Seattle Bartonella, Lyme Disease & Environmental Illness Doctor
Dear Patients, As you know, we continue to face evolving stages of the of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak pandemic. As a result, our office has changed its policies from in person appointments to a combination of in-person and telemedicine. We have been doing this successfully for over a month and will continue to do this … Read More “Coronavirus Patient Information” »
In the 18 years that Dr. Marra has been practicing tick-borne disease illness, there has been great controversy over the use of antibiotics in the treatment of these stealth and persistent infections. She doesn’t think the answer to this controversy is any easier today than it was 20 or 40 years ago. However, over the … Read More “The Antibiotic Controversy” »
Recent scientific research has unveiled the complexity of the human microbiome which is composed of trillions of nonpathogenic organisms that work in concert to perform various physiological functions in the human body. These microbes have coevolved with human beings over millions of years to live symbiotically and in probable functional groups, to survive in challenging … Read More “Microbiome” »
The ketogenic diet is well known for being a low carbohydrate diet, where the liver produces ketones to be used for energy instead of glucose. Typically, on a normal, higher carbohydrate diet, the body uses glucose as the main source of energy. By decreasing carbohydrate intake is induced into a state known as ketosis. Ketosis … Read More “Ketogenic Diet” »
Oxalate Intolerance can mimic Lyme Disease symptoms. Oxalates are molecules found in foods which can accumulate in the body. Vitamin B-6 deficiency, magnesium and thiamine deficiency can also increase oxalate synthesis. Additionally, there appears to be a genetic predisposition for sequestering oxalates as well. Symptoms of oxalate intolerance include: Joint inflammation Muscle stiffness Kidney stones … Read More “Oxalate Intolerance” »
Intermittent fasting is generally helpful for Lyme disease patients. There are several ways to do intermittent fasting. The most common one is called the “16/8 method”, where you would fast for 16 hours and eat for 8 hours in a day. Another method is the “5:2 diet”, where you would eat normally for 5 consecutive … Read More “Intermittent Fasting” »
Dr. Marra’s Philosophy In the last two decades, the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and other areas of the world, have experienced a rapid emergence of zoonotic diseases at an alarming rate. Multiple factors including global climate change, escalating deer and grey squirrel populations, human urban development encroachment on feral animal habitats, pollution, excessive EMF … Read More “Dr. Marra’s Philosophy” »
If you have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, by definition you have been infected with the bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi which is a spirochete. Spirochetes have a life cycle in which they can take at least one of three forms: 1) The “cyst” form where they actually resemble a small round ball, 2) the … Read More “Nutrition and Lyme” »
Hydration is a crucial piece of the healing journey. Humans are made mostly of water, ranging from 50-70% of total body mass. While we may be able to withstand 3-4 weeks without food, we can only go about 4 days without water. Water is the quintessential cleanser and helps remove toxins and cellular debris from … Read More “The Importance of Hydration” »
There are many benefits of incorporating fermented foods into your diet. Fermentation is an endogenous metabolic process that converts carbohydrates and sugars into alcohol, carbon dioxide, or organic acids. Lactic acid fermentation is a naturally occurring process in the body whereby bacteria convert carbohydrates and sugars into lactic acid. This increases the intracellular pH allowing … Read More “Benefits of Fermented Foods” »
