Step 7- Dealing with biofilm aka slime

Oh my gosh do I hate biofilm!

Biofilms are colonies of microbes. They hide safely inside a protective polysaccharide shell which protects the organisms inside from starvation, drying out, the immune system, and antibiotics. Inside they’re free to mingle and exchange information.* As M.D. William Rawls put it in his book Unlocking Lyme; “imagine a crowded dance floor with bodies squeezed together forming a uniform mass swaying to the rhythm of the music.”

If immune function is compromised, like in chronic immune dysfunction, biofilm can form on surfaces of the body. It’s very hard to rid your body of these biofilms and when the bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi finds the environment safe they come out (multiplied by now) and goes wild in the body causing the known relapses and/or other complications.

Common biofilm illnesses include bacterial vaginosis, chronic UTI’s, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, middle ear infections in children, heart valve infections. “Lyme disease is not primarily a biofilm disease.” According to M.D. William Rawls. However, symptoms of Lyme disease are caused by the bacteria manipulating the immune system to generate inflammation, and it can allow the biofilm generated by other bacteria to flourish. Ex: Dizziness common in Lyme disease may be related to biofilm formation with calcium deposits in the inner ear probably caused by other baacteria.*

How can you overcome biofilm?

A strong immune system will do it:)

Herbal therapy with antimicrobial and immune-enhancing properties (garlic, zinc, elderberry, echinacea, mushrooms, sage, artemisia, calendula, capsicum etc). Personally I respond really well to artemisia.

Essential oils like eucalyptus and thyme.

Protein-digesting enzymes.

Monolaurin- comes from coconut fat.

NAC (N-acetyl cysteine.

EDTA, a chelating agent.

Oxygen and nitric oxide. *

More research is needed and being done on biofilm, but one think research has shown is the ineffectiveness of antibiotic treatment against biofilms.

On a personal note, I believe based on the research I did, that lyme bacteria can hide for years in these biofilm colonies, multiply and get stronger and a compromised immune system due to trauma, accident or serious illness can trigger them and set them free to cause extensive damage in the body. For me personally was a combination of my little brother Fanu passing away and third pregnancy. I absolutely love Alex, my third and don’t regret anything but I will forever miss my little brother, Fanu.

Hope some of this information has been of help to you today and keep fighting, a cure may be around the corner:)

God Bless:)

*Quotes or information taken from the book Unlocking Lyme by William Rawls M.D.

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