Healing and fighting...

In May, I finally fell through the doors of an LLMD, one I had chosen, one I knew would help me. And he has been. I am more functional every day. I am immensely grateful. Right now, I am also immensely angry.  I learned from a friend and fellow patient of his today that the records of all his Lyme patients have been subpoenaed.  I am frightened for him. He gives so much, from his small office. I am worried for his staff. I am, of course, worried and frightened for myself. And I feel violated. *My* records are in there. *Mine.*  My friend's, too. Maybe yours. I wish I knew how to help him. I wish this disease and the bizarre agenda that comes with it did not render us all, patients and caregivers, at some level, powerless. No pithy ending here, just anger and frustration.  This is wrong.

Shreds

 A post from SpiroChicks contributor Lyme is Real.

I've been wrestling with writing, missing the May deadline for a Lyme Awareness post. Yesterday our Border Collie cracked the writer's block.

A family of rabbits lives in our backyard, darting and hopping; very playful. Giving the illusion that Richard Adam's Watership Down's warren has sprung straight from the pages into our yard. Our Border Collie has a different take. To Marley, it is more like Cynthia Rylant's Mr. Putter & Tabby Feed the Fish.where Tabby, is driven crazy by goldfish. Yesterday, Marley flew into a frustrated frenzy, shredding every piece of bedding down to and including my side of the mattress. Fortunately, no quilts were damaged, but UGH! Suffice it to say, between medical expenses, student loan payments and life in general, new bedding and a mattress are not in the budget. So what to do beyond providing love and reassurance to one very remorseful BC who just happens to be draped over me as I write?

Well, there are two traits that come in handy if you're going to survive Lyme. You must be adaptable and a great problem solver. At bedtime, my husband carefully laid out the sheets, making sure the tears didn't overlap and fell quickly asleep. Sewing machine repairs could wait, but what to do with the rather large hole in the mattress on my side of the bed?

Wool roving? I replaced a piece of mattress, stuffed roving around it, then used a pad from a brace to hold it all in place. Good enough. Just as I drifted off to sleep, it hit me that the shreds of fabric were a simile for our lives.

Life as we once knew it in shreds or we're holding on by a shred? A bit of each I think. Dear ones facing cancer and congestive heart failure. Shared grief from recent losses. On the Lyme front, our nine year old is adjusting to life with a shunt and the remaining syrinxes in her spinal cord. Painting, singing and writing bring much joy. She has loved rejoining her classmates at school. Our 14 year old recently developed complex regional pain syndrome after a knee injury. So painful and debilitating! Music remains her solace and inspiration. As one world opens up a bit, the other shrinks. The ebb and flow of chronic illness.

A friend recently asked if I was keeping my head above water? I laughed, "Nose and lips."

Daily antibiotic infusions keep me afloat. Infusions to knock down mastoiditis, a stubborn bone infection left over from my Lupus days. I tire easily. A sense of humor, though sorely tested, hangs tough, but please pardon me if I laugh too loudly. The sense of humor is a bit strained and the left ear still messed up, but as our youngest says, "Welcome to my world."

Who can argue with that?

Yes, blankets are torn and our lives in disrepair, but shining moments keep us moving forward and our spirits alive. So here is my May service announcement in June. As the tick populations grow and spread and scientists warn of a perfect Lyme storm brewing, please learn what you can about Lyme disease. Not all ticks are infected with Lyme, but one that is can change your life forever. When I think of the havoc a tiny deer tick caused in our family's lives, it's humbling. Remember, a bull's eye rash is a definitive sign for Lyme, but it shows up in a small percentage of cases. Unfortunately, the tests for Lyme are often unreliable. Lyme disease should be a clinical diagnosis. A bull's eye rash or a summer "flu" are warning flags. Adequate treatment at the onset of infection can spare years of suffering later. Closing with best wishes from our family to yours!

A balance of evils

The news cannot have escaped you: ticks are expected to have a banner year.  I’m sure this news thrills you as much as it thrills me.  I have dogs and cats who go outside. I like to go outside myself.  I know that there are infected ticks in my own backyard (a neighbor was infected by a tick in the park across the street last summer).  So, as some people cast their minds towards whether it’s time to replace that grill and whether there’s still time to expand the back deck, I’m thinking about chemicals. Sum-sum-summer-time, you know. 

Now, reasonable minds may differ on this. Mere repellants do not appeal to me. In my mind, no tick should live to bite another day. Permethrin is, then, should be my chemical of choice. It's what's recommended as being a safer choice than a potential tick bite.  So my analysis is easy and I'm all set, right?  As with all things Lyme, it's never that easy. 

Permethrin has some issues.  It's a neurotoxin. Probably. Also, it probably causes cancer. But the EPA hasn't really looked into that, so it's hard to say. It is highly toxic to aquatic critters (and probably plants, but that's not really been studied all that much either).  It's highly toxic to honeybees and apparently it will kill my cats.

Wonderful. 

My neurological system is already plenty compromised, thanks. Cancer kinda runs in my family.  Permethrin, then, may not be the best option for me. 

I'm also pretty sure that another tick-borne infection would do me in, so I reluctantly must consider mere repellants.  Picaridin is the new, cool tick repellant kid on the block. It seems pretty okay, except that it may be toxic to freshwater fish.  The World Health Organization feels it does not present an unacceptable health risk.  I'm not sure I find that a glowing endorsement. Every natural herbal option I've tried has, on me, acted as insect perfume.  Bugs dig me, especially with some fresh sauce. 

I want the perfect chemical. I want something that is only toxic to ticks. Okay, and mosquitoes.  Fleas would be nice too. But not my cats. Not innocent fish, or algae.  And not, you know, me. I want a toxin that makes moral judgements and decisions, that can be smart, agile. It's emotional decision making, I know. I think I'm allowed. What I want, indeed, what I feel I deserve, and you deserve, is a toxin as smart as borrelia burgdorferi and its cousins. We get smarter about cancer every day. We could get smart about insect-borne diseases. But we don't. Still. So I will weigh my options and make the best choice I can. it will not be the best option we are capable of producing--of that, I am certain. 

A Compost of "No"

The life of a chronic Lymie is often a parade of the absurd. For instance...At the end of March, I quit my job. At the same time, I applied for more life insurance, particularly with the notion that I would be giving up the insurance provided by my now-former employer.  Of the things I've been worried about, whether I would actually get life insurance was not one. I mean, my health insurance company has trouble believing Lyme *exists*...surely I wouldn't be denied on that basis. Ha.

 I finally found an insurance company that takes Lyme seriously. No, don't celebrate. USAA has "postponed" a decision until my Lyme is "resolved." Seriously. "Because of potential complications." What does that mean? "We want you to be symptom free." Yeah, well, me too. I'd especially like my brain back (That old saw "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most"--not very funny anymore.). The layers of irony are astounding. My health insurance company doesn't think I'm sick. My life insurance company apparently thinks I might die. The common theme, of course, is that neither wants to take on the financial burden of me.  Because I have chronic Lyme, which the CDC says doesn't exist. Which shouldn't make me a financial burden. Right?

The politics of Lyme/tick-borne-disease/insect-borne-disease diagnosis and treatment are layers of quagmire, sandwiched with horse manure, sprinkled with a few bright stars. It ought to be fabulous compost, don't you think? And yet, so far, my garden is not sprouting roses. Briars, yes. And, when I have the energy for it, anger.

I was too flabbergasted to do more than splutter in disbelief at USAA. Yelling wasn't going to do any good anyway.  I'm lucky--I was able to convert my employer-provided policy, at exorbitant cost, but at least, should the Lyme, or a bus, take me out, my family has some coverage.  I think the "sorta denial" I received is an indication that chronic Lyme is gaining recognition. At least, that's the positive spin I choose to put on it.

Chronic Lyme Goes Mainstream

By Spirochicks contributor Ozone Amanda

Another vindication for Chronic Lyme!

Sorry for not having the time to write a full review of the below Washington Post article, but I think it speaks for itself. The writer sounds so cautious and trusting of hierarchical medical authorities like NIH and IDSA (at least at first), that I think this article may even be relatable to skeptics of Chronic Lyme. I especially appreciated the author's call, at the end of the article, for recognizing and researching health issues that cannot be seen or clearly, verifiably measured. The reaction of the epidemiologist and her friend's first doctor--that it's all in your head or part of an autoimmune post-lyme reaction--is far too common and leads many ill people to doubt themselves, which most likely suppresses their immune systems and causes them to fall further into illness.

To read the article, navigate to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-doctor-diagnosed-chronic-lyme-disease-but-many-experts-say-it-doesnt-exist/2012/02/06/gIQA4aMHtR_story.html

Heal on!

How do you know?

posted by Lyme is real, a SpiroChicks contributor

How do you know a pediatric neurosurgeon loves his/her patients? When the dressings are cut away to reveal gauze cut in the shape of hearts!

Rewind to August. Two weeks before her ninth birthday, our daughter started having a rougher time. She had less patience, was easily agitated and had a more difficult time making eye contact. She noticed memory issues. School started and in her words, "Things that used to be easy are taking a lot longer and sometimes I can't even remember what to do."

Things like how to add or subtract.

We noticed a decline in fine motor skills, more confusion, increased cognitive difficulty, dizziness, queasiness, increased headaches, fatigue and falls.

A CAT scan provided the first clue, hydrocephalus in the third ventricle of the brain. An MRI revealed hydrocephalus in the third and lateral ventricles, a Chiari malformation and part of a syrinx in the spinal cord. An MRI of the spine revealed two syrinxes in the spinal cord. A pediatric neurosurgeon joined the team of amazing physicians spanning four children's hospitals who have helped her to be where she is today: endocrinologist, bone geneticist, infectious disease specialist, orthopedic surgeon, pediatric opthamologists, ENT, pulmonologist, pediatricians and now a neurosurgeon. Our daughter was born with cerebral Lyme disease. She was diagnosed three years ago, solving many of her medical mysteries, but leaving challenges still to be faced.

The neurosurgeon explained that the Chiari malformation or hydrocephalus triggered the remaining problems, but which came first? A chicken/egg scenario. Fortunately, early MRIs provided the answer. They were normal, ruling out the Chiari malformation as a birth defect. The hydrocephalus came first. One cause of hydrocephalus is an infection of the central nervous system. Chief suspect: Borrelia.

This week a V/P shunt was inserted into her brain. At the time of her surgery, her cerebrospinal pressure was extremely high. In the surgeon's words, "It was the real deal."

She has been through so much in her nine years and there have been countless instances where we have been in awe of her courage and determination. Other than a few tears in the recovery room, she hasn't cried. Not during physical therapy, not when she tries to get up or roll over. Her one complaint, "I didn't realize it would hurt everywhere."

When she was tiny, she announced after getting a nightly shot of growth hormone, "I am one tough cookie in my wonderwear!"

She still is! Revealed once again when those heart shaped dressings came off today. Hearts meant to ease the hurt. A gift from a gifted surgeon.

Today, her hand has cautiously slipped behind her ear, carefully exploring where her hair has been shaved. A few tears. In three months, repeat MRIs will determine whether more surgery is necessary. We pray not, but know chronic Lyme is a marathon. There will be more challenges ahead. For now, it is enough to take comfort and gather strength from being home. It is time to rest and heal.

In closing, unforgettable words of encouragement from a nurse who shared our joy in her first steps after surgery to explore the Children's Garden. "Look at you, Little O!"

Hospital Tales

By Candice, Spirochicks contributor 
Originally posted on Infectiously Optimistic 

Beep.....Beep......Beep......Beep.......

Thursday evening, a thin partitioning sheet separated my gurney from the gurney just a foot from mine. My neighboring hospital bed was empty upon my admittance to the Emergency Department, but a few hours into my stay, I watched the shadow of a new patient settle in, and listened to the worried voice of their accompanying loved one, intermittently interrupted by the intrusive sounds of inflating blood pressure cuffs and beeping machines. As the triage nurse brushed by the curtain separating us, the sheet rippled as it caught the air of the nurse’s brisk wake, and for a fleeting moment I was able to harbor a glimpse of the two beside me. The patient laying in the hospital bed was a pale elderly woman, her silver-haired husband sitting in a chair by her side. As time elapsed, she was wheeled in and out of the area for a number of tests, her husband always shuffling in tow of her traveling bed. Eventually, the couple was visited by neurologist clad in a crisp white overcoat, who informed the elderly woman that she had suffered a small stroke. She had lost the use of one of her arms, but she’d be treated and monitored, and she’d be okay. The doctor proceeded to educate the couple about the further neurological testing that would be required and the rehabilitation that would ensue in the following weeks as they tried to help her regain her strength and the use of her impaired limb. I listened to the thick silence as the news sunk in. Finally, the woman replied:

“But how will I do my hair?”

I imagined that she was referring to her inability to use the arm that she naturally relied on. I listened for her husband’s response. To my surprise, I almost sensed a smile behind the tone of his voice. I watched the shadow of his raised hand as he lifted it to gently pat his wife on the top of the head.

“Oh honey, I’ll brush your hair. I’ll put your curlers in for you too.”

Now that's love.

 

 

Illness has a way of stripping life of glamor, glitz, and the nuances that blind us to what lays before us. Illness exposes weaknesses while unearthing strength, and reveals what is real and what was merely smoke and mirrors. It quakes a life until its cracks widen and what is feeble falls away, and leaves what is relentlessly real standing clearly in front of us. Living life with an illness has proven to be one of the truest ways to live and has blessed me with the opportunity to witness raw courage, true compassion, and authentic love. For that, I am grateful.

Tidbits From Practitioner Byron White's 9/04 Interview

By Candice, SpiroChicks Contributer

On September 4th health practitioner Byron White, the creator of the increasingly popular Byron White Formulas, gave a live Q&A session as a guest on Blog Talk Radio. The interview was nothing short of phenomenal. Byron White's infinite wisdom and insight was remarkable, as well as his compassion for those suffering from Lyme Disease and chronic illness.

Byron White has been treating those with chronic illness for over 37 years. He specializes in a number of alternative and naturopathic means of treatment, but has also been involved in pivotal medical research. The research he has taken part in focuses primarily on finding natural means of restoring health. In the 1980's, he suffered with Late Stage Lyme Disease and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity himself, which lead him to his research that resulted in the development of 27 different herbal formulas. Some of these formulas, such as A-Bart, A-Bab, and A-L Complex,  have become the leading choice in alternative Lyme Disease treatment in the country.

What immediately struck me about Byron White was his refreshingly holistic view on chronic illness. Just as everything else in nature, he views the body as a layered system. With each detrimental layer that is peeled away, the body gains strength. He believes that eventually, the body will take over, and clear the remaining infection and toxicity itself. Every body is unique; not every Lyme patient requires a protocol focused on the eradication of the Lyme bacteria. Their surface layer may be heavy metals, fungus, parasites, or a virus. Once the first few layers are removed and the body begins to unwind and the infectious or toxic blockages are released, it may be able to take care of the rest itself. With both his knowledge and his faith in the strength of the human body, Byron White exudes hope. The following are tidbits of the wisdom that he shared.

Healing Chronic Illness 

-A healthy body is constantly dealing with pathogens. It isn't until one of these pathogens finds a weakness and overtakes the immune system, creating an imbalance, that we become ill. Treatment is therefore necessary in order to bring the body back to a strong state of balance.

-Our parasympathetic nervous system is our healing system. When an infection takes over in our body, our sympathetic nervous system responds and we are sent into "fight or flight" mode. We can't survive as human beings when we are constantly running, therefore it is necessary to balance the sympathetic, parasympathetic and autonomic nervous system so the body is capable of of balance and healing.

-When your sympathetic nervous system is in overdrive, it's as though you have your foot on the gas pedal while your parasympathetic nervous system is laying dormant. Eventually, your sympathetic nervous system begins to burn out. Therefore, overstimulating an already stimulated sympathetic nervous system with things like antibiotics, drugs, and immune boosting protocols is not advantageous. It's about balancing the body, not stimulating it.

-Many times, a patient has autoimmune or over-activity in one portion of the immune system, and suppression in the other. Therefore focusing on boosting the immune system could be detrimental, much like stimulating an already overstimulated sympathetic nervous system. When people think infection, they automatically think of "suppression". That isn't always the case.

-Conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity are just labels for symptom sets. Every symptom has a cause. Yet, the same symptom in two individuals could have a different cause in each. Therefore, not all Chronic Fatigue patients have viruses, and not all Fibromyalgia patients have Lyme. These symptom sets are often neurological in nature, therefore they could be the result of a number of different causes that result in neurotoxicity such as mold poisoning, parasites, or even pesticide exposure.

-Autoimmune Diseases, like Lupus, are also labels. Lupus is a word that represents and autoimmune response that can be triggered by a number of things. All physiological responses have causes. The cause could be anything from a virus, bacteria, fungus, toxin exposure, heavy metal, or DNA related issue.

Bioresonance Testing


-Blood tests are most often an unreliable way of determining the cause of illness. They are typically falsely negative, and do not indicate what is priority for treatment in the body.

-You may test positive for a pathogen, but you may not be ready to treat it or it may not be on the surface layer in your body. The pathogen or toxin on the surface layer is the issue that the body requires addressing first. If it is left unaddressed, it could prevent the healing of the remaining layers. This is often the reason why one can chelate heavy metals for years but still have heavy metal toxicity; a different issue was on the surface layer. This is where bioresonance testing is useful. It can be used to reveal which pathogens may be causing symptoms (that blood tests often miss), and which issues are priority in treatment.

-Byron White uses bioresonance testing that is not machine based. He uses a combination of filters and kinesiology to specifically test for issues in the body. He is able to tests specific layers in the body, as specific as the DNA in the left eyeball, to see what is resonating in that particular layer of the body. He finds that the human machine, because of its sensitivity, is the most accurate form of testing. He has used it for years and has had much success. He now trains practitioners in the process.

Lyme Disease


-Treatment doesn't have to be a long and protracted process.


-Byron White treated a Lyme patient who also had cancer 40 years ago, and was given a drug for treatment. It was after cancer treatment that she went on to develop arthritis and a number of chronic symptoms. He discovered that the primary cause of her symptoms was the drug that remained in her system for over 40 years. He created a homeopathic to treat and detox the toxicity of the drug, and 3 weeks later she bounced back. Her symptoms were eliminated, even after suffering from these symptoms for decades.

-There are no blood tests for Lyme Disease to tell you whether or not you are "cured". Some pracitioners believe that you can never fully eradicate Lyme, and the best that you can do is get the patient to the point where their immune system can keep it in remission. Byron White disagrees; he believes that the body can fully eradicate Lyme. If this isn't possible in the patient, his second best scenario would be to push the Lyme into dormancy and strengthening the body enough to hold it there. But Byron White believes that Lyme isn't always as difficult to treat as many believe. Healing is possible.

-The focus of treatment shouldn't be about pounding away at an infection with different treatment modalities, but should be listening to the body and what it needs to heal. The body is designed to defend against and eradicate pathogens, therefore if strengthened and balanced, it is capable of dealing with chronic infections.

-You can have a pathogen, including Lyme Disease, that dies but stays in the tissue for years and the resulting toxicity causes symptoms.

-Generally speaking, "Post Lyme Syndrome" doesn't exist. Typically, if it isn't Lyme that's causing symptoms anymore, it is a different pathogen causing symptoms.


Bacteria, Mycoplasma, Viruses, Fungus, Parasites

-When Byron White did his original research as he traveled and tested across the United States, he found a number of pathogens that frequently came up in patients. One of them is not often talked about, Powasson Virus, which is a virus that is transmitted through a deer tick. It is often missed because it mimics Lyme Disease.


-Other common pathogens that most often show up in patients who are chronically ill include but are not limited to mycoplasma, mold, fungus, candida, nematodes, epstein barr virus, HHV-6, Coxsackie viruses, and Cytemegaloviruses. Each has the potential to cause symptoms and imbalance just as significant as Lyme.

-The good news is that each pathogen does not need to be addressed individually. You want to view treatment as a domino process. Address the issue on the surface layer and detox the body, and your system will achieve a little more stability and balance. With each layer addressed, your body gains strength and is eventually able to pick up speed and take care of remaining layers of infection and toxicity itself, much like instigating the tip of a line of dominoes.

-In the past, when our bodies had less environmental toxicity to deal with, people would contract an infection and they wouldn't even know it. They'd come in contact with something like babesia, and they would feel sick for a few days or a week while their body took care of it. Our bodies are designed to keep us well, so the goal and focus of treatment should not be to kill all pathogens but should be to strengthen the body so it can achieve protecting us once again. Our body is ultimately our best defense.

Environmental Toxicity 

-If we didn't have as much environmental toxicity, we wouldn't have as many problems with pathogens. Environmental toxicity weakens the body, therefore it is crucial that it be addressed in treatment.

-Byron White recently developed a new formula to treat radiation toxicity due to the effects on our bodies resulting from the crisis in Japan.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

-Chemical sensitivity rarely stands alone. There is always a cause, but it doesn't have to be Lyme. They could have heavy metal toxicity, or they could have Leaky Gut Syndrome (colon issues), or an exposure to a toxic chemical. 

-Lyme Disease (as well as other pathogens) can cause a significant increase in sensitivity to substances, including ones own hormones. One can become sensitive to phenols, which are found in hormones in our body but can also be found in pathogens like Candida. Typically when the pathogen is eradicated, the sensitivity improves.

Detoxification 


-Often times, symptoms arise when we become too toxic while killing pathogens, not from the pathogens themselves.

  -Typically the development of G.I. symptoms during treatment are neurological in nature, caused by the enteric nervous system, and are therefore caused by neurotoxicity. Detoxing neurotoxins can improve a number of neurological symptoms such as nausea, disorientation, headaches, mood swings, etc.

-Detoxification depends on the particular patient. Required detoxification methods, just like treatment methods, are not the same in all patients. There are situations where you wouldn't want to do colonics, detox baths, or saunas. Often times internal detoxification formulas are most effective, formulas or homeopathics that encourage the organs like the liver, intestines and the kidneys to dump toxins. It's great to then follow up with supportive external forms of detoxification for the lymphatic system such as dry skin brushing and detox baths if tolerated.

Mold Toxicity 

-Mold's purpose in nature is to break things down and return it to the earth, so it has a tendency to work in a similar fashion inside of us.
-When treating a patient, look at their environment first. A patient can even do this themselves. You can purchase mold plates and set them out for 45 minutes, then close them and let them percolate for about a week. The development of more than 4 colonies of mold on the dish is problematic.

-If you have mold in your house, it is extremely difficult to get better.

-Once the environment is cleared, mold is almost always up in the patient's sinuses. This must be addressed. There are companies nebulizing antifungals for this purpose.

-You want to stop feeding the mold and fungus inside of your body by cutting out sugar and gluten from the diet and limiting carbohydrates.

-You typically want to use a binder to bind the mold toxins. There are prescription binders, such as cholestypure, but he never uses them as he has found that they cause problems in the liver and the gallbladder. There are natural means to bind and detox mycotoxins.

-Desensitizing the mold is often necessary as well once the body is detoxed to prevent reactivity. This can be done with a practitioner who is trained in homeopathy.

-Prevent mold growth in your environment by monitoring humidity. It should be between 35-40%. Fish tanks are a large source of humidity. A humidifier may be necessary. Also be aware of mold in drapes and household items after cleaning up the home.



Byron White Formulas and Byron White's Website

-Byron White does not use grain alcohol in his formulas. Grain alcohols are potentially problematic in many patients, as many with chronic illness are sensitive to grains, especially glutenous ones. Corn alcohol can also pose a problem because the majority of corn in our culture is genetically modified or treated with pesticides. Byron White Formulas are comprised of organic pesticide-free grape alcohol and anywhere from 7 to 17 herbs.

-Each formula is made by hand. Both industrial machines and heat sealing are entirely avoided in the production of the formulas to avoid petrochemicals and heat compromisation. Absolutely everything is done by hand.

-There are three components to each formula: a historic component, a scientific component, and a bioresonance component. When he fell ill, he used his background in herbology to explore which herbs were historically known to treat pathogens. With bioresonance testing, he found that when the herbs stood alone, none of them tested well against Lyme. This lead to his scientific research and the development of potent formulas that create much great physiological shifts with just a few drops.

-Your G.I. tract begins in your mouth, so the formulas begin working in the mouth and continue to work as they travel down your esophagus and into your intestines.

-They work in concert with your body, and work with various organs in your system. For example, one of the herbs used in some of the formulas is gao tang, which targets Lyme and co-infections but also increases serotonin uptake in the brain. This leads to manufacturing serotonin in the gut, a process that typically happens at night. This is beneficial for many Lyme patients, since many struggle with insomnia, making it difficult for the body to successfully maintain proper levels of serotonin and other crucial neurotransmitters.

-Many of the formulas also include cyst busters, which prevent the development (and aid in the eradication of) of the cyst form of the targeted pathogens.

-The formulas are extremely potent and powerful, and cannot be used without the guidance of a practitioner. Practitioners can email Byron White to inquire about training in the use of the formulas and also in bioresonance testing at ByronWhiteFormulas@gmail.com.

-Practitioners may also call and inquire about specific cases, and will most often receive a response that same day. Byron White also holds teleconferences with doctors in need of assistance.

-The Byron White Formulas website can be used by patients to find a practitioner near them who is trained in using Byron White Formulas: www.byronwhiteformulas.com/




Thank you Byron White, for your wisdom, compassion, research and dedication to the work that you do to help us achieve wellness. Thank you for treating us as individual people, rather than a disease. Your holistic view on healing is not only enlightening, but it holds a vast amount of promise and hope. I know that I can speak for many when I say that we look forward to the future of Byron White Formulas and your research, and the powerful effect that it will have on medicine and the treatment of chronic disease.

What To Eat When You "Can't Eat Anything" Part 2: Recipes, Tips and Tricks

By Candice, Spirochicks contributor 
Originally posted on Infectiously Optimistic 


For Part 1 of the article, which includes information on food allergies, leaky gut syndrome and rotation diets, click here. 


The following is the promised collection of 24 food allergy friendly and rotation diet compatible recipes, along with helpful tips and tricks to get you started! Please remember that this is a loose example of a rotation diet and is meant to inspire you to create your own, based on your personal sensitivities and needs. Don't be afraid to tailor recipes to suit you and your unique body.



-

Breakfast- 

Day One: 

Sketch Free Vegan Eating's Sweet Potato Vanilla Patty Cakes 

Day Two: Affair's of Living Coconut Carrot Mash with Bacon or Ground Beef and Collard Greens

Day Three: Teff Porridge  

Day Four: Diet Dessert n Dog's Grain Free Porridge (personally, I am allergic to walnuts so I used sunflower seeds, and did not include a fruit)

Snack- 

Day One: 

Affair's of Living's Shamrock Shake

Day Two: Fit Daffy's Coconut Apple Pudding

Day Three: Nourishing Meal's Pumpkin Puree and Elana's Pantry's Oven Roasted Broccoli inside of Sketch Free Vegan Eating's Brown Rice Tortillas 

Day Four: Gluten Free Cat's White Bean Dip with Gluten Free Day's Flat Bread (also works well with amaranth flour, for rotation purposes)

Lunch-

Day One: 

Nourishing Meal's Adzuki Bean and Yam Hash

Day Two: Affairs of Living's  Socca  with The Daily Dietribe's Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Acorn Squash

Day Three: Diet Dessert n Dog's Tuscan Bean and Chard Soup 

Day Four: Simply Sugar and Gluten Free's Black Bean, Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad (I use Millet instead of Quinoa, and grapeseed oil as dressing. Sweet peas or roasted turnips are also a great replacement for squash.)

Snack- 

Day One: Blueberry Avocado Smoothie (I personally use raspberries. Mmm!)

Day Two: 

 

Elana's Pantry  Kale Chips and Carrot Fries with Sauerkraut 

Day Three: Affair's of Living's "Seaweed Crack"

Day Four: Affair's of Living's Flaxseed Crackers 

Dinner- 

Day One: 

  



 Lamb Chops, Roasted Beets, and Sauteed Spinach 

Day Two: Affair's of Living Cumin Kissed Kale with added Ground Turkey Thigh Meat

Day Three: Eat Love and Train's  Gingered Green Beans and Pre-Cooked Quinoa with Roasted Baby Artichokes

Day Four: Broiled Pork Chops with Broiled Zucchini and Asparagus 

Dessert or Late Night Snack:

Day One: 

Jicama dipped in Heather Eats Almond Butter's Pumpkin Seed Butter

Day Two: Granny Smith Apple and Almond Butter 

Day Three: Wild Rice Cake and Sunbutter

Day Four: Celery and Cucumber dipped in Tahini

Tips:

1. Make sure you rotate your oils and fats. I personally feel that it is safe to repeat oils throughout the day, typically up to three times. I then do not consume that oil for 4 days. Example for fat rotation (for 4 day rotation, 6 meals per day): 

Day One: Pumpkin seeds or with 2 meals, Ghee with 3 meals, Almond butter with 1 meal

Day Two: Coconut Oil with 3 meals, Olive Oil with 3 meals

Day Three: Sesame Seed Butter or oil with 2 meals, Butter with 2 meals, Flax or Flaxseeds with 2 meals

Day Four: Sunflower Seed Butter or Oil with 2 meals, Grapeseed Oil with 2 meals, Avocado with 1 meal

2. Don't over-consume brown rice. It's easy to get stuck in the brown rice rut! There are plenty of other gluten free grains and starches. Example:

Day One: Brown Rice and Quinoa

Day Two: Amaranth and Teff 

Day Three: Millet and Wild Rice

Day Four: Buckwheat and Sweet Potato

3. Beans are your friend! Example: 

Day One: Lentils and Adzuki Beans

Day Two: Black Beans and Pinto Beans

Day Three: Kidney Beans and Garbanzo Beans

Day Four: Great Northern White Beans and Navy Beans

4. Don't be afraid to venture away from chicken. Examples: 

Day One: Lamb 

Day Two: Pork

Day Three: Beef

Day Four: Turkey

5. Don't forget to rotate your spices and flavorings; they count too!

6. In order to keep your blood sugar stable, don't eat carbohydrates and natural sugars without an adequate amount of fat. To stave off hypoglycemic episodes,  be sure to consume fat and a small ammount of protein with every meal. Fruit and starches on their own temporarily spike glucose levels and cause a blood sugar crash 2 to 3 hours later, whereas protein and fats aid in maintaining blood sugar levels throughout the day. So, be sure to add a little seed butter to your sour fruits, or a little oil or butter to your gluten free grains. 

6. Simple Rules of Food Combining (for more info, click here): 

-Never combine fruits and fructose with other foods, unless they classified as a "sour" fruit. Sweet fruits are high in sugar and are naturally metabolized quickly, but when eaten with other food groups that digest much slower, the sugar is allowed to sit in the digestive tract and putrefy, therefore contributing to unhealthy levels of yeast and harmful bacteria. Sour fruits, such as granny smith apples, raspberries, cranberries or lemons, are safer to combine with other foods due to their lower sugar content and composition. Granny Smith Apples or Raspberries with nut/seed butters or avocado are great combinations. Sweet fruits are best eaten in moderation due to their effects on blood sugar and yeast levels, but when consumed they may be combined with a small amount of coconut oil or other non-protein oils and fats in order to maintain stable glucose levels. They combine very poorly with starches and protein.

-Never combine a protein and a starch (this means no meat and potatoes, chicken and brown rice, or ground beef and gluten free pasta). Protein and starches require different enzymes in order to digest properly in the stomach and the digestive tract. For optimal digestion, eat them at separate meals. Each go perfectly with vegetables and fat. Instead of a beef patty on a gluten free bun, try wrapping your burger in lettuce. Instead of meat in your chili beans, opt to cook them vegetarian style and eat them over gluten free grains.


Diet rules, restrictions, and rotation can be overwhelming at first. Most of those who are prescribed such diets are already low on energy and stamina as well, which makes approaching such treatment appear to be a monumental feat. Yet once a week or two goes by and your diet becomes routine, you will find that it isn't as challenging as if first appeared. You'll also find that it's undoubtedly worth it. Stick with it, and allow your body the crucial chance to strengthen and heal. And, enjoy!

What To Eat When You "Can't Eat Anything Part" 1: Restrictions, Rules and Diet Rotation

By Candice, Spirochicks contributor
Originally posted on Infectiously Optimistic 


It's possible that my personal diet has the longest name out of all documented diets known to man-kind.

I am on a gluten free, multiple allergen free (dairy, soy, corn, nightshades, fish, egg, nut, onion, garlic etc.), sugar free, organic, blood sugar friendly, rotation diet that follows the principles of food combining and contains enough calories to gain and maintain weight.

Is your head spinning yet? Mine was.

At first, all of the restrictions and the many complex rules made me want to run and hide in the corner with a bushel of celery and a bag of rice cakes. Yet, once I took a deep breath and assessed the situation, I realized that my diet was merely just another puzzle. All puzzles have solutions.

And guess what? It's working.

Where to Begin

First, you and your doctor, naturopath, nutritionist or chiropractor must figure out your personal food sensitivities. Most often, gluten, dairy, soy and sugar are the instigators in inflammatory responses in the body. Additionally though, we all have at least a few odd foods that our body specifically can't handle. Some of us with impaired immune systems end up having more additional sensitivities than we can count on all twenty fingers and toes. It's crucial to use your practitioner's help in figuring out what those are. For me, either Autonomic Response Testing (ART) or bioenergetic screening methods such as ZYTO have been most helpful.

Why Do I Have Food Allergies?

Most of us are aware that food allergies and sensitivities cause inflammation, but many don't realize that food allergies are often the result of pre-existing inflammation within the body. Typically, this pre-existing inflammation has been caused by immune dysfunction or an immune system invader, such as a toxin, bacteria, fungus or parasite. An immune response to a toxic or infectious invader often begins in the digestive tract, where 75% of your immune system resides, and irritates the lining of the intestines.

Our intestines are built to both fuel and protect the body. They have the ability to allow essential tiny substances into the blood stream, such as nutrients like amino acids, fatty acids and minerals, but they also have the ability to block larger more harmful molecules that we ingest from being absorbed into the blood stream. Yet when your intestines become inflamed, the spaces within the intestinal lining separate, and the larger unwanted molecules residing in our digestive tract are allowed to pass through. This means that when we consume foods that are difficult for our body to process or that cause inflammation (like wheat, corn, dairy, soy, nuts, etc.), the lining of intestines separate further and undigested particles of food are allowed to pass into the blood stream, along with intestinal bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins. The body sees these large molecules as harmful invaders and it triggers an antibody response, even if the particle is merely food. The antibody response evokes detrimental cytokines and oxidants, which create a myriad of unpleasant symptoms and systemic inflammation. This phenomenon is known as intestinal permeation, or Leaky Gut Syndrome.

My What is Leaking?

Intestinal permeation, or "leaky gut syndrome", sounds like the butt of a silly joke (no pun intended). Yet, Leaky Gut Syndrome and food allergies are no laughing matter. The symptoms of food allergies often go undetected or are mistaken for other conditions, therefore allowing the undetected reactions to deteriorate the lining of the intestines and further inflame the rest of the body, including the brain. Not only is the digestive system responsible for providing the nutrients and fuel that the functioning of your entire body depends on, but it also has a direct effect on our neurological health. When the epithelial cells of the digestive walls become inflamed, the epithelial cells of the blood brain barrier also become inflamed, therefore leaving our brain susceptable to the toxins, infection, and inflammation that have been released into our bloodstream. (4)

Food allergies and intestinal permeation produce a myriad of symptoms, some of which include stomach pain, rapid heart beat, hot flashes, bladder disfunction, sinus issues, migraines, brain fog, and chronic pain. While these symptoms are concerning, the real danger lays behind the affects on the body that you can't feel or see. Some people with food sensitivities claim that consuming potentially allergenic foods really don't noticibly bother them, but what they are unaware of is the silent suppression of their immune system, the destruction of the villi in their intestines, or the weakening of the central nervous system. The resulting damage and inflammation slowly and stealthily weakens the body, therefore leaving it susceptable to serious health effects such as malnutrition,  heart disease, and even cancer. In order to repair inflammation and damage and strengthen the body, complete elimination of allergens and sensitivities, as well as a rotation of "safe" foods, is key.

Rotation Diets

Eliminating and abstaining from allergens is key in healing the immune system, digestive system, and inflammation throughout the body, including the brain (2) . In an informative article about gluten sensitivity, nutritionist Donna Eden writes "Studies have shown that the smallest amount of gluten, say a cracker the size of 1/8 of your thumbnail, will have a prolonged inflammatory effect in the body for up to 6 months after ingestion if you are gluten sensitive." (3)

After one fully masters the elimination of gluten and other allergens from their diet, it is helpful to consider rotating foods. Rotation aids in the healing of the immune system and widespread inflammation, and is also critical in preventing the development of new or additional sensitivities, as well as maintaining your list of "safe" foods. (2) When a patient's intestines have permeated, undigested food particles leak into the bloodstream until the gut has a chance to heal. By rotating foods from a patient's "safe" list, negative immune responses to a particular food is less likely, therefore reducing the likelihood of the development of a repetitive and chronic immune response. The body typically takes 4 days to rid a food from its system and regenerate histamine, therefore a four day food rotation diet allows the body to build tolerance and strength while eliminating the damaging effects of a histamine related or immunological response. A 4 day rotation diet allows the body to breathe and heal, therefore providing an opportunity for a stronger immune system, digestive system, and nervous system. 

What To Eat When You Can't Eat "Anything"

So, you have your list of allergies and your list of "safe foods" in hand. You also know that your digestive system is impaired (and you may feel as though someone sucked the energy out of you with a vacuum cleaner). This begins to look like a recipe for starvation. I'm here to tell you though that it doesn't have to be. Personally, through allergy elimination, food rotation, and proper food combining, I have been able to reduce inflammation, reduce my allergen list, and gain some much needed weight. And, I never go hungry. 

Food combining is optional and can complicate an already challenging diet plan, but it can also greatly aid an impaired digestive system in processing food and quieting digestive upset. When our digestive system is overtaxed by infection, inflammation and toxicity, it stops producing adequate amounts of the the acid and enzymes required for proper digestion. When we consume carbohydrates and protein at the same time, they each require an ample amount of a different kind of digestive enzyme. These two enzymes cannot effectively be produced together, especially in an impaired digestive tract. Protein requires the production of the enzyme pepsin, and carbohydrates require the production of pytalin. When produced at the same time, they cancel each other out and further reduce stomach acid, making digestion even more difficult. For the rules of food combining, scroll to the bottom of the page or check out a detailed article here.

I've gone to my favorite allergy friendly foodies to round up some recipes that are friendly to an allergy elimination and rotation diet. Tailoring recipes to fit your specific needs is important though, so keep in mind that this is just a sample of the many possibilities of diet rotation. For example, some recipes may include garlic, which you may be sensitive to (as I am). Exercise your creativity and find what works for you. Here, I've used a 4 day rotation diet as a relaxed framework to present the rockin' recipes. You'll want to spend more time on your rotation diet though, in order to be sure that you aren't repeating or over-consuming any foods or ingredients from your "safe" list. So, don't be afraid to swap animal proteins, grains or oils in the recipes in order to fit your four day rotational needs. 

Stay tuned for Part 2, which will be posted tomorrow, Monday August 7th. Part 2 will include a complete list of 24 recipes (with a few delicious pictures), sample rotation diets, and a few tips and tricks. Check back soon!

_____________

References

1.http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/TestLeakyGut.htm

http://balancedbites.com/2010/07/is-your-gut-leaky.html
2.http://bodyecology.com/articles/gluten-sensitive.php

3. http://www.neurology.org/content/56/3/385.abstract?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Hadjivassiliou+&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1118505787326_2028&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=1&journalcode=neurology

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/TestLeakyGut.htm
4. http://www.biohealthnow.com/dangerous-grains

5. http://bodyecology.com/articles/alzheimers-and-inflammation