I am a 46 year old therapist and coach living in Hawaii. I specialize in working with people suffering from chronic illness, trauma, depression, and other challenges. Also, I am trained in somatic movement therapy to help my clients explore the interrelationship between body, psyche, and spirit. Due to living a very healthy lifestyle I used to think that I would be able to understand the messages of my body, recognize any signs of disease, and never get ill in the first place. Oh, was I wrong! Not only did I not expect to have Lyme disease nor to know that herbal medicine would help me.
The first symptoms of my illness started while attending a conference in Oregon. I woke up in the morning with a sudden onset of pain in both knees, headache and flu-like symptoms. Initially I thought I got a cold from the flight. As the day progressed my symptoms kept getting worse though and it became very painful to walk. Over the next few days the symptoms did not get better and a deep exhaustion and pain in my neck was added to the mix. After suffering through three days of my conference I flew back to Hawaii and called my primary care physician for an appointment.
At the appointment the MD did a physical exam and bloodwork, but all labs came back normal. The doctor just shook her shoulders and said” It’s probably just stress. Take a few days off and rest.”
A few days later the pain in my knees became intolerable, now I also experienced a loss of sensations in my hands and the feeling of pins and needles in my arms and legs. I ended up in the Emergency Room in the middle of the night and they admitted me to the hospital a few hours later. The diagnosis changed from possible stroke to multiple sclerosis to other possible autoimmune diseases and they gave me IV steroids.
With the hospital treatment my condition deteriorated further. After 4 weeks in the hospital I was not able to walk anymore and needed a wheelchair. A week later I discharged myself, as the treatment prescribed was making things worse. I was given strong painkillers and left devastated.
For the following 9 months, I was bed bound with excruciating pain and exhaustion. I had lost 20 pounds and was so weak, that I could barely hold a fork. I will never forget the despair and loneliness I experienced during this time with little to no support and resources from the medical community. In fact, I spent all the energy available researching to get another diagnosis. After seeing another 15 doctors with no change in my symptoms, I finally found an herbalist who said he strongly suspects that I do have chronic Lyme disease. He suggested to do some testing at a special lab.
All the labs came back positive for Lyme and we started treatment using herbs, a detox protocol, anti-inflammatory diet, as well as chiropractic adjustments.The adjustments helped a lot with the pain.
Lyme disease is a tick borne illness, transmitted by ticks carrying Borrelia bacterias. 70% of all patients diagnosed with chronic lyme disease do not remember being bitten and the bacteria can spread in the body hiding deep in joints, tissues, and bones. Most common symptoms of chronic lyme disease are: joint pain, headaches, neck pain, numbness, muscle and nerve pain, and fatigue. The symptoms can be severely debilitating. Chronic lyme disease has become a hidden pandemic. There is a big controversy in the medical field about this disease. It is not part of the medical school curriculum and there are little funds available to research this cruel disease. Patients suffering have little to no answers until they find support in alternative treatments.
After one month of treatment using the herbal treatment, I felt some difference in my symptoms from Lyme disease. I was able to walk again. I felt my body coming back to life. The herbs of the protocol had strong anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Herbal medicine has a long record in history. Ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal uses for plants and herbs as early as 3000 BC. Plant’s seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers have all medicinal properties. Herbal medicine can help treat many diseases, including acute ones lime Lyme disease.
This very painful healing journey helped me to be more grateful in my life.
I learned to take my power back and listen more deeply to my body. It was crucial to trust my intuition and I would advice anyone in a similar situation to follow your gut feeling, regardless what medical experts, family or friends are saying.
I feel deep gratitude for nature and it’s medicine and know without the support of herbs I would not be alive anymore.
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