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!

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 Lyme, Bartonella, babesia, Epstein-Barr virus, parasites and a few other co-infections, I traveled to Mexico where I received intensive ozone treatments for a month at a local clinic. I felt better for a brief time but relapsed 2 months later. Since the Lyme was chronic, I decided to hold off on the antibiotics as I was concerned about my gut health. I could always try the antibiotics later on if I was not successful in finding a solution. 

I remember feeling very discouraged and completely worn out. I asked God to either take me or heal me. The next day while researching online I found Stephen Buhner’s website.   Buhner is an herbalist from New Mexico who had developed a protocol for treating Lyme and co-infections. I immediately ordered the herbs for his original protocol.
***Note – Buhner’s original protocol included eleutherococcus instead of andrographis. As a side note I was already using andrographis as part of my parasite cleansing treatment.

What I did

1. Bowel/ Liver Cleanse- I began with a 30-day herbal bowel and liver cleanse. I mixed equal parts of turmeric, fennel, dandelion and milk thistle. I took a teaspoon mixed with water 3 times per day. I added in some Lugol’s iodine for the 30 days along with digestive enzymes with meals. This is a cleanse developed by Hulda Clark, which I modified. You can read it in more detail here.

2. Parasite Cleanse- I had been battling parasites for over 2 years before beginning Lyme treatment. My parasitic load had been mostly cleared by this time. I did an herbal parasite cleanse for 2 months just to be sure that I was cleared of the roundworms, flukes, tapeworm and rope worms that had been a serious problem.  Here is an article regarding parasites and Lyme Disease. My opinion (also shared by some Lyme Literate Medical Doctors) is that anyone with Lyme also has parasites.  After the 2 months, I continued to take the antiparasitic herbs for 9 months. I took one dose before bed. Here is my herbal recipe.

3. Buhner’s Core Original Protocol- I slowly worked my way up to the full dosing of the 3 main herbs. I decided to purchase the herbs in bulk form and make my own capsules. The large 00 capsules hold about 700 mg of herb, and that is how I calculated my dosing. I stayed at the dosage below for 8 full months. A few months into the protocol, I got tired of making the capsules and found it much easier to just stir the powdered herbs into some water. I emptied out 3 capsules into a spoon to get a feel for the dosing.  I didn’t worry about being a little over or under in my daily measurements.

My daily dose

Japanese Knotweed- 7000mg per day =  10  capsules

Cat’s Claw                 – 7000 mg per day =   10 capsules

Eleutherococcus  –  4200 mg per day =  6 capsules
Note- I took a 2 week break every 60 days

I began with one herb at a time. Once I got to the full dosage for my weight I started the next herb. By taking them one at a time it is easy to tell if there is any adverse reaction to any of the herbs. It took me about 6 weeks to get up to the full dose of each of the core herbs.

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 released by pathogens as they were dying off. This is not an easy thing to go through. This is known as a Jarisch–Herxheimer Reaction.  Commonly referred to as a “herx”.  It is the body’s reaction to endotoxins that are 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 about my strategies for dealing with die-off here.

 Started feeling better at the 5-month mark

I started to improve around the 5-month mark as the pathogenic load decreased. This improvement was the encouragement to keep me moving forward.  I was also on the Wahl’s Paleo Diet (see post, Wahls Paleo Diet for Lyme Disease) at this time. I noticed a marked improvement in all symptoms from the first day I started having my Super Healthy Green Smoothies. I will say it again! This was the game-changer for me.

Babesia treatment at the 6-month mark

Babesia are malaria-like protozoans that parasitize and reproduce in the red blood cells. Chronic symptoms that I had included air hunger (never feeling I was getting enough air), persistent cough, fatigue, fevers, headache, imbalance, chills, sweats and anemia. I decided to try Buhner’s recommended herbs for babesia. I had been coughing for 4 months straight.  I would develop this cough almost every year, and it would last for months on end.  I knew it was time to treat the babesia. I wrote a more in-depth post about it here – Two Herbs For Babesia Success. 

Babesia Herbs

Sida Acuta- 1/4 tsp (40 drops)  3  x per day

Cryptolepis- 1/4 tsp (40 drops)  3 x per day

I took these for 5 weeks straight. I decided to stop, as I was developing a yeast problem and my stools had become very small and infrequent. I felt that my gut flora had been adversely affected. After researching, I discovered that the cryptolepis can upset the ecological balance in the gut. I stopped the treatment, and babesia symptoms have not returned.

Bartonella

The Bartonella cleared after doing the above herbal treatments. I never had to do anything else.  I did use a fair amount of milk thistle, Japanese knotweed and sida acuta throughout my treatment.  Possibly this was enough to eliminate the Bartonella for good.

Additional Supplements – Fish oil, kelp, desiccated liver pills, whole food multivitamin/mineral, adrenal glandular, cordyceps and digestive enzymes with all meals. I also took copper and magnesium as suggested on my hair tissue mineral analysis.

Complete Lyme and co-infection remission since treatment.

Since completing the above protocol, November 2014, I have had a reduction of symptoms by about 95%.  Red blood count and ferritin levels are within the normal ranges. Anemia, after a lifetime battle, is much improved. The persistent coughing, feeling cold all the time, headaches, migraines, body aches, tooth pain, ear pain, chills, sweats, dizziness, weakness and extreme fatigue are gone now. I have zero pain in my body which is a miracle in itself. The only lingering issues are cognitive.  These too are greatly improving as the years go by. I am in the rebuilding phase and honestly feel like I get stronger with each passing year. I continue with a Paleo Diet and love this way of eating. Here is an article that explains in detail everything else that I did to completely recover my health.

I highly recommend Buhner’s Protocol to anyone who has Lyme and its co-infections. It is a very inexpensive way to treat these debilitating conditions. There is a bit of a  learning curve, but it really isn’t that complicated once you get going. The key with herbs though is taking enough of a dosage for a sufficient period of time. I have always been drawn to plants, real food, nature, sunshine, fresh air and natural remedies, so for me, this was the easy choice.  I am back to extensive backpacking travel, snorkeling, swimming, hiking and all of the things I love to do. It is a miracle to be well after so many years of sickness.

My Maintenance Protocol

1/ Wahls Paleo- Roughly 33% carbs, 33% protein, 33% fat
2/ 30-day parasite cleanse every 6 months
3/ Sleep a minimum of 7 hours per night
4/ Digestive supports, whole food multivitamin/mineral, cod liver oil, kelp, magnesium, desiccated liver capsules, currently manganese as indicated on the latest hair test.
5/ Daily exercise – a minimum of 1 hour
6/ Water- clean filtered- 2 liters per day
7/ Low-stress lifestyle
8/ Plenty of sunshine for vitamin d

Comment from Stephen Buhner.

“Hi Brenda,  I thought your article pretty much a perfect one for people with Lyme, etc. (So glad my work helped you). Nearly all people with the Lyme group of infections needs to moderate the protocol for their specific situation; you really took charge of your life and situation and empowered yourself to wellness. a wonderful, thoughtful story.  All the best, Stephen.”

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

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

Resources
Stephen Harrod Buhner, Healing Lyme. Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Coinfections. Raven Press, 2005. (Watch for the second edition in the coming months)
Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics. Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria. Storey Publishing, 1999.

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

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 

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

In two days I fly to Madrid, Spain. This is a dream come true for me. A miracle considering I was chronically ill for over 20 years. I promised God I would  do this walk in “thanksgiving” if I  was ever completely recovered.   I remember watching “The Way” in 2011 with Martin Sheen and was very intrigued by this ancient pilgrimage. I was extremely ill at that time and barely leaving the house. I was dragging myself through life and desperately trying to figure out the cause and cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia.  I had no idea at the time that I had Lyme Disease.

In a few months I will be coming up to my 2 years of complete recovery/remission from Lyme Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, hypothyroidism, candida overgrowth and several co-infections.  This promise that I made to God keeps knocking on my heart. I did have other plans for this August/ September, but the Camino calls to me. This call is constant, daily and all consuming. Maybe it is time for a “pause”. A timeout to reflect on my life and future path.

In so many ways, I feel like I have just woken up from a 20 year nightmare. So much time has passed and my children are now all grown up. I have since immersed myself in health coaching, blog writing, research and travel. I am still trying to figure out how I can open a guesthouse in Mexico for persons who are chronically ill – those in need of a place to pause and heal themselves. That too does not leave me alone.

El Camino de Santiago in English, The Way of St. James, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where legend has it that the remains of Jesus’ apostle Saint James the Elder lie. There are several routes, and I have chosen the most popular which is the Camino Francés (The French Way). This Camino starts in St Jean Pied de Port on the French side of the Pyrenées mountains and finishes about 780 km later at Santiago de Compostela.
I hope to complete the walk in 40 days and 40 nights.  This means walking about 20  kilometers per day; more if I want to have a rest day once per week.  I began training in earnest this past month and feel that I am now strong enough to attempt such a strenuous walk. I have selected the perfect women’s-specific backpack – the Gregory 38L, Italian Scarpa hiking shoes, merino wool socks, light clothing and sleep sack. My pack and gear should not weigh more than 10% of my body weight. I have it packed at exactly 12 lbs. This really doesn’t allow for much of anything. I will be sleeping in  pilgrim hostels (known in Spanish as albergues). These are very simple rooms, typically with rows of  bunk beds.

My only concern is not having access to paleo meals, green smoothies and other nutrient-dense supplements and super foods such as fish oil. I plan on eating sardines at least a few days per week, and hopefully I will be able to find kombucha or some other fermented foods along the way. It would be so awesome if I could find a restaurant that serves liver and onions once in a while.  I now have the phrase down,”Tiene higado con cebolla?” (“Do you have liver with onions?”). I have the most amazing energy when I eat liver even just once per week.

I hope to bring my beloved magnesium, digestive enzymes, whole food multi and blood builder supplements. That is it. Maybe I will sneak in some kelp. Oh, and maybe some probiotics.

This will be my very own “Eat, Pray and Walk”. I have decided to do this pilgrimage alone. Just God and I walking together every single day. I am going with no expectations and an open heart and mind. I am turning my will and my life over to His care. Pope Francis has declared this the holy year of mercy. This means there will be many pilgrims on the Camino this summer. I felt it would be safest to walk solo when there are many other pilgrims on the trail.

To all of you who are sick and struggling, I am bringing you with me. I carry you all in my heart and prayers. I know we need divine intervention with all that we face in these times of sickness. I pray for each and every single one of you, that you will recover and live life to the fullest. Please pray for me that I will be kept safe and well.

I won’t be posting here in the next couple of months.  I will be back to work around October 10th, 2016. I will post Camino updates on my Real Food Rebel Facebook Page. Please like that page if you would like to receive updates.

In the meantime, keep eating those green smoothies and continue being awesome!

Much love and blessings! Buen Camino!

Brenda

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

Most of us with Lyme Disease will end up with several other co-infections. I myself had several parasites, Bartonella, EBV,  Babesiosis and Candidiasis. Babesia are malaria-like microscopic protozoans that parasitize and reproduce in the red blood cells. Babesia microti is transmitted in nature by the Ixodes scapularis ticks (also called black-legged ticks or deer ticks). Babesia microti—which usually infects white-footed mice and other small mammals—is the main species of Lyme co-infection found among Lyme sufferers in the United States and Canada. (1)

Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, the well-known Lyme Disease physician stated that he and his colleagues have found that all chronic illness is the result 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 of the illness are different forms of parasites, such as protozoa; Babesia itself being one of them.”(2)

Most Common Babesia Symptoms

1. Fever
2. Chills
3. Sweating
4. Weakness
5. Headaches
6. Anaemia
7. Jaundice
8. Nausea
9. Fatigue
10. Air Hunger – the feeling of not getting enough oxygen

I had every single one of the above symptoms plus low blood pressure, liver pain and enlargement, along with pain and infection of the kidneys. Until recently, I had been suffering from anaemia for 30 years.  I was constantly fatigued, with frequent severe headaches, migraines and weakness, often accompanied by chills alternating with sweats.  I also developed a chronic cough at least once per year that would last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Nothing would stop the coughing, and I am told that this is also a babesia symptom.  Medical doctors all blamed the anaemia on my menses.  Through my own search for answers, I learned that babesia can produce hemolytic anaemia (from the destruction of red blood cells).  If you go to this post you will see how yellow I looked (due to the effects of Babesia and other co-infections on my liver) when I was sick.

Babesia was the last infection that I had to conquer on my journey to wellness. I began treating myself with a herbal bowel-liver cleanse, followed by intensive parasite cleansing, and then Stephen Buhner’s Herbal Protocol for Lyme Disease. You can read about the order of cleansing that I did in this post. Once I arrived at the 6th month of my protocol, I began with Stephen Buhner’s recommended babesia herbs.

BABESIA HERBS

Sida Acuta– 1/4 tspn (40 drops)  3  x per day

Cryptolepis– 1/4 tspn (40 drops)  3 x per day

I began with one dose of each per day. After a couple of days, I increased to twice per day. After 7 days, I was taking both herbs at the above daily dosage. I took these for 5 weeks straight. Since I cannot have alcohol I simply put the drops in warm water and let it sit for an hour to let the alcohol evaporate.   I never had any issues doing it this way.

I decided to stop, as I was developing a yeast problem and my stools had become very small and infrequent. I felt that my gut flora had been adversely affected. After researching, I discovered that the cryptolepis can upset the ecological balance in the gut. I stopped the treatment, and babesia symptoms have not returned. I am now in complete remission from Lyme Disease and all co-infections since November 2014.

I did it all without any antibiotics or drugs. I must add that I have been on the Wahl’s Paleo Diet since August 2012. This diet has helped to restore many of the nutrient deficiencies that I had while sick. The body has incredible self-healing abilities if it is given the proper nutrients and care.

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

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

References
1.http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/babesiosis/gen_info/faqs.html
2. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/05/dr-dietrich-klinghardt-on-lyme-disease.aspx
3. http://buhnerhealinglyme.com/the-protocols/#BABS

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

I began researching and visiting Lyme forums after being finally diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2012.   As I read others’ stories, I began to recognize that the often-promoted kill, kill, kill approach was not working. Many were taking antibiotics, strong essential oils, MMS(chlorine dioxide), veterinary anti-parasitic drugs and even turpentine but they were not healing and staying in remission. I made many of the same mistakes until I figured out that my gut microbiome held the key to great health.  The goal is not to kill every bacterium, fungus, parasite and virus, but to bring the body back into a healthy, balanced state. I came to understand that the body is a self-healing system that can and will regenerate itself.  I simply had to provide the right nutrients, gently reduce the pathogenic load, stay hydrated, heal my gut and remove toxins – a simple approach to a complicated illness.

10 Reasons Why You Can’t Get Rid of Lyme Disease and Parasites

1. Still eating processed foods and sugar

This was easily corrected by eating a clean, nutrient-dense  Paleo Diet. I don’t eat anything that is in a package. All meals are made from scratch without sugar or additives, preservatives, dyes, artificial flavorings, taste enhancers (e.g., MSG), emulsifiers, hydrogenated fats and high fructose corn syrup, to name a few. Eating sugar and other junk is like throwing gas on the pathogenic fire. All of these alter the gut flora in favor of the bad guys. It is VERY important to change the terrain so that the good flora can win. Many with chronic illness have low stomach acid and are not able to digest and absorb valuable nutrients. You can read more about this here.

A junk food diet does not provide the necessary vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids required to heal a broken biochemistry. Remember, we are what we eat!

2. Foods producing an allergic response or linked to intolerance: most common are gluten, dairy,  soy, corn, eggs, shellfish and nuts

I am intolerant to gluten, grains and dairy; I avoid soy and corn, and eat shellfish sparingly. It is really important to get tested for food allergies. It takes the guesswork out of what will cause harm.

3. Amalgam dental fillings

These are extremely toxic and so many of us are having to deal with this today in order to recover our health.

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 had mine replaced and would highly recommend this to everyone that has amalgams. You can read more about this here.

4. Drugs that kill the good gut flora

Antibiotics wipe out both good and the bad flora; this indiscriminate killing effect has been likened to clear-cutting a forest. Once this clear-cutting happens, the gut terrain is never the same.  There are also drugs (in addition to antibiotics) that damage gut flora – such as antidepressants containing fluoride compounds.  I understand today why I felt so bad while taking these drugs. They were destroying my gut terrain over a period of 14 years and interfering with my immune system, leaving me constantly sick. Research the drugs you are on to see if they are noted for killing gut flora. If you are struggling with depression here is an article that outlines a natural approach.

I used antibiotics throughout my life for various infections, but after extensive research, chose not to use them to treat the Lyme Disease.  I began to find that many persons were healing from Lyme and co-infections using herbal preparations, and decided on taking the same approach.

Healthy gut flora is responsible for normal gastrointestinal function and protection from infection; it regulates metabolism and comprises more than 75% of our immune system.  This is very important for those with chronic infections.

5. Untreated chronic infections:  candida , parasites, bacteria, fungus and viruses

It is easy just to focus on one type of infection such as Lyme Disease or candida and overlook other co-infections, such as parasites.  But once the immune system is compromised, we have little defense against a whole range of pathogens. In reality, it is difficult to determine which infection is the most debilitating. Therefore, it is important to take a broad-based approach to eliminate the vast majority of pathogens.  Like most others, I had a whole symphony of infections that needed to be treated. I did this with a mixture of herbs that treat a wide range of co-infections.   I had complete success with the herbs and diet change. Had I not been so comfortable using herbs, I would have consulted with an herbalist. I began with a modified Hulda Clark Bowel Cleanse. The parasites were next using a recipe that I created. You can find  Brenda’s Herbal Dewormer recipe here. The Lyme and co-infections were treated using  Stephen Buhner’s Protocol.

6. Mineral Deficiencies

Drugs, poor diet, stress, toxins,  parasites and chronic infections all drain vital minerals from the body. I was extremely low in all minerals except for two when I did my first hair test. Once the minerals are depleted, it takes a serious effort to restore them to normal levels. It is very difficult, if not impossible to heal the body in a mineral-depleted state. Once I started the Wahls Diet, daily green smoothies and began taking several whole food supplements, my levels improved considerably in the space of one year. You can read more about it here.

7. Taking too low of an herbal dosage for an insufficient period of time

I have seen this over and over on the Lyme disease and parasite forums. Herbs have to be taken in fairly high and consistent doses to achieve remission. Everyone wants a quick fix, but there isn’t one out there. Stephen Buhner suggests 8 – 12 months on the core protocol for Lyme Disease. Many start treating and feel worse due to the die-off from pathogens releasing endotoxins, in addition to the effects of their active infection.  Here is an article that provides a number of detox strategies.  The temptation is to remain on a very low dosage to avoid the die-off reaction. I pushed through on the full dose of the Buhner Core Protocol, but didn’t start to feel better until I was 5 months into the treatment.  By then, I had cleared the parasites and candida, and continued taking the Lyme herbs for 8 months. You can read more about it in this article.

8. Toxic personal care and household products

Eliminate commercial body lotions, excess use of sunscreen, bug spray, toothpaste, make-up, non-essential hair care products, perfumed synthetic soaps, body scents, teeth whiteners, heavily scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners, synthetic cleaning products. I removed these, as they add an additional toxic burden to a body that is already extremely toxic.

9. Environmental toxins

Off-gassing from new furniture, carpets, new vehicle upholstery, fresh paint, mold in the home or workplace, excessive EMFs (electromagnetic fields), dirty electricity exposure, cigarette smoke, air fresheners and scented candles. I am also careful to avoid these as much as possible. I gave up my cell phone about 7 years ago, and will not get another one.  My husband will only use his in speaker mode, and keeps it away from his head.  At home in Canada, we got rid of cordless phones and replaced them with corded units.  Wifi is everywhere.  If you must have it in your home, it is important to keep it as far as possible from where you sleep and spend most of your time, and to turn it off at night if possible.

10. Stress and negative, self-defeating emotions

Are you stuck in a relationship, job or location that is causing stress? It is really important to address anxiety, depression, sadness, self-pity, feeling stuck or held back, frustration, guilt, low confidence, loneliness, regret, betrayal, unhappy relationships, humiliation, shame and unfulfilled dreams.  Over long periods, these weaken the human spirit and erode the body’s vitality, leading to disease and premature aging.

I have faced many of these issues through counseling over the years. I have let-go or changed many aspects of my life. One important step for me was to let go of unhealthy and unsupportive relationships. I surround myself with loving family and friends and try and have some fun each week. I have forgiven everyone for everything and try and live each day with an attitude of gratitude.

Blessings and Best of Health!

Brenda

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

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

I used to dream of not being sick anymore.  I always knew I would get here but never thought it would take so long. I  was so determined to heal myself or die trying.  This journey has been so painful, lonely and at times despairing. I literally have fought for my life for a very long time. I remember back in 2009, when the first picture (above) was taken. I had just had my amalgam fillings removed and was in the thick of parasite cleansing.  I often looked older and would turn 50 shades of yellow and orange.  My liver was struggling to keep up with the toxic overload from the lyme and from parasite die-off.  My hair was thinning and my skin was very dry. I was completely exhausted every single day of my life. At one point, I went to see a naturopathic doctor. She took my chi pulse, stared at me and said, “You barely have a chi pulse; you’re living on sheer will alone.”

I believe I am here today because God wants me here. No other reason. I did say that if I got well, I would help those with chronic illness for the rest of my life. So here I am. This blog is only seven weeks old and I am so excited to share all that I have experienced and learned about natural health these last seven years.

The past twelve months have been both amazing and scary.  I experienced great success following the Wahls Paleo Diet, Buhner’s Lyme Protocol, with intensive parasite cleansing and by taking other steps toward recovering my health.

Grieving

Prior to this year, I had been sick for over twenty years, and along the way had lost the ability to work, in 2004.  There were so many losses during this period of my life.  I remember this past summer standing in front of the mirror and wondering who I was, after all this time. My entire daily life for so long had been about survival.  Being chronically ill had been my full-time job.  Now that I was restored physically, it was a shock – like waking up from a twenty year nightmare and discovering that I needed to  build a new life. I asked myself, “So now what?”

At the eight month mark of my remission, I began a time of grieving. It didn’t last long, but it was so painful. I am blessed to have a wonderful psychologist, Sister Mary, who helped me through this process. I had to feel the sadness of so many losses, and the intense anger at being misdiagnosed, medically misdirected and having to find my way alone.  I received little useful help and years of damaging toxic drugs from those who were supposed to be looking out for my best health interests. I was now fully awake to the reality of so many atrocities being committed against the very vulnerable of society, of whose numbers I had been one – through misuse of pharmaceuticals, the food industry, toxic beauty products, fluoridated and chlorinated water, debilitating vaccines and with our environment being mercilessly polluted. I could go on and on but I won’t. I have decided to give this bigger battle to God.  Let Go and Let God.

Solution focused

I decided to focus on what I have the power to change:  like what I put into my mouth – purifying my water, enjoying some sun, getting some exercise, laughing with family and friends, helping others and enjoying each day as it comes. The way I fight back quietly is with my dollars. We don’t have much, but we still have to eat. I take my dollars to organic farmers, and support people doing something amazing. They are producing life-giving fruits, vegetables, meats and eggs.  I stopped supporting the pharmaceutical companies seven years ago when I quit all of their toxic drugs, vaccines and mammograms. Instead, I use herbs, superfoods and natural therapies.  I support massage therapists, herbalists, chiropractors, naturopathic doctors and psychologists. This is how as a collective we will bring about a change.

De-cluttered our house

We had been in the same house for the past eleven years. Due to my illness, neither of us had the time or energy to undertake such a monumental task. This summer, we cleaned out every drawer, cupboard, closet, storage room, furnace room, empty kids’ room, recreation room and our garage. We got rid of half of our stuff. For me it meant the beginning of something new. It meant out with the old and anything just holding us back. With each item I asked myself, “Do I use this? Do I love this?” And if the answer to both was “no”, then it either got sold or donated.  It was sad in some ways to let-go of old memories, yet liberating and healing. Our house feels light and serene now. It feels hopeful!  We are moving forward with our life.

Do not fear Lyme

Lyme is just a symptom of a body that has gone out of balance. It is a disease state that can be reversed with proper detoxification and nourishment. Like Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome it can be put into remission. Chronic infections can be eliminated and then, the body can begin to repair itself with the right nutrition. The body is a self-healing system. We just have to help it along.

Thoughts are powerful

Every day, I told myself that I was healing. Yes, every once in awhile I would get discouraged and yell at God and have a little pity party for one. But those never lasted long. I prayed for direction, courage and strength. The answers always came. Even if I tried something that didn’t end up working, at least I knew it didn’t work and could move on to something else.  I always had a plan B, C and D. I got rid of resentments and forgave everyone for everything.

Relapse

I have relapsed twice before, after periods of wellness that were short-lived, lasting only a month or two. I have never had one full year. Someone recently asked me if I was afraid of relapse. I said “no.” I honestly don’t think I will relapse. After seeing my last hair tissue mineral analysis, and not having had any lyme symptoms for twelve months, I think I plan on staying right here. You can view my first hair analysis when I was very sick and depleted here. I am also getting stronger as the months go by, so I know my body is in the rebuilding phase. I can walk about five miles each morning before breakfast.

My life today

People tell me I look so much better and younger now. I sure feel young and vibrant. After living through what I have gone through, each day is a miracle. My youngest is almost eighteen, and my two daughters are now out on their own.  They remain my constant source of joy and love. All three have beautiful hearts; they are intelligent and have a wicked sense of humor. My life is being redirected. I continue to work on core childhood wounds and past hurts. I am now socially active for the first time in over 20 years. I have formed many new friendships and enjoy each moment with these beautiful souls. I surround myself with positive people and have eliminated all unhealthy and negative relationships. This has made such a huge impact on my continuous state of well-being. I do the things that I love to do on a regular basis.

Mexico

I have returned to Mexico for the winter. I wanted to give myself some extra healing time in the intense heat and sun. Here, I have a modest apartment in a local neighborhood and am able to live a simple lifestyle that allows me to heal.  I am also planning to open a guest house for others that want a place to come and enjoy a paleo diet with lots of beach therapy. I hope to have this up and running in the Fall of 2016.

Never ever give up

Healing takes time. I was sick for so many years. It is said that one needs a month of healing for every year a person is sick. I needed more, and made a few mistakes along the way; this is normal, and we all have to find what works best for us on this healing journey. The journey can be bitter, but the victory is sweet beyond imagining. I have never been so full of joy!

Blessings and Best of Health!

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