Business
Today on Hempire our host is joined by Dr. Ernie Murakami from Dr. E. Murakami's Centre for Lyme Research, Education & Assistance Society. Dr. Murakami became involved in Lyme Disease while in his practice based in the rural community of Hope, British Columbia. Through his practice, he developed two new methods of tick removal, one which was the Blister Method; the injection of a pre-measured mixture of Xylocaine and Adrenaline directly beneath the jaw of the tick. This method is used today, primarily in Medical offices and by Emergency Physicians. The second method was the Drinking Straw and Single Knot Method, in which the attached tick is placed inside the straw, with the straw held at a 45 degree angle. A suture string is placed under the straw, directly in contact with the mouth of the wood tick. A single knot is applied. Constant alternating releasing pressure is applied upwards away from the skin and the tick releases itself intact, from the host. This technique was accepted by the Compensation Board and the Justice Institute for the training of ambulance and first-aid personnel and is in full use today. These techniques were at the time, being taught by Dr. Murakami to other Physicians at International Conferences. During the times spent at these clinics, he became familiar with the treatment of Lyme, both long term and short term, as well as the split theories surrounding the treatment of Lyme. One fraction believed that only 3 weeks of treatment was adequate at any level, despite the fact that this had been disproven, while the other half believed that long-term treatment was required to eradicate the Cystic form of the disease, based on biological fact. Dr. Murakami became intrigued with the disease as to the epidemiology with his first case of confirmed Lyme Disease in Agassiz, BC at the Federal Penitentiary. This patient showed the typical bulls-eye rash that developed soon after being infected. A second case intrigued him further when another patient from Hope, BC was confirmed to have a typical rash and a positive Eliza serology. Both these patients responded to three weeks of antibiotic treatment.