I like your Hippocrates quote, BlackTara.
And I like this question. I have noticed more help from the "extra curricular" things I have done, generally speaking. This list is ridiculously long, but maybe something will be helpful....
Infrared light: I used an infrared light pad system weekly with a practitioner who also did acupuncture, homeopathy, muscle testing, and flower essences. I do not remember the brand of the infrared light system, but it cost my acupuncturist $6,000. It felt pleasantly warm in the winter, and the blue light of the face mask might have been helpful seasonally in the same way that a full-spectrum light is, but honestly I did not notice any difference that would not have been accomplished with a heating pad.
Acupuncture: Great with the right practitioner, worked especially well for me for appetite and anxiety.
Rebounding: Great when I am not well enough to exercise, to get blood and lymph circulating. I have a swing in my back yard, like a porch swing on an A-frame, and it's so regulating and pleasant.
Pulse oximeter: I use this as a biofeedback device! Helpful for managing POTS and anxiety, and helpful for monitoring air hunger.
Epsom salt baths: There have been recent threads on this, and people's protocols with this vary, but I use a quart of Epsom salts in hot water. This allows me to sweat (so good when I am not well enough to exercise) and relaxes nerves and muscles.
Dry brushing: I've read that it's helpful for detoxification and lymph circulation, but it's also nice to exfoliate and connect with the whole body, brushing toward the heart.
Yoga: So good.
Lymphatic massage: I notice instant drainage even when I don't have any congestion. There's a nice video for the neck area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA-wi0d7-Ro
Craniosacral therapy: The best practitioners of this, in my experience, have had physical therapy backgrounds. It's a gentle, restorative therapy. It's especially helpful for me for headaches, dizziness, alignment, relaxation, and help figuring out where in my body imbalances originate.
Massage: Lymph, circulation, etc. but it also just feels good. I think it's extremely important to do things that feel good to remind us that our bodies are not just sites of pain and dysfunction. Even just a foot or hand massage can be great.
Vagus nerve stimulation: Some of these seem to help regulate the nervous system for me. https://selfhacked.com/blog/32-ways-to-stimulate-your-vagus-nerve-and-all-you-need-to-know-about
-it/
Therapy: My favorite approach is IFS, but there are so many wonderful types of mental health therapy. This illness is traumatic, and it's widely documented that trauma contributes to chronic illness. I strongly recommend that people be proactive with their mental health.
Mind-body approaches: Try the app Curable or another mind-body approach to chronic pain and other symptoms. It's a great resource for understanding the science behind how our brains can perpetuate illness even after pathogens are no longer an issue. Some elements of this tool can be like self-guided therapy for people who cannot go to conventional mental health care or who are held back by stigma or finances.
AmpCoil: This device combines biofeedback, pulsed electromagnetic frequencies (PEMF), and rife technology. It's an amazing thing, truly life-changing for some, but has not worked well for me because of electrical sensitivity. It's expensive (close to $8,000) but you can rent one or pay in installments. The AmpCoil was designed specifically for people with Lyme and autoimmune illness.
Diet: This is probably obvious, but a high-quality, whole-foods diet makes a huge difference. And of course it needs to be tailored to individual needs (like mine needs to be low-mold and low-histamine because those things contribute considerably toward my illness).
Stretching: Helps to stretch, even if other forms of movement are not possible.
Removing pollutants from the home: Check all of your body and cleaning products for toxicity levels at https://www.ewg.org/ Sell or give away furniture made with manufactured wood products, old and/or toxic foams, and flame retardants. Reduce plastic. Evaluate for possible sources of mold growth, and dehumidify any moist areas. Sleep on nontoxic (or less toxic) mattresses and pillows.
Masks: I bought several cloth reusable face masks from Etsy.com that I use for medical appointments or going places with lots of crowds or kids during flu season. I also wear them whenever any member of my household is sick. They are not 100% protective, but they are better than nothing! My system has enough to deal with, and I do not want to risk the flu or some other airborne illness.
Air purifier: A good air purifier is important for improving indoor air quality and trapping pathogens and allergens. Basically takes some of the burdens away from your body.
Reduce stimulation: Extra noise, odors, etc. can keep our systems hyper-aroused, which is a very bad pattern for a body trying to heal. It's hard to be chill and heal if my environment is cluttered, noisy, busy, etc.
Safeguard sleep: Sleep hygiene! If you must use electronics within a few hours of bedtime, then set up a blue light filter. Keep electronics and work out of the bedroom. Keep the room very dark and quiet. For me, white noise makes me wake up feeling like I got hit by a truck, so I do my best to keep things genuinely quiet. I sleep better if I don't eat after 6 and don't drink water after 8. If you sleep better alone but you have a partner, then sleep alone anyway!
DNRS: Limbic system retraining! I have found this extremely helpful for literally every symptom, once I made it through the very dated videos and made the practice my own. It takes time and can be tough at first. https://retrainingthebrain.com/
Tapping: Also known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). Simple exercise activates neurological points that allow you to process stressors better and keep them from affecting you physically. https://www.thetappingsolution.com/#what-is-eft-tapping
Essential oils: I took a free online course to learn about
using these responsibly. I made blends I find very helpful for pain, headaches, mood, sleep, and dizziness. A blend I made for hormone balance did not seem to do anything.
Acupressure points: Love these. Infinitely portable. ;) Lots of websites and videos to teach you
locations for basically any ailment. My favorites are for nausea, dizziness, and headaches.
Arnica oil: So great topically for pain.
CBD balm: (Also very pro-CBD and cannabis in general for Lyme, but you asked about
things we don't ingest!) Helps soothe a pinched nerve or muscle spasm or sore joint. Great stuff.
Earthing: Feet on the ground! The actual ground! When I feel bad, I usually stay on the second floor of my house. Even when I am on the first floor, there's a basement under me. I think it's helpful (dizziness, mood, energy) to spend some time in contact with the earth.
Full-spectrum light: Excellent for mood, and so simple. Very important in the darker months! I have a great Philips light that was $80, and I use it any day that I don't spend significant time outdoors.
Boundaries: Have them. Enforce them. Say no to more things. Ask for help. Reject stigma. Addressing my own internalized ableism and body image issues has been huge.
Time away from electronics: This one is hard on days that I feel bad! But it matters, especially for dizziness, headaches, energy, mood, and alignment.
Time away from illness: We can't let this be all we think about
. We can't catastrophize whenever we get a new or returning symptom. We can't read exclusively medical journal articles and forums. We have to be creative, maintain relationships even if only electronically, nurture other interests, get lost in a book or other good distraction, play music that's not maudlin.
Feel your feelings: Let the bad days be bad. Let the disappointments be disappointing. Be angry every now and then when the medical system lets you down or you miss out on something that matters. You can feel like crap sometimes without a moral duty to reframe everything immediately in terms of a journey, a lesson, etc. These feelings are human and natural, and it's counterproductive to repress them. But let them move through, and don't get stuck. Reach out when you need to. (We all need to sometimes.)