Archive for the ‘diet and nutrition’ Category

7 Ways to Detox Your Lymphatic System

https://vitalplan.com/blog/total-body-detox-7-ways-to-clear-up-lymphatic-congestion

7 Natural Ways to Detox Your Lymphatic System

By Beth Janes Posted 01-13-2022

Reviewed by Bill Rawls, MD
Medical Director of Vital Plan

To say that your lymphatic system has a lot of responsibility for your well-being is a huge understatement. This intricate “highway” of specialized vessels moves lymphatic fluid from the tips of your toes to the top of your head and to centralized lymph nodes. It helps regulate the balance of all fluid in your body. And its most important function? Detoxification.

It’s the lymph system’s job to pick up and dispose of cellular “trash” like white blood cells, bacteria, viruses, toxins, and other molecular debris from every tissue in your body. That’s crucial, since all cells make waste as a byproduct of their normal processes. “Lymphatic fluid carries all that waste to lymph nodes, which act like garbage disposals to destroy it,” says Dr. Bill Rawls, M.D., Medical Director of Vital Plan.

Unfortunately, there are a number of things that can slow down the system and flow of fluid, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue and sluggishness, brain fog, puffy skin, swollen and stiff joints, chronic headaches, and inflammation. The main cause, says Dr. Rawls, is illness. Which makes sense: There’s simply more cellular junk to dispose of when you’re sick — not unlike how an onslaught of cars during rush hour causes slow traffic.

Sick woman covered in blanket at home in isolation at quarantine

“Chronic illness, in particular, causes congestion throughout the whole body,” Dr. Rawls explains. “When microbes in tissues are flourishing, and more white blood cells are present trying to kill them, they fill up the lymph nodes, causing the nodes to swell, which backs up the whole system.” But it’s not just chronic illness that impedes lymph flow — even a simple cold can trigger swollen lymph nodes, and part of the reason you feel sluggish may be the extra waste your body is trying to dispose of.

Other key causes of lymph fluid slow-down include lack of physical activity and falling short on water intake. That’s because the lymph system is primarily composed of water — if you’re dehydrated, the fluid slows down and inhibits waste removal from the body. Movement of lymph fluid depends on pressure from breathing and muscle movement to move fluid around. So being sedentary or dehydrated is kind of like construction on the highway — it can slow things down to a crawl.

Meanwhile, maintaining a healthy lymphatic system is one of the best ways to support your immune system by quickly and efficiently ridding your body of garbage — and it’s something we have a lot of control over. “That’s empowering when you can say, ‘I can do these few things every day to help keep the lymphatic fluid flowing and keep myself healthy,’” says Vital Plan health coach Belinda Macri, a yoga teacher, Ayurveda practitioner, and health coach.

Here are some simple, everyday ways to clear up lymphatic congestion in your body and boost your immunity in the process.

7 Natural Ways to Cleanse the Lymphatic System

While you can find professional therapists who specialize in lymphatic massage to get fluids in motion again, both Macri and Dr. Rawls point to these inexpensive DIY strategies for effectively keeping your lymphatic system moving and your body’s natural detoxification process humming.

1. Eat Plenty of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.

A big chunk of your body’s hydration needs should come from water-dense fresh fruits and vegetables, Macri says. This fluid, along with sipping water throughout the day, helps keep your lymphatic “pipes” lubricated and draining properly. For better hydration, Dr. Rawls recommends drinking alkaline water to quell free radicals and decrease inflammation.

A variety of fresh fruits, vegetables top view. Large vegetable and citrus mix collection.

Fresh produce and other minimally processed, healthy foods also help maintain a strong gut-blood barrier, which prevents toxins and food irritants from leaking into the bloodstream (aka leaky gut syndrome). The result is less inflammation and a lower potential influx of toxins that might otherwise clog up your lymphatic system.

2. Sleep in Loose-Fitting Clothes and Undergarments.

“At night between 10pm and 2am is when the body naturally goes through a major detoxification process, so make sure you’re allowing the lymphatic fluid the most freedom to move,” Macri says. Garments that dig into skin or are restrictive, especially under the arms or groin area where you have lymph nodes, might partially cut off the natural flow, she says.

3. Take Belly Breaths.

Not only do muscle contractions initiated by deep breathing help move lymphatic fluid, the mindfulness practices that go along with deep breathing are some of the best ways to manage stress. And when it comes to factors that congest the lymph system, “Stress is a biggie,” Macri says.

If you can spend a chunk of time each day in meditation — great. But even taking mini time-outs throughout the day to focus on breathing is beneficial. Macri suggests scheduling 5 minutes of time at 10am, 2pm, and 5pm, and using that time to close your eyes and take three to five deep belly breaths. Here’s how to do it:

black woman in white tshirt taking deep breaths with a smile

“When you inhale, simply allow your belly to fully expand out like a balloon,” Macri says. “It’s a huge de-stresser — truly one of the most powerful things you can do.” Indeed, research suggests slow, deep, conscious breathing helps decrease feelings of anxiety in stressful situations, it may lower blood pressure and heart rate, and it can even boost the immune system. A study in the journal Frontiers in Psychology also found that belly breathing reduces stressful feelings and levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

4. Get a Move On.

Any sort of movement increases the pressure in lymphatic vessels, which is needed to help manually move the fluid along, Dr. Rawls says. Walking, biking, yoga, tai chi, and qigong are some of his top choices.

Feet of sportsmen walking on a road after training outdoors, selectve focus

“If you’re walking, try moving your arms up and over your head and out to the sides,” Macri says. “Even if you’re at your desk, do some squats and move your arms up and down to get the flow going.”

As for yoga poses, sun salutations are an effective sequence, or try individual poses, she says. Poses that invert a part of your body are especially effective as they recruit gravity to help move fluid. Macri recommends the following:

  • Downward-Facing Dog or Dolphin: To do down-dog, come onto the floor on your hands and knees, with your hands slightly in front of your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Exhale and lift your knees away from the floor to straighten your legs (without locking your knees). Lift your sitting bones toward the sky, and gently press your heels toward the floor, so your body is in an inverted V shape. Dolphin is like downward dog, except instead of using your hands, you’re resting on your forearms, Macri says.
  • Legs Up the Wall: This pose is exactly as the name implies. Lay on your back on the floor, with your back in a neutral position (no curve in the lumbar spine) and your bottom touching the base of the wall. Extend the backs of your legs straight up against the wall.
  • Cat and Cow: Start on the floor on your hands and knees, with your hands shoulder-width apart and knees hip-distance apart. Keep your shoulders down as you inhale and tilt your head up toward the sky, drop your belly toward the floor, and arch your back. As you exhale, tuck your chin and round your back toward the sky. Alternate back and forth for several breaths.

5. Bounce Around.

Rebounding — jumping on a small, circular trampoline — also uses gravity and movement to your lymph’s benefit. A mild aerobic workout, it’s often touted as an effective way to get your heart pumping and your lymph fluid moving.

Jumping on an elastic trampoline.This exercise develops coordination.Legs get stronger.

“As you’re jumping, bring your arms up and over your head to create even more movement,” Macri says. It’s also less strenuous — and easier on joints — than jogging, it may help improve balance, and there’s little technique required. “Just jump and jump,” Macri says.

6. Practice Daily Dry Brushing.

Dry brushing has long been used for lymphatic drainage and to improve flow. “The pressure on the skin pressurizes the tissues, which helps push fluid through the system,” Dr. Rawls says.

Macri suggests using a natural bristle brush or loofah for the daily ritual, which is traditionally done first thing in the morning or before a shower. It also helps exfoliate skin, stimulate sweat and oil glands, and boost circulation, all of which invigorate the body, she says.

Woman scrubbing her legs with a brush making skin peeling in the bathroom

Start by brushing the sole of one foot using swift, upward, and circular strokes. Move up to your ankle, then the front and back of your lower leg. “You always want to brush up, or in the direction of your heart or belly button,” Macri says. Move up to the front and back of your thigh and your hip, and then repeat on the other leg, starting again with the bottom of your foot.

Repeat this practice on each arm, starting at your wrists and moving up to your shoulders, neck, and chest. Then move to your abdomen, and continue to brush toward your heart. “It only takes three to five minutes, and you just feel nice and tingly all over afterward,” she says.

7. Lean on Enzymes and Herbs.

Look to those that are known to help break down, bind to, and dispose of proteins, bacteria, toxins, and other substances that can lead to dysfunctional lymphatic flow, including:

cut pieces of burdock rootBurdock root: A gentle herbal remedy, burdock root has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine to detoxify the blood and boost circulation. It also has a long history of use for clearing lymphatic congestion and enlarged lymph nodes.

white andrographis flower growing in greeneryAndrographis: This well-known antimicrobial herb contains antiinflammatory properties and is a bitter digestive tonic. Andrographis decreases inflammation, and promotes bile flow, relieving stress on the lymphatic system and facilitating healthy detoxification.

close up of yellow dandelion flowerDandelion root: Like burdock root, dandelion root is known in herbalism as an alterative herb, which means it gently increases elimination of metabolic wastes through all of the major organs of elimination, including the lymphatic system.

close up of pineapple skin Bromelain, papain, and peptidase: All are protein-digesting enzymes, and having these in your system helps break down some of the proteins that contribute to inflammation.

orange turmeric powder pileTurmeric: Responsible for the bright yellow color in curry, turmeric helps balance inflammatory responses. Additionally, the curcumin in turmeric has liver-protectant qualities and inhibits oxidative damage caused by solvents, alcohol, medications, or viruses.

close up of green sarsaparilla leaves and budsSarsaparilla: Derived from the bark of a thorny vine found in South America, sarsaparilla binds to and helps dispose of endotoxins that are released from microbes during die-off.

close up of red root with white flowersRed root: This herb is another one that binds to toxins and flushes the system. A word of caution: red root is a coagulant and can mildly thicken the blood, so it’s best to avoid it if you have a history of cardiovascular disease.

As you can see, detoxing your lymphatic system is a relatively easy and enjoyable way to maintain or restore overall health and wellness. Follow these simple steps, and it won’t be long before you experience a noticeable uptick in energy, focus, and mobility.

Looking for More Wellness Tips?

Join our newsletter for bi-weekly tools, education, and savings to boost your health.

References
1. Choi, Inhu et. al. “The new era of lymphatic system: No llonger secondary to the blood vascular system.” Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. 2012 Apr; 2(4): a006445.
2. Paul, Gina et. al. “A longitudinal study of students’ perception of using deep breathing meditation to reduce testing stresses.” Teaching and Learning in Medicine. 19:3, 287-292
3. Joseph, Chacko N. et. al. “Slow breathing improves arterial baroreflex sensitivity and decreases blood pressure in essential hypertension.” Hypertension. 2005;46:714-718
4. Bhasin, Manoj K. et. al “Relaxation response induces temporal transcriptome changes in energy metabolism, insulin secretion and inflammatory pathways.” PLOSone 2013 May 1;8(5):e62817
5. Ma, Xiao et. al. “The effect of diaphragmatic breathing on attention, negative affect and stress in healthy adults.” Frontiers in Psychology 2017; 8: 874

__________________

For more:

Category:

Detoxing, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Supplements, Treatment

Exponential Clinical Outcomes 2021 Notes

https://www.betterhealthguy.com/eco2021

ECO 2021 Live

I had the opportunity to attend ECO 2021 held online on October 28-30, 2021.   ECO stands for Exponential Clinical Outcomes.  This is one of the most forward-thinking events I have attended.

The event is the brainchild of Dr. Todd Watts and Dr. Jay Davidson who also created CellCore Biosciences and Microbe Formulas.  I’m grateful for their products, and I take several of them daily.

CellCore Biosciences is their practitioner line while Microbe Formulas is their consumer line. While many of the products are available from both companies, there are some differences in some products in terms of formulation or availability in the Microbe Formulas product line.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this text is intended to serve as medical advice. All medical decisions should be made only with the guidance of your own personal licensed medical authority.

Disclaimer: This information was taken as notes during the training course and may not represent the exact statements of the speakers. Errors and/or omissions may be present.

Note: As this information may be updated as any errors are found, I kindly request that you link to this single source of information rather than copying the content below. If any updates or corrections are made, this will help to ensure that anyone reading this is getting the most current and accurate information available. ~ The Better Health Guy

Topics covered:

  • Glyphosate toxicity
  • The protocol approach
  • Mastering Mitochondria
  • The Krebs Cycle
  • Optimizing Mitochondrial function
  • Is your Water keeping you sick?
  • Solutions for the Parasite Epidemic
  • #1 Stealth Infection you are missing
  • The Gut, The Brain, and Autism
  • The Wrecking Ball of Estrogen Dominance
  • Chemicals and Biotoxins in Dentistry
  • Case studies: Skin Changes
  • Thoughts on Vitamin D
  • Importance of Emotional Clearing to Detox
  • Mental and Emotional Case Studies

For more:

Category:

Adrenals, Dentistry, Detoxing, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Parasites, Supplements, Treatment, Viruses

How Good Nutrition Can Help You Recover From Lyme Disease

https://www.lymedisease.org/how-good-nutrition-can-help-you-recover-from-lyme-disease/

Focus – Opinions and Features
LymeDisease.org
08 DEC 2021

How good nutrition can help you recover from Lyme disease

By Lindsay Christensen, MS, CNS, LDN, CKNS

Your immune system, brain, and gastrointestinal system, not to mention the rest of your body, require optimal nutrition to function properly.

Improving nutrition can help your body fight Lyme disease, allow your immune system to work optimally and reduce the adverse effects of Lyme disease (and Lyme treatments) on the gut, brain, musculoskeletal system, and hormones.

Unfortunately, nutrition is often placed on the back burner and sometimes wholly overlooked in Lyme disease treatment protocols

Why does nutrition matter for Lyme disease recovery?

Lyme disease, contracted from the bite of an infected tick, is one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the United States. At least 476,000 people are diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease annually in the nation. Up to 1.5 million people in the U.S. may suffer from persistent symptoms of the illness.

I count myself among those 1.5 million people with chronic Lyme disease. After an arduous four-year battle with a mysterious chronic illness, I was diagnosed with Lyme in my early twenties.

However, my journey wasn’t over once I received my Lyme diagnosis. Instead, this was just the beginning of a multi-year trek through countless Lyme disease treatments. While I saw some improvements, it wasn’t until I took my nutrition seriously that I saw significant, sustainable progress in my health.

This led me to pursue my Master of Nutrition in Human Nutrition, become a clinical nutritionist, and ultimately specialize in working with clients who have Lyme disease. I have also written a book called The Lyme Disease 30-Day Meal Plan: Healthy Recipes and Lifestyle Tips to Ease Symptoms.

While nutrition alone cannot cure Lyme disease, it can significantly ease your symptoms, accelerate your healing process, and create a stronger, more resilient body capable of healing from Lyme. In addition, nutritional treatment is a powerful complement to both antibiotic and herbal protocols for Lyme disease.

For the Lyme patient struggling with treatment decisions, chronic fatigue, pain, and brain fog, sorting through nutrition information to figure out what to eat can feel daunting. Let’s discuss five steps you can take starting today to maximize your nutrition and support Lyme disease recovery.

Step 1: Remove inflammatory foods

Infection with Borrelia and co-infections induces a profound inflammatory response in the body. This can affect the gut, joints, brain, cardiovascular system, eyes, and skin.

When working with clients who have Lyme disease, I begin by having them remove the most common dietary inflammatory triggers, including:

  • Processed foods
  • Refined carbohydrates and sugar
  • Industrial seed oils, such as canola, corn, cottonseed, soybean, and safflower oils.

Refined carbohydrates and added sugars, such as cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, also promote the growth of inflammatory gut bacteria.

Between 70 and 80 percent of your immune system resides in your gut, so when your gut microbiota is unhealthy, your immune function and thus your ability to combat Lyme disease will suffer. Removing refined carbohydrates and added sugars is essential for reducing inflammation and regulating the immune system in Lyme.

I also find that many of my clients do best avoiding gluten and conventional dairy products from grain-fed, industrially-raised animals, since both of these foods are potent inflammatory triggers.

Step 2: Eat anti-inflammatory foods

In addition to removing inflammatory foods from our diets, we also need to incorporate foods that actively reduce inflammation. Work on including the following anti-inflammatory foods into your diet:

  • Wild-caught seafood

IL-17 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine (an immune signaling molecule) made by the immune system during Lyme infection. However, chronic IL-17 production can promote rampant inflammation and even autoimmunity. Metabolites of omega-3 fatty acids called “specialized pro-resolving mediators” or SPMs, blunt the production of IL-17 and can thus help calm the inflammatory response.

Try to eat several servings of fatty cold-water fish per week to bolster your omega-3 intake. Choose from the “SMASH” seafood, which are low in mercury and high in omega-3’s. SMASH stands for “salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and herring.”

  • Cruciferous vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, contain compounds called glucosinolates that increase the body’s glutathione production.

Glutathione, an antioxidant and immune-signaling molecule, plays a crucial role in the immune response to Borrelia.

  • Blueberries

Borrelia spirochetes stimulate macrophages, including glial cells in the brain, to release the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. Excessive production of these molecules has neurotoxic effects on the brain.

In animal studies, blueberries have been found to reduce IL-6 and TNF-α production and may thus help protect the brain and dampen overall inflammation.

  • Extra virgin olive oil

Oleuropein, a major component of extra virgin olive oil, also reduces the production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α involved in the Lyme-induced inflammatory response. Be sure to choose organic olive oil to avoid consuming pesticide or herbicide residues, which have immune system-disrupting effects.

Step 3: Support your immune system

Your immune system requires an array of nutrients to function at its best. Furthermore, infection and stress deplete the body of critical micronutrients. Let’s take a look at several of the micronutrients needed for a well-functioning immune system:

  • Vitamin D

Vitamin D is frequently low in patients with persistent Lyme disease On top of that, Borrelia burgdorferi directly reduces vitamin D receptor expression in immune cells, increasing the need for vitamin D.

Vitamin D is critical for Lyme disease recovery. Daily sun exposure and the consumption of vitamin D-rich foods, including fatty cold-water fish and pastured egg yolks, support a healthy vitamin D status. However, supplementation is often necessary, especially during the fall and winter months.

  • Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin (a vitamin that dissolves in fats and oils) that regulates both the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system. The innate immune system is our set of frontline immune defenses, whereas the adaptive immune system is composed of specialized cells that target specific pathogens.

We need both branches of the immune system to battle Lyme, and vitamin A can help. Interestingly, vitamin A deficiency worsens Lyme arthritis in mice, whereas vitamin A replenishment reduces the harmful inflammatory response.

Retinol, the form of vitamin A the immune system requires, is found only in certain animal foods, such as egg yolks and liver. In addition, your body can create retinol from carotenoids, vitamin A precursors in yellow and orange plant foods, such as winter squash and carrots. However, this conversion process is not efficient in many people, necessitating vitamin A intake through animal foods.

  • Zinc

Zinc is the second most abundant micronutrient in our bodies after iron. It plays several roles in the immune system, including supporting the intestinal barrier, the layer of cells that lines the gut and maintains the intestinal immune system.

Zinc also inhibits complement activity. Complement is a part of the immune system that is excessively activated by Lyme infection and contributes to inflammation.

The World Health Organization reports that one-third of the world’s population is at risk for zinc deficiency. Vegans, vegetarians, the elderly, and those with gastrointestinal issues that compromise nutrient absorption are particularly at risk for deficiency. To support your immune system, emphasize foods rich in zinc, including oysters, red meat, organ meats, and poultry.

Step 4: Support your gut health

Many individuals with Lyme disease have gone through multiple rounds of antibiotics. While antibiotics can offer significant benefits to many Lyme sufferers,  they also reduce levels of beneficial microorganisms in the GI tract. This allows less desirable opportunistic and pathogenic organisms, including various yeasts and bacteria, to proliferate.

The resulting imbalance in the gut microbiota can compromise immune function, digestion, and nutrient absorption. Furthermore, preliminary research suggests that Borrelia may directly infect the gastrointestinal tract. It is thus crucial to support the health of your gut if you have Lyme disease.

A growing body of research indicates that diet profoundly impacts gut health. There are certain foods you should prioritize to support your gut health, including:

  • Fiber: Dietary fiber found in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes supports the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which positively impact our immune function and digestion.
  • Fermented foods: Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, beet kvass, and yogurt (for those who tolerate dairy products), provide probiotics that support gut health and immune function. Try to consume a serving of fermented foods daily. Remember to rotate fermented foods since each food offers unique probiotic microorganisms and health benefits.
  • Bone broth: Bone broth is a slow-cooked broth made from boiling animal bones and connective tissues in water. It is gelatinous and rich in glycine and proline, amino acids that help create a healthy gut. I encourage my clients with Lyme disease to consume bone broth regularly to support intestinal health.

Step 5: Support your joints and brain

Borrelia can cause extensive damage to collagenous tissues in the body, such as skin, tendons, and ligaments. Vitamin C is a cofactor for enzymes involved in collagen synthesis. Optimize your vitamin C intake by consuming foods such as bell peppers, citrus fruits, berries, and broccoli.

The brain is severely affected in many cases of chronic Lyme disease, referred to as “neuroborreliosis.” Lyme infection promotes brain inflammation and impairs energy production in neurons, making it difficult to think clearly and maintain a balanced mood.

Vitamin B12 and DHA are two nutrients necessary for healthy brain function. B12 is supplied through meat, poultry, fish, and eggs, while DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that we can consume through seafood, such as wild salmon and sardines.

There are many other nutritional factors that can support healthy brain function in Lyme disease, but vitamin B12 and DHA intakes are two of the most important.

Try a recipe from my book

Sesame Chicken Salad

This refreshing salad manages to be both sweet and savory, with a lovely crunch thanks to the addition of slivered almonds. It requires very little prep time, especially if you make the shredded chicken ahead of time in a slow cooker.

The short amount of prep time required is perfect it you’re short on time or energy for cooking. This salad contains several functional food ingredients beneficial for those with Lyme disease, including vitamin C-rich oranges and lime juice, folate-rich leafy greens, and anti-inflammatory extra-virgin olive oil.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free

Ingredients:

FOR THE SALAD:

  • 3 cups mixed greens
  • 4 ounces cooked chicken breast
  • 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
  • ½ cup sliced cucumber
  • 1 cup fresh orange segments
  • 2 scallions, chopped

FOR THE DRESSING

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger root
  • 2 tablespoons tamari sauce (be sure to select gluten-free tamari sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 scallion, finely chopped
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the greens, chicken, almonds, cucumber, orange, and scallions.
  2. In a glass jar or other lidded container, combine the sesame seeds, ginger, tamari sauce, rice vinegar, honey, scallions, lime juice, olive oil, orange juice, and sesame oil. Cover and shake well.
  3. Add the dressing to the salad and gently toss to coat.
  4. Serve immediately or refrigerate the salad and dressing in separate airtight containers for up to 2 days.

Lindsay Christensen has a Master of Science in Human Nutrition and is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist. In her private clinical nutrition practice, Ascent to Health, she specializes in nutrition care for individuals with Lyme disease and other environmental illnesses.

For more:

Category:

diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Inflammation

Will Treating My Gut Flora Put Lyme + Coinfections into Remission?

https://rawlsmd.com/health-articles/will-treating-my-gut-flora-put-lyme-coinfections-into-remission?

View LaWill Treating My Gut Flora Put Lyme + Coinfections into Remission?

by Dr. Bill Rawls
Posted 10/29/21

Often, irritating gut symptoms seem to be part and parcel with Lyme disease. So then, can working on your gut health actually help you feel better? In this webinar short, Dr. Bill Rawls discusses how microbes throughout the body, including the gut, contribute to the symptoms of chronic Lyme disease and how balancing them may help you reach remission. Read Dr. Rawls’ personal story here.

Video Transcript

Question: Will treating my gut flora put Lyme and coinfections into remission?

Tim Yarborough: Our next question here is a really good one. This is from Kim: When I treat my gut flora for my Lyme, will it help or put my Lyme coinfections in remission? Will it help with any other symptoms such as vibration and ringing in my ears?

Dr. Rawls: It all goes together. It’s not one thing; everything is tied together, and it’s all about microbes trying to get at the cells of our body. So whether that’s microbes from the gut, or microbes coming in from tick bites, or microbes that we picked up as children, and if we’ve had them all our lives like Epstein-Barr, and CMV (cytomegalievirus), and Mycoplasma, they’re all affecting our cells. And so getting over Lyme disease is a process of healing cells and protecting cells. Weak cells, stressed cells, are more vulnerable to microbe invasion.

So for Lyme disease, you can imagine your whole body just being peppered with microbes — normal tissue, like normal muscle with normal cells and just cells that have been infected by microbes peppered throughout your tissues. Your immune system has to go in and take those things out individually, and they’re in your brain, and they’re in your heart, and they’re in your lungs.

And we all have a lot more microbes than just the Borrelia; we all have a spectrum of microbes. And then, you add the gut microbes on top of that, that are all invading your cells and basically peppered your body. So to get over that, part of it is healing the gut. We want to do that; we want to stop that flow, and we want to nourish our cells properly to keep them strong.

So herbs offer some big advantages in that you can take antimicrobial herbs for a long time, and they don’t disrupt gut flora. This is really important. And that’s the separating fact between herbs and antibiotics. Antibiotics are indiscriminate and kill everything. Herbs are discriminant. Plants have to take care of their normal flora and suppress the pathogens just like we do so that phytochemistry is very sophisticated.

So I took herbs, pretty high doses of antimicrobial herbs for about eight years, and I still take them regularly every day, not at the same doses, but pretty significant doses for a long time. And my gut just kept getting better every year, along with all of my other symptoms.

So when we’re treating the thing holistically, that we’re treating the gut, we’re using the herbs to not only help balance the gut, but we’re using the herbs to suppress the microbes in our system and also protect ourselves from free radicals and other damaging factors. So that the cells can heal themselves, then everything continues to get better as you move along. And that’s what it’s all about.

Dr. Rawls is a physician who overcame Lyme disease through natural herbal therapy. You can learn more about Lyme disease in Dr. Rawls’ new best selling book, Unlocking Lyme.
You can also learn about Dr. Rawls’ personal journey in overcoming Lyme disease and fibromyalgia in his popular blog post, My Chronic Lyme Journey.

___________________

For more:

Category:

diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Lyme

How to Get Unstuck With the Lyme Recovery Roadmap

https://rawlsmd.com/health-articles/how-to-get-unstuck-with-the-lyme-recovery-roadmap

How to Get Unstuck with the Lyme Recovery Roadmap

by Dr. Bill Rawls
Updated 10/15/21

During your Lyme disease recovery, it’s not unusual to find yourself stuck from time to time, not knowing what to do to further heal and reduce undesirable symptoms. To overcome this all too common circumstance and experience progress again, you’ll want to pay careful attention to potential obstacles that can impede wellness and remove them.

While eliminating microbes and reducing symptoms are crucial pieces of the recovery puzzle, there’s always more to the story. The biggest reasons symptoms occur in the first place are because our bodies’ cells aren’t getting enough nutrients, oxygen, or water, and the waste and toxin removal mechanisms are compromised. Ultimately, getting well is a matter of minimizing the factors that are disrupting the health of your cells to the best of your ability.

Building a Strong Foundation of Natural Support

So then, what direction do you go in if you need to get unstuck? Start by building a strong foundation in your Lyme disease recovery.

key steps in building your foundation: suppress microbes, protect cells, inhibit inflammation, cellular connectivity, good flow

The bedrock of any comprehensive natural protocol should contain these three critical elements: antimicrobial herbs, immune-modulating herbs, and methylation and cellular support.

antimicrobial, immune-modulating, and methylation and cellular support

While many herbs have the potential to be of benefit to your recovery from chronic Lyme disease, certain ones rise to the top because they tackle the myriad of cellular stress factors you endure, helping to quell an environment where chronic illness flourishes.

My preferred herbs and supplements from the 3 categories above include:

1. Antimicrobial Herbs to Suppress Microbes

Many herbs have antimicrobial effects against borrelia, bartonella, babesia, mycoplasma, and more. In fact, recent research from Johns Hopkins University has shown that herbal therapy may be more effective at combating borrelia and babesia than medications. The following is a list of herbs to help form the basis of your Lyme protocol.

antimicrobial herbs andrographis, berberine, cats claw, sarsaparilla, garlic, and more

2. Immune-Modulating Herbs

Herbs with immune-modulating properties help to normalize the functions of the immune system, inhibiting dysfunctional chemical messengers called cytokines and restoring the immune system’s communication pathways.

Medicinal mushrooms, in particular, are a great way to modulate the immune system, but other herbs are helpful as well.

immune-modulating herbs reishi mushroom, cordyceps, rehmannia extract, and chinese skullcap

3. Methylation + Cellular Support

Finally, combining herbs with supplements that address methylation — the body’s biochemical process that switches on and off genes, regulates metabolism, mood, detoxification, and more — will amp up the cellular protection.

methylation and cellular support: activated b vitamins, glutathione, alpha lipoic acid, and more

Removing the Obstacles to Healing

When trying to remove obstacles to healing, it’s vital to understand this: It’s generally not one factor but multiple factors that set the stage for chronic immune dysfunction associated with stealth infections and chronic illness. Besides microbes, other stress factors compounding the problem include:

  • Unnatural diet
  • Toxic environment
  • Chronic Stress
  • Sedentary lifestyle

Let’s take a look at each of these obstacles, how they impact healing, and what we can do about them:

1. Poor Diet

The foods you eat equate to fuel for the body so that you have the energy you need to repair tissues and curb inflammation. Without sufficient nutrients, the opposite is true: your body is starved of the nourishment it needs to restore itself. And while the occasional slip-up might not be enough to through your recovery completely off track, repeatedly consuming foods devoid of nutrients presents significant challenges for the body.

excess carbohydrates leads to increased insulin levels, insulin resistance, immune suppression, and more

evaluate your diet with the self-assessment tool to determine if it's an obstacle to healing
answering no to one or more items in the diet assessment suggests diet is an obstacle to healing

General Diet Guidelines

To keep your diet as nutrient-dense as possible, consider the following guidelines.

general diet guidelines cook your vegetables, avoid fried foods, minimize carbohydrates, and chew your food

Some foods are problematic for many people because they contribute to food allergies, sensitivities, digestive issues, or increase the body’s toxic burden. Foods to consider nixing from your diet altogether are as follows:

foods to eliminate include lectins, dairy, alcohol, artificial preservatives, and artificial sweeteners

2. Toxins

Toxins are present in the foods you eat, the air you breathe, personal care products, household cleaners, and more. Toxins can have a profound influence on the body.

toxins compromise cellular energy production, disrupt hormones, promote inflammation, and more

evaluate your environment with the self-assessment tool to determine if it's an obstacle to healing
answering no to one or more items in the toxin assessment suggests toxins are an obstacle to healing

Although toxins can come from a variety of sources, you’re probably most familiar with mold and its mycotoxins. Unfortunately, mold exposure can curtail your efforts to get well — regardless of whether it’s “toxic” or even whether you’re allergic to mold. More than 50% of homes and more than 85% of commercial buildings in the U.S. have water damage and mold, even if you can’t see or smell it outright. Symptoms can range from mildly disruptive to serious and truly life-threatening. To clean up mold and your environment, put these tips into action:

eliminate mold by removing visible signs of it and cleaning heating units and air conditioners
eat organic food, filter your water, replace HVAC filters, and quit smoking to minimize other toxins

3. Stress

Chronic stress is very pervasive in modern life. Often people suffering from stress don’t realize that their symptoms are stress-related. Stress has the potential to disrupt all normal functions of the body and mind.

stress disrupts functions of the body like digestion, immune system, daily maintenance, and tissue repair

evaluate your stress levels with the self-assessment tool to determine if it is an obstacle to healing
answering no to one or more items in the stress assessment suggests stress is an obstacle to healing

Stress sends the sympathetic nervous system — the part of the nervous system associated with the “fight or flight” response — into overdrive, leading to issues like poor sleep, feelings of irritability or anxiousness, increased pain levels, among others. Since you can’t outrun stress, learning to manage it is one of the best steps you can take for your health.

dedicate time to stress relief by mediating, gardening, walking, or using herbs to support the stress response

dedicate time to improving sleep by taking a hot bath, blocking out excess light, and sleeping in a cool room

4. Inactivity

If you’re highly symptomatic or experiencing a relapse, moving your body might be the last thing you want to do. But even gentle, restorative exercise (restorative yoga, qigong, taking a stroll, doing leisurely laps in the pool) can help counter the pitfalls of being too sedentary.

inactivity decreases blood flow, increases toxin retention, disrupts immune function, and zaps energy

evaluate your activity level with the self-assessment tool to determine if it's an obstacle to healing
answering no to one or more items in the activity assessment suggests inactivity is an obstacle to healing

if you have limited activity levels, consider gentle exercises like restorative yoga, pilates, or qigong

if you are bedridden, avoid exercise until you feel ready or consider using an infrared sauna

What if Symptoms Persist?

Sometimes, you can do all the right things and still wind up perplexed as to what’s going on or what to do next. The good news, however, is there are still several options to consider.

First, do you need to add additional herbal support to combat coinfections? Some herbs to think about include:

if symptoms persist, try additional herbal support like cryptolepis, black walnut, neem, or red root

Second, do you need the assistance of a heroic therapy — more potent interventions for when you feel like nothing else is moving the needle? For Lyme disease, the ones you’re most apt to be prescribed or recommended are:

heroic therapies are more potent interventions like antibiotics, rife machines, ozone, and hyperthermia therapy

Wellness is Within Reach

Treating Lyme disease requires persistence as you slowly chip away at layers of dysfunction and cellular stress factors. While it can be overwhelming, whenever you get stuck, go back to the basics and look for the areas where you might have gotten off track.

self check-ins are crucial each week to make sure you're staying on track toward your goal of healing

Review this recovery roadmap, and do weekly self check-ins. Remain consistent with your protocol and celebrate all of your healing milestones — no matter how big or small they are. Soon, you’ll find yourself turning the corner.

Dr. Rawls is a physician who overcame Lyme disease through natural herbal therapy. You can learn more about Lyme disease in Dr. Rawls’ new best selling book, Unlocking Lyme.
You can also learn about Dr. Rawls’ personal journey in overcoming Lyme disease and fibromyalgia in his popular blog post, My Chronic Lyme Journey.

________________

**Comment**

If you are a newbie, or even an “advanced” patient, this article may really stress you out as there’s so much to learn, consider, and address.  The intent is never to overwhelm, but to enlighten as this is probably the toughest thing to treat and encompasses every bodily system.  Please, just learn what you can and take one thing at a time.  Most things cost money and time and patients are typically short on both so don’t beat up on yourself. 

Category:

Detoxing, diet and nutrition, Gut Health, Herbs, Inflammation, Lyme, Supplements, Treatment