pdfree@returntostillness.com.au. Consulting with me via Skype is a last resort as it can take time to make an appointment and there is a strict protocol to follow before an appointment is made; but I will help if you have exhausted other possibilities.

LET’S START TREATING

ANTI MICROBIALS

The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) published their “Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme disease” in 2004. Their firm recommendation is vigorous antibiotic treatment over an extended period of time. ILADS guidelines are available for free download from http://www.ilads.org/files/ILADS_Guidelines.pdf .

Antibiotics are a valid and often effective choice for those resilient enough to withstand the rigors of 2-10 years continuous antibiotic use. Antibiotics are particularly effective for acute early Lyme disease; that is, within a few weeks of infection. Three to six months of heavy-duty antibiotics may resolve the infectious effects of Lyme or a co-infection, but will not make you well.

Before, during and after antibiotic treatments, detoxification is critical, while vigorous support of gut function, liver, etc must be maintained. High quality vitamin C supplements, plus probiotics and immune support may ensure that you do not relapse after antibiotic treatment.

My aim here is to provide alternatives to antibiotics and/or remedies may be used in conjunction with antibiotics. Each patient/practitioner may choose a different approach for each person depending on the stage of disease, resilience, your compliance and response. The list of remedies is not exhaustive, but I have focused on those readily available in a number of countries at reasonable cost.

HERBALS

Antimicrobial herbs have been used successfully for centuries. Herbals are generally best used in combination to achieve an optimal state of health. Herbal antimicrobials may be selected from immune support herbs, antimicrobials and synergistic herbs. In each case, your practitioner’s clinical experience and your defining symptoms will guide the choice of effective herbal combinations.

Immune support is vital when treating any chronic disease. Therefore immune support herbs are a first line treatment once effective detox protocols have been established. Immune support herbs readily available include Andrographis, Astragalus, Baptisia, Boneset, Cat’s Claw, Echinacea, Elder Berry, Pau d’Arco, Reishi and Rhodiola.

Antimicrobial herbs may be selected for general, system-wide activity, or more focused activity for particular organ systems or microbial identification. Antimicrobial herbs may be specific for antibacterial, anti-viral or anti-parasitic activity. The first two are useful against Borrelia species (Lyme), Bartonella and other bacterial/viral co-infections, while the third class is useful against Babesia and similar protozoa. Some herbs are effective against all microbes, reducing the number of herbs required for treatment.

Antibacterial/viral: Barberry, Elder Berry, Elecampane, Garlic, Golden Seal, Lomatium, Myrrh, Oregano, Pau d’Arco, Pelargonium, Propolis, Thuja, and Thyme.

Anti-parasitic: Barberry, Euphorbia, Garlic, Pau d’Arco, Propolis, and Wormwood.

HOMEOPATHICS

Homeopathic remedies are very useful for immune support, particularly when patients are debilitated and fragile. While homeopathic remedies may not have the immediate impact of some herbals, they function to enhance natural body function, so benefits are long lasting.

Simplexes: may be used in conjunction with all other healing activities, even though Classical Homeopathic Training says that we should use only one remedy in isolation from other medicines. My experience has shown that, in fact, a wide range of dietary and lifestyle changes, plus sympathetic prescription of supplements, herbals and homeopathic complexes may enhance the effectiveness of a well-chosen simplex. However, prescribing homeopathic simplexes requires great skill and many years of training and experience.

Complexes: may be useful to enhance antimicrobial activity and immune function. Some of my favourites are

Heel Engystol – 1 tablet one to three times daily away from food. For general immune enhancement.

Heel Galium Heel – 1 to 20 drops on water daily; see Detox.

Heel Lymphomyosot – 1 to 15 drops in water daily. Useful where lymph stasis and edema is a challenge.

Heel Ubichinon Compositum – 1 tablet one to three times daily for general immune enhancement.

Heel Metabolic Kit – a combination of Coenzyme compositum and Ubichinon compositum.

OTHER REMEDIES

High dose vitamin C is a must in my opinion. As well as supporting the immune system and assisting detoxification, it may act as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. High dose vitamin C is also an effective antioxidant especially for brain and nervous system. You should already be taking vitamin C to bowel tolerance as we discussed this is class 6.

Ionic silver may be helpful. Colloidal silver has been used for many years but, in high doses over a long period, may deposit in tissue and cause health challenges. Ionic silver appears to have similar antimicrobial activity but does not deposit in tissue. Clinical trials are on-going so we do not yet fully understand benefits and disadvantages.

BYRON WHITE FORMULAS

“Many of my Chronic Lyme disease patients relapse once they are taken off antibiotics, so herbal protocols are essential for them to maintain a sense of wellness. I have used the Byron White Formulas with well over a thousand patients over the past several years. They are an excellent option because of the wide range of treatment options they offer for Lyme disease and coinfections, as well as their superior efficacy and purity. I highly recommend using them in an integrated treatment approach.”
Dr. Richard Horowitz, MD, Hyde Park, NY

Byron White Formulas are used by many LLMD’s and Lyme Aware Doctors in USA and Australia. They are effective as standalone therapies or in combination with antibiotics or other antimicrobials. I have used Byron White Formulas for my Stealth Infection patients for over seven years and found them superior to any other herbal complex available to date (2018) and generally more effective (and safer) than long-term antibiotics.

Byron White Formulas are practitioner-only formulas requiring a prescription for purchase, therefore, to gain the benefit of these formulas you must work with a practitioner who understands their power, value and function and is willing to supervise you. Even if your practitioner is treating you via Skype, they can arrange for the formulas to be “drop shipped” to you.

In my experience, it is worth the trouble of finding the right practitioner as your health will improve more rapidly and surely with the appropriate use of Byron White Formulas over other options.

More useful information is available on www.byronwhiteformulas.com. The website has a partial list of practitioners using Byron White Formulas (under “Practitioner Referrals”) but, if your location is not there, call the Byron White Formulas office to get an updated referral. If your practitioner signs up they can access webinars and other practitioner-only information.

[Note: I was the Australasian Importer for Byron White Formulas for seven years but relinquished that position in November 2018 and have no financial or management interest in Byron White Formulas Inc.]

BIOFILM

This is a polysaccharide matrix that many bacteria can produce to protect and hide them from attack. Antibiotics may, initially, kill most bacteria within a Biofilm “colony”, but organisms known as “persisters” remain and reform the biofilm. If antibiotics are given in high doses over a long period, the sequestered bacteria seem to mutate into a resistant form. However, if antibiotics are given at a relatively low dose and pulsed, bacteria are less likely to become resistant and treatment may be more successful.

Alternatively, “biofilm busters” can be used to destroy biofilm, thus rendering bacteria vulnerable to antimicrobials. Lumbrokinase is a fibrinolytic enzyme that has some good research to back up claims of reducing fibrin and fibrinogen. It is available in Buluoke^®, a product imprinted from Researched Nutritionals in USA.

Byron White Formulas A-Bio utilizes a combination of herbs to break down biofilm and is, in my opinion, the most effective biofilm buster available. A-Bio can be used at quite low doses – check with your practitioner.

Once “busted”, biofilm releases many microbes into surrounding tissue, so you may experience exacerbated symptoms. It is vital to maintain vigorous detox protocol and gut support while destroying biofilm.

IS HERXING HEALTHY?

The short answer is no!

Herxing (Jarisch Herxheimer reaction) is our body’s inflammatory response to endotoxins released by dying bacteria.

The good news about herxing is that it indicates that an antimicrobial medicine (antibiotics or herbal) is working and bacteria are dying.

The BAD NEWS is that herxing damages your body. The process of illness caused by herxing throws your body back into fight/flight/freeze response, creates further inflammation and reduces our ability to eliminate toxins. Stress caused by severe herxing suppresses our immune system and slows healing.

Lyme Aware Practitioners around the world now know that we can use the beginning of a mild herx reaction as a guide to the pace of antimicrobial activity. When the herx reaction begins, detox protocols can be increased while adjusting antimicrobial activity to just below herx level.

When using Byron White Formulas antimicrobials, the developer (Byron White) strongly advises against allowing herx reactions to continue or become severe. As soon as any herx signs appear, the protocol is to reduce antimicrobial by 1-3 drops per dose while increasing detoxification activity.

It may be necessary to stop antimicrobials altogether for 3-4 days before beginning again at a lower dose.

Severe herxing is dangerous and slows progress towards recovery.

Stop herxing and start recovering.

Increased detox activity, both personally and with detox remedies, can reduce the risk of herxing. Detox is critical to recovery!

MITIGATING HERXING

When using any antimicrobial against any Lyme-like (Stealth) infection, most patients will herx at some stage. Vigorous detox routines will defer their ‘herx level’ and there are some strategies to mitigate the intensity and length of the herx:

1. Prepare 3 glasses of chia seeds, take one each day in rotation. If a herx begins, take the three glasses throughout a single day (preparing new glasses each time) to mop up endotoxins and reduce the herx intensity.
2. Take lemon water several times each day of herxing.
3. Take 20 drops of good quality Smilax tincture (1:2 or 1:1) 2-3 times daily.
4. Increase doses or frequency of currently prescribed detox herbals.
5. Increase dose and/or frequency of detox greens like BioPractica Matrix Phase Detox or similar.
6. Make a fresh green juice including coriander and parsley.
7. Soak in an Epsom salts bath for 20 minutes, then rinse off (you should be doing this anyway).
8. Drink 2.5 litres water during the day and rest as much as possible.
9. Use a clay-based detox formula like the Byron White Detox 2 powder.

If you are one of the approximately 30% of patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease to be affected by Stealth Infections, classes 17 and 18 are critical for your recovery. If you are one of the 70% of “lucky” people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease to NOT have a stealth infection, these classes are still very important as you really do need to focus on mould infestations and the effects this can have on your health.

And remember, immune support and detox protocols are for EVERYONE.

References

• “Stop Parkin’ and Start Livin’”; John C Coleman ND; Michelle Anderson Publishing, Melbourne Australia; 2005.

• VICTOROFF Dr. Jeff; “Saving Your Brain”; Bantam Books (Random House Australia), Milsons Point, NSW, Australia, 2002.

• McEWEN Professor Bruce; interview by Dr. Norman Swan on ABC Radio National “The Health Report” 10^th January 2005; downloaded from ABC website 11^th January 2005.

• MARJAMA-LYONS Jill, M.D.; “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Parkinson’s Disease”;  Warner Books, New York, USA; 2003

• KABAT-ZINN Jon, Ph.D.; “Full Catastrophe Living”; Delta Book; Dell Publishing, New York, USA; 1990

• “Meditation”; no author given; www.wholehealthmd.com ; downloaded from website 16^th January 2005