Fw: Summary of Orthomolecular Health Medicine Society Meeting-SF

[Guest guest]

This was from the lymeinfo mailing list. I thought many might find it interesting.

pj

[RoseNote: The Orthomolecular Health-Medicine Society held its 11th annual meeting in February 2005 in San Francisco CA. Two prominent physicians spoke about Lyme Disease.]****“Dr Raphael Stricker spoke on Lyme Disease: The Hidden Epidemic. He described the significant public health threat that Lyme disease represents and talked about two barriers to effective diagnosis and treatment, the role of co infections and uncertainty regarding a therapeutic endpoint for treatment.â€â€œDr Cowden discussed Non-pharmaceutical Remedies for Chronic Lyme Borreliosis.â€****http://www.bipolarodyssey.com/OHM.htmTToo Good To Be True?Nutrients Quiet the Unquiet BrainA Four Generation Bipolar OdysseyThis conference brought together professionals from the Orthomolecular and mainstream traditions. Such notables as Dr Kunin, Dr Dietrick Klinghardt, Dr Raphael Stricker, Dr and Dr Fallon presented their perspective on the assessment and treatment on heart and Lyme disease. discussion on the differing paradigms, what I call the "soil" and "germ" paradigms was very interesting. Speakers and exhibitors brought exciting and promising perspectives to the meeting. For example, I learned of a company that provides as recommended in the book, a comprehensive paradigm-independent assessment based on research based software. Instead of being bound by a particular provider's paradigm, the software writes comprehensive reports taking into account the totality of the known research that applies to a person's various lab results. See page 340 of Too Good to be True for a description of the problem that may be being solved here. Similarly there was a company that has software that combines a person's data with research to create a diet specific for that person. The following is only a partial summary of some of the presentations. Highlights from Orthomolecular Health Medicine Meeting, February 2005Dr Garry Gordon, speaking on Nucleic Acid and Inflammation, not only introduced attendees to the concept of silencing genes with RNA I (Interference) but also of the possibility of modulating RNA levels to change the levels of any protein in the body. He discussed cases where RNA Nutriswitches changed levels of inflammation, glucose, lipids, triglycerides and excitotoxins. In other words, in the future approaches like this would specifically target needed RNA protein to compensate for the genetic metabolic defects.Dr Berg from HEMEX Laboratories spoke on ISAC, Immune System Activation of Coagulation, a condition in which coagulation cascades are activated leading to decreased blood flow. This is seen in a number of chronic illnesses, including Lyme disease and can correlate with increased pathogen load. Considering that a capillary is 8-10 um in diameter and a red blood cell (RBC) is 7 um, any blockage could retard blood flow. When the blood flows smoothly oxygen diffusion time is 2 seconds. When the capillary is clogged with fibrin the oxygen diffusion time is 5.3 minutes. With Lyme patients, 89% of them had positive ISAC panels, meaning their blood flow was not normal. Heparin restores blood flow and may be effective with psychotic individuals when their psychosis is due to reduced blood flow. One physician had seen dramatic response in a psychotic patient using Heparin alone. HEMEX solves "blood curdling mysteries."Dr Levy addressed the topic, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Circulation. What I most remember of his presentation is his declarative unambiguous statement, "Calcium is the worst supplement in the world," or words to that effect. He said that excess calcium accelerates atherosclerosis and other degenerative diseases. On the other hand Vitamin C can actually reduce atherosclerosis if given in large enough doses. Dr Raphael Stricker spoke on Lyme Disease: The Hidden Epidemic. He described the significant public health threat that Lyme disease represents and talked about two barriers to effective diagnosis and treatment, the role of co infections and uncertainty regarding a therapeutic endpoint for treatment. He pointed out the need for multiple interventions and a prolonged intervention to deal with these debilitating illnesses. For musculoskeletal disease the initial treatment is oral antibiotic but for neurological disease the initial treatment is IV antibiotics.Dr Cowden discussed Non-pharmaceutical Remedies for Chronic Lyme Borreliosis. He touched on some of the 300 + illness that Borrelia imitates, including chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, MS, ALS, and psychosis. Then he outlined an integrative approach including, among other things, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, detoxifying herbs, homeopathics, Samento, Laser Detox, and light beam generator. Progress was measured in symptom reduction. Fourteen in the experimental group reported major reduction in symptoms compared to a control group of equal numbers. Dr Dietrick Klinghardt, in Lyme Disease; A Look Beyond Antibiotics suggested that the severity of symptoms is related more to the total pathogen load, one of which may be Lyme disease, as well as a genetically determined ability to excrete neurotoxins. A few of the many conditions he looks at are roundworms, tapeworms, toxoplasmosis, clostridia, leptospirosis, Bartonella, mycoplasma, and molds and fungi, as well as mercury. Some of his treatments include pulsed electromagnetic fields, niacin, herbs, minerals, bee venom and sometimes antibiotics. He advocates a more comprehensive approach, viewing the Lyme disease as just one pathogen capable of causing symptoms. Interestingly he believes that large doses of Niacin kill Bb and suggests that Dr Hoffer's discovery of niacin for schizophrenia may have more to do with antimicrobial qualities than current orthomolecular beliefs. A physician in the audience confronted Dr Klinghardt on one fascinating idea he presented that was so beyondthe scope of credibility, that had Dr Klinghardt provided supporting research, many, including this writer would still have had trouble accepting it. The concept is that microrecordings of the sounds of microbes, when amplified and played back to the patient increased the immune response against those microbes. Dr Floyd Taub gave a talk entitled Clinical Data on Fatigue Reduction Due to a New Immunomodulator. He discussed a new immunomodulator called COBAT that modifies cytokine responses, thereby reducing fatigue in patients with conditions that normally provoke a cytokine response. In one study of 13 patients the fatigue level of all but one was reduced by an average of 53%. COBAT does not treat the underlying condition. It changes the pattern of cytokine responses. Usefulness for patients with CNS disorders were not discussed, but this is a subject worthy of exploration.Dr Rentz addressed The Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Properties of Oligodynamic AG+ as a Silver Hydrosol. He introduced the attendees to a new structure of silver that is more effective and has less side effects than colloidal silver. This involves silver ions which, because of their small size have a greater antibacterial and antifungal impact than colloidal silver. Dr Rentz advised China authorities on the potential of silver hydrosol for SAR's virus and the Chinese are currently exploring this. Apparently the silver does not accumulate in the skin causing the discoloration that characterized blue-bloods in an earlier time.Dr spoke on a Pediatric Overview: The Children of Lyme Disease. He has treated some 7000 children over the years. He stated that 50% have no tick bite history; 10% or less had the bull's eye rash. But all lived in tick infested areas and had dramatic decline in functioning including decreased stamina, insomnia, headaches, nausea, poor short term memory, behavior outbursts and mood swings, difficulties in thinking and expressing thoughts, reading, writing, and decision making. The disease can be passed through pregnancy and breast milk. He showed a video of four children being examined who had Lyme, who now 10+ years later are free of the disease. (One is studying to be a physician.) Watching his compassion for these children as he interviewed and examined them was moving.Dr Fallon talked about The Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Lyme Disease. In this comprehensive talk he discussed how spirochetes invade and attach to brain cells, how cytokines cause indirect damage. He discussed the Columbia Lyme disease study, the results of which are to be published some time this year. Among the findings: Lyme Disease causes verifiable brain dysfunction and blood flow deficits especially in the para-limbic areas leading to, among other things, disruption of attention, memory and learning, decreased immune response and altered perception of pain, smell, and taste. (This is consistent with descriptions in Too Good to be True.) Treatment, even for those who already had IV antibiotic treatment improves blood flow and reduces symptoms of fatigue. In a discussion after his presentation he mentioned that the greatest improvement in circulation appeared to be in the right hemisphere.