Treatment of Insomnia in Parkinson’s Disease: A Controlled Trial of Eszopiclone and Placebo

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2928867/

Microdose lithium formulation is capable of halting signs of advanced Alzheimer’s and improving cognition

THE idea of putting a mind-altering drug in the drinking water is the stuff of sci-fi, terrorist plots and totalitarian governments. Considering the outcry that occurred when putting fluoride in the water was first proposed, one can only imagine the furor that would ensue if such a thing were ever suggested. 

The debate, however, is moot. It's a done deal. Mother Nature has already put a psychotropic drug in the drinking water, and that drug is lithium. Although this fact has been largely ignored for over half a century, it appears to have important medical implications. 

Lithium is a naturally occurring element, not a molecule like most medications, and it is present in the United States, depending on the geographic area, at concentrations that can range widely, from undetectable to around .170 milligrams per liter. This amount is less than a thousandth of the minimum daily dose given for bipolar disorders and for depression that doesn't respond to antidepressants. Although it seems strange that the microscopic amounts of lithium found in groundwater could have any substantial medical impact, the more scientists look for such effects, the more they seem to discover. Evidence is slowly accumulating that relatively tiny doses of lithium can have beneficial effects. They appear to decrease suicide rates significantly and may even promote brain health and improve mood. 

Yet despite the studies demonstrating the benefits of relatively high natural lithium levels present in the drinking water of certain communities, few seem to be aware of its potential. Intermittently, stories appear in the scientific journals and media, but they seem to have little traction in the medical community or with the general public...

See full article.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/opinion/sunday/should-we-all-take-a-bit-of-lithium.html

'Master regulator' may shield the brain from Parkinson's-related damage

Switching off 'master regulator' may shield the brain from Parkinson's-related damage
Dr. Viviane Labrie | Van Andel Institute

Read in SCIENMAG: https://apple.news/AUlggauMiR4iOCzHypzUygw

Lyme can cause vocal cord paralysis

https://danielcameronmd.com/lyme-disease-added-causes-vocal-cord-paralysis/

By Dr. Daniel Cameron

 

(Updated: 6/24/19)

In the Prevention article, doctors describe how Lyme disease can impact a person's vocal cords. "Lyme can affect the nerves that are responsible for controlling the muscles in the vocal cords," says Amesh A. Adalja, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "As a result, someone could technically lose their voice if they had Lyme disease."

In fact, a case series published in the Journal of Voice identified Lyme disease as one of several causes of vocal cord paralysis, a condition that can dramatically impact patients' lives, affecting voice, swallowing and airway function. [1] Identifying the cause is important, the authors state, in order to treat the condition successfully.

Vocal cord paralysis can be caused by neurologic and inflammatory conditions, as well as by various infections. "Infectious causes include Lyme disease, West Nile virus, varicella, herpes, Epstein-Barr, syphilis, and others." [1]

The 2016 case series examined the records of 231 Pennsylvania patients with vocal cord paralysis (or paresis). The authors found that the prevalence of syphilis, myasthenia gravis, and Lyme disease was higher in these patients when compared with the national rate.

Join the conversation on Facebook: Shania Twain lost her ability to sing for several years due to Lyme disease. 

Several of the patients with vocal cord paralysis had Lyme disease. "A positive Lyme titer with confirmatory Western blot was found in five patients (2.2%). When compared with the 2013 incidence of Lyme disease in Pennsylvania (0.039%), these results were statistically significant (P < 0.0001)." [1] 

This is not the first time Lyme disease has been associated with vocal cord paralysis. In fact, it is possible that this is an underreported symptom, Adalja tells Prevention magazine.

Martínez-Balzano and colleague describe the case of a 90-year-old man who presented with dysphonia and upper and lower extremity weakness on his right side. [2] He also had bilateral vocal cord paralysis and respiratory failure which required a tracheostomy.

The man tested positive for Lyme disease. "The patient received IV ceftriaxone for 2 weeks, followed by complete recovery of motor and vocal function over 2 months."

In 2010, Martzolff reported two cases of vocal fold paresis secondary to neuroborreliosis. "Both cases resulted in favorable outcomes after antibiotic treatment." [3]

The authors point out the importance of testing vocal cord paralysis patients for Lyme disease, particularly in those living in endemic regions.

In 1988, a 45-year-old singer developed a sore throat and general malaise which progressed to hoarseness and left-sided neuralgia. The patient tested positive for Lyme disease and was treated with 3 weeks of doxycycline. "After 14 days of therapy she began to improve and after a few weeks she could speak and sing again," writes Schroeter. [4]

"We have seen a case where serologically confirmed B. burgdorferi infection was associated with paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve," explains Schroeter.

"Because vocal fold paresis secondary to Lyme disease can be treated easily with antibiotics," explains White, "testing patients with idiopathic vocal fold paresis should be routine, especially in endemic areas or in patients who have traveled to areas in which Lyme disease is endemic." [1]

White and colleagues did not design their case series to test causality. "Although their causal relationship to vocal fold paralysis or paresis has not been investigated or established by this study, the medical importance of having established these diagnoses and instituted treatment is self-evident, and their possible causal association awaits further study."

Nevertheless, the authors recommended implementing a comprehensive evaluation to identify serious and treatable causal or associated disorders underlying vocal fold paralysis and paresis.

The most common causes of this disorder include non-laryngeal malignancies, iatrogenic injuries, and idiopathic causes. Post-operative dysfunction after retraction, dissection along the recurrent laryngeal nerve and thoracic malignancy have also been identified as contributing triggers, explains White.

Additional causes of vocal cord paralysis include neurologic complications such as myasthenia gravis, severe degenerative spine disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson disease, as well as other disorders, White states.

Furthermore, inflammatory causes may include sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis, and polyarteritis nodosa.

"Additionally, diabetes, thyroid disease, malnutrition, and vinca alkaloids have been found to cause vocal fold (cord) paralysis or paresis," White explains.

"It is important for clinicians, especially tertiary and quaternary providers, to be familiar with the numerous diseases that may present in association with vocal fold paralysis or paresis," states White, "and to consider comprehensive diagnostic evaluation to identify serious and treatable causal or associated disorders."

EPA approves Nootkatone to repel ticks

Aug 12, 2020

The EPA on Monday approved the use of a chemical that repels and kills mosquitoes and ticks. Nootkatone, an oily compound found in cedar trees and grapefruits, is safe because it is not toxic to humans and many other mammals, as well as fish, birds, and bees. Products containing nootkatone could be used to fight ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas – insects that can pass on many diseases to humans, including malaria and Zika. It may be effective against other pests, including lice, sandflies, and midges.

More:

In smaller doses, nootkatone repels a variety of insects and in higher doses, it can kill those same insects. 

Nootkatone can kill bugs that are resistant to some commonly used pesticides, such as DDT and pyrethroids. 

Unlike other organic insect repellants, such as citronella, peppermint oil, and lemongrass oil, nootkatone has a long-lasting effect.

Yesterday, 11:10 PM

Dr Horowitz protocol for treating COVID-19 (overheard)

Accuracy not guaranteed on this edited repost by me, but I thought I should post this in case anyone is in need of some tips, clues, links for treating COVID-19 cases.

-Bob Cowart

Dr. Horowitz is now working with state leaders in hopes of securing state funding to conduct randomized trials.

The treatment includes three over the counter natural oral supplements called acetyl-cysteine, glutathione and alpha lipoic acid.

"They block a switch inside the nucleus called NF Capa B, and when this switch gets turned on it turns on all the inflammation and all these inflammatory molecules that you see with COVID-19," says Dr. Horowitz.

Since a vaccine could be months away, Dr. Horowitz says it's time to think outside of the box and try to use natural supplements.

Dr. Horowitz is now working with state leaders in hopes of securing state funding to conduct randomized trials.

Does anyone know the doses of the Horowitz protocol? I have recommended 600mg NAC plus selenium 400mcg to increase production of glutathione as well as Liposomal Glutathione orally or injectable Glutathione from a compounding pharmacy if possible. Reports of rapid relief of Covid-19 symptoms with Glutathione are unfortunately only uncontrolled case reports, but that type of response is lifesaving and low risk for adverse effects. Glutathione levels decrease with viral infections and NAC and selenium have been reported to restore levels. Glutathione is an important controller of innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation and reduction of ROS plus it has antiviral effects. Too bad the "standard" treatment approaches are always search for "silver bullets" instead of understanding the pathophysiology of the illness and using methods to correct it.

Horowitz spoke about Ivermectin as being current best Rx hope for prevention and early intervention pending double blind placebo controlled trials.
0.2-0.4 mg/kg once a week for two weeks, repeat in 12 weeks (someone said they heard that in one of his latest YouTube interviews).

Binds to CD157 receptors on RBC and block micro vascular clotting, and prevents Covid19 from entering cell membrane where they shut down immune function.

http://westchester.news12.com/story/42383284/hudson-valley-doctor-touts-lyme-disease-treatment-as-option-for-covid19-patients 

Dr. Horowitz has now used the treatment on nearly two dozen coronavirus patients.