Came across this short yet interesting article today…
Green tea can help antibiotics be three times more effective in fighting drug-resistant bacteria, even superbugs, according to a study by researchers at Alexandria University in Egypt.
I’m currently off the abx, but if/when I get back on them I think I’ll add this into the mix.
(can you tell I’m sick and just sitting in bed doing nothing?)
Don’t wait for the antibiotics…..green tea is great for detoxing, add some lemon for extra detox benefits! I think it tastes like lawnmower clippings, but it’ll grow on you. It’s my happy drink of choice since Lyme.
I second that … green tea is an absolute must on your road to recovery. Something that has also worked wonders for me is use of a dry or wet sauna. Besides sweating out all of the bad stuff and lessening the load on your liver and kidneys, my LLMD says that data indicates a sauna actually strengthens your bodys immune response. The temp in a dry sauna is around 185 degrees F which is sufficient to raise ones body temp a few degrees anyway. The LLMD says it improves overall circulation and increases an antibiotics deep tissue perfusing capability. Gets the meds where they’re needed most. He also mentioned that borellia prefer 97 degrees F. Anything over that, they don’t deal with very well. Try it….if you haven’t already.
Something else that seems to work for me is to take an antibiotic immediately before doing 25 minutes of cardio (usually a 5K on a treadmill), then hit the sauna (20 minutes). Sort of a one two punch on the borellia. Probably has the effect of raising my body temp, increasing circulation and oxygenation, etc. and most importantly, delivering the abx where it’s needed most. I’ve had good results more often than not.
My two cents on the subject!
Onward thru the fog…..
p.s……you’ve got a great blog going…thanks…. for some bizarre reason it helps to read about other runners dealing with this “BS” disease.
where’s medical science when you need it most?
I got to fly out-of state just to find a doc that will write me a stinkin script for abx .. ridiculous. 5 month waiting list to boot. I feel like I’m in some kind of 60s Twilight Zone episode.
OK, I’m finished.
Mike
@mike… I’ve been told by both my LLMD and my Chinese medicine witchdoctor about the benefits of saunas. They sited all of the things you mentioned. I did them a lot last winter since that’s the only time if the year I have a gym membership (I freeze it for 6 months every spring). While they didn’t make much of a noticeable difference in symptoms, I did feel better and healthier.
My witchdoctor told me to go twice a day for 15-20 minutes. I could only manage to schedule in once a day for 30. Be sure to stay hydrated if you do this.
I also agree with you on taking abx before cardio exercise. I’ve heard this too from another Lyme athlete I talk who’s also a doctor. Neither of us have any science to prove that it helps, but logic tells me that it must push the abx around into places it wouldn’t get otherwise.
Thanks for the props on my blog. Athletes are a small, but important slice of the patient population. I’m glad it’s a helpful resource. There really isn’t much out there for us.