Healing from Chronic Illness – A Holistic Approach

Thoughts on Functional Medicine and a holistic approach to healing from chronic illness.

Written by: Ellen Donaldson

Recently, I’ve been expanding my research into how people heal from chronic illness. I’ve become excited about the perspective that functional medicine takes in looking at the whole person. As a holistic practitioner, this makes an enormous amount of sense. Chronic illness is often multi-faceted so it stands to reason that healing from chronic illness requires a multi-faceted approach.

I like the fact that functional medicine doesn’t try to mask the symptoms of illness but instead looks for root cause. This fits with my philosophy and approach to healing. Traditional allopathic medicine might take a very narrow focus in treating illnesses such as chronic Lyme disease by prescribing a short course of an antibiotic but never looking at other factors of a person’s health. In my mind, this is why so many people don’t recover and are left in limbo.

Factors that functional medicine considers in healing from chronic illness include:

  • proper nutrition, and thinking of food as medicine
  • regular exercise
  • sleep cycle
  • heavy metal toxicity
  • leaky gut and gut dysbiosis
  • sources of inflammation
  • stealth infections
  • how well the body detoxifies
  • stress level and lifestyle
  • trauma history

Each is important to address so the immune system can begin to function properly again. Working with a team of practitioners who understand this concept is critical so they can help you find what is appropriate for your unique situation. Although it may seem overwhelming to have to think about all these things, it really is important. There are many resources available. Begin to educate yourself!

The Magnetic Protocol, a form of energy work, is very effective at ridding the body of slow-growing, stealth infections – active forms as well as die-off. The magnets help detoxify the body and boost immune function. Hormone regulation and homeostasis are restored and recovery is achieved.

Magnetic Protocol and other illnesses besides Lyme?

The more clients I work with, the more I’m broadening my definition of what Lyme disease actually is. It can be categorized more accurately as a syndrome because of its huge variety of symptoms. Although there are broad similarities among my clients, everyone is unique.

My clients have often been given different diagnoses over time as treatments failed, one after another. I started to hear labels such as Fibromyalgia, Epstein-Barr, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Thyroid disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Guillain Barre, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple, Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Diabetes, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) to name a few. No wonder there is no aligned agreement on what chronic Lyme disease is or that it even exists.

What these diagnoses all have in common, and what I believe is at the heart of all illness, is a collection of bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungus, and toxins that the body isn’t able to rise above. So whether you want to call it Lyme and Fibromyalgia, or Lyme and Chronic Fatigue, or Lyme Syndrome, it doesn’t really matter in my mind. I call it chronic immune dysfunction and feel very comfortable that the Magnetic Protocol, and other things like proper diet, supportive herbs, rest, and clearing held trauma through energy healing can treat and resolve the complex symptoms that each unique client situation brings.

Comments or questions? Leave them below. I’d love to hear from you!

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