Lyme Disease

Tick on leafLyme disease is an infection by the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete can be transmitted through the bite of the deer tick. Once transmitted into the bloodstream it can disseminate quickly yet the symptoms and signs of late disease may not appear for weeks, months, or years. It is not unusual for patients to initially present with late-stage disease.

One of the reasons Lyme disease can be so difficult to diagnose and treat is that the Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete is a master of disguise. From the moment of the tick bite or other transmission, the bacteria begin their cloak and dagger game of evasion, shape-shifting, hiding and when all else fails, subverting the body’s immune system response.

Lyme disease can also mimic other conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Parkinson’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chemical Sensitivity, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, ADD, Autism, Fungal Hypersensitivities, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Graves Disease, Adrenal insufficiency, Addison’s Disease, anxiety, and depression, to mention a few.

The bacterium that causes Lyme disease is not the sole pathogen that is typically transmitted when a person is infected. Other common co-infections include, Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Mycoplasma, Tularemia, and parasites. These co-infections can be difficult to find with testing and can have increased virulence causing persistent and in some cases more severe symptoms than Lyme disease.

The naturopathic approach to treatment is individual. No two people suffering with Lyme disease present with the same symptom picture or course of recovery. Each one of us has different genetics, lifestyle, diet, stress, and mental/ emotional response that influences the nature of treatment. The keys to success are focusing on what works for each individual using herbs and/or antibiotics, diet, lifestyle support, nutrients with the focus on optimizing immune, digestive, nervous system and endocrine function. Treatment may also involve testing and treating exposure to toxic mold, heavy metals and parasites.