posted
What products are available (without buying the vitamin store) that will help increase the immune system?
Posts: 153 | From Tampa | Registered: Jul 2013
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Most "vitamin stores" have very few items of top quality. Some of the top brands are there but usually not at the best prices.
Try www.vitacost.com or www.iherb.com for some of the best choices. In the adrenal link below is the thread "How to find a LL ND" and that has many articles and books that can guide you to the better quality herbs and nutrients.
For immune support: MEDICAL MUSHROOMS
But be careful about "increasing" immune function too aggressively or "boosting" immune system.
With lyme, it can be totally flipped from what one might expect. One part simply cannot tolerate any degree of pushing, boosting as it's far too revved and overworked.
Another part is just not ABLE to do more, either, even though it may be just not up to speed.
Gentle is the key, best directed by a LLMD or LL ND who really understands lyme and what it does - and YOUR body.
Medical mushrooms are the best place to begin, though, IMO.
A basic medical mushroom that is helpful to adrenal system, first, is CORDYCEPS. Often, adrenal support is the first step to immune support. Again, avoid "boosting" and go for support. If anything feels too energizing, back off.
MEDICAL MUSHROOMS -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- Especially this time of the year:
ELDERBERRY - the best quality extract you can find.
Also eat lots of bright / deep colored organic vegetables and good dark berries (in moderation along with a meal if candida is an issue), keep up protein and good fats.
If candida is a problem, olive leaf extract can really be a wonderful help. Also excellent immune support:
OLE Links -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
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Keebler is bang-on right.
Lyme switches normal th1 response to th2 response.
This is why many of us have been diagnosed with autoimmune issues on top of lyme and co.
Getting adequate sleep is probably #1.
Reducing environmental stressors. (Addressing mold issues, reducing chemicals one is exposed to in everyday life, supporting any methylation defects etc)
And then at that point, it would be beneficial to seek out the guidance of a lyme literate naturopath doc. Their entire training is with the focus of viewing the patient as a whole, rather than symptoms. A lyme literate naturopath will be able to determine the best supplements for you individually.
When I first was dx'd with lyme, any supplement reccomendations I would buy and try.
I soon learned that 80% aren't for me. I wish I had spent my money on more visits with my naturopath instead, as all the advice given to me thus far from him has been spot on, and helps me.
Perhaps someone from your local support group, or even your LLMD can recommend a naturopath for you?
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
according to cancertutor.com Beta Glucan is one of the most postent things for stimulating the immune system....used for HIV and cancer patients to increase WBC counts
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Sonatina makes some excellent points about liver stress from some/lots of Rx and synthetic vitamins. Links in sets below will help with supplement choices for the best.
You might review all "other" Rx you take for their liver-stress effects and if you find they have some risks or even just increase the burden, there may be other ways to address what they are intended to do.
Regarding a "drug holiday" from antibiotics -- some LLMDs and LL NDs do have patients take breaks now and then but this has to be very carefully planned out.
With antibiotic and lyme treatment it is very important to take the antibiotics as directed by one's LLMD or LL ND so that lyme will be addressed adequately.
A huge problem with immune system is NOT treating infection(s) adequately.
While antibiotics are used, it is essential to also use support methods so that the down side can be lessened while the up side can work to do its job.
Undertreated, untreated lyme (and the other tick borne infections) that go along with lyme are no match for just support methods. Direct approaches are required. There are few different ways to do that but be sure you have the very best ILADS educated LLMD or LL ND to guide you.
PROBIOTICS are the first choice for immune support while on antibiotics.
Along with that, liver / kidney support -- not just for the toxic and body stressing infections but also to help mitigate the stress of Rx on the body. With lyme / TBD, liver support is a must.
It also helps protect the EARS which can be damaged in various ways from lyme / TBD - and some Rx can be hard on ears, too. When the ears / balance are messed up in the slightest degree, it can be a huge stress on immune and adrenal systems. So support for ears is support for the full body, too.
posted
I started doing zyto sessions to help guide me with what my body needed in terms of vitamins and minerals and immune support. My first one came up with chaga which is an immune support, but
The last one came up with the top 10 being detox supplements...and I thought I was detoxing well.
Posts: 908 | From Albany | Registered: Nov 2008
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
According to Burrascano, the best thing a lyme patient can do to boost their immune system is non-aerobic exercise, namely, weightlifting for one continuous hour every OTHER day.
My lyme doctor told me at my first visit that I would NEVER get rid of lyme unless I did the required Burrascano weightlifting.
I did it and I could see that it truly helped me. I got rid of lyme and coinfections about 10 years ago now.
Then, a number of years later when I was catching every illness that came along after using a steroid nasal spray daily, I started the weightlifting routine again. Again it worked and I stopped getting ill.
So, I have proven in my own life that this particular type of exercise is great at boosting the immune system.
Work up to the one full hour if you have to. Lift very light weights over and over again to do the full hour. Exercise every body part: arms, legs, back, chest, abs, buttocks, etc.
Use weight machines or devise your own exercises like crunches, bench presses, leg lifts, etc.
You will notice a difference.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Agree with TF 100% on the weight lifting suggestion.
-------------------- Please consult your physician before making any changes to your diet, medications, or supplements. I am not a healthcare professional and nothing I write should be construed as medical advice. Posts: 166 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2014
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posted
Thank you for your help Posts: 153 | From Tampa | Registered: Jul 2013
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Keebler
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posted
- Indeed, amino acids & protein are very important, and in good balance.
Moringa Oleifera certainly looks like it's excellent nutrition. I've not tried and haven't looked extensively at articles about it but even the Wiki entry speaks highly of its nutrient content.
This topic (amino acids) just brings to mind an important point for everyone, in general, to consider:
Those with lyme need to be careful with 3 particular amino acids that are excitatory in nature, though, when they may be out a natural balance.
Seeing "amino acids" though reminds me that sometimes certain OTC products can cause surprises.
Generally, I prefer supplements from a real plant so the balance is there, naturally, vs. a bunch of various powders of not quiet unknown source all mixed up in some "energy formula" -- but whatever we might be taking, even vitamins, sometimes the balance can be lop-sided.
Check all supplements and assess diet (and anything that comes into our bodies for:
See post: Caution: Aspartate; Glutamine; and Phenylalanine (3 excitatory amino acids that can be wrong for us when added as supplements, beyond a normal dietary level)
Seaweed has its own natural MSG and can be very excitatory -
[ 12-15-2014, 05:04 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I was not criticizing the Moringa Oleifera but saying -- for all who may read this thread -- how it's so much better than isolated amino acids or power boosting powder formulas that can zoom someone to the moon.
Just posted the detail about the 3 particular ones above so that it's included in the body of knowledge with this topic. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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- Also in general, for everyone who may read this, along the lines of basics to consider when we all learn about amino acids and their building blocks for our cells:
THE REQUIREMENTS OF PROTEIN & AMINO ACID DURING ACUTE & CHRONIC INFECTION . . .
Anura V. Kurpad - Institute of Population Health & Clinical Research, Bangalore, India 129. Indian J Med Res 124, August 2006, pp 129-148.
Excerpt:
" . . . In general, the amount of EXTRA protein that would appear to be needed is of the order of 20-25 per cent of the recommended intake, for most infections. . . ."
- 20 pages - Full article at link (or google the title if it does not go through). -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Juicing, glutathione. Fresh honey and pollen first thing in the morning. Anti-parasitics - unberden the load then immune system should be a little better.
Infrared sauna, PEMF, good probiotics.
Find out if you are deficient in vitamins such as d
Posts: 697 | From CA | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
My doctor recommends Host Defense - it's a combo of 17 mushrooms. I'm usually pretty sensitive and I can handle this ok.
I also recall from an anti-viral cooking class that we were instructed to put omiboshi plum paste in smoothies.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Another strategy might be using probiotics -- soil based organisms seem to be best -- to try and reestablish healthy immune function.
In order to get them to take up residence, I have learned that it is important to eat the food that the bugs eat -- or else they will starve. All types of fiber, especially inulin, and resistant starch 3 (RS-3), which comes in big doses from most tubers. Especially, if they are allowed to cool after cooking.
Check out Jeff Leach's blog. He talks all about this stuff.
I have seen some people report huge improvements in immune function doing this, some claiming to reverse autoimmune disease, but I don't know if our Lymed-up immune systems are fixable or not.
Posts: 845 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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