Lyme Disease

Lyme Elixir Life Update

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1481978482297I’ve spent the last few years creating new life. I’ve gone through pregnancy, breastfeeding, and child rearing the most amazing little girl with the biggest heart. I’ve also created new life within myself. I’ve put in the time, effort, suffering, patience, and due diligence required for deep healing. The kind of healing where you release death, decay, parasites, find a void, and fill the void with new vibrant tissue. I’ve gained great appreciation for the human journey and the inherent healing capability stored inside each and every one of us.

My life was turned upside down when I received a Lyme diagnosis a few years back. I had been sick for years and finally had a label for the symptoms and suffering. That night I cried for hours. There were some tears of relief, but most of the tears were to mourn the children I never had. I was raised to be a career woman, a doctor. And it wasn’t until that moment that I knew I wanted to be a mother. With symptoms of endometriosis and confirmed chronic Lyme disease, I was told I was infertile and children may never be in my future.

IMG_1067My prognosis was dim. My LLMD told me I was one of his most sensitive patients. After months of intensive Lyme treatments with him, he admitted he could no longer help me. My neurological symptoms became extreme as I was suffering from hundred of partial complex seizures a day. I could no longer work. I could no longer live. I was in pure survival mode not knowing how to face another day of pain and agony. I realized then that no other human being could be as invested as I was in my healing journey. I didn’t have the answers, but I knew I had an entire life to live and I was determined to live it with quality. I was only 23 years old. I wasn’t about to let anyone convince me that I couldn’t have a family or a life with chronic illness. Shortly afterwards, I discovered coffee enemas, liver flushes, and my journey to vibrant health was finally on track.

IMG_3482As of today, I have completed a full series of liver flushes. It took about 30 flushes to stop passing stones. I have completed 36 in total with 5 flushes that produced no stones or parasites. I spent two years doing daily coffee enemas, up to 4 in one day. Then I gradually reduced to once a week or as needed. I gradually transitioned from a SAD to a whole food plant based diet. I have been gluten-free for over 5 years with no desire to ingest wheat or glyphosate ridden foods. I eat organic whenever possible and fresh produce daily. I have been vegan for 2.5 years and have no desire to eat animal products.

I learned to meditate and listen to my intuition and gut instinct. I switched from intense exercise 6 days a week to moderate exercise 3-4 times a week. I love a weekly Epsom salt bath and loading up on greens and seaweed to keep my magnesium levels high. I no longer benefit from enemas. I no longer need liver flushes. I no longer take any pharmaceuticals or supplements. I no longer experience seizures. I no longer associate with any disease. I was included in the 1% of women who successfully give birth at home as a first-time mother. I was able to breastfeed for 20 months.

IMG_7282What does life after Lyme look like? It takes form in the understanding and appreciation of natural cycles. I am a mature woman who honors her menstrual cycle. I understand my cyclical and seasonal nature. I embrace seasonal shifts and their associated viral infections. I understand that there is a natural time to cleanse and a natural time to build. There is a time to express oneself externally in the world and a time to go inwards and reflect. I understand pain is a message from my body. Listening to that pain has given me the ability to change for the better. I understand the physical and energetic impact of the substances that I ingest daily. I have a great appreciation for my elimination organs and pathways. I have a great appreciation for the ability to move my body and to let it rest. I have a great appreciation for all emotions and their lessons.

What’s next on my healing journey? My physical body has healed significantly with the lifestyle factors I have diligently implemented. I have shifted my focus from physical healing to emotional and energetic healing. Energy medicine has been with me since I first worked with a functional LLMD. He introduced me to muscle testing, a method I have implemented and a skill I have honed for year. Now, I am diving into ancient knowledge and wisdom of the energetic body. I’m facing imbalances in my chakra system, connecting my electrics, and repairing damage to my basic grid. I’m facing fears, long held physical and emotional trauma, and working through limiting beliefs. I’m decalcifying my pineal gland and finding a better balance between intellect and intuition. I’m discovering balance with my divine feminine and divine masculine energies.

IMG_7194My life is transitioning from one of repair to one of creation. My second child is nestled away in the comfort of my womb growing bigger and stronger daily. I’ve learned to enjoy and embrace pregnancy as a phase of building. My boobs and belly are growing, my mind is expanding, and my dreams for myself and the world around me are building. I’m ready to share the knowledge and experience I’ve gained. I’ve healed myself and now I’m ready to help others do the same. It’s time to create, to connect, and manifest a new world.

Are you ready to join me? Are you sick of suffering from a chronic illness and want to fully heal yourself? Sign up for a health consultation to get started on the right path.

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Lessons Learned- Trip to Crete, Greece

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When I was extremely sick with chronic Lyme disease, one of my most debilitating symptoms was environmental and food sensitivities. I could spot a mold problem long before any diagnostic test. Cleaning products with ammonia or bleach would trigger a severe asthma attack within minutes. Toxic, non-moving air in closed hotel rooms would keep me up all night with an overwhelmed liver. It was very hard for me to eat out in restaurants. Ingesting conventional animal products would cause me to vomit within the hour. Glyphosate laden wheat products would cause diarrhea and an inability to properly digest food for a week. For these reasons, I developed an intense fear to traveling and eating out. I could recover from symptoms when I had my clean “safe space” of a home and home cooked meals. Traveling became panic inducing and out of the question for a couple of years.

3 years, 32 liver flushes, hundreds of coffee enemas, and an impeccable plant based diet later, my health had vastly improved and my husband and I planned our first trip as a family to Crete, Greece where much of his extended family resides. Oddly enough, I had no anxiety or fears traveling across the world with a toddler to stay on an island for two and a half weeks. I was not concerned about our living arrangements, as staying in someone’s home with good air flow is enough to get a good night’s rest. I was not concerned about the food, because the Mediterranean diet is put on a pedestal in the health world. I was excited to dive into the mineral rich, tasty produce. I was not afraid of any hiccups or issues that may arise, because we were going to be with lots of family who has our best interest in mind and willing to help resolve any issues that may arise.

Lesson #1

When you let others cook or prepare food for you, you risk acute illness and disease.

Right after we arrived at the airport in Crete, we were expected to go straight to my husband’s grandmother’s house to meet the relatives and eat a meal. Even though I wanted to go straight to where we were staying and rest, I obliged as this was a new culture and felt it best to go with the flow. I quickly learned that the familial expectation was to eat lunch together everyday that had been prepared by an aunt or grandmother. I felt uneasy as I am used to preparing everything my toddler and I ingest. I obliged with this expectation for several days. I felt “off” during this time and was quick to blame any malaise on jet lag and being introduced to a new microbiome. It wasn’t until my baby, Athena, was vomiting for the second day, I was extremely nauseous with stomach cramps, and my husband felt digestive discomfort, that I decided to say enough was enough. I was no longer willing to let someone else prepare food for me. Soon there after, everyone recovered and we were finally able to enjoy our stay.

Lesson #2

There is junk food everywhere. Living a healthy lifestyle is now a choice, even in the Mediterranean.

The food we were ingesting that made us ill was still plant based and gluten free. When someone else prepares food there is risk for poor quality ingredients, rancid ingredients, poor preparation methods, and additional unwanted ingredients. Even though some of the dishes were similar to what I prepare at home, we were exposed to refined sea salt that contain anti-caking agents (hello aluminum), rancid olive oil in large quantities, and refined sugar. For example, we were given what they call “Greek candy”. I was told it consisted of roasted sesame seeds and raw honey. Later I found out that they add brown sugar and “fructose”, heavily refined sugar derived from fruit, to bind the bar together. My family has not ingested refined sugar in months, so it reeked havoc on our systems.

Lesson #3

The Mediterranean has Westernized.

I was sitting in the Venetian port when I opened my first restaurant menu. I could not believe what they were selling: hamburgers, ice scream, soda, and most dishes containing some sort of animal product. This was surprising to me, because Greeks are known for eating animal products sparingly. Their cuisine is typically vegetarian unless there is a holiday or special occasion. This menu was something I would find at a restaurant in America that I would never chose to visit. The disease inducing food we frequently see in restaurants in America is also widely available in Crete. As a consequence, the health of their population is quickly deteriorating. Although their rates of obesity are lower, a visit to the beaches will prove that most people are now overweight and carrying excess fat around their mid section. Beautiful healthy bodies of a healthy weight are becoming the exception when just a few decades ago they were the standard.

Lesson #4

When the land offers you an abundance of fruit, simplify your diet and life by eating mono fruit meals for optimal hydration and health.

As soon as we started sourcing and preparing our own food, we found an abundance of fresh fruit at produce stands across the city. It is near impossible to find seeded watermelon in Boston, so we were stoked to dive into copious amounts of watermelon. We decided to start each morning with a watermelon cleanse. We cut a large watermelon in half and ate straight from the bowl until we couldn’t eat anymore. Our kidneys would feel slightly overwhelmed when we hit our limit, so we would lie down until it passed. This type of breakfast hydrated us for the whole day, prevented our skin from burning, and has had lasting effects boosting our kidney health. We snacked on mono fruit meals of sweet doughnut peaches, cucumber, tomato, nectarines, and fresh squeezed orange juice. When fruit is allowed to fully ripen on the tree and be eating soon thereafter, the flavor is so rich that there is no need or desire to add anything extra.

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Lesson #5

Your health is more important than any societal expectation.

In most culture, the food traditions are an integral part of social experiences. People want to cook for you as an act of love. People want to dine together and discuss the cuisine. There are expectations to eat together from similar dishes. These traditions are worthless if and when they lead to disease and a decrease in vitality. Each individual is solely responsible for what they put in their own mouths. While awkward and uncomfortable, I no longer hesitate to bring my own food to social gatherings and refusing to eat anything that I know will not nourish my body and lead to a greater state of vitality. It is a form of self-love and self-respect to choose to ingest only what properly nourishes your body.

Lesson #6

Traveling Abroad can create an increased need for breastfeeding a toddler.

Before our trip, I was nursing Athena in the morning, once or twice during the day, and at night. I was finally able to leave her for an extended period during the day without having to worry about nursing her. I have been delaying weaning, as I knew it would be very helpful to breastfeed during our international flight. I was surprised by how often and how much Athena wanted to nurse abroad. We went from almost weaning to a breastfeeding relationship reminiscent of that with a 3-month-old infant. She was attached to my boobs night and day. After the rough adjustment to Greek cuisine, she became very picky about what and how much she would eat. She rarely drank water, so she nursed for food, hydration, comfort, and security. It was a very difficult stress on my body, but I was grateful for the ability to nurse her on demand to smooth over any difficulties while traveling with a toddler.

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In conclusion, my trip taught me very important life lessons and help to solidify much of the health and wellness wisdom I have gained over the past few years. The food that we eat lays the foundation for the state of our health and wellness. It is an individual responsibility to take care of our bodies and fuel our bodies with nourishing food to the best of our ability and knowledge. It is time to create new recipes and new traditions that will lay the foundation for healthy individuals and therefore healthy populations.

Glyphosate’s Role in Causing Chronic Illness

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Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s popular “broad spectrum” herbicide, Roundup. This herbicide has greatly impacted agricultural methods and is at the root of the rise of chronic illness in the United States. Many genetically modified foods are designed to be “Round up Ready” meaning they are resistant to roundup. As of 2001, Glyphosate is the most used herbicide. Let’s take a look at how glyphosate is causing chronic illness and what you can do to minimize exposure on your path to wellness.

It is generally accepted that the farming land in the Unites States is becoming increasingly more mineral deficient. This idea is used to justify the need for taking supplements daily. But humans are not deficient in supplements. We are becoming deficient in plant based nutrition. By understanding what is causing these mineral deficiencies, we are able to make dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes were all we need is whole foods, exercise, rest, and sunshine to live a life full of vitality.

Monsanto claims that glyphosate is non-toxic. “All Roundup® Weed & Grass Killer products contain the same active ingredient*, glyphosate, which targets an enzyme found in plants but not in people or pets.” This claim could not be further from the truth. However, the damage caused by glyphosate may take years before symptoms appear, so although death is not imminent with ingestion, chronic illness is prevalent with chronic exposure. Glyphosate targets a protein synthesis pathway called the shikimate pathway.

There are multiple pathways by which glyphosate could lead to pathology. A major consideration is that our gut bacteria do have the shikimate pathway, and that we depend upon this pathway in our gut bacteria as well as in plants to supply us with the essential aromatic amino acids, tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Methionine, an essential sulfur-containing amino acid, and glycine, are also negatively impacted by glyphosate. Furthermore, many other biologically active molecules, including serotonin, melatonin, melanin, epinephrine, dopamine, thyroid hormone, folate, coenzyme Q10, vitamin K, and vitamin E, depend on the shikimate pathway metabolites as precursors. Gut bacteria and plants use exclusively the shikimate pathway to produce these amino acids. In part because of shikimate pathway disruption, our gut bacteria are harmed by glyphosate, as evidenced by the fact that it has been patented as an antimicrobial agent. – Stephanie Seneff

Ever been told that you need to supplement iron, folate, coenzyme Q10, vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin B12, Magnesium, Manganese, Chondroitin Sulfate, or Glutathione? All of these deficiencies are directly correlated to ingesting glyphosate that inhibits the production of precursors necessary to create those nutrients in bioavailable forms. Glyphosate binds to an enzyme, EPSPS, in the shikimate pathway that produces amino acids that are necessary to create bioavailable forms of nutrients listed above.

Glyphosate harms the bacteria and fungus in the soil and in our intestines leaving the soil and our bodies lacking in bioavailable nutrients. This creates a perceived need for fertilizers and supplements. But what we really need is avoid further use or ingestion of glyphosate and to flood the soil with bacteria and fungus to effectively break down the glyphosate. This can be accomplished by creating compost for farmland and ingesting fermented vegetables and mushrooms.

Illnesses that have increased with the use of glyphosate include but are not limited to Lyme disease, Autism, ALS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Insomnia, Obesity, Cancer, Tooth Decay, and Mitochondria Disease.

The most common sources of glyphosate in food are Round Up Ready GMO crops and conventionally grown crops that are sprayed with Roundup three days before harvest. Foods approved to be grown as GMOs in the US are corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, sugar beets (can be GMO and labeled organic), alfalfa, papaya, yellow “crook neck” squash, zucchini, “Arctic” apple, and “Innate” potato. Crops that are sprayed with Roundups a few days before harvest include wheat, peanuts, nuts, beans, lentils, and oats. These lists are a baseline, but are not all encompassing.

Conventional animal agriculture feeds their livestock with gmo corn and soy. The glyphosate builds up into the animal tissue and remains in the animal products you buy in stores and at restaurants. If you are not ready to give up animal products, make sure to buy grass fed, free range, organic animal products or wild caught fish.

Organic farmers are not allowed to spray Roundup on their crops, so eating organic is a great way to reduce exposure. However, conventional farmers use aerial spraying techniques that cause contamination of neighboring organic farms. Glyphosate is so prevalent in our society that trace amounts have been found in rainwater. It is not possible to completely eliminate glyphosate, but we can dramatically reduce exposure and support our elimination organs to prevent it from building up in our bodies.

Protect yourself from glyphosate by buying organic and non-gmo produce and going gluten-free. Products high in gluten, such as wheat, barley, rye, and oats are also heavily sprayed with Roundup. Most processed food includes ingredients that are sprayed with glyphosate. For a processed food to be certified organic, it only needs to contain 95% organic ingredients (unless labeled 100% organic). Therefore, even 5% of organic packaged foods could contain trace amounts of glyphosate in the form of gmos or conventional produce. Take control by growing your own garden, boycotting Monsanto, refusing to buy products sprayed with Roundup, and supporting your local organic farmers.

Liver flushes and coffee enemas support your liver and colon thereby increasing nutrient absorption and detoxification of toxins, such as glyphosate. Epsom salt baths help replenish magnesium and sulfur. Sea vegetables and sea salt help replenish trace minerals that are deficient in our soil. By completing a liver flush series, performing coffee enemas, taking regular Epsom salt baths, and eating an organic, non-gmo, whole food diet you can heal whatever chronic illness ails you and return to vibrancy without taking supplements. Nature has innate methods to return to a state of harmony. In agriculture, organic permaculture returns the land to harmony. In humans, organic food consumption and a healthy lifestyle returns our bodies to harmony.

For further reading, check out research by Dr. Stephanie Seneff at MIT. She has published several peer review articles looking at trends involving usage of Round Up.

 

Sources:

http://www.roundup.com/smg/goART3/Howto/how-do-roundup-weed-and-grass-killer-products-work/43200019

http://pubmedcentralcanada.ca/pmcc/articles/PMC4392553/

 

Healing Crisis During Ovulation

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This is a story of my experience with a recent healing crisis. I’m sifting through the progression of events to further understand my body, my cycle, and its healing mechanisms. My hope is that by sharing this story others may develop a deeper understanding of their own healing mechanisms.

A healthy body is responsive and adaptive. A healthy body will experience discomfort and a range of sensations, energy levels, and nutrition needs. This has been a very important revelation for me. As an athlete and a singer growing up in a man’s world, I was taught I had to be linear and ‘consistent’ to be successful. I interpreted this as sticking to a strict training regime and never falling ill to prevent sub optimal performance. I pushed myself until my body could no longer be pushed. I’ve spent a lot of time resting and healing over the past couple of years. The problem with the linear approach is that women are not linear; by nature women are cyclical, or even spiral. Becoming a mother has taught me very important lessons, one of which is understanding my moon cycle.

Pre-pregnancy, I intuitively knew that I was infertile. Many women who have Lyme disease struggle with fertility issues. In fact when I first hear my Lyme diagnosis, I cried for hours mourning the children I never had. In that moment, I knew I wanted to be a mother, but had to face the very real possibility that my body was not healthy enough to grow and sustain another life. I had signs of endometriosis. I had severe nutrition deficiencies. I had low estrogen. And I had issues with the left side of my pelvic region. I was too scared to be told I was infertile, so I never got tested. My hope was that if I figured out my other health issues, then my fertility issues would also resolve on their own.

Six months after beginning liver flushes, I became pregnant with my rainbow child. My menstrual cycle returned four months postpartum. This has been an interesting journey breastfeeding and menstruating simultaneously. Both require a great amount of energy, nutrition, and rest. At these times, women need to go inward, listen, and respect the ever changing needs of her body.

In January, I had a very difficult mid cycle experience. I suspect that I was dealing with an ovarian cyst that had burst. After a week or so the symptoms resolved. I used yoga to rehabilitate my pelvic and core regions, and soon felt as good as new.

In February, I had no mid cycle discomfort. I had mild emotional PMS, the shortest cycle of my life (22 days), and the heaviest menstruation, which ironically fell on Athena’s birthday party. At the one year mark postpartum, the heavy bleeding reminded me of the intense bleeding following childbirth. I embraced this by wearing a red dress for the birthday party to celebrate my fertility. The sensations I felt indicated that I ovulated from my right ovary in February.

In March, I was feeling amazing from day three to nine of my cycle. I went on a few runs. Felt strong with my energy flowing well. I didn’t have any excess tension. My mind was sharp. My mood was optimistic. I was happy to be alive in this body. There was a moment when I reminisced on how much pain I used to be in and how I no longer felt that pain. Then on day ten of my cycle, I began feeling abdominal and muscle cramping. Tension creeped into all of my muscles. My lymph nodes became swollen and sore. My spleen felt tender and overwhelmed. My stomach became nauseous. My digestive fire diminished. I felt extremely fatigued to the point of adrenal exhaustion. I felt a need to rest in bed as much as possible. If I was laying still, then I felt okay. The more I moved physically, the worse I felt. Movement triggered hot flashes and muscles to freeze up mid motion.

If you look at a hormone chart for menstruation, you will see that the body increases its production of estrogen, LH, and FSH in the few days leading up to ovulation. Since my body is constantly production prolactin for breastmilk, I figured my adrenals were struggling to keep up with total hormone production. Prolactin keeps estrogen levels low, so that partially explains the hot flashes. I took note to rest more and eat foods high in fat and vitamin c to assist hormone production.

On day twelve of my menstrual cycle, I hit total adrenal exhaustion. I could not handle stress or physical activity. I was too tired to pick up my baby girl. I could feel EBV taking over my whole body. A few years ago, I was unable to function for a few months as I struggled with mono. I know this sensation well. I felt tenderness and inflammation in my lower legs, all of my lymph nodes, shoulders, neck, spleen, stomach, and brain along with total exhaustion. My illness lead to vomiting up leftovers from the night before. I had not felt that experience since the year I developed food sensitivities when I was still eating conventional animal products, gluten, and processed food. Since my diet changes, I rarely vomit, not even during pregnancy.

When the muscle tension and inflammation started, I did yoga to keep my energy flowing, but found myself intolerant to light exercise. When the abdominal cramping became intense, I drank a dose of Epsom salt just in case I was experiencing gallbladder issues. Next, I did a coffee enema to help reduce inflammation. After the enema, I passed foam cholesterol crystals from my bile ducts. This helped reduce symptoms temporarily, but was not a solution to my problem. Next, I took an Epsom salt bath to support my lymph system. This helped temporarily, but the muscle tension creeped right back in. I stretched several times a day and rolled my back out with a tennis ball as a deep, painful massage. My husband also gave me a deep massage, but the tension came back immediately. As my usual troubleshooting methods were not successfully reliving discomfort, I realized that I was amidst an intense healing crisis. I was not muscle testing well to nutrient dense foods or responding well to detox protocols. My body had all of the energy and nutrition it needed to heal whatever it needed heal. All I needed was rest, hydration with coconut water, and time to heal.

On day twelve of my cycle, I woke up with the entire left side of my body sore. It felt as though I had over exercised and injured the left side of my pelvis. All of the discomfort was stemming from my left ovary and my endocrine system. I suspect that the discomfort is a result of my body attempting to heal my left ovary and restore fertility completely. My bones, ligaments, tendons, and joints ached terribly especially in my pelvis, shoulders, and ankles. I felt pain and weakness in a particular part of my pelvis that I had felt trauma during childbirth.

On day thirteen of my cycle, I woke up with residual tension, but the adrenal exhaustion was gone. Even though I felt crappy, I was able to accomplish running errands, going for a long walk, watching an active toddler, cooking homemade meals, and washing and folding five loads of laundry. I could tell the worst of the healing crisis was over. It is likely that I had successfully ovulated on this day and my hormones levels were dropping. I ended the productive day with an Epsom salt bath to help drain the toxins from my lymph system. I stretched and fell asleep.

On day fourteen of my cycle, I woke up feeling good. There is a little residual tension in my shoulders, but my stiff neck and cramping is gone. My energy is back, and I’m feeling better than ever. My left hip feels weak, but with a few days of yoga the strength will return.

What is amazing to me is that pre-liver flush, EBV could take over my life for weeks at a time. Now, it takes over for two days and then disappears. This healing crisis obviously correlates to the hormones produced during ovulation. Perhaps ovulation is a time for deep healing and menstruation is a time for deep cleansing.

As I reflect on my experience, I can see that this was not only a healing crisis, but also a time of retracing. According to Dr. Lawrence Wilson, “Retracing is a specific type of deep healing that fully restores the anatomy and physiology of a part of the body.” I encourage everyone who is embarking on a health journey to read his article on retracing: http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/retracing.htm. Understanding the principles of healing crisis and retracing will ignite a deeper understanding of your own healing mechanisms and reduce fear of illness in times of discomfort.

How did I know that I was retracing and going through a healing crisis?

  • The tissues that became inflamed had been stressed and traumatized during pregnancy and childbirth. The tendons, ligaments, bones, and spine are some of the last tissues to heal completely. The spine fully heals around one year postpartum.
  • My energy levels were very high right before the healing crisis, which is an indication of a vitality high enough to tackle deep healing. My recent diet and lifestyle included high amounts of vitamin c and vitamin d, which are necessary to repair the inflamed tissues.
  • I was reliving old trauma sensations. I had flashbacks of when I had previously felt that type of pain and discomfort. When I acknowledged the sensations as a healing crisis, then the symptoms began to diminish.
  • None of my detox methods stopped the discomfort. The body will not begin retracing unless it can completely heal the deep trauma. This means you have to ride the wave of discomfort and not interfere or suppress symptoms.
  • Food with dense nutrients muscle tested as weakening to the chi of my body. When you experience a healing reaction, excess nutrition will send the body into a more intense state of healing, which decreases vitality.
  • My symptoms were short-lived. A healing crisis will last from a couple of hours to a couple of day. If symptoms persist longer, then you are experiencing illness and not a healing crisis.
  • My vitality has returned to a greater capacity after the healing crisis.

I’m curious to see what happens mid cycle in May. When there is a deep trauma, the body may need to retrace through several flare-ups before the body can be whole. For now I’m grateful to have a support system that allows me to rest during healing crises and the bravery to tackle a roller coaster of sensation head on without symptom suppression.

“Every woman who heals herself helps heal all the women who came before her, and all those who come after” – Christiane Northrup.

Coffee Enema Procedure

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What You’ll Need:

  • Organic Coffee (Must be caffeinated to work!)
  • Enema Kit (Bag or Bucket and Tube)
  • Lubricant (Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, or Castor Oil)
  • Old Towels
  • Bathtub or Yoga Mat
  • Stove with pot
  • Cheese Cloth
  • Sea Salt
  • Distilled water
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Timer
  • Measuring spoons
  • Medium Bowl

Ingredients for optional binding elixir:

  • 2 tsps Hawaiian Spirulina
  • 4-6 oz Cranberry juice
  • 1-2 oz Grade A Maple Syrup
  • 1 Lime

Directions:

It is highly recommend to drink a binding elixir, 1 hour before the coffee enema. Mix 2 tsps of spirulina with enough maple syrup to cover the surface of spirulina in a glass. Add in 4-6 oz of cranberry juice and the juice of one lime. Stir altogether and drink. This will help absorb toxins in the intestines that are released by the coffee enema and support the kidneys. Another option is to eat a whole food containing fiber with strong binding properties. Apples or beans are a great choice, but many fruits and vegetables will suffice. If you skip this step, then you may experience a toxicity symptoms a few hours after the enema due to toxin reabsorption through the gut wall.

Water Enema Preparation (Optional)

Pour 4-12 cups of distilled water into a pot with 1 tsp of sea salt. Bring the pot to a boil and then let cool down to a warm, but not scalding temperature. Think of the ideal temperature for a baby bath water. Transfer water to a pitcher to bring to the bathroom.

Coffee Preparation 

Pour 4 cups of distilled water and 2 tbsp of organic coffee into a pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and simmer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to a warm, but not scalding temperature.  If the coffee is too hot, then you could burn the intestinal lining, ouch! If the coffee is too cold, then the liquid will shock your system making the enema very difficult to hold. Be like Goldilocks and make sure the temperature is just right.

Place a medium bowl on the counter with a cheese cloth draped on top. Pour the coffee through the cheese cloth into the bowl. The cheese cloth will strain out the coffee grinds leaving only liquid in the medium bowl. Rinse out the cheese cloth and hang to dry. Add 1 tsp of sea salt to the coffee and stir.

Bathroom Setup

Lay one towel on the bottom of the tub where you will lay your body above your waist. Roll up a second towel so that it is several inches thick, and lay it below the other towel where you can rest your hips. Place a third towel on the tub edge. This is where you will lay the enema bucket. Remove floor bath mats near the bathtub and toilet. It is easier to clean the tile than wash the bathmats if there is an accident. Place Hydrogen Peroxide, a spoon containing coconut oil, and a timer on the tub edge. Lubricate the bottom 5-6 inches of the enema tube and the site of insertion with coconut oil.

Water Enema Procedure (Optional)

Those new to enemas often benefit from performing a water enema first before a coffee enema. The water will clear out the colon and make coffee retention much easier.

Make sure the clamp on the enema tube is closed. Pour the water from the pitcher into the bucket. Start with 2-4 cups of water per enema. Open the clamp to let the water flow through the tube thereby removing the air. Lay down on your back with your hips elevated on the towel. Gently insert the tube into your rectum. Do not force the insertion. Remember to breathe, relax, and move the tube around if there is resistance. Once the tube has been inserted 5-6 inches, unclamp the tube and let the water flow.

Once all of the water has drained from the bucket, remove the tube and set a timer for 3-5 minutes. When the timer beeps or you can no longer hold them enema in, sit on the toilet and release the liquid. Be patient and wait until all of the bowel contents have passed. If you are having issues, massage your belly two inches to the left of your belly button. You can repeat the water enema up to 2 times or move on to the coffee enema procedure.

Coffee Enema Procedure

Make sure the clamp on the enema tube is closed. Pour the coffee into the bucket. Open the clamp to let the coffee flow through the tube thereby removing the air. Lay down on your back with your hips elevated on the towel. Gently insert the tube into your rectum. Do not force the insertion. Remember to breathe, relax, and move the tube around if there is resistance. Once the tube has been inserted 5-6 inches, unclamp the tube and let the coffee flow.

Once all of the coffee has drained from the bucket, remove the tube and set a timer for 15 minutes. If you are new to coffee enemas, you may find it difficult to hold the liquid for the full 15 minutes. This is fine. If you are more experienced, you may feel more comfortable laying on your right side. Be sure to lay on your back or left side for a minute before releasing. When the timer beeps or you can no longer hold them enema in, sit on the toilet and release the liquid. Be patient and wait until all of the bowel contents have passed. If you are having issues, massage your belly two inches to the left of your belly button.

Clean Up

Rinse and clean the bathtub, enema kit, and any spills with water, hydrogen peroxide, and/or castile soap. Throw dirty towels into the laundry hamper, and you’re done!

Tips

  • Buy the enema kit online.
  • Whole Foods sells organic coffee, cheese cloth, and spirulina.
  • Target and Walmart sell Distilled Water, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Epsom Salt.
  • Trader Joes sells Himalayan sea salt.
  • Double the recipe. This becomes very useful if you can’t hold it for the full 15 minutes. Extra coffee can be kept in the fridge.
  • Light a 100% Beeswax candle and put on relaxing music. Use this time to pamper yourself.
  • If you’re not squeamish, check the toilet bowel for parasites. You may be surprised at what you see.
  • If you are having a gallbladder attack, add 1-2 tsp of Epsom salt instead of sea salt. This will dilate the bile ducts further and will help intrahepatic gallstones to pass.
  • If possible, perform the enema after having a bowel movement. Otherwise, perform a warm salt water enema prior to the coffee enema. This will reduce toxicity reabsorption and improve the ability to hold the coffee enema for the full 15 minutes.
  • If you are sensitive to caffeine, begin with 1 tbsp of coffee and lay on your right side.
  • Do not exceed 4-6 tbsp of coffee per day.
  • If diarrhea is induced, drink water with one fresh squeezed lemon and a pinch of sea salt to stay hydrated.
  • If you are detoxing heavy metals, crush broken cell wall Chlorella into a powder and add it to the coffee.

Say “No!” to Antibiotics

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We can only be victims of conventional medicine if we give doctors control over the decision-making process. Whenever I go to a doctor’s visit, I always inform the doctor that they do not have permission to give me prescription antibiotics. After the shock wears off of his or her face, they start to ask what if questions, and my response is always the same. Regardless of the medical issue at hand, I refuse to ingest antibiotics. This stance may appear foolish and short-sighted to those who prescribe or take antibiotics on a regular basis. But I assure, it is not.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Lyme (or any other infection), then I implore you to thoroughly research the negative biological effects of prescription antibiotics and testimonials of other Lyme patients who have taken that treatment path. Before I dive into scientific theory, I would like to share my story.

My Experience with Antibiotics

It was my junior year of college, and I had been fighting a severe sinus infection. It was an infection that started off as the most painful sore throat and turned into a persistent upper respiratory infection. I was under the impression that the infection could not be viral and must be bacterial, since it had been persistent for a month. I setup a doctor’s office, explained my situation, and was prescribed Amoxicillin. Like many others, I had taken antibiotics before and never experienced any noticeable issues, so I assumed this was the safest route back to health. I could not have been more wrong.

Two hours after swallowing the first dose of Amoxicillin, my life changed forever. I was sitting in a room working on homework, and all of a sudden I was hit with an intense feeling of fear. My external environment was calm, but my internal environment had switched into full panic mode. My core muscles began to involuntarily contract and release. I was shaking, twitching, and convulsing as I laid on the floor. Unsure of what was going on, I decided to lay down in bed and wait for the episode to pass. The periodic convulsions persisted, so I headed to the emergency room two hours later.

Overtime, my health deteriorated further. I continued to experience partial seizures. I developed food, chemical, and environmental sensitivities. I began fighting a range of viral and bacterial infections, and was eventually diagnosed with Lyme Disease. My poor gut health lead to a systematic illness that affected every organ and cell in my body. I can only imagine the route my life would have taken if I had simply refused to take Amoxicillin. However, my journey is not in vain. It has inspired me to question treatment methods of conventional medicine and search for a deeper understanding of preventing and healing chronic illness.

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The War on Infection

In the mid to late 19th Century, scientists were debating the origin and purpose of germs. Louis Pasteur became known as the father of The Germ Theory. His interpretation of experimental research led him and his followers to believe that bacteria and viruses originate in the environment and are the root cause of disease. Therefore, by killing germs, we can successfully treat disease.

On the other hand, Pasteur’s rival, Antoine Béchamp, created the pleomorphic theory from his own experiments and research. His theory suggests that germs originate from microzyma, organisms that live within the human body (and other organisms) where they usually remain quiescent and harmless. When the body is threatened by a potentially harmful matter and unhealthy terrain, the microzyma morph into bacteria and viruses. The purpose of these germs is to remove the harmful matter, dead cells, and toxins. Therefore, germs are the result of disease, not the cause. We can successfully treat disease by cleaning up the harmful matter, dead cells, and toxins.

On his deathbed, Pasteur admitted that the cause of disease is the terrain, not the germs. If you read about Pasteur’s experimental procedures, then you will find that his research was invalid and unscientific: he injected healthy animals with blood from diseased animals merely demonstrating that you can induce disease in healthy tissue by poisoning the blood with dead cells. For the purpose of this article, we will entertain the idea that Béchamp’s stance holds more truth than Pasteur’s. See the links below for more information on this debate.

Unhealthy Terrain

What determines an unhealthy terrain? The following four factors are the root cause of all disease.

1. Acidic pH
2. Positive electric/magnetic charge
3. Presence of poisons and toxins
4. Nutritional deficiencies

Please Note: Killing off bacteria does not address any of these factors. In fact, killing the bacteria is equivalent to firing an obnoxious, loud spoken maid whose responsibility is to clean your house. When she is gone, you no longer suffer the pain of listening to her ramblings, but your house remains dirty and will gather filth over time.

Result of Antibiotics Use in Lyme Patients

There is a huge controversy surrounding the use of antibiotic as treatment for Lyme Disease. Most medical professionals are taught to prescribe one dose of antibiotics. However, this method consistently fails Chronic Lyme patients who have been sick for an extended period of time. They deal with the toxic effects of killing off the bacteria and perhaps receive temporary symptom relief due to a reduction in inflammation, but the infection always reappears with a vengeance. Desperate, Chronic Lyme patients look for a doctor who will prescribe them multiple rounds of antibiotics over an extended period of time. Alone, this method provides temporary symptom reduction, but always leads to a relapse. Lyme patients who choose the antibiotic treatment path are merely managing symptoms while damaging not only their gut, but also their entire body.

Antibiotics kill the good bacteria in the gut, whose responsibility is to breakdown undigested food. When the good bacteria die, the ability to digest food decreases and intestinal fungus, such as Candida, begins to proliferate. The fungus has the ability to poke holes through the intestinal lining of the gut wall with their tendrils, which leads to a syndrome called leaky gut. At this point, undigested food travels through the damaged gut wall into the blood stream and triggers the immune system to produce phagocytes to break down the food. This puts a strain on the immune system, liver, and kidneys. When the liver and kidneys become overwhelmed, the toxins may circulate and penetrate the blood brain barrier leading to neurological symptoms. In an attempt to clean up the toxic mess, multiple infections simultaneously activate.

Lyme patients may suffer from food, chemical and environmental sensitivities, chronic systematic inflammation, multiple organ dysfunction, decline in cognitive function, anxiety, fear, chronic fatigue, and much more.

Herbal Alternatives for Prescription Antibiotics

To stop the symptom management disease proliferation cycle, it is important to wean off all medications, embrace healing reactions, and focus on nutrition and cleansing methods. There are herbal alternatives that will help decrease the presence of infections by supporting the healing process without killing off the good bacteria in the gut.

Here is a short list of herbal antimicrobials that I have had success using.

• Garlic
• Oregano Oil
• Wormwood
• Clove
• Cinnamon
• Echinacea
• Cat’s Claw
• Cranberry
• Ginger
• Licorice Root
• Olive Leaf
• Thyme
• Cayenne

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but rather reassurance that there is an alternative herbal treatment path that is more effective than prescription antibiotics. By replacing antibiotics with herbs, you are replacing poison with nutrition, thereby replacing death with life.

Lyme Patient Testimonials

“A wise man learns from the mistakes of others, a fool by his own.” –Latin Proverb.

If there is still doubt in your mind about which treatment path to choose, then I encourage you to read Lyme patient testimonials. Look for the long-term results. Who had success and claims to have cured the incurable? Who is convinced Lyme disease is a lifelong battle with inevitable relapses? What approach did they take? Learn from their mistakes and successes as you create your own path.

Resources and Suggested Readings

http://www.ener-chi.com/are-antibiotics-really-necessary/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/06/18/antibiotics-bacteria.aspx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/pasteur_louis.shtml
http://www.laleva.org/eng/2004/05/louis_pasteur_vs_antoine_bchamp_and_the_germ_theory_of_disease_causation_1.html
http://healingnaturallybybee.com/you-cannot-catch-bugs-germs-bacteria-or-candidafungi/#a2

Coffee Enemas Saved My Life

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Yes, you read the title correctly. Putting coffee up my butt saved my life. After a year of Lyme Disease treatment with an functional medicine doctor, I was at a point in my life where I was having hundreds of partial seizures a day. I was not living, but rather just trying to survive. I spent most of the day in bed. My cognitive function was at an all-time low. I stopped working, relocated to a place with family, and decided to become my own doctor researching full time.

My grandfather, who has pancreatic cancer, suggested that I watch the documentary series call “The Truth About Cancer,” led by Ty Bollinger. He interviews several alternative cancer doctors who have successfully treated thousands of cancer patients. They all recommended coffee enemas, calling it the most effective liver detox method. After observing many parallels between successful cancer treatments and Lyme treatments, I took this advice as a sign from the universe and the final push I needed to get over my hesitation.

I ordered the supplies and gave this “miracle” detox method a shot. The first enema gave me a sense of calmness and mental clarity, but only for a few hours. At this point, I experienced my first gallbladder attack. I knew my liver functioned poorly, but I was completely unaware until this moment that I had stones in my gallbladder and liver. The gallbladder attack inspired additional research, which led me to liver flushes by Dr. Andreas Moritz.

If you are suffering from a chronic illness, I highly recommend reading his book, “The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush.” Approximately 80% of adults age 30 and over have gallstones, also known as intrahepatic stones, in their liver and gallbladder. You know how you can no longer drink as heavily as you did when you were younger? This is not a byproduct of the aging process, but rather a sign of liver dysfunction caused by intrahepatic stones blocking the bile ducts.

I administer 2-3 coffee enemas daily. They have given me energy to live life again. In my experience, coffee enemas are the most powerful detox method for the liver. They have greatly reduced the symptoms of herx reactions, which are caused by a temporary toxicity crisis as the body heals. They were especially helpful as I focused on cleansing my body of parasites.

Coffee enemas increase the bile flow from the liver and gallbladder to the intestines thereby creating an environment where parasites, rope worms, fungi, and viruses can no longer take hold. Over the past few months, I have rid my body of a large infestation, including but not limited to round worms, pinworms, tapeworms, rope worms, liver flukes, parasite egg sacs, Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), Lyme bacteria, Babesia, Bartonella, Candida, walking pneumonia, West Nile Virus, and several Herpes Viruses.

The increase in bile not only got rid of bugs that were stealing my nutrition, but also increased my ability to digest and absorb food in general. Seizure activity can stem from severe nutritional deficiencies. When the body lacks proper vitamins and minerals, such as Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium, and Copper, then the body will hold on to toxic heavy metals, such as Aluminum, Mercury, Lead, and Cadmium. Heavy metals in the brain leads to dysfunctional brain cells and a wide variety of neurological disorders, including but not limited to seizures, brain fog, encephalitis, memory problems, and cognitive disturbances. As my body increased its ability to digest and absorb the proper nutrition from fruits and vegetables and detox the heavy metals through a cleaner liver, the seizures decreased, the brain swelling disappeared, and my mental clarity and cognitive function returned.

In my experience, coffee enemas diminished the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Brain Fog
  • Encephalitis
  • Joint Pain and Swelling
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • Bloating
  • Anal Itching
  • Skin Rashes
  • Asthma
  • Systematic Inflammation
  • Fever
  • Muscle Tension and Weakness
  • Cramping
  • Chi Deficiency
  • Pain
  • Dehydration
  • Seizures
  • Anger
  • Irritability
  • Fear
  • Anxiety
  • Low self-esteem

I am extremely grateful for the positive impact coffee enemas have had on my life. I hope to make the world a better place full of peace and love one coffee enema at a time. If you would like to know more about my experience with coffee enemas, feel free to contact me or email me directly at LymeElixirConsultant@gmail.com.

Introduction to Healing Chronic Illness

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InuitionAfter years of searching for a cure to Lyme Disease, cancer, and chronic illness in general, I have learned the most valuable lesson anyone can learn during a journey back to health: there is no external magical potion that will cure any chronic illness, but rather the power to heal comes from within. The human body is incredibly intelligent and powerful. It’s will to survive against all odds is short of a miracle. The key to regaining health is learning to listen to the language of our body and making the mind body connection as strong as possible. I’ve stopped searching for the magical drug to stop my symptoms. I’ve stopped looking for the most qualified doctor. I’ve stopped investing money into “Band-Aid” treatments. I’ve stopped putting my trust in others and have turned within. Only then, did I begin to understand what my body needed to heal. Only then, did I begin to make great strides back to health.

All chronic illness stems from either a nutritional deficiency, a toxicity, or both. In this blog, my goal is share my experience of my own personal healing journey and the knowledge I have acquired along the way. If you are suffering from chronic illness, I hope my ramblings will inspire and empower you to trust your intuition and find your way back to vibrant health. We are all going to die someday. Here’s to learning how to live the happiest, healthiest life possible. Cheers!