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Category: Lyme Disease & Morgellons

Making Sense of “Controversial” Diagnoses

Posted on by Posted in Alternative Therapies, Blog, Diseases, Environmental Sensitivities, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue, Healthy Lifestyle, Immune System, Inflammation, Integrative Medicine, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons, M, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins, & Herbal Remedies — 4 Comments ↓

I’m warning you in advance. You’re entering a minefield here, with explosive views among seemingly conservative health care professionals. At least wear a helmet. Protective eyewear wouldn’t hurt either. You wouldn’t think a slew of conditions you’ve heard about (including chronic Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic Epstein-Barr, toxic mold syndrome, food sensitivities, intestinal dysbiosis, chronic inflammatory response syndrome, and mast cell activation syndrome) Read More

Porochista Khakpour’s Ongoing Battle With Lyme

Posted on by Posted in Alternative Therapies, Blog, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue, Healthy Lifestyle, Immune System, Integrative Medicine, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins, & Herbal Remedies, S — 4 Comments ↓

In novelist Porochista Khakpour’s memoir Sick she describes her struggle with chronic Lyme disease and her uphill battle with the US healthcare system. Likely she had been bitten as a child by a long-forgotten tick, which is quite the usual case, the average age of acquiring Lyme disease being about 11. As a result of a youth defined by what’s best described as serious self-neglect Read More

The Stealth Bug From Hell: Chronic Lyme Disease

Posted on by Posted in Blog, Diseases, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue, Immune System, Inflammation, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins, & Herbal Remedies, S — 2 Comments ↓

Last week we discussed the stealthy nature of Lyme and other infectious organisms, like chickenpox. To start, this week I’ll say by now everyone should be familiar with the basics of avoiding acute Lyme disease. When you’re in the woods or tall grass wear long pants tucked into socks and a long-sleeved shirt, spray DEET over exposed areas and clothing, do frequent tick checks, and Read More

Chronic Lyme, Stealth Organisms, And You

Posted on by Posted in Blog, C, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue, Immune System, Integrative Medicine, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons — 6 Comments ↓

Over the past several months I’ve been reading memoirs of patients with chronic Lyme disease. When the victim is a celebrity (Ally Hilfiger, Kelly Osbourne), she’ll land a contract and a book tour with a mainstream publisher. When the victim just lives down the block but believes she has something important to say, she’ll self-publish through companies like lulu.com. Currently, there are more than 1,000 Read More

Controversial Diagnosis #6: Chronic Lyme Disease

Posted on by Posted in Alternative Therapies, Blog, C, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue, Healthy Lifestyle, Immune System, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons, Pain Management — 7 Comments ↓

Since no one argues about the existence of Lyme disease, right up front you should know that the controversy here centers on the word “chronic.” In my view, the arguments among physicians about whether or not such an entity exists are becoming a bit ridiculous. First, let’s briefly cover acute Lyme disease. Although certain states have more cases than others, acute Lyme disease has been Read More

Reversing Mental Decline Part 4: Nine Immediate Steps to Prevent Dementia

Posted on by Posted in Aging, Alternative Therapies, Blog, Cardiovascular Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Immune System, Inflammation, Integrative Medicine, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons, Mental Health, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins, & Herbal Remedies, R, Thyroid, Adrenal, & Sex Hormone Issues — 4 Comments ↓

We’ve covered a lot of scientific territory in this series, from the basics of Alzheimer’s to the tests used to evaluate risk. This final installment is something you can follow up on right now, regardless of where you fall on the risk spectrum. Concerning your brain, let’s say you’re in one of these four situations: There’s dementia in your family and you’ve checked your APOe Read More

Reversing Mental Decline Part 3: Tests For Alzheimer’s Prevention

Posted on by Posted in Aging, Alternative Therapies, Blog, Cardiovascular Health, Healthy Lifestyle, Immune System, Inflammation, Integrative Medicine, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons, Mental Health, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins, & Herbal Remedies, R, Thyroid, Adrenal, & Sex Hormone Issues — 1 Comment ↓

Dale Bredesen, MD, author of The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program To Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline, refers to the tests you should undergo if you’re concerned about brain health as a “cognoscopy,” sort of a colonoscopy for your brain. Perhaps thinking back on your own colonoscopy, it’s reasonable to ask, “Do I really need a cognoscopy?” There are three groups of people I Read More

Your First Step For Any (Any!) Chronic Symptoms

Posted on by Posted in Allergies & Food Sensitivities, Alternative Therapies, Blog, Digestion, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue, Immune System, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins, & Herbal Remedies, Y — 10 Comments ↓

Here’s an unfortunate trend: more and more young people (at my age, everyone under 50 is young) are troubled by chronic physical and emotional symptoms. Sometimes there’s a diagnosis: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s, fibromyalgia. But just as often there are plenty of symptoms and no diagnosis. I can’t count how many times patients have told me they went to multiple doctors who told them Read More

Lyme Disease Fundraiser, Just When We Need It Most

Posted on by Posted in Blog, Lyme Disease & Morgellons — 1 Comment ↓

Here are some well known people who have chronic Lyme disease: singer-songwriter-fashion designer Kelly Osbourne, TV star Ally Hilfiger (Tommy’s daughter), singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, punk singer Kathleen Hanna, Marisol Thomas (wife of Rob Thomas), Real Housewife Yolanda Hadid and supermodel Bella Hadid, as well as Alec Baldwin, Amy Tan, and Avril Lavigne. Each of the links above goes to an article in which the celebrity Read More

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers!

Posted on by Posted in Alternative Therapies, Blog, Diseases, I, Immune System, Integrative Medicine, Knowledge Base, Lyme Disease & Morgellons — 4 Comments ↓

I’d been reading Ally Hilfiger’s new autobiography Bite Me: How Lyme Disease Stole My Childhood, Made Me Crazy, and Almost Killed Me, preferring the Lyme parts to those devoted to fashion and her MTV “Rich Girl” series. Her symptoms were typical of chronic Lyme and simply dreadful. Hilfiger’s very supportive family watched helplessly through hospitalizations and visits to dozens of specialists. As I read, it crossed Read More

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Upcoming Workshops

**Holistic Digestion
Saturday February 16, 2019, 11am – 1pm 
An integrative workshop with Yoga Therapist Renee Zambo, Occupational Therapist Valarie McConville, and Dietitian Olivia Wagner
Course Fee: $75.00(includes a light snack and take-home materials)

Do you suffer from a sluggish digestive system, constipation, and/or bloating?  Do you feel like you need a reset after the holidays? Are you looking for ways to optimize your digestion?

Join WholeHealth Chicago’s Yoga Therapist Renee Zambo, Dietitian Olivia Wagner, and Occupation Therapist Valarie McConville for two valuable hours of digestive health and cleansing!

Space is limited and registration is required.
Please register online.
Call the Center for additional information at (773) 296-6700
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**Facial Guasha Class
The Ultimate DIY Anti-Aging Facial!
Thursday, February 21, 2019, 6:00-7:30 PM
With Mari Stecker, LAc
$75 course fee (includes take-home facial guasha tool and custom anti-aging facial oil!)

Join us and learn a traditional Chinese facial rejuvenation technique that you can do yourself! Guasha treatment is a 2,000 year old Chinese massage technique that uses a flat tool to apply pressure to the skin to increase circulation as it moves along acupuncture channels.

Facial guasha is an easy to learn technique that:
* encourages blood flow and promotes radiance
* prevents wrinkles
* activates cells to regain facial elasticity
* drains fluids to detoxify skin and reduce puffiness
* sloughs off dead skin cells
* uplifts and tones skin
* firms up facial muscles
* minimizes dark circles
* promotes a healthy, younger and more radiant look

Space is limited and registration is required.
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Call the Center for additional information at (773) 296-6700
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 **Vaginal Rejuvenation Workshop
Tuesday, February 26, 6 – 8 PM
With Mari Stecker, LAc and Renee Zambo, RYT
Course Fee: $75

Are you experiencing vaginal dryness? Or pain with intercourse? Have you been told you have vaginal atrophy due to menopause?  Are you frustrated because you believe your sex life is over?  Well, it doesn’t have to be!

Come learn easy, non-pharmaceutical, non-hormonal, low cost techniques that you can do at home to help alleviate vaginal dryness, atrophy, thinning of vaginal skin and/or painful intercourse.

Space is limited and registration is required.
Please register online.
Call the Center for additional information at (773) 296-6700
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**Who’s Ready to Eat Fat?  An Introduction to a Ketogenic Diet
Thursday, November 28, 2019, 6-7:30 PM
with WHC nutritionist Marla Feingold, CCN, CNS, LDN
Fee: $65 (includes take-home materials)

Want to reduce hunger, burn fat for fuel, stabilize blood sugar, increase memory, cognition, energy, reduce headaches, decrease inflammation, prevent heart disease?  Discover how a Ketogenic Diet can optimize your health.

Space is limited and registration is required.
Please register online.
Call the Center for additional information at (773) 296-6700
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February Sale: 20% Off Metagenics Fish Oils

In honor of Valentine’s Day this month, protect your heart by ensuring optimal levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Save 20% all month on Metagenics fish oils at the WholeHealth Chicago Natural Apothecary!

Metagenics has been leading the nutraceutical industry for decades. Their fish oils are sustainably sourced, antioxidant stabilized and tested by a top third party lab to ensure no contaminants like heavy metals.

OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 1000 – each softgel provides 1,000mg of total EPA & DHA in triglyceride form

OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 2400 – each teaspoon provides 1,000mg of total EPA & DHA in triglyceride form

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Stock up on Metagenics EPA-DHA oils for 20% off during the month of February.