These are some of the things my wonderful Lyme doctor has told us to do and we have done them. Since we can't all see the same Lyme doctor and they are all a little different, see it as being able to take a peek into my doctor visit and come away with something that might work for you.
Detoxing and healing: Infrared Sauna!
This was 'prescribed' by my wonderful Lyme doctor. He handed me a paper with instructions (see instructions below sauana photos) on building a simple, cheap infrared sauna using plywood and/or cardboard, some wiring or extention cords and 'heat lamps' with infrared bulbs. In my case I used insulating foam board with silver reflective coating on one side. Cutting the foamboard leaves little white, static filled foam pieces everywhere, so I just used clear packing tape to seal all the cut edges of the foam board so I don't emerge covered in 'snow' after each sauna :) I plan to 'wallpaper' or somehow decorate the outside so it's not so unsightly.
Get 4 'heat lamp' reflective shades, 4 infrared bulbs (found in most hardware stores, Lowe's etc.), a power strip, extention cord if needed and build it so that it's got a top to keep the heat in.
It's very important that after you sauna, you shower with a charcoal/and or clay soap to really get all the impurities off your skin so they don't just soak back in. You can find several types on Amazon.com. The one my Lyme doc recommended is the Japanese clay and charcoal soap bar: Pelican Deitanseki Soap, but it didn't have the greatest reviews. The last photo is of the exact charcoal soap he sold in his office, but there are several charcoal soaps on Amazon with better reviews. I have been using a black charcoal "African Black Soap" with Shea butter and charcoal from Walmart. It's not in the soap isle, though. I found it below the Burt's Bees display on the isle that has all the acne wash, etc. It's a thick bar of black soap with a clearish wrapper. I have only been using it a couple weeks and am not sure how I like it. It may be making me break out a little more on my back and face....I'm not sure. Charcoal soap can be very drying, so you will want a good moisturizer.
Detoxing and healing: Infrared Sauna!
This was 'prescribed' by my wonderful Lyme doctor. He handed me a paper with instructions (see instructions below sauana photos) on building a simple, cheap infrared sauna using plywood and/or cardboard, some wiring or extention cords and 'heat lamps' with infrared bulbs. In my case I used insulating foam board with silver reflective coating on one side. Cutting the foamboard leaves little white, static filled foam pieces everywhere, so I just used clear packing tape to seal all the cut edges of the foam board so I don't emerge covered in 'snow' after each sauna :) I plan to 'wallpaper' or somehow decorate the outside so it's not so unsightly.
Get 4 'heat lamp' reflective shades, 4 infrared bulbs (found in most hardware stores, Lowe's etc.), a power strip, extention cord if needed and build it so that it's got a top to keep the heat in.
It's very important that after you sauna, you shower with a charcoal/and or clay soap to really get all the impurities off your skin so they don't just soak back in. You can find several types on Amazon.com. The one my Lyme doc recommended is the Japanese clay and charcoal soap bar: Pelican Deitanseki Soap, but it didn't have the greatest reviews. The last photo is of the exact charcoal soap he sold in his office, but there are several charcoal soaps on Amazon with better reviews. I have been using a black charcoal "African Black Soap" with Shea butter and charcoal from Walmart. It's not in the soap isle, though. I found it below the Burt's Bees display on the isle that has all the acne wash, etc. It's a thick bar of black soap with a clearish wrapper. I have only been using it a couple weeks and am not sure how I like it. It may be making me break out a little more on my back and face....I'm not sure. Charcoal soap can be very drying, so you will want a good moisturizer.
Instructions for the Infrared Sauna:
L-Glutamine: A must have! I can't stress it's importance enough
Jarrow's formula L-Glutamine has been a miracle for us. Bear with my story, so I can explain the reason it's helped both our pain, the cause of which is different for each of us. My son is now 13 and for the past several years has had severe joint pain, especially in his knees and feet. He participated in sports and the pain was debilitating at times. Even when he was not in sports, his knees were literally swollen and red and he was limping around in pain constantly. He is very allergic to gluten and has to be on a gluten -free diet ( due to Lyme). When he eats gluten, he gets inflammation all over, especially in his brain and has major emotional meltdowns, can't sleep, etc.
My LLMD had told us to take L-Glutamine from the start, but didn't say why. We were on so many different things, that I just had to pick and choose what I thought was the most important that I could afford. ( at one point my supplements along would have been over $800 a a month). So we quit taking the L-Glutamine after the first jar was gone. My LLMD had me taking Thorne Research brand and it's over $50 for only 12 oz. ( powder form). I had some left over at the beginning the school year in 2014, so I decided to have him finish the jar. Within 1 week, his chronic pain was totally gone. For weeks, as he took the L-Glutamine, I asked him daily how he was and he kept saying he had NO pain. I started taking it daily and had the same results. Due to the Lyme, I had major, chronic joint pain and arthritis all over every joint in my body for years. It would come and go, and have flare ups, but it was chronic and debilitating. As long as I am on the L-Glutamine, it's reduced by about 90%. Sometimes totally gone.
The root of the problem is of course, Lyme Disease. Then you get someone like my son that has a major intolerance to gluten and he gets a leaky gut. The leaky gut + Lyme = pain and inflammation. For myself, a few months after I started on my antibiotics ( now over 4 years ago) I woke up one day and felt like I had been hit by a train. I had the worst pain of my life all over my entire body. I figured I was 'herxing' ( and boy did I ever~ I got a lot worse before I started to get better). I now believe that the antibiotics had caused leaky gut. The L-Glutamine heals the gut and does a lot of other wonderful things. I now buy the Jarrow's Formula L-Glutamine from Amazon. It's only $35 for 33 oz. and lasts us a really long time. We take between a tsp. and tablespoon in the morning with breakfast by mixing it into our drink. You an put it into anything: yogert, whatever. But my LLMD recommends taking it before meals.
Jarrow's formula L-Glutamine has been a miracle for us. Bear with my story, so I can explain the reason it's helped both our pain, the cause of which is different for each of us. My son is now 13 and for the past several years has had severe joint pain, especially in his knees and feet. He participated in sports and the pain was debilitating at times. Even when he was not in sports, his knees were literally swollen and red and he was limping around in pain constantly. He is very allergic to gluten and has to be on a gluten -free diet ( due to Lyme). When he eats gluten, he gets inflammation all over, especially in his brain and has major emotional meltdowns, can't sleep, etc.
My LLMD had told us to take L-Glutamine from the start, but didn't say why. We were on so many different things, that I just had to pick and choose what I thought was the most important that I could afford. ( at one point my supplements along would have been over $800 a a month). So we quit taking the L-Glutamine after the first jar was gone. My LLMD had me taking Thorne Research brand and it's over $50 for only 12 oz. ( powder form). I had some left over at the beginning the school year in 2014, so I decided to have him finish the jar. Within 1 week, his chronic pain was totally gone. For weeks, as he took the L-Glutamine, I asked him daily how he was and he kept saying he had NO pain. I started taking it daily and had the same results. Due to the Lyme, I had major, chronic joint pain and arthritis all over every joint in my body for years. It would come and go, and have flare ups, but it was chronic and debilitating. As long as I am on the L-Glutamine, it's reduced by about 90%. Sometimes totally gone.
The root of the problem is of course, Lyme Disease. Then you get someone like my son that has a major intolerance to gluten and he gets a leaky gut. The leaky gut + Lyme = pain and inflammation. For myself, a few months after I started on my antibiotics ( now over 4 years ago) I woke up one day and felt like I had been hit by a train. I had the worst pain of my life all over my entire body. I figured I was 'herxing' ( and boy did I ever~ I got a lot worse before I started to get better). I now believe that the antibiotics had caused leaky gut. The L-Glutamine heals the gut and does a lot of other wonderful things. I now buy the Jarrow's Formula L-Glutamine from Amazon. It's only $35 for 33 oz. and lasts us a really long time. We take between a tsp. and tablespoon in the morning with breakfast by mixing it into our drink. You an put it into anything: yogert, whatever. But my LLMD recommends taking it before meals.
Cheap Rife Machine Alternative~ for about $30.
My Lyme doctor said (and I quote)"this works just as good as a $4,000 Rife machine". I photographed the instructions for you to view
My Lyme doctor said (and I quote)"this works just as good as a $4,000 Rife machine". I photographed the instructions for you to view
Nordic Berries! These are a chewable multivitamin recommended by our LLND..... and they are delicious! I have tried a few different gummy vitamins and they were all disgusting. These are a very strong, sweet orange flavor and there is NO vitamin flavor whatsoever. They taste better than a candy gumdrop. Chewables are better than tablets because they are much easier to digest and more completely digested according to our doctor. Especially for those with gut issues who's bodies may not be good at absorbing nutrients as it is.
For adults or teenagers: He has us take 2 per day. I get mine from Amazon.com. They have the best price. |