Lyme Disease, Health & Nutrition
Know your Lyme from your Lemon
In my opinion, not allowing sick people access to a plant that can improve their condition is immoral.
Let’s go right back to the start.
History
It’s likely the ticks that cause Lyme Disease have been around for many, many years.
The mention of animal ticks goes back to writings from the 17th century. Although, symptoms caused by a bite were not linked together or given a name.
Indeed, it was not until as late as 1975 that the disease was christened Lyme Disease (LD). I have read a lot about what happened at this point. And here is my summary.
Plum Island, an animal disease center, is situated near Long Island in New York state. Scientists were employed thereafter WW2. Various research and experiments were carried out at this high-security location. At some point, deer ticks were deliberately infected with a stronger type of bacteria. The reasons why are unclear.
Apparently, in the early 1970s, a few deer got loose and swam over the water to a place called Lyme. Over the next few years, many local inhabitants became plagued by a particularly strong debilitating strain of the deer tick bacteria — Borrelli. And so it became known as Lyme Disease.
This book is fascinating and delves deep into the history of the disease.
I am not even going to guesstimate how it came to the UK. Though it does appear there are various strains of LD.
Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk places include grassy and wooded areas in southern and northern England and the Scottish Highlands.
Symptom Diagnosis and Treatment
One of the first symptoms is a circular rash, with an inflamed middle at the site of the bite. But some sufferers do not exhibit a rash.
At this point, a fever is probable.
Doctors are more likely to test and diagnose the disease if the rash is visible. Not only that, if administered with the extra strong antibiotics early, there is a small chance that the bacteria that causes the disease can be eradicated.
But, a good majority of people with LD don’t notice the rash. Perhaps it is in an obscure place. Or it simply doesn’t manifest itself.
If that’s the case, everything becomes harder.
The test for Lyme really needs to be carried out by an infectious disease specialist. A local GP will often misdiagnose the symptoms. Sometimes those suffering from LD are told they have Glandular fever, Lupus, ME, MS, or another problematic condition that shares a few of the same traits.
To list the symptoms is a difficult task as like many medical conditions they are very individual to the person suffering. But they may include –
- Severe headaches and neck stiffness.
- Additional rashes on other areas of the body
- Arthritis with swelling and severe joint, tendons, muscles, and bone pain
- Facial palsy.
- Heart palpitations.
- Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath.
- Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
- Nerve pain
- Severe depression.
- Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet — circulation problems.
- Difficulties with short-term memory.
Chronic
With regard to symptoms, the severity or amount a patient may have can vary widely. Which of course, is another reason why it is so hard to diagnose.
If the initial rash is missed — and a diagnosis not made — then it becomes difficult to treat successfully. The antibiotics may not work as the bacteria have already taken a firm hold at many different sites in the body. And this is precisely the reason there is such a wide range of symptoms.
Now the disease is chronic.
It also appears that LD has a detrimental effect on the immunity system in general. Meaning that a sufferer is more likely than the average person to pick up other illnesses and suffer from numerous allergies.
Personal
My partner has Chronic Lyme disease.
He didn’t notice a rash, but we can pinpoint the fever. Not knowing what caused the initial sweats meant he just sat it out.
For two years before diagnosis, his health was problematic. Although very fit in other ways, his job involved vigorous exercise every day, he started to feel more pain and also frequently became run down.
About a year later, one side of his face dropped — facial palsy.
The term facial palsy generally refers to weakness of the facial muscles, mainly resulting from temporary or permanent damage to the facial nerve.
Facial Palsy UK
Of course, his first assumption was that he’d suffered a stroke. Once he realized this was not the case, he began a search to find out what exactly was wrong.
All avenues led to the probability it was Lyme Disease
The GP carried out a blood test that came back negative. Luckily, my partner knew somebody who was knowledgeable about infectious diseases. Another test was carried out with a positive result.
The depression kicked in heavily and can still be spasmodic. It was probable he’d been living with the disease for two years before diagnosis.
Antibiotics were administered but didn’t work.
Luckily, the palsy improved. Though some of his faces is still slightly numb. Many people have far more extreme symptoms than him, so in a way he is lucky.
It has been over seven years since his diagnosis, and we find he can cope on a day-to-day basis by doing various things.
- Rest when needed.
- Exercise when able.
- Fresh air.
- Enjoy the small things and laugh!
- Alternative Tablets — see below…
However, every so often Lyme will attack and play on a weakness, causing pain, discomfort, and fever for several days.
Nutritional Help
- Chlorella (blue-green algae) and cilantro (coriander) slightly help in limiting the continued re-population of the bacteria in the body.
- MSM, an anti-inflammatory, seems to lessen the aches.
- Fish Oil — is good for everyone.
- B vitamins help boost energy.
- Quercetin for allergies.
- When depression creeps in 5HTP — is a natural remedy that stimulates serotonin in the brain.
- Fresh foods — not processed.
- Include lots of spices such as chili and turmeric. Great for immunity and circulation. Plus garlic which is an — anti-everything that is bad — so excellent for immunity.
It is best to vary the amount of the tablets depending on how the illness is affecting the body.
Cannabis
You will be punished and prosecuted if you are found selling or buying cannabis products in UK.
Whenever my partner has been able to get hold of cannabis, the improvement in his condition is marked. But of course, let’s remember (at the time of writing) it is illegal in the UK even though it is recognized to be beneficial to those with certain illnesses.
Indeed, if my partner had been inadvertently diagnosed with MS he may be able to receive cannabis oil on prescription.
Cannabis appears to stop the bacteria from infecting more parts of the body.
Which means the patient can gain relief and start to heal. And although it is possible to purchase CBD products, they do not contain all the medicinal properties that the plant, resin, or oil do.
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, weed and many other names — comes from the cannabis plant, ‘cannabis sativa.’ Cannabis sativa has nearly 500 known compounds, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the primary psychoactive component.
In my opinion, to not allow a sick person access to a plant that can improve their condition is immoral.
Sex
Can Lyme be sexually transmitted? Still not known. There are reports of whole families — parents and their children being infected with the disease, but the various governments don’t feel it warrants research. Even though the statistics tell us, the amount of patients with Lyme Disease gets larger every year.
Concluding
The amount of people diagnosed with Lyme disease is growing fast. Yet most governments don’t think the disease warrants in-depth research. Not only that, in some countries, those who have this debilitating illness, aren’t even in receipt of cannabis to relieve their symptoms on a daily basis.
Although this article is heavily researched, the opinions given are my own, buttressed by the experience of living with someone who has Lyme Disease…
More from May…
A Medium membership fee gives you access to every story on Medium and directly supports me and other writers you read. Click here to join with my referral link.
