Hello, everyone - Krista here. This week I want to talk a little bit about Lyme prevention, and also what to do if you or someone you know gets a tick bite. There seems to be some misconceptions and outdated info out there, and, seeing as how the ticks are already out in full force, I want to make sure to get it all covered today!

The unfortunate reality is that we are in a highly endemic area here. The key to preventing Lyme Disease and its co-infections is being vigilant and knowing what to do if you do get bit.

Prevention

When we talk about preventing tick bites, there are a few different things to consider. First, it’s important to invest in something to apply to your skin and/or clothing to make yourself as unappealing to ticks as possible. What you use is of course a matter of personal preference. Some people choose the commercial formulas that, while often effective, also contain a number of potentially harmful chemicals. Even having had Lyme Disease myself, I would be very hesitant to use some of these products on myself or my family, especially when highly effective botanical alternatives exist.

Natural Sprays and Products

There are many all-purpose insect repellents that are environmentally friendly (See Badger Bug Spray). Some people prefer to put together their own concoction using various essential oils. You can find recipes online, but the most common oils that I’ve seen used are some combination of the following: citronella, lemon eucalyptus, geranium, and cedarwood. Professional herbalist (he’s been referred to as a “plant genius”) and Lyme expert, Stephen Buhner, in his guide book Healing Lyme also recommends some others like marjoram, bog myrtle, and juniper (See Montana Farmacy Lyme Armour Spray). Buhner also recommends that persons in endemic areas consider using the herb Astragulus during peak tick season, as it has immune boosting properties and may be helpful in the event that you are bit.

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Tips and Tricks

Often overlooked, but just as important, are the other things we need to make sure to do while working, playing, and vacationing in tick infested areas (which is basically all of Minnesota and Wisconsin). One simple thing we can do is wear light colored clothing, and, when possible, tuck our pants into our socks if we’ll be walking through the woods or areas with tall grass. I know it looks goofy, but it really does the trick. The ticks like to hang out on a blade of grass and just wait for an animal or person to walk by and brush up against them. Ticks don’t fly or jump, thankfully, so making it harder for them to get to your skin, and easier to spot them if they are on you, is key.

Just this past weekend my husband and I took our dog for a walk out at a nearby park preserve, and, thankfully, we both remembered to wear khaki colored pants. About half-way through the walk I noticed a deer tick crawling on the back of his pants - had he been wearing blue jeans or some other dark colored pants, I most likely would not have seen it.

Another important point to remember is that, whenever possible, stay on the groomed paths. The longer the grass, and the more dense the brush, the more likely you are to encounter ticks.

Frequent tick checks are a must for everyone, including the family dog. During the course of our hike last weekend, we stopped a few times and did a quick spot check on each other, and when we got home we changed out of our hiking clothes, checked our bodies, and then we checked the dog thoroughly as well. Keep in mind that ticks can range in size from about the size of a pencil eraser to the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Look for anything that looks out of the ordinary - perhaps a tiny little mole that you don’t remember being there before - and ask for help if there are areas like your head and back that you can’t see well.

 Here is a helpful article from the Organic Daily Post regarding protecting the yard from ticks.
7 Ways to Put a Tick Force Field Around Your Yard

What To Do If You Find A Tick

If you do find a tick, don’t panic, but time is of the essence! Knowing what to do is very important. I encourage you to carry a tick removal kit with you, which includes at minimum a good tweezers and a sealed sandwich type bag in which to keep the tick. Something to clean the area and a good Drawing Salve would also be good if you won’t be home for a while (like if you are camping, for instance).

So about those misconceptions….. just quickly, here are some things that it’s incredibly important NOT to do when you have a tick attached:

• Do not put anything on the tick in an attempt to burn or smother it, hoping it will back out. Research has shown that this causes the tick to regurgitate its stomach contents (which may include Lyme or other bacteria) into your bloodstream, thereby increasing the risk of infection.
• Do not attempt to remove the tick with your fingers, a knife, or anything else that will keep you from getting the tick out in its entirety. It may be unnerving to have a tick attached, but it’s very important to remove it carefully and completely. Have someone help you, if need be.
• Do not wait! Again, the sooner you remove the tick, the better the chance of avoiding infection. Don’t wait until you can get in to see a doctor, or until you get home from your vacation. Remove the tick as soon as you are able to.

ILADS.org offers a great instructional video (below) that teaches the technique for safely removing an embedded tick. I would strongly encourage everyone to watch it and become familiar with the process. According to ILADS “the tick should be removed with a fine pointed tweezers, grasping it from the side where it meets the skin, and gently pulling in the opposite direction from which it embedded.”

ILADS also notes that, while the longer the tick is attached greatly increases the chance of transmission of Lyme and other bacteria, there is no guaranteed set amount of time that ensures safety. Essentially, any tick bite, no matter how long or short of time that it was attached, should be treated as though it could potentially cause a Lyme or other infection.

Mark Norman (one of the store owners here, or you may also know him as our brilliant supplement expert!) found a great company last year when he had an embedded deer tick. Tick Chek provides independent, private laboratory testing of ticks. In the event that you or a family member does have an attached tick, this is an option that could provide good information and peace of mind.

As far as what to do if you do get bit, there are a few different schools of thought here. Some, especially those who have previously dealt with a Lyme infection, may choose to treat preventatively - meaning, they don’t wait for test results or symptoms to develop - they just start treating as though they have been exposed to Lyme.

A more conservative approach might be to save the tick and send it in for laboratory testing, watch the site closely for any signs of a rash, swelling, redness, especially a typical “bullseye” rash that is indicative of Lyme, and also pay attention to any new symptoms the person may develop in the days and weeks following the bite. Typically any new onset of extreme fatigue, headaches, joint pain, dizziness, insomnia, weight changes (without doing anything differently), flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, or anything else that just doesn’t feel “right” should warrant a suspicion of Lyme. While gut flora is important, and antibiotic overuse is a serious problem, I wouldn’t hesitate to treat these symptoms for myself or a family member with a history of a tick bite. I know from my own experience that these symptoms can easily be explained away as “seasonal allergies” or “stress” when in fact they may very well be the start of a new Lyme infection. Early detection and treatment is of the utmost importance in preventing Chronic and/or Late Stage Lyme Disease!

Another thing to consider is that sometimes the ticks are so small that we might not even notice them, but any bullseye type rash should be considered suspicious for Lyme, even without a known tick bite. The bullseye is pretty much the hallmark Lyme symptom (even though it doesn’t appear in every case).

I work hard to find a balance between continuing to enjoy this beautiful state in which we live, and being aware of the dangers posed by the ticks that inhabit it. We don’t panic, but we are careful to do our best to prevent any new infections in our family. That’s really all we can do.

Until next week, be well.

About the Author

Krista Ostrom

Krista Ostrom is a Lyme Disease patient who has extensive knowledge about Lyme, its many co-infections and co-conditions, nutrition and supplements, food intolerances and allergies, and specialty diets. When she’s not working at Tailor Made Nutrition, you can usually find her hiking with her family, practicing yoga, traveling, cooking her favorite meals, and “geeking out” about integrative health topics.

This is Part 2 in a two part series. To read Part 1 click here.

Detoxification

One of the things that was stressed to me while I was starting treatment for my Lyme Disease is that Lyme can be very taxing on our bodies, and there are some simple things that we can do to help along our natural detoxification processes.

1. Move bowels daily - I’ve found that keeping my digestive system working regularly makes a huge difference in how I feel. If things are moving through too slowly, opportunistic unfriendly bacteria and fungus has a chance to build up, so addressing gut motility may be an important piece of this puzzle.
2. Liver support - some things that I have found especially helpful for supporting my liver, and to aid in the detoxification process are:
1. Dandelion - yes, that annoying weed in our backyards! This amazing plant has many beneficial properties, including being protective of the liver and gallbladder, it is loaded with nutrients, and it is also a mild diuretic. Dandelion greens can be eaten or juiced, or it can be purchased in tincture form. (I like to add a few drops to my morning smoothies. It has a very pleasant, mild taste.)
2. Milk thistle - milk thistle is extremely beneficial to the liver, and in fact is often used in cases of accidental acetaminophen overdose or toxic mushroom poisoning. I have used it intermittently throughout treatment.
3. Glutathione - glutathione has been referred to as the “mother of all antioxidants,” and there is significant research showing its beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of neurological disease, cancer, and other aging related diseases. I have at times received glutathione IVs, and supplemented with a topical glutathione cream. There are also some great glutathione precursors that can be helpful, which include whey (if you tolerate this dairy protein), alpha lipoic acid, and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC).

Stress Management

We hear a lot of talk about stress management, but what does it mean? We can’t always just walk away from people or situations in life that are stressful (though sometimes we can), so learning how to cope with or reduce stress is key. The three things that have helped me the most are:

1. Meditation - this may look different for each person, but the idea is really taking time each day to quiet your mind. I like to choose one idea, concept, or an object to meditate on. It can be something meaningful to you, or it can be something as simple as a rock or a chair. Just find that image in your head and close your eyes. In a quiet room, and with a gentle timer set, keep your eyes closed and picture your object or idea. When your mind starts to wander (and it will - that’s okay!), acknowledge that it has wandered, and then move back to your object or idea. I had this discussion with my husband recently, and the example I gave him was a palm tree (can you tell I’m ready for warm weather?). Picture your palm tree, and when you realize that your mind has moved away from the palm tree, say to yourself “okay, now back to the palm tree.” It sounds a little weird, and it can be difficult to do at first, but it gets easier with practice, and the idea is that you are giving your mind a little time to rest each day. There is more and more research emerging that shows meditation to be extremely beneficial for both prevention and treatment of neurological diseases, chronic pain conditions, mental health disorders, and just good for general well-being.
2. Removing yourself from stressful situations - as I mentioned above, we are not always able to walk away from everything that causes stress in our lives, but sometimes we can. If relationships, work environments, or other things are sources of extreme stress, sometimes finding a way to leave them behind can be extremely beneficial to a person’s health. Emotionally toxic environments can definitely play a role in preventing healing.
3. Choosing battles wisely - for those situations that we can’t leave behind, there are tools that we can use to help lessen the impact they may have on our well-being. Many years ago a friend shared with me an Al-Anon book, and the key lesson that I took from that stays with me to this day: We can’t change other people. The only thing we can change is the way we choose to react or not react. This single concept has helped me so very much to reduce the overall stress level in my life.

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Diet

I will touch more on this topic in the weeks to come, but here are just a few quick things that I have found are very common among Lyme patients, with relation to diet.

1. The “Big 3” - gluten, dairy, and sugar. It has been my experience that the overwhelming majority of Lyme patients have varying degrees of difficulty with these three things.
2. Excess sugar and simple carbohydrates can contribute to the overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria (SIBO, C diff, etc.) and fungus (Candida).
3. A paleo-type diet, where a person primarily focuses on healthy fats, protein, plants, nuts, and seeds, seems to work well for many of us with Lyme and/or autoimmune disease. (There is also an elimination diet protocol called Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) that can be especially helpful for many people.)
4. Above all else, make food choices that nourish your body. A trusted doctor once said this to me “Krista, I want you to treat your body the way you would if you had just had major surgery. Be kind to it. Only eat things that are healing to it.” I often think of that advice when making food choices.

Other Lifestyle Factors

There are a few other general lifestyle factors that I have found to be extremely helpful.

1. Eliminating or significantly limiting alcohol intake, as it depletes the body of key nutrients, affects sleep quality, can contribute to depressive symptoms, and in large quantities it can be toxic to the body. A glass of wine or a gluten-free beer or cider now and then can be nice, but if it’s becoming a regular thing, you may want to consider taking a break to see if you feel better without it.
2. Getting good, quality sleep is incredibly important for everyone, but especially those who are chronically ill.
3. Do things that are good for your soul! What really moves you? What makes you feel alive? Do that. Do more of it.
4. Above all else, believe in your body’s ability to heal. I believe. I will admit there have been times where I’ve had my doubts, where I’ve gotten down, but I really do believe that I am well on my way to being strong and healthy again. It takes time to get really sick, and it takes time to get better too. Healing usually isn’t a straight line, but rather a whole bunch of ups and downs. Two steps forward, one step back. Try not to get too discouraged when you have to take a step back. You’ll be moving forward again soon. Keep peeling away those layers of your onion!

Until next week, be well.

Peeling the Onion

I once heard someone describe her experience dealing with Chronic Lyme Disease as “peeling the onion,” meaning, there are multiple layers that need to be addressed before a person feels well again. I especially like this analogy because, just like peeling an onion, treating Lyme can be a bit unpleasant, and it may even cause some tears to be shed along the way.

Before I really get into things this week, though, I am especially excited to share with you some extremely valuable information from a local LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor), Laurie Radovsky, MD. Dr. Radovsky completed an ILADS preceptorship with Dr. Richard Horowitz (one of the most well-known and respected Lyme physicians in this country). Her integrative medicine clinic, Birch Tree Healing Arts, is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Radovsky has compiled a list of common myths surrounding Lyme Disease, and has kindly provided us with factual responses to those myths. Empowerment and knowledge is key to preventing, properly diagnosing, and treating Lyme Disease. Thank you, Dr. Radovsky, for sharing your knowledge with us.

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Now on to some of the key things that I have learned along my journey with Lyme Disease.

1. Addressing the Bacteria

In a case of acute Lyme Disease, in an otherwise healthy person, a simple course of antibiotics is usually all that is needed to make a complete recovery. When the disease advances beyond that initial acute stage, or if the person’s health is already otherwise compromised, treating Lyme can be much more complex. My experience has taught me that killing bacteria alone is not enough. It’s just one layer of that onion.

For a person with Chronic/Persistent Lyme Disease, there are a few different modalities that can be used for killing the bacteria. Many patients do choose to do at least some antibiotics. Some people have success going this route, and continue with antibiotics for longer periods of time. Others may find them difficult to tolerate, or simply wish to pursue other options. Here is where the various herbal protocols that are available can be helpful. The unique thing about herbal treatments is that they have a tendency to address things beyond “bug killing,” things like detoxification and immune support, and they have an added bonus of usually not contributing to unfriendly bacterial or yeast/fungal overgrowths sometimes found with long-term antibiotic use.

2. Immune Support and Nutritional Deficiencies

In persons with Chronic/Persistent Lyme (or any chronic illness, really) it is not uncommon to have some nutritional deficiencies present. In my case, I found that I had a severe magnesium deficiency, and was also quite low in vitamins D and B12. I supplement with these things daily, and to address the magnesium and B12 issue, I also do a bi-monthly “Myer’s Cocktail” which is an IV mix of B complex, magnesium, vitamin C, and trace minerals. This has helped me tremendously with energy level, neurological symptoms, and especially with the painful muscle spasms I had been dealing with for years.

Many people with chronic illnesses such as Lyme have found that they also benefit from additional immune support using things like vitamin C, quercetin, nettles, beneficial mushrooms like reishi or cordyceps, and beta glucan, to name a few.

3. Help With Pain Relief

One of the most debilitating and frustrating aspects of Lyme Disease is the pain. Most Lyme patients report that their pain can occur in varying degrees, and may migrate, but it is always there. On my good days, I feel sore, like I just did a hard workout. On my bad days, I would describe the pain as being similar to the worst flu-like body aches you can imagine. It’s as if every cell in my body hurts.

The good news is that over time I have put together a pretty good plan to help manage and control my pain. Here are the things that have been by far the most helpful to me.

• Curcumin - curcumin is the anti-inflammatory part of the spice turmeric. Its benefits are becoming much more widely known, as research is being presented on its uses in people with chronic pain, neurological disease, inflammatory bowel disorders, and even more. I add a big scoop to my morning smoothie each day, and have found that it helps tremendously with inflammation and pain. View our turmeric supplement.


• Massage - I try to get in at least once per month with a therapist who is trained in dealing with chronic pain. If you’ve never had a therapeutic massage before, you may want to ask the therapist to start with lighter pressure initially, and then work up to your tolerance. Some Lyme patients have reported that deep tissue massage can temporarily make their symptoms worse, though I have rarely found this to be the case for me. I find it helpful to work out any knots/spasms.


• Chiropractic - This is something I admittedly avoided for far too long, because I was simply uninformed about its benefits. Fortunately, there is an amazing chiropractic clinic attached to the store here, Woodbury Family Chiropractic, and the doctors there are wonderfully skilled, kind, and patient. They have been incredibly helpful to me, and my whole family now receives regular adjustments as well. My average daily pain level has decreased significantly since I started getting adjusted regularly, and I was amazed at how much these treatments help my entire body, not just a specific area like the neck or back.


• Gentle Exercise - Exercise can be a tricky thing for anyone with chronic pain and fatigue, but I really do believe that it is one of the most beneficial things a person can do for their overall well-being. We often hear the word “exercise” and picture a person huffing and puffing at the gym, running a marathon, lifting huge weights, and looking like they’re going to fall over from exhaustion. While some people may choose to exercise this way (and, hey, more power to them!), some of these things may not work for a person with chronic illness. That’s okay. A very wise healthcare provider once told me that exercise is exercise, and it all counts. If all you can do today is walk in place for 30 minutes while watching a television program, THAT COUNTS! Gentle stretching counts. Gardening counts. Walking the dog counts. Do what you can. But do something. Our bodies were made to move, and for me making time to exercise has been an integral part of healing.

My Story

I remember the day I received my test results. Positive. I had so many questions, but the most important for me was “how long have I had this thing, and what can I do now to get well again?”

For those of us living, working, playing, and vacationing in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Lyme Disease is an unfortunate reality that we have to consider each time we head outdoors. With the mild winter we’ve had this past year, tick sightings are already being reported (and I’ve personally seen them while out on recent hikes in the Twin Cities metro area).

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that each year there are 300,000 new cases of Lyme Disease in the United States, the majority of which happen here in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and also in several northeastern states, though Lyme is becoming more prevalent and widespread throughout the country. If caught early, Lyme Disease is usually easily treatable with a course of antibiotics. Sadly, when left undiagnosed, or improperly treated, it can cause devastating effects on the entire body, and treatment then becomes much more complex and multifactorial.

I recall feeling relief at the time of my diagnosis. Finally I had a solid answer for what had been causing the multitude of bizarre and sometimes debilitating symptoms that I had been experiencing for several years. I expected I would be well in no time. Little did I know how complex and individualized this treatment process would need to be.

It seems as though every aspect of Lyme Disease, from diagnosis to treatment, is controversial. (This is, I believe, a huge part of the reason it took so long for me to get properly diagnosed.) Patients often report having visited multiple healthcare providers and having their inquiries about Lyme Disease dismissed. Even if a diagnosis is made, many physicians are not willing to provide treatment past the standard simple course of antibiotics that are offered in acute cases, even if the patient is still feeling unwell. Any symptoms that persist following that treatment (typically about two weeks of doxycycline or amoxicillin) are then referred to as “Post Lyme Disease Syndrome” in the mainstream medical community, and prescription pain relievers, GI medications, antidepressants, and other drugs to manage and cover up symptoms are commonly prescribed.

Those of us with Lyme Disease often live with ongoing or sometimes migrating or relapsing symptoms, and the prescribed pharmaceutical treatments often fail to provide much needed relief. We may look well, but inside our bodies feel like they’re falling apart. Interestingly, many patients have found by accident that their symptoms temporarily improve or even disappear whenever they are prescribed a course of antibiotics for some other reason.

This has lead to a movement by a small group of doctors that are commonly referred to as LLMDs (Lyme Literate Medical Doctors) and LLNDs (Lyme Literate Naturopathic Doctors). These providers recognize that people who have already been treated for Lyme may have a persistent infection even after the standard protocol is completed. They are trained in the treatment of Chronic/Persistent Lyme Disease, and are willing to provide care and services to patients whose symptoms continue past that initial course of antibiotics, those who can't or don't want to use antibiotics, or whose diagnoses were simply missed in the early stages of their disease.

These unique providers can offer a wide variety of treatment options, which may include continued antibiotic regimens, various herbal protocols, and supportive treatments to help rebuild the immune system and manage symptoms during and after treatment. There are also many nutritional supplements, dietary protocols, and lifestyle modifications that can be helpful for those dealing with Lyme.

Hope for the future

Each week I look forward to adding information here about topics that relate to Lyme Disease, talking about the things that have helped me along my own journey with this illness, sharing interviews with some of the folks who are on the front lines in this battle, both providers and patients, and offering resources for anyone who is suffering with Lyme Disease, suspects they may have Lyme Disease, or has a friend or loved one in a similar situation.

Above all else, please know that you are not alone, and that there is hope! We are all learning more every day, and Lyme Disease patients (we often refer to ourselves as “Lymies”) are an incredibly resilient and resourceful group. We are finally seeing what I feel to be some promising steps in the right direction (albeit slowly) and recognition from the mainstream medical community, and I believe a huge part of that has to do with all of the hard work of Lyme Disease patient advocates, including many high profile celebrities who have graciously made their own stories public to help bring awareness about Lyme.

Here at Tailor Made Nutrition, we are pleased to offer a number of herbs, supplements, and other products that may be helpful to someone dealing with Lyme Disease, in any of its stages. I will touch more on some of these in the weeks to come. Of course, our well trained staff is always here to assist you, and we also have health care providers on site, including a Naturopathic Doctor who frequently works with those dealing with Lyme Disease.

Until next week, be well.

About the Author

Krista Ostrom

Krista Ostrom is a Lyme Disease patient who has extensive knowledge about Lyme, its many co-infections and co-conditions, nutrition and supplements, food intolerances and allergies, and specialty diets. When she’s not working at Tailor Made Nutrition, you can usually find her hiking with her family, practicing yoga, traveling, cooking her favorite meals, and “geeking out” about integrative health topics.