LymeNet Flash: Salt Therapy

This is topic Salt Therapy in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by marniaps on :

Does anyone or has anyone tried Salt therapy? A holistic doctor mentioned it to me and told me to look it up on the internet but, I can't find anything related to Lyme and taking massive doses of salt. Sounds a little risky, but supposed to be good for people who don't respond well to ABX.
Every time I tried to do a search on this site nothing comes up, not sure if it's my computer or the search function doesn't work.
Apparently, the water in the salt makes the spirrochettes explode and gets rid of most of them. Sounds good.
If anyone has any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Marni

Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :

Sorry Marniaps. I don't know anything about this but am interested in a reply from someone who does. I replied so your post would move up and hopefully get someones attention soon.

Posted by lymelady (Member # 6207) on :

There is a vitamin C and salt treatment; maybe that is what your doctor is talking about?

Thre is info on that on Lymenet I believe
Good luck
Lymelady

Posted by marniaps on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lymeindunkirk:
Sorry Marniaps. I don't know anything about this but am interested in a reply from someone who does. I replied so your post would move up and hopefully get someones attention soon.

Thanks for drawing attention to my posthttp://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/icons/icon7.gif

Posted by marniaps on :

quote:
Originally posted by lymelady:
There is a vitamin C and salt treatment; maybe that is what your doctor is talking about?
Thre is info on that on Lymenet I believe
Good luck
Lymelady

Yeah, I'm definitely trying to research it as much as I can before trying anything. Thanks for the info on the Vitamin C and Salt therapy, maybe that will help in my search.

Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :

Anyone else got any info?

Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :

http://www.fettnet.com/lymestrategies/welcome.htm

This is a link to a site that is dedicated to the Salt and C protocol. I hear many are gaining a great deal of improvement.

I have not tied it yet but I am considering it for the future.

robi

Posted by marniaps on :

Robi,
Thank you so much, that's what I've been looking for. Lead me to a whole mess of other links that I've already found helpful. Sounds like a good therapy, if all those testimonials are true. I'll have to do some more research and take to my doctors but I'll keep you updated if it works for me.

Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :

Glad to help ............ can you give us a bit of your history? How long have you had Lyme?

robi

Posted by marniaps on :

Robi, My history is long and a bit complicated to say the least.
I contracted Lyme on the East Coast, Upstate NY back in 1989. Even though I had a rash on my neck and knee pain and because incredibly clumsy, it took a little while to find someone who thought I had Lyme even though I never tested postitive for it.
I was sent to a specialist in NY who agree it was Lyme, treated me with 6 weeks ABX. I got better for a while.
December of that year I contracted Mono and then the Lyme got worse again. When my NY doctor re-administered the ABX, this time didn't seem to work so now I must have triggered something else like Psoriatic Arthritis.
I proceeded to see an arthritis specialist who told me I never had Lyme and gave me heavy doses of Steriods, which I now know prob. destroyed my immune systom.
After giving up on that diagnosis when I moved to CA, doctors continued to tell me all sorts of crazy things I probably had. Fibro, Thyroid, Candida, MS, Arthritis. I had tons of weird symptons that didn't really add up to anything in particular. Even though I constantly said don't you think it could be Lyme
My mom contracted LD also and did test positive so there was never any question for her. But after she did much research on this site she suggested I try to see a LLMD out here in CA.
2 1/2 years ago, I started seeing an LLMD that I like but we haven't had a whole lot of success. I've tried almost everything at this point. I'm very sensitive to ABX. Tried Hyperbaric-helped a little but only did 60. Did IV put insurance company stopped paying for that.
Right now, I'm taking lots of herbal and homeopathic meds along w/ Allnia an antibiotic. This woman does muscle testing which I don't neccessarily believe in but seems to be working. Even my husband notices.

My symptoms have slowly gotten worse over the last 14 years. I used to bike ride to work most days and now I can't do more than 10 min Aerobic Exercise. Headaches almost every day. Pain is almost unbearable most days.
And stiffness is horrible. I've lost all my cartiledge in my knees and my ankle has been so slow to heal after a break last year.
I never get restorative sleep. Always exhausted during the day. I do nothing but work and sleep. Not very exciting.
Sorry, if this is too long but I'm barely touching the surface. At least I can still work and I have a great husband whom may not believe in all the crazy treatments but tries to show his support.
It's just been so long since I felt like a normal person, I don't know if I remember what that's like. I'm only 35
and I would like to eventually be well enough to have kids.
That's my story. Hope it helps.
Thanks
marni

Posted by KeyLymePie (Member # 7434) on :

I am currently doing the salt/c treatment. This is my 9th week.

I can't say it is or is not "it" in terms of a cure or anything (there is no cure at present for Lyme), but it sure is doing something.

Mostly, I would say, my anxiety/hyperaware feelings and incredible muscle tightness is better by about 40%. Now, taking something to get to sleep is an exception, rather than the rule, wherease before I started the salt/c it was the other way around.

Also, my mood and energy is generally better - including about 6 or 8 incredibly good days (I think I'd just about forgotten it was possible to feel so good). And my digestion is much much more stable - I feel like the yeast is taking a hike and my absorption and carb/sugar tolerance is way, way improved.

On the downside - the herxes were ferocious - and I have just hit one that I simply cannot handle at all : ( - I had to stop the treatment for 4 days to recover from it. Now I am back on a low dose and trying to work back up.

But I may never be able to get past this next "herx" or stage of the treatment or whatever it is - and I may just have to live with that and move on and try something else. Also, this protocol *may* be doing damage - and what I've been feeling is not a "herx" but some kind of bad side-effect. Its just impossible to know what's going on - but it sure does something.

BTW, I never took more than about 5 grams or salt and C per day, and my usual dose is more like 2 or 3 grams a day, and even on such a low dose I get many effects... (and its hard to believe there's gonna be bad side-effects from such a low dose).

If you try it - do it carefully - its not something to mess about with. Its a pretty powerful treatment for some reason (I cannot fathom why, or how it works, but there ya go).

Start SLOW and work up slowly, and make sure you read everything on those sites listed above.

g.luck

KLP

Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :

Yes, your history sound like that of many othere here. Glad you have found lymenet , now you will relaize your not crazy!

Maybe you need to switch LLMD's. Not to say the one you have isn't good. Just that trying another approach might help you get some improvement. LLMD's do not all do the same protocols. I wouldn't drop the alternative guy. I use an LMD and an alterntive doc also. I think the combo is needed to get totally well.

If you haven't done so already you might want to post in "Seeking A Doctor" section of Lymenet. Be sure to include your email address and your location so folks can direct you to LLMD'sin your area.

Email me if you like.
Welcome, take care, you will get better,
robi

PS Just my opinion .......... I think rife/microcurrent therapy could work. Also, since you don't live to far from Seattle perhaps Gigi's Doc can help you.

[This message has been edited by robi (edited 19 July 2005).]

Posted by Wallace (Member # 4771) on :

KLP

Maybe the gang at Lymestrategies could adivse you?

sunny thoughts

wallace

Posted by suki444 (Member # 18960) on :

Hi
I haven't tried this myself but the website is http://www.lymephotos.com

BW
Emma

Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :

Yes, this is the Na-Vitamin C approach.

Yes, Vitamin C can INactivate an enzyme that stops cholesterol formation in the liver. And Bb follows the cholesterol and glycolysis (sugar for energy) pathways.

But...so do statin drugs and so does Magnesium (Mg)...INactivate the enzyme puts the brakes on the cholesterol pathway.

Mg, is far safer and much more effective since it ALSO controls PFK...an enzyme Bb is "dependent on". This is the brakes for glycolysis.

Using high doses of "other" nutrients can throw off the balance since ALL the nutrients work in harmony. *They have to be in the right balance.* This is what concerns me:

We need to know WHICH nutrient is deficient...and the Romanian cancer doctors found it is Mg that really takes a hit, very fast. Vitamin C is impacted to a degree in Lyme Disease, but hardly to the extent of Mg.

Magnesium is the mineral to restore the balance, to regain control of PFK, to apply the brakes to cholesterol, to make HEALTHY antibodies, etc....

Now...to find a doctor willing to apply this knowledge...willing to give the amt. of IV Mg (and B vitamins) necessary...there's the difficulty!

Restoring the balance takes TIME...many months, but IS possible IF we can "jumpstart" using IV doses.

Posted by marniaps on :

Marnie, great name. Thanks for all the information. Until you posted all I read was basically good stuff about the treatment. Except the harsh herxes people have been mostly positive. But I want to know the risks and maybe better options. My LLMD has definitely run out of ideas and I'm definitely thinking of finding a new doc.

Posted by marniaps on :

Maybe the gang at Lymestrategies could adivse you?

sunny thoughts

wallace[/B][/QUOTE]

Thank you Wallace, I signed up for that

Posted by marniaps on :

quote:
Originally posted by suki444:
Hi
I haven't tried this myself but the website is http://www.lymephotos.com
BW
Emma

Thanks Emma, someone sent me that link too. It definitely helps.

Posted by broguearcher (Member # 5905) on :

I have just started this therapy myself... today is my 2nd day. I'm taking 1000mg Consolidated Midland Co. salt tablets and 1000mg vitamin C tabs.

Right away I can tell that it is doing something.... for sure. It has made me do somewhat of a herx I believe. I of course have taken over 2 years of Abx and I've recovered a great deal from where I was... I still need some more help though and I feel like this therapy will be less harmful to me than the Abx have been.

I'm starting out with taking 3 doses of the treatment throughout the day (1 gram of each pill at each dosing).

I really don't think this is going to be harmful to anyone.... I mean think about it.... high doses of salt and C or super high doses of drugs coursing through your body... It makes sense to me.

This therapy is not sanctioned by a doctor for me. I'm going out on my own now. It feels right to me and I believe I'm being led in the right direction.

Sam

Posted by Cap (Member # 57) on :

quote:
Originally posted by broguearcher:
I have just started this therapy myself... today is my 2nd day. I'm taking 1000mg Consolidated Midland Co. salt tablets and 1000mg vitamin C tabs.
Right away I can tell that it is doing something.... for sure. It has made me do somewhat of a herx I believe. I of course have taken over 2 years of Abx and I've recovered a great deal from where I was... I still need some more help though and I feel like this therapy will be less harmful to me than the Abx have been.
I'm starting out with taking 3 doses of the treatment throughout the day (1 gram of each pill at each dosing).
I really don't think this is going to be harmful to anyone.... I mean think about it.... high doses of salt and C or super high doses of drugs coursing through your body... It makes sense to me.
This therapy is not sanctioned by a doctor for me. I'm going out on my own now. It feels right to me and I believe I'm being led in the right direction.
Sam

Most Americans eat 12 grams of regular salt a day, anyway. Your basic table salt like Morton's is bad for you, since it's laced with chemicals.

Regular Sodium Chloride is very good for you, with only a small percent (5%) of the population that is sensitive.

Actually my blood pressure has gone down since starting the Salt and C therapy, and I can vouch here, it seems to be having the same effect as ABX. Violent herxing with better and better health in between herxes.

When I am not treating my Lyme, it's just a linear downhill slide, so it seems like this is working to lower the load.

Like when I treat with ABX, or Salt and C, I get big improvements like curing my night blindness, joint pain and nerve pain.

I can eat right, and take all the vitamins I want, and it does not do jack, only when I apply direct treatment to the Bb itself, do I see gains in health.

But I can say, the herxes can be bad.

Posted by marniaps on :

Everything you guys are telling me is really helping. I was concerned about the blood pressure thing, since mine tends to run a little high, especially around doctors.
I don't see the Vitamin C as a real danger but the salt still scares me a bit. Although the point that the table salt is more dangerous than what you guys are taking makes a little more sense. I would do this under a doctors care, don't think I could just wing it on my own.

Did any of you discover bad reports of it being detrimental to your overall health? I mean, I don't think taking ABX for years is good for you either but have there been any negative studies?

Thanks again, for the help everyone

Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :

Marnie, you talk about the magnesium which I find interesting. Recently my lyme doc thought my son was low so I started supplementing him with some every day. No IV's. Do you think it still works without IV application of magnesium? My son continues to improve and our lyme doc seemed pleased at our last visit. I think you may have something there.

Posted by broguearcher (Member # 5905) on :

there are definitely no studies done on this Salt/C treatment.... I'm sure it's not accepted as anything more than hocus pocus by most Dr's. You'll have to take this on faith and on the advice of others. I did.

I think the Mg is key too.... I wish oral supplementation were more effective.

Posted by Christine202 (Member # 6158) on :

Since I have been suffering with dysautonomia which has given me fluid balance issues I just want to pass along what my Autonomic dr has said to me.

Too much salt can dehydrate you pretty quickly b/c it binds to your cells and will pull the water from there. Along with it it will take vital other things such as magnesium and potassium....

I am not a Dr, but I think I would defientely monitor this while I was doing the protocal. Maybe even supplement the Magnesium and Potassium through a Dr....

Its interesting b/c I have been taking Vit C along with CMC Salt for about 2 years now due to my dysautomomia and for my fluid balance... U got real sick last year when Iwas taking more salt than I needed and the Vit C drinks... Now I wonder if it was doing something to my Lyme?

Posted by valymemom (Member # 7076) on :

Dr. B. told my son to increase his salt intake (massively - he said)........along with taking many of the vitamin/supplements as outlined in his guidelines.

Thanks for posting the sites to bookmark.

Posted by marniaps on :

Yeah, I haven't found studies but lots of people seem to be doing well with it even though they are going through some serious herxing. I'm sorry that's the case for those of you going through that. But sounds like you are on the road to recovery.
I also tried oral supplementation of MG, with no real effect.
I signed up for that online Salt therapy book, which has testimonials and protocols. Hopefully that will help.
It was 29.95 a year. Hopefully, I didn't over pay.
The more I think about it all, everything we've been doing is pretty toxic to our bodies, why should this be different. As long as you don't keel over.

Posted by secondtimearound (Member # 7249) on :

I did salt/c for ten days, only got up to 5 grams of both and it seemed to help.

My blood pressure during the last seven days on it has become lower than when I started.

I haven't done anything for the last three days just to clear my body out and my symptoms have decreased considerably.

I was combining rife, cats claw and salt/c so I'm not sure if any one was better than the other but progress is progress.

I will rife tomorrow as symptoms are slowly returning then start cat's claw again after I detox and then salt/c again next week.

I'll keep ya posted.

One thing I did on the lyme strategies website was to personally email around 30 members and ask them their experience and I was shocked that I rec'd 12 replies stating their experience and they were all positive. I also rec'd some stating that they were still waiting to try it and keeping an eye on everyone's progress that posts.

In my opinion this is one big experiment but I find comfort in hearing from people who have been where I want to go. I don't think they have any reason to lie to me and I've actually kept in touch with two guys that are sort of coaching me, and letting me know what to expect. They don't recommend pulsing but I believe it works best for me.

Best Of Luck,
Scott

Posted by marniaps on :

All your information was very interesting. Especially the part about your blood pressure actually going down. I think if I do this I should keep an eye on it, maybe buy a machine for home.
The idea of e-mailing people on that list is a great one.
It's true, that it's all experimental and we are all just test dummies basically. What works for one person might not work for another. I've tried just about everything so one more thing doesn't seem that bad to me.
I just want to start feeling half way normal, that would be a huge improvement for me.
The thing about the salt and the Vit C is they aren't that expensive compared to Hyperbaric chamebers or 1V antibiotics. My insurance company wouldn't pay for more than a month's supply, although they did reimburse me for the hyperbaric. God only knows why.
I appreciate if you let me know how you are doing with it, as you progress.
Good luck and take care.

Posted by Mo (Member # 2863) on :

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Hope, sharing, positive thoughts and open mind brings healing in many ways, shapes and forms!

I haven't done Rife or Salt (in high doses, tho I have started baths and sole, and it is feeling good)
but working toward healing and sharing is good for all of us!