- Lyme disease affects 500,000 Americans annually, with up to 20% experiencing long-term symptoms. The documentary “The Quiet Epidemic” explores why this prevalent illness remains controversial and challenging to diagnose and treat
- The disease mimics various conditions, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. It can present symptoms similar to chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and even Alzheimer’s
- Standard testing and treatment protocols are unreliable, sparking debate between those who believe Lyme is easily treatable and those who argue it can persist despite antibiotics
- The film highlights patients’ struggles, including Julia Bruzzese’s journey, and showcases promising research in imaging techniques that could definitively detect Borrelia bacteria, which causes Lyme disease, in patients’ bodies
- Patient advocacy has been crucial in advancing understanding of Lyme disease. The documentary calls for a shift in medical approaches to complex, chronic illnesses and improved diagnostic tools
(Mercola)—For decades, Lyme disease has been a source of suffering, confusion and heated debate in the medical community. A documentary — The Quiet Epidemic1 — sheds light on this complex and often misunderstood illness, following the stories of patients fighting for proper diagnosis and treatment in the face of skepticism and conflicting medical opinions.
Lyme disease, transmitted by the bite of infected ticks, has become increasingly prevalent in the U.S. As investigative reporter Mary Beth Pfeiffer explains in the documentary:2
“We’re now up to almost 500,000 cases of Lyme disease in America every year. There are more cases of Lyme disease than HIV and breast cancer combined. Of those 500,000, about 10% to 20% will stay sick for some period of time. We now believe that something on the order of 2 million people suffer the aftereffects of Lyme disease in the United States.”
Despite its prevalence, Lyme disease remains a controversial topic in medicine. The documentary explores why this “quiet epidemic” has been so divisive and why many patients struggle to receive proper care. You can view the official trailer in the video above.
A Disease of Many Faces
One of the key challenges in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease is its ability to mimic other conditions. Dr. Richard Horowitz, a Lyme disease specialist featured in the film, explains:3
“Lyme disease may be the great masquerader of the 1980s and 90s, in that it can do almost anything … The most common misdiagnoses that I see in my practice are people who’ve been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis is a big one, patients who have dementia, Alzheimer’s. Lyme can imitate all of these different diseases.”
This chameleon-like nature of Lyme disease often leads to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment, allowing the infection to progress and potentially causing long-term damage.
The documentary follows the story of Julia Bruzzese, a once-vibrant young girl from Brooklyn, New York, whose life was suddenly upended by mysterious and debilitating symptoms. Julia’s father recounts the harrowing experience:4
“The school called me, and they said something is seriously wrong with Julia, you need to get here right away. And when I got there, I found Julia in the nurse’s office, and she was just lifeless across two chairs. I went to go nudge Julia, and I’m, ‘Julia, Julia, what’s the matter? What happened?’ She’s like, ‘Dad, I can’t see.’ She said, ‘I can’t feel my arms and I can’t feel my legs.'”
Despite extensive testing, doctors were initially unable to determine the cause of Julia’s symptoms. It wasn’t until her father’s relentless research that Lyme disease emerged as a possible explanation.
The Battle for Diagnosis and Understanding
Julia’s case highlights a common experience for many Lyme disease patients — the struggle to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Conventional tests for Lyme disease are unreliable, particularly in later stages of the illness. As the documentary reveals, this has led to a contentious debate within the medical community about how to properly diagnose and treat the disease.
The late Dr. Neil Spector, a Duke University cancer researcher and Lyme disease patient himself, emphasized the need for better diagnostic tools:5
“With all these unknowns, there is one known and that’s that people are falling through the cracks of the medical system. The burden should not be on people who are sick to prove that they’re sick. It should be on us, as medical professionals, to better understand what’s going on and to help them.”
At the heart of the Lyme disease debate is the question of whether the infection can persist after standard antibiotic treatment. The documentary explores the divide between two camps in the medical community:
- Those who believe Lyme disease is easily treatable with short courses of antibiotics and rarely, if ever, becomes chronic.
- Those who argue that Lyme can persist and cause ongoing symptoms even after initial treatment, requiring longer-term or alternative therapies.
This disagreement has led to fierce battles over treatment guidelines, insurance coverage and the very legitimacy of patients’ ongoing symptoms. The film highlights research that challenges the notion that Lyme disease is always easily curable.6 Dr. Ying Zhang, a microbiologist with Johns Hopkins University, describes a phenomenon observed in Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease:7
“We’re dealing with a very unique situation here. The current Lyme antibiotic does not completely eradicate Borrelia bacteria. We found this dandelion phenomenon. The mower is equivalent to the antibiotics, that chopped off the top part. But because the root, the possessor, is still there, they can grow back. You need drugs targeting both parts in order to more effectively cure this persistent form of the disease.”
This research suggests that standard antibiotic treatments do not always eradicate the infection, explaining why some patients continue to experience symptoms long after initial treatment.
The Human Cost of Controversy
The documentary powerfully illustrates the devastating impact that medical skepticism can have on patients’ lives. Julia’s father had to quit his job to care for his daughter full-time, while the family faced financial strain and emotional turmoil.
Spector’s story serves as another stark example. Despite being a prominent cancer researcher, he struggled for years to receive a proper diagnosis and nearly died from Lyme-induced heart failure before finally receiving a heart transplant. These stories underscore the urgent need for better understanding and recognition of Lyme disease’s diverse manifestations and long-term effects.
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The film also showcases promising developments in Lyme disease research, including revolutionary imaging techniques that could definitively show the presence of Borrelia bacteria in patients’ bodies. Upon seeing early results of this research, Spector exclaimed, “This is it. This is like proof of concept. We can actually do this.”8 He goes on to explain the impact:9
“If you could image this in the body, I think that removes all doubt. I’m not sure there’s a controversy anymore. That, to me, is pretty definitive evidence that you’ve got the bacteria, and you need to be treated for an active infection.”
Such advancements could dramatically change the landscape of Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment, potentially ending years of debate and bringing relief to countless suffering patients.
The Role of Patients in Advancing Understanding
The documentary highlights how patients and their advocates have played a crucial role in pushing for more research and recognition of Lyme disease’s complexities. Julia’s story, which gained widespread media attention after a chance encounter with Pope Francis, helped bring national attention to the issue. Horowitz emphasizes the importance of listening to patients:10
“When I was looking for answers for Lyme patients, I discovered that there were multiple reasons why people stayed ill. It was like going to a doctor’s office with 16 nails in your foot, saying you have foot pain, and the doctor pulls out one nail and says come back in a month. You still have 15 nails in your foot, you’re going to have pain.”
This patient-centered approach has led to a more nuanced understanding of Lyme disease and its co-infections, challenging the one-size-fits-all treatment model. The film also makes a compelling case for a fundamental shift in how the medical community approaches Lyme disease. Spector argued:11
“Good science will trump bad behavior. And when that change happens, hopefully, it won’t just be at the level of clinical practice, but it’ll be public policy, it’ll be insurance coverage, and all the other injustices that have really been perpetuated will sort of fall by the wayside.”
This call for change extends beyond just Lyme disease, touching on broader issues of how the medical establishment deals with complex, chronic illnesses that don’t fit neatly into existing paradigms.
Looking to the Future
As the documentary concludes, it leaves viewers with a sense of cautious optimism. While significant challenges remain in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease, the tide appears to be turning. Increased awareness, new research and the tireless efforts of patients and advocates are slowly but surely changing the conversation around this devastating illness.
Julia, now a passionate advocate for Lyme disease awareness, encapsulates this spirit of determination: “For the people suffering right now, let us be their voice. You can’t give up. Because if it was you, your family, you can’t just turn people away and say there’s no hope.”12
The film serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of medical controversies and the vital importance of continued research and open-minded inquiry. As Lyme disease continues to affect more people each year, the need for consensus, improved diagnostic tools and effective treatments becomes ever more urgent.
In the end, the documentary paints a picture of Lyme disease not just as a medical issue, but as a human one — a story of suffering, resilience and the ongoing struggle for understanding and recognition in the face of a complex and often misunderstood illness.
Tips for Lyme Disease Prevention and Treatment
Given the challenges in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, prioritizing prevention is important. Here are some key strategies to reduce your risk of tick exposure:
- Steer clear of areas where ticks thrive, such as piles of leaves near trees. When hiking, stick to the center of trails and avoid contact with tall grass or vegetation along path edges. Refrain from sitting on fallen logs or tree stumps, and be especially cautious in areas with known rat populations.
- Opt for light-colored clothing that covers your arms and legs fully. This makes it easier to spot ticks on your clothes.
- For added protection, especially in wooded areas, tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants. Wear closed-toe shoes and a hat.
- Remember that ticks are extremely small. To prevent bites, conduct a thorough tick check immediately upon returning indoors. Continue these checks for several days after potential exposure. Don’t forget to inspect your bedding during this period as well. The goal is to locate and remove ticks before they have a chance to bite, so be diligent in your post-exposure checks.
If you discover a tick has latched onto you, it’s very important to remove it properly and, if possible, to keep it alive. Use tweezers or a tick removal tool to grasp the tick as close to your skin as you can. Then, pull it straight out — do not squeeze it or twist it.13
Once removed, make sure you save the tick so it can be tested for the presence of pathogenic organisms. Put the tick into a container and label it with your name, date, site of bite and how long the tick was attached to your skin. Share this information with your local extension office or other authority.
Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, who has practiced medicine in the U.S. for over 35 years and also sees patients in England and Switzerland, is one of the leading authorities on the treatment of Lyme disease. His Lyme disease treatment protocol14 has been used to successfully restore health to hundreds of patients and is definitely something you should check out if you have Lyme disease or Lyme disease symptoms.
In the video above, Klinghardt explains his biological approach to chronic Lyme disease.15 Below is a high-level overview of Klinghardt’s major recommendations:
1.Reduce your body’s toxic burden and unload your system
- Decrease your exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) by turning off all fuses at night and limiting your exposure to wireless technologies as much as you can
- Use turquoise light/photon wave to increase your melatonin and nonREM Delta sleep
- Choose nontoxic, hypoallergenic bedding material and avoid flame retardants/polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
- Avoid light and noise pollution at night
- Detoxify your system and remove biofilms and heavy metals
2.Improve your body’s disturbed physiology
- Use Autonomic Response Testing (ART), the most advanced and scientifically validated method of muscle testing, or lab work to identify and correct deficiencies in your electrolytes, hormones and minerals
- Complete and apply the results of genetic testing
- Overhaul your diet to eliminate trigger foods and focus on eating whole, organic foods as much as possible
- Balance your copper, zinc and iron levels
3.Decrease your pathogen count
- Use ozonated plant oils (rizols) to treat: anaerobes, mold and parasites; RNA and DNA viruses; Babesia; Bartonella; and spirochetes
4.Immune modulation
- Treat immune responses to mold
- Apply autohemotherapy or auto-urine therapy
- Begin using Buhner herbs
- Introduce adjunctive physics-based immune modulation tools, also known as BioTools
- Evaluate the usefulness of antibiotic, antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral medications
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
