Dear Colleagues:
I hope you are well. This is one of the more important newsletters. This newsletter has the first draft of a paper we are working on plus the announcement of 3 new products (1 test vial and 2 remedies). I have been using these for a few months as have some other docs with great results We will get right to the paper and the newsletter and skip the preliminaries.
Biofilms
Michael Lebowitz DC and Jeff Robinson DC
A Biofilm is a negatively charged group of sticky cells which produce a matrix of extracellular polymeric substance. Biofilms, also referred to as “bacterial slime”, are generally composed of extracellular DNA, proteins, polysaccharides, microbes, minerals and heavy metals.
Dental plaque is one example of a Biofilm. The “plaque” material that adheres to the teeth is made up of bacterial cells (mainly Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis), salivary polymers and bacterial extracellular products. The accumulation of microorganisms subjects the teeth and gums to high amounts of bacterial metabolites which results in dental disease. Some hypothesize that atherosclerosis plaque is a biofilm and biofilms are very problematic in cases of many different spirochetes, fungi etc.
A Biofilm can be comprised of multiple microbes; bacteria, viral, protozoa, parasite, and fungus that cohabitate and engage in "quorum sensing", an evolutionarily old form of microbial communication that symbiotically can aid both species. A Lyme Disease researcher in New York also demonstrated that Borrelia species not only produce biofilm, but can live in the community in any form (i.e., spirochete, L form, spheroblast, and cyst). Additionally, other zoonotic bacteria such as Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Mycoplasma species inhabit these communities as well. The biofilm is used to both protect the microbes from the hosts' immune system, while also serving as a nutritional reservoir in times of harsh environmental conditions. It's a very evolutionarily old and efficient way to ensure that many bacteria of a certain species survive, thrive and replicate.
Biofilms are said to be anchored at certain places by positively charged ions including: calcium, magnesium, mercury, lead, etc. This may be why when a patient undergoes heavy metal chelation, they often experience an exacerbation of symptoms. Chelation of minerals and metals essentially destabilizes the biofilm, rendering the inhabiting bacteria more vulnerable to the hosts' immune system and antimicrobials.
Biofilms have been found to be involved in large percentages of all infections in the body. Chronic sinusitis patients undergoing surgery presented with Biofilms 80% of the time. Other infectious processes in which biofilms have been implicated include common problems such as urinary tract infections, catheter infections, middle-ear infections, endocarditis, infections in cystic fibrosis, and infections of permanent indwelling devices such as joint prostheses and heart valves. More recently it has been noted that bacterial biofilms may impair cutaneous wound healing and reduce topical antibacterial efficiency in healing or treating infected skin wounds. We personally have found biofilms most problematic in lyme and its co-infections, candida, as well as many intestinal flora issues and sinus issues.
Oftentimes microbes will form biofilms in response to treatment with pharmaceutical antibiotics making it harder to eradicate the microbe as well as the possibilty of causing a relapse at some point in the future.
Current treatments for biofilms include proteolytic enzymes (serrapeptase/lumbrokinase/nattokinase) which are effective at dissolving mucopolysaccharides. Other products used for biofilms include EDTA (Calcium, Heavy metal removal), Silica (In vitro studies show biofilms do not grow on silicone rubber),N-acetylcysteine and lactoferrin. The problem with these agents is that none are highly antimicrobial and as a result can result in microbes being released into the systemic circulation and causing problems far removed from their original site. We have seen patients end up with serious complications from using these agents. Even if you are taking a separate antimicrobial simultaneously (which it is very advantageous to do), it is much more effective if your biofilm degrader is also an anti-microbial to further minimize the possibility of complications.
Select essential oils, on the other hand, are equally effective in biofilm degradation as the above mentioned products as well as being anti-microbial. Some are able to penetrate the biofilm layer, while others interrupt “quorum sensing” (a type of communication between organisms to help them survive), and kill a broad spectrum of microbes, and some do both. We have found them to be the most effective biofilm degraders with the least amount of potential negative side effects.
As the biofilm diminishes, endotoxins secreted or excreted by bacteria that are contained within the matrix, are then released into the bloodstream often causing a “herxheimer” effect. A remnant of the sticky biofilm probably facilitates toxins adhering to tissue surfaces and blood vessel endothelium, forming viscous (thick) or hypercoagulable blood. These can be minimized with the proper use of detoxification agents.
After much research we are pleased to offer you 3 products
1) A biofilm test vial (Supreme Nutrition Products 1-800-922-1744). This was developed by our test kit company in England but is available through Supreme Nutrition as the company in England did not want to be swamped with one vial orders and neither did AK Test Kits.
2) BFB-1 and BFB-2 (Supreme Nutrition)- These 2 products developed by Michael Lebowitz DC are each made from a combination of essential oils. Oils that were reported in the medical literature to degrade biofilms, as well as oils mentioned in the book of Exodus (used by the priests to prevent infection during the slaughtering of sacrifices) as well as a few other oils were clinically tested to find synergistic blends to help degrade biofilms. We use these oils topically- applying one drop each to the earlobe, thumb and foot, twice daily. After two weeks it can be increased to 3x/day. If both formulas test positive (this is a common occurrence) and negate a positive test on the biofilm vial (this vial weakens a very high per centage of chronic patients) we apply one formula to the right side and one to the left (a total of 3 drops- each side- one on earlobe, one thumb, and one foot) and switch sides each day. If only one formula tests we use all 6 drops of that formula on the 3 areas bilaterally. Occasionally we see herxheimer reactions from this treatment and it should be stopped for a day or two and then continued at a lesser dose. The biofilm vial can help you monitor your progress. Occasionally we apply the blends to symptomatic areas as well but be careful not to use too much to avoid a potential die off reaction.
These oils should be used in conjunction with the proper Supreme antimicrobials (choose from Morinda, Melia, Golden Thread, Illicium, Vital guard, Schisandra, and Oral Defense) as your testing and clinical judgment dictates.
Detoxification Products such as Takesumi, Manjistha, Schisandra, Smilax, and Camu (all Supreme), as well as bentonite should be tested also throughout the process as these will show up as the biofilm byproducts need to be eliminated from the body.
Since many conditions with biofilms also may have hypercoagulation, you need to consider a product like Hemoguard supreme (it typically increases the "distance test" with antimicrobials) in addition to allowing deeper penetration of the other supplements. Remember do not use Hemoguard if the patient is on a pharmaceutcal blood thinner.
It is advantageous to monitor patients at least weekly as things breakdown and supplement needs may change
Dr Lebowitz hopes to offer a more detailed explanation on biofilm sometime in the not too distant future. We have seen very positive changes in some very difficult patients when this procedure was added to your existing protocols. Feel free to contact Dr Lebowitz with questions and feedback.
Note: AK Test Kits will have a small price increase August 1st so if you anticipate ordering you will save alittle $ if you do so soon.
*We will be in Tempe, AZ the last half of July. If you would like a one on one seminar there- schedule with us asap. This may be the last chance before we return to Hawaii.
MATERIALS AVAILABLE FROM DR. MICHAEL LEBOWITZ
1. DVD: Treating the Complex Patient 2012:This DVD seminar, approximately 4 1/2 hours long will teach the physician a simple to apply, effective protocol to treat patients with chronic fatigue, allergies, chemical sensitivities, intestinal dysbiosis, (fungal, bacterial, parasitic, spirochete, and viral infections), food sensitivities, food toxin intolerance, hypercoagulation problems, toxic metal issues, endocrine dysfunction, nutritional imbalances, chronic pain and subluxations, fibromyalgia, etc. Knowledge of basic muscle testing is helpful. The DVD set is suited for both the novice and the advanced practitioners in our work and is much updated from our last one. A complete set of advanced notes accompanies the DVD. Price is $160ppd. You can send a check or go to our website (www.michaellebowitzdc.com) if you wish to use a credit card. Dr. Lebowitz is available to answer questions about the procedures after you watch the seminar, or to consult with on difficult patients.
2. Clinical Indications of Supreme Nutrition Products can also be downloaded from our website or obtained by calling Mid American Marketing 1-800-922-1744.
3. Personal Seminars with Dr. Lebowitz: Dr. Lebowitz teaches seminars to one or two doctors at a time his office in Scottdale and at his winter residence in Honolulu. This is probably the best way to learn our protocols with a personalized hands on experience. Usually $300. For more info go to http://michaellebowitzdc.com/html/personal.html or call us at 808 888-5854
4. Test Kits for Dr. Lebowitz protocol. Call AK Test Kits at 1-888-323-0625 or see our website http://www.michaellebowitzdc.com for more details. Info is also available on CD-Rom. These kits will greatly simplify and speed up your testing making you more efficient and accurate in patient assessment. These are “diagnostic kits”. Supplement kits are ordered directly from Supreme Nutrition.
5. Body Restoration An Owners Manual An updated and expanded version of my first book Body Mechanics published almost 30 years ago. Part 1 has a chapter on each organ/gland. Each chapter teaches basic anatomy and physiology, causes and symptoms of dysfunction, as well as simple treatments your patient can do at home to complement your treatment. Part 2 explains the role of dysbiosis, food intolerances, toxic metals, nutritional deficiencies and neurotransmitter imbalances in health.
The book is a great review for the doctor, but better yet it is a great tool to recommend to your patient. It will give them a better understanding of how their body works and the causes of health and disease, as well as the rationale of why you treat the way you do. It is very pro chiropractic. It is available on kindle
Or if you don’t have a kindle http://bodyrestorationanownersmanual.com/html/Order.html and we will send you a PDF of it
6. Body Restoration Cookbook- This companion volume to the above book was written by Cynthia Lebowitz and is in disk form. A wonderful tool for your patients as it contains almost 100 recipes- most without gluten, dairy, nightshades, etc. One copy is $12ppd, 10 for $60ppd. OUT OF STOCK http://www.bodyrestorationanownersmanual.com/html/Cookbook.html