Stevia shown to kill off Borellia (Lyme) biofilms - as effective as multiple antibiotics

Eva Sapi study finds stevia effective to eliminate biofilms, spirochetes and persisters. Note that in addition to other methods, they actually used darkfield microcroscopy to count the numbers of remaining biofilms after treatment with the different methods.

 

http://www.akademiai.com/doi/pdf/10.1556/1886.2015.00031

 

"In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of whole leaf Stevia extract against B. burgdorferi spirochetes, persisters, and biofilm forms in vitro. The susceptibility of the different forms was evaluated by various quantitative techniques in addition to different microscopy methods. The effectiveness of Stevia was compared to doxycycline, cefoperazone, daptomycin, and their combinations. Our results demonstrated that Stevia had significant effect in eliminating B. burgdorferi spirochetes and persisters. " 

 

Different manufacturers of stevia extract were also compared. The one that had the strongest effect is NutraMedix. 

 

The therapeutic dose is 7 drops per day. Start with 3 and work up slowly.

 

It can be purchased $9.07 (1 oz) from Nature's Trust (free shipping)

http://www.naturestrust.net/nutramedix-stevia-sweet-herb/

 

Herbs for the Cowden Protocol can also be purchased from them.

http://www.jwatch.org/fw111159/2016/02/09/new-bacteria-species-causes-lyme-disease-discovered?query=pfwTOC&jwd=000013533191&jspc=

Medical News | 

Physician's First Watch

February 9, 2016

New Bacteria Species that Causes Lyme Disease Discovered

By Kelly Young

Edited by Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

Scientists report the discovery of a new species of bacteria (Borrelia mayonii) in the upper Midwest of the U.S. that causes a unique presentation of Lyme disease. Their findings appear in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Researchers screened over 100,000 clinical samples for the presence of B. burgdorferi bacteria, which causes Lyme disease. Of these, six were flagged as a unique species, which they called B. mayonii. Roughly 20 ticks also tested positive for this bacterium. 

The researchers examined medical records and found that patients infected with B. mayonii experienced nausea, vomiting, diffuse macular rashes, and elevated levels of bacteria in the blood, in addition to symptoms typically associated with B. burgdorferi infection (e.g., headache, neck pain). Three patients also experienced neurologic symptoms, including confused speech, profound somnolence, and visual difficulties. All lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or North Dakota.

Commentators conclude: "Interestingly, candidatus B. mayonii was only detected in specimens obtained during 2012–14, although the sample collection dates back to 2003. This suggests that candidatus B. mayonii is a newly-emerged genospecies."

The CDC says that patients infected with B. mayonii should test positive for Lyme disease with current tests.

Link(s):

Lancet Infectious Diseases article (Free abstract)

Lancet Infectious Diseases comment (Subscription required)

Background: NEJM Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine coverage of antibiotic treatment for early Lyme disease (Your NEJM Journal Watch registration required)

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- See more at: http://www.jwatch.org/fw111159/2016/02/09/new-bacteria-species-causes-lyme-disease-discovered?query=pfwTOC&jwd=000013533191&jspc=#sthash.lnJB4YOx.dpuf

physiology and evolution of spirochetes

physiology and evolution of spirochetes.

				Physiology and evolution of spirochetes. Bacteriol Rev. 1977 Mar; 41(1): 181–204. PMCID: PMC413998 Physiology and evolution of spirochetes. E Canale-Parola Copyright and License information ► Copyrig...
				View on www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov	Preview by Yahoo

Popular antibiotics to carry new warning about retinal detachment

If you have been treating Lyme and its co-infections for a while, you may already know about the possibility of tendon rupture that can be caused by taking Cipro and other antibiotics in the Fluoroquinolone family of drugs. I used Cipro (ciprofloxacin) myself for a bit. However, I wasn't aware of a correlation between this family of antibiotics and retinal detachment. Take a look at this article if you are taking one of these drugs as a part of your treatment plan:

• ciprofloxacin
•  levofloxacin
• moxifloxacin
• norfloxacin
• ofloxacin

-Bob

The Vancouver Sun newspaper, Feb 3, 2016

"... Subsequent studies have revealed other disturbing outcomes. A 2014 study by Etminan published in the journal Neurology linked the drugs to cases of permanent nerve damage, while a Taiwanese study published late last year found a link to aortic aneurysm.

Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin — are a greater risk to patients than other classes of antibiotics because of the severity of their side effects, said Etmanin.

"What makes this worrisome is when a drug is very prevalent — in the U.S. there are maybe 40 million prescriptions each year — even rare events can lead to tens of thousands of people developing retinal detachment or neuropathy," said Etmanin."

Read the full article, from the The Vancouver Sun newspaper, Feb 3, 2016:

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/popular+antibiotics+carry+warning+about+retinal+detachment/11695792/story.html

Zika virus news roundup

• NPR: Before Zika Virus, Rubella Was A Pregnant Woman's Nightmare
• WSJ: The Brazilian Doctors Who Sounded the Alarm
• LA Times Editorial:  No reason to panic as Zika pandemic 'explodes' across the Americas
• Six cases of Zika virus confirmed in Texas
• Zika virus confirmed among 4 Canadian travellers
• Zika virus: Brazil's surge in small-headed babies questioned by report
• Deformed babies also suffering eye damage linked to Zika in Brazil
• Zika Virus May Push South America to Loosen Abortion Bans
• Why Zika may be as tough to beat as Ebola
• Zika virus outbreak in Brazil threatens Rio Olympics
• Zika virus spreads business to these companies

What do Zika, Ebola and Lyme have in common?

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What do Zika, Ebola and Lyme have in common? Zika, Ebola and Lyme disease are emerging infectious diseases that have spread from animals to humans.  What else do they have in common? And what public health tools used in Zika and Ebola could help prevent, detect, and treat Lyme?   Learn more at the Lyme Policy Wonk blog by Lorraine Johnson. Hard-earned "Lyme education" shouldn't go to waste She worked in the entertainment industry for 30 years. Then, misdiagnosed Lyme disease knocked her flat. Eventually, she found the treatment she needed and is now in remission.  "I've learned a lot about what works for me through years of treatment. And I don't want all this 'education' to go to waste. That's why I've signed up for MyLymeData." READ MORE. Have you signed up for MyLymeData? It promises to be the largest study of chronic Lyme patients EVER. You could help us find a cure for Lyme disease. Click here to learn more. LymeDisease.org, publisher of The Lyme Times, is the Lyme community's leading source of news, information, and health policy analysis.  Become a member today.

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