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BACTERIA IN STROKE AND HEART DISEASE STROKE BACTERIA AND HEART DISEASE Increasingly the evidence is emerging that ubiquitous bacteria have a causative action ina range of chronic illnesses including heart and muscular diseases as well as stroke, yet most physicians have not yet made this connection. Reflections on the "cure" of a paralysed stroke victim n 5 June 2009, the UK Times Online reported the details of the miraculous "cure" of Russell McPhee, a 49-year-old Australian man who had a devastating stroke and was paralysed for more than two decades. After multiple injections of Botox into his spastic muscles, he was able to walk again. Before its well-known use on wrinkles, Botox was used for stroke victims to counteract their muscles spasms. However, it is most unusual to get such a positive response after so many years, as in McPhee's case. Interestingly, Botox is botulinum toxin, a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is the most toxic protein known. The intense forced relaxation of McPhee's contracted muscles (along with physical therapy) was he key to initiating his "cure". Professor John Olver, one of Australia's top stroke experts, was quoted in he report: "We use botulinum toxin routinely for patients with spasticity which has been caused by stroke, brain damage or heart disease. But we use it very early on, usually within weeks of a stroke, to prevent the spasticity trom becoming a problem. Sometimes the spasticity is so severe we inject hose muscles with botulinum toxin which relaxes the muscles enough to allow a physiotherapist to strengthen and stretch them. It is unfortunate hat this patient had to wait for 20 years and extremely unusual that his reatment was so successful after being immobile for so long. But he's very ortunate that his muscles are strong enough to allow him to be able to walk." During my many years of research investigating the role of bacteria as possible agents in certain chronic diseases and in cancer, I was curious as to whether similar bacteria might play a role in heart disease and stroke or in chronic muscle disease. There are a few reasons to suspect bacteria in these conditions. First, here is increasing evidence that bacteria (and viruses) may play a heretofore unrecognised role in chronic illness. Second, there is evidence that the blood of both healthy and ill people contain bacteria. And third, there is an intimate connection between stroke, heart disease and chronic hypertension high blood pressure). by Alan Cantwell, MD © June 2009 Bacteria and chronic muscle disease By Googling "bacteria + muscle disease", one can easily review the evidence for bacteria (particularly pleomorphic cell-wall-deficient bacteria and mycoplasma) in certain chronic diseases in which muscular weaknesses, arthritic symptoms and fibrotic changes take place over time. These diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and others. Some patients with chronic diseases appear to be helped by long-term antibiotic therapy. Email: alancantwell@sbcglobal.net Website: http://www.ariesrisingpress.com NEXUS ¢ 31 AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com