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Recover From Brain Fog & Lyme Disease Naturally
Published on June 26, 2018
Gary Blier
Founder, Advanced Cell Training
When most people think of Lyme disease, it conjures up thoughts of rashes, flu-like symptoms, and joint pain. However, there are a significant number of Lyme sufferers who also experience brain fog: agonizing neurological symptoms that leave them feeling drained, irritable, confused, and cognitively lagging.
Brain fog is one of the most common psychiatric manifestations of Lyme Disease. In fact, it’s estimated that 70% of individuals affected by Lyme show signs of cognitive decline or memory loss.
While you may be familiar with brain fog within the Lyme community, you may not be aware of what it is or why it happens. We’ll break it all down for you in this article and provide you with natural solutions you can carry out at home to lift the fog that robs you of a clear mind.
What is Brain Fog?
Brain fog is a term given by those whose brain function is underperforming compared to a normal, healthy brain. It can range from a mild case of “cloudiness” to a more severe case that makes it difficult to perform basic tasks.
Brain fog symptoms include:
Memory loss
Slowed processing
Difficulty thinking or making decisions
Poor concentration
Mood swings
Confusion
Sleep disturbances
Decreased problem-solving abilities
Easily overwhelmed
Low energy or fatigue
Headaches
Depersonalization or dissociation (i.e., loss of emotional connection to others and life)
Other brain fog indicators may include feeling fuzzy-headed, unmotivated, melancholy, or irrational for no apparent reason. It’s also not uncommon for anxiety and depression to accompany brain fog, especially in cases of prolonged illness.
Additionally, brain fog symptoms can wax and wane during periods of high stress, exposure to electromagnetic frequencies and overly stimulating environments, hormonal changes, and during a herxheimer reaction. Symptoms can even intensify with certain moon cycles.
Your Brain on Lyme
Scientists are still trying to understand Lyme disease and how it affects the brain, but several studies have already concluded that Lyme bacteria can impact every aspect of the brain. Medical experts also agree that Lyme and coinfections cause the brain to swell, which can result in neurological or neuropsychiatric symptoms such as brain fog.
One of the most common causes of brain fog are the Lyme pathogens themselves, otherwise referred to as spirochetes. These corkscrew-shaped bacteria deeply embed themselves inside tissues, neurons, and cells. They can cross over the blood-brain barrier and wreak havoc on brain receptors and neural pathways.
When these pathogens die off, they excrete harmful endotoxins and exotoxins that inhibit brain function. If you do not detox properly, these toxins can accumulate and cause brain fog or damage brain tissue. The very presence of such toxins trigger the immune system to go into hyperdrive, releasing more cytokines into the blood, fueling inflammation within the brain and body. Cytokines are small proteins that are instrumental in cell signaling.
To overcome Lyme disease and brain fog, it’s crucial to address all underlying inflammation by making modifications to one’s diet and lifestyle.
Natural Brain Fog Recovery Tips
Get on the road to recovery from Lyme brain fog by taking inventory of the following areas:
Restful Sleep
One of the most significant neurological challenges for people with Lyme is insomnia. More than just a frustrating symptom, disturbed sleep patterns can interfere with healing by damaging the immune system, allowing toxins or pathogens to take root in the body. Insufficient sleep can also raise cytokine chemicals and quinolinic acid in the body that can lead to inflammation and worsen neurological symptoms.
Getting adequate sleep is key to Lyme recovery. Remember, it’s not just about the hours you clock every night, but also the quality of sleep that matters. Your brain and immune system do most of their healing when you are in a deep sleep, so it’s advised to get sleep around 10:00 pm and wake after about 7-8 hours of good sleep.
Need extra help in this department? Ask a medical practitioner about checking your hormones or thyroid levels to see what could be preventing you from getting enough zzz’s.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
To support your brain health, try an anti-inflammatory diet to give your brain and body the nutrients it needs to heal. Buy organic as often as possible because toxic GMOs and pesticides can cause inflammation and put unnecessary stress on your body.
Eliminate these common offenders from your diet: caffeine, alcohol, refined carbohydrates, gluten, and sugar. All of these are enemies of brain fog and can impair brain function. It’s also best to avoid these substances until after your Lyme recovery.
Click here to read a great article on the top 15 anti-inflammatory foods that can transform your health: https://draxe.com/anti-inflammatory-foods/
Also, cut out neuro-inflammatory saturated fats and instead up your intake of good or monounsaturated fats. Olive oil, nuts, avocado, and some types of fish have been shown to enhance memory and cognitive function, according to Harvard Medical School.
De-Stress Your Brain
High levels of cortisol, the body’s “stress hormone” have been linked to brain fog. Chronically elevated cortisol can disrupt your symphony of hormones that work intrinsically to keep your body in check. When one hormone falls too low, another one overcompensates to restore harmony.
Routinely check your cortisol levels (preferably via a saliva test) to ensure your levels are in balance. Actively pursue activities that reduce stress and declutter your mind, whether it be meditation, prayer, music, or your favorite hobby. Give yourself permission to unplug from the grid and relax.
Detox, Detox, Detox
Brain fog is often a sign of built-up toxins–Lyme, mold, parasites, or yeast–in the blood and intestines. Consider infrared sauna sessions, or doing light exercise or yoga to stimulate your lymphatic system. Get those toxins moving out of your body!
You may also speak to your healthcare providers about supplements you can take to support your detox pathways. Bentonite clay, activated charcoal, and juice cleanses are generally safe options for cleaning out the sludge.
Another way to help flush toxins out is to stay well-hydrated throughout the day. Multiply your body weight by 67%. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you should drink daily. For example, a 100-pound person would need 67 ounces of water. Divide that by 8 – the number of ounces in a glass of water – and the result is roughly 8 glasses of water per day. Most of us fall far short of this amount.
Self-Healing for Lyme Disease and Brain Fog
You might also need extra support recovering from Lyme disease and brain fog. Advanced Cell Training (ACT) offers a self-healing program that enables your body’s own awesome ability to kill microorganisms – even in the brain. With ACT, you can train your own immune system to respond appropriately to spirochetes, parasites, and coinfections. This simple training process has helped thousands over the last 20 years overcome health issues. Basically, we point out where your body is going wrong and show it how to self-correct and get things back on track.
For more on ACT: https://advancedcelltraining.com
