Lyme disease is a prevalent and often debilitating illness that is spread in the Northeast US by the deer tick /black legged tick.  It is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi and it is a spirochete. Spirochetes are shaped similar to a corkscrew and have the ability to act like one, burrowing into living tissue as described by Chunhao Li, et al. in Gyrations, Rotations, Periplasmic Flagella: The Biology of Spirochete Motility, “The common morphological structure of spirochetes allows these organisms to bore through highly viscous gel-like media, such as connective tissues, which inhibit the motility of most other bacteria…Leptospira and other spirochetes increase their speed in media with a higher viscosity.” There are eight different types of spirochetes and they are the most ancient bacteria on Earth with some causing disease and some beneficial to other life forms working symbiotically to maintain health. Please remember not to see all bacteria as an enemy, as they are our ancestors and without them life on Earth would not be possible. 

Lyme disease is  an emerging disease and, although not new, it has somehow become the most prevalent vector borne disease in the temperate U.S. In the region where I live, neither Lyme nor deer ticks have been a concern until just recently. We have not had the cold winters of the past and in the last couple of years have seen an increase in tick populations and, naturally, Lyme disease, although there have not been any public announcements made to alert citizens living in my community to this new concern.  I have for the first time this year, pulled several ticks from my dog, one from my daughter and I was just diagnosed with Lyme last week after 3-months of muscle/joint pain and exhaustion.  The first visit to the Dr. brought an array of blood tests for everything but Lyme, all of the tests coming back negative. I, of course, went to see an herbalist (Kate Gilday, naturally) and she suggested a Lyme test which seemed to completely befuddle the nurse at the Dr.’s office when I requested it. When it came back positive, I was pretty surprised and only then remembered that I had noticed a strange circular rash on my arm in the beginning of May. I put some salve on it and it went away. I though nothing of it at the time as it was not a bulls-eye. 

It is of utmost importance at this time that people living in the Mohawk Valley region become aware that Lyme disease is emerging in this community and that there are measures of prevention and treatment protocols. It is equally important that we not panic and become afraid to go outdoors, but that we understand the situation rationally and know that we have tools at hand to help us to adapt. Our friends in more Southern regions have been dealing with Lyme for decades and there is much information that has been gained through their experiences. The following excerpt is from Stehpen Buhner who has done extensive research on Lyme and its treatment in his book Healing Lyme:

“Six points stand out to me after a rather long and intense examination of the existing material: (1) There is a lot of hysteria about Lyme disease. Everybody is pretty scared, most are not really sure what to do, including the physicians; (2) There are a lot more sick people that the statistics indicate; (3) Antibiotics are not nearly as effective as purported to be; (4) Clear, concise, unemotional information is hard to obtain; (5) tests for Lyme disease are not very reliable; (6) Something very strange is going on in the field of Lyme disease and its treatment.”

There are, no doubt, many empty spaces in the current understanding of Lyme disease and a mysterious lack of recognition on the part of the medical community and the CDC. In my work with herbalists in the Northeast I have fortunately learned of successful protocols that have been developed for prevention and treatment. I will outline these briefly now and more in depth in further posts. It is very important to work with your Doctor and a qualified herbalist or alternative practitioner for the best results from herbal treatment as each case is unique and a protocol must be designed around individual needs.

It is interesting to point out that one plant that has slowly been encroaching into our region and the Adirondacks is Japanese Knotweed. I heard Stephen Buhner speak of  this plant 4 years ago as a plant that moves into an area preceding the occurrence of Lyme disease and is also a plant that is used in its treatment.

Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed) , Resveratrol

Peer review literature/Science : Effective against:

Leptospirosis , Treponema denticola (spirochets in oral flora)

Bartonella (Buhner) , Many gram neg and gram pos bacteria

Anti-viral , Hepatitis B (and C?)

Another important herbal treatment is the use of Teasel Root. Teasel is being used as a flower essence and tincture as suggested by Matthew Wood at the dosage of 3drops 3times a day.

David Dalton- Delta Gardens- has prepared a set of essences from the Teasel flower at various stages of blooming (in patterned spirals/bands).  Having used these on himself and others over several years, David has found this system quite valuable for those dealing with Lymes.  He does a specific training that many flower essence practitioners have learned and incorporated into their practices…Contact information:  Delta Gardens 978-388-2143 for information on up-coming trainings and possible practitioner in your area.

Prevention of Lyme disease includes not only wearing long sleeves and pants in the woods or tall grass but also:

1. remove tick as soon as you notice it being careful not to squeeze with tweezers. Some people have suggested wiping the tick out with a credit card.
2. Immediately put Echinacea tincture on the bite spot and continue to do so for 3 days following.
3. Take Astragalus tincture as prevention at 1 dropper once a day during warmer months and if bitten take 1 dropper 3 times a day. Astragalus root-  immune potentiator and modulator.  Increases interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 levels. specific for immune atrophy and enhances function in thymus and spleen. Take if living in an endemic area, or with low immune function, chronic fatigue, night sweats, Lyme carditis ( angina, palpitations, shortness of breath, erlichia co-infection, anti-inflammatory.
4. Take homeopathic Ledum palustre 30c at 3 pills 3 times a day for 3 days.

It is also important to know the symptoms of Lyme disease:

 Common symptoms:

•  Early flu-like feelings of headache, stiff neck, fever, mussel aches and fatique. 40-60% of light skinned patients         notice unique bulls-eye rash days to weeks after the bite.  On dark skinned people the rash resembles a bruise.

Disseminated infection (to other organ systems) may occur. 

Symptoms that may arise are many. The following is only a short list of possible symptoms:

• GENERAL- profound fatigue, severe headache, fever, severe muscle aches /pain.
• BRAIN-  cranial nerve involvement, loss of reflexes, peripheral neuropathy, stiff neck, meningitis, facial paralysis, dizziness, fainting, sleep disorders, cognitive changes ( confusion, loss memory…), depression, decreased concentration, extreme agitation…
• EYES- vision changes, blindness, retinal damage, conjunctivitis, “floaters”, inflammation.
• SKIN- rash not at bite site- circular, oval, triangular, or long, thin ragged line., discoloration,
• HEART- irregular beats, heart block, myocarditis, chest pain.
• JOINTS- intermittent or chronic pain, sometimes swelling, TMJ-like pain in jaw.
• MUSCLE pain, cramps, inflammation, loss of tone.
• Nausea,, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite.

The current blood tests for Lyme often produce false negatives so many people have to request another test if symptoms are persistent. The test in use by the CDC at this time is the Western blot which identifies several bands of antigens.

The Lyme Aid Buhner's main webpage is found here:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lyme_Aid_Buhner/ .

A Planet Thrive support group for those with Lyme who are using the Healing Lyme Protocol also exists. Members can ask questions about the protocol  which are then posted to the website. The contact link is:

planetthrive.com/cgi-bin/members/pub9990215891170.cgi?categoryid=9990235248536

Lyme literate practitioners with experience in this protocol  ( Buhner)

• Lyme Disease Foundation, 1 Financial Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103

• The Lyme Disease Solution by Ken Singleton M.D

Sources:

• Healing Lyme; Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliois and Its Co Infections by Stephen Harrod Buhner

• LYMES BORRELIOSIS- TREATING NATURALY-Kate Gilday, Herbalist, Woodland Essence 392 Tea Cup Street Cold Brook, NY 13324 315-845-1515

• Lymes Panel at the International Herb Symposium June 2009