Lyme Disease
Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is a bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of infected ticks. In the northeastern and upper Midwestern United States, the primary carriers are deer ticks, while on the Pacific Coast—particularly in Northern California and Oregon—the disease is spread by western black-legged ticks. These ticks are extremely small, often no larger than a poppy seed or sesame seed, and their bites are usually painless. However, the area around the bite may become intensely itchy afterward.
Lyme disease generally progresses through three stages.
Stage 1: Early Localized Lyme Disease
Within 1 to 31 days after an infected tick bite, a rash may develop at the bite site. Although not everyone develops this rash, it often expands gradually and may resemble a bull’s-eye pattern. Flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, fever, headache, and muscle aches may also occur.
Stage 2: Early Disseminated Lyme Disease
If the infection is not diagnosed and treated during the early stage, it can spread throughout the body over the following weeks or months. This stage may affect the skin, joints, and nervous system.
Stage 3: Late Persistent Lyme Disease
Weeks, months, or even years after the initial infection, untreated Lyme disease can lead to more serious complications. These may include chronic joint inflammation, heart problems, and neurological symptoms affecting the nervous system.
Early recognition and treatment are important because Lyme disease is generally much easier to treat before it progresses to the later stages.
How do you Diagnose Lyme?
Lyme disease may be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to those of many other illnesses. The early, often vague, flu-like symptoms can easily be mistaken for another illness, especially when the typical Lyme disease rash does not occur. Later symptoms of untreated Lyme disease, such as joint problems, weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, severe fatigue, or difficulties with memory and thinking, may resemble those of other conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and others.
Lyme disease has traditionally been treated with antibiotics. A recent study found that if a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline is given within 72 hours of a bite from an infected tick, the chances of developing Lyme disease can be reduced by as much as 87%. Unfortunately, because the bite is usually painless, it is seldom caught this early.
Lyme Vaccine?
A Lyme disease vaccination called LYMErix (SmithKline Beecham) was available for people in high-risk areas. The key ingredient in LYMErix was a genetically engineered protein from the surface of the bacteria B. Burgdorferi that helps stimulate an immune response against the bacteria. The protein, called OspA, stimulates antibodies that disable B. burgdorferi bacteria’s ability to infect people. However, OspA triggers autoimmune responses (some life threatening) and arthritis in some individuals. Consequently, LYMErix was removed from the market in 2002. Since it was considered an optional vaccine, it was not covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
What Makes Lyme disease so Difficult to Treat?
One of the main factors that makes Lyme disease so difficult to treat is the ability of the bacterium that causes it to evade the immune system. Once Borrelia burgdorferi enters the body, it can alter the proteins on its outer cell surface, effectively helping it avoid recognition by the immune system. By continually changing these surface proteins, the Lyme bacterium can remain hidden from immune defenses.
Borrelia burgdorferi is also capable of transforming into a cyst-like form when it encounters unfavorable conditions. In this state, it may become more resistant to antibiotics, the host’s immune response, and environmental stresses such as temperature and pH changes. It can also lower its metabolic rate, allowing it to survive periods of limited resources. When conditions become more favorable, it can revert to its spirochetal form—a corkscrew-shaped bacterium. Some researchers have also suggested that Borrelia may gain additional protection when associated with biofilm-like structures, which could further enhance its ability to persist within the host.
How I Treat Lyme Disease with Herbs
I use several herbs in a rotating fashion as part of my personal approach to managing Lyme disease. I rotate the herbs every three months because I believe this helps maintain their effectiveness. After taking an herb for approximately one month, I may stop dosing for 36–48 hours before resuming treatment. In my experience, this approach appears to improve results.
While taking a 36–48 hour break is optional, I have found that it seems to reduce Borrelia burgdorferi levels more quickly.
If you live in an area where deer ticks are common, you may wish to consider replacing sugar with stevia. Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the herb Stevia rebaudiana. Some herbal practitioners believe it may offer additional health benefits beyond its use as a sweetener.
Liquid stevia products, such as those sold under the SweetLeaf and Kal brands, are my preferred choice. However, powdered products such as Stevia In The Raw may also be useful.
The following are the herbs I use:
I recommend beginning the protocol with tincture of Sweet Annie.
Tincture of Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua)
Traditionally used by herbal practitioners for general wellness, parasite support, and lymphatic system support.
Tincture of Knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Traditionally used in herbal medicine to support overall health and wellness. Some herbal protocols include knotweed as part of a comprehensive Lyme disease regimen.
Tincture of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)
Used as both a natural sweetener and an herbal supplement in some alternative health protocols.
Tincture of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Traditionally used to support respiratory health and general wellness and included in some herbal wellness programs.
