I cannot imagine getting through the day without it Posts: 53 | From PA | Registered: Aug 2012
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Lyme and co. require that we find our real selves, over and over. Stripping away the props is just part of that and then finding what really nourishes our cells instead of what can be just rocket fuel.
Dr. B's guidelines specifically state: no caffeine.
Yes, that one sentence has many quaking in their boots. Over the decades, for various reasons, I had to quit coffee cold-turkey and it was always the hardest thing I've ever done.
But I knew nothing about adrenal support back then.
There are very important reasons for the "no caffeine" rule, mostly that the nervous systems and the endocrine system just can't take any more stimulation and caffeine can severely retard treatment success-- and continue to cause harsh symptoms such as:
irritability, anxiety, irregular heart beat, insomnia (or quality of sleep), fatigue, exhaustion, brain-fog (when the caffeine wears off), lowered seizure threshold (which is not uncommon to be lower than usual with lyme). . . .
Lyme changes everything. A body with lyme just can't tolerate caffeine and really get away with it.
Adrenal support is really what I wanted from caffeine but it failed to provide that, anyway, and just gave me a rush, a false promise and then dumped me flat on my face.
You might find ashwagandha a much better partner than caffeine. See thread below.
Although, Green Tea may be an exception. It has a balancing calming property, too. Still, many prefer the caffeine-free Green Tea.
** Nutritional Supplements in Disseminated Lyme Disease **
J.J. Burrascano, Jr., MD (2008) - Four pages
==============================
It's very important to have this book as a reference tool for self-care and support measures. It answers so many questions in detail that is impossible here on the forum.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Green Tea works well for me. Very balanced.
LymeToo, you are not dealing with active lyme at this time, as I recall so your body might not be as affected in all the ways caffeine can "wire" (although I had forgotten that caffeine can be rough on the stomach lining, as you mention).
The "no caffeine" advice is for those currently ill and on treatment.
Others, once in remission, have found that they may be able to enjoy the full range of teas and coffee, in moderation.
Still, even for some in remission and some not even dealing with lyme at all, the acid in teas and coffee can burn the stomach -- another reason for those with lyme and on antibiotics to avoid it as the stomach lining is compromised with lyme and needs all the help it can get.
As I recall (yet for some reason that I forget), some coffee might be tainted with gluten. Another concern for those with lyme.
Thanks to Google, a simple cross search brings up many articles about that. Here's just one:
I'm not a coffee drinker .. there's less caffeine in tea than in coffee.
Keeb .. I found barley in some teas .. not in black tea though.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- TuTu,
Thanks for the clarification.
Also very good catch with that barley mention for some teas, especially herb teas. For those who are not yet aware of all the hidden sources of gluten,
barley has gluten and is not safe to consume in ANY amount for those who need to be gluten-free. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I think some of us still need that coffee crutch until we get somewhere with our treatment. I tried not drinking coffee, and couldn't function.
I have to function during my days and wouldn't be able to do so because I'd just be sleeping all day, and that ain't going to work around here!
So, no guilt, as far as I'm concerned - just keep trying to do everything you know to improve your health and then see if you can make it without coffee.
I recall there is some drink with hickory in it that gave me some energy - anyone know what it is?
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
I remembered the name of the coffee substitute - Teecino - it can be googled. It's a combo of herbs and nuts. I tried it at Earth Day this year and I felt perked up by it -
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Robin,
That sounds delicious. Unfortunately, it contains gluten - in the barley. I sure wish they did not use barley in so many foods.
Although Teeccino contains barley, brewed Teeccino has been tested at the best gluten testing laboratory in the USA and found to be gluten-free . . .
. . . For gluten sensitive customers, we highly recommend using a paper filter in a drip coffee maker to brew Teeccino so that no Teeccino grounds can leak into the brewed liquid. . . .
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IMO, that is very bad advice. Gluten cannot be strained out in a paper filter.
Still, their definition of "gluten free" is not really accurate as they have a wavy scale. This is NOT safe for CELIACS or anyone who must be gluten-free.
The product is "able to test down to the level of 5 parts per million."
ZERO parts per million is the goal. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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