So you had the diagnosis, you’ve started treatment & you’re wondering what else you can do to help you through the healing process? Here’s a few pointers gathered from the book The Lyme Disease Solution by Ken Singleton.
The borrelia batcteria don’t like HEAT!
Result! Try having a nice hot bath & fill it with some epsom salts (I also add bicarbonate of soda). Epsom salts hep to draw out the toxins & the hotter the bath the better as it will help you sweat out the nasties. When you get out of the bath & can bear it, try drip drying to allow the epsom salts to dry on your skin or alternatively make a massage cream by diluting some in warm water & adding to massage oils or moisturisers. Epsom salts are full of magnesium which as well as good for drawing out toxins it is also good for the brain. For more tips on the benefits of Epsom salts go to http://www.care2.com/greenliving/use-epsom-salts-13-wonderful-ways.html
The borrelia batcteria don’t like OXYGEN!
Result! Try going out at LEAST once a day & take 30 deep breaths of air to fill your lungs. If you can manage to walk even better, maybe even circulate the arms to help get your muscles working & increase the blood flow. Maybe sit & read a book outside for 10 minutes. It may even help to clear the mind & avoid depression.
The borrelia batcteria don’t like a healthy IMMUNE SYSTEM!
Result! OK, this is a hard one for the chronically ill, but according to many Lyme doctors including Joseph Burrascano & the author Ken Singleton, there are things you can do to help your immune system. Try taking antioxidant supplements including co-enzyme Q10 which is a fat soluble antioxidant (take with meals) which supports the heart & helps with energy production in the body. Alpha lipoic acid which is a water soluble antioxidant which reduces neuro toxins as it’s able to cross the blood-brain barrier. It also helps reducing damage caused by free radicals & helps the body to work with other antioxidants to strengthen the immune system & increase energy & can support liver function during treatment. Probiotcs to help support the gut & prevent systemic yeast overgrowth. If left unchecked candida can cause leaky gut syndrome which prevents absorption of essential nutrients in the body. Take high potency probiotics daily during & a couple of months after treatment. Multivitamins – taking a good range of vitamins is essential to support the body in fighting this disease. Vitamin C & all the B vitamins are considered the two most important vitamins, as well as magnesium.
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Other ways to help you heal for not much money!
Pacing:-
Try & let your body rest & avoid overdoing it. This is probably one of the hardest things I have found to do but the key to it is to learn how much your body can do on a bad day & stick to that same level of activity on a good day. This prevents you from doing too much on good days that you essentially deplete your energies making it harder on your body. During a recent pain clinic meeting the following scenario was set – imagine having 2 glasses of water one empty & one full. Each time you do an activity you are essentially pouring some of the water out of the full glass – this resembles your energy depletion. If you rest then this glass eventually tops itself back up to the previous level. If however you do too much or the body is already drained from feeling ill then the water level will drain too quickly & it will not be able to fill. You will therefore crash. Each time you crash your body is already weakened & so it takes longer for the glass to fill. The best method is to realise how much energy each task could be costing you – is it a high energy task or a low one? Remember your energy can be depleted even by small things such as reading or talking depending on the severity of the illness. Then set yourself a limit on how much you can allow yourself on each task & alternate mental activities & physical ones with rest periods in between. Once you have found a comfortable level then you can start increasing the activities VERY slowly & be prepared to re-adjust if you have a set back. This can be frustrating but set yourself little goals – for instance:
Walk to the 1st power line pole / lamp post & turn back
Try passing two & then turn back a week later
Try passing three & so on.
It’s quite exhilarating when you achieve the goal & maybe you can give yourself a treat afterwards!
Reading:-
As they say, knowledge is power. Spend your time reading about Lyme, get in touch with other members to help you through the bad times & offer support when they are down. A topic called ‘Lyme books’ has been started in the discussion board. If you have any other to recommend let us know!
Relaxation:-
This might sound strange – after all, you may have been unable to work through the illness, you are housebound, how much relaxing do you need to do? But are you REALLY relaxed? Being in pain makes you tense, feeling frustrated with the illness makes you angry, you may feel edgy due to lack of sleep. To help you relax try to listen to some chill out music, take some lovely deep breaths & go to a warm sunny place in your mind. Maybe picture yourself walking along the beach with the sun on your back & the cool water between your toes. Imagine yourself being healthy & feeling happy inside. Repeat to yourself that you are healing & feeling happy. When you finish have a few stretches & some deep breaths to finish.
Positive thinking:-
It’s very hard to remain positive through it all but there are ways. A little hug from friends or family, talking to others with the same disease, spreading the word of awareness on Lyme disease & tick prevention, watching some comedy on the television are all ways that can make you feel better. Something that I love to do daily is Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). There is software available that transmits brainwave patterns through your headphones & you can set voices in the background which act as scripts – for instance my favourite setting is a 10 minute chronic fatigue / energy / motivation session which utilises the brainwave pattern noises, plus has sounds of bird song plus I set a script saying ‘you are happy, healthy & optimistic’ or ‘you are healing’. I then try & close my eyes & visualise myself feeling happy & walking along the beach or relaxing in a pool. It’s very refreshing & well worth the money!
http://www.transparentcorp.com/products/np/
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Cleansing Neurotoxin Overload
by Victoria Bowmann, PhD
The author describes methods in detoxing and how to look after the health of your colon, liver and lymphatic system during treatment. Some good tips there!
http://www.publichealthalert.org/Articles/victoriabowmann/Cleansing%20Neurotoxin%20Overload.html
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Calling all tea lovers!
Birt & Tang do some excellent teas to help you heal. They include:
Detox Tea -Ingredients: Green tea • Violet • Dandelion • Milk Thistle • Apple • Ginger • Cloves • Fennel • Liquorice
Dandelion is used to gently purify the bloodstream and liver of toxins while Milk thistle is believed to have protective effects on the liver and improve its function. The ancient Chinese used these carefully selected herbs to cleanse the major organs and restore the body’s natural energy and vitality.
http://www.birtandtang.co.uk/detox.html
Redox Tea – Ingredients: Green Tea • Apple • Turmeric root • Red sage root • Lemon grass • Tianyeju • Tangerine peel • Chinese cinnamon • Notoginseng
Its unique recipe combines familiar sources of antioxidants – such as apple, vitamins C and E and plants extracts called ‘polyphenols’ – with traditional Eastern sources, such as cleansing green tea, turmeric root, black plum and Chinese cinnamon.
http://www.birtandtang.co.uk/birt-tang-tea-shop/womens-health/redox.html
Imuplus Tea – Ingredients: Milk vetch root • Jiao gu lan • Epimedium brevicornum • Siberian ginseng • Apple • Tuckahoe • Radix adenophorae strictae • Wild jujuba seed • Black plum • Dry ginger • Liquorice
Birt&Tang’s ImuPlus herbal tea contains a variety of adaptogen herbs, which cleverly help the body to adapt to prolonged physical and emotional stress and fight infections. These adaptogen herbs include Astragalus, Jiaogulan, Ginseng and Tuckahoe which are cleverly blended by Birt&Tang to help you cope with whatever life throws at you.
http://www.birtandtang.co.uk/birt-tang-tea-shop/immunity/imuplus.html
Enjoy your cuppa!
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Posted by a fellow sufferer on Eurolyme (posted with permission)
Detoxification and alkalising the body helps us get through the herxes.These are the tactics I use, it combines advice I have been given by llmds and other patients, this is not a comprehensive list and I ‘m sure others will add their own favourite methods of what works for them :
For detoxification – cholestyramine, chlorella , epsom salt baths, FIR sauna, topical or iv glutathione
For alkalising the body (can help with aches and pains) a whole fresh lemon in warm water (apparently leaves alkaline residue in stomach, not acid), half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in warm water, eat plenty of alkalising foods (usually lots of fruit and veg), avoid coffee, avoid sugar, avoid processed foods.
Ensure your bowels are opening at least twice daily to eliminate toxins out through your gastric tract.
I was told to avoid paracetamol for pain relief at this time, as it depletes the body further of glutathione which is probably already in short supply and is an essential chemical in the detox. process.
From my experience, herxes will happen on and off as you go through treatment but hopefully they will lessen and become less frequent as you start to improve.
For more detail, the chlorella I use is chlorella pyrenoidsa (C.P.Protect 200mg) from Self Health Enterprises, they sell a lot of Klinghardt products and have an online shop, I sometimes take 5 tablets half an hour before meals to mop up toxins. FIR sauna means Far Infra Red sauna. For mercury/heavy metal detoxification I am prescribed EDTA suppositories every 3rd night. I think the EDTA has made a big difference to me. It is important to add in vitamins and trace minerals though, as the EDTA pulls these out of the body too.
Good luck !
Catherine
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For more tips on detox and immune boosters check out the Vitamin Guinea Pig site:
Immunity Boosters: http://www.vitaminguineapig.com/page55.php
Body Cleanse & Metal Detox: http://www.vitaminguineapig.com/page29.php
Recovery & Body Rebuild: http://www.vitaminguineapig.com/page2.php
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Castor Oil Packs
Castor oil has been shown to increase circulation, promote elimination, and heal tissues and organs. It is an excellent adjunct to any detoxification program as it is particularly effective in being absorbed into lymph circulation which can improve digestion, immune function, and reduce swelling in injured joints and extremities. It will also help relieve muscle cramps, abdominal cramps or menstrual cramps. Additionally, it has been used in cases of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts. Other conditions indicated for use of Castor oil packs include headaches, liver disorders, constipation, intestinal disorders, gallbladder inflammation or stones and conditions with poor elimination.
Castor oil demonstrates the unique ability to sink into the skin and relax smooth muscle. This trans-dermal action has shown a beneficial influence on all hollow organs, especially the blood and lymph vessels, the uterus, fallopian tubes, bowels, gallbladder, and even the liver (which is not hollow, but contains numerous venous pools).
When placed on the skin, a Castor oil pack increases circulation, and promotes elimination and healing of tissues and organs beneath the skin. In general, Castor oil application increases the efficiency of circulation throughout the pelvis cavity. Good circulation is required for supportive nutrients to be delivered to the cells, and for waste products and inflammatory factors to be removed. This is highly beneficial to the body’s overall immune system. When placed over the liver area, it enables your liver to do its job more efficiently, including the metabolism of hormones and elimination of toxins.
DO NOT USE CASTOR OIL PACKS IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR LACTATING OR DURING MENSTRUATION. DON’T APPLY TO BROKEN SKIN. DO NOT USE IN THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: ULCERS, CANCEROUS TUMOURS.
http://www.icim.ie/patient_information/castor_oil_pack.htm
For details on how to make a castor oil packs mosey on down to:
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/dietarytherapy/a/CastorOilPack.htm
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Could Wheat grass help us?
I’ve heard that chlorophyll is good for detoxing. Wheat grass has high oxygen content & they even claim antibacterial properties which will be useful for Lyme sufferers.
Here’s some more pointers from http://www.wheatgrass.ie/undisputed_facts_organic_wheatgrass.html
THE UNDISPUTED FACTS ABOUT ORGANIC WHEATGRASS
SOME PROVEN BENEFITS – ALL FROM THIS ONE REMARKABLE PRODUCT!
1. WheatGrass is 70% chlorophyll – containing more light energy than any other substance
2. WheatGrass has the highest oxygen content of any other green plant. This high oxygen content keeps the human brain and body functioning at optimal efficiency.
3. WheatGrass chlorophyll is anti-bacterial – healing both on the inside when ingested and outside the body when used topically. In fact, the chlorophyll in WheatGrass arrests the growth and development of unfriendly bacteria.
4. WheatGrass is digested within 15 minutes to quickly raise energy levels! (Dr. Bernard Jensen)
5. WheatGrass chlorophyll actually rebuilds the bloodstream, without any toxic reaction. Even cases of severe anaemia have returned to normal after taking WheatGrass – in as little as 14 days!
6. The high magnesium content in WheatGrass chlorophyll builds enzymes that restore sex hormones.
7. WheatGrass delivers over 100 vital elements needed by humans to maintain optimum health.
8. WheatGrass is a super detoxifying agent, even when compared to carrot juice and other fruit and vegetables. Dr. Earp Thomas, associate of the Ann Wigmore foundation, says that 15 pounds of WheatGrass is equivalent to 350 pounds of carrots, lettuce and celery.
9. WheatGrass flushes out drug deposits from the body.
10. WheatGrass neutralizes harmful body toxins, purifying the liver.
11. WheatGrass stabilizes blood sugar problems, helping to prevent and if already present, control diabetes.
12. Swishing WheatGrass around the mouth before you swallow prevents tooth decay. Gargling with WheatGrass juice reduces sore throat inflammation and pain.
13. Drinking WheatGrass regularly helps improve skin problems such as acne, eczema or psoriasis.
14. WheatGrass keeps hair from greying. Really!
15. WheatGrass is high in all essential enzymes.
16. WheatGrass is great for healing and detoxifying the colon walls, significantly improves digestion as well as healing and cleansing the internal organs. .
17. WheatGrass can also dissolve lung scars formed from breathing acid gasses.
18. WheatGrass capillary enhancement properties can actually reduce high blood pressure.
19. WheatGrass also helps remove toxic heavy metals from the body.
20. WheatGrass is the most natural, safe and very best supplement you can take to improve your health and general wellbeing.
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For a list of natural antibiotics jump to our new topic at:
http://ticktalkireland.wordpress.com/facebook-contents-page/natural-antibiotics/
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Drug interactions checker
Look up supplements, herbs & vitamins, over the counter meds as well as prescription meds to check for any interactions:
http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
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Advice regarding depression & how to get through it.
Posted by a fellow sufferer on Eurolyme (posted with permission)
First get a plan by following the advice from the veterans on here. Second stick to it! When you are depressed all sorts of dark thoughts pop up,don’t listen to that inner voice, don’t go there.
Just follow your plan, “smell the flowers” try to appreciate what is good and beautiful around you, a puppy, kids,food,family, movie etc. You should absolutely take the antidepressant, the longer your brain stays in that depressed state the longer and more severe the consequences will be. Depression cause bad things to happen with your brain and the bio chemistry that can be irreversible. So again take the medication I can’t tell you have important that is. You might feel worse for a couple of weeks but there are ways to work around it.
By walking, dancing, running or jumping around for min 15 minutes 5 days/ week with your arms swinging widely in a tempo that increases your heart-rate enough, (you can still talk but not sing), while doing it. This will alter the bio chemistry in your brain so you will feel less down and more relaxed, and less anxious.
Another way to feel more up is to smile, even a fake smile helps, just keep smiling, if you find it difficult put a pen between your teeth and fake it, sounds silly but it works. Don’t isolate yourself, go out among people,animals, nature. Help somebody with something, activate the brains reward system. Set up small goals, play a game with others or alone etc so you can reward you with something afterwards,the brain loves the reward system,… By doing this your brain can recover some and balance hormones, signal substances etc easier.
Massage or other things you enjoy are great medicine, just keep at it
and don’t give your dark thoughts any fuel.
Take care and keep going!!!
Helena
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CoQ10: The Miracle Molecule : Experience Life Magazine
By Pamela Weintraub / December 2010
With an astonishing array of applications, CoQ10 offers something for virtually everyone — from fitness buffs to those at high risk for heart disease and cancer…
..For those with fatiguing illnesses — fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme disease, for example — evidence points to positive results, something that only makes sense given CoQ10’s central energy-producing role. In one study, 64 percent of fibromyalgia patients treated with CoQ10 (and ginkgo biloba) reported improvement.
Finally, there is much talk of using CoQ10 to treat Parkinson’s disease and other disorders where neurodegeneration and mitochondrial damage play a role. For a long time the evidence was merely observational — physicians observed that Parkinson’s patients given CoQ10 appeared to improve. But recently, experimental evidence has given the strategy more weight.
At the University of California–San Diego, a placebo-controlled trial found that among those with early Parkinson’s disease, deterioration occurred more slowly in those given 1,200 milligrams per day of CoQ10 for 16 months. At Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, a large phase-3 clinical trial comparing placebo with doses of 1,200 and 2,400 milligrams of CoQ10 daily is now under way.
Click to website for more:
http://www.experiencelifemag.com/issues/december-2010/healthy-eating/coq10-the-miracle-molecule.php
Please note the following..
CoQ10’s rare side effects are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or palpitations. CoQ10 also may interfere with the blood-thinning effect of warfarin, or Coumadin, a medicine given to millions of people at risk for blood clots and stroke.
As always, consult your healthcare provider before beginning any nutritional supplementation.
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Heal with Far Infrared Therapy
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 by: Melanie Grimes, citizen journalist
http://www.naturalnews.com/031045_infrared_therapy_healing.html
(NaturalNews) Far Infrared Therapy utilizes light wavelengths below the frequency of visible red light. Though the light is not visible to the human eye, it can be felt as heat. Used in radiant heating units in homes, Far Infrared (FIR) penetrates below the skin and can be used as a medical therapy.
Medical Uses of Far Infrared Therapy
FIR therapy is light or heat therapy that has been found to increase blood flow and white blood cell function. FIR light helps remove toxins from the body and speeds the healing of tissues. FIR increases the metabolic rate and stimulates the hypothalamus. The FDA has approved far infrared lights to warm newborn infants in hospitals. The toxins in silicon breast implants may be removed by use of FIR therapy. FIR therapy creates a low fever state, with a one to three degree rise in body temperature. This stimulates the production of white blood cells and killer T cells, thereby improving immunity.
Diseases Treated by Far Infrared Therapy
Many diseases respond to FIR therapy. Arthritis, bursitis and rheumatism are improved by the heat element. Far infrared helps burn calories and reduce obesity. FIR has been shown to reduce symptoms of Raynaud’s syndrome, Lupus, and Chronic Fatigue.
Mechanism of Healing in Far Infrared
The human body is capable of absorbing infrared light wavelengths between 3 and 50 microns. The most beneficial have been found to be the waves between 6 and 14 microns, with the best absorption rate at 9.4 microns. The light rays penetrate into the body to a depth of three inches, providing deep heating to muscles and organs. The light dilates blood vessels, thereby increasing oxygen flow to the joints and muscles and reducing pain. Improved blood flow to the lymph reduces inflammation.
Heavy Metals Eliminated by Far Infrared Therapy
When the body is exposed to 9.4 microns of far infrared waves, the water molecules in the body vibrate. The vibration causes the ion bonds to break down, allowing for the trapped gases of toxins such as carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide to be eliminated. Claims have been made FIR therapy can remove a wide variety of metals from the body, including lead, arsenic, mercury, copper, cadmium, urea, nicotine, and the residue of prescription drugs.
