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Anyone have any luck using exclusively alternative methods of treatment (non antibiotic)

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Posted 6/11/2012 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there, I just found the bullseye yesterday- picked off the tick on the 31st of May.
I guess I'm lucky in that it's the first time I've ever been bit by a tick before, so far I'm batting 100 hehe

So I haven't touched any pharmecutical drugs in years, and I eat as close to raw local organic food as possible (I travel around alot so this isn't always easy)
I'd like to explore alternative methods of healing; and I've only just started doing research, but from what I've been seeing, even some herbalists recommend taking the antibiotics right away, because of the narrow time window in which we have in order to really be super effective in treatment.
?
I guess what I'm asking is has anyone used exclusively alternative methods of healing (homeopathy, herbalism, accupuncture, reiki, TCM etc.) and had success with them?

I may not be in a position to really follow a strictly herbal regimen (as I don't have the money to actually get a consultation with one) are there any herbal remedies that you would suggest? A friend has already given me a few tinctures I should look into for immunoboosting.

Hope all of you are doing well!
Posted 6/11/2012 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
I cant say much about the immediate antibiotics but I have had chronic lyme for over 16 years and just began treating with TCM and japanese medicine (so this includes Moxa, Acupuncture, Herbals...) about 4 months ago...for the first time in 5 years I have been able to ride a bike, walk more than 1 block, my pain has been decreased almost 75% and so much more has improved. Im only in my beginning stages of this improvement as my recovery time is 3-5 years.

But with such great results so quickly I highly recommend finding a good TCM doc to consult with...

As with finances I recommend seeing if their is a natural college in your area that offers a sliding scale clinic...or something along those lines.
Posted 6/11/2012 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
I just saw this on naturalnews.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/036133_Lyme_disease_ticks_prevention.html
Posted 6/11/2012 8:21 AM (GMT 0)
We know that antibiotics taken right away will kill the initial infection.

We know that you have been infected with borrelia because of the bullseye rash.

You are running out of time and you don't have enough of it to properly research and there is MUCH at stake. Why take a chance? This is a very serious disease. You can return to your natural lifestyle afterwards, with your health and future intact.
Posted 6/11/2012 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
I agree that it would be better to take a short course of antibiotics now than to try to use herbs. I was completely against meds as well. Because of that I allowed Lyme to progress for years even though I knew I had it. Then it became severe after a re-infection. I am now having liver damage, seizures, paralysis, etc.

I think that you should go on doxy for at least a month and then switch to herbs if you like to make sure the infection is gone.
Posted 6/11/2012 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies; although I had a strong initial conviction to beat it without antibiotics; having JUST found out, i havent had the chance to do much research yet, and after talking to a close friend who recently contracted lyme as well, and his wife who is an herbalist, I've decided to take the antibiotics. I plan on supplementing with herbs and immunoboosters and cutting out all Milk and Sugar and gluten (except fructose) from my diet. I'm already a vegetarian, so meat is no issue. I'm going to ask for Doxycyclone and make sure it's 30 days and not 14.
Posted 6/11/2012 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
I'm headed to the hospital in an hour
Posted 6/11/2012 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Lyme has taken my life for the last 10 years, I have lived in bed over 4 years now. I understand your lifestyle because my daughter is the same BUT considering how this disease can destroy your life.....I would go directly to a Dr. and insist on at least 6 months of antibiotics. ASAP
Better to be safe than sorry! Once Lyme takes hold in your body it's VERY difficult to get well. Doxycycline is the drug of choice most of the time but many Dr's treat for a few weeks with too low a dose.
IT would be best of you have an LLMD in your area because the truth is MOST Dr's don't have a clue and are responsible for many of us being like we are now.
Posted 6/11/2012 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so glad you decided to go with antibiotics! Phew! You don't know how worried I was about you. I understand your desire to avoid unnatural treatment, but in this case it is the way to go simply because lyme research is behind the curve and taking antibiotics at the very start of an infection is the only known way to prevent the horror of chronic lyme.

Sometimes the best ways involves a blend of holistic, natural and so-called 'conventional' methods.

Take care!

Post Edited (Tickle) : 6/11/2012 9:03:53 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/11/2012 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
What kind of doctor are you seeing for this? If you're going to be taking the antibiotics, it's essential that you take them for long enough - some doctors STILL believe that a week or so of doxy is always the answer, which doesn't seem to be the case. I know a great deal more about chronic than acute lyme, so I don't know what's agreed upon by ILADS - I've heard to take abx up to 2 months after symptoms have gone away.

Buhner's book "Healing Lyme" is really great if you're looking for a natural/herbal approach. I've actually just switched over to his lyme protocol and am having some pretty decent results (after a looong year of abx treatment, after 15 looong years of being misdiagnosed!). Anyway - best of luck! I'm so glad you're so on top of this!
Posted 6/12/2012 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
I got a perscription for 30 days of doxycycline- and I have an appointment with an herbalist on the 19th.

In the meantime, I'm taking Zinc, a Magnesium Calcium Vitamin D3 blend, Echinacea, and Acidophilus, in addition to nettle tea.

I'm also starting a detox- I'll be eating only raw organic food, and eventually switch to just liquids.

Thank you for all your concern and responses.
Posted 6/13/2012 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
I would like to encourage you to treat the way your convictions take you. Although I'm not against abx - I used them for the first year of my treatment - they also were my undoing. I ended up more severe than I had ever been.

After that year on abx, I started having seizures, was having great difficulty communicating, and was bed bound, I turned to natural means to heal. That decision was the best one I had made. After only 9 months in treatment for Lyme and 6 months for Bartonella, I had amazing healing going on! I will still need more treatment for my Lyme and Bart infections (we are treating my Babesia infection now), but my symptom reduction has been truly impressive!

So if you would want to go with natural healing, please don't let others tell you that you won't heal just because you have chosen to use a more natural way. I'm living proof that people can go that route and still heal very well! You can also use both abx and natural means to heal.

I'm not sure that going to only liquids in your diet is wise though - unless you are under strict supervision from a qualified practitioner. Even then I would say only for a short amount of time. Your body will need everything it's got to heal from these incredibly complex infections - including as much nutrition as it can possible get.
Posted 6/13/2012 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Traveler- I gave the wrong impression- I'm planning on doing a 2 week detox, which after the first week will be just liquids. Juices and such. I'm really excited for my herbalist appointment on the 19th.
Posted 6/13/2012 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Oh good!! I was a bit concerned! I hope that your herbalist has an understanding of what kinds of things your systems need!! Best of luck and please do be sure to let us know how things are going!!
Posted 6/13/2012 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Traveler, she was bitten by a tick two weeks ago - so she doesn't have a systemic infection yet. Do you feel that natural medicine is the way to go at this point? We know that antibiotics taken early will prevent the disease, but I don't know that I've read anything concrete about naturals.
Posted 6/13/2012 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
You won't read anything concrete on naturals - no studies are being done using natural approaches. There had to be a ton of funding for those studies and the Pharma companies sure won't fund those studies when they won't hardly even fund the ones using abx!

As I stated about my own case - natural healing not only works, but works well! The person definitely has to be very dedicated to healing in order for it to work, but it can be done. I'm living proof. Abx made me so ill that I was bed-bound and having seizures because the infections were still rampaging through my body and no one had said a thing about detoxing (other than those on this site) and that was back in 2007. I started my Lyme treatment in March of 2011 and in nine months time, I had made sooo much progress! By spring, I was outside again buying goats and putting in a garden!

If you have any specific questions that I might be able to answer for you, I'll sure give it my best shot!! I just want people to understand that those who choose to go with natural treatment aren't choosing something that isn't as good as using abx.
Posted 6/13/2012 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
It's my opinion that for an early infection, you should go on abx for 6-8 weeks. Not much to lose there, and you shouldn't have a horrible reaction if it's only been in your system a short time. If you still don't feel fine after 6-8 weeks, then try something else.
Posted 6/13/2012 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Traveller, I know you've answered this dozens of times, but is there any particular herbal protocol such as cowden, Buhner, or such?

I'm just about to switch treatments up, and using a Naturopath. I have Buhner's book.

Sorry for hijacking. blush
Posted 6/25/2012 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Anyone know someone with knowledge of natural tx in la? Or in neighbouring state. Health is getting worse espeisially eyes. Even with positive test results for 13 yrs can not find md to really help. Or md who is knowledge.
Posted 6/25/2012 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi cajun gmother - welcome to the forum! I moved your post to a new thread so more people would be likely to see it and make recommendations. Make sure your email address is enabled in the profile section so anyone who knows of a practitioner can let you know (we don't post names on the forum).
Posted 6/25/2012 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
How do I get to new treads. Poor computer. Skills,.sorry
Posted 6/25/2012 5:53 AM (GMT 0)
You just go to the first page and click "post new topic"

No worries - I just thought it would help in this case to move it :)
Posted 6/25/2012 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
cajun gmother,

Some people want to give you info on a doctor. You need to enable your email option in your profile. Just go to your profile and click on "show email".
Posted 6/26/2012 11:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I can only talk for myself and I got totally well from chronic lyme after having it since 1995 or before (have been well for over 6 years now) using alternative medicine (Dr. David Jernigan's protocol from his book).  I just looked up hansacenter.com and wow, the site has changed!

Maybe someone else will benefit from reading about this.  I call it paying it forward.  Someone told me about Dr. J. so I thought I would mention this doctor..

http://hansacenter.com/treatment-philosophy/

http://beatinglymedisease.blogspot.com/

There is hope! 

Denise

 

Posted 6/26/2012 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tickle!
I'm so sorry for not answering you sooner! My email alerts evidently aren't working again!! blush

I have talked with people who have used Cowden and Bruhners, and it seems to depend on what you can tolerate. I've heard that Bruhners is a little less expensive, although I haven't checked into that.

I'm still using Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture/Western herbs to heal and things are going pretty well, although I overdid waaaaay too much and am going through a bit of a set back. To be expected with my history and personality! LOL!

I think the biggest thing is to find a protocol that you are willing to stick with for the long-term and then be diligent to stick with it unless you react badly or not at all! Remember, each person needs a protocol that suits just them, as these infections attack the body's weakest points and just loves to set up camp there! The amount of time a person was infected beforehand, and how well that person tolerates whatever protocol they choose determines how long they will be in treatment - not the type of treatment they choose.

I go through periods of "is this worth it?" and "OMG, if I have to take any more herbs, I'm gonna choke!", but that doesn't stop me from getting up the next morning and committing to it all over again!! I remember all too well how I felt before I started with my current doc, and I have no intention of being house bound again!!! It's a good motivator!! Giggle!

Cajun gmother, I'm in Northern Arkansas - if you are interested in talking with me about my doc, please email me. Just click on the little blue envelope under my screen name and it should bring up your email with my address already there.
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