A Brief History of Lyme

Ticks that normally feast on deer are the ticks that carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The condition was named after the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut (nice to name a disease after your town, don’t you think?), where Lyme disease was first identified. Some believe the continual encroaching of real estate developments into wildlife habitats is to blame for these new types of diseases. But if you are an outdoor lover, don’t fret—you can use herbs as tick repellents to help prevent a bite in the first place To help fight off infections of any sort, use parthenium, golden seal, yarrow, and a pinch of capsicum as a catalyst. Echinacea and garlic are also well-known infection fighters; take garlic before going out for prevention.
To detoxify after being bit, take four to six capsules of activated charcoal to help stop the spread of poison in the blood. Wash them down with two teaspoons of liquid chlorophyll in a large glass of water. If you are bitten by any questionable bug, take antioxidant vitamins, grape seed or pine bark extract, lots of vitamin C, Oregon grape, and any adaptogenic herbs you might have on hand (such as suma), to help your body cope with the stressful side effects of infection.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by spiral bacteria that is carried by ticks. A tick bite spreads the disease, which is characterized by a skin rash, aching muscles and joints, headaches, fever, fatigue, sore throat, and if not treated right away, may lead to arthritis, and sometimes even inflammation of the brain or heart.
Symptoms vary per person, and, unfortunately, many times symptoms appear weeks after the actual tick bite has healed. Usually this disease is treated with antibiotics. If a tick has bitten you, watch your bite for a rash that resembles a bull’s eye radiating out from the bite. This bull’s eye appears as a red circular spot and can expand in size to 20 inches in diameter. If you see this rash appear, head for the doctors to get it checked.

The Bigger Picture of Lupus

Because lupus is a disease of the immune system, it will be helpful to alleviate extra stress in your life while you recover. Stress can suppress your immunity, and this includes the physical stress of digesting solid foods. An herbal supplement can help take the energy out of digestion by supplying the enzymes necessary to break down cooked foods. Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D supplements may prove useful to feed the structural system, and antioxidants can supply your body with what it needs to help protect your cells from free radical damage. Of course, you will need to do some investigating to find out what may have triggered your lupus and what may be aggravating the problem. Here are my suggestions:

• Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is also a condition in which the body is attacking itself, although not at such an advanced level as is experienced with lupus.
• Parasites/fungus: Many herbalists believe this can be the core issue causing lupus. Do some research on parasites in humans, and ask your doctor to test you for any and all possible parasite infections.
• Dental work: Speak to your holistic dentist regarding any dental work that you suspect could have an influence on your immune system.
• Breast implants: Consider problems with a silicone leak if you have breast implants.
• Environmental causes: Think about exactly when your symptoms started. Try to remember what changed in your environment up to two years before your symptoms started. This will give you clues to seeking an answer. If you suspect environmental allergies

Elecampane for treating lupus

Elecampane (Inula heminum) is one of many herbs I would take if I were suffering from lupus. Add elecampane for its high content of anti-amoebic compounds, compounds that kill or repel bacteria and parasites. If lupus is brought on by a parasitic infection, elecampane is one herb that has a great reputation as a powerful internal cleanser.
In the Middle Ages, elecampane—a yellow herb resembling the daisy and also referred to as wild sunflower—was used as medicine and by veterinarians to treat animals and rid them of parasites. It is helpful in ailments of the respiratory tract and has analgesic (pain-reducing) properties.

Cure for Lupus

Lupus is a general term used to describe any of several chronic skin diseases. When used alone, it usually refers to tuberculosis (TB) of the skin.
The three types of lupus conditions are:

1. Lupus erythematosus: This chronic inflammation of connective tissue affects the skin and internal organs. Symptoms include a red, scaly rash on the face; arthritis; and kidney damage. Considered an autoimmune disease, this type of lupus occurs more often in women.

2. Lupus verrucosus: This is a tuberculosis infection of the skin, with symptoms of warty lesions on the arms or hands. This happens to people who have had TB before and have become reinfected.

3. Lupus vulgaris: This infection of the skin can spread and cause ulcers and severe scarring. Children who have been given a TB inoculation usually suffer this type of lupus caused directly by the injection.

Loosening Up with Dulse

I chose the seaweed dulse as the best single herb in this case because we already talked about alfalfa, which is one of the most mineral-rich land plants. Dulse is a sea plant that may be as rich in minerals from the sea as alfalfa is from the soil.
Dulse is very similar to kelp, another sea “weed” used for its rich iodine content. Both of these herbs are also rich in potassium, which works with sodium to keep the acid/ alkaline balance in the body, to strengthen the heart and other muscles, and to keep the body healthy. Just a little of this herb goes a long way. It usually comes in a liquid form, and you can add a few drops daily in your water to obtain all that dulse has to offer. Otherwise, an encapsulated combination made from kelp, dulse, watercress, wild cabbage horseradish, and horsetail will supply you with a great array of minerals rich in potassium, among other minerals. Supplementing with extra calcium and magnesium will round out your program and feed your nervous and structural systems to keep you from twitching and cramping.

Do They Call You Thumper?

Leg or other muscle twitches are caused by involuntary spasms. These can happen anywhere in the body, including the hands and shoulders, or under your eyes. My husband thinks that when I say something important and my eye twitches, that means I am thinking more than what I’m saying. Some superstitious folks believe that a twitch in your eye is a sure sign that you’re lying—I think it’s a sign of mineral imbalance or nervous system depletion.
I once had a client who asked for some help for his twitching leg. His e-mail explained that as soon as he was getting ready to fall asleep each night, his leg would begin twitching uncontrollably! This twitching would aggravate him and keep him awake.
I was amused at his symptom because I couldn’t help getting the visual image of a dog shaking its leg when it’s tickled. When I realized that this person had a sense of humor, I also couldn’t refrain from addressing him as “Thumper.” Thumper went along with this name game while he began to take an herbal trace mineral supplement along with an herbal combination that would soothe his nervous system to help him relax.
Thumper says he put some of the liquid supplements in his bowl, lapped ’em right up, and slept like a baby that very first night! He told me that he didn’t know anything about herbs and that he might have been “barking up the wrong tree” by consulting me, but so far he has seen results. All kidding aside, since he has taken his herbs, he has not reported any more thumpin’.