Lyme Disease

What you need to know:

There are no natural remedies or complementary therapies that can treat this condition, but as with all infections, you can help your body fight back.

To keep your immune system functioning properly, it’s essential to have a well-balanced diet with plenty of complex carbohydrates - wholemeal cereals, pasta, wholemeal bread, rice - at least five portions (500 g in weight) of fresh fruit and vegetables and two litres of fluid a day.

Sugar makes the body less efficient at destroying bacteria, so does eating too much fat. But live bio yoghurt produces acids that destroy invading bugs, so eat one carton, preferably organic, a day.

And it goes without saying that smoking and drinking too much alcohol does not do your immune system any favours at all.

Getting enough sleep is important, although the amount varies from person to person - Margaret Thatcher famously ran the country on only four hours a night, but some of us feel wretched if we don’t get our regulation eight hours - and sleep needs do decline as we get older. You’ll know what’s right for you.

You should also get some fresh air every day and do at least half an hour of exercise three times a week. It doesn’t have to be particularly strenuous - any activity which you enjoy and which gets you slightly out of breath will do, even a brisk walk.

The most useful Herbs:

Echinacea
Garlic
Thyme
Green tea

The most useful Supplements:

Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Bioflavonoids
Carotenoids
Zinc

Following the advice given for arthritis (*see below) can also bring relief:

*There are more than 200 different types of arthritis - ranging from a single painful joint in one finger, to crippling damage in several parts of the body. Some of the severe conditions aren’t appropriate for natural remedies or complementary therapies - see your doctor before you try them - but nearly all types respond to dietary changes.

For all types of arthritis (except gout) you should eat more:

Oily fish and shellfish - for their omega-3 fatty acids
Sweet potatoes, broccoli, apricots, carrots, liver (but not if you’re pregnant) - for Vitamin A and betacarotene
Citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi fruits and dark green leafy vegetable - for Vitamin C and bioflavonoids
Olive oil, sunflower seeds, unsalted nuts and avocadoes - for vitamin E

Cutting down on red meat, game and coffee can also help reduce the inflammation.

The most useful Herbs:

Birch
Black cohosh
Celery seeds
Meadowsweet
Poplar
Willow
Devil’s claw
Ginger - extracts of the medicinal Chinese variety of this herb

The most useful Supplements:

Green-lipped mussel extract
Glucosamine
Cod liver oil
Fish oils
Pycnogenol

Homoeopathy

The homoeopathic remedies Bryonia, Guaiacum and Rhododendron can also help, but as different remedies are appropriate for different types of arthritis in different parts of the body, it’s better to consult a homoeopath or a doctor also qualified in this skill rather than treat yourself with the easily-available homeopathic remedies sold in shops or supermarkets these days.

Other useful advice:

If your joints are very painful, it’s tempting and understandable that you’ll just want to rest them. That’s the worst thing you can do. Exercise keeps the supportive muscle healthy, which helps the joints become more supple. We’re not suggesting you take up marathon running - in fact, running on hard surfaces for hours on end is probably one of the major causes of arthritis in later life. You need exercise which is non weight-bearing - which means you’re not on your feet and putting pressure on your back and all the joints in your legs. Swimming is ideal as the water bears the weight for you.

Several complementary therapies will also keep you mobile. They include the Alexander Technique, Yoga and Reflexology. For killing the pain, try the Aromatherapy oils lavender, roman chamomile, eucalyptus, juniper and Ginger - either buy the oils and add them to the bath, or a foot or hand bath, or have a relaxing professional massage.

Ginger is also worth trying in your cooking. There’s now significant scientific evidence to show that it works, and many naturopaths now recommend not only the medicinal extract of the Chinese herb, but also the use of Ginger in cooking and in Ginger tea.

Another, rather unsual, treatment which many people find instantly soothing is cabbage poultices. Take one or two large outer leaves from a green cabbage, bruise them with a wooden spoon or rolling pin, heat in a micro-wave, steamer, over or on a radiator, wait until they’re still warm but comfortable to handle, then wrap them around the painful joint and keep in place with a towel or long bandage.

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.