Morgellon's Disease: suffering and causes are both genuine

Few ailments in recent history have been the subject of as much controversy and even ridicule as Morgellon's Disease (or Syndrome). Having been in the medical limelight a great deal of late due to a plethora of cases, mostly in the southern US and west coast, experts of many types ranging from psychiatrists to epidemiologists have taken sides, either as believers or scoffers.

The condition itself is mysterious and horrifying: its victims have the sensation of insects crawling under their skin; they even claim that strange fibers, varying in color, emerge from their bodies at different points. Tragically, some who exhibit such unusual symptoms have been so tortured by the intense pain that, not finding any relief, and being derided as delusional by the medical profession, they have taken their lives.

Conventional medicine has labeled the disease a mental illness, claiming the sufferers imagine the parasites afflicting them subcutaneously. How, then, would they come up with the colored fibers emerging from the lesions that are supposedly self-inflicted? Also, why would the cases reported be more prevalent in specific regions of the country? Some theories currently being explored are links to actual parasites. In fact there is some resemblance to one parasite, called loa loa, that has its life cycle under the skin of its human host, after being virtually injected by the bite of the adult fly. Although this may not be the actual culprit, there is the possibility that another, at this point unknown/unnamed, insect is responsible.

Another theory involves the possible result of genetically-modified foods causing insects to mutate. Since these foods haven't been around long enough for us to know exactly how they will affect the environment, how can we tell if other organisms haven't already maladapted? Look at the MRSA bacteria: these "supergerms" have evolved due to being bombarded with antibiotics. It's not a far stretch to suppose that higher lifeforms could react in a similar manner.

Still another idea involves an offshoot-illness caused by Lyme Disease. Some scientists claim there are similarities between this illness, caused by deer ticks (another parasite), and Morgellon's. In this event, there is hope for the victims, as Lyme Disease IS treatable.

While the scientific world still squabbles over the reality of this ailment, the alternative medicine field is searching for solutions. There is some hope already of effective herbal treatments, for example. In the meantime, holistic health providers look at patients not as hysterical self-mutilators, but as people with new loa loalegitimate conditions, in need of help, and in need of being believed.