Health Articles

Real and inspiring stories from/voices of the chronic illness community By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio Posted 8/23/19 Her illustrations and comics [...]

By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio Posted 8/20/19 One of the most common questions we get asked is: How can I save [...]

By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio Posted 8/6/19 Jennifer Burton lives in a subdivision in Northwest Arkansas on more than two acres [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/5/19 How do I restore my gut after antibiotics? In this video, Dr. Bill Rawls [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 7/22/19 Numbness, tingling sensations, and brain fog are some of the frustrating neurological manifestations of [...]

By Dr. Bill RawlsPosted 7/12/19 Why do some people develop severe, lingering Lyme disease symptoms, while others get away with [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 7/8/19 The recent New York Times article, titled “My Son Got Lyme Disease, He’s Totally [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 7/8/19 Chronic Lyme patients experience a variety of localized symptoms, but vision trouble is something [...]

by Jenny Lelwica Buttacio Posted 6/27/19 We’ve all heard the saying before: Lyme disease is an invisible illness. Which means [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/27/19 Terpenes, the natural compounds in plants that give them their scents and flavors, may [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/21/19 Can Lyme disease cause anxiety? In this video, Dr. Bill Rawls explains how the [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/20/19 A new study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group discovered too-high levels of glyphosate [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/17/19 What are the best natural remedies for stress? Dr. Bill Rawls explains the impact [...]

by Jenny Lelwica Buttacio Posted 6/13/19 A diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease (or any other chronic illness) can rattle the [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/3/19 In this video, Dr. Bill Rawls tackles one of the most common questions he [...]

by Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio Posted 5/31/19 “It was all very scary,” says Dorothy Leland, recalling the months leading up to [...]

By Jeff Tkach Posted 5/22/19 Throughout my adult life, I’ve always been a proactively healthy and fit person. I’ve been [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 5/20/19 Will CBD make you fail a drug test? Dr. Bill Rawls explains how testing [...]

The Real Truth About Causes, Symptoms, Testing, and Treatment with Lyme Disease. The Mythbusting Lyme Disease webinar originally aired on [...]

Discover How Her Lyme Diagnosis Fueled a Global Fight for a Cure by Carin Gorrell Posted 5/15/19 As part of [...]

By Mira Carroll Image Credit: Elaine Mays Posted 5/10/19 Lyme pounced when I was vulnerable, in 2011, a year when [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 5/6/19 What’s the best way to eat to help ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 5/1/19 Experiencing debilitating symptoms day after day without finding satisfactory solutions and answers to your [...]

by Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio Posted 4/17/19 Each year, as summer approaches, a specific image circulates across social media platforms to [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 4/15/19 What’s the difference between CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) from the cannabis plant? For [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/25/19 What’s the best diet for leaky gut syndrome? Dr. Bill Rawls explains why the [...]

This is an amended excerpt taken from Dr. Rawls’ best-selling book Unlocking Lyme. This installment focuses on how reliable diagnostic [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 4/1/19 Confused about how much CBD oil you should take to experience benefits like pain [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/25/19 What causes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Dr. Bill Rawls explains how the foods we [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 3/22/19 Cannabidiol or CBD oil has exploded in popularity as a health supplement, and for [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/18/19 Discover the difference between acute and chronic Lyme from Dr. Bill Rawls. He explains [...]

by Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio Updated 6/7/19 Ryan Stewart, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in Virginia, developed a strange set of symptoms [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/4/19 Why is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) such common coinfection with Lyme disease? Dr. Bill Rawls [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/11/19 What are the benefits of terpenes, the potent plant-based chemicals found in CBD oil? [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 2/25/19 What causes leaky gut syndrome, also known as intestinal permeability? Dr. Bill Rawls explains [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 2/22/19 Desperately needing and wanting to fall asleep but not being able to let go [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 2/18/19 Can CBD from hemp oil help reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic Lyme disease? [...]

by Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio, OTR/L Posted 2/7/19 If you have a chronic illness that’s characterized by a slew of mysterious [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 2/4/19 Discover how CBD oil from hemp can help you go to sleep more easily, [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 1/25/19 Though we tend to think about viruses only when sniffles or a cough slow [...]

by Carin Gorrell & Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 1/21/19 It’s one of life’s cruel jokes: You discover a new therapy [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 1/30/19 Using opioids to treat chronic pain doesn’t work — and it can make the [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 1/18/19 If you’ve ever contended with chlamydia — and many of us have, considering an [...]

by Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio Posted 1/9/19 It’s hard to believe we’re already in the new year; chronic illnesses such as [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 1/7/19 CBD oil from hemp has a reputation for easing symptoms of stress and anxiety [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 1/3/19 When you’re dealing with a chronic illness like Lyme disease or fibromyalgia that comes [...]

by Jenny Buttaccio Posted 12/26/18 If you spend any amount of time in online Lyme disease forums, support groups, or [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 12/19/18 New research suggests garlic oil and other essential oils can kill Borrelia burgdorferi and [...]

by Emily Grimes Updated 12/19/18 Most experts would agree that purified water is the proper foundation for adequate hydration. But [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 12/17/18 Lyme disease has long been blamed on one bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. Find out why [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 12/14/18 Tis the season for travel, and this year is looking particularly hectic. If Christmas [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 12/14/18 You’ve probably heard me talk extensively about the microbiome as it relates to gut [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 12/10/18 Can CBD from hemp help reduce chronic pain and acute pain? Dr. Bill Rawls [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 12/04/18 There’s no good, conclusive medical test for fibromyalgia. Discover other tests that can help [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 1/30/19 Now that recreational and medical marijuana are legal in some states, it’s become a [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 11/19/18 Digestive issues, chronic pain, and fatigue are common fibromyalgia symptoms. Learn the best diet [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 11/16/18 For years, Lyme disease patients — along with some enlightened healthcare providers and researchers [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 11/5/18 Learn why the symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are so similar, what [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 11/2/18 Collagen is so much bigger and more important than the skin anti-ager it’s best [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/29/18 Discover why Lyme disease tests often deliver false negatives, plus learn the best time [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/25/18 Confronting a chronic illness isn’t a solo challenge: You’ll need to work with other [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/22/18 There’s great debate over whether Lyme disease can ever be fully cured. Get the [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/19/18 “Stop eating gluten.” “Give up dairy.” “Cut out caffeine.” Diet-related advice is always the [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/14/18 The Ask Dr. Rawls Webinar, No. 4 ("How to Overcome Roadblocks to Lyme Disease [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/15/18 Learn why brain fog is such a common symptom among fibromyalgia sufferers, and get [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/8/18 Colloidal silver has antimicrobial properties, but it’s also a toxic heavy metal. Find out [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/2/18 With aging comes change — some of it welcome (kids and grandkids, greater wisdom [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 10/1/18 Is chronic Lyme disease real? Learn about the debate, how borrelia bacteria hide in [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 9/24/18 Find out what’s really to blame for fibromyalgia pain and why prescription painkillers can [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 9/21/18 When you’re in the middle of a chronic illness flare-up, it can be difficult [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 9/17/18 Many doctors don’t know how to diagnose chronic Lyme disease. Find out why Lyme [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 9/14/18 In the early days, when fibromyalgia was just becoming a reality for me, I [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 9/10/18 Fibromyalgia is called a mystery illness because experts can’t explain or treat it. Discover [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/24/18 As much as I hate to say it, setbacks are an inevitable part of [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/17/18 Tests for fibromyalgia are fundamentally flawed, which leaves sufferers without a diagnosis — or [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/13/18 Lyme is caused by bacteria, yet antibiotics often don’t help. Why, and what does [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/10/18 Lyme disease may be the best known tick-borne illness, but it's not the only [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/9/18 No one would be surprised to learn that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/7/18 Whether you have Lyme disease or other chronic illness, Dr. Rawls shares three basic [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 7/27/18 Even if you can’t see it or smell it, there’s a good chance that [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/2/18 Your doctor may say Lyme disease doesn’t exist in your area, but odds are, [...]

by Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio Posted 6/29/18 If you’ve been in holistic health or chronic illness circles for any length of [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/13/18 Why do some doctors know so little about fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue [...]

by Beth Janes Posted 6/1/18 Dr. Neil Spector, M.D. wastes no time pulling you into his harrowing medical journey in [...]

By Lindsey Shaffer Posted 5/24/18 In September of 2010, business owner Brad Harmon found a tick burrowed in his scalp [...]

By Lindsey Shaffer Posted 5/17/18 As a dog trainer in east-central Scotland, Donna Grant’s job demanded that she be physically [...]

by Beth Janes Posted 5/17/18 The notion of fasting for better health has all the hallmarks of a fad diet [...]

By Lindsey Shaffer Posted 5/10/18 In August of 2005, Stephanie Taylor set out from her home in Kernersville, North Carolina, [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls, Ellen Berman, Lindsey Shaffer Updated 5/3/18 After a winter of crazy, La Niña-inspired weather across the [...]

By Lindsey Shaffer Posted 5/04/18 In March of 2006, professional cyclist Ron Hinson took his mountain bike, along with his [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 4/20/18 Lyme disease can manifest in a seemingly endless number of ways. While the spectrum [...]

by Jill Neimark & Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 4/6/18 One of the great discoveries of modern medicine is that humans [...]

by Julie Ryan Posted 4/04/18 Spring is a time of new beginnings. For me, it’s a time to shake off [...]

by Carin Gorrell & Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/23/18 Tick season is just around the corner in some parts of [...]

by Carin Gorrell & Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/8/18 See if this sounds familiar: You drag all day, feel completely [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/7/18 I recently read a startling statistic that less than a third of people with [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 2/23/18 As a chronic illness expert and longtime Lyme sufferer, Dr. Bill Rawls fields all [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 2/10/18 Yesterday marked the first day of the 2018 Winter Olympics, and for the next [...]

by Julie Ryan Posted 2/10/18 Last spring I asked my husband for a divorce. It wasn’t a decision I came [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 1/26/18 There are all sorts of popular beliefs out there about detoxification, probably the top [...]

by Donna Gregory Burch Posted 1/26/18 Life with chronic Lyme disease is tough enough; coming down with a cold or [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 1/12/18 “Superfood” is one of those words that’s become so trendy and overused, it’s kind [...]

by Donna Gregory Burch Posted 12/29/17 My quest for relief from my fibromyalgia and Lyme has turned me into a [...]

by Carin Gorrell Posted 12/29/17 Unreliable testing, confusing coinfections, newsworthy treatments, and more. When it comes to chronic illnesses like [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 12/15/17 Ask anyone how they’re doing today, and there’s a pretty good chance you’ll hear [...]

by Julie Ryan Posted 12/15/17 Even the biggest holiday lovers can feel more stressed now than any other time of [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 11/30/17 The Lyme Q&A Webinar with Dr. Rawls, No. 2 originally aired on November 8th, [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 11/18/17 Lyme disease isn’t something that anyone would ever wish for. It changes everyone it [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 11/3/17 So, you’re experiencing symptoms of tiredness, achiness, sore throat, and possibly swollen lymph nodes [...]

by Donna Gregory Burch Posted 10/20/17 One of the best tidbits of advice my mom gave me in my 20s [...]

by RawlsMD Posted 10/20/17 If you love the flavors of teriyaki, then you’ll be hooked on this exclusive Dr. Rawls-approved [...]

The Lyme Q&A Webinar with Dr. Rawls originally aired on September 19th. Since then, we've posted the video below and [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 9/22/17 A revolution is coming in medical diagnosis and treatment of chronic illnesses. Science is [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 9/22/17 From the first time I pushed away from the dock for a solo adventure, [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 9/1/17 The prevailing opinion is that the first case of Lyme disease occurred in Connecticut [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/25/17 Things often come around. Early in my career practicing Ob/Gyn, I became aware of [...]

Have you ever wanted to go back in time with the knowledge you have now and give yourself hope that [...]

AND HOW PERSISTENCE PUT ME ON THE ROAD TOWARD RECOVERY by Donna Gregory Burch Posted 8/11/17 When I was diagnosed [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 8/11/17 I have a confession. I walk in the woods with bare legs — sometimes [...]

Find out how you can overcome leaky gut naturally by The RawlsMD Team Posted 7/28/17 The Lyme + Leaky Gut [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/30/17 Natural killer cells (NK cells) are specialized white blood cells. Though they only make [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/16/17 And how to take ownership of your recovery I don’t think anyone would argue [...]

By Julie Ryan Posted 7/16/17 Looking back, it seems like I’ve always been ill to some degree. I guess it [...]

by The RawlsMD Team   It may seem like doctors are on the outskirts of the Lyme disease [...]

...once that special physician has been found by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 6/01/17 Julie told us how to find the [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 5/19/17   This month Lyme disease history was made. For the first time ever, an [...]

By Meghan Arnold Posted 5/18/17 Shawn's Lyme Story | Hopkins, Michigan Living with Lyme disease doesn’t just affect one person. [...]

by Julie Ryan Posted 5/04/17 Tips for Finding the Perfect Doctor for Your Needs For those of us living with [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 4/21/17   If you have all the symptoms of chronic Lyme disease, then you probably [...]

A Candid Interview on Lyme Ninja Radio Whatever your symptoms or diagnosis, you owe it to yourself to listen to [...]

by. Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 7/27/18 The official word from experts is that Borrelia burgdorferi, the microbe commonly [...]

By Hank Minor Posted 3/15/17 Hank Minor's Lyme Story | Sisters, Oregon When I was younger, I never considered the [...]

by. Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 3/10/17 For chronic Lyme disease sufferers, there is a new lab test that promises greater [...]

by. Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 8/27/18 You’ve probably heard of stevia. It’s the natural, non-caloric sweetener that’s 40 times sweeter [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Updated 9/3/18 Right now, there’s a huge proliferation of specialty labs doing testing for chronic Lyme [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 2/10/17 Repealing Obamacare was one of President Trump’s biggest campaign promises. That may be easier [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 1/26/17   Most anyone who has been through a terrible crisis or a trying experience [...]

by The RawlsMD Team Updated 8/2/17 Dr. Bill Rawls, author of the best selling book Unlocking Lyme, will speak in [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 11/8/16 Over the past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the ILADS national convention [...]

How a “diagnosis of exclusion” can lead to better care by Dr. Bill Rawls Posted 11/08/16 Fibromyalgia patients know all [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 There is definitely a place for using antibiotic therapy for treating acute symptomatic [...]

Understanding the key differences of Lyme disease is the first step to finding the right treatment by Dr. Bill Rawls [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Acute Antibiotic Therapy for Lyme Disease The official CDC (Center for Disease Control) [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Spring has almost sprung, bringing with it April showers, May flowers, and a [...]

Learn how to avoid tick-borne illnesses this summer by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Perched out on a low-lying [...]

Patients frequently come into my office and ask me which "vitamins" they should take. I usually respond by recommending that [...]

Solving the root cause of conditions like Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Turmeric has long been hailed as one of India’s most revered spices and [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Native to India and Africa, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an herb derived from [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Science is a wonderful tool, but it should be recognized that science is [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 My whole life, I’ve loved to sail.  Sailing back and forth or around [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Prevention Tips Avoiding areas where there are ticks in the absolute best way [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Your microbiome is the sum of all the microbes that inhabit your body. [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 11/01/16 Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could take something and become resistant to [...]

Dr. Rawls’ sheds light on his personal experience with a screening colonoscopy—a procedure that saved his life. by Dr. Bill [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/25/16 Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for many processes of the body and may [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/25/16 An estimated 300 million people have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is just [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/25/16 In 2001, a clinical study named the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was stopped [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/25/16 The statistics are alarming. Despite spending more on healthcare than any country on [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 One thing is certain--menopause is not a disease. It’s a perfectly natural process [...]

Being proactive has become essential by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 My grandfather and great grandfather before him were [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 Many Lyme disease and fibromyalgia suffers are frustrated by the medical system, but [...]

Patients frequently come into my office and ask me which "vitamins" they should take. I usually respond by recommending that [...]

Learn about the factors that can play a role in determining your condition by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 Does fish oil really cause cancer? Over the past few weeks, the news media [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 Proving that breast cancer is linked to estrogen is not difficult. If a [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 Daily life causes a certain amount of emotional stress that is not detrimental [...]

Dr. Rawls Explains Why Virulence Matters by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 Here’s the fourth installment of Dr. Rawls’ new book, [...]

I had an allergy test that revealed sensitivities to wheat, dairy, and a whole list of other things. I’ve tried [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 Here we go again with the naming game. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/31/16 In 2014, approximately 5.2 million Americans reported suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. This figure [...]

Here's a sneak peek at the first chapter of Dr. Rawls' new book, Unlocking Lyme, on Lyme disease. Look for [...]

Read the latest chapter from Dr. Rawls’ new book, Unlocking Lyme, on Lyme disease, which offers a closer look at [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/25/16 To truly understand Lyme disease, you must understand the nature of microbes. This [...]

Learn how a strong immune system can overcome stealth microbes by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/24/16 Of all the [...]

Learn more about the stealth microbe that may be causing your symptoms by Dr. Bill Rawls Last updated 10/25/16 There [...]

Your guide to understanding the hidden culprits behind fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and chronic fatigue by. Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/25/16 What is Biofilm? Biofilms are colonies of microbes. They chiefly contain bacteria, but [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 3/1/2017 Bartonella bacteria are gram negative (have a double cell wall), are slow growing, [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last updated 10/20/16 People often think disease happens by chance—that it strikes suddenly for no apparent [...]

by Alex Granados Last Updated 10/25/16 There are an estimated 7 million people in the United States suffering from fibromyalgia. [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 10/25/16 Mycoplasma is the stealthiest of all stealth microbes. It may be a major [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last Updated 2/26/17 Most everyone has an allergy to something. Mine is to shrimp. If I [...]

Here's the third installment of Dr. Rawls’ new book on Lyme disease, Unlocking Lyme. This chapter focuses on bacteria other than Borrelia [...]

by Dr. Bill Rawls Last updated 3/1/17 Babesia is a distant, but less virulent cousin of malaria. It is a [...]