Is there a website I can visit that lists them? I can't find any info, so maybe there is none where I live?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It is best to work with one who is ILADS-educated and Lyme Literate.
Believe me, this is vital. Most NDs (just as most MDs) simply do not know about lyme and will be just blown out of the water with the symptoms. Some NDs also have an inflated idea that just getting the body stronger will conquer lyme. It simply does not work that way, alone. It is much more complex than most imagine.
Supporting the body is vital, of course but the infection must also be adequately addressed and lyme is unlike any other infection.
Some LL NDs are also ILADS members, with some having completed the ILADS physician training programs. Someone like that is who you'd want.
* Do you have a local support group?
* Ask your LLMD or call other LLMDs in the area. Often, LLMDs and LL NDs know each other and even confer.
* You can search google for the national ND group and find licensed/certified NDs in your region and call and ask them of their familiarity in this area.
I also know of one place in TN that might know and I'll send that PM to you. But I have to stop for while now so I may not get to this for a while. In the meantime,
* look up the makers of PRL SpiroNIL - I think they are in TN and they may know of some LL NDs around.
If you have a good LLMD then, perhaps, a non-LL ND may work okay for somethings if you have no other choice. I've certainly learned a lot of basics from many but really did not get very far since they knew nothing about lyme and they were not in the position to learn more. Lyme has a steep learning curve.
If you find a good ND who wants to learn more, share this site with them:
BIOCHEMISTRY OF LYME DISEASE: BORRELIA BURGDORFERI SPIROCHETE / CYST
by Prof. Robert W. Bradford and Henry W. Allen
EXCERPTS:
. . . A discovery of great importance relating to a toxin produced by the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, has been linked to a similar toxin produced by the organism Clostridium botulinum (botulism) *. . . .
[extensive explanation of:]
* Lyme Disease Toxin . . .
* Action of Toxin . . .
* Dietary SUPPLEMENTS in Lyme Disease . . .
. . . .
- Full article and great photos at link above.
(There is a caution, though, about one thing mentioned here: bismuth. Not a good idea. But this article has so much value, it is still important to read - just forget the bismuth as it can be very dangerous. This article has one of the best explanations of how lyme works.) -
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
TN & SC are tricky. Natropathic medicine is illegal in both states.
This type of physician can be fined & get jail time if they are caught practicing. There may be some around but they would probably keep things quiet.
The closest you would probably get would be a chiropractor... Since it's illegal - it's really tough to find someone who is knowledgeable.
They may act like they know alot but they don't (in my experience). Since there is no healthy competition - many are not progressive & don't really know much. You may have to travel out of state to find someone who is both Natropathic & LLMD.
You may want to try checking at some local health food stores...? Who knows. Maybe you will get lucky?
Good luck.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It's very sad to hear of any state whose citizens have been so bullied by the AMA as not to license naturopathic doctors or acupuncturists.
I live in a state where they are plentiful and, truly, would not still be alive today were it not for several different ones along the way who, even if they did not know about lyme, knew something was terribly wrong and did the best they could with the knowledge they had at the time. It is a fascinating field and one that is equally as important as the MD world.
There are many DCs and DOs (chiropractors and osteopathic doctors) who may know a lot about nutrition and, while they may have done much study in vitamins and nutritional supplements could help there.
With herbs, though, that requires years of more education once you get passed the very basic use. And the diagnostic part - knowing which herb or combination is right for you at any particular time - also requires much training. Still, some DCs and DOs have gone on to complete additional coursework.
Ask those in your local support groups but also at the support groups for "MS" "Lupus" "ALS" "CFS" and "Fibromyalgia" - you may find someone with a good track record to at least help with your nutritional supplements (which are sometimes far different from herbal supplements). The law may allow them to prescribe vitamins (but check). Prescribing herbs would be another matter, then.
But you can still learn on your own. It will take time and immense study but some basics are helpful for adrenal and liver support, at least.
Tennessee has many border states. Have you explored those? What section of TN are you in? Do you have a friend or relative somewhere where there would be both LLMD and LL ND (or one who is both?) - where you might be able to go stay for a while?
~ James L. Wilson, ND, DC, PhD, Johnathan V. Wright, MD
About $10. And qualifies for free shipping with a total $25. Purchase at Amazon -
Posted by TnFlowerChild (Member # 24717) on :
Like the others have said - you won't find a naturopath here in Tn - but you might look toward NC... they do seem more progressive thinking - do try the website Keebler mentioned.
We lost a good one that was near the Tn river to Alabama - can't think of the name - but I don't know if he is Lyme-literate or not...
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
It really is tricky - NC bullied Dr. J & he moved to SC. Since then, he's moved to Washington DC. He isn't a natropath but he did treat Lyme in a very different way than the standard guidelines.
Even if you do find someone, it's still hard. Some are incredibly expensive. There's a famous CFS doctor in NC & he charges around $3000 for the first visit - not including tests!
After a while - I just kept studying & studying myself. I should have a PhD by now....LOL It helps if you can find an open minded GP. They may be able to help you with some of the things you need.
It was even hard to find a good doctor that I could afford in NJ - which is a Lyme epicenter... By the time I found out I was dealing with Lyme, I pretty much ran out of money.
Posted by Brussels (Member # 13480) on :
An ND saved my life. Doctors were not willing to treat me.
I don't agree that all NDs know nothing about lyme. The one that saved me knew much more than ALL standard doctors I saw (including specialists from university hospitals). She diagnosed me with lyme, babesia, bartonella while other doctors kept saying it was all in my head.
The main lyme literate in Switzerland told me off with some cough pills (for air hunger). I had no cough, just air hunger, he laughed when I said it might be babesiosis.
While a non lyme literate ND is similar to a non lyme literate doctor, there are quite good NDs out there that can help (at least in Europe).
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Brussels,
Yes, several NDs have saved my life - several times over years.
Just to be clear. It was not my intent to imply that all NDs know nothing about lyme. Some don't. Some think they do but don't. It's important to find one who does. Many do.
But, even if they don't some are willing to learn more and, still, can be good with adjunct care. Those who saved my life did not know about lyme but knew something was terribly wrong and at least helped me until we learned more and got tested for lyme, etc.
One ND, upon first seeing me, referred me to a liver specialist for porphyria evaluation. She was correct. I had two genetic prophryia's diagnosed. That's remarkable that the ND seemed to know what within 10 minutes of talking with me.
On the other hand, I lost 5 years by sticking with another ND who claimed to know way more about lyme then he actually did. I just relaxed and did his treatment, not researching along the way and then found out he really was just working to get my body stronger to handle the infection but did nothing to directly address lyme or 2 other coinfections. Every time we changed the formula, I'd ask if it would cover lyme, etc. and he'd alway replied "yes" - and he must have thought so as the formula might have helped with less serious infections.
However, he did not know the uniqueness of lyme and, therefore, his treatment failed and he then blamed me for having bad karma and "choosing" this path in life.
So, while I have enormous respect for most NDs, it really pays to ask about their knowledge base and even their philosophy. A few do believe that we somehow "choose" this path. They are few but if that's who we trust to help with such an infection, it can be devastating if they ignore the science of it. Especially, when there are many other excellent NDs out there. -