The Road Back - Importance of Amino Acids for Chronic Lyme Disease
Geraldine owned a massage school “BL” (before Lyme) 15 years ago, and has researched many aspects of coping with Lyme and the parasites and co-infections that are so common with chronic Lyme sufferers. I have added some links and further references to her submission but most of the text is from her hand.
Unfortunately, and surprisingly there are hostile factions within the chronic Lyme community, and in the spirit of working together, her personal experience begins with this compassionate start:
“Whenever, you meet with someone for anything, always ask yourself, how can we empower each other?”
I want to share something with you that is helping me.
You may know about it already, and perhaps I am preaching to the choir, but for those who do not know about the importance of amino acids in our struggle to recover our health, this is what I have learned.
I want to say right upfront that I am not trying to sell you anything. I am just pointing to some important research that I think has great merit.
This is what I have learned from my own experience, but remember you should always consult your primary care physician before changing anything in your own health protocol.
I first learned of the critical importance of amino acids for chronic illness from Dr. Vickery - The Protein Doctor. According to Dr. Vickery, a sick patient is already protein deficient, and that every drug that is given relies on an already insufficient enzyme system chain. The goal is to increase the protein levels in the body supported by 100% of the essential amino acids, to have successful healing.
Dr. Vickery’s original amino acid research resulted in the Vickery Essential Amino Acids™ formula.
Ongoing research since 1997 has resulted in the all-powerful, patented, Platinum Essential Amino Acids Plus. Then, in 1999, Dr. Vickery formed SuperNutrient Corporation, where he continues to create new formulas including Sea-Aloe Gold and Vickery Sea Plant Minerals and Glyconutrients, which supplement the power of protein, digestion, and utilization contained in Platinum Plus.
More and more doctors are using these supplements in combination to favorably influence Celiac disease, fibromyalgia, back pain, and many other previously baffling conditions.
To watch Dr. Vickery’s YouTube video on Fibromyalgia Diagnosis and Treatment click here.
I originally learned about Dr. Vickery’s research on www.royalrife.com.
His current article on that site, is on amino acids and heavy metal. He has tons of articles on his own site on many pathologies. In those articles he backs up his concepts with scientific, medical information. He gives you the nuts & bolts of it all. I’m sending you here to read this, not to necessarily convince you of his product, but to look further into essential free form amino acids. His product is plant derivative and not whey. So, that may be a good option for lactose intolerant people or anyone not doing dairy.
He believes that what we are seeing with all health issues - is that we are protein deficient. We need the raw materials, and the body will assist in healing itself. He has his own patented formula (he adds MSM & has a reason for the absorbency of them). He feels once the body gets absorbent essential amino acids, it will make its own amino acids needed to do the job of operating the body, period. He says that typical on shelf protein powders are not split, they are too inexpensive to be split and thus not available to the body. I know there is Immunocal and perhaps some others are more expensive whey products are
I didn’t fully get this at first. I got his products and a free phone consult. You get a free phone consult & free follow-up consults as long as you are using the product & diet recommendations. He uses muscle testing. He also takes time to look over your history & medical reports & answers any questions himself via emails. I had a puzzling question about an insulin report that no other doctor could address and he answered it! And I think he is actually retired!
After one month of these products, I am noticing a difference. His package includes platinum amino acids, essential fatty acids (borage & flax & evening primrose combo), ox bile (pancreatin) for digestion, vitamin C powder, multiple vitamin/mineral, sea gold aloe (for healing gut).
I’m using his recommended diet of no gluten, grains, yeast free - to heal gut. I’ve now added the Hydrochloric Acid with meals and that has helped also. I no longer have the ‘attack’ feeling I had prior to this. I can eat and later not feel like I am dying!
I finally get what he is doing and trying to say to people. He’s been trying to tell people, especially doctors about free form essential amino acid usage for 20 years and I think he wants to pass this on before he leaves this planet.
He says that doctors don’t know this. I have to agree because I went back to popular books of people, who also have their own product line. For example: Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum’s “From Fatigue to Fantastic” and Dr. Mark Hyman’s “Ultra Mind Solution” - new book on healing your brain, Dr. Perlmutter’s books “Better Brain” & “Brain Recovery”.
Some of these have excellent information on other amino acids, tyrosine for example. Some didn’t mention them at all. I now wonder what Dr. Oz thinks about them!
In fairness, Dr. Mark Hyman did the best job of describing amino acids in “Ultra Mind Solutions”. He has a whole chapter ”Protein and Amino Acids: The Building Blocks of Neurotransmitters, the Language of Mood and Memory”. In one section he says “All protein is built from special building blocks called amino acids. The only function of your DNA is to take amino acids and string them together in chains and make protein. That’s all it does!”
On page 93, he says “The protein receptors for all of your brain’s neurotransmitters sit inside the fatty cell membrane.” He goes onto to say why we then need essential fatty acids to keep the cell fluid. The first statement though, tells me the cell wants protein, because it has a receptor for it, thus it is very important! On another page, he says “Enzymes are proteins.” I know enzymes are important in digestion and thus amino acids are involved here as well.
He offers many supplement suggestions. All of these suggestions are made from the essential amino acids. When they supplement this way and ignore the essential, are they assuming we have enough of those or that we are replenishing them in our diet? The American diet, as we know is quite inadequate. And the vegetarian diet, may or may not give enough protein, depending on food combining. Then add in gut problems, and digestion diminishes, leaving some of these nutrients from food not usable and in fact, becoming waste products.
When he talks about detoxification, he does say ‘a bioactive amino acid’ would be good to use, but he doesn’t explain what ‘bioactive is’ and why I might want that type. I could easily think any whey from store would do. I might use it and not get same results. If I searched for bio-active, I would find things like Immunocal ($127) or UltraClear ($75 for 2 week). The cost will prevent many from using this.
However, there is an excellent high quality whey protein produced by Premier Research (Quantum) that is much more affordable and produced in such a way that lactose intolerant people can successfully ingest as much as they want. Quantum Whey Protein Powder is only $18.95 and includes 19 essential amino acids. They also carry Quantum Nutritional Flakes for $9.95 with 18 essential amino acids and Beta-1, 3 Glucans which actively builds and supports the immune system.
Another doctor who has had a profound influence on my understanding of this critical information is Dr. Murphee, who has successfully developed Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue programs. See his programs here.
And then I came across the wonderful folks at The Road Back www.roadback.org. They use a essential free form powder protein drink that is premier - all their clients use it to get well, along with other supplements. The section on the ‘Science behind the program’ explains why they use what they use. Another similar rehab company uses “Immunocal”, which is also a bio-active amino acid, but cost is much higher. So, if folks are designing programs to help folks get off medications and drugs that are causing side effects, I think it is time we look to help ourselves similarly. With poor health comes similar issues.
The Road Back Foundation’s (RBF) Website includes information and support regarding an important and often overlooked treatment option for rheumatic and related diseases.
The particular focus here is antibiotic therapy, proven safe and effective in NIH-sponsored clinical trials. Thousands of patients have reported successfully using antibiotics for conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroses, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, Reiter’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis.
Results of an international survey of patients documented dramatic results including relief of pain, the lessening of swollen joints and an overall successful return of quality of life.*
I reflected on all of the doctors that I saw - internists, neurologists, gastroenterologist, endocrinologists, family practitioners, and Lyme specialists MD’s. Not one of them suggested any usage to support my body. Some gave me supplements. Some offered me medications. Some both…. Some of it helped. Some of it harmed. Some did nothing. Most of us have gone through this lengthy and frustrating process.
I thought of all of the acupuncturists, naturopaths, energy workers, body workers, ayervedic center, and raw food center that I visited. None shared anything about free form essential amino acids.
And if the body needs these raw materials, and we know they do, it stands that we may need some extra help in times of healing. Maybe it needs to be a premier, standard in all healing, the king of supplements.
So, for me right now and a few of my friends with baffling dis-eases, symptoms, we’re going to do his program and wait and see what happens…
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Thanks for visiting again - Please comment on the posts you read - everyone is interested in what you have to say.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Supplements are of no use to cure lyme diseases. You have to go in for some other treatment.!
September 1st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I think you are wrong. I am following the supplement regimin in the book “Healing Lyme” (Stephen Buhler) with results….
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:03 am
Donna -
I am delighted you are feeling better on Buhner’s protocol! See http://www.lymediseaseresource.com/wordpress/one-success-with-the-buhner to read about one woman’s complete recovery from Lyme using Buhner’s protocol.
The important fact which I try to convey with every blog post and every ebook is that we are all unique; our type of infection (or infections) is unique. We are like snowflakes and as such what works well for one person may not have any effect on another.
When it comes to right or wrong, I think those of us who are infected need to focus on the existence of chronic Lyme and the extreme damage it inflicts on hundreds - not, thousands of people across the country. It seems criminal to me that the mainstream medical community is lumping all of us into “crazy hypochondriacs” and disregarding their code of ethics.
Otherwise we must stand together and work towards an accurate diagnosis and effective treatments which are covered by insurance.
Blessings,
Jenna
September 5th, 2009 at 10:01 am
The reason I was “forced” to try the Buhner protocol is– after cardiologist (chest xray, EKG and stress test), orthopaedist (MRI of entire spine), endocrinologist (blood and urine tests for adrenal, hormonal and thyroid issues?–I’m 52, btw– and was found to have “normal” levels in all areas), OB/GYN and Internist (the only one that gave an ELISA test, all telling me they “couldn’t find any explanation” for my myriad of symptoms — ALL of which fall under lyme symptons– I needed to find a way to get better. Besides all the doctor visits– I also had two hospital trips–once of which resulted in an overnight stay in CICU– but all “cardiac tests” showed no “heart” issues. The internist who did agree to give me an ELISA test– which came back negative (it was more than a year after the bite) decided “you just have acid reflux– take some prilosec”. ALL my symptoms– including the initial post tick-bite rash (that took well over two months to go away) started after a bite from a deer tick (we live “in the woods” where deer are thick). Prior to this– I was PERFECTLY HEALTHY with NO MEDICAL PROBLEMS. It took my husband getting bit by tick, also– to do any research on ticks–which made me realize the source of all the weird and debilitating symptoms. A “nurse practitioner” told me about the book. Also– I have also (2 mos ago) added the supplement “Secretagogue Gold” (best described as an “amino acid stack”–but they refer to it as an HgH secretagogue) to all the other supplements and herbs from Buhners book, “Healing Lyme”– with great results! I was taking so many “pills” each day– having the powder drink with all the amino acids included– just makes it easier…
Just to share all my supplements: Japanese Knotweed (Resveratrol), Andrographis, Cat’s Claw, Devils Claw, Eleuthero Root, Smilax, CoQ10, Turmeric, Vits E, D, C, B (”Super-B Complex and also additional B12), Selenium, Acetyl L-Carnatine, alpha Lipoic acid, Milk Thistle, Folic acid, Acai. I also drinks LOTS of freshed brewed green tea (sweetened only with stevia) all day.
My symptoms were (after the rash and initial “flu-like illness– that sent me to the emergency room) include: stiff/sore neck and headaches, chest pain, arm numbness/tingleness (with chest pain and arm numbness– you can see why I was admitted to CICU), severe fatique, SEVERE sleeplessness, painful knees, pain in bottoms of feet so bad upon awakining that I can barely walk, memory problems and “foggines”, night sweats, digestive issues, weight gain(even though I follow a healty diet and exercise regimine)”strange” shooting pains throughout my body– but especially in my torso/rib area, feelings of difficulty breathing, creaking neck and “strange popping noises” in my head. But all those are almost completely gone, now. About once a month– I notice a slight return of symptoms for a day or two… Most nights I can now get at least six hours or more of sleep– whereas before– 1 1/2 - 2 hours was the most I could hope for.
October 30th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I am interested in knowing how Geraldine’s therapy is progressing. Is it possible to get an update?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I will try to get an update.
Blessings,
Jenna