Real Food Rebel

Natural Solutions For Better Health

  • HOME
  • About Me
    • Disclaimer
  • My Story
  • Blog Categories
    • Lyme Disease, Parasites & Co-infections
    • Gut Health
    • Nutritional Deficiencies
    • Detoxification
    • Mental Illness
    • Travel
  • Work With Brenda
  • Testimonials

Herbs or Antibiotics for Chronic Lyme Disease?

October 7, 2015 Brenda Cosentino

DSC04174

By the time my Lyme Disease and several other co-infections were identified, I had been sick for over twenty years. I was living with the usual chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia diagnosis many Lyme sufferers are given. Once diagnosed with Lyme in August 2012, I got online and began frequenting the Lyme disease forums. I had always relied more on the experience of a fellow sufferer than on groups or individuals promoting a drug or particular supplement. There on the forums, I found a general consensus that antibiotics seemed to help with acute (i.e., newly acquired) infections. For example, it was acknowledged that someone with an adverse reaction to a recent tick bite (e.g., bull’s eye rash or flu-like symptoms) might find a short course of antibiotics sufficient to stop the Lyme from taking hold.  However, chronic Lyme seemed to be another story altogether.  This article focuses on two of the approaches to longstanding Lyme disease and co-infections.

Once a person has been infected with Lyme disease and its co-infections for an extended period of time, the body starts to become very nutrient-depleted from fighting these relentless pathogens.  Organs, metabolic pathways and hormonal patterns responsible for homeostasis (proper body regulation) and waste elimination become compromised in their functioning, resulting in the body becoming increasingly toxic.  I could see on the forums that some individuals with chronic Lyme were improving on antibiotics, but most of them seemed to relapse once the antibiotics were stopped. Seeing this emerging pattern, some of those on antibiotics began adding herbs and other therapies to complement their antibiotic treatments.  I wondered if the antibiotics were working so well, then why add in anything else?  I discovered that a significant number of those on antibiotics had been taking them for years, some indefinitely.

Since I hadn’t had very good success with the medical system, I  was already skeptical of drug therapy of any kind.   And for the sake of honest disclosure, this continues to be my bias.  So I began my research into solutions that would get me out of bed and functioning again, and like many others, I have never stopped…

The following summary by Dr. Rahls captures much of what I found to be true:

7 Reasons why antibiotics are not the best choice

1. Borrelia’s corkscrew shape can bore deep into tissuesahls
Borrelia, the stealthy microbe that causes Lyme disease, has a corkscrew shape that allows it to bore deep into tissues and cartilage (including the brain and nervous system), safely out of reach of most antibiotics.

When necessary, Borrelia can give up its corkscrew shape and convert to a form that is able to live inside cells (“intracellular”) where again, antibiotics have less reach.

2. Borrelia can form dormant cysts
Borrelia, along with other stealth microbes, can form dormant cysts that are completely resistant to antibiotics; the harder you hit it, the more resistant it becomes.

3. Microbial coinfections complicate recovery
Borrelia is usually accompanied and aided by co-infections of other stealth microbes that also live inside cells.

4. Stealth microbes become resistant to antibiotics
Antibiotic resistance occurs at a high rate with these types of microbes. An antibiotic is one single chemical substance. Bacteria, such as Borrelia (and also the co-infections), respond slowly to antibiotics and have more time to develop resistance to the antibiotic.

In other words, the longer they can hang on, the more likely they can eventually become completely resistant and the antibiotic becomes completely ineffective. Using multiple antibiotics at once seems to accelerate this process and alternating antibiotics doesn’t seem to help. Resistant bacteria become even harder to get rid of.

5. Antibiotics suppress the immune system
Antibiotics destroy the normal flora (friendly bacteria) in the gut and skin, causing bacterial imbalance and a host of other symptoms in the body. Most importantly, the use of antibiotics suppresses immune function, which may present the greatest hurdle to recovery—you cannot get well without optimal immune function.

6. Borrelia can hide inside biofilms
Borrelia can exist in biofilms, which is a protected colony of microbes that form on a surface (such as plaque on your teeth), but what role this plays in Lyme disease is controversial. The symptom profile of Lyme disease suggests that it is not a biofilm disease and that biofilms are not a big factor in overcoming Lyme.

7. People are still searching for a solution
Possibly the most compelling suggestion that antibiotic therapy has significant limitations is this: if antibiotics really worked, people would not be searching for other solutions. But people are still scouring the Internet… by the thousands every day.

Alexander_Fleming

Sir Alexander Fleming discovered and managed to isolate penicillin in 1928, and was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1945. In his 1945 Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Fleming warned the world of the dangers of misusing antibiotics. He had noted bacteria in his lab becoming resistant to penicillin, just a few years after its discovery.  After decades of antibiotic misuse, we find ourselves today facing bacteria which have become resistant to most, if not all antibiotics.

I do feel that antibiotics have their place with saving lives. Without a doubt, I would have died twice had I not relied on antibiotics administered for life-threatening infections. Once, for a staph infection following surgery and once during lyme treatment, when I developed a very serious kidney infection.  However, in the case of chronic lyme treatment, the evidence to suggest that antibiotics are effective and beneficial is highly debatable.

Herbs will always be my first choice when dealing with illness.   However, there are also some antibiotic herbs that I have stopped using because their long term use will also kill good gut flora in addition to pathogens. For example: oregano oil, goldenseal, high doses of garlic and grapefruit seed extract.  I used many of these for years trying to control parasites when I finally realized this was the wrong approach. They have their place but must be used wisely.

In my experience, killing the lyme and co-infections is just one part of recovery. I was successful using my own parasite recipe and Stephen Buhner’s Lyme Protocol.  It is also crucial to focus on healing the immune system, addressing nutrient deficiencies,  diet, gut health, detoxification and lifestyle choices.

 

The road back has been difficult, but so worth it!  I have now been in remission since November 2014.  My health continues to improve and I am in the best shape and health of my entire life.

Best of Health!

If you like this article please feel free to share it!

Spread the love

Featured Post, Lyme Disease & Co-infections chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, gut health, lyme disease, parasites

Comments

  1. Knottymare says

    March 5, 2016 at 10:26 pm

    I found your blog today and I just want to tell you that I am reading this with tears streaming down my face. Your experience is so similar to my own. I have come to the point where I know it is time to begin again treating my own decades old Lyme and co-infections; ignoring it and hoping it would go away has not worked. I’ve already done pulsing doses of antibiotics and thanks to the MTHFR mutation and trying to treat while working full time, the toxic build up was killing me. I had to stop treating. I am not getting sicker and have to make the decision between IV antibiotics and herbals. I decided to go with herbals. I prayed for some kind of guidance and confirmation and today I found your blog.

    Thank you so much for the time you have spent so clearly detailing your journey. Not a small feat considering how bad you must have been feeling so much of the time. Bless you. Bless You. BLESS YOU!

    Mary

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      March 6, 2016 at 6:09 am

      Knottymare- Thanks for your kind words. Hope you are restored to vibrant health before long.

      Blessings!

  2. heirloommaters says

    March 7, 2016 at 9:28 pm

    Thanks so much for the encouragement that I am indeed on the right path. I have been using herbs and homeopathy for decades, and I consider that my acupuncturist IS my primary care practitioner.

    I chose to go the herbal route for all the reasons you mentioned, as I came to the same conclusion you did. The information on why TO take antibiotics simply did not add up when you learn about Lyme and what those sneaky spirochetes can get up to!

    When my doctor, who is also fighting Lyme via antibiotics, told me I could be spending anywhere from 6 months to 20 years or more on high powered antibiotics, both oral and IV, with no guarantee of ever being cured, I wondered why in the world it was even a question. I told him my plans. He was somewhat supportive, but basically said, “I’ll be here with the antibiotics when your alternative method fails.”

    Not likely. I am getting better.

    In the eleven months since diagnosis, I have made a lot of progress and gone through some very dark days. I have seen a large number of my symptoms diminish or leave altogether, and while I am not done yet, my practitioner said I turned the corner somewhere around New Year.

    Still, it is a challenge to keep swimming upstream when so many “info” sources seem to shove the idea of Lyme being a forever disease down our throats. Some days, I think if I read the word “incurable” in connection with Lyme one more time, I will explode!

    Tonight I just needed a little perspective re-centering. Thank you for reminding me of why I chose to go alternative and giving encouragement that healing is indeed possible.

    • Brenda Cosentino says

      March 9, 2016 at 4:27 pm

      Herloommaters- Thanks for your comment. Yes Lyme can be healed! I am so happy to hear that you are getting better! Just keep healing and show others that Lyme Disease is curable. That’s all we have to do so others can see that the current medical offerings of drugs and ABX are not the answer.

      xoxB

About The Author

Hi! I’m Brenda Cosentino, Nutritional Therapy Consultant (NTC), chronic illness warrior, digital nomad and mother of three gorgeous children. read more.

Register / Sign In

Login to this site requires ssl communication.
Click here to reload the page over ssl.

  • Lost your password?

  • Back to login
Loading

Site Search

Featured Posts

The Long Road Back! How I overcame 20 years of Chronic Illness Naturally!

By 2007, my health had reached an all-time low. I was given a chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia diagnosis. I was on heavy psychiatric medications for bipolar disorder, major anxiety, chronic migraines and post-traumatic stress disorder. Most days I relied on painkillers for my increasing levels of pain.  By this time I had been sick for over fourteen […]

18 Months of Lyme Disease Recovery/Remission

I still have days where I can’t believe I am Lyme Disease free. I just returned from a one week backpacking trip to Palenque and San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. I climbed every single one of the ruins pictured above. It was a full 9 hour day of ruins, rivers, jungle treks, swimming […]

8 Years of Complete Lyme, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission

I am happy to report another year of complete remission from all things Lyme and Co-infections since November, 2014. I keep getting older (60) but seem to improve more and more with each passing year. This is a miracle considering I was chronically ill for 20 years and physically disabled for over 10 years. You […]

6 Years of Complete Lyme, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission

What a miracle to have had 6 years of great health after being chronically ill for over 20 years. It is possible to heal yourself by changing your diet, fixing your microbiome, detoxifying and making lifestyle changes. You can read about everything that I have done in this article to completely recover my health. A […]

Super Healthy Green Smoothie

This was the game-changer for me while fighting Lyme and Co-Infections, CFS/Fibro and 20 years of chronic illness. My hair tissue analysis revealed several minerals that were very low despite eating a conventional Paleo diet for the first few years. This is the most nutrient-dense breakfast that I have found so far. It is packed […]

Lyme Disease and Parasites Love Sugar

Sugar was my drug of choice long after I quit drinking alcohol. Well….that and caffeine, but we’ll leave that for another time. My favorite dessert has always been a chocolate brownie with lots of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and strawberries. I mean, who can top that?  Back in the day, I wouldn’t pass up […]

Nutrient Deficiencies and Chronic Infections

Nutritional deficiencies and chronic infections go hand-in-hand. Each perpetuates the other in a never-ending vicious cycle. After many years, I discovered that both need to be addressed simultaneously in order for the recovery of health. The image below is my first hair test, from December 8th, 2011.  Prior to this test I had been sick […]

Parasites- A Serious Co-infection of Lyme Disease

Let’s face it.  No one wants to consider the fact that they might have worms. It is not only repulsive, but we live in a society that tells us this cannot be a problem here in North America. With today’s sanitation and standard of living, we are never taught about routine parasite cleansing. Years ago, […]

Success with Buhner’s Protocol for Lyme Disease

In May 2014 I picked out my coffin and was planning my funeral. I had been sick for almost 20 years and was also battling a serious kidney infection on top of the Lyme disease and co-infections. I was given a chronic fatigue/fibro diagnosis many years prior to this. After I was finally diagnosed with […]

The Life of a Lyme Sufferer

I lost the ability to work in 2004 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This was one of the lowest and darkest times of my life.  I lost my career, country dream home and most of my hope. Worst of all I lost countless precious years with my children. I was having so many health […]

Beet Kvass – Liver Cleanser and Blood Tonic

Every culture around the world has their own fermented foods that they regularly consumed for good health.  My ancestors from Ukraine understood the many restorative properties of beet kvass. This Lacto-fermented, probiotic-rich tonic is made from beets. This is one of my probiotic staples that I don’t like to be without. This is one of […]

Success with Wahls Paleo Diet for Lyme Disease

The Wahls Paleo Diet is the diet that turned me around in less than a year. This eating plan has kept me in complete remission from Lyme Disease and co-infections since November 2014. I  also treated the Lyme Disease with Stephen Buhner’s Herbal Protocol and had completed an extensive parasite cleanse. My parasite recipe can […]

Latest Posts

  • 8 Years of Complete Lyme, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission
  • 6 Years of Complete Lyme, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission
  • Super Healthy Green Smoothie

Food is Powerful Medicine

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

John 8:32

Find it here…

© 2023 · Real Food Rebel.      Website Development by GallantMEDIA