There may be a new and very valuable application for a certain common ingredient in allergy medications. Lyme disease is fast becoming the most widespread and debilitating infectious disease in the world. It's boundaries are expanding exponentially and everywhere it spreads controversy reigns. People have a very difficult if sometimes impossible time getting appropriate treatment. While this pandemic is spreading, antibiotics are becoming harder to get....for more than one reason.
A study published in Drug Design, Development and Therapy discovered that an antihistamine (Loratadine), found in allergy medications, prevented the mineral manganese from entering the cell wall of the Lyme disease pathogen (Borrelia burgdorferi). The lyme disease spirochete uses manganese for vital processes so when the antihistamine Loratadine is combined with Borrelia burgdorferi in a test tube, the pathogen starves to death. It would be an important breakthrough to find an effective treatment for Lyme disease. Antibiotics work but they are not always effective. If patients are partial to natural treatments over drugs, perhaps more research by patients, privately funded researchers, and naturopathic doctors, could reveal natural substances that also prevent manganese from entering the Lyme pathogen's cell wall. You won't find many government or corporate funded studies for natural treatments because patents cannot be developed...at least that is my understanding. There are many natural substances that act as antihistamines...such as...Reishi mushroom, Quercitin, Vitamin C, salt and water, Aloe vera, chamomile, ginger, stinging nettles, and wild oregano or bee balm. I'm sure there are many more examples that we are not aware of. The question is.....would any of these natural antihistamines have the same action as Loratadine? Drugs can be a useful tool but they tend to have more side effects over the natural remedies.
Many Lyme disease patients also are burdened with allergic issues. Whether this just has something to with the straw that breaks the camel's back or whether the Lyme disease pathogen is directly responsible for food, chemical, and environmental allergies, has yet to be demonstrated. I am wondering if the antihistamine action of the antihistamine is also treating the allergic symptoms that are often attributed to Lyme disease....in addition to actually killing the spirochete.
Below is a blurb and link to a post about the study.
"Loratadine, an antihistamine found in over-the-counter allergy medicines, may be able to help kill the bacteria associated with Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). Findings from this study are published in Drug Design, Development and Therapy." To read the more official version click at the link below
http://www.empr.com/news/can-a-common-allergy-medication-help-treat-lyme-disease/article/397324/
Here is another similar announcement on this possible breakthrough http://www.pharmacytimes.com/news/Could-Claritin-Cure-Lyme-Disease
Stinging Nettles from my nettle patch. Start your own patch!
I make Reishi mushroom tea and stinging nettle infusion which both support the adrenal glands, to calm the system and help with the allergic response. I have my own patch of stinging nettles (easy to grow but invasive) but buy my Reishi mushroom slices (that I make tea from) from Mountain Rose Herbs whom I have become affiliated with because I think they are a responsible company, have a wide selection of herbs (many or most of which are organic), and if you order in bulk you get a discount....which helps with shipping. Learn more about them at the link below. Here is a link to an article about stinging nettles and how they are a natural antihistamine http://lymesentinel.blogspot.com/2009/10/health-benefits-of-stinging-nettle.html and a link to a post which talks a bit about the health benefits and how to make Reishi mushroom tea. http://sootheandheal.blogspot.com/2011/03/medicinal-reishi-mushroom-tea.html Often drug companies get their ideas from natural ingredients and then try to change the form somehow in order to be able to patent the substance. As I said before...drugs have their place but whole foods nourish and support the body rather than just attacking a specific symptom or germ.
I find that when I stay away from stimulants, such as coffee, tea, and alcohol and use adaptogens ...my overall health improves. So while we wait for more conclusive evidence that supports the finding that Loratadine helps to kill the Lyme disease pathogen......perhaps we can experiment with healthy natural alternatives that may have similar properties as the drug Loratadine.
A study published in Drug Design, Development and Therapy discovered that an antihistamine (Loratadine), found in allergy medications, prevented the mineral manganese from entering the cell wall of the Lyme disease pathogen (Borrelia burgdorferi). The lyme disease spirochete uses manganese for vital processes so when the antihistamine Loratadine is combined with Borrelia burgdorferi in a test tube, the pathogen starves to death. It would be an important breakthrough to find an effective treatment for Lyme disease. Antibiotics work but they are not always effective. If patients are partial to natural treatments over drugs, perhaps more research by patients, privately funded researchers, and naturopathic doctors, could reveal natural substances that also prevent manganese from entering the Lyme pathogen's cell wall. You won't find many government or corporate funded studies for natural treatments because patents cannot be developed...at least that is my understanding. There are many natural substances that act as antihistamines...such as...Reishi mushroom, Quercitin, Vitamin C, salt and water, Aloe vera, chamomile, ginger, stinging nettles, and wild oregano or bee balm. I'm sure there are many more examples that we are not aware of. The question is.....would any of these natural antihistamines have the same action as Loratadine? Drugs can be a useful tool but they tend to have more side effects over the natural remedies.
Many Lyme disease patients also are burdened with allergic issues. Whether this just has something to with the straw that breaks the camel's back or whether the Lyme disease pathogen is directly responsible for food, chemical, and environmental allergies, has yet to be demonstrated. I am wondering if the antihistamine action of the antihistamine is also treating the allergic symptoms that are often attributed to Lyme disease....in addition to actually killing the spirochete.
Below is a blurb and link to a post about the study.
"Loratadine, an antihistamine found in over-the-counter allergy medicines, may be able to help kill the bacteria associated with Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). Findings from this study are published in Drug Design, Development and Therapy." To read the more official version click at the link below
http://www.empr.com/news/can-a-common-allergy-medication-help-treat-lyme-disease/article/397324/
Here is another similar announcement on this possible breakthrough http://www.pharmacytimes.com/news/Could-Claritin-Cure-Lyme-Disease
I make Reishi mushroom tea and stinging nettle infusion which both support the adrenal glands, to calm the system and help with the allergic response. I have my own patch of stinging nettles (easy to grow but invasive) but buy my Reishi mushroom slices (that I make tea from) from Mountain Rose Herbs whom I have become affiliated with because I think they are a responsible company, have a wide selection of herbs (many or most of which are organic), and if you order in bulk you get a discount....which helps with shipping. Learn more about them at the link below. Here is a link to an article about stinging nettles and how they are a natural antihistamine http://lymesentinel.blogspot.com/2009/10/health-benefits-of-stinging-nettle.html and a link to a post which talks a bit about the health benefits and how to make Reishi mushroom tea. http://sootheandheal.blogspot.com/2011/03/medicinal-reishi-mushroom-tea.html Often drug companies get their ideas from natural ingredients and then try to change the form somehow in order to be able to patent the substance. As I said before...drugs have their place but whole foods nourish and support the body rather than just attacking a specific symptom or germ.
I find that when I stay away from stimulants, such as coffee, tea, and alcohol and use adaptogens ...my overall health improves. So while we wait for more conclusive evidence that supports the finding that Loratadine helps to kill the Lyme disease pathogen......perhaps we can experiment with healthy natural alternatives that may have similar properties as the drug Loratadine.
This has been proven to be TRUE.
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