More On Parasites, Lyme, Hashimoto's, and the Interplay with Our Microbiome, and Our Virome.
Connections between gut health and viral/bacterial load are important factors in chronic dis-ease/autoimmunity.
Yesterday I had a lazy day. This typically encompasses cooking, cleaning, and going down worm-holes in the internet during which I came across an article about Hashimoto’s. I come across individuals (mostly women) with Hashimotos so I often try to dig around to see what other practitioners find as a causative. Now mind you, the search started with Epstein Barr (EBV) reactivation and ended with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and the two dis-eases can be connected, as I will explain.
This post will reflect upon the state of the virome and the biome of the human body. I separate these for a simple reason: the microbiota of the gut are directly related to the state of health of a person, but we often-times ignore (or don’t acknowledge) the virome of the human body itself, separate from the gut. The gut contains millions of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and viruses, yes, but our body’s may house a complex array of viruses that are kept in check by our immune system and live outside of the gut. Some live in the Lymphatics system, some in the nervous system. This load can have an affect on our overall health going forward.
In my practice, I help a lot of people with gut issues and it’s not something rare, let me tell you. It is a normal occurrence, so I have several products I can suggest and have a difficult time keeping the stock on the shelf, but there is no condition I have come across that isn’t connected to the gut. (at least to some degree). As Hippocrates stated: All Disease Begins In the Gut, and the work of Dr. Sabine Hazan is a testament to this phrase ringing through to present. Her work focuses on gut microbiome and diversity of these microbiota as related to the state of health in an individual. She also realized after a COVID infection, bifidus bacteria were disproportionately killed off. (this finding begs the question: does the COVID virus infect bacteria in the gut? Here is a paper on that.) An interesting find. So as I am perusing the interwebs looking for information on EBV, I come across a series of articles focusing on a certain protozoa in the gut called Blastocystis hominis and how it relates to both EBV reactivation and Hashimoto’s. Some people have this bacteria in their gut and exhibit no symptoms, while others do exhibit symptoms (bloating, gas, brain fog, hives), and the corollary is that those with EBV and Hashimoto’s typically have symptoms of IBS, and chronic hives (as urticaria, a mast cell/histamine sensitivity/autoimmunity), and are more often to have this protozoa in their gut.
Many with underlying chronic dis-ease like EBV, Lyme, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (a complex issue possibly associated with a retrovirus like HTLV-1 through 4. Here is another link) often complain about similar symptoms: brain fog, fatigue with trouble sleeping, hair loss, IBS, and a subsequent autoimmune disorder like Hasimoto’s and urticaria. Which came first? The chronic dis-ease, or the gut issues, or perhaps both?
Ok, back to the virome for a second. If a person contracted EBV (called Mono aka the kissing dis-ease) or has cold sores, genital herpes, cytomeglavirus, or has had chickpox/shingles, or Roseola, you have a herpes virus living in your body. All these viruses, once contracted, go dormant some typically for life but can potentially reactivate due to immune dysfunction. I have seen a few cases of reactivated EBV after COVID and certainly after the mRNA shots which cause MAJOR immune dysfunction in many ways, one in particular, by expressing the IG4 antibodies, an immune cell class switch more associated with an allergen. This makes the vaccinated chronic spreaders and makes the virus harder to clear. More on that HERE and HERE. Dr. Peter McCullough as well. Cold sores and genital herpes reactivate occasionally with stress, after/during a sickness, or in the transition times of the seasons when immunity tends to drop. So a person has an active or reactivated herpes virus, namely EBV (or a few of the herpes viruses), could this lead them to be more susceptible to this protozoa? Could Lyme, CFS, or another bacterial parasite that lives in the body create susceptibility? What about Lyme and EBV?? It’s like an onion.
I think the answer is a resounding YES.
My experienced with Lyme is, people tend to have gut issues and a slew of other symptoms: brain fog, insomnia, joint pain…..symptomatology all associated with this protozoa as well. I also see mold sensitivities and in general the body unable to purge the normal exposures during life. We are always around mold, especially in the Spring, and food in general is a major exposure point to any microbe, but a healthy, functioning immune system can clear these things with little problem, but those with Lyme or other chronic dis-eases like EBV have trouble and these microbes and can seemingly be the source of their issues (or at least exacerbating things), not necessarily the chronic disease itself. I do want to point out, ignoring the underlying issue (Lyme etc) is not the course of action to take. Always support the body targeting this issue as well, since the underlying immune dysfunction is leading the body to be overly sensitive to mold, pollen, bacteria, it would otherwise clear and have no issue with for example, what happens with the mRNA vaccinated and the immune cell class switch to the IgG4 antibodies.
What’s more, in my reading it was suggested that EBV is potentially associated with Hashimoto’s since this virus takes up camp in the thyroid gland and many experience reductions in auto-antibodies to the thyroid by addressing the EBV reactivation. Many also experience reductions in auto-antibodies to the thyroid by addressing the underlying Blastocystis hominis over-growth, if present. All other symptoms for these individuals cleared as well: fatigue, gut issues, brain fog etc. But it’s curious that Blasto can live in some with no symptoms which tells me an underlying immune issue can make this protozoa more pathogenic.
Ok, to bring this all together for you:
The state of health is potentially affected by many different factors from person to person considering their underlying gut health/viral/parasitic load contributing to an underlying chronic dis-ease state. Sometime this chronic dis-ease can be a virus like a herpes virus (like EBV), a spirochetal parasitic bacterium like Lyme Disease, or a retrovirus like HTLV-1 (sometimes it’s not just one).
A large proportion of people with EBV also test positive with Blastocystis hominis. Also a large proportion of people who test positive for Hasimoto’s also test positive for Blastocystis hominis. (which begs the question: are there any other microbes to consider?)
If we address the gut, killing off the things that shouldn’t be there, and reintroduce the microbes that should and supporting the body’s ability to bolster these microbiota, we see symptoms of hives, brain fog, insomnia, and even Hashimoto’s disappear.
Targeting treatment on immune support through medicinal mushrooms and other herbs like astragalus, echinacea, eleuthero, and others, may be helpful. Work with a practitioner since Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition (and EBV can be as well) and stimulating the immune system with mushrooms and some of these herbs may not be helpful.
Being susceptible to a parasitic infection/bacterial/protozoan over-growth when you have an underlying chronic issue should be acknowledged and addressed appropriately. The Lyme community knows this.
People exhibiting gut issues presenting like a parasite: rule out underlying chronic conditions that may put them at higher risk.
Symptoms like brain fog, insomnia, joint pain, fatigue, urticaria, can come about due to layers of potential issues in a person and it’s likely not ONE thing that is causing it, but, for some at least, contributing factors include the presence of this protozoa Blastocystis hominis due to an underlying susceptibility.
Hashimoto’s symptoms and etiology has resolved in some ppl when eradicating Blastocystis hominis and addressing possible EBV reactivation.
The path of dysfunction may go something like this:
Immune Insult/dysfunction through infection with virus/parasitic bacteria (IE: Lyme/EBV)
Gut health declines due to immune dysfunction
Body isn’t able to clear typical microbial exposure that goes pathogenic
Health declines more and manifests as: Hashimoto’s, urticaria, and worsening brain fog, insomnia, fatigue etc.
Let’s talk about Interventions
For EBV
I use a combination of herbs and supplements
L-Lycine (1,000 mgs daily)
Lauricidin (bottle dosage)
Extracts 1:5: 1 tablespoon daily or you can combine these into a formula and take 1 tablespoon 3 times daily
Olive leaf extract
Lomatium Root Extract
Echinacea Augustafolia Root Extract
Cat Claw bark
Andographis
Reishi/Cordyceps mushroom (1 tablespoon of double extraction daily)
Address gut imbalance: black cumin seed, garlic, (oregon graperoot, goldenseal, barberry root: berberine-containing plants) Make a powder, encapsulate and take two caps three times daily for AT LEAST two to three weeks. May need repeating. I have many other plants I could suggest for rooting out ‘unwanteds’ in the gut.
Lyme Dis-ease
I use a multi-herb approach to Lyme and it’s co-infections like Babesia and Bartonella. The list is long, and I don’t use them ALL, but pulse them in and out as needed. My main herbs are as follows, given in tea, extract, or both.
Anti-parasitics: Cat’s Claw, Teasel Root, Cryptolepis, Sweet Annie, Lomatium Root, Isatis, Japanese Knotweed, andrographis.
Immune Boosters: Echinacea Augustofolia, Medicinal mushrooms of all kinds, Astragalus root, Eleuthero Root.
Detoxifying the Body: Burdock Root, Nettle Leaf, Cleavers, Bur Bur, Bupluerum, Dandelion Root, Dandelion Leaf. Other ways to detox: IR Sauna, Dry brushing, massage. This is important to flush out toxins released by dying Lyme organism which is the source of the Herxheimer Reaction.
Nervous System Support: To sleep: Valerian Root, Magnolia Bark, Kava, California Poppy, Skullcap, Jamaican Dogwood, Hops, Cannabis.
Adaptogens and other Tonics to bring balance: Oats, Nettle leaf, Ashwaganda, Holy Basil, Schisandra Berry, Gotu Kola, Lemon Balm, Bacopa, Chamomile, Mimosa Bark (Albizzia).
Digestion: half fruits and veggies daily, low to no sugar. Low to no caffeine, Animal protein of good quality. Use digestive bitters if suspected low stomach acid. A GOOD probiotic. Gut formulation above for potential over-growths like candida albicans, Blastocystis hominis, c-diff…etc. Gut parasites and over-growths are very common with Chronic Lyme.
I have many supplements to suggest and it varies from person to person, but the big ones are: Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, methylated B-complex, mineral complex. those are the big ones. I typically follow bottle dosage on most, but can advise on dosage on a person by person basis.
In closing, The human body is a complex machine and sometimes a condition can be complex as well. Many ask me, “Is there an herb for that?” And the simple answer is, there is not one herb, but many and it takes more than herbs to bring balance back to the body as we peel back the layers of dis-ease. Good sleep, light exercise, positive thought processes, mental support, and not identifying with your illness are all important aspects to consider when healing. I also recommend Reiki, an energetic healing modality that can help clear emotional trauma from the body. Addressing mind, body, and spirit is the wholistic approach to health.
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-common-root-cause-of-hashimotos-hives-and-ibs/
Sara Woods Kender
sara@sarasherbs.com
Clinical Herbalist
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Talk about Living in Circle. I was only about 10 when my elder brother came down with Mono, he was in bed for a month or more. That would have been about 1974. Not sure if flu shots existed then, if so I would suspect if so, they may have been causal. My Mom got them regularly as well, and she fell ill with cancer eventually. My Dad had fewer, but alot of dental work, and ended up with dementia. I am strangely grateful that I at least have made these connections. I came down with something very strange, like mono, like a dry whooping cough, in Nov of 2019 and it was 2-3 months before I felt like I could function normally again, exert myself. I am so glad I simply drank Burdock tea (it was all I had in the cupboard but alot of it) for 6 weeks, a pint a day. I am convinced it really helped. Never went to doc. Family did not get ill. Much later, they took the jabs, but I at least have avoided that. Pretty sure they are aerosolizing mNRA in chemtrails. Or other nasties, quite proven at this point. Thanks again for your very clear thoughts, best from Oregon.