Turning 61 has left me feeling nostalgic and profoundly grateful. I am celebrating 9 years of  complete remission from all chronic disease since November 2014.  Today I am medication free and enjoying great health. I no longer suffer from Lyme Disease, Babesia, Bartonella, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Bipolar Disorder, Migraines, PTSD, Hypoglycemia or Adrenal Fatigue.  Prior to this, I had been chronically ill and medically disabled for over 20 years. As you know when disease begins to take hold it can spread and cause complete havoc and multiple issues in the body.

Brief Recovery Outline

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 years. My life was a constant battle to find some kind of stability in the midst of symptoms that included the following:

• severe body aches
• headaches
• migraines
• ongoing constipation
• intense head pressure
• chronic coughing
• extreme fatigue
• overall body weakness
• depression
• suicidal ideation
• anaemia
• weight gain
• bloating
• chronic left sided pain
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• bloodshot eyes
• dry skin
• dry and brittle hair
• ridged fingernails
• body numbness and tingling
• heart palpitations and shortness of breath
• panic attacks
• debilitating anxiety
• chemical sensitivities

On many days, I was barely strong enough to sit up in a chair. I would put on a brave front at mealtime and afterward collapse onto a couch or my bed. You can read more about my life as a Lyme sufferer here.

I went to several doctors and received little to no help. The psychiatric diagnosis comes with a bias that seems inclined towards, “you are depressed, and these are the symptoms of your depression,” or “these are the side effects of the drugs.” None of them ever asked me about my diet; no one seemed to be able to offer me a solution.

The problem with this approach is that a drug is seen as the answer: a new chemical, perhaps in combination with a different coping strategy will make life more bearable… without really addressing the underlying problem. And so, I was repeatedly told I was depressed and would have to put up with the side-effects of the medications – a necessary evil.

Finally realizing that the allopathic medical system could not offer real and lasting solutions, I decided to do a little research. Thank heavens for the internet. I knew that something had to change or I wasn’t going to live much longer. I spent many, many hours online, and discovered that the body is a highly adaptive self-healing system. If given the proper fuel, and toxins removed, the body can function the way that it was designed.

The slowest and most frustrating part of this entire process has been dealing with chronic infections; I spent about 4 years on this alone. Finally I was diagnosed with CFS/ME and Fibromyalgia in 2010. Two years later with Lyme and several co-infections in August 2012. I tried and failed with several different treatments for Lyme Disease and co-infections. 

 Here are the major steps that were involved in achieving remission.

REMOVE THE BAD STUFF

1. Processed foods and sugar
2. Foods that create allergy or intolerance – most common are gluten, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, shellfish and nuts
3. Amalgam dental fillings
4. Toxic drugs – I quit all psychiatric medications and painkillers in 2007 and began treating the mania and depression naturally. You can read more about this here.
5. Personal care products – Commercial body lotion, sunscreen, bug spray, toothpaste, make-up, hair care products, hair dyes, soaps, body scents and teeth whiteners, to name a few
6. Toxic household products – Heavily scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners, cleaning products
7. Environmental toxins – Of gassing from new furniture, carpets, new vehicle upholstery, fresh paint, mold in the home or workplace, EMF and dirty electricity exposure, cigarette smoke, air fresheners and  scented candles
8. Chronic infections – I started with a bowel cleanse, treated parasites, and Lyme disease and co-infections.
9. Stress
10. Unhealthy relationships

ADD THE GOOD STUFF

1. Real food, plenty of water,  Paleo Diet that provides all of the essential nutrients for great health.
2. Natural supplements, probiotics, superfoods and herbs to target individual infections, address nutritional deficiencies, correct digestion and heal the gut.
3. Exercise that is enjoyable and you look forward to.
4. Spending as much time as possible in nature.
5. Sweating – sauna or naturally in a hot climate is ideal.
6. Beach therapy – sunbathing, soaking in the sea and walking barefoot.
7. Straightening out the body – chiropractic therapy.
8. Laughter, fun and lots of love.
9. Living as simply and stress-free as possible.
10. Develop a loving relationship with a higher power.

There is Hope

This is what I have done to regain my health. It really seems like a daunting set of tasks. It began as a very steep learning curve and took me six years to complete them all. Why so long? Well, think of regaining your health like peeling back the layers of an onion. I just happened to be an onion with many, many layers.

I was very, very sick when I started to work at reversing my physical state. The report back from my first hair tissue mineral analysis looked like someone that was slowly starving to death. I was extremely low in all minerals except for two of them.

Some people may be restored to health in a relatively short time by changing their diet and perhaps doing one or two other things. I think it really depends on the level of toxicity, length of illness, nutritional deficiencies and level of damage to the body. In other words, there is no set timetable for recovery from illness. The body sets its own pace, based on what it needs.

It doesn’t seem fair for one person to have to deal with so many health-related issues. However, in many ways, my poor health was not unlike that of many others today. In a real sense, our health is a product of our times. And we are living today in what is probably the most toxic era in the history of humankind. Here are 12 Myths I Ignored to Recover 20 Years of Chronic Illness.

Despite this, it has all been worth it. The changes I’ve made have become a lifestyle that I wouldn’t give up for anything. To wake up each day without a headache or debilitating body pain and be able to walk five or six miles is a blessing beyond my wildest imagination. I am in complete remission from depression,  mania, Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, all co-infections,  hypothyroidism, chronic migraines, adrenal fatigue, anaemia and nutritional deficiencies. 

In 2020 I left Mexico and live with my husband Tony on a riverfront off-grid homestead in Canada. We enjoy raising our own chickens for organic meat and eggs. We also have large organic gardens, a greenhouse and lots or fruit trees and berry bushes. We enjoy regular saunas in our woodfired sauna, kayaking and lots of hiking.

If you have Lyme Disease and are not recovering please read this article –
10 Reasons You Can’t Get Rid of Lyme Disease, Parasites, Candida and other Co-infections

Everything that I have done to recover my health is available here for free on my blog. If you would like a little extra help, I offer health coaching and hair tissue mineral analysis for a fee. Please go to this page for a list of my rates and to book an appointment for health coaching.

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

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

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, our ancestors all knew the importance of routinely deworming family members. We have lost this practice. This is a serious co-infection that must not be neglected for those who have Lyme Disease and are immunocompromised.

In 1995, Hulda Clark published her book, The Cure for all Diseases. She stated that:

“ No matter how long and confusing is the list of symptoms a person has, from chronic fatigue to infertility to mental problems, I am sure to find only two things wrong: they have in them pollutants and/or parasites.”

 Her solution for parasites was electronic, herbal treatment and avoidance of anything that was polluting the body.

Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, a well-known Lyme doctor stated that he and his colleagues have found that all chronic illness is the outcome of chronic infections:

“Other than the co-infections, there is what I call the “opportunistic infections.” The combined effect of the initial infection is an immune suppressive effect, and then the patient becomes vulnerable to all sorts of other things. The most common things people contract early on in the course if the illness are different forms of parasites, such as protozoa; Babesia itself being one of them.

There is Giardia, amoebas, Trichomonas, malaria, and different forms of infections that aren’t labeled yet. There is a new one, called FL1953. Stephen Frye discovered that. It’s a protozoan organism that’s causing severe fatigue and illness in chronically ill people. It’s almost always present in a patient with Lyme disease.

And then we find a lot of worms in people. They may be microscopic and they may be macroscopic. That means they may be visible in the stool or they may not be visible.”  ( Interview with Dr. Joseph Mercola )

After researching the work of Dr. Klinghart, I decided to try a holistic approach to treating the Lyme and co-infections, taking into account his findings.

Symptoms of Parasites

Intestinal Problems – Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, burning sensation in the stomach, digestive problems, gas and bloating.

Fatigue – Chronic fatigue, weakness and lethargy

Weight and Appetite Issues – Parasites live undetected and rob the host of much-needed nutrients. Many persons with chronic infections of any kind will be nutrient-deficient. This can produce the urge to eat constantly and gain weight, while never feeling satisfied. Parasites can also cause the host to become underweight for the same reasons.

Sleep Problems – Examples include teeth-grinding, multiple nighttime awakenings, over-sleeping and insomnia.

Mood and Anxiety Problems – Mood swings, depression, forgetfulness, unclear thinking, anxiety and restlessness.

Muscle and Joint Pain – Pain in the back, thighs, shoulders, arthritic pain, muscle cramping, numbness in the limbs, heart pain,  irregular heartbeat and pain near the belly button.

Blood Disorders – For example, anemia and hypoglycemia.

Sexual and Reproductive Problems– Menstrual pain and irregularities, cysts and fibroids, prostate problems, yeast infections and male impotence.

Skin Disorders and Allergies – Hives, sores, eczema, crawling sensations, itchy skin, dry skin, dry hair, hair loss, brittle hair, itchy nose and itchy anus.

My Accidental Discovery of Parasites

In 2009, my alternative health practitioner advised me to have my amalgam fillings removed. My health was not improving, despite having switched to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for a full year. Once the amalgams were removed, I was advised to eat lots of raw garlic to help with the elimination of mercury from my system. Quite by accident, I discovered a large Ascaris worm in my stool. To my shock and horror, I began researching parasites and possible treatments.

Research led me to Hulda Clark and several other herbalists and Naturopathic Doctors on internet forums. Hulda Clark claimed that flatworms, roundworms, protozoa, bacteria and viruses were easy to kill using black walnut tincture (extra strength), wormwood and cloves. I decided to give these a try.

I discovered while cleansing that I had a very bad Ascaris, tapeworm, fluke and rope worm problem. Most chronically ill people have these, but will never discover them unless they do a cleanse.

“Make no mistake about it, worms are the most toxic agents in the human body. They are one of the primary underlying causes of disease and are the most basic cause of a compromised immune system.” – Hazel Parcells, D.C., N.D., Ph.D., 1974

Most commercial parasite products are too weak

I bought and tried various commercial parasite products and found many to be too weak to kill the larger worms. These weak products gave me the impression many times that I had cleared the parasite infections.  Symptoms told me that I still had them. It took a lot of trial and error to figure all of this out.   These products may have been effective decades ago but for those that have had to deal with the newly discovered stealth infections like ropeworm, these products are much too weak. I began studying the most common herbs used in these products and decided to make my own herbal parasite cleanse. Not only were these commercial products ineffective, but expensive. I realized I could make my own for a fraction of the cost and use them at dosages that would finally be effective.

My first recipe consisted of black walnut, wormwood (artemisia), ground cloves, goldenseal, barberry, quassia, olive leaf powder, cat’s claw and elecampane.

It took me a full year on these herbs to clear the parasites. It was an unbelievable and frustrating time of cleansing. Once I stopped cleansing I would relapse in a few months. My energy would drop and all of the parasite symptoms would return. This pattern of parasite cleansing and relapse went on for several years.

Why kill, kill, kill doesn’t work

It is really important to reduce the pathogenic load. When the load is very high, it is really difficult to bring the body back into a balanced state. I did have to kill off my parasites, but did it in a gentler way. In 2014, I decided to try eliminating all substances that might be harming my intestinal flora. I removed the goldenseal, barberry and high amounts of raw garlic from my cleansing routine. I also stopped using oregano oil, grapefruit seed extract, colloidal silver, high doses of Lugol’s iodine and any other substances that were having an antibiotic or antiseptic effect.  These substances are great for eliminating pathogens, but cannot differentiate between the good and bad flora. I also made sure that I was eating probiotic foods every single day and bone broth several times per week. Instead of just killing pathogens, I would work on increasing good probiotics that would naturally push out the bad. This was the approach that finally worked and brought me into remission.  I had to change the intestinal terrain to achieve lasting remission.

Real Food Rebel Parasite Cleanse Recipe

Black walnut hull powder  – 1/4 cup
Artemisia Annua (Sweet Annie Wormwood) –  1/2 cup
Ground cloves – 1/4 cup
Olive leaf powder – 1/4 cup
Cat’s Claw powder – 1/4 cup
Pau d’arco powder – 1/4 cup
Cascara Sagrada – 1/2cup

Mix all of the dry powdered herbs together and store in a glass jar. I used 1 tablespoon in an 8oz glass of water, in the morning and at night before bed, on an empty stomach. I drink another big glass of water to wash everything down. I started with a much smaller dose and worked my way up over a period of two to three weeks.  This approach will enable each person to determine what the ideal dose for their particular parasite infection will be. It is really important to be drinking at least 3 liters of water per day while cleansing.

Optional herbs –  Elecampane was helpful with a chronic, cough that would appear at least once or twice per year and last for months on end. Andrographis is another wonderful herb that can be rotated every 30 days with the wormwood. I used the wormwood longterm but many herbalists advise against this.

Note – Later on, I discovered the anti-parasitic drug mebendazole. I took this for 6 days over the full moon each month to give a little extra pressure on the roundworms and rope worms. I only did this about 4 times so it certainly wasn’t the primary dewormer that finally brought me to full elimination of the worms. I did try albendazole but was experiencing hair loss and liver pain so I decided not to use it.  It does work systemically but it was much harder on my body. Mebendazole works mainly in the intestinal tract and is poorly absorbed, so it doesn’t affect the liver and kidneys. The mebendazole is available in Mexico as an over the counter medication that costs less than $4.00 per treatment. It is exponentially more expensive here in Canada and a doctor’s prescription is necessary.
This cleanse should not be used during pregnancy. Please seek the guidance of your healthcare practitioner.

Feeling worse before feeling better!

I suffered immensely during the first months of treatment. My body was fighting an active infection while dealing with the heavy burden of toxins and heavy metals released by pathogens as they were dying off. This is known as a Jarisch–Herxheimer Reaction, commonly referred to as a “herx”; it is not an easy thing to go through.  It is the body’s reaction to endotoxins released during the death of harmful microorganisms. Also known as a die-off reaction, it can be very intense. It can produce fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, intestinal upset, dizziness, sore throat, ear pain, tooth pain, sweating, emotional upset and many other adverse symptoms. It is short-lasting and resolves once the toxins have been cleared from the body. You can read more about dealing with die-off here.

Other things I added

Betaine HCL with all meals – Stomach acid is the first line of defense against unwanted pathogens. I had very low stomach acid the entire time I was sick. I was taking 5 – 6 tablets with each meal. Everyone is different, but having enough HCL in the stomach will really help with blocking the entrance of new pathogens and digestion of food. Most people with parasites have low stomach acid. I still use betaine HCL with everything that I eat but I only need 2 per meal now. You can read more about it in this article.

Proteolytic Enzymes on an empty stomach before bed during periods of heavy cleansing. I no longer take these before bed.

Wahls Paleo Diet– This diet is nutritionally packed and eliminates sugar, grains, processed foods, dairy, soy, corn and eggs. I added back the eggs, as I wasn’t affected by them. Parasites cannot thrive in an alkaline environment. Eating dairy, sugar and processed foods will only make the parasite problem worse. This diet completely eliminated the yeast problems that I was having. You can read more about the diet here.

Kelp – I added kelp tablets (bioavailable source of iodine) daily and have been on them for a year.

Copper – Hair testing showed a continuous copper deficiency (copper is an important infection fighter and critical for the formation of red blood cells; if the infection becomes chronic, the body’s tissue copper stores become depleted). I wasn’t compliant with supplementation and it took me 2 years to get my copper into the normal range. Hair testing will reveal which minerals are low or high.

Daily probiotic foods – I love beet kvass and homemade sauerkraut. I love experimenting with new recipes, and cannot emphasize enough the importance of eating these every single day. These will help to maintain intestinal balance.

You can read about everything else that I did to recover my health here!

Maintenance Protocol for Parasites

I have been in remission from all chronic illness since November 2014.  I am currently doing a 30-day herbal cleanse with my recipe every 6 months. My parasitic load has been quite low with this cleansing schedule. Parasites are no longer getting the upper hand due to the health of my gut and all of the antiparasitic foods that I have incorporated into my diet! You can read more about these foods here! Change the terrain and you will no longer be a good host for these pathogens! It is time to Take the Fear out of Lyme Disease. I feel better than I have in decades!

Don’t ever give up!  You can do this!

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

Everything that I have done to recover my health is available here for free on my blog. If you would like a little extra help, I offer nutritional therapy consultations and hair tissue mineral analysis for a fee. Please go to this page for a list of my rates and to book an appointment for health coaching.

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

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 issues that none of my doctors would attribute to anything other than the bipolar disorder or the medications used to treat it.

There were almost daily headaches, terrible brain fog, joint pain, muscle pain, extreme fatigue and many cognitive issues. I also had anemia, very low blood pressure, low body temperature, hair loss, impaired vision and dizziness. My brain just didn’t work anymore. Once at a doctor’s appointment I couldn’t remember my address or my son’s middle name. I often had to pull over in my car because I couldn’t remember where I was going. I couldn’t drive anymore as I just didn’t have the normal reflexes to navigate traffic.

I suffered along for the next 8 years and was given a Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia diagnosis with no further help whatsoever. Every single doctor blamed all of my symptoms on the mental health diagnosis, and so I suffered….

I usually woke up with left-sided numbness and tingling. I would limp to the bathroom, as the soles of my feet were so sore I could barely put weight on them. Headaches were a daily issue, as were extreme fatigue and muscle weakness. Every day of my life felt like I had the flu. If I had to measure my un-wellness on a scale of 1 – 10 with 10 being the worst, I spent most days between 8 and 10.  I was exhausted every single day and dragged myself along, often by sheer force of will.

A very lonely time

I was finally diagnosed with Lyme in August 2012.  By this time, I had lost most of my friends. Friendships take energy and I was mostly housebound by this time. Most family members offered little to no support. I received blaming and shaming comments like, “we know she suffers from depression” or ” why don’t you bake a cake for someone” or ” you really do have a lot to be grateful for” or “so, are you working anywhere?” or “she just needs to be prayed over.” My personal favorite was when that one person would declare over and over for all to hear, “Oh! But you look so good!” In other words….you can’t be sick.  What people didn’t realize was that when I was really sick, I never left the house.  Most never saw me at my worst.  Needless to say, these kinds of comments just drove me further and further into isolation.

Eventually, I just stopped trying to explain to anyone what I was going through.  It was better for me to just stay quiet and not invite the judgemental comments. I began limiting the number of visits with people who had not been supportive or interested in what I was going through. The only support I received was from my husband Tony and a number of friends from my recovery groups. I was so grateful for their love and care. These were the ones who watched me almost crawl into a meeting and turn 50 shades of yellow before the hour was up.  They simply said, “Wow you look bad. Hope you feel better soon.” I also had the support of my fellow Lyme warriors on many different Lyme forums. This was probably what helped the most because they knew exactly what it meant to live with this disease. Many were quick to offer encouragement and help with treatment options.

 Lyme treatment and feeling worse

What most people don’t know is that when a person begins treating the Lyme, things usually get worse. When something is taken to kill these pathogens, they release endotoxins that make the person feel exponentially worse. In the early stages, we have to deal with active infection plus all of the endotoxins creating die-off reactions (also called Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction). Here is a post that offers some strategies for dealing with die-off.

Common die-off symptoms for me were nausea, dizziness, feeling hungover, body pain, constipation, migraines, vomiting, headaches, weakness, fatigue and emotional upset. These symptoms can be very similar to those accompanying an active Lyme infection but magnified.

It took about 5 months before I started feeling better on the herbal protocols. By this time I completed a bowel cleanse, parasite cleansing and Buhner’s Lyme Protocol.  It takes time to get the infectious load down low enough to finally experience some relief. 

Many missed occasions

There were so many missed birthdays, weddings, family gatherings, retirement dinners, school events, sporting events, coffee dates, lunch dates, shopping trips and everything else that required personal grooming. This would mean having the strength to take a shower, get dressed and leave the house. Most people don’t understand that the simplest of tasks requires a Herculean effort on the part of the Lyme sufferer. Many days it would take all the energy I had to get showered and wash my hair. But I rarely had the strength to lift my arms above my head for any length of time. So hair washing was an infrequent occurrence. There were so many times that I was too weak to walk from the house to the car or even sit upright in a chair.

I learned to say that I couldn’t commit to anything anymore. This took a huge burden from my shoulders and I no longer let the guilt of canceling bother me. I was too sick to care anymore about what others thought of me. It was a very liberating time.

It was a good day if I could get dressed. It was a better day if I could take a shower and do my hair. It was the best day if I could leave the house and go to a recovery meeting. While there were some good days, they were unpredictable. I might have one good day every 2 weeks if I was lucky. I could only make plans based on how I was feeling each day.

Huge financial drain

Those of us with Lyme not only have to deal with the loss of income but the huge expense of trying to treat ourselves out of pocket. We spent thousands and thousands of dollars and I mostly self-treated:  herbs, supplements, tests and visits to see alternative health practitioners. Many of these are not covered under our health insurance plan. The Lyme Literate Doctors (LLMDs) are very expensive and beyond what we could have afforded. In Canada Lyme was not even acknowledged yet. So there was the constant worry about paying bills and making ends meet. Due to decades of illness, I do not have a big retirement fund to fall back on. 

I live in Mexico because I can live simply here on 1200 USD per month. It would cost me a lot more to live in Canada. My hope is to be able to spend more time there in the future.

Lack of research, proper testing and treatment

Many of the Lyme tests are inaccurate. This is why I chose to see a health practitioner that could provide a clinical diagnosis. Lyme is such a complex disease that requires a functional medicine approach. It is important to address not only the Lyme and co-infections but correct the diet, fix digestion, address food allergies, nutritional deficiencies and detoxification strategies. There are often other issues that need to be addressed like balancing blood sugar and adrenal and thyroid disorders. Most medical doctors will not take this kind of healing approach.

There is hope!

People are recovering! I have been in complete remission since November 2014 and no longer deal with that long list of symptoms every day. I feel better than I have in decades and I have a new freedom and appreciation for life.  I can hike, swim, snorkel, socialize and feel very proud of all that I have overcome.  I chose Buhner’s Original Lyme Protocol , bowel cleansing, parasite cleansing with my own herbal recipe,  Wahls Paleo Diet and a few other natural therapies. So if you are suffering from Lyme just keep fighting and search for what you feel will work for you. The human body is an incredible self-healing machine if given the right nutrients and care. I do believe we all have the ability to help ourselves to not only overcome Lyme and co-infections but to emerge better than ever. I know I have.

Best of Health!

Brenda

Everything that I have done to heal myself is available for free on my blog. If you are interested in some additional help I offer online health coaching. Please go to this page for nutritional therapy and hair analysis.

Related Posts

5 Years of Complete Lyme Disease, CFS and Fibromyalgia Remission

Success with Wahls Paleo Diet for Lyme Disease

It’s Time to Take the Fear out of Chronic Lyme Disease

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You have the power to change your life and health. You can kick your chronic illnesses naturally. It’s time to make some changes. We are currently experiencing a disease epidemic. You only have one body and it needs proper love and care. There is nothing more valuable than great health. Without your health, it is virtually impossible to excel in your family life, careers, friendships and communities. Bring in the New Year with some much needed nutritional and lifestyle changes. I was chronically ill for over 20 years and so I know this can be done. Take care of yourself so you can shine bright!

1/ Stop Eating Processed Junk Food

Humans have lost their way with food. Our bodies are not designed to handle all of these toxins and nutrient-devoid food-like substances. Avoid high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, white flour, pasta, bread, sodium nitrates and nitrites ( hotdogs and luncheon meats), sugar, flavor enhancers like MSG and bad fats.  Avoid hydrogenated fats and polyunsaturated oils like soy, canola, sunflower, corn and cottonseed. Never eat margarine, fake whip cream, bakery items, restaurant fried foods, chips, salad dressings and anything microwavable. Do a junk food kitchen purge and stop eating fast food. 

2/ Eat a Nutrient-Dense Real Food Diet

Fill your plate 2/3 with non-starchy vegetables. Shoot for a Wahls Paleo way of eating with 3 cups of green, 3 cups of deeply colored and 3 cups of sulfur-rich vegetables each day. Add in healthy fats like coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter. Enjoy organic, grass-fed, wild-caught and complete proteins like salmon, chicken, eggs, beef, and seafood. This will balance your blood sugar and give you the necessary nutrients your body needs to function properly. Remember high octane food for high octane performance.

3/ Heal your Gut and Digestion

Do you have heartburn, bloating, burping, bad breath or pain after eating? Digestion should be a non-event! You shouldn’t even be aware that your stomach is busy digesting a big meal. According to Jonathan Wright MD, “Approximately 90% of all Americans produce too little hydrochloric acid.” Many people today need to supplement with digestive aids. Work with a nutritional therapist to fix your digestion so you are able to digest all of that good food you are now eating. We are what we are able to digest. You can read more about gut health here.

4/ Drink more Water

Dehydration is one of the most widespread and underappreciated health issues today! Start with half of your body weight in ounces. According to F.Batmanghelidj, M.D, “Chronic cellular dehydration of the body is the primary etiology of painful degenerative disease.” You can read more about the importance of water here.

5/ Take a Good Wholefood Multivitamin/Mineral

Taking a good whole food multi is your little dietary insurance policy that you are getting all of the nutrients that your diet might be lacking. If you want to know the mineral status in your body get a hair tissue mineral analysis. This will help to target specific minerals that are lacking in the body. 

6/ Eliminate Toxins of Every Kind

1. Personal care products – Commercial body lotion, sunscreen, bug spray, toothpaste, make-up, hair care products, hair dyes, soaps, body scents and teeth whiteners, to name a few
2. Toxic household products – Heavily scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners, cleaning products
3. Environmental toxins – Of gassing from new furniture, carpets, new vehicle upholstery, fresh paint, mold in the home or workplace, EMF and dirty electricity exposure, cigarette smoke, vaping, air fresheners and scented candles

7/ Reduce stress

Stress kills! It burns through your minerals. Try and eliminate as much work and relationship stress that you can.  Take a look at how full your plate is. Are you doing too much? Do a friend list clean-up. Unload those frenemies. Stick with those that love and support you. 

8/ Get some good sleep

Now that you have changed your diet and reduced your stress it should be easier to sleep. We need good sound undisturbed sleep so the body can heal itself. If you are chronically ill sleep as much as you can. Try and include some afternoon naps as well.

9/Get some exercise and fresh air

Get moving! Start small and work up. Walk to the end of your drive. Then walk halfway around the block. Try and increase the amount and intensity as you are able. Do what you enjoy but get outside and get some sun and fresh air. You can read more about the importance of exercise here.

10/ Forgive Everyone for Everything And Love More

Pull out that big long list of resentments that you are carrying. Now go through each one and start forgiving. Some are harder than others. I just pray for those people until I no longer feel anger towards them. Start with loving and forgiving yourself first. We have all done the best we could with what we were given. Live each day with a grateful heart. Give and receive as much love as your heart can hold. 

Love and Blessings,

Brenda

Everything that I have done to recover my health is available here for free on my blog. If you would like a little extra help, I offer nutritional therapy consultations and hair tissue mineral analysis for a fee. Please go to this page for a list of my rates and to book an appointment for health coaching.

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

I just returned from a 4 week trip to Peru. Leading up to this trip, I was feeling uninspired, tired, empty and a little burned out. The last 4 years I have worked very hard in my practice and have completed just over 2000 face-to-face Skype consultations. I also returned to school and completed my certification with the Nutritional Therapy Association. I needed a time out to re-evaluate where my life was going. Did I need to change direction with my nutrition practice and where I was living? Should I start offering classes for Lyme Disease and other chronic illness recovery? What could I do to get inspired again? Did I just need a rest? I definitely needed to take a pause.

A pause will look different to everyone. Some may just need to take time off work and lay on the couch reading inspirational books. In my case, I usually need to do some type of hike in an extraordinarily beautiful part of the world. I had been wanting to complete the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for a very long time. So I blocked off 4 weeks from work and backpacked solo through Peru. This may seem unusual for a 56-year-old woman, but it is who I am.  It gave me the time to immerse myself in nature, to pray and reflect on my life. The last time I took a pause was when I thru-hiked over 900 km on the Camino de Santiago, Spain in 2017.

“We are human beings, not human doings”

5 Signs it’s Time to Press the Pause Button on Your Life

1/ You are chronically ill

This is the most common issue most of my clients have. It might be time to pause and look at the way you are doing life. How is your diet? Are you taking care of yourself? Are you getting to the root cause of your illness or just medicating your symptoms with pharmaceuticals? Maybe you need a time out to re-evaluate your treatment plan and move more towards a natural path of healing.

2/ You are exhausted

Why are you so exhausted? Are you trying to do too much? Are you practicing good self-care? Are others in your life making too many demands on you? Are you just filling your life with endless distractions to anesthetize unresolved issues?

3/ You are battling depression

Why are you depressed? Is it physiological or situational? Try and assess with a good counselor the root cause of your depression. Once you know the root cause, you can implement a solution. In my own case, it was resolved from changing my diet, boosting minerals and trauma counseling for early childhood issues.

4/ You are in an unhappy relationship

Do you find yourself in a relationship that is not allowing you to live your true authentic self? Do you feel unsupported? Do you feel abused? Do you feel alone, afraid or ignored? Examine all of the relationships in your life. Begin to weed out those that are not helping you to live your best life. Stick to the people that help you to shine and can celebrate your successes. Cherish the friends that can help you up when you have fallen down. The best friends are able to tell you when you are getting off track or not living up to your true potential.

5/ You dislike your career

Do you find it difficult to get out of bed and go to your workplace? Do you have a boss or coworkers that are very unsupportive or difficult to spend the day with? Take some time to reassess your life and work goals. Maybe you are long overdue for a career change. The average person changes careers at least 2 or 3 times in their lifetime. Maybe it is time to align yourself with a career that fuels whatever you are passionate about. I myself began as a bakery owner and then big city realtor. Over time I went back to full-time studies for an addictions counselor and now a nutritional therapist. Sometimes a change is the best thing we can do for our physical, spiritual and emotional health. 

6/You are unhappy with where you are living

Do you dislike where you are living? Is it your city too big? Is it too small? Is the climate unbearable? Is it too noisy? Do you feel safe there? Are there enough of your favorite recreational opportunities to satisfy your interests? Is your house rundown or full of mold? Are your neighbors driving you crazy?

7/ You are feeling very flat and uninspired

This is the one that can just sneak up on you. Maybe there is nothing wrong with your life, but the monotony of doing the same things over and over. Sometimes, it is as simple as taking the coastal route instead of the freeway. Maybe you should just take the top down and enjoy the wind in your hair. Maybe it is time to move out of your comfort zone and try camping, fishing, boating, swimming, exercising or ziplining. New activities can breathe fresh inspiration into our lives. It is so easy to get comfortable with the ordinary. Try something new. I still want to ride a camel, climb Kilimanjaro, learn how to throw knives and shoot a crossbow. 

8/ You are confused about your next steps in life

Are you feeling confused about everything? Sometimes we just don’t know what to do or where to go.  That’s okay. We can pray,  meditate, talk to others until the answers come. Whenever I feel at peace about my path I know that this is the right course of action for me. I do believe we each have a purpose to fulfill in our lives. We can pause and let the answers come to us. This is a good time to do less and quietly ponder our lives.

“Everything that’s created comes out of silence. Your thoughts emerge from the nothingness of silence. Your words come out of this void. Your very essence emerged from emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.”
Wayne Dyer

We only have one life! Sometimes we need to take some much needed time to discern if our current path is the right one for us. It is so easy to get caught up with “doing”  that we forget about “being”. We forget to take a time out so that the answers can come to us.

Every single day I turn my will and my life over to the care of God. This is a recovery practice that I have maintained and it works very well for me. I have also included time for daily prayer and meditation that has served me well over the years. When I need additional guidance I talk to my people. I have a very good support system to listen to me and offer feedback.

I am really grateful for my time away from home and work. I have decided to travel more and begin to implement some changes in my practice. I also plan to hike as much as I can while I am still able. It is my most favorite recreational activity that allows me to unplug from the daily demands of life and work.

So if you are feeling any of the above try and take some time to assess your life and current situation. There are always changes that we can make to improve our spiritual, physical and emotional health.

Blessings and Best of health,

Brenda

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 years. My life was a constant battle to find some kind of stability in the midst of symptoms that included the following:

• severe body aches
• headaches
• migraines
• ongoing constipation
• intense head pressure
• chronic coughing
• extreme fatigue
• overall body weakness
• depression
• suicidal ideation
• anaemia
• weight gain
• bloating
• chronic left sided pain
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• bloodshot eyes
• dry skin
• dry and brittle hair
• ridged fingernails
• body numbness and tingling
• heart palpitations and shortness of breath
• panic attacks
• debilitating anxiety
• chemical sensitivities

On many days, I was barely strong enough to sit up in a chair. I would put on a brave front at mealtime and afterward collapse onto a couch or my bed.

I went to several doctors and received little to no help. The psychiatric diagnosis comes with a bias that seems inclined towards, “you are depressed, and these are the symptoms of your depression,” or “these are the side effects of the drugs.” None of them ever asked me about my diet; no one seemed to be able to offer me a solution.

The problem with this approach is that a drug is seen as the answer: a new chemical, perhaps in combination with a different coping strategy will make life more bearable… without really addressing the underlying problem. And so, I was repeatedly told I was depressed and would have to put up with the side-effects of the medications – a necessary evil.

Finally realizing that the allopathic medical system could not offer real and lasting solutions, I decided to do a little research. Thank heavens for the internet. I knew that something had to change or I wasn’t going to live much longer. I spent many, many hours online, and discovered that the body is a highly adaptive self-healing system. If given the proper fuel, and toxins removed, the body can function the way that it was designed.

Researching online, I slowly began to understand that I needed a holistic approach – one that considered the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of chronic illness. Each aspect is equally important and needs to be addressed. What we eat, drink, think, breathe and believe have tremendous repercussions on the state of our health. Over time, I came to understand that wellness is like a three-legged stool. If one leg is broken, the whole stool will fall over and not function as designed.

The body is a self-healing system.

There were so many testimonials online from people who were healing themselves by taking a body-mind-spirit approach to finding optimal health. Intuitively, I knew this was the way for me. I became hopeful and determined to regain my health using natural interventions. Finally, I would start to address the cause instead of just getting treated for symptoms. It just made plain old common sense, the kind that my Baba (grandmother) from Ukraine would have used.

And so I began my return journey to health. Here are the major steps that were involved.

Remove the bad stuff

1. Processed foods and sugar
2. Foods that create allergy or intolerance – most common are gluten, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, shellfish and nuts
3. Amalgam dental fillings
4. Toxic drugs – I quit all psychiatric medications and painkillers in 2007 and began treating the mania and depression naturally. You can read more about this here.
5. Personal care products – Commercial body lotion, sunscreen, bug spray, toothpaste, make-up, hair care products, hair dyes, soaps, body scents and teeth whiteners, to name a few
6. Toxic household products – Heavily scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners, cleaning products
7. Environmental toxins – Of gassing from new furniture, carpets, new vehicle upholstery, fresh paint, mold in the home or workplace, EMF and dirty electricity exposure, cigarette smoke, air fresheners and  scented candles
8. Chronic infections – I started with a bowel cleanse,  treated parasites, and Lyme disease and co-infections.
9. Stress
10. Unhealthy relationships

Add the good stuff.

1. Real food, plenty of water,  Wahls Paleo Diet that provides all of the essential nutrients for great health.
2. Natural supplements, probiotics, superfoods and herbs to target individual infections, address nutritional deficiencies, correct digestion and heal the gut.
3. Exercise that is enjoyable and you look forward to.
4. Spending as much time as possible in nature.
5. Sweating – sauna or naturally in a hot climate is ideal.
6. Beach therapy – sunbathing, soaking in the sea and walking barefoot.
7. Straightening out the body – chiropractic therapy.
8. Laughter, fun and lots of love.
9. Living as simply and stress-free as possible.
10. Develop a loving relationship with a higher power.

This is what I have done to regain my health. It really seems like a daunting set of tasks. It began as a very steep learning curve and took me six years to complete them all. Why so long? Well, think of regaining your health like peeling back the layers of an onion. I just happened to be an onion with many, many layers.

I was very, very sick when I started to work at reversing my physical state. The report back from my first hair tissue mineral analysis looked like someone that was slowly starving to death. I was extremely low in all minerals except for two of them.

The slowest and most frustrating part of this entire process has been dealing with chronic infections; I spent about 4 years on this alone. I finally was diagnosed with Lyme and several co-infections in August 2012. I tried and failed with several different treatments for Lyme Disease and co-infections. I have now been in complete remission from everything since November 2014. I have just celebrated another year of Lyme Free Living! You can read about it here.

Some people may be restored to health in a relatively short time by changing their diet and perhaps doing one or two other things. I think it really depends on the level of toxicity, length of illness, nutritional deficiencies and level of damage to the body. In other words, there is no set timetable for recovery from illness. The body sets its own pace, based on what it needs.

It doesn’t seem fair for one person to have to deal with so many health-related issues. However, in many ways, my poor health was not unlike that of many others today. In a real sense, our health is a product of our times. And we are living today in what is probably the most toxic era in the history of humankind. Here are 12 Myths I Ignored to Recover 20 Years of Chronic Illness.

Despite this, it has all been worth it. The changes I’ve made have become a lifestyle that I wouldn’t give up for anything. To wake up each day without a headache or debilitating body pain and be able to walk five or six miles is a blessing beyond my wildest imagination. I am in complete remission from depression,  mania, Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, all co-infections,  hypothyroidism, chronic migraines, adrenal fatigue, anaemia and nutritional deficiencies, since November 2014. I  have been medication-free since October 2007. Food is powerful medicine!

If you have Lyme Disease and are not recovering please read this article –
10 Reasons You Can’t Get Rid of Lyme Disease, Parasites, Candida and other Co-infections

Everything that I have done to recover my health is available here for free on my blog. If you would like a little extra help, I offer health coaching and hair tissue mineral analysis for a fee. Please go to this page for a list of my rates and to book an appointment for health coaching.

Blessings and Best of health!

Brenda

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

I battled depression for most of my life. It began in the eighth grade and continued on until I began treating it nutritionally at the age of 44. My darkest days took place while I was on heavy psychotropic medications – a period that lasted over 14 years.  During this time, I was told by seven psychiatrists that I would need to be on these medications for the rest of my life. You can read my story here in more detail.

I finally discovered the works of Carl Pfeiffer (MD, PhD) and Abram Hoffer (MD, PhD), who were curing mental illness with nutrients instead of drugs.  Both were pioneers in the orthomolecular movement, which seeks to heal illness by addressing vitamin and mineral deficiencies through supplementation.   The results of applying to my own life, what they wrote and practiced have been astounding.  Below, I share twelve natural treatments I have distilled from my own experience of recovering my mental health and moving beyond depression.

“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
~ Thomas Edison

12 Natural Treatments for Depression

1. Nutrient-Dense Diet
Implementing a wholesome and balanced diet that contains all of the necessary vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids.
– Avoiding sugar, junk food, processed foods and bad high heat processed fats.
– Looking to maintain a healthy balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates:
– 40% of daily caloric intake from unrefined and complex carbohydrates,
– 30% from quality proteins
– 30% quality fats.

I have found the above ratios a good place to start, and they can be adjusted for each individual. I personally eat about 33% of each, and feel optimal when my food intake is structured this way. This is the basis for the Paleo Diet which really turned my health around.

2. Plenty of water
It is important to drink half of your body weight in ounces per day. If you are drinking coffee, soft drinks, tea or other diuretics you will have to drink more water. Water is crucial for moving nutrients into the cells and removing toxins for optimal health. You can read more about water in this article.

3. Correct mineral deficiencies
Hair Tissue Mineral analysis can reveal which minerals need to be increased. Identifying mineral levels this way will help us know which ones to increase with supplementation. Deficiencies of magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine and selenium can all cause depression. Most people have some degree of magnesium deficiency.  A good source of information on this essential, but often overlooked mineral can be found in the article,  Rapid recovery from depression using magnesium treatment by George Eby. In my own personal experience, I found magnesium supplementation to be a key factor in eliminating my own depression and major anxiety disorder.  When I did my first hair tissue mineral analysis, I was low in every mineral tested except for two.  Magnesium was one of the pillars in my supplementation program and health recovery.

4. Digestive support
A hair tissue mineral analysis can reveal if we need support with food digestion. 90% of the population has low stomach acid. These people lack to some degree the strong acidity in the stomach that is required to break down the food they eat.  Most will benefit from enzyme supplementation and taking Betaine Hydrochloride (HCl) to lower stomach pH to help ensure better digestion and absorption of nutrients for optimal health.  Here is an article that goes into more detail about low stomach acid.

5. Focus on gut health and supplement with probiotics
Research has shown the gut microbiota influence brain chemistry and behavior. For example, persons who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and associated cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation, commonly suffer from depression and anxiety as well. This study details the link between gut microbiota and depression. Here are some strategies for healing the gut.  Homemade unpasteurized sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi and other fermented foods are tremendous probiotic sources found in many traditional cultures.

6. Omega 3 fatty acid – Fish oil
Consuming plenty of omega-3 fatty acids may offer powerful protection against depression. A large Norwegian study of nearly 22,000 participants revealed that those who regularly took cod liver oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, were about 30% less likely to have symptoms of depression than those who did not. The longer the participants took cod liver oil, the less likely they were to have high levels of depression. I take cod liver or krill oil every day. This has really helped with mood and especially cognitive function.

7. Avoid the use of mood-altering substances that can cause depression
These include alcohol, sugar, caffeine, drugs, artificial sweeteners, food dyes, additives, preservatives and flavor enhancers like MSG. These are not only toxic but many dehydrate the body. These are known to increase acidity in the body which will pull minerals out of the tissues and bones. Over time this can cause mineral deficiencies which will compound depression.

8.Avoid foods that create allergy or intolerance
These can have a direct impact on energy and mood.  Most troublesome are foods containing gluten, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, shellfish and nuts. Get yourself tested for food allergies and sensitivities. I gave up gluten, sugar, cow dairy, processed foods,  corn and most grains. I just feel better eating a clean Paleo Diet.

9. Try natural remedies
Many have had good success with St. John’s wort, SAM(SAM-e) and 5-HTP. Talk to your healthcare practitioner to see if any of these might be right for you.

10. Exercise that is enjoyable
Spend time in nature getting fresh air. Sunshine is still our best source of vitamin d and a deficiency can cause depression.  If you can spend some time at the beach that is even better. Be careful with the sunscreen as many contain toxic chemicals that are absorbed through the skin. Here is an article I wrote on beach therapy.

11. Talk therapy
Talk therapy is often what is needed the most – to help discover what is contributing to the depression. Seek out a good counselor or psychologist and work on any underlying issues. It is important to process any grief, loss or trauma that is still holding you back. I have worked through many issues with my psychologist and would highly recommend talk therapy as a lasting solution. Remember that every problem becomes half of a problem once it is shared.

12. Change your thinking- Glass half full
Try and develop an attitude of gratitude. Each day I focus on all of the blessings in my life. I am grateful for what I have and try not to focus on what I don’t have. When I find myself slipping back into self-pity I count 10 things on my fingers that I am grateful for.

Let food be your medicine and your medicine be your food
– Hippocrates

Today
I am happy to report that I have been off all medications since October, 2007. I continue to focus on nutritional therapy and healthy lifestyle and no longer experience any depression,  mania, anxiety or panic attacks since taking this natural approach.

If you are interested in health coaching, please go to this page for nutritional therapy and hair analysis.

Best of Health!

Brenda

References
Staying Healthy with Nutrition- Elson M. Haas, MD
Raeder MB, Steen VM, Vollset SE, Bjelland I. Associations between cod liver oil use and symptoms of depression: The Hordaland Health Study. J Affect Disord. 2006 Dec 18.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23910373
http://george-eby-research.com/

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I never, ever thought I would be back in school at the age of 54.  Since recovering my health from lyme disease, chronic fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, bipolar disorder, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, chronic migraines and several co-infections, I felt I needed to help others.  I have been in complete remission since November, 2014.  You can read about everything that I did to recover here.

Last summer, August 2016, I walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This was a promise fulfilled in thanksgiving for my healing. I prayed about what my next steps should be in life.  After hiking over 900 kilometers, it was loud and clear that I was to get my certification with the Nutritional Therapy Association as a Nutritional Therapy Consultant. Once I read through their philosophy and reading list, I knew this was the right fit for me. I already had many of these books in my collection, so the decision was an easy one to make. This certification is the perfect complement to my work as a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) Practitioner with Trace Elements Lab and Lyme Disease Coach.  My previous college diploma in Addictions Counselling has enabled me to work with several clients that have disordered or addictive eating patterns as well.

NTA’s Philosophy

Nutritional Therapists, as envisioned by NTA, teach the importance of properly prepared whole foods that are delicious, nourish our bodies, and restore good health. Once foods have been highly processed, as most foods in America are, there is no combination of carbohydrates, fats, and protein that will ultimately be healthy. As dietary fads alternate between diets high in carbohydrates, and others high in protein and fat, one thing has become very obvious, there is no one perfect diet for everyone. While some people thrive on a diet relatively low in fats, for others the increase in carbohydrates is devastating. Likewise, Atkins-like diets high in fat may have helped some people, but for others have been completely inappropriate and even dangerous. NTA teaches the concept of bio-individuality. There is no perfect diet for everyone. Nutritional Therapists are trained to help each client find the right types of whole foods that will restore balance and enhance their ability to heal.

“Although all wellness-minded doctors appreciate the importance of proper diet and nutritional supplementation, it is often very difficult for them to do the proper evaluation and dietary counseling necessary to support optimal healing. Nutritional Therapists are trained to work alongside these practitioners either in their offices or in private practice to support the doctors’ diagnosis and other therapies. The NTA website can be found here.

The picture below was taken in Las Vegas at our recent 3 day workshop. We had the privilege of meeting Gray Graham the founder of the NTA. He is an amazing teacher and really walks the walk as a  great nutritional therapist.

Today

I have been really busy trying to keep up with my clients, plus take the necessary time for study.  Somehow, I am managing to keep up! I am fortunate to be able to study and work entirely online. I am so amazed at what I am capable of accomplishing each day with a laptop and a great internet connection. We are called digital nomads, and are becoming more and more common all over the world.

I am still living in Playa del Carmen in my tiny one bedroom apartment. My life is quite simple but very focused. Each day I exercise, shop, work, study, eat and repeat!  There hasn’t been much time for socializing, but that will come again in time.  My body continues to heal and gain strength.  My mind is getting clearer and the cognitive issues from years of chronic Lyme Disease are becoming fewer and fewer.  I am still very determined to open my guest house here  for those with chronic illness. Hopefully, it will be up and running by January, 2018.

All and all, I am living a purpose-driven life.  It feels good to be healthy, productive, peaceful and happy. This is so different from my 20 years of sickness.  I honestly can’t believe that I am the same person.   Food is powerful medicine!

Blessings and Best of Health,

Brenda

Photography – Ashlie Woods 

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Depression was my constant companion for most of my life. It began in the eighth grade and continued on until I began treating it holistically at the age of 44. I suffered many, many dark days and on heavy psychotropic medications for over 14 years. I was told by seven psychiatrists that I would need medications for the rest of my life. You can read my story here for more detail. Finally I discovered the works of Carl Pfeiffer and Abram Hoffer, who were curing mental illness with nutrients instead of drugs.

“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
~ Thomas Edison

10 Common Causes of Depression

1/ Past trauma
According to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation – Childhood trauma, such as sexual or physical abuse, domestic violence, neglect or parental loss, can have long-lasting consequences. Researchers are exploring the effects of early trauma on the stress-response systems that influence vulnerability to later depression.
I found a good therapist and joined a support group for victims of abuse. Dealing with trauma is a process that can be painful and time consuming but very liberating.

2/ Toxic Relationships
Toxic Relationships that are characterized by: insecurity, abuse of power and control, demandingness, selfishness, insecurity, self-centeredness, criticism, negativity, dishonesty, distrust, demeaning comments and attitudes, and jealousy. In fact, unhealthy relationships can turn into exactly that—a toxic internal environment that can lead to depression, anxiety, and even medical problems.
I had to eliminate a few toxic relationships. Do your relationships leave you feeling energized and happy or depleted and depressed?  Get rid of all of those “frenemies”. Surround yourself with love and support.

3/ Workplace Stress
Do you enjoy your work? Does it energize or deplete you? Helping others overcome Lyme Disease and chronic illness is my fourth career  and I love it! Find your passion and do what gives you joy and satisfaction. A drug might take the edge off symptoms, but you will still have the daily workplace stress if you choose to stay. When nothing changes, nothing changes.

4/ Grieving
Grieving is a natural response to the death of a loved one or any other type of loss. It has a life of its own, and when given its due attention, it will enable us to come to terms with our losses.  It is important to feel the feelings and process the grief so you can move on in your life. A pill is not going to bring back your loved one or the things you have lost.

5/ Abusing drugs and alcohol
Substance abusers have an increased risk of developing depression. The solution is to stop abusing drugs and alcohol so the body can recover from the toxicity that these cause. It was important for me to learn to live clean and sober.  I now rely on 12 step groups, a wonderful therapist, loving family members and wonderful friends for support. Antidepressants are not a substitute for healthy living; they only make this problem worse.

6/Financial stress
I was in a terrible financial mess many years ago.  The solution was to stop spending more than I earned. We got rid of all debt and began living a simpler debt free lifestyle. It is so wonderful to live within my means and have the ability to easily pay my monthly bills. No more sleepless nights about finances.

7/ Digestive disorders
Research has shown that the gut microbiota influences brain chemistry and behavior. For example, people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the associated cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation, commonly suffer from depression and anxiety as well. This study details the link between gut microbiota and depression.
I had gut problems from a very early age. Antidepressants only prolonged and increased my suffering. The solution was to finally heal  my gut. For more detail read this article.

8/ Medications
Antidepressants can cause an increased level of depression and create a state of chronic depression known as tardive dysphoria.  There is a good article here from Psychology Today.
Some antidepressants also bring an increased risk of suicidal ideation. This was my experience, and I battled this during my last three years of antidepressant use. This level of suffering is what actually forced me to look at alternatives when I finally discovered that these drugs were making the depression worse.

9/Nutritional deficiencies
Deficiencies in omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, vitamin d, b complex, iron, folate, amino acids, iodine, zinc and selenium can all produce depression.
These were corrected with a nutrient dense paleo diet, whole food supplementation and sunbathing. I used hair tissue mineral analysis to discover which minerals I needed to focus on and supplement.

10/ High levels of mercury in your system
Mercury toxicity has been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, lowered immune function, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, memory loss, chronic headaches, neurological symptoms, joint pain, candida, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s to name a few.
I got all of my amalgam fillings removed. You can read more about it here.

It is important to find the cause of the depression so that a solution can be implemented.

Taking drugs to solve problems just doesn’t make sense. If you are in a a crisis that is a different situation altogether. Sometimes a short course of a medication may be necessary and lifesaving. Talk therapy is often what is needed the most – to help us discover what is contributing to the depression. Seek out a good counsellor or psychologist and a naturopathic doctor for a holistic treatment plan. Sister Mary McGuire, a psychologist, has helped me more than any other.  We met regularly for over 3 years. These sessions were painful and powerful.  I received such an incredible gift of deep and liberating healing.  I carry her love and wisdom with me each and every day.

I am happy to report that I have been off all drugs and antidepressants since October 2007.  I have not had a recurrence of depression, mania, anxiety or panic attacks since making the above changes. A nutrient-dense diet, nutritional supplementation, detoxification and lifestyle choices really do affect mental health.

If you are interested in booking a consult, please go to this page for nutritional therapy and hair analysis.

Best of Health!

Brenda

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

For most of my life, I just followed along. Like a sheep, I did what “they” told me to do. These were my family medical doctors, surgeons, psychiatrists, dentists, nurses, nutritionists, media and big pharma.  The problem was I was getting sicker and sicker as the years went by. By 2004, I completely lost the ability to work and was on loads of medication. In 2007, I hit bottom with my health. I knew that if I didn’t change what I was doing, then I was going to die. Diagnoses included chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, bipolar disorder, major anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, chronic migraines and a ton of symptoms relating to lyme disease. I knew it wasn’t possible to feel any worse than I did, so I began researching alternative health. Here you will find that I started to do the exact opposite and the results have been astounding.

They Said

1. You need drugs
I quit all drugs in 2007. I was on heavy drugs for over 14 years and my health continued to decline. These included antidepressants, painkillers, anti-anxiolytics, laxatives, mood stabilizers, sedatives  and antibiotics. The mental illness and pain were actually the result of Lyme Disease, mineral deficiencies and eating foods that caused an inflammatory response. 

2. The sun will give you cancer
I increased sun exposure. Research shows clearly that low blood levels of vitamin D are linked with a higher risk of cancer. Our most natural way to get Vitamin D is still the sun – despite the fact that it has been demonized over the years. Vitamin D is an important infection-fighter and key ingredient for a healthy functioning immune system.  Note: Those of us with chronic infections do not have healthy immune systems, and typically have very low stores of Vitamin D.  If you are fair or have avoided sunbathing for many years you will have to condition your skin to receive direct sun. Start with a few minutes per day and work your way up. Do not burn your skin. Most days I get at least 1 -2 hours of sun per day. I walk, swim or do aqua-fit most mornings.  You can read my article on Beach Therapy for a better explanation of why I love the sun, sea and sand. My skin is lovely and I get many compliments on it.

3. Use Sunscreen 
I quit sunscreen. Sunscreen is full of toxic chemicals. Read the labels. The skin absorbs everything we put on it. If you are not prepared to eat it, then don’t use it. Coconut oil serves as a mild sunblock and I use it often. If I am out for long periods of time I prefer to cover up or sit in the shade.
Dr. Bruce Fife author of  Virgin Coconut Oil- Nature’s Miracle Medicine
“One of the oldest uses for coconut oil is as a sun screen/suntan lotion. Islanders have been using coconut oil for this purpose for thousands of years. In the tropics where the climate is hot, islanders traditionally wore little clothing so that they could keep themselves cool. To protect themselves from the burning rays of the hot tropical sun they applied a thin layer of coconut oil over their entire body. This would protect them from sunburn, improve skin tone and help keep annoying insects away”.

4. Get regular mammograms
I quit these completely. I do not want to expose my breasts to ionizing radiation which can contribute to breast cancer. Thermography is a much better option.

5. You need amalgam fillings
I got all of mine removed. Mercury is one of the most deadly neurotoxic metals known to humankind. You can read about it here.

6. You need flouride dental treatments
I quit these. I only go to the dentist about once every 3 years for a cleaning. I also stopped using toothpaste with fluoride and other hazardous chemicals. Dr Mercola has a good article, ” The Toxic Flouride Toothpaste”.  I just brush my teeth with baking soda mixed with coconut oil.

7. Get the flu shot
I quit these. According to the CDC, these shots contain thimerosal, aluminum,  formaldehyde and neomycin (antibiotic). Once I discovered the ingredients, I decided that this wasn’t for me. The flu shot isn’t that effective anyway. I know several people who caught the flu even though they received the flu shot.

8. You need a hysterectomy
If you are female and over the age of 40 and have any issues, this is probably what you will be told. I had 3 doctors tell me this in 2004. The problem was prolapse and painful menstruation.  These were solved with magnesium, parasite cleansing and correcting constipation, which was causing the internal pressure and contributing to the prolapse. I did eventually agree to a lift surgery, but that was all.  I am now entering menopause with very little difficulty. Removing any organ, in my opinion, is a serious matter. I always feel it is better to find the cause so a solution can be implemented. Not just treat the symptom or cut out an organ.

9. Eat a low-fat diet 
I ate a low-fat diet for most of my life. Now I  eat a lot of butter, bacon, organ meats, sardines, salmon, eggs,  avocados, fish oil, extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil. We need good fats for proper functioning of the nerves and brain, the production of hormones, transport of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and for healthy skin and tissues.

10. Reduce eggs and red meat
I eat about 12 – 18 organic and free-range eggs per week. We eat organic, grass fed red meat at least 3 times per week. These are very nutrient dense foods that have really helped me heal and build muscle. Here is a study that confirms that there is no relationship between egg intake and coronary heart disease incidence.

11. Eat 42 servings of bread, pasta and grains per week
I ate a high carbohydrate diet for most of my life. The Canada Health Food Guide encourages this type of diet. I cut out all grains, bread and pasta and moved to the Wahls Paleo Diet.  Now that I have recovered my health I have added in some white and sweet potatoes, rice and beans. If you live in Mexico there’s going to be some rice and bean eating.

Today

I no longer just blindly follow along. I question everything and do my research. I stick with a  nutrient-dense, traditional diet and plant-based medicines that have been around for centuries. The road to recovering my health has been long and slow because I made many mistakes along the way. I also didn’t know that I had Lyme Disease.  It took me almost 7 years to heal myself. Here is an article that explains in more detail all that I have done to get well. I no longer suffer from Bipolar Disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, migraines, hypothyroidism, anaemia, candida overgrowth, parasites and other co-infections. With proper nutrition, detoxification and healthy lifestyle the body can and will heal itself.    

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Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

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