5 Good Vibin' Lyme Blogs I Love

It's not about Lyme Disease, but it is about Lyme Disease. There are as many ways to heal chronic illness, Lyme Disease and all of it's varied co-infections included, as there are people living with chronic dis ease.

When I first put a name to the face, so to speak, I was immersed in Lyme Disease. The science of the infections, the why's, the how's, the what the hell does this mean for me and my family. Whew. That's a whole different blog post (like...1,000 different posts). After getting an albeit ever changing and multi layered treatment protocol rollin', my mind was able to switch from all about understanding illness, the power of food, methylation and genetic precursers 24/7, to a greater focus on wellness and what that would look like for me.

You have to sit in it for a minute. You have to find your own words to explain to friends. To understand what treatments work for your particular body and dis ease. To find resources (yes, doctors and medicines usually play the star role, but that is just the start).

At least I did.

Maybe in your healing trek through your soul you get to skip all of that and straight to

true and profound healing.

I'm getting there. 

In the mean time, I've found some pretty lovely people. Just like you. There are a ton of blogs and scientific resources in many forms to understand Lyme Disease and you should understand do you can be your best advocate. Your very best care provider for yourself. But somewhere in the mix,  I recommend adding these to your blog roll: 

Melissa Rousseau of m.parkestudio. Gorgeous photographs simple and dramatic story telling in her writing. Love. She shares detox resources, immune support, and so much more. Her apothecary shop is expansive. I always learn something new when visiting her site.

Lyme Less Live More by Brent and Dana. A mega load of information on understanding detox protocols, a huge variety of healing paths, guest posts, videos, and information direct from the truly leading experts on Lyme Disease while keeping the light on wellness and healing. Not so much on dis ease.

Kayla of Joy Rises blog is bright and lovely. Detox tips, nourishing recipes, and her bright spirit are filling up this blog. 

Sabbatical Soapbox. Reading April's posts about healing, recipes and tutorials using herbs, her jewelry and more, she reminds me of that gal that lives down the street you never braved introducing yourself to. Warm and open, her blog is cozy- and informative.

Sweet Happy Pie. Yep, shameless plug for my own blog. It's kinda new. It's growing. It's filled with wishes for good. Please add it to your blogroll and let's keep in touch!

What good vibes blog are you enjoying lately? Let me know in the comments  below so I can take follow along!

xo,
Amy 

Valerian Root for Pain Relief and Better Sleep: How to Make Tea

Valerian Root totally smelled like dirty feet to me at first. Now that my body knows that scent means sweet relief, it smells like a whole 'lotta lovely and tastes like it, too!

Most often used for anxiety and insomnia, valerian root in tincture and tea form are frequently used for Lyme pain and insomnia. You heal while you sleep so the better your sleep- the better your healing. 

Valerian root has taken the edge off of joint and nerve pain that was really getting in the way of my evenings lately. Sleeping was becoming difficult as I was waking up with joints that were asking to be put at ease. For me, right now, this tea is powerful. I don't use it everyday but as a wonderful, soothing tool when I feel it will help.

If used regularly, it can begin to have the opposite effect causing jitteryness and difficulty falling asleep. Use it for a week or two then a week or two off. 

This is how I do it:

1 teaspoons dried Valerian Root, loose or in a tea ball

2 cups boiling water

Pour the water over your tea in a mug.

Cover.

Let sit 10-15 minutes (I recommend and steep for 15)

Strain of steeping loose leaf or remove ball.

Enjoy! 

What's working for you lately?

A few more bits about Valerian Root:

Well written over all info on using Valerian Root as a healing herb from Methow Valley Herbs

Dr. Horowitz, author of Why Can't I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease, recommends valerian root tea for insomnia specifically. 

Dr. Nicola McFadzean, ND, a naturopathic doctor, references the use of valerian root specifically for pain here.

xo,

Amy

PS I'm not a doctor or an herbalist. I'm sharing what's working for me in hopes that it will work for you. You are responsible for double checking cross reactions with what you might already be doing and your own homework. Thanks, friend! 

Hello, Lyme Disease

Well, my friends, I have so much to tell you. Just weeks after my last post, now over 6 months ago, I finally got in to see yet another doctor. Not something I think I really ever mentioned here. But this time was different. He had answers. At least a few of them. And it's been a crazy ride since then.

Lyme Disease. A few co-infections, a smattering of other little blips, and another "chronic illness" showed in my extensive  blood work, other lab work, exam, and history.

Bam. Did. Not. Expect. That.

Treatment started and things got pretty gnarly. Then they got better. It's a mixed bag of good days and harder days. 6 months have seemed like a life time. I have wanted to disappear. I have wanted to say hi. What I want now is to come back and keep sharing with you.

I do have lot's of amazingness to share with you, with or without Lyme, and for right now, Lyme is a part of it. How about if I keep doing what I started out doing here? I'll keep sharing books I love, recipes I think you'd love to, and things I'm learning along the way. I can't just push through to get it done anymore. Learning to work smarter, not harder is helping me create a new normal that is abundantly full. I'd like to share what I'm learning with you, killer recipes included.  Deal?