Successful Lyme Disease Treatment and Cure by Homeopathy

A local (Ulster County, Hudson Valley, New York State) dog has been cured of Lyme Disease this month exclusively with homeopathic treatment.  I have long claimed that treating Lyme disease is relatively safe, simple, and easy for a trained homeopath.  This is a classic case with classic symptoms and classic response to homeopathy.

Blaze is a gorgeous, intact, nine month old, male Collie (don't they both look great?  And happy!).  Debi found an engorged tick (deer tick?) on her floor Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012.  He started limping on his right front, with a slightly swollen paw on Friday.  He was also mildly lethargic and mildly anorexic, and seemed to be breathing a little faster.  He had a fever of 102.3 (normal is 100-102).  His very thoughtful owner was willing to wait on conventional treatment for palliation to attempt a true cure by homeopathy.

I took Blaze's case by phone consultation and his treatment was started with Ledum pallustre 30 in multiple aqueous doses.  He showed no response, and was slightly worse the next morning with swelling advancing to his carpus (wrist) in his Right front, and the lameness spreading to his left hind as well.  Several aquesous doses of Ledum pallustre 200c were given on Saturday.  The next afternoon he and his owner attended a local lecture I was giving on how to do a physical exam to your own pets and he was very much improved.  He was bright and bouncy!  His temperature was down to 101.6.  His lameness was reduced, and his energy was great.  The original, early symptom of the swelling in the paw was improved.

The following day, Monday, his fever again spiked to 102.3.  With continued improvement in his specific and general symptoms this indicated an appropriate immune response to the infective challenge.  Treatment was completed with several doses of Ledum pallustre 1M.

Today, 1 week from the onset of illness, Blaze is completely free of his troublesome symptoms.  He has had a return of old symptoms that flared up first after vaccines months ago.  This is a common pattern of curative response to homeopathy.  He has been stimulated to correct his pathology, and once the newest problem had been resolved he started working on older, "deeper set" pathology.

We are now waiting and observing to see if Blaze has had sufficient stimulation to correct the old, unhealthy chemistry (itchy skin, runny eyes, and sneezing - the exact same pattern as right after his second "puppy series" distemper vaccine) without further treatment.  In the meantime, he is enjoying life!

This case illustrates several great points.  One - Ledum is the classic remedy to start (and often finish) a true Lyme disease case.  However, it could have easily been missed if higher potencies had not been tried after the 30c failed.  Two - This case illustrates how successfully homeopathy can be practiced by phone consultation.  Three - This client was well educated in homeopathic principles and therefore had the courage to sit and wait while her little loved one worked on his issue.  Many other dog owners would have succumed to palliating with conventional drugs, which can palliate quite well.  Five - Having cured with homeopathy instead of palliated with conventional drugs, Blaze is now healthier than he was just before the tick infected him.  He is now cleaning out some dysfunctional chemistry (vaccinosis) he got stuck with after his early vaccines.  Lets wish him continued good luck.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 6. Good News for Wonton the pug.

The last post for Wonton stated he had been seizure free for 6 wks (would have had 3 in that time period prior to my treatment) and that his itchy irritated skin was better.

The overall news is good. He has had several rechecks since that time and he is showing a curative pattern of change in his physiology. His road has not been as smooth as Arden's which gives a great opportunity for learning.

6.27.11
One seizure during the first week that the new, higher potency of Thuja was given. This is not totally unexpected. A homeopathic drug stimulates the patient's body to get active and change in a good way. En route some symptoms can get stirred up. This is, in part, because our bodies - dogs, cats, people - all use inflammation as a temporary stage to heal dysfunctions. Of course, when we get stuck in this stage, which happens all too often, we wind up with chronic inflammation and that can wreak havoc on a system. In the temporary stage, on the way to health, this inflammation can cause symptoms to flare up. So Wonton had a seizure. Still a great record.

He also is having more swelling, redness, and itchiness (inflammation!) in his right ear and face. These are old symptoms revisiting, very typical. It may be coincidental - a slight change in diet or environment or it could be a seasonal effect, but we hope it is the due to the reaction stimulated by the remedy. Then it is likely to resolve on its own and usher in a higher level of health.

7.26.11
No seizures! The main issue now is the inflammation and itching of the ear and face, with a new area of irritation in the axilla (arm pit). This is wonderful news. The focus of pathology is now much more superficial - at the level of the skin. Conventionally this pattern is not often acknowledged as a path to improvement/cure. It is obvious with something like an abscess. "It's coming to a head," we say, and we know that's a good thing, as the deep infection pushes its way to the surface. This is true for all curative processes. Wonton's seizures are deep seated in the neurological system. As they have diminished, superficial pathology is flaring. This is called peripheralization, and it is one of the techniques the body uses to heal.


Note, too that these are old symptoms that are revisiting. Wonton had facial swelling after vaccination (vaccinosis) years ago that was suppressed, not cured, with conventional treatment. He also had itchy face and paws last year that was suppressed, not cured, with conventional treatment.

Sorry for the itchies, Wonton, but we welcome them. Now we have the opportunity to cure these issues for good.

I prescribed a higher potency of Thuja and will recheck Wonton in September or October, as needed. Let's wish him luck!

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 3 - Wonton's Amazing Start

The story continues happily.

First some background on Wonton, the pug. Now 6 yrs old Wonton has been suffering from seizures for 4 years. That's most of his young life. They are grand mals that happen about once every two weeks. He also has some chronic dermatitis, with much rubbing of his face and licking of his paws. Very uncomfortable. He has had multiple adverse vaccine reactions - acute facial swelling, generized pruritis, rashes, hives, urticaria. He has also suffered from chronic otitis (ear infections) treated palliatively with topical corticosteroid/antibiotic ointments. His personality remains true to his breed - happy, sweet, bright.

His treatment included a customized supplement protocol, a grain-free home-prepared diet to correct his dysbiosis (poor bacterial mix in his stomach and intestines) and the homeopathic drug Thuja occidentalis. You might notice this is the same hp rx as for Arden, our other seizure case in this blog thread. This is just coincidence. Supplements included a good multivitamin (most multivits on the market are poor quality), and another to help with the environment in his GI tract. This is very important. The environment in the stomach and intestines will dictate the environment in the rest of the body, including even the brain.

First Follow Up Appointment - 3.14.11
Amazing! Wonton's owner, Jenna, has been seizure free for the first time since he was two yrs old! It has been six weeks. He should have had three in that time frame. Once he showed signs of starting one but it never came. I have been a doctor in practice for 26 years and practicing homeopathy for 24. I am still amazed and delighted like a child every time I see results that seem so miraculous like this.

Understand that the homeopathic drug did not do what conventional drugs do. The Thuja did not suppress the seizure chemistry, or alter the brain chemistry in any way. All it did was stimulate Wonton to change it, to correct it himself! Like a coach that trains an athlete, Thuja gave the instructions and Wonton's body did the work. This is why homeopathy can truly be called curative. Once a patient's body returns itself to normal chemistry, a state called homeostasis, it tends to stay there. Homeostasis is the default for body function. That is why, when done properly, there is no need for homeopathic treatment after cure is reached. The body is in "balance" and tends to stay there.

Wonton's paw licking has also decreased by approx. 90%. He used to lick for 20 minutes at a time. Now it is just 1-2 minutes. That's a huge difference. There was an aggravation of his occassional tendency to vomit. He had one week where he vomited three times. A typical flare up of symptoms during a move toward cure.

This is a very promising beginning for Wonton!

The Thuja dose was increased and a recheck set for one month.

Arden and Wonton - Two Canine Seizure Cases, part 2

Background on our seizure cases…

Arden P.

Arden P. is a beautiful, happy, 3 yr old black lab – easy excited and restless in the office. Her photo is not quite ready, yet. I met her Jan 31st. I liked her immediately as she pounded my chest to greet me! She did a great job of self soothing by carrying and shaking a small dog bed that I have in the exam room. Her owner has done a fine job of working with her to redirect her energy. I’m so blessed to work with such wonderful clients.

Arden’s seizures are grand mals, 2 wks to 3 mos apart. A very unusual characteristic is that she does not lose consciousness completely. She is aware of her family around her and can be comforted by them during the seizure. They started in Dec of ’09.

Note, she was given routine annual vaccines 2 days after one of her seizures! This constitutes medical malpractice. No vaccine is tested or approved for use in individuals with any chronic disease. This is a very big issue with me. Most of the pets I treat have vaccine related damage. But that is a huge topic for a huge blog thread at another time. Suffice it to say, it was not in Arden’s best interest.

Also of interest as a homeopathic case, Arden used to eat clothing, once needing surgery to extract a sock that was obstructing her stomach! Can anyone relate? She has very itchy paws and tail, and a “yeast infection” that was suppressed with corticosteroids in ’08.

I assessed Arden as having vaccinosis (chronic postvaccinal disease), sub-optimal diet (a grain-based kibble), and a generalized yeast infection (not just in her ear, though that is where it showed up).

I always give two prognoses to my patients at the first appointment. For Arden, her prognosis for improvement is excellent. I have little doubt that we can make a difference in the quality of her life. Her prognosis for full cure is good. That means a better than 50% chance for full cure, which is defined as no seizures, no meds, and expires as an old lady from natural causes. After all, that is the job of all doctors – to get you to the point where you don’t need them anymore.

Her treatment started with a homeopathic drug for vaccinosis, Thuja occidentalis, in a potency high enough to stimulate a curative change in physiology without excessive aggravation. Aggravation is the phase of curative change where things look worse on their way to getting better. It is similar to the phase of an abscess coming to a head before erupting and draining, or a fever that spikes just before it breaks. Arden also received appropriate nutraceutical supplements, and started a grain-free diet.

Arden’s response to this first step in her treatment will be evaluated at her first follow up appt in early Feb. Let’s all wish her the best!