Antibiotics And Essential Oils
Doxycycline , cefuroxime and daptomycin were dissolved in suitable solvents to form 5 mg/ml stock solutions. The antibiotic stocks were filter-sterilized by 0.2 μm filter and stored at â20°C. Essential oils were also dissolved in organic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide at 20%, followed by dilution to achieve desired dilutions as previously described .
Essential Oils For Keeping Ticks Away
The following essential oils may help to keep ticks away. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is an understatement where Lyme is concerned.
- Not only is oregano oil potentially effective against the Lyme bacteria, but the carvacrol compound in it can kill ticks.
- Vetiver oil is commonly used as an insect repellent and may help to deter ticks.
- Garlic oil may be effective against ticks as well.
- This study showed that clove oil is significantly more effective against ticks than citronella oil.
Lyme Disease Treatment And Support
If you suspect you may have Lyme disease or other tickborne illness, see a doctor as quickly as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
If you are diagnosed with Lyme disease early, antibiotics can often effectively treat the disease.
However, patients who continue to experience Lyme disease symptoms after antibiotic treatment is completed, or who have chronic Lyme disease , may need to turn to other solutions, since long-term antibiotic use can be ineffective, have a harmful impact on your body , and weaken your immune system.
It’s important to support the health of your entire body when battling Lyme disease and/or related infections. The disease itself plus the antibiotic treatment can take a heavy toll on your body.
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Customization And Precautions When Treating Lyme Disease
Remember that every person with Lyme disease is different not all will show all the common Lyme disease symptoms described above, suffer from deficiencies or deal with high amounts of stress. Thats why customization, patience and being open-minded are important. Different things for Lyme disease treatment work for different people, so dont lose hope.
If youre feeling overwhelmed by your Lyme disease symptoms. heres what I recommend:
- Focus first on changing your diet. Reduce nutrient deficiencies, improve gut health and lower your intake of harmful ingredients that are found in processed/packaged foods.
- Make sure to take it easy on yourself. Give yourself rest, sleep nine hours a night, reduce stress and address emotional issues. Remember that stress, guilt, anger and frustration only make things worse.
- Then try different supplements. Listen to your body and try to pay close attention to what works bet.
- Naturally overcoming Lyme disease can take time, so remember to not just treat Lyme but instead focus on getting your body into a healing state for good.
New Scan Technique Reveals Brain Inflammation Associated With Post
More than 1 in 10 people successfully treated with antibiotics for Lyme disease go on to develop chronic, sometimes debilitating, and poorly understood symptoms of fatigue and brain fog that may last for years after their initial infection has cleared up. Now, in a small study, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report they have used an advanced form of brain scan to show that 12 people with documented post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome all show elevation of a chemical marker of widespread brain inflammation, compared with 19 healthy controls.
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How To Use Essential Oils For Lyme Disease 3 Recipes
Find 3 recipes for preventing and treating Lyme disease below. Remember, you should use these recipes in conjunction with professional medical treatment for a faster cure. For prevention, you can always use the above essential oils for outdoor diffusers in your backyard or garden or make citronella candles using a blend of citronella and other essential oils above to ward off ticks.
1. Tick Repelling Recipe
Prevention is the best way to go for health conditions like Lyme disease. Take a look at this essential oil blend to keep ticks away:
What you need
Other Natural Treatments For Lyme Disease
The treatments discussed above are only some of the natural treatments that claim to treat Lyme disease. According to a 2015 study looking at the alternative treatments found during an Internet search, other natural treatments people use for Lyme disease include:
- saunas and steam rooms
- enemas
- bee venom
The investigators noted that theres no research backing up these treatments, any many dont have a logical rationale behind them.
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Essential Oils Battle Borrelia Burgdorferi
Its common knowledge that certain essential oils are antibacterial. Theres also anecdotal evidence that people with Lyme disease can use bacteria-fighting essential oils to improve their symptoms. But there havent been many scientific studies on essential oils and Lyme disease. In fact, up until recently, there was only one, and it only examined the potential of one essential oil Cistus creticus.
Luckily, a recent study from researchers at John Hopkins and Harvard looked at 34 essential oils to see which ones packed a punch against Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. In the end, they narrowed their list down to five essential oils that are extremely effective at fighting this dangerous bacteria
Citronella, wintergreen, cinnamon bark, clove bud and oregano oil.
They found that these five oils help kill a relentless form of bacteria known as persisters. Persisters are bacterial cells that stick around in your body for a long time, because they manage to evade your immune system and, in some cases, are resistant to antibiotics.
Researchers found that the five essential oils listed above killed persisters in a laboratory setting more effectively than the antibiotic typically used against persisters, daptomycin. And they killed these persisters even when used at low concentrations, like .25 percent.
Garlic Oil Beats Antibiotics At Killing Lyme Bacteria In Lab
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Oils from garlic and other common herbs and medicinal plants may be useful against Lyme disease symptoms that persist despite standard antibiotic treatment new lab-dish testing shows.
Researchers tested essential oilsoils pressed from plants or their fruits that contain the plants main fragrance, or essence.
Ten of the oils, including those from garlic cloves, myrhh trees, thyme leaves, cinnamon bark, allspice berries, and cumin seeds, showed strong killing activity against dormant and slow-growing persister forms of the Lyme disease bacterium, researchers found.
We found that these essential oils were even better at killing the persister forms of Lyme bacteria than standard Lyme antibiotics, says Ying Zhang, professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins Universitys Bloomberg School of Public Health.
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Selecting The Right Carrier Oil
The most popular carrier oils to use for treating Lyme disease are coconut oil and jojoba oils. These are good standby oils to use with an essential oil blend. You should always use these oils with essential oils to ensure safety when you are applying essential oils for treatment. Because essential oils are so potent, you need to make sure that you have an oil that neutralizes their effect.
Evaluation Of Essential Oils For Their Activities Against B Burgdorferi Stationary Phase Cultures
To evaluate the possible activity of the essential oils against stationary phase B. burgdorferi, 10% DMSO-soluble essential oils or aqueous suspension of DMSO-insoluble essential oils were added to 100 µL of the seven-day old stationary phase B. burgdorferi culture in 96-well plate to obtain the desired concentrations. In the primary screen, each essential oil was assayed with final concentrations of 0.2% and 0.1% in 96-well plates. Drugs of daptomycin, doxycycline, and cefuroxime were used as control with final concentration of 40 μM. The active hits were checked further with lower concentrations of 0.1% and 0.05% all of the tests mentioned above were run in triplicate. All of the plates were sealed and incubated at 33 °C without shaking for seven days, and 5% CO2 were maintained in the incubator.
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Essential Oils And Drugs
We purchased a panel of essential oils and cinnamaldehyde . The essential oils from Plant Guru company are tested by third party laboratory using GC/MS, and the GC/MS report can be found on their website . Dimethyl sulfoxide -soluble essential oils were prepared at 10% in DMSO as stock solution, which was then added with seven-day old stationary phase cultures at ration of 1:50 to achieve 0.2% of essential oils in the mixture. The 0.2% essential oils were further diluted to the stationary phase culture to get the desired concentration for evaluating anti-borrelia activity. DMSO-insoluble essential oils were directly added to B. burgdorferi cultures, then vortexed to form aqueous suspension, followed by immediate transfer of essential oil aqueous suspension in serial dilutions to desired concentrations and then added to B. burgdorferi cultures. Doxycycline , cefuroxime , , and daptomycin were prepared at a concentration of 5 mg/mL in suitable solvents , then filter-sterilized by 0.2 μm filter and stored at â20 °C as stock solutions.
Essential Oils For Combating Borrelia Burgdorferi
If you have already been infected with Borrelia burgdorferi from a tick bite , here are some oils to consider trying:
- You already know from the study referenced previously that oregano, cinnamon bark, and clove bud essential oils are also excellent options for fighting the Lyme disease bacteria.
- Tea tree oil is another powerful antimicrobial oil well worth considering based on studies like this one. The study explains, Antibacterial action of the film was found to be primarily due to the action of essential oils which resulted in leakage of vital fluids from the microorganisms. In this case, those microorganisms were E. coli and S. aureus.
- Finally, think about using thyme oil, also renowned for its effects against bacteria.
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Recommendations For Treating Lyme Disease
Chronic Lyme disease is a serious and stubborn condition, and theres no simple solution that works for everyone.
Treatments I have used during my years practicing medicine have included intravenous therapies, such as immune-boosting glutathione and vitamin C, which has direct antimicrobial activity. Because Borrelia thrives in a low-oxygen environment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is great because it saturates the system with oxygen. Medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements that support the bodys ability to fight infection, and low-dose naltrexone, a proven immune enhancer, are also good treatments. Finally, I recommend therapies like neurofeedback and EECP to help patients get on the road back to health.
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society is a good source of information and can guide you to experienced physicians.
Antimicrobial Treatments For Lyme Disease
The conventional medical approach to Lyme disease treatment in adults is a ten to 21-day course of the antibiotic doxycycline.1 However, a growing body of research shows that this treatment is insufficient, if not completely ineffective, for cases of chronic Lyme disease. Functional medicine offers a far more comprehensive approach to the antimicrobial treatment of Lyme disease. Read on to learn about the types of antimicrobial treatment options available, and how they can be combined for optimal effect.
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Essential Oils For Lyme Disease Symptoms
Lyme disease can manifest a variety of symptoms, particularly after it progresses to the chronic form. Some of these can include joint pain, brain inflammation, weakness and muscle pain, fatigue, cognitive problems, headaches, sleep disorders, and mood disorders.
Here are some essential oils which may help you to combat some of these symptoms:
- Lavender essential oil is one of the most all-around useful oils. It can help mitigate depression, anxiety, and stress. It can improve concentration and may even help with headaches.
- Rosemary essential oil can boost concentration and reduce anxiety.
- Vetiver discussed previously as an insect repellent, may soothe anxiety.
Raindrop Technique Known For Use In Treating Lyme Disease
When I wrote about my reflexology experience with Lorraine Cucci back in September, I promised to let you in on one of the other therapies she practices: Raindrop Technique.
Raindrop Technique is a form of aromatherapy in which designated Young Living Essential Oils are applied to the spine, feet and shoulders in a prescribed format and manner. Its aim is to achieve balance and harmony physically, mentally and emotionally. Raindrop Technique is especially noted for its use in relieving the discomforts associated with Lyme disease.
Why does Raindrop Technique require only Young Living Essential Oils? An obvious reason is that the procedure was developed by Gary Young, the founder of Young Living Essential Oils. But another is that Young Living Essential Oils carry a guarantee of purity and quality. In fact, when I mentioned to a friend that I was about to get a Raindrop treatment, she cautioned that I make sure the practitioner was using only Young Living Essential Oils where every batch is quarantined, inspected and tested for purity and quality by independent labs.
According to the Young Living website, there is no official regulation of essential oil quality in the U.S. Pure essential oils known to be safe for human use may be used on the skin, in the air or internally. However, impure or adulterated oils, whose contents or quality are unknown, can cause mild or extremely serious problems, and may even be carcinogenic with repeated use. Buyer beware.
The experience
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Natural Lyme Disease Treatment Options
1. Eat to Improve Immune Function
The best way to overcome chronic Lyme disease is by naturally boosting your immune system, lowering inflammation and managing the root causes of your symptoms. Your body can overcome Lyme disease for good only once you control the inflammatory responses its triggering.
My basic dietary advice for anyone struggling with an inflammatory condition is to try removing grains, fruit and sugar from your diet while consuming anti-inflammatory foods mostly vegetables, nuts, seeds, coconut, bone broth, organic meat and raw cultured dairy. If you want to learn more about this approach to controlling leaky gut syndrome and inflammation, you can find out much more detail in this article about healing leaky gut syndrome.
Some of the best foods for naturally raising immunity include:
2. Supplements to Help Improve Cellular Function
The next step in Lyme disease treatment is improving cellular functioning and protection. Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, along with viruses and parasites, can attack healthy cells and weaken your defenses. In order to restore cellular health, consider adding these essential nutrients to your regime:
3. Get Enough Rest and Manage Emotional Stress
To prevent a Lyme infection from continuing to worsen and spread, you must address stress with natural stress relievers if you are truly going to heal:
4. Reduce Mold and Parasite Exposure
What Are Essential Oils
Essential oils are basically plant extracts. They’re made by steaming orpressing various parts of a plant tocapture the compounds that produce fragrance. It can take several pounds ofa plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil. In addition tocreating scent, essential oils perform other functions in plants, too.
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Which Essential Oils Are Best
There are dozens of essential oils, all with different fragrances andchemical makeups. Which essential oils are best depends on what symptomsyou’re looking to ease or fragrances you prefer. Some of the most popularessential oils include:
- Lavender oil: Many people find the lavender scent relaxing. It’s often used to help relieve stress and anxiety and promote good sleep.
- Tea tree oil: Also called melaleuca, this essential oil was used by Australia’s aboriginal people for wound healing. Today, it’s commonly used for acne, athlete’s foot and insect bites.
- Peppermint oil: There’s some evidence peppermint essential oil helps relieve irritable bowel syndrome symptoms when taken in an enteric-coated capsule . It may also relieve tension headaches when applied topically.
- Lemon oil: Many people find the citrusy scent of lemon oil a mood booster. It’s also often used in homemade cleaning products.
Evaluation Of Essential Oils For Activity Against Stationary Phase B Burgdorferi
Table 1. Effect of essential oils on a 7-day-old stationary phase Borrelia Burgdorferi.a
Figure 1. Effect of essential oils on the viability of stationary phase Borrelia burgdorferi. A 7-day-old B. burgdorferi stationary phase culture was treated with essential oils at different concentrations , 1% , 0.5% , 0.25% , and 0.125% for 7 days followed by staining with SYBR Green I/PI viability assay and fluorescence microscopy. Daptomycin was included as a persister-active positive control drug at 40, 20, and 10 µM in panels , respectively.
To further compare the activity of these active essential oils and find whether they could eradicate stationary phase B. burgdorferi at lower concentrations, we evaluated six essential oils at even lower concentrations at 0.1 and 0.05%. We noticed that oregano could not wipe out stationary phase B. burgdorferi at 0.05% concentration as shown by some residual green aggregated cells , despite oregano showing strong activity sterilizing all the stationary phase B. burgdorferi cells at and above 0.1% concentration .
Table 2. Comparison of essential oil activity against stationary phase Borrelia burgdorferi at 0.1 and 0.05% .a
Figure 2. Effect of active essential oils or their ingredients on stationary phase Borrelia burgdorferi. A B. burgdorferi stationary phase culture was treated with 0.1% or 0.05% essential oils or the ingredients of oregano for 7 days followed by staining with SYBR Green I/PI viability assay and fluorescence microscopy.
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