LYME DISEASE by Marcia Elston
Lyme disease is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by the bite of a deer tick or black-legged tick. Lyme disease was first described in the United States in the town of Old Lyme, CT, in 1975, but it has now been reported in most parts of the country. Most cases occur in the Northeast, upper Midwest and Pacific Coast. Mice and deer are the most commonly infected animals that serve as host to the tick.
Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms mimic those of many other diseases. Usually a “bull’s-eye” rash - a round, red mark with a white center - occurs at the site of the bite. (The bite may go unnoticed, especially if no rash develops, because the deer tick is so small.) As the infection spreads through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, secondary symptoms develop. These include fatigue, headache, heart palpitations, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, neck stiffness and blurred vision, as well as a generally feeling of malaise. Lyme disease can also produce symptoms similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome, such as severe fatigue, and neurological symptoms, including impaired speech, facial paralysis, drooping eyelids, hallucinations, abnormal sensitivity to light, and a kind of facial paralysis known as Bell’s palsy.
Lyme disease is usually treated with three to four rounds of antibiotic therapy. Antibiotic therapy, although effective in controlling the disease, destroys helpful as well as pathogenic bacteria and predisposes the body to yeast infections. If the disease is untreated, about two-thirds of those infected develop recurring arthritis years later.
BENEFICIAL HERBS
Herb Form & Dosage Comments
| Cat’s Claw |
Capsules. Take 2,000 mg. Daily. | General immune stimulant |
| Echinacea plus ginseng | Echinacea purpea tincture. Take as directed on label. Panax ginseng tea (loose) prepared by steeping 1 tsp. (2 gm) in 1 cup water. Take 1 cup daily. | A combination that increases activity of immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells. Fights secondary infections. Ginseng also controls emotional disturbances. |
| Kudzu | Tablets. Take 1 mg. 3 times daily. | Relieves tension in muscles of the face and neck. |
| Lentinan | Powder. Use the dosage determined by your healthcare provider. | Reverses fever and fatigue. Activates T-helper cells. |
| Licorice | Glycyrrhizin tablets. Take 200-800 mg. Daily depending on severity of symptoms. Use for 6 weeks, and then take a 2-week break. Do not substitute deglycyrrhizinated licorice DGL. | Helps to prevent progression of neurological symptoms. Counteracts chronic fatigue. Consume potassium-rich foods - bananas, citrus juice or take potassium supplement daily. |
| Maitake | Maitake-D. Take 500 mg. 3 times daily. | Stimulates general immune function, fights infection. |
| Red Clover | Extract. Take as directed on the label. | Cleanses the bloodstream. |
| Scutellaria | Capsules. Take 1,000 to 2,000 mg. 3 times daily. | An antibacterial and antiviral. |
| Siberian ginseng | Pure Eleutherococcus senticosus extract. Take as directed on the label. | Increases resistance to stress. Increases activity of NK and T cells. |
| St. John’s Wort | Capsules. Take 900 mg of total hypericin daily. | An antidepressant. Also stops inflammatory reactions. |
Precautions for the use of herbs:
Do not use cat’s claw if you take insulin for diabetes. Do not use it if you are pregnant or nursing. Avoid Echinacea if you have an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, or if you have chronic infection such as HIV or tuberculosis. Do not use licorice if you have glaucoma, high blood pressure, or an estrogen-dependent disorder, such as breast cancer, endometriosis or fibrocystic breasts. Do not use scutellaria if you have diarrhea. Do not use Siberian ginseng if you have prostrate cancer or an autoimmune disease such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Ensure adequate levels of vitamin A by consuming one to three servings of dark-green, yellow, or orange fruits or vegetables daily. Laboratory studies with animals show that vitamin A deficiencies aggravate arthritis in Lyme disease.
• Get fifteen to twenty minutes of exposure to morning or evening sun on the hands and feet daily. Ultraviolet (UV) light in sunlight enables the skin to manufacture vitamin D, which retards the development of arthritis in Lyme disease. Do not use sunscreen, which blocks the necessary UV light.
• When walking or hiking in tick-infested areas, tuck long pants into socks to protect the legs and wear shoes (not sandals) and long-sleeved shirts. Ticks show up on white or light colors better than dark, making them easier to remove from clothing. Remove ticks immediately by using tweezers, pulling carefully and steadily.
• Try to reduce the number of ticks on your property. Chemical insecticides are not recommended’ pyrethrum is relatively safe.
• Include plenty of garlic in your diet or take garlic supplements. It is a natural antibiotic and immune-booster.
• Take hot baths or whirlpool treatments. Heat relieves joint pain.
• If you are being treated for Lyme
disease and are not getting better, consider having yourself tested again.
False-positive results are possible, and you may actually have a different
problem.
Marcia Elston is degreed as an
academic folklorist and is credentialed as an herbalist/aromatherapist
P. O. Box 2483
Snohomish, WA 98291-2483
Voice: 360.862.0231
Order Line 800.782.4532
FAX: 360.862.0244
samara@wingedseed.com