Immune Suppression in Lyme Disease
Most with chronic Lyme disease have immune suppression that makes it hard to recover. There are many issues that effect the immune system including:
- infection toxins and factors,
- hygiene like diet and rest,
- hormones,
- emotional toxins,
- environmental toxins, and
- excess inflammatory cytokines.
In this article I describe each of these factors and steps to change them. I lay out a step-by-step approach for life style changes and supplements that boost or support the immune system.
Healthy Immune Hygiene in Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases
One of the best ways to optimize the immune system is through regular immune boosting practices. These include light to moderate exercise, meditation, quality sleep, and a healthy diet. For information about sleep see: Sleep 101: The Basics. For information about diet see The Best Brain, Inflammation, Pain, and Detox Diet Ever.
Although exercise is generally good, if done in excess it too can suppress the immune system. So exercise to tolerance only. Experiment to see what amount and intensity of exercise does not leave you more tired or in pain the next day. For some in the beginning of a care regimen any amount of exercise is too much.
Support for the immune system starts by providing the building blocks it needs which are free of environmental toxins. A diet rich in whole (non-processed) organic foods provides essential micronutrients for immune function and optimal liver and kidney detoxification. However, a healthy diet alone does not provide adequate levels of essential micronutrients for those with chronic Lyme disease. Compared to the past, the earth is less micronutrient dense. For this reason a well balanced multivitamin with minerals plus amino acids is essential.
Emotional Toxins
Of all the toxins, emotional stress is the most poisonous. The emotional stress of this illness is difficult. In addition many have histories of sexual or emotional abuse and trauma that is unresolved. In some instances I have seen effective counseling as the factor that leads to major health improvement. If these are your issues get the help of a counselor. It could be the thing that most changes your health.
Cytokines
Cytokines are made when immune cells are stimulated by germs, oxidizing agents, cytokines, toxins, and other agents. These inflammatory agents stimulate white blood cell production and improve white blood cell function to fight infections. However, in Lyme disease too may are made. Excess cytokines cause many problems. This includes suppression of the immune system. Read Control Cytokines: A Guide to Fix Lyme Symptoms & The Immune System much more information about cytokines.
Hormones
Low thyroid and adrenals are common in chronic Lyme disease. Both of these hormones help the immune system run effectively. Read Heat Up, Speed Up: About Thyroid & Adrenals and Hypothyroidism. The Best Tests, Meds, & Vitamins for more information about this topic.
Environmental Toxins
Many things in the environment suppress the immune system. These include pesticides, insecticides, heavy metals, and poor quality air and water. Emotional and biologic toxins also suppress the immune system. See Detoxification 101: The Basics for more information on how to deal with toxins.
Infections
For information on addressing infections see the chapter Infection Plans. In my experience from when I practiced in Seattle, it is best to focus initially on addressing
- Lyme (borrelia),
- babesia,
- bartonella, and
- intestinal yeast overgrowth.
Other infections like the chronic viruses will often get better as the immune system is able to deal with them more effectively after these infections are addressed and the other basic recommendations below are put in place.
Supplements
Here is a list of supplements that may help.
- Curcumin, a component of turmeric, is an antioxidant that works at the cellular level through a variety of mechanisms to block cytokine production. Liposomal products, where the curcumin is microscopically wrapped in fat to increase absorption, seem to work best.
- Olive leaf extract stimulates and modulates the immune system for those with chronic infections and long term immune dysfunction. It also has direct anti-microbial properties.
- Transfer Factors turn on components of cell mediated-immunity.
- Medicinal Mushrooms also turn on cell mediated-immunity against viruses and bacteria. A multi-variety mushroom mix works which works effectively against bacteria and viral infections. A multi-variety mix should include: maitake, reishi gano, shitake, agaricus blazei, and coriolus vericolor mushroom extracts. Reishi gano mushrooms used alone are best for repeat chronic or repeat viral infections.
- Multivitamin with minerals, antioxidants, b-complex, and amino acids replaces essential nutrients lacking in most diets.
Immune System Supports in Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases
Consider the recommendations above about:
- healthy immune hygiene
- emotional toxins
- cytokines
- hormones
- environmental toxins, and
- infections.
Take the multivitamin and curcumin.
- Multivitamin. I prefer powderproducts made by Integrative Therapeutics or by Thorne that include minerals, b complex, antioxidants, and amino-acids.
- Curcumin 500 mg. 1 to 2 pills 3 times a day. Use a liposomal curcumin for best absorption.
Beginning of Care
Start either general transfer factors or the multi-variety mushroom mix. Consider doing this especially if there is a history of repeat colds and other viral infections prior to beginning a care regimen.
- General Transfer Factors. Use a transfer factor multi-immune complex 2 pills 1 time a day without food (do not take beginning 30 min before eating through 2 hours after eating.)
- Multi-variety Mushroom Mix 1 to 2 pills 3 times a day. Be sure the mix includes maitake, reishi gano, shitake, agaricus blazei, and coriolus vericolor mushroom extracts.
For information about chronic virus infections like HHV-6, EBV, or CMV infections and a full approach see Chronic Viruses: A Brief Guide. For immune support during the chronic viral infection care regimens use reishi mushrooms.
- Reishi Mushrooms. 1 to 3 pills 3 times a day.
Repeat Viral Infections
For repeated viral infections like colds and the flu, then add Thymic Protein A and daily reishi mushrooms. If this does not help then add olive leaf extract.
- Thymic Protein A. 1 package under tongue away from food 3 times each day for 2 days at the onset of any acute viral infection then 1 packet daily.
- Reishi Mushrooms. 1 to 3 pills 3 times a day.
- Olive leaf extract 500 mg. 1 pill 2 times each day with food.
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