Summer’s here and we want to be able to get outside and enjoy it, right!? An ever-increasing deterrent to our enjoyment of the great outdoors, however, is the threat of Lyme disease. So how do we holistically combat the big effects from this tiny bacteria?
Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted, inflammatory infection caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium that can manifest as symptoms from a mere bulls-eye rash to a host of latent neurologic, cardiac, or joint abnormalities. The disease was first recognized in 1975 with a cluster of cases in Lyme, Connecticut. It has since been seen all across the world, with onset typically in the summer and fall in heavily wooded areas. Today, evidence suggests that other insects, including mosquitos and fleas, may also be carriers.
Alternatives therapies like those available at Nature’s Balance Acupuncture & Wellness Center use a variety of approaches within the Traditional Chinese Medicine umbrella to treat the patient, not the symptom. Acupuncture, for instance, helps boost the immune system, relieve muscle and joint pain, and can help with the chronic fatigue and emotional component that presents such a challenge for Lyme patients. Various detoxification protocols and nutritional guidance, as well as energy medicine like ONDAMED, which stimulates the body’s energetic pathways using pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, may also be a crucial part of the patient’s recovery.
WHAT IS LYME DISEASE
Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted, inflammatory infection caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium that can manifest as symptoms from a mere bulls-eye rash to a host of latent neurologic, cardiac, or joint abnormalities. The disease was first recognized in 1975 with a cluster of cases in Lyme, Connecticut. It has since been seen all across the world, with onset typically in the summer and fall in heavily wooded areas. Today, evidence suggests that other insects, including mosquitos and fleas, may also be carriers.
SYMPTOMS
WHY TRADITIONAL ANTIBIOTICS MAY NOT WORK
Traditional Western medical treatment of Lyme disease typically relies on a long dose of various antibiotics. If treated in the early stages, antibiotics usually result in a complete cure. The problem, however, is that diagnostic tests for Lyme disease are usually negative, even when infected, until the body produces enough antibodies to the bacteria. This may not happen for weeks, by which time treatment is considerably more complicated, less likely to result in a full recovery, and could involve harsh pharmaceuticals with severe side effects. An increasing number of experts now believe that Lyme disease can survive and cause long-term autoimmune symptoms when antibiotics either do not work or create more problems. This is, in part, because of the nature of the borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Its corkscrew shape allows it to bore deeply into tissues and cartilage, including the brain and nervous system, making it difficult for antibiotics to work and leading to quick antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, antibiotics wreak havoc on the normal flora (good bacteria) in the gut and skin, causing imbalance and a host of other symptoms. Perhaps even more importantly, antibiotics weaken immune function, so your body has to work even harder to recover. Read more about the immunity and Lyme connection with Dr. Axe here.A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PREVENTION & TREATMENT
The good news is that there is a holistic approach to building up the body’s immune system and preventing or healing from Lyme disease. In much the same way as we would address other chronic conditions, we want to heal the gut and balance the gut flora, establish improved blood flow for healing, and rebuild the immune system.
Alternatives therapies like those available at Nature’s Balance Acupuncture & Wellness Center use a variety of approaches within the Traditional Chinese Medicine umbrella to treat the patient, not the symptom. Acupuncture, for instance, helps boost the immune system, relieve muscle and joint pain, and can help with the chronic fatigue and emotional component that presents such a challenge for Lyme patients. Various detoxification protocols and nutritional guidance, as well as energy medicine like ONDAMED, which stimulates the body’s energetic pathways using pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, may also be a crucial part of the patient’s recovery.
PREVENTING LYME DISEASE
- Use a natural bug spray or insect repellent (such as one made from essential oils) when you’re anywhere that has a high amount of insects. This includes the woods, garden, beach or when you’re hiking or camping.
- Wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks to keep ticks off the skin. Also try wearing lighter-colored clothing so you can spot insects and ticks more easily.
- Check your skin after you’ve been in the woods or elsewhere outdoors. Look over exposed skin so you can remove ticks promptly. Use a tweezers to remove ticks that have entered the skin, and clean the bite wound with a bit of tea tree oil.
- Improve your overall immune strength before you even get infected to have the best chance of having only a minimal reaction. Follow these other tips from Dr. Axe for more information.