The Silver Lyming

In this episode of The Silver Lyming, Anne sits down with naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist Dr. Alice Honican of Longevity Health Center to explore a more holistic approach to Lyme disease and chronic illness.

Dr. Honican's connection to Lyme disease is personal. After watching her mother recover from Lyme using natural medicine, she developed a passion for helping patients struggling with complex, chronic conditions. Today, her approach combines naturopathic medicine with herbal therapies, homeopathy, acupuncture, bioenergetic assessment, and other integrative tools designed to uncover underlying stressors and support the body's natural healing processes.

Anne and Dr. Honican discuss why Lyme treatment is rarely one-size-fits-all and why simply targeting an infection may not address the full picture—particularly for people who have been sick for months or years.

In This Episode

Anne and Dr. Honican discuss:

When antibiotics such as doxycycline may be appropriate, particularly following a recent tick bite or in early Lyme disease, and when additional integrative approaches may be considered.

Why chronic Lyme treatment may involve looking beyond the infection itself and evaluating factors that could be interfering with recovery. Herbal medicine, homeopathy, and natural therapies Dr. Honican uses to support patients.

The importance of avoiding the "more supplements are better" mentality and creating an individualized treatment plan.

Bioenergetic testing and electrodermal screening and how Dr. Honican uses these tools to identify potential areas of imbalance and help guide treatment.

Regulation thermography and how thermal patterns and the body's response to stress may provide additional information to practitioners.

Why alternative assessment tools should be viewed as tools that help guide care rather than definitive diagnostic tests for Lyme disease.

The potential role of mold exposure, heavy metals, environmental toxins, and other burdens in complicated chronic illness.

MTHFR and why genetics can influence how practitioners approach individual patients.

Alpha-gal syndrome and the increasing awareness surrounding tick-associated reactions to mammalian products.

Homeopathic nosodes, laser detox therapies, and other modalities used within Dr. Honican's practice.

Why preventative and proactive healthcare can be so important rather than waiting until symptoms become severe.

How Dr. Honican works with patients both locally and remotely through Longevity Health Center.

What patients should look for when choosing a naturopathic or integrative practitioner.

How Long Does Healing Take?

Dr. Honican shares the story of a patient suffering from arthritis who was ultimately treated for Lyme disease and experienced complete resolution of her symptoms after approximately a year of follow-up care.

While every person's situation is different, Dr. Honican explains that she often hopes to see meaningful improvement within the first several months, while more complete recovery may take considerably longer.

Anne and Dr. Honican also discuss one of the most important lessons of chronic illness: healing timelines are highly individual.

A Different Way of Looking at Chronic Illness

For someone struggling with Lyme disease, the question may not only be:

"How do we kill the infection?"

It may also be: "What is preventing this person's body from recovering?"

Immune function, environmental exposures, toxic burden, nutrition, genetics, stress, and other underlying factors may all become pieces of that larger puzzle.

For Anne, this conversation also reflects an important part of her own Lyme journey—the difference it can make to finally find a practitioner who believes what you're experiencing and is willing to keep looking for answers.

The Silver Lyming Takeaway

Lyme disease can be complicated, frustrating, and deeply individual—but a diagnosis does not mean giving up hope.

There are many approaches to healing, and the path that works for one person may look very different from the path that works for another. Finding knowledgeable practitioners, asking questions, addressing potential underlying contributors, and learning to listen to your own body can all be important parts of the journey.

There is hope. Your body has an extraordinary capacity to heal when it receives the right support.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or replace individualized medical care. Some diagnostic and treatment approaches discussed in this episode are considered complementary or alternative and may not be supported by the same level of scientific evidence as conventional testing and treatment. Always consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional regarding Lyme disease, tick bites, medications, supplements, or changes to your treatment plan.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Chris Winfrey to discuss not only his personal experience with Lyme, tick-borne illness, and mold toxicity, but how this experience has helped him be of greater value to his patients. Dr. Winfrey emphasizes that healing involves more than just supportive treatments; it requires a belief in the possibility of healing and a willingness to engage in the process. He highlights the role of surrender, resilience, and a strong sense of self in overcoming obstacles to healing.

Dr. Winfrey discusses his approach to working with patients, emphasizing the importance of assessing their readiness and commitment before engaging. He explains his preference for in-person sessions over virtual ones, despite offering both options. Dr. WInfrey describes his focus on brain recovery and neuropsychiatric manifestations of chronic illness, particularly involving toxins and infections. He clarifies that he does not take on acute cases requiring a large team, but rather works with patients who are ready to address their issues.

I can confirm having gone through my own experience with Lyme, co-infections, and mold toxicity that having a doctor who understands what you are going through makes a huge difference. And hearing the vantage point of a doctor who was misdiagnosed by other doctors lends interesting insight as well. You are not alone in your experience and challenges in getting a proper diagnosis.

Please leave your thoughts below. I know I got a lot out of this episode with regard to what can really impact the healing process on an emotional and spiritual level. Remember, disease is not just disease, it is also dis-ease within the body, mind, and soul, and requires healing on all levels to fully regain your health.

I will forever remember interviewing Brooke and her sharing how hard having Lyme and tick-borne illness is while still trying to be a mom. She recalls how her children wanted to hold her hand and she was struggling even to do that when she was at her sickest. To hear her speak of this is truly heartbreaking. But, to see how far Brooke has come since being diagnosed is TRULY inspirational.

Brooke has become a stellar advocate through her experience and went back to school to become a certified microscopist. A microscopist is a specialized scientist who uses advanced microscopes to examine biological specimens. In this case, Brooke learned how to look at peoples' blood to help identify tick-borne illnesses as she went to one on her journey to wellness and realized how beneficial this is to people seeking answers, as we know the standard testing is not very accurate and specialized screening can be rather costly. (You can find her on IG or Facebook for more info.)

Brooke is also a loving mother raising two beautiful girls and has an incredibly supportive husband to help her on her way. Take a listen as Brooke shares her personal journey with Lyme disease, detailing her 9-month diagnostic process and subsequent treatment challenges. She describes her experience with various medical approaches, including functional medicine and Chinese herbs, and the difficult decision to use prednisone during a setback. Brooke emphasizes the importance of patient advocacy and the need for better healthcare systems to support those with Lyme disease, while also highlighting her progress in recovery and her commitment to sharing her story to help others.

Please like and subscribe to help others find this show. The info shared is incredibly valuable and just may help save a life.

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how to do a parasite, mold, or heavy metal cleanse, I would be a rich woman. On this episode, I get the chance to interview someone who knows all too well how to do this type of cleanse and has made it easy for people like you to do just that with her well-thought-out kits that are available at RogersHood Apothecary (rogershood.com).

Kim Rogers is a health educator, entrepreneur, and podcast host. After overcoming her own battle with chronic illness, including Lyme disease, mold toxicity, and other health challenges, she dedicates her life to helping others better understand the impact of parasites, toxins, and gut health on overall wellness. Her viral social media content and educational work have sparked conversations around preventive health and personal advocacy, reaching millions of people worldwide.

If you are looking for more info on the kits Kim has put together, you can request assistance on the website for RogersHood.com.

If you are looking for a discount for these kits, use this link for my personal page:

https://rogershood.com/ref/1882/

and the affiliate code:

ANNEDESJA15 for a 10% discount.

I have used her kits many times as I agree with Kim that we should be proactively doing these cleanses quarterly. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have already tried Kim's kits and what types of reactions your body has had. I have recommended them to my clients and am always blown away by the results they achieve.

When it comes to Lyme and tick-borne illness, mold, heavy metals, and parasites can compound things making it harder to heal without clearing these out of the system. This is by no means medical advice, but something I have personally witnessed time and time again in the Lyme community. Always consult your doctor or Lyme specialist before adding new treatments.

I often think who better to help someone with Lyme and tick-borne illness than someone who has gone through it themselves? This week's guest is Dr. Tina Arseneau, a pharmacist with a background in functional medicine and clinical hypnotherapy. She shares her personal journey with Lyme disease, which began at age 9 and remained undiagnosed for two decades. Despite her professional knowledge as a pharmacist, she faced dismissive attitudes from healthcare providers, including her colleague who refused to test her for tick-borne illnesses when she was hospitalized with meningitis. After a series of health crises, including a miscarriage and rare pregnancy-related cancer, she was finally diagnosed at age 29. She emphasizes the challenges of diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, highlighting the limitations of current testing methods and the need for better awareness and support from the medical community.

You can find Dr. Arseneau on Facebook, YouTube, and at www.lymesupport.com/heal. She is a wealth of knowledge and is open to anyone reaching out that needs help.

If this episode has been helpful, one thing, and the most important thing, you can do to help in return is to like and subscribe to the channel to help others find us as well. This information can be lifesaving to the right person so please help us get the word out there.

My guest in this episode is Dr. Cristina McMullen. Dr. McMullen has been actively working in the field of alternative healthcare since 2005. From a young age, she had a strong desire to learn everything there was to know about the body and how to heal it naturally. She began by attending Everglades University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Alternative Medicine. She then became a Certified Wellness Coach through The International Association of Wellness Professionals. Finally, she earned her Doctorate of Traditional Naturopathy from New Eden School of Natural Health and Herbal Studies, completing her dissertation on the complex pediatric neurological diagnosis of PANS/PANDAS.

Dr. McMullen discusses her experience treating children with pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders, including PANS and PANDAS, which are characterized by sudden onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms following streptococcal infections in children under 12. She explains that while there's no single diagnostic test, practitioners diagnose based on clinical symptoms such as anxiety, OCD, and extreme food restrictions. Treatment typically involves a multi-faceted approach, including antibiotics to address underlying infections, immune modulators, and behavioral therapy, though the diagnostic criteria and treatment options are still controversial and limited to pediatric cases.

I have not had a specialist on PANS/PANDAS so I am hoping this episode will help shed some light on that challenging topic as it affects children, who are also the hardest hit population from Lyme and tick-borne illnesses. These two things go together many times: Lyme and PANS/PANDAS. Please share this episode because I often think that I had the vocabulary to tell doctors how I was feeling and they still missed the diagnosis of Lyme, but children may struggle even more to elaborate their symptoms and issues well. It is important for us to understand about how this affects children.

If you are looking to contact Dr. McMullen, she can be found at Longevity Health Center (http://longevityhealth.com) in Roswell, GA and does see clients both in-person and virtually, depending on your needs.

This week, Greg Lee, the founder of Lyme Research and Healing Center, shares his personal experience with tick-borne illness and the importance of addressing underlying root causes of health issues. Greg discusses the high number of tick-borne illness cases in the United States and explores how different factors, such as toxins like mold, and immune system strength, contribute to varying health outcomes. He emphasizes the need for comprehensive treatment approaches to help individuals regain their health and well-being. Take a listen as he explains his 8-stage healing process and some pretty cool info he has discovered to help patients get to the root cause of their chronic illness.

If you are interested to talk with Greg, he is rather active on social media and you can find his Center at lymeresearchcenter.com.

If this episode is helpful, please give it a thumbs up and share. And if you know someone struggling with Lyme and tick-borne illness, share this podcast with them. It may be the exact thing they need to hear to help them continue on their healing journey.

My guest this week is someone who is turning a horrible experience with Lyme into something that helps thousands. Michele, the founder of Central Mass Lyme Foundation, discusses her mother's experience with Lyme disease, which was misdiagnosed as ALS. The disease caused her mother to pass away due to a severe reaction to treatment. Michele highlights that her mother's symptoms, which she had documented in her journals, were consistent with Lyme disease but she never got the diagnosis which is FAR too common. Michele also shares that her mother's diagnosis of Lyme disease helped her husband, who was experiencing similar symptoms, get proper diagnosis and treatment, potentially saving his life. It is almost as if her mother went through what she did to save Michele's husband.

If you find this episode inspiring and useful, please like and subscribe as it helps me reach new audiences and can possibly save a life. Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed and the more you know, the safer you and your loved ones can be.

Take a listen as Sean shares his experience of contracting Lyme disease, which led to a severe infection and subsequent hospitalization. He underwent surgery and spent three weeks in the hospital, followed by four months in bed. Despite the challenges, Sean has made a full recovery and is now in good health. I am always amazed at the different ways people heal their bodies, and Sean's journey highlights this.

If you have recovered from Lyme and tick-borne illness and would like to share your story, please send me a message. The more stories of healing we can share, the better our community will be.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like and subscribe so you get alerts when new episodes drop and to help others find us. It is through your support that I can continue making this show. Thank you!

Are you trying to discern if your chronic Lyme is actually mold toxicity? This week's episode can help shed some light on that question. Take a listen as Kimberley Quirk, a functional medicine practitioner and mold detox specialist, shares her recovery from Lyme, tick-borne illness, and mold poisoning.

When I look back on my own journey, the lines blur whether I was struggling more with tick-borne illness or mold, or both. They have very similar symptoms and take somewhat similar remedies. At least 70% of my guests have had issues with mold, which is something that is often overlooked by allopathic physicians. It is imperative you find a Lyme-literate physician or holistic health care provider that knows how to help you truly get to the root cause of your symptoms.

If you find this episode inspiring and insightful, please like and subscribe so that we can reach larger audiences with this info. At least 465,000 individuals are diagnosed with Lyme every year in the US alone so this info can help save lives.

Are you looking for some low- to no-cost solutions to help support you through the healing journey of chronic Lyme? This episode is for you. Take a listen as I interview two of my dear friends: Tanya Hoebel, host of "Lyme and Beyond with Tanya" podcast and support group leader, and Fred Diamond, author of "Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know" and host of the "Love, Hope, Lyme" podcast, to discuss their top healing from Lyme tips.

And if you don't already follow my channel, and their shows, now is the time. It is because of listeners like you that we are able to get more information like this out to those in need of it. Like and subscribe so that others can find us more easily. It is stories like this that helped me so much on my own 14-year healing journey.

In this episode, I interview Rabbi Melinda Bernstein. She shares her journey back to wellness from Lyme and tick-borne illness by focusing on mindfulness, herbs, and blood cleansing. Rabbi shares how the illness led to a greater connection with self, wealth, and a deeper understanding of the importance of health. We both agree that the key to healing lies in self-love and acceptance, and that it's not always easy to find this within oneself.

Take a listen as Rabbi shares some great ways to do this and ultimately to HEAL. If you are interesting to work with Rabbi Bernstein, she does work with individuals as a transformation coach. You can find her at Sacred Vitality at rabbimelindabernstein@substack.com. Please like and subscribe to my channel to help others find this treasure trove of heling stories. They helped me so much on my journey, and I am grateful to be here to help others find the same.

This week's episode features Bebe Pleasant. I came across Bebe's profile on TikTok where she is a strong educator on health-related topics and tick-borne illnesses. I was immediately captivated by her energy and grateful she was willing to share her story on this podcast.

Bebe shares her personal journey with Lyme disease, starting with symptoms like double vision and anxiety as a child. She was misdiagnosed with IBS and ADD, and later suspected she had bipolar disorder. Bebe's symptoms worsened after a car accident in 2017, leading her to suspect mold toxicity. She underwent a detox program with Cell Core, which helped alleviate her symptoms. However, she was later diagnosed with Lyme disease and several co-infections. Bebe found a Lyme-literate therapist and coach who helped her with brain retraining and trauma work. She also tried Kambo, an Amazonian frog secretion that resets the body at a cellular level. Bebe's life improved significantly after these treatments, and she now advocates for more awareness and testing for Lyme disease.

Please keep in mind that these podcasts are individual experiences and are not meant to be taken as medical advice. I enjoy sharing these stories to help give ideas on how others have healed from the clutches of Lyme, tick-borne illness, and mold toxicity. Each story is unique as is every person's experience with tick-borne illness. That is part of the challenge to find a way back to health...there is not one easy cure. We can do better and I am hopeful to see much more attention falling on Lyme and the individuals suffering from it in today's political agenda.

Please like and subscribe to get notified when new episodes are dropped and to help others find these stories of hope and info. I get so excited when I see a new subscriber because I know that is one more person benefitting from some good in this fight.

On this episode of The Silver Lyming, Kiki Penn shares her experience with Lyme disease, which she contracted at age 9. She describes her journey with the disease, including mental health challenges, physical symptoms such as back pain, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological problems. Kiki also discusses her struggles with the unpredictable nature of the disease and the challenges of finding effective treatment. She shares her experiences with various treatments, including antibiotics, herbs, and MMS, and emphasized the importance of listening to one's body during treatment.

Please like and subscribe to this channel to help others find these stories. One thing I get asked for are more details on how to heal. This is a great episode to help elaborate on that topic. Healing is possible.

Ryann is one of the first people I met on our journeys back to wellness. It has been almost a decade since we first crossed paths and it has been a joy watching her. She was able to finally graduate college after having to drop out because of tick-borne illnesses and has recently gotten married. She is now thriving after struggling with sickness for most of her life. If you are looking for inspiration, look no further and listen to Ryann's story.

If you are inspired and helped by Ryann's story, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment below so that others have a better chance at finding us.

On this episode, I interview Dr. Cristina McMullen, a naturopathic doctor and wellness coach, who shares her background in alternative medicine and her extensive experience treating patients with tick-borne infections. Dr. McMullen explains how she became passionate about this field after witnessing the positive results of holistic treatments at Longevity Health Center, where she has worked for nearly 20 years. We discuss the complexities of PANS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders) and its relation to Lyme disease, with Dr. McMullen highlighting the need for individualized treatment approaches.

Dr. McMullen discusses the importance of building immune resilience in children, emphasizing that despite potential exposure to pathogens like Lyme disease, children can be protected and empowered to lead healthy lives. She shares success stories of patients who recover from chronic health conditions and thrive academically. Dr. McMullen stresses the need for education and preparation rather than fear, encouraging outdoor activities while teaching practical measures to handle potential infections.

This is an important episode as children are the hardest hit population when it comes to Lyme and tick-borne illness, and they experience a litany of symptoms related to their cognitive abilities which could derail their academic life, as well as their physical health permanently if left undiagnosed and untreated. PANS/PANDAS is something that often accompanies tick-borne illness so being informed and aware is crucial.

On this week's episode, my guest Arden shares her experience with Lyme disease, which began after a dental procedure that led to severe neurological issues, anxiety, and depression. She was fortunate to have a Lyme literate doctor who diagnosed her and recommended treatment. Arden tried various treatments but found them ineffective, leading her to seek alternative therapies in Mexico. After undergoing hyperthermia and oxidative therapies, Arden experienced a significant improvement in her condition. She emphasized the importance of hormone optimization during treatment, as it helped alleviate her symptoms. Arden also discussed the challenges of managing Lyme disease, including the difficulty of finding effective treatments and the impact on mental health.

I hope this episode gives you some ideas on treatment options especially if you are struggling to find one that works. As you can tell from Arden's experience, she really had to figure out some alternative options to regain her health but was successful with her efforts.

Feedback is always welcomed. Leave a comment below and like and follow this channel if this was helpful and useful information.

Are you aware that ticks can spread more than Lyme? Sadly, they also possess the power to transmit a number of co-infections, one being babesiosis. This week's guest, Dr. Geoffrey Dow, is no stranger to understanding the wrath of this infection. He studies it extensively alongside malaria and dengue fever. After his daughter struggled with Lyme and tick-borne illnesses, Dr. Dow was compelled to co-found 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals. His company has developed a drug to combat babesia called Arakoda, which kills all lifecycle stages of the parasite, similar to malaria treatment, and targets persistent forms to prevent relapse.

Take a listen as Dr. Dow discusses the challenges in diagnosing babesiosis, noting that while acute cases can be detected through blood smears, standard PCR tests become ineffective soon after symptoms subside. Dr. Dow estimates that there are up to 900,000 cases of babesiosis a year, making better testing and treatment imperative.

Dr. Dow will also be needing participants for 60 Degrees chronic babesiosis study once it opens for enrollment so keep your eyes peeled for this to happen soon if you are interested in helping.

This episode will stick with me forever. Nicole has quite the story to share. I know this is a podcast about hope and this particular story is not all pleasant. Nicole unfortunately lost her partner to tick-borne illness, but she has turned some of that pain into helping others get a more timely and accurate diagnosis as a result of it. Nicole has become the CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics which is one of the labs I used while trying to regain my health. I am forever grateful to this lab for helping me get an accurate test and diagnosis.

Please pay attention to Nicole's story so you can hopefully avoid having to experience the same thing that she and her husband did. The more we know and understand about Lyme and co-infections the better we can stay healthy and protected.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback after listening to this episode. Leave a like and comment below to help others find us. Stories like Nicole's are educational and also inspirational knowing what she has done to try to fix the system. Thank you, Nicole, for being such an amazing human and giving back so graciously to the Lyme community. The work you are doing is incredibly important.

Do you ever wonder about the similarities between Lyme and long Covid? I know I certainly have. This week's guest, Dr. Keith Ellis, has spent a good portion of his research on understanding how long Covid works and potential therapies including developing a natural alternative to triple anticoagulant therapy. Dr. Ellis acknowledges the similarities between long Covid and Lyme, and we discuss whether the two overlap. I have often wondered if people who get long Covid may have Lyme that is already tapping their immune system and therefore the Covid is able to really set in. Take a listen as Dr. Ellis explains about some of his research, some of the challenges he faces looking at more natural remedies such as being very labor-intensive and a longer timeline, and what he hopes to achieve.

If you find this episode useful and insightful, please be sure to like and subscribe, so I can continue to grow my viewer-base and add more thought-provoking guests like Dr. Keith Ellis. Recently I found out my show is ranking #34 for alternative health podcasts in Sweden, highlighting the fact that Lyme and tick-borne illness is something affecting the whole world, not just the US. We all can benefit from this information.