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LYME DISEASE

Lyme Disease Was First Recognized In The U.s. In 1975, After There Was A Mysterious Outbreak Of Arthritis-like Symptoms Near Lyme (old Lyme), Connecticut...

Since then, a spirochete named Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) has been discovered to be the cause of Lyme disease, a multi-system inflammatory disease.

What Is Lyme Disease?

There are 3 stages of Lyme disease. After the initial (tick) bite, it first affects the skin by causing a 'bulls-eye' rash, although even this is only noticeable or reported by 30-40% of adult patients (children, only about 10%).

The rash generally fades and it is possible for a latent period to follow, in which there are no symptoms. From there, more serious symptoms/conditions can be noticed, weeks, months, for some even years later. These can include; flu-like symptoms, sleeping difficulties, muscle pain and weakness, headache, back pain, facial paralysis, lymph node enlargement, irregular heartbeat, seizures, nerve damage, blurry vision, memory loss, dementia and joint pain. A hallmark of Lyme disease is extreme fatigue unrelieved by rest. Often there is an ebb and flow, exacerbation, followed by remission, followed by exacerbation. This, plus the very general and diffuse symptom picture can make diagnosis very difficult.

Lyme disease has been referred to as the 'Great Imposter', as it is often misdiagnosed as another diease process, such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), subclinical hypothyroidism, rheumatoid/osteo/psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Lou Gehrig's (ALS) disease, to name just a few. Lyme disease was and still is quite poorly understood, sparking a lot of controversy and varied information on both the development and treatment of the disease. It is now understood to be a complex illness, rather than a simple infection as was once believed. The longer that treatment is put off, the more likely that collateral conditions develop resulting in more severe illness from multiple pathogens and certainly the more difficult it is to treat.

How Is It spread?

Lyme disease is primarily spread through ticks, they carry the burgdorferi bacteria picked up from either a mice or deer and can spread the bacteria to humans when they bite. Although it was once thought to only be transmitted through ticks, there is growing research confirming the possibility of spreading Lyme disease through other insects, including fleas, mosquitos, mites and even potentially through types of human to human contact, like blood transfusion or breastfeeding. The fact that there are multiple vectors means that Lyme disease is also much less rare of a disease than was once thought. Because it is also so often misdiagnosed, there is a good chance that it is severely under reported, explaining why the number of confirmed cases over the past 30 years is still relatively low.

Most of the standard testing for Lyme disease can be unreliable. Early treatment with antibiotics is the best way to avoid future complications. The problem with this is that ticks are so small, and not everyone will get the typical 'bulls-eye' rash (or the rash may be in a location where it is not easily seen), it is very common to not know they've been bitten by a tick (or potentially another insect) until years after the disease is already in the tertiary/chronic-persistent Lyme disease stage.

Treatment Suggestions

In terms of treatment, there are a number of natural remedies and supplements that can help to alleviate symptoms, as well as fight off initial infection, before systemic symptoms occur. As far as diet goes, try to keep it as clean as possible – avoid alcohol and all refined sugars, as the bacteria associated with Lyme disease feeds off of these. Increase your intake of alkaline forming foods, in case of low pH. Some examples include most (leafy) green vegetables, melon, sweet potato, almonds, ginger, pumpkin seeds, parsley. Fish oil or borage oil, high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids respectively, can act as excellent anti-inflammatories, to minimize pain and systemic side effects. Antibiotics may not be avoidable in terms of treatment, so those individuals need to be sure to supplement with a high quality probiotic, to reestablish and balance a health gut bacteria. Maitake, Reishi and Cordyceps can do wonders for general immune support, as well as improve stamina, fatigue, and energy. Astragalus and ginseng are often recommended for the same reasons. It is also essential to mention stress here, as it can get us run down and lead to a less than optimal immune system response. Make sure to make stress reduction a priority in your day to day life.