Nicotine

I have come to my own personal conclusion that Nicotine may actually be good for the brains of chronic Lyme sufferers. Especially for mental fatigue. Don't get me wrong, smoking is terrible for you and I do not smoke. Never have, never will. However I have been experimenting with safer forms of Nicotine recently with positive results. It has improved my mood/memory and less anxiety. To be honest... I feel great.

This conclusion came after researching Acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is very important for overall brain function and memory. Lyme depletes Acetylcholine... Nicotine increases Acetylcholine. Could the cure for your brain fog actually be something doctors have told you is bad your entire life? After thinking about it more I realized out of the people I personally know with Lyme, the ones who smoke seem to complain less about symptoms.

Maybe I sound crazy. I understand not everyone will agree with this theory... but the world isn't flat. And thinking outside the box is never a bad thing.

LOL - well, this one's interesting. I know one Lyme doc who will refuse to see patients who smoke claiming they will never get better doing so. That said, I guess anything is possible. But, I cannot imagine trading all the bad things smoking does for your body just for some Lyme relief - there are many other, healthier paths to take. Lymer people's bodies are generally overloaded with toxins, smoking would add a ton more...

But, the nicotine experiment you are trying - go for it....as we have all stated here, we all need to find our own "solutions" - nicotine's not on the list for me! I'd be worried about it's long term effects as it is addictive (even in non-smoking forms) and it supposed to be very difficult to quit once addicted due to its affect on the brain's neurotransmitters....plus, here's a quick blurk from wiki about its toxicology...tread very carefully and I'd be interested to hear what comes of your experimenting!

ToxicologySee also: Nicotine poisoning
NFPA 704
140
The LD50 of nicotine is 50 mg/kg for rats and 3 mg/kg for mice. 40–60 mg (0.5-1.0 mg/kg) can be a lethal dosage for adult humans.[56][57] Nicotine therefore has a high toxicity in comparison to many other alkaloids such as cocaine, which has an LD50 of 95.1 mg/kg when administered to mice. It is unlikely that a person would overdose on nicotine through smoking alone, although overdose can occur through combined use of nicotine patches or nicotine gum and cigarettes at the same time.[58] Spilling a high concentration of nicotine onto the skin can cause intoxication or even death, since nicotine readily passes into the bloodstream following dermal contact.[59]

The carcinogenic properties of nicotine in standalone form, separate from tobacco smoke, have not been evaluated by the IARC, and it has not been assigned to an official carcinogen group. The currently available literature indicates that nicotine, on its own, does not actively induce the development of cancer in healthy tissue and has no mutagenic properties.[when?][citation needed] However, nicotine and the increased cholinergic activity it causes have been shown to impede apoptosis, which is one of the methods by which the body destroys unwanted cells (programmed cell death). Since apoptosis helps to remove mutated or damaged cells that may eventually become cancerous, the inhibitory actions of nicotine creates a more favourable environment for cancer to develop.[60] In one study, nicotine administered to mice with tumors caused increases in tumor size (twofold increase), metastasis (nine-fold increase), and tumor recurrence (threefold increase).[61] Through mechanisms like these, nicotine can cause cancer, even if it does not actively induce development of cancer in healthy tissue by being mutagenic.

Though the teratogenic properties of nicotine may or may not yet have been adequately researched, women who use nicotine gum and patches during the early stages of pregnancy face an increased risk of having babies with birth defects, according to a study of around 77,000 pregnant women in Denmark. The study found that women who use nicotine-replacement therapy in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy have a 60% greater risk of having babies with birth defects, compared to women who are non-smokers.[citation needed]

Effective April 1, 1990, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency added nicotine to the list of chemicals known to the state to cause developmental toxicity, for the purposes of Proposition 65.[62]

i smoke.....and have smoked since i was in my teens.....there are an upside to the efects on your physical "overall" feeling after had smoked.....but the carcinogens <~~doesnt care if its spelled wrong*.....is deadly and toxic after long term use.....i had high arsenic in my lab work that came from smoking....as of right now...i cant quit...i would be traumatized and even my doc told me that mentally may be setting myself for failure if i were to try to quit right now...and to wait til i felt better......i am going to quit.....but nicotine has helped me through some badddd stuff.....even though it was like robbing the government to give to criminals...one kinda cancels the other out just have to weigh the benefits u get at the time....nicotine has helped me when i needed it....but im ready to NOT need it

We're all in agreement that smoking is bad for you physically. That's a known fact. What Im talking about is how Nicotine by itself affects the brain and how it could possibly help with cognitive issues caused by Lyme. I have access to the same internet as the rest of you. Read up on how Aceytylcholine affects memory... how Lyme decreases Acetylcholine... and how Nicotine increases it. It's all out there to read up on. I know there's no real proof that Nicotine is helpful in this situation... thats why this is just my own crazy theory at this point.

Why anyone would want to risk addiction to a substance like nicotine is beyond me. It's called a "super toxin". Here is a link to a site that is talking about the addiction of nicotine, not just the dangers of smoking:
whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html

Some healthier alternatives to nicotine for increasing acetylcholine:

Taking N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), and either Lecithin or Choline supplements.
Exercising.
Taking a prescription medication called Mestinon (usually prescribed for Myasthenia Gravis, which is a disorder involving muscular acetylcholine).
Avoiding anti-cholinergic medications (Benadryl, Scopolamine, etc.).

There are probably other things as well...

If you smoke, and like the associated actions of a cigarette (holding, puffing, blowing, etc) check out electronic cigarettes. A bit of a change, but well worth it health-wise, IMO. Just the nicotine, none of the other chemicals.

I confess that I use them myself.

I know this is an old post...but I am a smoker as well.

I will see a doc for the first time this coming up Wednesday. I REALLY want to quit at beginning of treatment...but I am scared.

I quit not all that long ago...for a month...until my period rolled around, and BAM! I thought I was going to lose my mind!!!

Seriously. I drove to Urgent Care and told them what was going on to see if they could give me something for the withdrawals.
They said if I wasn't going to do harm to myself or anyone else, that they could do nothing for me.

So...I went a bought a pack of smokes, and that's the end of that story.

Does someone know of ANYTHING natural/herbal... that can HELP w/the withdrawals??!

Please...advice/suggestions welcome...I need help. Thanks!

I am so happy this thread popped up! I too was a smoker. I started as a (dumb) teenager. When I got pregnant I quit no problem. Well, ok...it was tough, really tough...but I did it. When I was breastfeeding I didn't miss. But I did something so incredibly stupid. Once I stopped breastfeeding I started again!

It was my way of taking a break, my "release", as I was not used to being stuck at home 24/7, and I get very antsy! I've quit a few times since, but my husband still smokes so the temptation is constantly there. I would highly recommend the Blu e cig to anyone who is still struggling to quit. I had to start with the disposable kind because they are much stronger than the starter kit (rechargeable kind). I find them at Walgreens. I've told my docs I use this and they have all said they think it's great. There's still a little nicotine in the kind I use, but it's a fraction of what you'd get in a real cig. I know it's not as good as quitting, but it's a huge step for me. I already feel better knowing that I no longer smell like an ashtray!

Anyway, the disposable Blu Cig is around $9.99 at some gas stations and Walgreens locations. They also sell the starter kit.

Again, I know smoking when I've been as sick as I have been is INSANE, but I'm much happier with myself using the e cig. It might not be for everyone, but it was a huge help for me. Good luck to those of you who are trying to quit. You can do it!!!

Btw I like the poll. There should be an option for "I smoke e cigs" and/or "I'm nuts". Those would have been my two choices! :)

Actually, there is one instance where nicotine is good... It can help with a cytokine storm...lol... tremendously.

Again, there are healthier ways to improve brain function besides nicotine. See my post above, read Buhner's "Healing Lyme" section on brain function and Lyme, or consult a Naturopath or Integrative Physician.

Smoking depletes antioxidants and glutathione. You cannot detox without glutathione. It is impossible.

For those who claim that there are healthier ways to improve brain function besides nicotine I'd like to ask
Based on what evidence?
Perhaps a double blind study comparing a homeopathic remedy(shaken water) vs. nicotine?
No one knows is the truth but nicotine does at least offer a rational mechanism for why it might help. That being said I wouldn't recommend this path for anyone with a previous addiction to smoking.
Also, the original poster was not suggesting using cigarettes as a delivery method. That is clearly a bad idea backed by plenty of evidence. Remember. Mice aren't people or cancer would have been cured decades ago