Investigating Effective Alternative Lyme Therapies

By Sarah Harris


Lyme disease has swept the United States from coast to coast and border to border. People rightly fear this tick-borne illness, whose lingering effects can change the quality of life for all ages. Medical tests and treatments frequently fail, so many have turned to alternative Lyme therapies.

Large doses of antibiotics, which is the medical response, prove helpful when the condition is diagnosed immediately. However, those who have had the illness for months or even years don't respond as well to this conventional treatment. Antibiotics taken over an extended period also kill beneficial intestinal flora, so these essential organisms must be replenished by a long-term program of probiotic supplements.

Herbal treatments have helped many, especially those who suffer the joint pain, fatigue, and mental confusion this disease can cause. Since the pathogen is a spirocete (rather than a conventional bacteria), antibiotics are not always successful in eradicating it. Spirocetes 'hide' in tissues and organs, remaining dormant while antibiotics are in the bloodstream but emerging to attack the host when defenses are down.

When using herbs, it is important to follow correct dosage directives. One widely-used alcohol-based extract is Samento, a particular preparation of cat's claw. The manufacturers render part of the herb's components inactive for better effect. This herbal preparation is also available in capsule form. Many people use the herb alone, without resorting to antibiotics. Those who feel they have the disease but get a 'negative' report to medical tests can use this alternative therapy without prescription.

Another herb - and one that may grow locally - is teasel. This herb can be harvested off the side of the road in most east coast states. However, roadside plants can contain heavy metals, so it is better to get your teasel roots from a field far from traffic. Gather the roots, soak them in vodka for six weeks, and drain off the liquid. Then use as directed by your health professional. You can also find directions for using the herb on the internet.

Check for dosage directions online. If you find four or more sites you feel are trustworthy that recommend similar dosages, this will probably be good advice rather than bad. All herbs are vitamin and mineral-rich plants which have nutritive effects (like parsley) and perhaps therapeutic ones (like goldenseal and echinacea). Over the ages, people in every culture have found plants that maintain and restore health.

There are other helpful therapies. Any immune system booster will help your body fight this pathogen. Monolaurin, a derivative of coconut oil, is a substance that helps rid the body of all disease-causing organisms. There are many groups and websites devoted to helping people cope with this illness and its debilitating effects.

Do not ignore this disease. It is strongly linked to Alzheimer's and dementia. Some research has pointed to Lyme as an underlying cause of all degenerative diseases, like MS, MD, and Parkinson's. Using herbs safely can provide valuable help in getting rid of this destructive pathogen. Take charge of your own health and that of your family with nature's arsenal of weapons against disease.




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