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| Pastor Brad Snowden with 2 of his 3 children; Tabitha and Nathan; who is pushing him in a wheel chair on the Destin, FL wharf. |
Since then he has taken many different antibiotics (which are listed through-out in this blog) for awhile; yet we wanted to take the complete natural approach. Although, most Chronic Lyme patients as Brad live with antibiotics a great deal of the time.
We happen to have many friends who take and study herbs with great conviction. In addition, our own Lyme doctor is an advocate to alternative medicine.
Brad has migraine herx though that he has to take prescription medicine for [Almotriptan]. He basically uses natural other than the migraine medicine.
Most of these are tinctures which are the active principles of the herb itself that are extracted by use of alcohol; with that preserving the herb qualities.
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Examples of what Brad is taking:
Used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-tussitive, diuretic, emmenagogue, emollient, febrifuge, stomachic .
It also has resveratrol that thins the blood and helps with inflammation.
*Cryptolepis Root (Cryptolepis sang uinilennia) from Woodland Essence
It's been used for the treatment of malaria for many years. Babesia (the co-disease Brad fights) has some similar symptoms of malaria. It is also thought by some researchers as an anticancer agent.
*A-L Complex from Byron White Formulas (Microbial Defense Immune Support) Information (which was well stated) is from Lyme Disease Mommy blog site the post: Herbs vs. Antibiotics.
" Primary Provoking Action of A-L:
- This herbal formula is designed to activate the immune system against all forms of Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb).
- It will stimulate the immune system against the spirochete form of Bb.
- It has the capacity to penetrate the Bb cyst.
- A-L will work intracellularly against the cell wall deficient forms of Bb.
- Besides working intracellularly, it will work on the more naïve extracellular Bb forms.
- It can be used in the treatment of acute and chronic Bb.
- It will work on all strains of Borrelia.
- This formula will support the suppressed immune system that results for chronic exposure to these bacteria.
Secondary Provoking Actions of A-L Complex:
This formula is designed with the assumption that Borrelia never comes alone. Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and probably Mycoplasma often accompany it. To a lesser degree A-L supports the immune system to address these co-infections.
This formula is designed with the assumption that Borrelia never comes alone. Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and probably Mycoplasma often accompany it. To a lesser degree A-L supports the immune system to address these co-infections.
Lyme disease has a progressive immune suppressive effect. The more chronic the infection the more the patient experiences an overgrowth of opportunistic organisms. This formula helps address these infections and decrease the pathogen load. The herbs in this formula have historically been used against a wide number of bacteria, viral, fungal, and parasitic organisms. These include Staph, Strep, Fungal and Candida forms, Trichomonas, Chlamydia, (among others).
REGULATORY MECHANISMS OF A-L Complex:
- This combination of herbs has a direct affect on the brain and nervous system. It reduces inflammation, lowering inflammatory cytokines levels to improve insomnia, anxiety and restlessness.
- A-L Complex has adaptogenic properties helping the adrenal system deal with the stress of chronic illness.
- This formula helps breaks up congestion and stagnation in the lymphatic and circulatory systems. It also helps loosen and break up catarrhal and remove it from the sinus and lungs.
- It is tonifying for the GI track as well as the lungs, kidneys, heart and liver. It removes waste from the body and allowing the beneficial affects of the herbs to reach into deeper levels of these tissues.
- Most importantly it helps regulate the compromised methylation and other detox pathways as it works to excrete dead cells through the lymphatic and hepatic systems.
- The formula acts as a binding agent that absorbs toxins.
REGENERATIVE MECHANISMS OF A-L Complex:
- The Lyme patient is often compromised nutritionally. The herbs provides easily absorbed nutrient including calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, Vit B1, B2, B3 and Vitamin C.
- The formula helps with the biosynthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
- It counteracts hypercoagulation, thus reversing capillary stagnation.
- Modulates the immune system by stimulating white blood cell production.
- Has an adaptogenic effect that helps the body regain metabolic balance.
- Tonic rejuvenating effect on the heart, liver, and kidney.
- It balances the heat and cooling properties of the system having a constitutional harmonizing effect."
All good physicians will encourage their patients to take probiotics. High quality one's at that. Brad's doctor told him to purchase:
Ultra Flora Plus DF Capsules 15 Billion organisms per capsule. by Metagenics
Saccharomyces Boulard II + MOS MannanOligoSaccharides 5 Billion organisms per capsule. By Jarrow Formulas
YES, HE DOES TAKE BOTH! (We both do!)
Also, Brad takes Aloe Vera Juice for his stomach hurts him quite a bit.
Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel by Forever Aloe supports your immune system and cleanses your digestive system. It has many healing properties. Over and over again when Brad stomach started hurting he would drink this and he would feel much better.
This past summer, Brad also visited with his Nutritionist; who is also a Chiropractor. He put Brad on top quality vitamins, complex's...etc.
All by NUTRI * SPEC
ACTIVATOR Specific nutrients for Metabolic Balance
IMMUNO SYNBIOTIC Prebiotic + Probiotic
COMPLEX S Specific Nutrients for sympathetic imbalance
COMPLEX P Specific nutrients for parasympathetic imbalance
pure Grapefruite Seed Extract
Of course Brad drinks herbal teas, as simple as ginger and peppermint to blessed thistle, needle tea and the list can continue quite long.
He was given directions from his Lyme Literate M.D. We strongly advise anyone taking tinctures to do so. There has been slight improvement in the Lyme sector of his diagnoses. The big battle seems to be the Babesia. In a few months, the antibiotics will be back on our shelves. But, for now we hope and PRAY this will help.
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UP-DATE ON BRAD'S HEALTH
Brad was doing quite better, comparing to all the issues he battled at the beginning.
Then, he started swelling: his belly and his face became swollen. His eyes bulged too. The doctor believed yeast was building up in his colon from the Lyme and the med.'s.
The past 6 months his legs have begun to hurt 24/7. No relief and tremendous pain. He saw another Vascular specialist. He ran droves of tests and found his veins were clear. PTL!
This past week he visited with a Neurologist who did see that there appeared to be serious symptoms of which she could see after evaluated. She ordered an MRI and later will do other tests. She did say she is for now calling this: paraparesis (some paralysis). She just said she believes there is something in the lower core of his brain and in his spine.
He still has to have a wheel chair and suffers with the various herx's that come..
Our family leans completely on our Lord Jesus, who is our Source of Great Strength.
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From Dr. Mercola: Direct information quoted and linked.
| "Probiotics to improve immunity and restore microflora during and after antibiotics | Curcumin is helpful at reducing neurological toxins and brain swelling |
| Astaxanthin to neutralize toxins, improve vision & relieve joint pain, common in Lyme | Whey protein concentrate may help with nutrition, often poor in Lyme patients who don’t feel well enough to eat properly |
| Grapefruit seed extract may treat the cyst form of Borrelia | Krill oil to reduce inflammation |
| Cilantro as a natural chelator for heavy metals | Serrapeptase helps to break biofilms |
| Resveratrol may treat Bartonella, a co-infection and also helps detoxification | GABA and melatonin to help with insomnia |
| Artemisinin and Andrographis, two herbs that may treat Babesia, a common co-infection | CoQ10 to support cardiac health and reduce muscle pain and brain fog |
| Quercetin reduces histamine (often high in Lyme) | Transfer factors can help boost immune function" |
