about two years ago the hygienist in my dentist's office took a slide of material from my gum pockets and found a lot of "spirochete" bacteria. She gave me a reproduction of a 1999 letter from an MD to the Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients which has also been reproduced at:

 

 

I took herbs she ordered from that company (Monastery of Herbs) and they completely cleared up the problem. Now I seem to have some of these bacteria again and have ordered the herbs again.

 

In any case the article seems to indicate that these bacteria are dangerous and that many common practices by which saliva can be exchanged - such as partaking of food or drink from other people's cups or plates - are actually somewhat unwise and possibly quite dangerous.

 

But I haven't been able to find much else to corroborate this point of view.

 

Any knowledgeable opinions would be much appreciated.