Dr
Ying Zhang and colleagues just published a study in Frontiers in
Medicine on the effects of essential oils and their effects against
Borrelia stationary forms and biofilms.
"We found that not all essential oils had activity against the B.
burgdorferi stationary phase culture, with top five essential oils
(oregano, cinnamon bark, clove bud, citronella, and wintergreen) at a
low concentration of 0.25% showing high anti-persister activity that is
more active than the known persister drug daptomycin. Interestingly,
some highly active essential oils were found to have excellent
anti-biofilm ability as shown by their ability to dissolve the
aggregated biofilm-like structures. The top three hits, oregano,
cinnamon bark, and clove bud completely eradicated all viable cells
without any regrowth in subculture in fresh medium, whereas but not
citronella and wintergreen did not have this effect. Carvacrol was found
to be the most active ingredient of oregano oil showing excellent
activity against B. burgdorferi stationary phase cells, while other
ingredients of oregano oil p-cymene and α-terpinene had no apparent
activity. Future studies are needed to characterize and optimize the
active essential oils in drug combination studies in vitro and in vivo
and to address their safety and pharmacokinetic properties before they
can be considered as a novel treatment of persistent Lyme disease".
Some of these compounds are found in herbal products that we have used for years (like Biocidin, which contains oregano oil) which have led to improvements in symptoms (as well as Herxheimer reactions). We usually use herbs/essential oils as part of our biofilm protocols (i.e., Stevia, Lauricidin, Biocidin), which also have been shown to have an effect against persisters/biofilms. Since these oils/herbs primarily affect stationary forms and biofilms, and Borrelia has been shown to also have cell wall forms, cystic forms and bacteria which can persist in the intracellular compartment, future studies need to address all the different forms of borrelia, as well as antibiotic/herbal combinations that effectively treat co-infections like Bartonella, and other persister intracellular bacteria (such as Mycoplasma, Tularemia, Brucella...). Similarly, many of our patients have overlapping Babesiosis (a "persister" parasite). The Dapsone protocol that we published on last year (Horowitz RI, Freeman PR (2016) The Use of Dapsone as a Novel “Persister” Drug in the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease/Post
Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome . J Clin Exp Dermatol Res 7: 345. doi:10.4172/2155-9554.1000345) is an effective persister drug for many with chronic Lyme disease, and also has an effect against Babesia, while previously having been published to treat
autoimmune phenomenon (like Behcets syndrome). Many who suffer with Lyme disease have this triad of borrelia persisters with co-infections like Babesia and Bartonella along with autoimmune markers in their blood (ANA's, RF's, antiganglioside antibodies, anti-thyroid antibodies, anti-myelin antibodies...). It is therefore necessary to treat all of the abnormalities on the 16 point MSIDS map that can lead to chronic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Combinations of doxycycline, rifampin and dapsone (for intracellular forms/persisters), along with Plaquenil and grapefruit seed extract (for cystic forms), with Ceftin (for cell wall forms) and biofilm busters (Biocidin, Lauricidin, Stevia, Serrapeptase) are some of the most common combinations that we use in our practice that often leads to significant clinical improvements. A discussion of Lyme disease specifics and treatment options can be found in Chapter 3 of "How Can I Get Better? and the Dapsone protocol and use of pyrazinamide (another persister drug) which can be effective in Bartonella can be found in Chapter 4, "Persisters" and Pulsing for Treating Resistant Lyme Disease".
Some of these compounds are found in herbal products that we have used for years (like Biocidin, which contains oregano oil) which have led to improvements in symptoms (as well as Herxheimer reactions). We usually use herbs/essential oils as part of our biofilm protocols (i.e., Stevia, Lauricidin, Biocidin), which also have been shown to have an effect against persisters/biofilms. Since these oils/herbs primarily affect stationary forms and biofilms, and Borrelia has been shown to also have cell wall forms, cystic forms and bacteria which can persist in the intracellular compartment, future studies need to address all the different forms of borrelia, as well as antibiotic/herbal combinations that effectively treat co-infections like Bartonella, and other persister intracellular bacteria (such as Mycoplasma, Tularemia, Brucella...). Similarly, many of our patients have overlapping Babesiosis (a "persister" parasite). The Dapsone protocol that we published on last year (Horowitz RI, Freeman PR (2016) The Use of Dapsone as a Novel “Persister” Drug in the Treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease/Post
Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome . J Clin Exp Dermatol Res 7: 345. doi:10.4172/2155-9554.1000345) is an effective persister drug for many with chronic Lyme disease, and also has an effect against Babesia, while previously having been published to treat
autoimmune phenomenon (like Behcets syndrome). Many who suffer with Lyme disease have this triad of borrelia persisters with co-infections like Babesia and Bartonella along with autoimmune markers in their blood (ANA's, RF's, antiganglioside antibodies, anti-thyroid antibodies, anti-myelin antibodies...). It is therefore necessary to treat all of the abnormalities on the 16 point MSIDS map that can lead to chronic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Combinations of doxycycline, rifampin and dapsone (for intracellular forms/persisters), along with Plaquenil and grapefruit seed extract (for cystic forms), with Ceftin (for cell wall forms) and biofilm busters (Biocidin, Lauricidin, Stevia, Serrapeptase) are some of the most common combinations that we use in our practice that often leads to significant clinical improvements. A discussion of Lyme disease specifics and treatment options can be found in Chapter 3 of "How Can I Get Better? and the Dapsone protocol and use of pyrazinamide (another persister drug) which can be effective in Bartonella can be found in Chapter 4, "Persisters" and Pulsing for Treating Resistant Lyme Disease".
