Introduction:

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, with about 16,000 new cases reported each year. The disorder was first identified in 1975 when a group of children in Old Lyme, Connecticut, experienced mysterious arthritis-like symptoms. Lyme disease is caused by a bite from the deer tick, which transmit the bacterium B. burgdorferi to your body. Not every bite from a deer tick causes Lyme disease; it’s more likely to occur if the tick stays attached to your skin for 36 hours or more.

Cases have been reported in nearly all states, and the disease is also on the rise in large areas of Asia and Europe. It is very important to get early treatment for Lyme disease, so if you have any symptoms, you should call your doctor immediately. Although symptoms may disappear after a while, that does not mean the disease is gone.

Signs and Symptoms:

Lyme disease has three stages:

Localized

Red rash that appears within a few weeks of a tick bite, starting as a small red spot at the site of the bite. The spot expands over time, forming a circle or oval and sometimes resembling a bull's eye. The rash can range in size from that of a dime to the entire width of a person's back. As the infection spreads, rashes can appear at different places on the body.

Secondary Stage

Flu-like symptoms -- fever, headache, stiff neck, body and joint aches, and fatigue

Third Stage

Arthritis -- 60% of people not treated with antibiotics develop recurring attacks of arthritis, most often in the knees, that last a few days to a few months. About 10 - 20% people who are not treated will develop chronic arthritis.

Neurological symptoms -- stiff neck and severe headache (may indicate meningitis), temporary paralysis of muscles in the face (Bell's palsy), numbness, pain or weakness in the limbs, or poor motor coordination.

Heart problems -- heart abnormalities such as palpitations, lightheadedness, fainting, chest pain, and shortness of breath may develop in fewer than 10% of people with Lyme disease. Symptoms may appear several weeks after infection and last a few days or weeks.

What Causes It?:

Deer ticks carrying the bacterium B. burgdorferi bite people. The bacteria enter the skin at the site of the bite, after the infected tick has been in place 36 - 48 hours.

Who's Most At Risk?:

The following factors may increase the risk for developing Lyme disease:

• Environment -- Spending time in heavily wooded areas where there are ticks.
• Season -- Ticks are most active in summer and fall.
• Age -- Children and young adults are more likely to get Lyme disease.
• Location -- 90% of cases occur in the coastal northeast, as well as in Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, and Oregon.

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office:

Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose because many of its symptoms mimic those of other illnesses, and there is no definitive lab test for Lyme disease. About one quarter of people with Lyme disease do not develop a rash. Your doctor will consider your exposure to ticks and if you don’t have a rash, your doctor may order these tests:

• ELISA test -- detects antibodies to B. burgdorferi. Can result in false positives.
• Western blot test -- detects antibodies to proteins of B. burgdorferi
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -- detects bacterial presence in synovial (joint) fluid and is used for people who may have Lyme arthritis.

Treatment Options:

Prevention

The best defense against Lyme disease is to guard against tick bites. Avoid heavily wooded areas, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and apply tick repellant. Use an insect repellent with DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Wear light-colored clothing (which makes ticks easier to detect), and inspect your body carefully after you’ve been outdoors. If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers. Seeing your doctor and taking antibiotics within 3 days of a tick bite may prevent Lyme disease.

A vaccine against Lyme disease is recommended for those who live, travel, or work in areas where Lyme disease is prevalent. Studies indicate that the vaccine is about 80% effective.

Drug Therapies

Your health care provider may prescribe the following medications:

• Antibiotics -- usually doxycycline (Vibramycin), amoxicillin, and cefuroxime (Ceftin) are prescribed. Later-stage Lyme disease may require intravenous (IV) antibiotics, either ceftriaxone (Rocephin) or penicillin.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), for relief of symptoms.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Lyme disease affects many systems in your body, so treatment that includes complementary therapies may have benefits. However, you should never treat Lyme disease with complementary therapies alone. Antibiotics are needed to cure the disease.

Always tell your doctor about the herbs and supplements you are using or considering using.

Nutrition and Supplements

Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day. Probiotics, or “friendly” bacteria, help maintain gastrointestinal health and can help offset some of the side effects of taking antibiotics, such as diarrhea and yeast infections.

Beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber, may also be helpful in reducing inflammation..

Herbs

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.

You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, you should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.

• Green tea (Camellia sinensis) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg daily, for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and heart health effects. Use caffeine-free products. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) standardized extract, 40 - 80 mg three times daily, for antioxidant and heart health support. Ginko can increase the effects of certain blood-thinning medications; talk to your doctor if you take blood-thiining drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin)..
• Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) standardized extract, 20 mg three times a day, for inflammation and antibacterial or antifungal activity.
• Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), 150 - 300 mg two to three times daily, for inflammation and for immunity. You may also take a tincture of this mushroom extract, 30 - 60 drops two to three times a day.
• Olive leaf (Olea europaea) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg one to three times daily, for antibacterial or antifungal activity and immunity. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
• Garlic (Allium sativum), standardized extract, 400 mg two to three times daily, for antibacterial or antifungal and immune activity.

Homeopathy

Few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic remedies. Professional homeopaths, however, may recommend treatments for Lyme disease based on their knowledge and clinical experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person’s constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. In some cases, such as Lyme disease, a professional homeopath may prescribe specific remedies without considering the individual's constitutional state. Such remedies for Lyme disease include:

• Arsenicum album
• Borrelia burgdorferi nosode
• Carcinosin
• Lac canimum
• Ledum
• Mercurius
• Syphilinum
• Thuja

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may help relieve pain, increase mobility, and reduce fatigue. Chinese herbal formulas, used by many acupuncturists, may help resolve joint, muscular, and neurological symptoms from B. burgdorferi infection after many courses of antibiotics.

Prognosis and Possible Complications:

The long-term prognosis for most patients treated with antibiotics is excellent. Delay in treatment can result in complications.

Following Up:

If you have a severe and advanced case of Lyme disease with varied symptoms, your health care provider may want to see you regularly.