Archive for the ‘Inspiring Healing Strategies Advancing into the Lymelight’ Category

Long term antibiotics are the most important first defense against the early stages all the way through to the chronic stages of Lyme Disease.  It is vitally crucial that you seek the guidance of a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) when treating Lyme.  I advise against any and all forms of self treatment in regards to Lyme because of the complexity of this disease.  Self treatment can cause many more problems in the long run and you should only follow the recommendations of a Lyme specialist so they can monitor you for any side effects, allergies or complications.

The following strategies are here to offer you the many refreshing and exciting natural options that are becoming fundamental in terms of healing Lyme.  These are all things that you can do on your own time.  These strategies are completely safe and are essentially quite easy to perform on a daily basis and most are fairly cost efficient.  Many LLMD’s will recommend their patients to follow these natural healing strategies and you may want to ask their advice before trying any of these therapies on your own to make sure it is safe for you own individual healing process.

Epsom Salt & Apple Cider Vinegar Baths – Simply add Epsom Salt to your bathwater 3-4 times a week and it is a good way to detoxify and relieve sore, painful muscles.  Apple Cider Vinegar helps alkalize and heal your body.  Both of these ingredients are fairly reasonably priced.  One tip is to work up slowly with the Epsom Salts as adding too much right away can cause weakness.

Dry Skin Brushing- I find brushing to relieve my itchy uncomfortable skin tremendously.  Preferably use a natural bristle brush with a long handle to reach your back and hard to reach places on your body.  The purpose of brushing is stimulate the lymphatic system and help the body rid itself of toxins.  Also, it helps with circulation and encourages your skin to absorb nutrients which contributes to overall body health.  A bonus is it can even help remove cellulite and it feels really pleasant on your skin. At first your skin may look red and rashy but once you brush a few times you will get used to it.  I do it everyday before I shower or bath and another helpful hint is to switch from cold to warm water temperatures when bathing to further improve circulation.

Infrared Saunas – You will feel so wonderful after using one of these saunas that you will probably want to purchase one for you home so you can use it at your convenience.  These saunas will soothe, relax and improve pain immediately upon use and can leave your body feeling great for up to 2 hours afterwards.  This is a great way to sweat out toxins and help with pain management.  I absolutely love these saunas and if they weren’t quite so costly it would be at the top of my wish list.

Detox Rocks! – This healing therapy is one of the most significant things a person infected with Lyme can do.  Detox is an essential step in your recovery plan because as your treatment causes the bacteria to break up and die these toxins have to follow a pathway out of your body.  The Lyme bacteria already causes a significant amount of toxins in the body and when the bacteria is killed it needs to be flushed out from your system because the toxins alone can cause severe illness and symptoms.  Sometimes the toxins are worse than the Lyme itself and the only way for your body to heal properly is to say goodbye to these unwanted pests.  Excellent forms of detox include but are not limited to:  Infrared Sauna, let fresh air circulate through your home by easily opening your windows, eat healthily and follow an alkaline diet, drink lots of pure clean water, detox baths, exercise, and massage.  Good detox supplements are Vitamin C, Garlic capsules, Chlorella and Charcoal.  Charcoal works wonders with absorbing toxins and cleaning out the body but it is not available in Canada yet and remember to take it 2 hours before or after antibiotics are its absorbency will pull the drugs from your system.

Meyer’s Cocktail IV Treatments- My Naturopathic Physician recommended I get these IV treatments twice a week and I found them to be a great way to build up my vitamins and minerals and boost my immune system.  Most Naturopathic doctors can do these IV treatments for you and they are fairly similar to a good multivitamin except they are infused through your blood and your body will absorb them much more efficiently.  When dealing with Lyme and co-infections we need all the help we can get and IV’s are a wonderful way to help heal your body and supply you with nutrients that you may be deficient in.  Lyme is famous for robbing Magnesium, B12 and Iron from your body and you will want to make sure that you are obtaining a sufficient supply of these vitamins.

Sleep, Sleep and More Sleep- Proper rest is so important for healing the body and reducing pain and symptoms.  I am embarrassed to admit that some nights I feel the need to sleep up to 12 hours and that if I am sleep deprived my symptoms intensify and are much more pronounced.  There is no reason to feel guilty for getting extra sleep or taking a nap when needed as this issue is at the top of the list to overcoming Lyme Disease.  It is similar to being sick with a cold or flu and you feel the urge to sleep all day. Lyme can commonly cause that tired, sleepy feeling all day.  Even if it is not possible to get extra sleep during the day make sure to get enough at night otherwise your body will be screaming at you the next day wondering why you didn’t get proper rest.

Mild Exercise- Swimming, walking, biking, dancing or gentle yoga are examples of exercise that shouldn’t be too strenuous to a Lyme patient as long as you listen to your body and start out slowly and not overdo it.  Unfortunately, some Lyme patients are bedridden and wheelchair bound and it isn’t an option for them to do these types of exercise.  If it is not possible for you to do these activities just do the little bit that you, even if that is just walking around your living room or doing gentle muscle stretching.  Any form of exercise is necessary when trying to recover from Lyme.  Many LLMD’s insist that it isn’t possible to recover from Lyme without exercise and I definitely agree with them on this issue.  In my own personal experience I have found any sort of physical activity to be fundamental in relieving depression and lifting my mood, relieving pain and improving my sleeping patterns.

Sugar is Enemy #1 – I truly understand how hard this can be at times when so many food products that we all love contain sugar but if you just keep in mind to eat sugar in moderation now and again instead of everyday all the time.  I try to limit my sugar intake during the week and then allow myself a a treat or two on the weekends just so I don’t go crazy.  I believe that if you deprive yourself too much then it is going to be much harder in the long run to stay “sugar free”.  Lyme is a bacterial infection and too much sugar intake just feeds the bacteria and makes them incredibly happy so they can multiply and spread throughout your body.  I tend to feel so guilty after having a treat because my symptoms flare up and I feel so gross that I wonder if it was even worth it at all to enjoy a Dairy Queen Blizzard.  Oh, of course it is worth it now and again!

Gluten is Enemy #2- Another hard idea to accept!  Gluten is in so many of our everyday foods that it could feel like real deprivation to you to exclude Gluten from your diet.  Personally, I feel like Gluten isn’t an essential part of our diet anyways and my body definitely lets me know that it doesn’t want gluten anywhere near me.  Of course, it is hard to avoid at all times and I occasionally slip up and eat it when out with a friend or at a restaurant.  Boy, I am sorry after though because I have crazy digestive issues and I bloat like a hot air balloon.  Gluten forms into a sugar once it is in your body and we know now that sugar is not a good idea when you have Lyme.

Alkaline Diet - There has been much research done and it has been proven that an overly acidic body is just welcoming diseases and chronic illnesses.  Diseases survive and proliferate much easier in an acidic body due to low oxygen levels in the bloodstream.  Acidity alone can cause many annoying and uncomfortable symptoms such as low energy, arthritic pain and stomach disturbances.  An alkaline diet is usually recommended by LLMD’s because it will increase oxygen in the bloodstream and help decrease the bacteria load in your body.  In general this diet is a good idea to follow for anyone who doesn’t feel well as it may improve your symptoms dramatically.  Examples of alkaline foods include:  lemons, broccoli, carrots, apples, strawberries, brown rice, poultry, fish, etc.  There are plenty of great websites who list alkalizing foods versus acidic foods and which foods are recommended.

Antioxidants- Such an important rule for anyone to follow!  Antioxidants are crucial in that they help ward off chemicals and toxins that eventually can cause cancer and other devastating diseases in the body.  They also act as a wonderful immune defense and help ward off bacteria, colds, flu’s, etc.  One of the hottest and most popular antioxidants on the market right now of course is Pomegranate (POM) Juice and Mangosteen Juice.  Another awesome antioxidant is blueberries.  My two favourites are POM Juice (I buy it in the large jugs at Costco) and Xango which is a brand of pure Mangosteen Juice.  There has been rumor that these antioxidants can sometimes even cause herxheimer reactions in Lyme patients although I have never personally experienced a herx using these products.

Therapeutic Massage – Who doesn’t enjoy a delightful massage now and then?  It is especially beneficial to Lyme patients.  It helps relax the body and mind, provides pain relief and increases circulation to sore muscles and joints and it just feels really good.  Any form of massage is wonderful but I feel the most beneficial forms are therapeutic, swedish or any form that is slightly aggressive and really works your muscles.  A relaxing massage is nice but doesn’t work the body as much as needed when trying to relieve pain.

Pain Management- Sadly, with Lyme this is a big one.  Almost everyone infected with this vicious bacteria experiences some form of pain in one way or another.  Some days are better than others but on the bad days your are probably thinking, “Dear God, please make it go away!”  I have gotten so used to dealing with the pain on a daily basis that most days I just try to suck it up but on the worst days I have to take some form on pain relief just to be able to cope somehow.  The most common pain relievers are Tylenol, Advil, etc. but there are also natural remedies you can try to relieve the discomfort.  I have heard amazing things about Acupuncture and the way it soothes pain and it is next on my list to try.  One you have had as many needles shoved in your body as me you will laugh at the word needle.  There are many wonderful homeopathic pain relievers that you can rub into your painful muscles and joints that can give you some relief.  One that has worked wonders for me is “Inflamyar” by BioResource.  It numbs my painful knees and I love it!  You can order it from the BioResource website at:  www.bioresourceinc.com.  Experiment and find what works for you but other therapies include massage, infrared sauna and in extreme cases consider consulting with a pain management specialist who can detail a proper treatment plan suited to your needs.

Tips for Dealing with Herx Reactions- Herxes can be extremely unpleasant but there are a few options that may give you comfort.  My LLMD has recommended Vitamin C capsules and to try squeezing 2 fresh lemons in water and take over 1/2 hour.  Sip through a straw and brush your teeth afterwards to protect the enamel.  If you have nausea, I find Ginger Capsules to work really great and they can be found at any health food store.

Avoid Stress as Much as Possible – Stress poses a negative impact on the body and further burdens a Lyme body even more.  I realize it is impossible to entirely avoid all forms of stress but greatly reducing and managing stress can be a healing aid on its own.  Mental stress can be just as bothersome and cause the same exhausting symptoms in the body.  Some examples of stress management are to avoid negative and life draining people, only do as much as your body allows, take a mild walk, laugh as much as possible and think positive happy thoughts. 

Positive Uplifting Thoughts and Attitude -   I’ll be the first to admit that when you are suffering with Lyme and co-infections some days you feel like not crawling out of bed and you just want nothing more than to escape from reality.  That once again, here you are on a new day, and nope nothing has changed because you are still sick.  We are all human and anyone would be lying if they said they never had a down day with this illness.  This disease pushes you to the edge and back again and again and you have no option but to become a stronger person because of it.  Negative thoughts once in a while are understandable but it is so essential to maintain a positive attitude otherwise your body is never going to heal because negativity pushes you further into stress and illness.  I have learned to accept that this illness is a part of me now and I look at all the things I can do instead of what I can’t do.  I once heard a quote a while back that has stuck with me. 

Chronic illness definitely isn’t for wimps.

Never, Ever Give up Hope! – Currently, this is such an exciting time in the Lyme world!  There are constantly new conventional and alternative forms of treatment popping up everywhere and there are so many options to choose from.  Just always keep the faith and remember that what works for one person may not work for the next person.  You may feel like a guinea pig as you endlessly experiment with one treatment after another until you find the one that gives you relief.  It is sad that so many are under the false pretense that Lyme is a quick fix, sometimes it can take years before you notice an improvement.  But that doesn’t mean that you should give up hope, keep on truckin’ until you find that answer and be patient.  I know sometimes it is easier said than done but if we don’t have hope what do we have?

Listen To Your Body – Try not to push yourself too hard as your body is healing and on the road to recovery.  We all can have busy strenuous days but remember to take time for yourself.  Find the time to read a great novel, soak in a relaxing bath or share a good laugh with friends.  Let your body be your guide and when it says you need a rest don’t feel guilty to slow down and take a few minutes.  Sometimes I get so excited to out and having fun for once that I don’t listen to my body when I should.  I regret that later on because I am so beyond exhausted that it takes me days to recuperate.  It usually isn’t practical to stay in bed for 2 days straight so do what works for you and find a happy medium.