“In my case a late diagnosis (5 years after infection) resulted in eight years of acute symptoms.”

I am one of the blessed persons who have recovered completely from Lyme disease. There is hope. At the lowest point I was in bed all day, and –at times–shaking with pain. In my case a late diagnosis (5 years after infection) resulted in eight years of acute symptoms.  Consistent work on all fronts, physical, mental, emotional, pharmaceutical, nutrition, and alternative treatments was necessary.  It has been a long road, 14 years after it started, I now regularly ride my mountain bike 30 miles and occasionally win a race event. 

I consider a handful of non pharmaceutical treatments to have been helpful.  Colostrum is in the handful. It is has been very helpful to me.

The spiral shape of the Borrelia burgdefori bacteria pierces, then spirals into tissue cells in the body.  Doctors have theorized that Lyme symptoms that do not respond to treatment are a result of permanent damage caused by the spirochete Borrelia bacteria. I certainly know that the disease caused extensive damage in my body.  As a healing aid colostrum has helped me to overcome Lyme symptoms and the damage caused by extensive antibiotic treatment (which has had a nontrivial and persistent negative effect on my system).  Colostrum has helped improve my digestion and general immunity which were lingering casualties after Lyme symptoms were gone. For those of you in the thick of the battle, keep at it, have faith that you can overcome.

In an effort to pass on anything helpful that my experience may have, I write a few notes on what has helped me recover from Lyme disease. Certainly pharmaceuticals have been necessary and helpful, but just as certainly they have been insufficient.  Here are the non-pharmaceutical items that have been most effective for me.

Nutrition
Recovery from any disease is aided by proper nutrition.  In my case good nutrition was requisite for recovery.  Nutrition is also an area you can exercise will power when other forms of practicing discipline are not available.

Vegetable juice/Powders
Fresh Vegetable juice provides phytonutrients, vitamins, enzymes and generally aids the body.  When there is not time for juicing I use a good green drink supplement such as New Chapter’s Berry Greens or Garden of Life’s Perfect food. I would perform a juice fast of 24-72 hours once or twice a year and found it very helpful.  Vegetable juice is also a standard part of my diet. Juicing of fresh vegetables is significantly better than any nutritional vegetable supplement and is a mainstay of recovery.  I juice the following and drink it over two days.
1 large cucumber
3-5 lbs carrots, scraped or peeled
1 large beet, peeled
1 large bunch of cilantro or parsley or both
2 bunches of celery stalks
1 lb Spinach

Sugar
Avoiding sugar, even fructose from fruit, is a good idea.  If you have a sugar issue then try to incorporate occasional sugar in a way that steadily decreases any sugar dependency.  For me a potent sugar like a candy bar is intolerable both mentally and physically. Occasionally drinking a cup of orange juice with some whole grain (or gluten free) pancakes (no syrup) is a nice treat.  My favorite treat is sliced avocadoes, tomatoes, mild onion and cucumber with a bit of olive oil and salt.  Two other treats are: 1) 12 herb congee in a smoothie or as cereal in soy or rice milk, 2) a mixture of chia, sunflower, pumpkin and hemp seeds.

Healing soup
Boil two or three large yellow onions in three to four quarts of water.  Boil for one hour or until skin becomes clear.  Add:
Vegetable bullion
Sautee ½ to ¾ of a garlic bulb (many cloves) in olive oil and add to onion broth. 
Carrots boil for 3 minutes
Celery, and green cabbage boil for 3minutes more
Remove heat
Add sliced cucumbers and cilantro
Sometimes I add lentils a little before the carrots. Any form of meat seems to throw this recipe off. Adding different vegetables can be nice.

Other nutritional supplements
· Plant Fusion’s Protien for those who have a hard time digesting protein
· 12 herb congee available at www.congeeherbs.com
· Kumbacha—Look at the labels for a low sugar flavor.  Available at most health food stores
· NutriCology’s Saccharomyces boulardii for help outcompeting candida
· Master Supplement’s Theralac, Truflora  for probiotics
Treatments
Treatment for each individual will be different.  There are various strains of the Borrelia bacteria.  European strains tend to be a little different than American ones.  Individual body makeups will also influence symptoms and treatment.  These are treatments that helped me.
Garlic/Oregano oil
Place a whole, peeled garlic clove under the tongue (yep that’s right).  Leave it there for five to ten minutes.  Follow with three to five  drops of a 50/50 oregano oil and olive oil mixture also under the tongue.  Repeat three times a day. Space the three treatments out evenly.  Start small and work up to it.  This is not an easy regimen.  Have fun figuring out how to keep your halitosis in check!  I kept a toothbrush and toothpaste with me.   Do this for no more than six weeks at a time and allow a month between the first two treatments, then six weeks or more between treatments after the first two.
Bee venom
The shot was supposedly the equivalent of 1000 bee stings.  It tickled (ha ha), but for me it removed arthritis and some other symptoms for about a month.

Colostrum
Colostrum may have the most wide spectrum effect.  It helps with the Lyme disease.  It helps to avoid colds and the flu which becomes down right torturous when one is fighting Lyme.  It helps repair damage from antibiotics. I feel like it helps repair damage done by Lyme after the bacteria are eliminated.   A recent study I read showed colostrum can help probiotics to re-colonize positive bacteria in the digestive system. The best colostrum I’ve found is Synertek first six hour colostrum www.synertekcolostrum.com.

Prayer
Prayer and my relationship with my Father in Heaven have been the most indispensable support in my recovery.

Social Support
Friends and family have been a huge help.  When I was ready to succumb to despair there were others there to encourage me, and I listened.  Some ill people are not conscientious of becoming an emotional burden and that pushes people away, others are the stoic sufferer who does not share.  Remember, there is a way to share your feelings with loved ones in a productive way that allows them to be edified by your strength and to also be a great support to you.

Aaron Turner