Moderator: Welcome, Dr. Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND, DHANP, CCH. It is appropriate that we
talk about Lyme disease as spring arrives and we head back to the woods for recreation.
reitw: What are the key remedies for treating Lyme?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: Rhus toxicodendron is a key
remedy– showing classic signs of muscle and joint pain, better from warmth, worse cold, symptoms
move right to left, etc. However, a patient may receive any remedy depending on his symptoms. For
example I’ve seen Pulsatilla, Lachesis, Phosphorus, etc. It could be almost any remedy!
reitw: Please discuss the use of nosodes; when to use, what potencies you have had success with.
Thank you.
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: I’ve never used Lyme nosode to treat
Lyme disease. I simply take the case as I would for any other condition and prescribe. While it’s
important to know we’re working with Lyme (and not always possible to know), the case is still based
on symptomology, not disease category.
tcraumer: Have you had any results prescribing Kalmia latifolia as a remedy for Lyme
symptoms/treatment options?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: I myself haven’t used Kalmia
latifolia, but if the symptoms pointed to it, I would use it!
cbvzee: This is not related to Lyme, …but do you know if there are remedies that have been
used to help get past gluten sensitivities??
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: A well-taken case will point to a
remedy which strengthens the immune system. It could be any remedy for gluten. I’ve certainly seen
lactose intolerance clear up.
alan: You stated that the simillimum is difficult to find in the early stages of Lyme disease, why is this
so?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: In the early stage of Lyme, the
symptoms can be very vague– malaise and fever without modalities.
patriciajordan: As a veterinarian, I see Lyme’s disease as an auto-immune disease with the more
suppressed, palliated or immune-assaulted (via vaccination) as the patients most likely to “get” Lyme’s
disease? What is you opinion about vital force and Lyme’s?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: I’ve had Lyme disease twice myself
— the first time, I was in relatively good shape and the symptoms did not appear until 2 months after the
initial bite and rings. The second time I was under a great deal of stress and the Lyme was more severe
and long lasting. It’s hard to tell about other people.
Rasmati: The Western Blot test is usually done 7 days into antibiotic therapy so that there will be a
greater chance of finding antibodies for diagnosis. What have you found to be the case for diagnosing
someone that seems to be responding homeopathically; i.e. when is the best chance to see antibodies?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: I haven’t done much laboratory
testing for Lyme as so often the tests give false negatives and other tests false positives. I watch the
patient’s symptomology very carefully.
reitw: Lyme-literate doctors say that once you have Lyme, you will always have it. You may have
improvements through medication, but it won’t be eradicated from the body and there is no test. If
syphilis can be eradicated, also a spirochete, why not Borrelia?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: The spirochete can often evade
antibiotic treatment for many reasons.
Despite evading antibiotics, treatment with homeopathy seems to help create unfavorable conditions for
the spirochete to survive.
bkreitler: Connecticut veterinarian Thomas Tobin recommends
homeopathic Ledum (at the 1M level, I think, but am not sure) to treat cases of Lyme. At a panel
discussion, I heard another holistic vet recommend giving a 30C dose of Ledum as a preventative
measure whenever a tick was found on an animal. I have been doing this with my dog. Do you have any
comments about using Ledum (puncture wounds, insect bites) for preventing Lyme after a tick bite?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: I have suggested Ledum to certain
patients after a tick bite and unfortunately have still seen them develop Lyme disease.
patriciajordan: Have you heard in the human Lyme’s “help groups” about the video showing that when
the Borrelia is presented with a doxycycline treated patient, that the stage changes, the “l” form and then
the spirochete is able to evade antibiotic treatment? This group at the Health Expo said there is an actual
video proving this.
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: I have not seen this video.
Rasmati: Were you treated homeopathically for your first case of lyme? I’m possibly in a situation of an
untreated chronic case from 32 years ago with a more recent case on top. Seems like it has created a
complex disease, where I’m bouncing back and forth between 2 pictures. Have you seen much of this
kind of situation?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: The first time I had Lyme I had those
vague symptoms and my experienced practitioner could not find a simillimum. I responded quickly to
antibiotics. Yes, I have seen complex cases that seem to bounce back and forth between 2 remedies. As
long as the person is moving towards increased health, that’s fine.
sabarastoo: How did you treat yourself the two times that you got Lyme disease?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: Time 1—antibiotics, Time 2–
antibiotics and symptoms still persisted. My practitioner prescribed Rhus tox which didn’t seem to act
fast enough… so I started self treatment… a doctor who treats herself has….Then went back to Rhus tox.
Having the disease was a great lesson for me in working with patients who have it.
alan: Do you think that Lyme disease could cause a “Lyme Miasm”?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: Might be possible. At this point I can
only say spirochetes produce many symptoms, so different in each person.
reitw: Yes, I understand the forms that Borrelia takes, cysts, etc. to evade the antibiotics.
Fundamentally, though, will Homeopathy do better at eradicating the pest from the body than the
antibiotics? It’s downright creepy how it changes form to protect itself.
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: Yes, it is creepy. However,
homeopathy seems to be very helpful. The exact mechanism I couldn’t possibly begin to explain!
Rasmati: What other kinds of supportive therapies do you recommend to someone being treated
homeopathically for Lyme and its co-infections?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: Of course, good nutrition. Rest if
needed– not to push one’s self. However, if a person can exercise, do so. Increasing the body
temperature may help kill off the spirochetes. At the same time, I would also ask people to deal with any
emotional stresses which are making it harder for them to recover.
alan: Are there any remedies or plans for provings of new remedies made from ticks?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: I hope so. I should add, it’s not the
tick that is the problem, but the spirochete injected into the body, so that’s where the proving would
probably start.
amyleonard@cox.net: If a patient has responded well to antibiotics and has remained symptom-free
would you recommend any homeopathic treatment to help prevent a recurrence?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: Homeopathic treatment is wonderful
for maintaining health. However, despite being in what appears to be optimal health, people develop all
sorts of infectious conditions.
alan: I have seen great relief in Lyme disease symptoms with electromagnetic therapy, but I do not
know if it would antidote the remedies. Have you had any experience in this treatment modality?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: The most important thing I’d like to
say about treating Lyme disease is to think homeopathically. Any remedy may appear– Natrum mur,
Sulphur, whatever. If you select the simillimum for the case, adjunctive therapies such as
electromagnetic therapy will probably not be necessary. Will it antidote? Possibly. If you wish to use this
type of treatment, just observe results carefully
sewcloth:
K. ENDRES: 4 OR SO years ago I was working with a Lyme’s disease specialist in NJ who
was working with a team from Columbia University in NYC. They were developing what they called the
third generation antibiotic:
spectracef. The bacteria are changing as they become immune to other
antibiotics. Maybe by now they have come up with a new one. I agree that good nutrition, rest and
de-stressing are important. I get very sick in the winter when I am teaching, and it is dark when I go to
work and dark when I get home. I do not get enough exercise. In the summer, one week at the beach,
walking/running in the morning and swimming in the afternoon with a nap in between always seems to
“cure” me. I am just beginning to use Rhus Tox. I’m not sure what dosage and how long I need to take it.
I will have to work that out.
alan: If I could make a suggestion to sewcloth, get your Vitamin D3 levels checked, and get a SAD light
in the winter.
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: Thanks Alan. Anyone who feels
depressed in the winter should get a SAD light and have Vit D levels checked. Good in any case,
because so many of us are low in Vitamin D.
healthstar: I had an iffy test response to Lyme, and have used the Zapper with Lyme key, as in Dr.
Hulda Clark’s protocol, when I suspect symptoms. It seems to make some difference for awhile.
Antibiotics are a problem.
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: Each case is different. You can start
with a 30C taken every few hours in the first few days of treatment and then as needed. The dose at
whatever potency level you’re using may need to be repeated more frequently than you would ordinarily.
Try to find a skilled practitioner to treat you. It’s hard to treat yourself objectively. I speak from
experience!
reitw: Is there any problem treating homeopathically while on antibiotics? Heart, brain symptoms
became so overwhelming that antibiotic intervention had to begin, and now, supposedly, could go on a
long time. Yet I know homeopathy can do a lot to improve ones health. Both together, if necessary?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: No, there’s no problem using
antibiotics and homeopathy.
highveldrr: Are there particular supplements or foods that are helpful to someone with Lyme disease?
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC: A good whole-foods diet. People are
so different. Whatever diet you feel best on is best! Hopefully eating organically-grown foods.
Moderator: “Lyme Disease as the New ‘Great Imitator’: Neurological and other
non-arthritic cases” by Shandor Weiss, ND, can be found in the
Naturopathic Doctor News and Review (www.ndnr.com),
December 2007, Volume 3, Issue 12. Permission was granted to
post this article on the NCH Chat website.
alan: Any chance of Dr. Goodman-Herrick returning for a chat session on another topic? This has been
great.
Moderator: Thank you, Dr. Goodman-Herrick, for answering all our questions this evening. We
appreciate the time you have spent with us.
Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND, DHANP,CHC: Sure, I would be delighted to
return on another homeopathic topic and thank you for inviting me.