By Dr. Eric Herman, A BioVeda Health and Wellness Center in Bethlehem

May is Lyme Disease awareness month, and for residents of Northeast PA it’s time to stretch our legs, get out into the sunshine, and enjoy this beautiful spring time weather. It is also important to know, however, that Lyme Disease is approaching epidemic proportions, increasing rapidly every year and now reported in every state as well as in Canada. Here are some other things you need to know about Lyme Disease:

You need to know that Pennsylvania is one of the most lyme endemic states in the country (see CDC map below). As you can see by the chart Pennsylvanians are at significant risk for exposure to Lyme Disease according to CDC reporting statistics. However, Lyme Disease is difficult to diagnose and is often misdiagnosed as other conditions which means the actual incidence of infection is much higher than reported by the CDC.

New England is one of the most dangerous areas of the country to contract Lyme disease, according the Center for Disease Control’s Lyme disease statistics for 2007. The states with the highest reported incidents of Lyme disease cases per 100,000 population (in order from the highest) are Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease (LD) is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacterium called a spirochete (pronounced spy-ro-keet) that is carried by deer ticks. An infected tick can transmit the spirochete to the humans and animals it bites. Untreated, the bacterium travels through the bloodstream, establishes itself in various body tissues, and can cause a number of symptoms, some of which are severe.

LD manifests itself as a multi-system inflammatory disease that affects the skin in its early, localized stage, and spreads to the joints, nervous system and, to a lesser extent, other organ systems in its later, disseminated stages. If diagnosed and treated early with antibiotics, LD is almost always readily cured. Generally, LD in its later stages can also be treated effectively, but because the rate of disease progression and individual response to treatment varies from one patient to the next, some patients may have symptoms that linger for months or even years following treatment. In rare instances, LD causes permanent damage.

The first symptom is usually an expanding rash(called erythema migrans, or EM, in medical terms) which is thought to occur in 80% to 90% of all LD cases. An EM rash generally has the following characteristics:

• Usually (but not always) radiates from the site of the tickbite

• Appears either as a solid red expanding rash or blotch, OR a central spot surrounded by clear skin that is in turn ringed by an expanding red rash (looks like a bull’s-eye)

• Appears an average of 1 to 2 weeks (range = 3 to 30 days) after disease transmission

• Has an average diameter of 5 to 6 inches

(range = 2 inches to 2 feet)

• Persists for about 3 to 5 weeks

• May or may not be warm to the touch

• Is usually not painful or itchy

Ticks will attach anywhere on the body, but prefer body creases such as the armpit, groin, back of the knee, and nape of the neck; rashes will therefore often appear in (but are not restricted to) these areas. Please note that multiple rashes may, in some cases, appear elsewhere on the body some time after the initial rash, or, in a few cases, in the absence of an initial rash.

Around the time the rash appears, other symptoms such as joint pains, chills, fever, and fatigue are common, but they may not seem serious enough to require medical attention. These symptoms may be brief, only to recur as a broader spectrum of symptoms as the disease progresses.

As the LD spirochete continues spreading through the body, a number of other symptoms including severe fatigue, a stiff, aching neck, and peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement such as tingling or numbness in the extremities or facial palsy (paralysis) can occur.

The more severe, potentially debilitating symptoms of later-stage LD may occur weeks, months, or, in a few cases, years after a tick bite. These can include severe headaches, painful arthritis and swelling of joints, cardiac abnormalities, and central nervous system (CNS) involvement leading to cognitive (mental) disorders.

The following is a checklist of common symptoms seen in various stages of LD:

Localized Early (Acute) Stage:

• Solid red or bull’s-eye rash, usually at site of bite

• Swelling of lymph glands near tick bite

• Generalized achiness

• Headache

• Early Disseminated Stage:

• Two or more rashes not at site of bite

• Migrating pains in joints/tendons

• Headache

• Stiff, aching neck
• Facial palsy (facial paralysis similar to Bell’s palsy)

• Tingling or numbness in extremities

• Multiple enlarged lymph glands

• Abnormal pulse

• Sore throat

• Changes in vision

• Fever of 100 to 102 F

• Severe fatigue

Late Stage:

1. Arthritis (pain/swelling) of one or two large joints
2. Disabling neurological disorders (disorientation; confusion; dizziness; short-term memory loss; inability to concentrate, finish sentences or follow conversations; mental “fog”)
3. Numbness in arms/hands or legs/feet

Treatment:

Early treatment of LD (within the first few weeks after initial infection) is straightforward and almost always results in a full cure. Treatment begun after the first three weeks will also likely provide a cure, but the cure rate decreases the longer treatment is delayed.

For those suffering with symptoms of Lyme Disease that just are not responding to conventional treatments and therapies please consider Neurological Stress Reduction Therapy. Many of our Bioveda Wellness Doctors across the country are reporting very successful outcomes treating patients suffering from Lyme Disease.

-by Dr. Gary Douglas,  BioVeda Health and Wellness

What’s the difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis?
Eczema is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions. One of the most common forms of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or “atopic eczema”). Approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of the world’s population is affected by this chronic, relapsing, and very itchy rash at some point during childhood.

In general, atopic dermatitis will come and go, often based on external factors. Although its cause is unknown, the condition appears to be an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. In people with eczema, the inflammatory response to irritating substances overacts, causing itching and scratching. Eczema is not contagious and, like many diseases, currently cannot be cured by drugs. However, for most patients the condition may be managed well with laser treatment along with temporary avoidance of triggers.

What does eczema look and feel like?
Although it may look different from person to person, it is most often characterized by dry, red, extremely itchy patches on the skin. Eczema is sometimes referred to as “the itch that rashes,” since the itch, when scratched, results in the appearance of the rash.
Eczema can occur on just about any part of the body; however, in infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck. In children and adults, eczema typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. In some people, eczema may “bubble up” and ooze. In others, the condition may appear more scaly, dry, and red. Chronic scratching causes the skin to take on a leathery texture because the skin thickens (lichenification).

What makes patients with eczema itch?
Many substances have been identified as itch “triggers” in patients with eczema, and triggers are not the same for every person. Many times it is difficult to identify the exact trigger that causes a flare-up. For some, it seems that rough or coarse materials coming into contact with the skin causes itchiness. For others, feeling too hot and/or sweating will cause an outbreak. Other people find that certain soaps, detergents, disinfectants, contact with juices from fresh fruits and meats, dust mites, and animal saliva and dander’s may trigger itching. Upper respiratory infections (caused by viruses) may also be triggers. Stress can also sometimes aggravate an existing flare-up.

Who gets eczema?
Eczema occurs in both children and adults, but usually appears during infancy. Although there is no known cause for the disease, it often affects people with a family history of allergies.
Those who are genetically predisposed and then exposed to environmental triggers may develop eczema. Many people who have eczema also suffer from allergic rhinitis and asthma, or have family members who do.

How common is eczema?
The National Institutes of Health estimates that 15 million people in the United States have some form of eczema. About 10 percent to 20 percent of all infants have eczema; however, in nearly half of these children, the disease will improve greatly by the time they are between five and 15 years of age. Others will have some form of the disease throughout their lives.

How can eczema be prevented?
Outbreaks can usually be avoided with some simple precautions. The following suggestions may help to reduce the severity and frequency of flare-ups:
• Moisturize frequently
• Avoid sudden changes in temperature or humidity
• Avoid sweating or overheating
• Reduce stress
• Avoid scratchy materials (e.g., wool or other irritants)
• Avoid harsh soaps, detergents, and solvents
• Avoid environmental factors that trigger allergies (e.g., pollens, molds, mites, and animal dander)
• Be aware of any foods that may cause an outbreak and avoid those foods

What can be done for children with eczema?
Children are unique patients because it may be difficult for them to resist scratching their eczema, thereby making the condition worse. Avoid as many eczema triggers as possible. Keep your child’s skin moist. After bathing, apply moisturizer within three minutes to retain the moisture in the skin. Avoid sudden temperature changes. Keep your child’s bedroom and play areas free of dust mites (a common trigger). Use mild soaps – both on your child’s skin and on your child’s clothing. Dress your child in breathable, preferably cotton, clothing.

Dr. Corey Kirshner, BioVeda Health and Wellness Center of Allentown, PA provides the following case study of a patient with Salicylate sensitivity:

Salicylate sensitivity, also known as salicylate intolerance, or salicylate allergy, is any adverse effect that occurs when a normal amount of salicylate is introduced into a person’s body. People with salicylate intolerance are unable to consume a normal amount of salicylate without adverse effects.

Salicylates are derivatives of salicylic acid that occur naturally in plants and serve as a natural immune hormone and preservative, protecting the plants  against diseases, insects, fungi, and harmful bacteria. Salicylates can also be found in many medications, perfumes and preservatives. Both natural and synthetic salicylates can cause health problems in anyone when consumed in large doses. But for those who are salicylate intolerant, even small doses of salicylate can cause adverse reactions.

Female patient, age 44, suffered with salicylate sensitivity for years. Her known triggers were hair care products, aspirin, peppermint and certain raw vegetables. Her symptoms included rash on both arms and legs, a circular rash on her chest, wheezing, and pain in her upper right scapular area.  Her symptoms would invariably occur in a set pattern. First she would have the upper back scapular pain. Within 4-6 hours she would develop the wheezing followed by rashes on her arms and legs. The rash would last for 2 to 3 days and she would be symptom free until the next episode.  When she first developed this condition, it only occurred once every few months and only a few things would trigger it. Before beginning care in this office she was experiencing it approximately every one to two weeks.

Her previous treatments include steroid creams and attempted avoidance. She would experience slight improvement with the cream. The avoidance initially was not difficult to follow but as her trigger list grew her ability to avoid salycylates became more difficult.  She elected to try the Bax 3000 to see if it would help her condition. She had four treatments. They consisted of system balance, egg, calcium, and a list of all known items containing salicylates.

Her response has been total elimination of all symptoms related to this condition. She has subsequently tested herself with her list of know triggers, ie hair care products, aspirin, all raw vegetables. She reported none of these things has caused her any problems since being treated.  During a follow up phone consultation five months after treatment, she related that she has not experienced any relapse.